WAKE UP with BWW 3/12/2015 - THE KING AND I, NEW YORK SPRING SPECTACULAR Begin and More!
By: Jessica Showers Mar. 12, 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 KING AND I and the NEW YORK SPRING SPECTACULAR start performances!
Next up in our series of stars introducing BWW's morning feature is Andrew Samonsky (portrait by Walter McBride), current star of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at Paper Mill, who has appeared on Broadway in SCANDALOUS, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD and SOUTH PACIFIC!
Photo by Walter McBride
TODAY'S TOP ITEMS:
- THE KING AND I begins performances on Broadway tonight!
- The Rockettes' starry NEW YORK SPRING SPECTACULAR kicks off today!
- An immersive reimagining of CARRIE makes its debut on the West Coast tonight...
- And the company of LIVING ON LOVE meets the press, so stay tuned for coverage!
NEWS YOU MISSED YESTERDAY:
- The stars of NBC's SMASH will reunite for a BOMBSHELL benefit concert; the Kickstarter has already raised nearly $150,000!
- We got a first look at the cast of 'HUNCHBACK' in action at Paper Mill, plus photos (right) and highlights from the Broadway-bound FIRST WIVES CLUB in Chicago!
- John Dossett is healthy and ready to join Broadway's CHICAGO this weekend.
- Audra McDonald and Megan Hilty are set for Kennedy Center's Spring Gala!
- Barbra Streisand will present the 2015 Chaplin Award to Robert Redford next month...
- James Houghton is stepping down as Artistic Director of Signature Theatre.
- Britain's Ambassador Theatre Group is eyeing Broadway houses, and Michael Urie is bringing BUYER & CELLAR to London!
Broadway Weather Forecast: Lots of sunshine with a high of 48 degrees!
Quote of the Day: A word from THE KING AND I star Ken Watanabe...
"I have no sense of myself as a sex symbol at all. But the meaning of sex symbol might be a little different in Japan to elsewhere. The Japanese version seems to come with a stronger emphasis on a sort of grownup or mature male charm. And if that's the case, then I guess I'm happy to hear it."
-- Ken Watanabe (via BrainyQuote)
Video of the Day: Watch GIGI's Vanessa Hudgens perform on GMA!
And a Happy Birthday shout-out to Liza Minnelli, who turns 69 today!
Minnelli, daughter of Vincente Minnelli and Judy Garland, last appeared on Broadway in Liza's at the Palace... Before that, she took the New York stage in Minnelli on Minnelli, Victor / Victoria, The Rink, The Act (which won her a Tony in 1978), Chicago, Liza and Flora, The Red Menace (her first Tony win in 1965). The actress also received a special Tony Award in 1974 and was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2000. She is well known for playing 'Sally Bowles' in the 1972 Cabaret film, which won her the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Actress. More recently, Liza has appeared on TV in the series Arrested Development and in a cameo on Smash.
Photo by Walter McBride
See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!