TOP 10 STORIES YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEK

 

Will Robin Hood save the day on Broadway? What is Victoria Clark doing on Homeland? And which Broadway shows are performing in this year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Find out all this and more in Stagelight’s Top 10 Theater Stories of the Week!

 

10. Alice Ripley and Michael Cerveris headline one-night-only gala
The Transport Group’s annual gala on Monday, December 8 will feature stage stars Alice Ripley, Michael Cerveris, and Lindsey Mendez. Tickets are currently on sale for the benefit entitled Gimme a Break! so head to the Transport Group website now to grab one.

 

9. The Nutcracker begins performances at Lincoln Center
It certainly wouldn’t be the holidays without The Nutcracker. The New York City Ballet’s famous production starts performances this Friday, and plays through January 3 at Lincoln Center.

 

8. The Illusionists starts previews this Wednesday
The North American tour of The Illusionists – Witness the Impossible will play a brief Broadway run beginning this Wednesday, November 26 at the Marquis Theatre. While not a “play”, this evening of magic features seven of the world’s best magicians performing “death-defying stunts, tricks, and sophisticated magic.”

 

7. Curious Incident explains the importance of math
Alex Sharp – star of Broadway’s Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – is teaming up with MoMath founder Glen Whitney for a one-night-only event Broadway Intersections: The Math Behind The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. The event will take place at the National Museum of Mathematics and explore math’s role in the hit play of the Broadway season.

 

6. Robin Hood comes to the Great White Way
Producers announced this week that The Heart of Robin Hood will be arriving on Broadway this March, playing a limited engagement at the Marquis Theatre. The Heart of Robin Hood is written by David Farr, features original music performed onstage, and was first staged at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2011.

 

5. ABC takes you backstage with Disney on Broadway
ABC announced this week that they will air a special TV event, hosted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson on December 14, that takes you on a backstage journey with the current productions of Broadway’s The Lion King, Aladdin, and the national tour of Newsies. The special will also explore the creation of some of Broadway’s biggest musicals including Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aida, Tarzan, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, Aladdin, and Newsies.

 

4. Broadway remembers legendary director Mike Nichols
Acclaimed director Mike Nichols passed away this past Wednesday at the age of 83. Broadway honored Nichols by dimming its lights Friday evening. Nichols earned himself nine Tony Awards over the years, most recently in 2012 for his direction of Death of a Salesman.

 

3. Thanksgiving Day Parade brings out the big Broadway numbers
Tune into NBC this Thursday for the 88th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to see the floats, the balloons, and of course the Broadway stars. Idina Menzel, Nick Jonas, and the casts of Honeymoon in Vegas, Side Show, On the Town, and The Last Ship are scheduled to perform in the front of Macy’s famous 34th Street store.

 

2. Stage star Victoria Clark joins the cast of Homeland
Without giving anything away, Broadway veteran Victoria Clark will play a crucial role in an upcoming storyline on Showtime’s hit show Homeland. While Clark is no stranger to the small screen, she is best known for her stage work in Titanic, Cabaret, Urinetown, Light in the Piazza, Sister Act, and most recently Cinderella.

 

1. And it’s official…
Hedwig and the Angry Inch creator and originator John Cameron Mitchell has officially signed on to play the title role in the Broadway musical after Michael C. Hall leaves the show in January. This will be Mitchell’s first time playing the role on Broadway, as the original production played its run Off-Broadway. Said Mitchell of his return to the role, “she’s lured me back.” Well, we couldn’t be more excited!