WAKE UP with BWW 2/5/2016 - BLACKBIRD, HAND TO GOD in London 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: BLACKBIRD begins tonight and HAND TO GOD hits the West End!

We had so much fun taking mug-shots of our fans at this year's BC/EFA Broadway Flea Market that we're adding a new weekly Friday morning tradition -- we call it Fan Fridays!

This week, meet Louie Anchondo!

THIS WEEKEND'S TOP ITEMS:

- BLACKBIRD, starring Jeff Daniels and Michelle Williams, starts previews on Broadway!
- HARRY POTTER's Harry Melling leads HAND TO GOD, beginning tonight in the West End.
- Theatre writers Jesse Green, Michael Musto and Patrick Pacheco join THEATER TALK for its spring preview...
- And starting today, Kelli O'Hara, Alexander Dinelaris and more take part in Primary Stages' ESPAFest workshops!

NEWS YOU MISSED YESTERDAY:

- GLEE's Amber Riley will star as 'Effie' in the London premiere of DREAMGIRLS!
- Michael Crawford is returning to the West End in the new musical THE GO-BETWEEN.
- THE CRUCIBLE has a new start date to allow Saoirse Ronan to attend the Oscars...
- AMERICAN PSYCHO has found its full Broadway cast and creative team!
- The 61st Annual Drama Desk Awards will be held at The Town Hall in June.
- We got a first look (right) at A BRONX TALE at Paper Mill, plus a peek at the new promo for SHUFFLE ALONG, and video of James Corden owning HAMILTON's tricky lyrics!
- Oakland School for the Arts will stage the amateur premiere of SCHOOL OF ROCK.
- Beverley Knight is heading back to THE BODYGUARD this summer in London.
- The National's Rufus Norris has committed to a 50:50 gender balance by 2021...
- And Grammy winner Seal is set to play Pontius Pilate in FOX's musical event THE PASSION!

Broadway Weather Forecast: Snowy this morning with highs in the 40s this weekend. Sunny on Sunday!

What we're listening to: So many amazing albums are out today, including Alan Cumming's SAPPY SONGS, Tony Yazbeck's THE FLOOR ABOVE ME (more here), the two-disc recording of A NEW BRAIN with Jonathan Groff, and Josh Groban's CD/DVD combo for STAGES LIVE!

Video of the Day: Check out Channing Tatum in the Coen Brothers' HAIL, CAESAR!, hitting theaters today!

And a Happy Birthday shout-out to Darren Criss, who turns 29 today!

Actor, musician and Emmy-nominated composer Darren Criss last starred on Broadway in the title role of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH. Before that, he made his debut on the Great White Way as 'J. Pierrepont Finch' in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. He will be joining Alan Cumming and Kristin Chenoweth onstage for Cumming's SAPPY SONGS release concert at Carnegie Hall next week. The actor also is also slated for spring appearances with the Toronto Symphony and the New York Pops and recently hosted the First Annual Elsie Fest in NYC. Criss will soon appear in the indie comedy film SMITTEN and recently guest starred on AMERICAN HORROR STORY. He is best known for his breakout role as 'Blaine Anderson' in Fox's GLEE, as well as playing the lead in StarKid's cult hit A VERY POTTER MUSICAL.