WAKE UP with BWW 2/4/2016 - New Fantine, SMOKEFALL, A BRONX TALE and More!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: LES MIZ gets a new Fantine, SMOKEFALL begins off-Broadway, and A BRONX TALE starts up in New Jersey!

Next up in our series of stars introducing BWW's morning feature is Brian Hutchison (portrait by Walter McBride), star of off-Broadway's SMOKEFALL and Broadway's LOOPED, MAN AND BOY, EXIT THE KING and THE INVENTION OF LOVE!

TODAY'S TOP ITEMS:

- Alison Luff joins Broadway's LES MISERABLES as 'Fantine' tonight!
- Colman Domingo's DOT starts tonight at the Vineyard, while SMOKEFALL with Zachary Quinto begins at MCC, and Len Cariou stars in BROADWAY AND THE BARD, opening tonight off-Broadway!
- Claire Danes is the guest of honor at Steppenwolf's 'Women in the Arts' luncheon...
- A BRONX TALE, directed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Zaks, starts performances at Paper Mill.
- And the company of THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM meets the press, so stay tuned for coverage!

NEWS YOU MISSED YESTERDAY:

- AN AMERICAN IN PARIS will launch its National Tour from Boston in October!
- The cast of HAMILTON will perform live at the Grammy Awards via satellite.
- Christina Milian will play 'Magenta' in FOX's THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW!
- We got a first look (right) at ANGEL REAPERS off-Broadway, photos from RABBIT HOLE in the UK, a peek at highlights of Sean Hayes in LA's AN ACT OF GOD, and footage from MTC's PRODIGAL SON!
- Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg, Cynthia Nixon and more will take part in WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT this spring.
- CHARLES BUSCH'S CLEOPATRA is headed to Theater for the New City in March...
- ANGELS IN AMERICA with Andrew Garfield, James McArdle in YOUNG CHEKHOV and more are set for the National's 2016 season.
- SPRING AWAKENING's Marlee Matlin is set to sign the National Anthem at SUPER BOWL 50!
- The new Jimmy Buffett musical will debut at La Jolla Playhouse next year.
- And MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is headed to the small screen!

Broadway Weather Forecast: High of 55 and partly cloudy today with rain later tonight. Take your umbrella to the show!

Quote of the Day: A word from ROCKY HORROR's latest star, Christina Milan...

"Still, to this day I go back and listen to music that inspires me to write now."
-- Christina Milian (via BrainyQuote)

What we're watching: The JOSH GROBAN: STAGE LIVE concert, screening in select U.S. theaters tonight!

Video of the Day: Check out the first #Ham4Ham of February, featuring Daveed Diggs and Broadway's ON YOUR FEET!

And a Happy Birthday shout-out to Nic Rouleau!

Rouleau has played 'Elder Price' in THE BOOK OF MORMON on Broadway, on tour and in the West End. He also hit the road with LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL and sailed the high seas in TOY STORY: THE MUSICAL with the Disney Cruise Line. Among his other stage credits are regional productions of LES MISERABLES, ...FORUM, ROMEO & JULIET, CABARET and CHANGING TIMES, as well as FLOYD COLLINS, KING DAVID and VIOLET for NYU. The actor also guest starred in an episode of Netflix's THE UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT.