WAKE UP with BWW 3/17/2016 - SHE LOVES ME, HEAD OF PASSES, St. Patty's Day and More!

By: Jessica Khan Mar. 17, 2016

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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: Laura Benanti, Jane Krakowski and Phylicia Rashad return to the stage -- plus, it's St. Patrick's Day!

TODAY'S TOP ITEMS:

- SHE LOVES ME, starring Laura Benanti, Jane Krakowski, and more, opens tonight on Broadway!
- Phylicia Rashad returns to The Public in HEAD OF PASSES, starting tonight.
- THE SWEET POTATO QUEENS musical begins this evening in Houston...
- And Neil LaBute's REASONS TO BE HAPPY makes its UK debut!

O'Connell & Astley celebrate THE NAP!

NEWS YOU MISSED YESTERDAY:

- Andrew Rannells and Patina Miller are set to announce the 2016 Tony Award nominations in May!
- The ON THE TOWN revival cast will reunite with the San Francisco Symphony this spring.
- FIDDLER ON THE ROOF will celebrate its 100th performance this Friday.
- We got a look (right) at Jack O'Connell and more celebrating THE NAP's opening in Sheffield, plus highlights from PASSION's Paris premiere!
- Glenn Slater's BEATSVILLE musical will premiere at Asolo Rep this season.
- William Daniels and Lin-Manuel Miranda got together to talk '1776' and HAMILTON, and it was amazing!
- And there's now an app to remind you to enter HAMILTON's digital lottery, but the show's standby line looks like it might be shrinking...

Broadway Weather Forecast: Partly cloudy with a high of 65. Get out there and enjoy your St. Patrick's Day festivities!

Quote of the Day: A word from HEAD OF PASSES star Phylicia Rashad...

"What's in front of you is a whole world of experiences beyond your imagination. Put yourself, and your growth and development, first."
-- Phylicia Rashad (via BrainyQuote)

What we're watching: This hilarious -- and simultaneously sobering -- HAMILTRUMP spoof!

Video of the Day: In honor of St. Patrick's Day, watch a scene from FINIAN'S RAINBOW at Encores!

And a Happy Birthday shout-out to Gary Sinise, who turns 61 today!

Sinise last starred on Broadway in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, which earned him a Tony nomination in 2001. Before that, he directed and produced BURIED CHILD and appeared in Broadway's THE GRAPES OF WRATH and THE CARETAKER. He won the 1985 Regional Tony Award as Artistic Director of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Sinise is well known for his portrayal of 'George Milton' in the film OF MICE AND MEN, received an Oscar nomination for his role as 'Lt. Dan Taylor' in FORREST GUMP, gave a Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Harry S. Truman in TRUMAN, played Ken Mattingly in APOLLO 13 and the title character in the Emmy-winning TV movie GEORGE WALLACE. Sinise has also appeared on the small screen in CSI: NY and will soon be seen in CRIMINAL MINDS: BEYOND BORDERS.

Gary Sinise performs at Steppenwolf's 2015 gala.

See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!

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