BWW Morning Brief February 1st, 2018: FIRE AND AIR Opens Tonight, and More!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Scroll down for the latest news! Want our morning reports delivered via email? Subscribe here!

1) Lincoln Center Theater Announces Full Casting For MY FAIR LADY
by BWW News Desk - January 31, 2018

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop) has announced complete casting for its upcoming production of Lerner & Loewe's MY FAIR LADY. As previously reported, Lauren Ambrose will be playing as Eliza Doolittle and Harry Hadden-Paton will play Henry Higgins, alongside Norbert Leo Butz as Alfred P. Doolittle and Diana Rigg as Mrs. Higgins. Just announced are: Allan Corduner as Colonel Pickering, Jordan Donica as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, Linda Mugleston as Mrs. Pearce, and Manu Narayan as Zoltan Karpathy.. (more...)

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2) Could THE GREATEST SHOWMAN Be Coming to Broadway?
by Stephanie Wild - January 31, 2018

Will The Greatest Showman 'come alive' on a Broadway stage someday? According to 20th Century Fox film chairman-CEO Stacey Snider, it's very possible!. (more...)

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3) Photo Flash: First Look at Broadway's New Evan Hansen, Taylor Trensch!
by BWW News Desk - January 31, 2018

He will be found! BroadwayWorld has a first look at Dear Evan Hansen's new Evan, Taylor Trensch, who made a surprise debut in Dear Evan Hansen last night. He'll perform as 'Evan Hansen' on 1/31 at 8 PM, 2/1 at 7 PM and 2/3 at 2 PM. Noah Galvin will perform all other shows this week. Noah's final performance is Sunday, 2/4 and Taylor's first 'official' performance is Tuesday, 2/6.. (more...)

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4) A Mostly-White PORGY AND BESS Stirs Up Controversy in Hungary
by BWW News Desk - January 31, 2018

One would assume that any company of Porgy and Bess, a 1935 folk opera set in an African American tenement in Charleston, South Carolina, would be made up of a black cast. It ain't necessarily so.. (more...)

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5) BWW TV: Hey, Look This Over! Vanessa Williams, Carolee Carmello, Bebe Neuwirth & More Get Ready to Kick Off the Encores! Season
by TV - Press Previews - January 31, 2018

Kicking off the Encores! season is Hey, Look Me Over! (Feb 7 - 11), an original production from the Tony- honored series responsible for bringing classic American musicals back to life since 1994. To celebrate Encores! at 25, Viertel and Encores! Music Director Rob Berman created Hey, Look Me Over!---a collection of opening numbers, grand finales, and other excerpts from beloved shows that have not yet found a berth on the City Center stage. They include: All American, George M!, Greenwillow, Jamaica, Mack & Mabel, Milk and Honey, Sail Away, and Wildcat.. (more...)

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Today's Call Sheet:

-AMY AND THE ORPHANS begins previews off-Broadway at Roundabout tonight!

-Terrence McNally's FIRE AND AIR officially opens tonight at Classic Stage Company!

-Jane Birkin performs BIRKIN/GAINSBOURG: LE SYMPHONIQUE at Carnegie Hall tonight!

-AS IS, a stage work exploring AIDS, begins performances tonight at Workshop Theatre!

-British TV Host, Pianist & Bandleader Jools Holland begins his run at The Blue Note today!

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BWW Exclusive: Check out our industry editor exclusive on how Broadway is dealing with the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements!

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What we're geeking out over: NATASHA, PIERRE, AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 will soar to Tokyo!

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Social Butterfly: DEAR EVAN HANSEN shared some process photos of its fan photo mosaic on Twitter!

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See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!