Andrew Rannells News

The 2012 Grammy Awards are tonight, and the nominees for 'Best Musical Theater Album' were THE BOOK OF MORMON, ANYTHING GOES, and HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING.

Well, we went straight to the source and in a joint statement, Scott Rudin and Jordan Roth said, 'We're longtime partners and good friends and have always had a great relationship. The Book of Mormon is a very happy tenant with a very happy theatre owner.'

Deadline.com announced that Emmy Award winner Ellen Barkin is in negotiations to join the previously announced Andrew Rannells in the new NBC pilot 'The New Normal.' The comedy is created and produced by GLEE's Ryan Murphy and Allison Adler.

Today, Deadline.com revealed that the show has been greenlit by NBC, adding that the series now has a title: 'The New Normal.'

Tony nominee Adam Pascal (currently starring in Memphis), Heidi Blickenstaff (The Addams Family, title of show), Julia Murney (Queen of the Mist/Wicked), join Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame legend Darlene Love and Broadway's Mary Testa (Queen of the Mist), Julie Halston (Anything Goes), Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon), and Seth Rudetsky for the Second Annual Broadway Belts! for PFF (Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation) Benefit on February 27, 2012 at 7:00pm at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street). For tickets visit bit.ly/broadway2012; Broadway@pulmonaryfibrosis.org or (312) 239 - 6636.

BROADWAY BACKWARDS 7, a one-night-only event produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and benefiting Broadway Cares and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center will be held Monday, March 5 at 8 PM at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). Perfromers for the event have just been announced, and included in the lineup are: Chita Rivera, Adam Pascal from Memphis The Musical, Andrew Rannells from The Book of Mormon on Broadway, Bruce Vilanch, Sierra Boggess, Telly Leung from Godspell & Glee, Bryan Batt, Robin de Jesus & Shawna M. Hamic from Les Miserables on Tour.

THE BOOK OF MORMON's original principal cast, Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells, Nikki M. James, Rory O'Malley, Michael Potts, along with Lewis Cleale and Brian Tyree Henry, have extended their contracts with the Tony Award-winning musical through February 2013. THE BOOK OF MORMON will celebrate its first year on Broadway on February 24, 2012.

Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame legend Darlene Love and Broadway's Mary Testa join Julie Halston, Andrew Rannells, and Seth Rudetsky for the Second Annual Broadway Belts! for PFF (Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation) Benefit on February 27, 2012 at 7:00pm at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street). For tickets visit bit.ly/broadway2012 or (312) 239 - 6636.

Tony Award nominee Andrew Rannells, currently starring on Broadway in THE BOOK OF MORMON, has signed on to a new comedy from GLEE's Ryan Murphy and Allison Adler.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) has relaunched its popular podcast series, Downstage Center, with an all new format.

According to the NY Post, Broadway favorites Andrew Rannells, Annaleigh Ashford, and Colin Donnell took part in a workshop last month for a stage version of 'Diner.' Based on the 1982 Barry Levinson film of the same name, the project featured direction by Kathleen Marshall and music by Sheryl Crow.

My first introduction to Mark Fisher Fitness was this photo. A friend and colleague had just completed a several month stretch of fitness training with the muscle toning guru and posted this shot on Facebook. It is the photo I at least have always wanted; my regular, normal-looking self transformed into a perfectly healthy, perfectly sculpted version of model proportions, only this wasn't Photoshopped.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) has relaunched its popular podcast series, Downstage Center, with an all new format.

LYSISTRATA JONES plays its final performance today at 3:00pm at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th street). Upon closing, the musical will have played 34 previews and 30 performances. Written by Tony nominee Douglas Carter Beane (book) and Lewis Flinn (music/lyrics), LYSISTRATA JONES is directed and choreographed by Tony nominee Dan Knechtges.

There's been speculation since it opened on Broadway that the undeniable hit THE BOOK OF MORMON would be headed for a West End debut. The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reports today that THE BOOK OF MORMON is indeed headed for London - and will move into the Prince of Wales Theatre in early 2013.

Broadway's Julie Halston (currently in rehearsals for Roundabout's Anything Goes) will host the Second Annual Broadway Belts! for PFF (Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation) Benefit on February 27, 2012 at 7:00pm at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street).

As the clock ticks towards 2012, BroadwayWorld caught up with 100 of your Broadway favorites and industry supporters about their hopes for themselves and those they love in the new year.

Welcome to THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As With Your Favorite Broadway Stars. Want to know what hooked them to a career in the theater? Their dream roles? Their Broadway crushes? Read on!

National Public Radio's "Fresh Air," hosted by Terry Gross, will rebroadcast their interview with THE BOOK OF MORMON's co-authors Trey Parker and Matt Stone on tomorrow's show, Friday, December 30.

Not to be outdone by their female counterparts, the men of Broadway can boast a banner year. Norbert Leo Butz won a second Tony for Catch Me If You Can, Harry Potter mega-star Daniel Radcliffe made his debut in a Broadway musical to tremendous acclaim, Matt Stone, Trey Parker and Robert Lopez rocked Broadway to its core with the Rialto's latest certified Blockbuster, The Book of Mormon, and Pee-Wee Herman came to the stage at last.