THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: December 6-12

Pictured: Leslie Odom Jr. Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff.

Frank Wildhorn is the composer of eight Broadway shows, including WONDERLAND, JEKYLL & HYDE, DRACULA, and THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. He is a Tony Award and Drama Desk nominee, and he was celebrated at 54 Below last weekend in a special concert featuring some of Broadway's best, including Leslie Odom Jr., Brandi Burkhardt, Janet Dacal, Adrienne Warren, and many more. There were only two performances, last Friday and Saturday nights. BroadwayWorld was there to catch the special event, and you can click here to see more photos!

Pictured: Bradley Cooper and Patricia Clarkson. Photo Credit: Walter McBride.

The hightly anticipated revival of Bernard Pomerance's THE ELEPHANT MAN officially opened last Sunday, December 7th at Broadway's Booth Theatre. Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper makes his return to Broadway in the title role, as stars alongside Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola. The play is running is a limited engagement through Sunday, February 15th. The production began at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in the summer of 2012. BroadwayWorld was there for opening night. Check out more photos from the curtain call here!

Pictured: Justin Kirk, Ayad Ahktar, Dariush Kashani, Usman Ally, Ken Rus Schmoll and Jameal Ali. Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi.

Pulitzer Prize Winner Ayad Akhtar's new play THE INVISIBLE HAND opened at the New York Theatre Workshop earlier this week. Akhtar is known for DISGRACED, his Pulitzer Prize-winning play that opened on Broadway this fall. Direction is by two-time Obie winner Ken Rus Schmoll. The cast features Jamael Ali, Usman Ally, Dariush Kashani, and Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominee Justin Kirk. Click here to see more photos from this production's opening night celebration!

Pictured: Annaleigh Ashford. Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff.

Tony Award nominee Annaleigh Ashford, who is currently starring in the warmly-received revival YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, is bringing a her show LOST IN THE STARS back to 54 Below. Ashford worked with music director Will Van Dyke to update the concert for this round of performances, which continue at the venue on December 15th and 26th. Ashford's classic cabaret examines the history of Studio 54 with a wide variety of songs in the setlist. BroadwayWorld caught a performance earlier this week, and you can click here to see more photos!

Pictured: Tony Danza, Rob McClure, and the Cast of HONEYMOON IN VEGAS. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus.

Jason Robert Brown's new musical HONEYMOON IN VEGAS is currently in previews at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre. The cast features Tony Award nominee Rob McClure, Brynn O'Malley, and Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Tony Danza. It is the story of a man who, though he has always been afraid of marriage, asks his girlfriend to marry him. However, when they go to Vegas to be married, the trip does not go exactly how they planned. Click here to see more photos from the production!

Pictured: Emily Blunt and John Krasinski. Photo Credit: Walter McBride.

The highly anticipated film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical classic INTO THE WOODS is finally about to hit the theatres. The film had its New York premiere on December 8th at the Ziegfeld Theatre, and the red carpet was full of film, television, and Broadway's biggest stars. With a star-studded cast that includes Meryl Streep, James Corden, Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick, and many more huge names in the industry, the film is set to be released on Christmas Day of this year. Click here to see more photos from the red carpet!

Pictured: Abigail Shapiro. Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff.

Abigail Shapiro ("How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "Liberty") returned to 54 Below earlier this week to perform the lead role in Andrew Lippa and Brian Crawley's musical adaptation of A LITTLE PRINCESS. Shapiro was joined by several other young actors like herself, including her sister Milly Shapiro ("Matilda"), current Matildas Paige Brady and Ava Ulloa, and Emerson Steele ("Violet"). BroadwayWorld was there to see the special holiday concert. Click here to see more photos from the event!

Pictured: Sting and the Cast of THE LAST SHIP. Photo Credit: Walter McBride.

16-time Grammy winner Sting returned to Broadway on Tuesday night in his original musical THE LAST SHIP, playing at the Neil Simon Theatre. He is playing Jackie White, replacing original cast member Jimmy Nail. Sting's return was announced several weeks ago, and he is appearing in hopes to raise ticket sales for the show. The music legend is set to perform in a recently-extended limited run through January 10th. BroadwayWorld was there for his return to the stage; check out more photos here!

Pictured: Laura Osnes. Photo Credit: Walter McBride.

Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes previewed her new show, THE PATHS NOT TAKEN, at 54 Below earlier this week, and BroadwayWorld was lucky enough to be there for it! The show is running through December 15th, and focuses on all of the places that Osnes's career could have led her, had she made different choices. Osnes's friend Friend Lassen will return as the musical director for her show. Click here to see more photos from the special evening!

Pictured: Andre De Shields. Photo Credit: Kevin Thomas Garcia.

This past Monday and Tuesday, Broadway's annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR Ceremony was held at Aladdin's New Amsterdam Theatre to celebrate the past six weeks of fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS by 64 Broadway, Off-Broadway, and national touring companies as well as volunteers. The evening was full of monumental events, including a performance by original cast members of THE WIZ to celebrate the show's 40th anniversary and a freestyle, improvised rap by Tony Winner James Monroe Iglehart. A record-breaking $5,229,611 was raised this season. Click here to see more photos from the ceremony!