WAKE UP with BroadwayWorld - Thursday, May 1, 2014 - Off-Broadway Extravaganza! HERE LIES LOVE, 'MISS MARIE', TOO MUCH SUN 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? For your most important theatre meal of the day, we've rounded up the big news you missed yesterday, what's on the agenda today, and a few extras to start your day off right.

The Bacon: See what's on the griddle today...

• Lots of great shows are either opening or beginning performances off-Broadway on this First of May! HERE LIES LOVE returns to the Public, THE FABULOUS MISS MARIE, starring Tonya Pinkins, opens at Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre (more here), and Nicky SIlver's TOO MUCH SUN, featuring Linda Lavin, begins previews at the Vineyard! Tonight at the Vineyard!
• Plus, FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME returns to Lincoln Center Theater's LCT3 series for a special performance tonight and tomorrow...
• National Theatre Live screens KING LEAR, starring Simon Russell Beale, in theaters today.
• DVR Alert - The cast of ROCKY will appear on LETTERMAN tonight, and Idina Menzel and Julie Andrews visit Bravo's WATCH WHAT HAPPENS!
• And finally, speaking of TV talent, Kathie Lee Gifford makes an appearance in NextStop Theatre's INTO THE WOODS, beginning tonight as the Giant's Wife...

Cup of Joe: Perk up and revisit yesterday's big stories...

• Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Natalie Cole will guest star in AFTER MIDNIGHT this summer!
• IF/THEN star Idina Menzel is coming to Radio City Music Hall in June!
• BROADWAY BARES: SOLO STRIPS released its sexy promo art!
• The world premiere of AMAZING GRACE announced its cast; the show will run in Chicago this fall.
• Leslie Odom Jr. will join Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo in tick, tick... BOOM at the City Center...
• The Menier Chocolate Factory's FORBIDDEN BROADWAY announced its cast across the pond!
• Red Bull Theater will honor Olympia Dukakis and more with Matador Awards.
• And finally, voting just opened for our 2014 BroadwayWorld Awards!

Broadway Weather Forecast: Morning rain with a high of 73 degrees. If we can't have clear skies, at least it's warmer!

Quote of the Day: On artistic control...

"...the control you have in a theatre is very attractive to me."
-- Judi Dench (via BrainyQuote)

What we're reading: Hilary Mantel's WOLF HALL and BRING UP THE BODIES. The stage versions are transfering to the Aldwych in the West End beginning tonight!

Video of the Day: In honor of Tonya Pinkins, star of THE FABULOUS MISS MARIE, which opens off-Broadway tonight, check out her performance of "Lot's Wife" from CAROLINE, OR CHANGE at the 2004 Tony Awards!