Media Morsels 3.2.12

• Nina Arianda on Show People
  The luminescent Nina Arianda, currently giving a revelatory performance in the commercial Broadway run of Venus in Fur, sat down with Broadway.com's Paul Wontorek to chat about life these days. From her crushes on recent Oscar winner Christopher Plummer and the Fonz to speaking Ukringlish, Ms. Arianda is lovely and frank. And, she has excellent taste: after the show, she likes to go home and watch Downton Abbey! Visit Broadway.com to watch the interview and head over to venusinfurbroadway.com to learn more about the show and purchase tickets.
  
  
• Oscar Wrap Up
  The Oscars have come and gone, but people are still buzzing. As I mentioned in my wrap up, sometimes the better films go home without top honors. Others agree. On EW.com, they looked at the "Most Overrated Best Picture Winners," and the films that should have won instead. (Example: The King's Speech is overrated and The Social Network should have won.
  
  Rolling Stone's Peter Travers recounts this year Oscar highlights.
  
  Godspell producer Ken Davenport ruminates on the three things theatre can learn from the Oscars on his Producers Perspective blog.
  
  Virgin Media looks at what's next for some of this year's Oscar winners and nominees.
  


• Tony Update
  Now that Oscar season is over, we can focus fully on Tony and theatre award season! This week, the American Theatre Wing announced this year's Tony calendar. As we've known, April 26 is the cut-off for Tony eligibility. (This is why so many shows will be opening in April.) Then, on May 1 the Tony nominations will be announced! New Yorkers will likely be able to tune into NY1 for the announcement; others can visit tonyawards.com and watch the announcement, which will take place at the Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center. Tony parties and receptions (mostly for nominees and other VIPs) will take place throughout May and into June. This all leads up to the big night: Tonys will be awarded on Sunday, June 10, live from the Beacon Theatre. (You can tune into CBS at 8pm to watch!) There are tons of shows to see before then, so hurry up and get to the theatre!
  
  
• Ask a Star: Norbert Leo Butz
  Norbert Leo Butz, the star of Catch Me if You Can and the current Second Stage production of How I Learned to Drive, answers fans' questions over on Broadway.com. Aside from learning about the talented star, my favorite part, the funniest thing about this Q&A, is Norbie's delivery. Watch as he stoically (or sometimes in a British accent) answers your questions. Also, this: "I feel like Norbert Leo Butz has more mystery."
  
  (Also hilarious and on Broadway.com: another edition of Side by Side by Susan Blackwell, featuring Porgy and Bess's Audra McDonald!)
  
  
• Casting News
• The off-Broadway, Vineyard Theatre company of The Lyons is now confirmed for the upcoming Broadway iteration. Previews will begin April 5 in anticipation of an April 23 opening at the Cort Theatre. Linda Lavin will appear as mama Lyons and will be joined by Dick Latessa, Michael Esper, Kate Jennings Grant, Brenda Pressley and Gregory Wooddell. Visit thelyonsbroadway.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
  
  
• Additional casting for The Columnist, an MTC production headed to Broadway this spring. Joining star John Lithgow will be Margaret Colin and Grace Gummer (both last seen in Arcadia), Stephen Kunken and Boyd Gaines. Visit mtc-nyc.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
  
  
• Theatre legend Chita Rivera will return to Broadway in Roundabout's revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. (Roundabout announced part of its 2012-2013 season this week. Visit Playbill.com for details.)
  
  
• Dig This
• From the queue: Hunger
  
  
• Idina Menzel is going back on tour. I had the pleasure of catching her concert in South Florida in 2010, and if my experience is any indication, you'll have a great time!
  
  
• Cynthia Nixon, currently giving a wonderful performance in Wit, talks to Broadway.com about being back on Broadway...and not owning a TV!
  
  
• The hilarious Wilfred, starring Elijah Wood and Jason Gann, will return for its second season June 28 at 10pm. (It was one of my favorite things of 2011!)
  
  
• Stephen Sondheim is working on a new musical with Venus in Fur playwright David Ives. Find details on Playbill.com.
  
  
• It was Springsteen week on Jimmy Fallon this week. The Boss and his E Street Band book-ended the week with performances, and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday other artists covered Springsteen tunes. My favorite was this: John Legend and The Roots with their take on "Dancing in the Dark"