Media Morsels 9.6.13


(Scroll down for news about Aaron Tveit's debut solo album.)


New York City Ballet: Justin Peck
The 2013-2014 season is almost here! The season kicks off next week in style as the fall gala celebrates collaborations between choreographers and fashion designers. The one night only event will feature the debut of a new Justin Peck (In Creases, Paz de La Jolla) ballet. (He's teaming up with Prabal Gurung.) You might recall that the 25 year old phenom is a soloist with the Company as well as a rising choreographer. Learn more about the gala and the Company's season at nycballet.com, and check out the spotlight video featuring Justin Peck below. (Scroll down for more good news for NYCB dancers.)



Downton Abbey Trailer
The fourth season of the hit British soap opera will air in the UK this fall and come to US TV screens in early 2014. Here's a look at what you can expect when the series returns:



Casting Updates
  • Will Chase (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) has bowed out of the NY premiere of Little Miss Sunshine, instead taking on a recurring role on the TV series, Nashville. But never fear, the great Will Swenson (Hair, Murder Ballad) will take on the role of Richard Hoover. Little Miss Sunshine, an adaptation of the eponymous indie hit flick, will play Second Stage Theatre, with previews beginning October 15. The cast also includes Chase's Edwin Drood co-star Stephanie J. Block, Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon, Nobody Loves You) and Hannah Rose Nordberg as Olive. Broadway.com has details.
  • The cast of the Ethan Hawke-led Macbeth has welcomed new members. The Lincoln Center Theater production, directed by Jack O'Brien, will now include Brian d'Arcy James (Time Stands Still), Daniel Sunjata (Graceland), John Glover (Death of a Salesman) and more. Macbeth begins previews on October 24 and opens on November 21. Broadway.com has details.
  • Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine) will make her Broadway debut as Sally Bowles in a Roundabout revival of Cabaret, with Alan Cumming (Macbeth) reprising his Tony-winning turn as the Emcee. Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall will recreate their direction and choreography from their Tony-winning 1998 revival. The revival will play Roundabout's Studio 54 (as it did in 1998) beginning March 21, 2014, and opening night is April 24. Broadway.com has more. 
  • Great news: New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck will originate a role in a world premiere musical! Directed by Susan Stroman (The Scottsboro Boys, Double Feature) and with a score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime), Little Dancer, part fact, part fiction, tells the tale of the artist Edgar Degas and the ballerina who posed for his famous paintings. It will premiere at the Kennedy Center in October 2014. Peck will be joined by four-time Tony winner Boyd Gaines and Rebecca Luker. This will not be Peck's first musical; as you can learn in this Ballet Initiative podcast featuring Peck and her fiance, fellow NYCB principal dancer Robert Fairchild, she made her Broadway debut in the 2000 revival of The Music Man. Details about Little Dancer can be found on Broadway.com. So, who wants to take a road trip to DC next year?!? 
Aaron Tveit Releases Album
Get ready to swoon, ladies (and gentlemen). Aaron Tveit has released his debut solo album, recorded this spring during his sold out run at 54 Below, The Radio in My Head (great title, right?) was released digitally today, and hits stores on September 10. The track list, revealed earlier this week, includes his signature songs from Next to Normal, "I'm Alive," and Catch Me if You Can, "Goodbye,"; other standards, like "Something's Coming" from West Side Story and "If I Loved You" from Carousel; songs from emerging musical theatre writers, like Kerrigan and Lowdermilk's "Run Away With Me"; and pop songs old and new. View the full track list on Playbill, and head to Amazon or your favorite music store to purchase the album, and check out some photos from the album on Broadway.com. (Bonus: head to The Hollywood Reporter for Tveit's take on Agent Mike Warren's journey during this first season of Graceland.)
First Date Updates
It's time for episode 5 of Kiss and Tell: Backstage at First Date with Krysta Rodriguez. In this episode, Rodriguez introduces us to the Longacre Theatre's artistic door man and interviews featured player Kate Loprest. In other news, check out this video of the cast from when they went into the studio to record the OBCR, which will be released digitally on September 24 and released in stores on October 15. (You can pre-order on Amazon now.) And, tag along with featured player Bryce Ryness (Hair), who provides us with a photo essay of what happens on a two-show day. As always, for more information about First Date and to purchase tickets, visit firstdatethemusical.com.

Awards News

  • The Emmy Awards are only a few weeks away (they air on CBS on September 22), so let's get ready. Here's a list of nominees; remember that master host Neil Patrick Harris will be our guide; and head to The Hollywood Reporter for a list of presenters, including Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Kerry Washington.
  • Meanwhile, it's already time to talk Oscars. The board of governors of the Academy announced that Steve Martin, Angela Lansbury, Piero Tosi and Angelina Jolie will receive Honorary Awards at the 5th annual Governors Awards this November. Read the official press release to learn more.

Dig This
  • John Gallagher, Jr., called out Salon for suggesting that young people (millennials, to be specific) don't like Bruce Springsteen. Salon's claim is absurd and Gallagher rocks, much like The Boss he worships.
  • According to Vulture and its sources, Jodie Foster will direct an episode of House of Cards, now filming its second season in Baltimore. Word is Foster is now in Baltimore filming the episode.  
  • Tony winner Gabriel Ebert (Matilda) reflects on his school days, describing them succinctly as his "committed Jew fro" days! Head to Broadway.com for more.
  • Carol Burnett will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on October 20, and the ceremony will be broadcast on PBS on November 24. Broadwayworld.com has more.
  • The sun will come out tomorrow, but Annie won't always be there for it. The current revival, which opened last November, will stick around for one more holiday season and then conclude its Broadway run on January 5, 2014. Broadway.com has more.
  • The Newsroom will be back for a third season! On Twitter, Jeff Daniels wrote, "It's official. Newsroom coming back for a season 3," and Thomas Sadoski wrote, "Don Keefer will ride again." Tune into The Newsroom this Sunday for season two's penultimate episode.

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