Week in Review 10.3.14

It's All About the Hamilton Cast, Baby
Full casting—and an extension—has been announced for the premiere of Hamilton, the new Lin-Manuel Miranda musical based on the life of the American political figure. (Official credits cite an inspiration by the Ron Chernow book, Alexander Hamilton.) Joining Miranda (In the Heights, tick, tick...BOOM!) in the Public Theater production are Leslie Odom, Jr., (tick, tick...BOOM!, Leap of Faith); Brian d'Arcy James (Next to Normal, Time Stands Still); Renee Elise Goldsberry (Good People); Christopher Jackson (Holler If Ya Hear Me, Freestyle Love Supreme member, alongside Miranda); and Ariana DeBose (Miranda's Bring It On), among others. Hamilton begins previews on January 20, 2015, and, with the extension, will continue through March 22. Opening night is set for February 17. Broadwayworld.com has the full cast list, and visit the Public's website to purchase tickets (now, before they sell out again).

Finding Neverland Finds Broadway Home
The acclaimed new musical, which just completed a celebrated run at ART in Cambridge, MA, has found its Broadway home. Finding Neverland will play the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, with previews beginning in March 2015. (Opening night is scheduled for April 8.) Directed by Tony winner Diane Paulus (Hair, Pippin), the show, based on the eponymous movie, is written by James Graham (book) and Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy (score). Casting has not been announced for the Broadway bow, but the ART production starred Jeremy Jordan (Newsies) and Laura Michelle Kelly (Mary Poppins). Broadway.com has more.

Theater Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
The 44th class of the Theater Hall of Fame has been announced. Susan Stroman (Big Fish; the upcoming Little Dancer); F. Murray Abraham; Alvin Epstein; Blythe Danner (who can currently be seen in The Country House); Frank Rich; Philip J. Smith (chairman of the Shubert Organization); Alfred Uhry; and Marshall Mason will be honored for their lifetime achievement in American theater. A ceremony will be held in their honor on January 26, 2015, at the Gershwin Theatre. As Playbill reports, to be eligible for nomination, artists "must have at least 25 years in the American theatre with five major credits on Broadway or be a leading pioneer of off-Broadway or regional theatre." Learn more at theaterhalloffame.org.

Casting Updates
Workshop—Tony winner Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher) and Brian d'Arcy James (Next to Normal, Time Stands Still) will take part in a workshop of a new musical, Something Rotten, written by Wayne Kirkpatrick (score), Karey Kirkpatrick (score and book) and John O'Farrell (book). Directed by Casey Nicholaw (Aladdin, The Book of Mormon), the workshop will take place in NYC this month; a production at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre is expected in the spring. Broadway.com has additional casting.

Broadway—Additional casting has been announced for the Broadway iteration of Peter Morgan's The Audience. Joining the previously announced Helen Mirren are Geoffrey Beevers, Michael Elwyn, Richard McCabe and Rufus Wright, all of whom starred in the London production. The Audience begins previews on February 17, 2015, with opening night set for March 8. The limited engagement, playing at the Schoenfeld Theatre, will run through June 28. Broadway.com has more.

TV Pilot—Tony nominee Santino Fontana (Act One, Cinderella), as well as Donna Lynne Champlin (See Rock City...) and Vincent Rodriguez III (Here Lies Love) are joining the cast of the Showtime pilot, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. The musical comedy series is created by Rachel Bloom and also features MAD TV alumnus Michael McDonald. The pilot shoots in LA this month. TV Line has more.

Broadway—Ruth Wilson is joining Jake Gyllenhaal in the Broadway bow of Constellations, the new play from Nick Payne (If There is I Haven't Found it Yet). The MTC production begins previews at the Biltmore on December 16, with opening night of the limited engagement set for January 13, 2015. Tickets are now on sale. Visit Broadway.com for more.

Film—Sexypants POTUS Benjamin Walker (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) has been cast in the latest Nicholas Sparks adaptation. Walker will star in The Choice, based on the 2007 Sparks novel. The Hollywood Reporter has more.

TV—Unfortunately, Community star Yvette Nicole Brown has decided to leave the cult-favorite television show. She tells TV Guide she is leaving so she can take care of her ailing father. Fans will miss Brown when season six airs, but we wish health and happiness for her family.

West End—Aaron Tveit (Next to Normal, Graceland) will make his West End stage debut in the Menier Chocolate Factory's revival of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins! The musical will run November 21 through March 7, 2015, and Tveit is scheduled to be with the production for the full run. Keep your fingers crossed that he and the production cross the pond and take a Broadway bow! Broadway.com has more.

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