WAKE UP with BWW 9/12/14 - LOVE LETTERS, 'BOGEYMAN', 'MOLLY BROWN', Stritch at 54 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? This weekend's big news: LOVE LETTERS begins previews Saturday, off-Broadway gets crowded with shows tonight, including STALKING THE BOGEYMAN, Broadway celebs get together to tribute Elaine Stritch this evening, and THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN hits the stage in Denver!
THIS WEEKEND'S TOP ITEMS:
- The companies of LOVE LETTERS (beginning previews tomorrow), WHILE I YET LIVE (with Lillias White, up in our header today - details here) and THE BELLE OF AMHERST (more here) meet the press today, so stay tuned for photos and video!
- Off-Broadway is exploding with new shows! STALKING THE BOGEYMAN (more here), ALMOST HOME (here) with Karen Ziemba and Joe Lisi, NYTW's SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE (here) and more all begin performances this evening!
- In Denver, Beth Malone stars in a refreshed version of THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN, helmed by Kathleen Marshall.
- And a slew of stars gather to celebrate Elaine Stritch at 54 Below tonight!
NEWS YOU MISSED YESTERDAY:
- Elisabeth Moss, Jason Biggs and Bryce Pinkham will lead the THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, beginning on Broadway in February!
- THE SOUND OF MUSIC is set to kick off a national tour next fall!
- BC/EFA has announced the auction slate for the 28th Annual Broadway Flea Market next Sunday.
- Kate Baldwin, Kelli O'Hara, Laura Osnes and Steven Pasquale will appear in "Encores! Celebrates Rodgers, Hammerstein & Hart Gala" next month!
- We got a look (right) at Ben Rimalower's new solo show BAD WITH MONEY.
- PAGEANT is raising money for a cast recording!
- CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY has extended again in the West End, and we got a sneak peek at the MEMPHIS cast in rehearsal for the show's London debut...
- And Stephen Schwartz, on behalf of the Dramatists Guild, penned a letter condemning a PA high school's principal for cancelling their production of SPAMALOT due to "homosexual themes".
Broadway Weather Forecast: High of 76 for the weekend - perfect! Sunny except for evening showers on Saturday.
Quote of the Day: PRIDE hits theaters in the UK today, and to celebrate, here's a quote from stage and screen star Imelda Staunton (who will be leading GYPSY at Chichester this autumn)...
You could say I'm a character actress. Or maybe a character actress who does peculiar, interesting lead roles. Does that make sense?
-- Imelda Staunton (via BrainyQuote)
What we're watching: ARCHAEOLOGY OF A WOMAN, starring Tony winner Victoria Clark opposite Sally Kirkland, hits select theaters today. Check out the trailer below!
And finally, a Happy Birthday shout-out to Will Chase, who turns 44 today!
Chase was most recently seen on Broadway in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, for which he was nominated for a Tony in 2013. His other Broadway credits include Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Story of My Life, Billy Elliot, High Fidelity, Lennon, The Full Monty, Aida, RENT and Miss Saigon. He has also appeared on TV in NBC's musical drama series Smash, as well as The Good Wife; Chase currently stars in Nashville.
Photo by Joan Marcus.
See you bright and early on Monday, BroadwayWorld!
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