WAKE UP with BWW 6/26/14 - MOTOWN, THE LION, ATOMIC, 'MUSCLES' and More!

TODAY'S TOP ITEMS:

• MOTOWN THE MUSICAL marks 500 performances on Broadway!
• And it's a big night for off-Broadway: Labyrinth's THE MUSCLES IN OUR TOES by Stephen Belber opens tonight; Benjamin Scheuer's THE LION makes its American premiere at MTC's Stage II; and straight from Sydney, Australia, ATOMIC makes its U.S. premiere tonight!
• Richard Eyre's GHOSTS screens in cinemas across the UK and Ireland, beginning today.
• Set your DVR! THE TONIGHT SHOW will rebroadcast A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE's performance this evening...

NEWS YOU MISSED YESTERDAY:

• Sasha Allen, Kyle Selig and original Broadway cast member John Rubinstein will star in the PIPPIN National Tour (more here)!
• We got a first look at highlights and photos from Encores! Off-Center's TICK, TICK... BOOM! plus a sneak peek at Sting's THE LAST SHIP in Chicago!
• IT'S ONLY A PLAY has added performances and bumped its first preview to August 28.
• FORBIDDEN BROADWAY COMES OUT SWINGING! will close Off-Broadway on July 20...
• Rattlestick's PHOENIX announced its design team, including Caite Hevner Kemp, Amit Gajwani and Oona Curley!
• THE CLOSER's Kyra Sedgwick will star in John Patrick Shanley's new play THE DANISH WIDOW at Powerhouse next month.
• Ever wanted to hear James Franco recite poetry? Come to the ROCKAWAY! Arts Festival opening festivites on June 29!
• Jessie Austrian, Ben Steinfeld, Alison Cimmet and more have joined The Old Globe's NYC-bound production of INTO THE WOODS this summer.
• Such perfect casting! Ben Kingsley will voice 'Bagheera' in Disney's new JUNGLE BOOK movie.
• Tony and Emmy winner Eli Wallach passed at the age of 98 on June 24th. He will be missed; Broadway will be dimming its lights in his honor tomorrow.
• And finally, a HUGE congrats to Richard and Preston Ridge on their wedding yesterday!

Broadway Weather Forecast: High of 85 degrees and partly cloudy today, with a cooler evening on the Great White Way.

Quote of the Day: In honor of MOTOWN's milestone, here's Berry Gordy on finding commonality in the genre and on Broadway...

I've discovered that Motown and Broadway have a lot in common - a family of wonderfully talented, passionate, hardworking young people, fiercely competitive but also full of love and appreciation for the work, for each other and for the people in the audience.
-- Berry Gordy (via BrainyQuote)

What we're reading: Since we can't get our hands on the whole thing yet, this just-released excerpt from Neil Patrick Harris's impending CHOOSE YOUR OWN AUTOBIOGRAPHY!

And finally, a double Happy Birthday shout-out to Sean Hayes and Nick Offerman -- both turn 45 today!

Hayes last appeared on Broadway opposite Kristin Chenoweth in Promises, Promises, for which he was nominated for a 2010 Tony Award. He also took part in the Encores! production of Damn Yankees in 2008. The actor last starred on TV in Sean Saves the World and is also known for his roles in Smash, Up All Night, Will & Grace and more.

Offerman starred opposite his wife Megan Mullally in Annapurna off-Broadway this spring -- the pair also frequently appear together on NBC's comedy series Parks and Recreation. He also appeared in off-Broadway's Adding Machine in 2008. His recent film credits include Believe Me, 22 Jump Street, Date and Switch, The Lego Movie, Tuna, We're the Millers and more. He has also appeared on TV in Axe Cop and Childrens Hospital.