The Boys in the Band Photos - Off-Broadway

Working up your strategy for how to win the Hamilton? lottery? Fantasizing over the cute puppy you saw at Broadway Barks? Didn't have time check in on all of the latest Broadway news? Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.' Highlights from this week include a first look at THE WILD PARTY, AMAZING GRACE and Benedict Cumberbatch and so much more!

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

In 1968 'Hair,' dubbed the American Tribal Love-Rock musical, exploded on Broadway. It shocked the nation, but gave an accurate picture of a world rocked with chaos. The Vietnam war raged, the peace movement flourished, draft cards were burned, rebellion against traditional values exploded. 'Drugs, sex and rock and roll' became the mantra of the day and were clearly exposed on stage. The show's book was strong and the score was filled with top ten hits including 'Aquarius,' 'Good Morning Starshine,' 'I Believe in Love,' and 'Where Do I Go?' It became the seminal musical theatre offering illustrating 'theater representing the era from which it comes.'

Mickey Rooney, who spent nearly his entire life in the show business, died on Sunday at 93, after being in ill health for quite some time. He appeared on Broadway in Sugar Babies (opposite fellow MGM legend Ann Miller) and The Will Rogers Follies. BroadwayWorld remembers the stage and screen great below.

Making Books Sing (MBS), the critically acclaimed New York-based non-profit that promotes children's literacy and social development through professional Theater Productions and arts-in-education programs will, in conjunction with The Louis Armstrong House Museum and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College presents the world-premiere, Off-Broadway musical Louis Armstrong: JAZZ AMBASSADOR with book by Myla Churchill (MBS's "A Band of Angels") and featuring music made famous by Louis Armstong. The show is now playing Theater 3 (311 West 43rd Street) in Manhattan. Get a first look at Jeremy Giraud Abram as Louis Armstrong in the photos below!

Reprise Theatre Company's production of the classic American musical 'Cabaret,' which opens the 2011-2012 Reprise season and plays September 13 to 25 (press opening September 14, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, includes a cast of new talents as well as Broadway and West End veterans - Zach Bandler as Ernst Ludwig, Lisa O'Hare as Sally Bowles, Jeff McLean as Cliff Bradshaw, Katrina Lenk as Fräulein Kost, Mary Gordon Murray as Fräulein Schneider, Robert Picardo as Herr Schultz and Bryce Ryness as the Master of Ceremonies.

Actors Robert Wagner and Jill St. John were in attendance at a recent performance of Transport Group's THE BOYS IN THE BAND. The production is currently running through March 28 at 37 West 26th Street, Penthouse (b/w Sixth Ave. & Broadway).

Transport Group (TG), the winner of a special 2007 Drama Desk Award and a 2007 Obie Award, will present Mart Crowley's The Boys in the Band, directed by artistic director Jack Cummings III, beginning Friday, February 12, and opening Sunday, February 21, at 5pm in a site-specific production at 37 West 26 Street, between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, Penthouse.

From the genius who created the smash hit, 'Rent,' comes 'tick, tick...BOOM!,' a vital American musical about a young artist on the verge in New York City. Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut, will stage this lesser-known work by Jonathan Larson, June 23 through July 18. The director is Scott Schwartz, who helmed the original off-Broadway production of 'tick, tick... BOOM!,' winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for outstanding musical.

Come give your happy feet a chance and jump, jive and wail at Pittsburgh CLO's production of Swing!, playing June 20 through 26 at the Benedum Center in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District.

Come give your happy feet a chance and jump, jive and wail at Pittsburgh CLO's production of Swing!, playing June 20 through 26 at the Benedum Center in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District.