Ben Platt News

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: get a first look at clips from Be More Chill, meet the cast of King Kong, and more!

Ever since it was announced that iconic director Stephen Spielberg would be helming a remake of the musical classic WEST SIDE STORY, speculation has run rampant attempting to dreamcast the star-crossed lovers at the center of the story. In March, Tony winner Ben Platt shared his audition video to play Tony, and now a New York radio host is reporting that former star of pop group Fifth Harmony, Camila Cabello will soon officially be announced for the role of Maria. 

Six of Broadway's most sought-after stars will join Mark Cortale's "Broadway @ The Art House" and "Broadway @ Town Hall" concert series in Provincetown in August.

Chelsea Handler joins the Will and Grace revival for the second season, Entertainment Weekly has reported.

Starting next Today, Kidz Theater presents a new production of Cabaret, written by John Kander and Fred Ebb with a book by Joe Masteroff. The final show in Kidz Theater's tenth anniversary season in New York City, this new production brings together some of the most talented young performers in the tri-state area to finish off our 10th Anniversary Season in New York City! Cabaret plays at The Connelly Theater (220 East 4th Street) from Today July 20th to Sunday, July 29th. General Admission tickets are $35.00 in advance, with student tickets at $20.00 and orchestra table seats at $25.00. Tickets can be purchased at www.kidztheater.org/tickets.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: watch the cast of Hello, Dolly! perform at Broadway Barks, and more!

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ryan Murphy has cast Laura Dreyfuss (DEAR EVAN HANSEN), Zoey Deutch (Netflix's Set It Up), Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody), and Rahne Jones in his upcoming comedy The Politician. They join Barbra Streisand and Gwyneth Paltrow the upcoming hourlong comedy starring Ben Platt that landed at Netflix with a two-season order. The four will also be series regulars.

Starting next Friday, Kidz Theater presents a new production of Cabaret, written by John Kander and Fred Ebb with a book by Joe Masteroff. The final show in Kidz Theater's tenth anniversary season in New York City, this new production brings together some of the most talented young performers in the tri-state area to finish off our 10th Anniversary Season in New York City! Cabaret plays at The Connelly Theater (220 East 4th Street) from Friday July 20th to Sunday, July 29th. General Admission tickets are $35.00 in advance, with student tickets at $20.00 and orchestra table seats at $25.00. Tickets can be purchased at www.kidztheater.org/tickets.

Oh, say can you see... all the Broadway stars who have sung this song? Well now you can! It's America's birthday, and what better way to celebrate than with some of Broadway's best renditions of our national anthem.

Lin-Manuel Miranda returns to introduce the month of June's Hamildrop, "Boom Goes The Cannon…" starring Mobb Deep. This month's Hamildrop is dedicated to the memory of Prodigy of Mobb Deep as it lands close to the one year anniversary of his passing. Download/stream "Boom Goes The Cannon…"here. Not only is this release in honor and celebration of Prodigy, but it also serves as one of the last recordings done with his long-time partner, Havoc of Mobb Deep, as well as the first posthumous release since his passing nearly one year ago.

On our final day of this year's 30 Days of Tony, let's take a quick flashback to last year's big winner, Dear Evan Hansen!

Ilana Levine sat down with Be More Chill composer Joe Iconis, producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper and co-stars Lauren Marcus and George Salazar this past Sunday afternoon at Subculture to discuss this summer's hotly anticipated off-Broadway musical. Little known facts were revealed about the upcoming off-Broadway production and the real side of what it is to pursue a career in the arts. After the talk, there was live performance of songs from the musical as well as a Q&A session. The afternoon was co-produced by Ilana Levine and John Zeitoun.

Ilana Levine will sit down with Be More Chill composer Joe Iconis, co-producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper and co-stars Lauren Marcus and George Salazar this Sunday afternoon at Subculture to discuss this summer's hotly anticipated off-Broadway musical. This Sunday at 3pm, little known facts will be revealed about the upcoming off-Broadway production and the real side of what it is to pursue a career in the arts. After the talk, fans can expect a live performance of songs from the musical as well as a Q&A session. The afternoon is co-produced by Ilana Levine and John Zeitoun.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Desperate Measures begins performances off-Broadway and more!

Meet Josh Strobl: it might not be a name you recognize now, but don't be surprised when you see it lighting up a marquee on Broadway in the next few years. That's not only because he is crazy talented and currently a student at University of Michigan (which can claim Pasek & Paul, Gavin Creel, and Darren Criss as alumni), but he was also the winner of the 2016 Best Performance by an Actor Jimmy Award.

Dear Evan Hansen's Jared Kleinman is the mastermind partly responsible for the web of lies Evan Hansen weaves about being friends with his departed classmate, Connor Murphy. Equipped with digital savvy and verbal barbs, Jared provides the levity in the show, allowing audiences to view from a comedic standpoint the absurdity and heartbreak of Evan's situation. Actor Will Roland shares many things in common with his character-his humor, word play, quick wit-but one thing he thankfully no longer has in common is Jared's mean streak.

Modern Family Star Jesse Tyler Ferguson will sit down with Little Known Facts Podcast Creator Ilana Levine this Sunday at 6:30 pm at the W Times Square Hotel for an intimate conversation about life, love and art. Throughout the afternoon little known facts will be revealed as Jesse and Ilana discuss the real side of what it is to pursue a career in the arts.

Deadline has reported that actress Lola Kirke has signed on to join Tony Award-winning Dear Evan Hansen star Ben Platt in an upcoming feature film titled LOVE & OATMEAL produced by Black Label Media.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Unexpected Joy opens off-Broadway, and more!

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominees for the 45th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards and amongst the nominees was Ben Platt and the cast of Dear Evan Hansen. Senior VP and DTE Exec Producer, David Michaels said, 'I'm glad to see Broadway being recognized with a nomination.'