WAKE UP with BWW 9/16/14 - Barbra's PARTNERS, Betty's GHOSTLIGHT, EVITA in the West End, TALK RADIO 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? Today's big news: Barbra and Betty release their new albums today, EVITA opens at the Dominion, TALK RADIO opens at the Chain, and stars take to regional stages across the U.S. tonight!
Next up in our series of Broadway stars introducing BWW's morning feature is Tony nominee S. Epatha Merkerson (portrait by Walter McBride), currently in WHILE I YET LIVE off-Broadway, who has appeared on the Great White Way in COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA, THE PIANO LESSON and TINTYPES.
Photo by Walter McBride.
TODAY'S TOP ITEMS:
- Barbra Streisand and Betty Buckley release their albums today!
- EVITA, starring Madalena Alberto, opens in the West End tonight, while two new stars join the cast of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS.
- Eric Bogosian's TALK RADIO opens off-Broadway this evening...
- CHOIR BOY makes its West Coast premiere at the Geffen, starring Nicholas L. Ashe, Grantham Coleman and Jeremy Pope!
- Anastasia Barzee and Tony Sheldon lead VICTOR/VICTORIA, starting tonight at TUTS.
- And Wayne Brady stars opposite Merle Dandridge in KISS ME, KATE in Pasadena!
TAKE IT WITH YOU
WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY:
- HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL could be planning a Broadway run and movie musical adaptation in 2016...
- BEAUTIFUL has recouped on Broadway!
- We got a first look (right) at YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU in action!
- Quinn VanAntwerp will rejoin Broadway's JERSEY BOYS as 'Bob Gaudio' next week.
- Patti LuPone is returning to 54 Below with FAR AWAY PLACES - PART TWO in November...
- Billy Porter and more will take part in the Drama League's Fall 2014 lineup.
- James Cromwell will star as Rupert Murdoch in Sydney!
- Susan Boyle's new album HOPE is set for release next month.
- And Tyne Daly, Chita Rivera and Jerry Mitchell will help GMHC honor Terrence McNally at the end of this month...
Broadway Weather Forecast: High of 72 degrees. Cloudy this morning with sun in the afternoon!
Quote of the Day: Barbra Streisand on obsession...
I've been called many names like perfectionist, difficult and obsessive. I think it takes obsession, takes searching for the details for any artist to be good.
-- Barbra Streisand (via BrainyQuote)
What we're listening to: It's a big day for releases! The one and only Barbra Streisand's PARTNERS album is out today, alongside Betty Buckley's GHOSTLIGHT (more here) and the reissue of MISS SAIGON. Plus, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett are set to release their next single "Nature Boy" today -- so be on the look-out!
What we're reading: A new volume on the legacy and lore of classic movie musical THE WIZARD OF OZ, courtesy of LIFE, hits the shelves today! THE WIZARD OF OZ: 75 YEARS ALONG THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD features behind-the-scenes photography and anecdotes, plus commentary and more.
Video of the Day: Barbra's duet with Jimmy Fallon on last night's TONIGHT SHOW! Check out another clip here.
And finally, a Happy Birthday shout-out to Nick Jonas, who turns 22 today!
Nick Jonas most recently appeared on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Before that, he was seen in Annie Get Your Gun, Beauty and the Beast and Les Miserables. He is, of course, one of the famous Jonas Brothers band, also featuring his brothers Kevin and Joe. Nick will next appear on the big screen in Careful What You Wish For. Among his TV credits are Kingdom, Smash, Submissions Only, Jonas and Disney's Camp Rock movies.
Photo by Joan Marcus.
See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!
