Wake Up With BroadwayWorld August 21, 2025- Darren Criss to Return to MAYBE HAPPY ENDING and More
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is August 21, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Aug. 21, 2025
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Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is August 21, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours:
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Good morning, Broadway fans! It’s a brand new day on the Great White Way, and we have lots of exciting stories to catch you up on. Darren Criss delighted audiences by announcing he’ll return to Maybe Happy Ending after his leave of absence, while Aisha Jackson wowed us with an exclusive performance from The Great Gatsby. Luke Newton made his New York stage debut off-Broadway in House of McQueen, and there’s an enchanting new Kiss of the Spider Woman film trailer starring Jennifer Lopez that you won't want to miss. Plus, check out our latest photo galleries, industry news—including magic acts on New York stages and fresh industry appointments—and updates from around the BroadwayWorld, like Rob Lake bringing magic and The Muppets to Broadway. Scroll down for even more top videos, must-see photos, reviews, and daily games. Here’s to a showstopping Wednesday!
But first...
| This Week's Call Sheet |
Call Me Izzy closes on Broadway
| The Front Page |
 Darren Criss Will Return to MAYBE HAPPY ENDING At today's matinee performance of Maybe Happy Ending, Tony winner Darren Criss announced that he will return to the show following his previously announced 9-week leave-of-absence. |
 Exclusive: Aisha Jackson Belts Out a Haunting 'Beautiful Little Fool' from THE GREAT GATSBY Daisy Buchanan is a complicated woman. Just ask Aisha Jackson, who plays her eight times a week at the Broadway Theatre. Watch in this video as she is joined by Daniel Edmonds on the piano at the beautiful Laurie Beechman Theatre to perform Daisy's haunting Act 2 ballad, 'Beautiful Little Fool.' |
 Video: Luke Newton Is Taking Up Residence at the HOUSE OF MCQUEEN For Luke Newton, making a New York stage debut has been a dream since the age of 10. This week is a dream come true for the Bridgerton star, who last night began off-Broadway performances in the new play, House of McQueen. Watch in this video as Luke chats more about why he can't wait to step into McQueen's shoes. |
| Must Watch |
 Video: KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN Film Trailer, Starring Jennifer Lopezby Stephi Wild An all new trailer has been released for the upcoming Kiss of the Spider Woman film, directed by Academy Award winner Bill Condon and starring Diego Luna, Tonatiuh, and Jennifer Lopez. Watch the video here!. (more...) |
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 Video: Kristin Chenoweth Dances With Jonathan Groff at JUST IN TIMEby Michael Major Kristin Chenoweth visited Jonathan Groff in 'the basement of Wicked' at Just In Time! Chenoweth joined her former Glee co-star at the hit Bobby Darin musical on Tuesday night. Watch the video now!. (more...) |
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Video: KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN Film Trailer, Starring Jennifer Lopez Video: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Tour Releases All New Footage by Stephi Wild All new footage has been released from the North American tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the first touring production of the musical presented by Disney in over 25 years. Check out the video here! . (more...) Video: Watch the Trailer for ROCKY HORROR SHOW Documentary STRANGE JOURNEY Video: Kristin Chenoweth Reveals QUEEN OF VERSAILLES Cast Video: Meet The Cast of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS on Tour Video: Kumail Nanjiani Shares Why He Decided to Join Broadway's OH, MARY! by Josh Sharpe Kumail Nanjiani and Michael Urie, who recently joined Broadway's Oh, Mary!, visited Good Morning America on Monday to discuss the hit play, and their experience in the production. Check out the full conversation now.. (more...) Video: Watch the Trailer For PLAY ON at Signature Theatre by Michael Major Signature Theatre has released the trailer for Play On!, a musical based on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night and set to the syncopated soundtrack of Duke Ellington’s greatest hits. Watch the new video now!. (more...) |
Video: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Tour Releases All New Footage| Hot Photos |
 Photos: SHE LOVES ME is Now Playing at Bucks County Playhouseby Stephi Wild Bucks County Playhouse will continue its summer season with a new revival of the beloved musical romance “She Loves Me,” directed and choreographed by two-time Tony-nominee Denis Jones. Check out all new photos here!. (more...) |
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 Photos: PLAY ON! at Signature Theatre First Look Imagesby Chloe Rabinowitz Signature Theatre is now presenting Play On!, a musical based on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night, set to the syncopated soundtrack of Duke Ellington’s greatest hits. Get a first look at photos here! . (more...) |
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Photos: WICKED: FOR GOOD Debuts New Glinda and Elphaba Character Posters |
Photos: Jenna Fischer and More in Rehearsals for ASHLAND AVENUE at Goodman Theatre| Industry Insights |
by Howard Sherman
xIn the city where Houdini once extricated himself from a straitjacket while dangling upside down above Times Square, it’s surprising that we don’t get major magic acts on stage more often than we do in New York. This relative paucity is thrown into relief when magic, illusion, escape and the like actually do take up residence on New York stages, as is the case right now with Lord Nil extricating himself from threat of the Seven Deadly Sins at Stage 42 while just eight blocks uptown Jamie Allan is conjuring motorcycles and reams of playing cards at New World Stages with his show Amaze.. (more...)
Gary Roden Joins Trafalgar Entertainment Venues Division as Chief Operating Officer
by Chloe Rabinowitz
TRAFALGAR ENTERTAINMENT has revealed that Gary Roden will join its venues division – TRAFALGAR THEATRES – on 1 September in the new role of Chief Operating Officer. Learn more! . (more...)
Theatre Communications Group to Present 2025 Fall Forum on Governance: Leadership for the Long Arc
by Chloe Rabinowitz
Theatre Communications Group's 2025 Fall Forum on Governance will take place in New York City from November 7–9, 2025. Learn more and see how to attend!. (more...)
Repertorio Español, Teatro Círculo and More Nominated for 2025 HOLA Awards
by Chloe Rabinowitz
The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors revealed the theater nominees for their 50th anniversary HOLA Awards. Learn more about the nominees and see the full list here!. (more...)
| Around the Broadway World |
Rob Lake Will Bring Magic and The Muppets to Broadway
by Stephi Wild
Rob Lake is headed to Broadway for the 2025 holiday season with ROB LAKE MAGIC with Special Guests The Muppets. Performances will begin at the Broadhurst Theatre on Tuesday, October 28.. (more...)
Carrie Coon Will Return to Broadway in BUG
by Stephi Wild
Manhattan Theatre Club will present the Broadway premiere of Bug, written by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts, and directed by Tony Award winner David Cromer. . (more...)
Max Mendoza Crumm, Dylan Mulvaney and More to Star in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Concert
by Chloe Rabinowitz
Breaking the Binary Theatre has revealed the complete cast for the organization’s one-night-only concert of The Drowsy Chaperone at the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets!. (more...)
Review: TWELFTH NIGHT, Shakespeare's Globe
by Clementine Scott
‘This is Illyria,’ bellows the sea captain conveying the shipwrecked Viola to shore, in what is surely one of Shakespeare’s most straightforward opening lines. In Robin Belfield’s new production, that triumphant declaration serves as an introduction not just to Twelfth Night’s fictional Balkan setting, but also to the rich visual universe Belfield has conjured up onstage.. (more...)
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See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!
"Where I am ain't where I was!"- Thoroughly Modern Millie |
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