Week in Review 9.16.16
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 Emmys website to find the full list of Saturday's and Sunday's winners.
Coming to the BoardsDear Evan Hansen—The original musical, Dear Evan Hansen, will play the Music Box Theatre, rather than the Belasco, when it bows on Broadway this fall. Previews are still scheduled to begin November 14, and opening night is still set for December 4. Telecharge sent two tweets to reassure ticket buyers that tickets purchased for the Belasco will be honored at the Music Box (tweet one and tweet two). Dear Evan Hansen features a book by Steven Levenson and a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and the cast includes Ben Platt and Rachel Bay Jones. Theater Mania has more.
Groundhog Day—After a buzzy debut across the pond, Groundhog Day will bow on Broadway in spring 2017, after all. According to reports, the musical, now on the West End, will take up residency at the August Wilson Theatre next year, with previews beginning in March, and opening night set for April 17. Based on the beloved Bill Murray movie, Groundhog Day is directed by Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, Matilda), and is written by songwriter Tim Minchin (Matilda) and book writer Danny Rubin. Tony nominee Andy Karl (On the Twentieth Century) stars in the West End production; it hasn't been confirmed he will make the transfer, though it is expected. Broadway.com has more.
Come From Away—Fresh off an extension of its Washington, DC, run, the musical Come From Away has set its Broadway dates, home, and cast. Previews at the Schoenfeld Theatre will begin February 18, 2017, with opening night set for March 12. The cast will feature Jenn Colella (If/Then), Chad Kimball (Memphis), Rodney Hicks (Rent), and others. Come From Away is written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and directed by Christopher Ashley. The show focuses on the 6,579 passengers on the 38 planes that were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001. The Broadway Briefing has the full cast and creative team. (The fate of the Schoenfeld's current tenant, The Humans, is yet to be determined. While it will conclude its run at the Schoenfeld on January 15, Deadline reports that there may be life after the Schoenfeld.) 
As previously announced, a Bette Midler-led revival of Hello, Dolly! will hit the boards this spring. This week, the full cast and creative team were announced. In addition to Midler and David Hyde Pierce, the cast will include Tony nominees Kate Baldwin (Finian's Rainbow, Big Fish), Gavin Creel (Hair, She Loves Me), and Jennifer Simard (Disaster), as well as other featured players and a 27-person ensemble. Joining the creative team are scenic and costume designer Santo Loquasto (Shuffle Along...), Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz (An American in Paris), sound designer Scott Lehrer, music director Andy Einhorn, and orchestrator Larry Hochman, among others. Hello, Dolly! will be directed by Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Warren Carlyle. Previews at the Shubert Theatre begin March 15, 2017, with opening night set for April 20. Playbill has more.
Casting News- Stage and screen veteran Dominic Fumusa (Nurse Jackie, Stage Kiss) will join the cast of Homeland in a recurring role. The sixth season of the Showtime series is in production, and will premiere on January 15, 2017. Variety has more.
- Waitress will welcome William Popp, who'll assume the role of Earl, the titular waitress's husband, on September 23. Current Earl Nick Cordero is departing the production to headline A Bronx Tale. Broadway.com has more.
Casting has been announced for Sweat, the Lynn Nottage play set to have its New York premiere at the Public this fall. The cast includes Miriam Shor, Johanna Day, Khris Davis, and John Earl Jelks, among others. Previews begin October 18. Opening night is November 3, and the limited engagement concludes November 27. Broadway.com has more.- Jack Davenport, whom you might remember from Smash, will guest star in the upcoming fifth season of The Mindy Project, which is in production and returns to Hulu on October 4. The Hollywood Reporter has more.
The Wrap reports that SNL will welcome three new cast members on October 1, when its 42nd season begins. Alex Moffat and Melissa Villasenor are joining the late night sketch show cold, while Mikey Day has been promoted from writer to cast member. - Jake Epstein will return to Beautiful beginning September 22. Epstein originated the role of Gerry Goffin in this Broadway production, and will reprise his performance this fall. Broadway.com has more.
- The touring company of The King and I has found its Anna and her king: Laura Michelle Kelly (Finding Neverland) and Jose Llana (Here Lies Love), respectively. The tour begins this October in Rhode Island. BroadwayWorld.com has more.
It's an Honor- Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Lady Day..., Shuffle Along...), comedy legend and EGOT winner Mel Brooks, and playwright Moises Kaufman (The Laramie Project) are among the 2016 National Medal of Arts honorees. President Obama will present the honorees with their awards later this month. BroadwayWorld.com has more.
- The 2016 Horton Foote Prize has been awarded to Jordan Harrison, for Marjorie Prime, and Zayd Dohrn, for the upcoming The Profane. As reported in The New York Times, the "prize comes with $20,000 for each playwright."
Dig This- NYCB principal dancer Lauren Lovette talks to The New York Times about making her professional choreographic debut. Lovette is one of two women who are choreographing ballets for the Company. The ballets premiere at the Fall Gala on September 20, and will be performed throughout the fall season. Visit nycballet.com for more information and for tickets.
- The terrific new play with music, Marie and Rosetta, has been extended at the Atlantic Theater Company through October 16. The two-hander stars Kecia Lewis and Rebecca Naomi Jones as gospel singers.
The Lazarus cast album is officially on its way. The two-disc CD (or five-disc vinyl) will be released October 21, and includes three of the late David Bowie's final studio recordings. NME has more. - Something Rotten will conclude its Broadway run on January 1, 2017. A national tour will launch that same month. Playbill has more.
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