Week in Review 7.8.16

Are You Aaron Burr, Sir?

Pretty soon, Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (Shuffle Along or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All that Followed) will be able to say yes. The actor is set to take on the role beginning in mid-August. Leslie Odom, Jr., who won a Tony last month for originating the role of Burr, plays his final performance on July 9. In the absence of an announcement otherwise, expect an understudy from Hamilton's bench to fill in as Burr between Odom's departure and Dixon's arrival. Beginning July 11, Lexi Lawson will assume the role of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, taking over for Phillipa Soo, who also plays her final performance on July 9. And Michael Luwoye (Invisible Thread) will become the new Hamilton alternate. Javier Munoz will play Hamilton at seven performances each week, and Luwoye will play one. Broadway.com has more.

Casting News

  • Utkarsh Ambudkar (Modern Terrorism, Freestyle Love Supreme), as well as Matt Lauria and Malcolm Barrett, has joined the ever-growing cast of Hulu's Dimension 404. Ambudkar, Lauria, and Barrett join the previously announce Joel McHale, Lea Michele, and Patton Oswalt, among others. Deadline has more.

  • Gideon Glick (Significant Other) will star in The Harvest, written by Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale, Pocatello) at Lincoln Center's LCT3 venue. Previews begin October 8, with opening number set for October 24. The limited engagement is scheduled to conclude November 20. Playbill has details.

  • Celia Keenan-Bolger (Peter and the Starcatcher, The Glass Menagerie), Joel Grey (Anything Goes), Harold Perrineau (Baz Lurhmann's Romeo and Juliet), John Glover (Death of a Salesman), Tavi Gevinson (This is Our Youth), Aaron Clifton Moten (The Flick), and others have joined the cast of the upcoming The Cherry Orchard revival, led by the previously announced Diane Lane. Previews begin September 15, with opening night of the Stephen Karam adaptation set for October 16. Broadway.com has more.

  • Pop star Ariana Grande, who appeared on Broadway in Jason Robert Brown's 13, has joined the cast of Hairspray Live as Penny Pingleton. The NBC broadcast is set for December 7. Broadway.com has more.
She Loves Me

A few farewell notes as She Loves Me concludes its run on July 10:
  • The fabulous She Loves Me recording, live-streamed via Broadway HD on June 30, will hit movie theaters this fall. Playbill has details.

  • Spend a day with Gavin Creel, who gives a deliciously roguish performance as Kodaly. Broadway.com tagged along with the Tony nominee, capturing a day in the life of a Broadway actor.

  • Theater Mania checked in with Tony nominee Zachary Levi for an exit interview.
Dig This

  • The Hollywood Reporter has named its 100 Most Powerful People. The list includes Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant), funny lady Amy Schumer, and Broadway's MVP, Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton).

  • Miranda, who is leaving Hamilton on July 9, spoke to the AP about his post-Hamilton plan.

  • Observer checks in with Aaron Tveit (Next to Normal, Les Miserables), who can be seen on the CBS series, Brain Dead. Tveit speaks about being away from theatre for five years, and some of the roles he'd like to play (Bobby in Company and Westley in The Princess Bride, if it ever happens? Yes, please!)

  • Motown impresario Smokey Robinson will receive the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, presented by the Library of Congress. Robinson will be celebrated in DC this November. Rolling Stone has more. 

  • In the latest episode of Side by Side by Susan Blackwell, Susan sits down with her [title of show] and Now. Here. This. friend and collaborator, Heidi Blickenstaff, who can be seen in Something Rotten through July 16.

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