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

Creative Arts Emmys The primetime Emmy Awards are this Sunday ( here's the list of nominees ), but this past Saturday and Sunday, the creative people who, for the most part, work behind the scenes to bring you your favorite shows were honored. Grease Live took home four awards: Outstanding Lighting for a Variety Special; Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special ( Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen 's David Korins ); Outstanding Technical Director for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special; and Outstanding Special Class Program (this award goes to the producers, making Tony winner Thomas Kail an Emmy winner). Other winners included the writing staff for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver , Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series; recent Tony winner Paul Tazewell ( Hamilton ), for Outstanding Costumes for a Variety Special for The Wiz Live ; and Tina Fey and Amy Poehler , Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, for their SNL hosting appearance. Visit the Emmy...

Award Season Updates As many predicted, Hamilton won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album. (Lin-Manuel Miranda posted the photo at right of a celebratory cake.) Playbill has details about that award, and you can visit grammy.com for the full list of this year's winners, including the Oscar-winning song, "Glory." Before Hamilton won, though, the cast performed the opening number. Entertainment Weekly  takes you behind the scenes of the performance. BAFTA Awards were handed out last week. The Revenant took home the top honor, and its star, Leonardo DiCaprio , director, Alejandro G. Inarritu , cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki , and sound design team were also winners. Three-time Tony Award winner Mark Rylance won for Best Supporting Actor ( Bridge of Spies ), and Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer won the Best Original Screenplay award for Spotlight . Visit bafta.org for the full list of winners. Additional Oscars presenters have been announced, in...

Lupita Nyong'o to Star in Eclipsed Off-Broadway Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o ( 12 Years a Slave ) will star in the New York premiere of Eclipsed , written by Zimbabwean-American playwright and actress, Danai Guirra . The production was just added to the Public's season, and is set to run September 29 through November 8. Directed by Liesl Tommy , Eclipsed takes place during the Liberian Civil War, and focuses on the wives of rebel officers and the community they form. This will mark Nyong'o's New York stage debut. Spotlight on Spotlight Check out the trail for the new movie, Spotlight . The film follows Boston Globe reporters as they break the story of the Catholic church child abuse/sex scandal. The trailer makes it look like the film is paced like a thriller (reminiscent of Aaron Sorkin's approach to The Social Network , but without his trademark snappy dialogue), and boasts an impressive cast: Michael Keaton ( Birdman ); Mark Ruffalo ( Th...

(Scroll down for some Muppets news.) Casting News Broadway — Marlee Matlin has joined the company of the Spring Awakening revival. Matlin will play Adult Woman. Matlin won an Oscar for Children of a Lesser God , and was memorable as Joey Lucas on The West Wing . This will be her Broadway debut. Spring Awakening begins previews on September 8, with opening night set for September 27. The strictly limited engagement, playing at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, will conclude on January 9, 2016. Broadway —An unbelievable roster of stars is assembling for the Roundabout revival of Noises Off , one of my favorite plays. Joining the previously announced Tony winner Andrea Martin are Tracee Chimo ( Circle Mirror Transformation , The Heidi Chronicles ); Kate Jennings Grant ( The Country House ); Megan Hilty ( 9 to 5 , Smash ); Rob McClure ( Chaplin , Honeymoon in Vegas ); and Jeremy Shamos ( Dinner with Friends , The Qualms ), among others. The Michael Frayn play begins previews D...