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

Students Have a Shot at Seeing Hamilton Through a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation , 20,000 NYC students will have the opportunity to purchase $10 (i.e., a Hamilton) tickets to Hamilton . The partnership is part of an initiative to integrate "the show into classroom studies," Deadline reports . Students who get to see the show (at select matinees beginning April 13, 2016) will sometimes have the opportunity to stay for a talk-back with the cast, and will receive supporting educational materials to reinforce what is sure to be the coolest history lesson they'll ever receive. (In other Hamilton news, the production's stage manager, John Bassett , is featured in the Wall Street Journal , where he talks about the intricacies of keeping the show running smoothly night after night.) Humans on Broadway The Humans will bow on Broadway next year. Dates and a theatre have not been announced, but the off-Broadway cast, which includes Reed Birney and Arian Moayed...

Shuffle Along... Adds Leading Men Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald is set to star in Shuffle Along, Or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed in the spring, and it was announced this week that she'll be joined by a quartet of terrific actors. Shuffling along will be Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell ( Women on the Verge... ), who will reunite with his Ragtime co-star; Tony winner Billy Porter ( Kinky Boots , scroll down to learn about Porter's Kinky Boots replacement); Tony nominee Joshua Henry ( The Scottsboro Boys , Violet ); and Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon ( Motown , The Wild Party ). Shuffle Along is set to play the Music Box Theatre, with previews beginning March 14, 2016. Opening night is scheduled for April 21. Broadway.com has more. Spring Awakening Completes Its Cast The upcoming revival of Spring Awakening is adding Camryn Manheim , Russell Harvard (a deaf actor who was in the acclaimed Tribes ) and Patri...

Trevor Noah Named New Daily Show Host It was announced this week that comedian and relatively new The Daily Show correspondent Trevor Noah, 31, will succeed Jon Stewart as host of The Daily Show . The news comes just under two months after Stewart announced his departure. No timetable has been announced, but an educated guess says to expect a transition around Labor Day. Noah, already a successful comedian in his native South Africa and elsewhere, joined The Daily Show about four months ago and has made three appearances on the show. Stewart, who was closely involved in the selection of Noah, said, "I'm thrilled for the show and for Trevor. He's a tremendous comic and talent that we've loved working with." Visit The New York Times for more about the announcement, and head to Buzz Feed for the expected "Here's What You Need to Know about Trevor Noah" and "Meet Comedian Trevor Noah, Your New Bae" listicles. Linda Lavin Returns to ...