Reviewing the Drama: Broadway, Off-Broadway, Ballet, Movies, and TV Reviews

Casting News Following last week's announcement of the ART production of Jagged Little Pill , inspired by the Alanis Morissette album, this week we learned Tony winner Idina Menzel ( Rent , Wicked , If/Then ) will lead an upcoming industry reading of the musical. As noted in the Broadway.com report, though, Menzel is not likely to appear in the ART production since she is already slated to star in Joshua Harmon's Skintight , which runs at the same time as the ART Jagged Little Pill production. Joe Tippett ( Familiar ) will join the company of Waitress beginning with the June 13 performance. He'll take on the role of Earl, the titular waitress's abusive husband. (Will Swenson plays the role through June 11.) Tippett's first performance will also mark the first performance of Betsy Wolfe in the title role. Playbill has more. Additional casting has been announced for Steven Speilberg's The Papers , a telling of the Pentagon Papers. Sarah Paulson (...

It's an Honor Lilly Awards — Tony nominee Denee Benton ( Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 ) and others are among this year's Lilly Award honorees. These awards recognize women's contribution to American theatre, and the women will be feted at the May 22 ceremony. Playbill has more. Mark Twain Prize for Humor —Funny man and former late night weirdo David Letterman has been named the 2017 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Letterman will be honored at the Kennedy Center in October, and an edited recording of the tribute will likely air on PBS later in the year. Rolling Stone  has more. Broadway.Com Awards —Winners of the Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards were announced, and the fans loved Dear Evan Hansen . The musical won eight awards, including Favorite New Musical and Favorite Lead Actor, Ben Platt. Visit Broadway.com for the full list of winners. Off-Broadway Alliance Awards —Honoring excellence in off-Broadway, the Off-Broadw...

Casting News Andre Holland ( Moonlight ) will appear in the film, Widows , co-written by Steve McQueen and Gillian Flynn, and directed by McQueen. Holland joins the previously announced Tony winners Viola Davis and Cynthia Erivo. Variety has more. Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart will join the Hamilton Broadway company as Lafayette/Jefferson in mid-April, succeeding Seth Stewart . Iglehart won his Tony for playing the Genie in Aladdin , and will conclude his three-year run in that show on February 19. Major Attaway will take over the Genie role beginning February 21. Theater Mania has more. Richard Armitage ( Love, Love, Love ) has joined the cast of Ocean's Eight , the female-led Ocean's 11 flick. Armitage joins stars Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, and Helena Bonham Carter. Deadline has more. Golden Globe winner Rachel Bloom ( Crazy Ex-Girlfriend ) and Jerry O'Connell ( Seminar , American Hero ) have joined the starry lineup of the Febru...

The Great Comet , Josh Groban Extend Josh Groban announced via a tweet that he is staying in Russia a little longer. The singer and actor is making his (impressive) Broadway debut in the the terrific new musical, Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 , and will remain with the show through July 2, 2017. In a follow up tweet from the show's account , we learned that tickets are now on sale through Labor Day. No word on who will succeed Groban, though the current standby, Scott Stangland , played the role in the A.R.T. production, and went on last month when Groban was ill. Additionally, Groban will miss 10 performances this spring , and the show's creator and the original Pierre, Dave Malloy , will step into Pierre's salon, making his Broadway performing debut. Groban will be out and Malloy will be on May 4-9; May 16; June 13; June 20; and June 27. (By the way, in a menschy move, Groban committed to matching Colts owner Jim Irsay's $20,000 gift to BC/EFA . ...