Week in Review 5.22.15

Casting News

  • Taye Diggs (Rent) has been confirmed as the next Hedwig in the Tony-winning revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Diggs will begin performances on July 22, and continue for a 12-week run. The fantastic Rebecca Naomi Jones will continue in the role of Yitzhak. (Scroll down for her first backstage vlog.) Broadway.com has more.

  • Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction) and Kristin Chenoweth (On the Twentieth Century) will co-star in The Brits Are Coming, a comedic heist movie written by James Okaley and Alex Michaelides, and directed by Oakley. The Hollywood Reporter has details. 

     
  • Tony winner John Gallagher, Jr. (American Idiot, The Newsroom) has his next gig lined up: The talented star has joined the cast of The Belko Experiment, a film written by James Gunn. Greg McLean will direct the picture, set to begin shooting in Bogota, Colombia, this June. Gunn posted the news on Facebook in a thoughtful message about the first time Gallagher auditioned for him. The Wrap reports that Tony Goldwyn (Scandal) and Melonie Diaz (Fruitvale Station) will also star.

  • Full casting has been announced for the Encores! presentation of A New Brain. Joining the previously announced Jonathan Groff are Aaron Lazar (The Last Ship), Jenni Barber (The Performers), Quentin Earl Darrington (Ragtime revival), Ana Gasteyer (SNL), Josh Lamon (Hair, Finding Neverland) and more. Theater Mania has the full cast list.

  • Eddie Cooper will voice Audrey II in the Encores! production of Little Shop of Horrors, replacing his father, Chuck, who'll be on Broadway in Amazing Grace. Eddie joins a cast led by Jake Gyllenhaal and Ellen Greene. Broadway.com has more.
Theatre Award Season Updates

The Hollywood Reporter released podcasts of discussions among Tony nominated actors and actresses. Listen to the nominated women, Kristin Chenoweth (On the Twentieth Century); Helen Mirren (The Audience); Carey Mulligan (Skylight); Kelli O'Hara (The King and I); Chita Rivera (The Visit); and Ruth Wilson (Constellations), and then listen to the nominated men, Bradley Cooper (The Elephant Man); Brian d'Arcy James (Something Rotten); Michael Cerveris (Fun Home); Ben Miles (Wolf Hall); Steven Boyer (Hand to God); Alex Sharp (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time); and Tony Yazbeck (On the Town). In addition, the first slate of Tony performers was announced. Broadway.com has the details.

Obie Award winners were announced this week. Honorees include Stephen McKinley Henderson, receiving a performance award for his work in recent Pulitzer winner Between Riverside and Crazy; Tony winner Christine Jones (American Idiot), receiving a Sustained Excellence of Set Design award; writer/director Robert O'Hara and the company of Bootycandy, receiving a Special Citation; Bridget Everett, receiving a Special Citation for Rock Bottom; and Hamilton (including special citations for writer and star Lin-Manuel Miranda, choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, director Thomas Kail, and orchestrator/arranger/musical director Alex Lacamoire), which received the Best New American Theatre Work award. Theater Mania has the full list of winners.

Winners of the Off-Broadway Alliance Awards were announced this week. The awards honor excellence in off-Broadway. In what's become a trend, Between Riverside and Crazy was named Best New Play and Hamilton was named Best New Musical. Broadwayworld.com has the full list of winners.

'S Wonderful: Backstage as An American in Paris

Watch below as Tony nominee Max von Essen takes you behind the scenes at An American in Paris during award season in the fourth episode of his Broadway.com vlog. In other news:


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