WAKE UP with BWW 12/3/2015 - THE WIZ LIVE! Airs Tonight, GIGANTIC Opens and More!
By: Jessica Khan Dec. 03, 2015
Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: THE WIZ LIVE! eases on down the road tonight on NBC, and GIGANTIC opens off-Broadway!
Next up in our series of stars introducing BWW's morning feature is Alexandra Silber (portrait by Walter McBride), who is currently starring in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF!
Photo by Walter McBride
TODAY'S TOP ITEMS:
- Tune in this morning to see KINKY BOOTS' Wayne Brady on TODAY!
- Vineyard Theatre's GIGANTIC opens off-Broadway tonight.
- C.S. Lewis' THE GREAT DIVORCE makes its New York debut this evening, and Peccadillo brings A WILDER CHRISTMAS to the stage...
- Samuel D. Hunter's CLARKSTON premieres tonight in Dallas, and VIOLET's Emerson Steele leads A LITTLE PRINCESS in Atlanta.
- And last but certainly not least, NBC airs THE WIZ LIVE! tonight at 8/7c! We'll be blogging live, so be sure to stop by!
NEWS YOU MISSED YESTERDAY:
- LES MISERABLES is set to close on Broadway next fall, and John Owen-Jones will bring the show home!
- Jason Dirden, Wendell B. Franklin and more have been tapped for SKELETON CREW at Atlantic Theater.
- Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Lily Tomlin and more will celebrate Carol Channing's 95th birthday!
- Irving Berlin's MISS LIBERTY will make its UK concert premiere this month...
- We got a first look (right) at Carlos PenaVega as GREASE: LIVE's 'Kenickie'!
- Ben Platt, Mary Testa and more will lead a workshop of the new Sheik-Sater musical ALICE BY HEART.
- Byron Jennings has stepped into Roundabout's starry SHE LOVES ME.
- And Broadway's Helen Hayes Theater is getting a fresh look both in and out!
Broadway Weather Forecast: High of 52 and partly cloudy - can't believe how warm it is in December!
Quote of the Day: A word from original 'Dorothy' Stephanie Mills, who plays 'Aunt Em' in THE WIZ LIVE!
"I have mad love for the way we were taught and trained back in the day. I mean, those of us - like Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight - we didn't give into this new wave of celebrity."
-- Stephanie Mills (via BrainyQuote)
What we're looking forward to watching: Julie Andrews returning as the host of PBS's FROM VIENNA: THE NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION 2016 on New Year's Day!
Video of the Day: Shanice Williams singing 'Home' in the latest promo for tonight's THE WIZ LIVE! on NBC!
And a Happy Birthday shout-out to Julianne Moore, who turns 55 today!
Moore made her Broadway debut in 2006 opposite Bill Nighy in THE VERTICAL HOUR. She has also appeared off-Broadway in ICE CREAM WITH HOT FUDGE and SERIOUS MONEY. The actress recently penned the children's book series FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY, which has been adapted into a stage musical. Moore won an Oscar for her portrayal of an Alzheimer's patient in 2014's STILL ALICE. Among her other film credits are the HUNGER GAMES series, MAPS TO THE STARS, the TV film GAME CHANGE, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, A SINGLE MAN, CHILDREN OF MEN, HANNIBAL, THE HOURS, FAR FROM HEAVEN, THE LOST WORLD and more.
See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!
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