Wake Up 4/16: BURN THIS Officially Opens, and More!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld!

First, we'd like to wish a happy opening to Burn This, which officially opens on Broadway tonight, April 16!

In casting news, we've learned more of the stars who will be heading In The Heights on the big screen! Olga Merediz, Gregory Diaz IV, and Jimmy Smits have joined the cast of the highly-anticipated film adaptation!

It was announced yesterday that Jackie Sibblies Drury's Fairview has officially won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama! This year's finalists included Dance Nation, by Clare Barron and What the Constitution Means to Me, by Heidi Schreck.

Double the Broadway divas! We've got your first look at Megan Hilty and Jessie Mueller, who star as country legends Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, in the upcoming Lifetime original movie Patsy & Loretta!

Read more about these and other stories below! Want our morning reports delivered via email? Subscribe here!

1) Broadway General Manager Alan Wasser Passes Away

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that longtime general manager of Broadway, Alan Wasser passed away yesterday, April 14. Wasser was the recipient of a Special Tony Awards Honor in 2017 and general manager of the Tony Awards from 2009 to 2012.. (more...)

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2) Photo Coverage: Get a First Look at Jessie Mueller and Megan Hilty in PATSY & LORETTA

Lifetime has released a first look image of Megan Hilty and Jessie Mueller who star as country legends Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, in the upcoming Lifetime original movie Patsy & Loretta.. (more...)

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3) Olga Merediz, Gregory Diaz IV, and Jimmy Smits Join Cast of IN THE HEIGHTS Film Adaptation
by TV News Desk

Olga Merediz, Gregory Diaz IV, and Jimmy Smits have joined the cast of the highly-anticipated film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's IN THE HEIGHTS.. (more...)

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4) Sutton Foster Adds Additional Performances at Cafe Carlyle

Two-time Tony-winning actress, singer and dancer Sutton Foster extends her Cafe Carlyle run, June 25-29. She'll also be performing June 11-22. At Cafe Carlyle, she'll perform Broadway favorites and original recordings, focusing on selections from her new album, Take Me to the World, and stories of how being a mother of a two-year-old has informed her work and changed her life.. (more...)

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5) Breaking: Jackie Sibblies Drury's FAIRVIEW Wins the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

It was just announced by Pulitzer Prize Administrator Dana Canedy that Jackie Sibblies Drury's Fairview has officially won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.. (more...)

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Today's Call Sheet:

BURN THIS officially opens on Broadway tonight!

Three-time Emmy Award nominee Adam Driver (Pale) and Golden Globe Award Winner and Emmy Award Nominee Keri Russell (Anna) will lead the first revival of Pulitzer Prize Winner Lanford Wilson's Burn This. Directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, Burn This began performances on March 15, 2019 and officially opens tonight, Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at Hudson Theatre.

Joining Driver and Russell will be Tony Award Nominees David Furr (Burton) and Brandon Uranowitz (Larry).

When a mysterious death brings together two unlikely strangers, their explosive connection sparks a chemistry too fiery to ignore. Burn This is a smoldering story of love and raw attraction by one of the most vital playwrights of the modern era.

Cancer Support Community hosts tribute to Marin Mazzie tonight!

The Cancer Support Community (CSC) is hosting its annual Spring Celebration tonight, Tuesday, April 16 at The Lighthouse on Pier 61, part of the acclaimed Chelsea Piers complex on New York City's Hudson River waterfront.

The event's program, in part, will honor the late Marin Mazzie's life and legacy of advocacy and inspiration with a musical tribute by Tony winners Donna Murphy, Debra Monk, and Karen Ziemba.

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BWW Exclusive: On The Red Carpet At The BURN THIS Opening Night Party

Last night BroadwayWorld hit the red carpet at opening night of the first Broadway revival of Burn This. Get the scoop on the fiery new revival starring Keri Russell and Adam Driver!

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Set Your DVR...

-Laurie Metcalf will appear on THE LATE SHOW WITH Stephen Colbert tonight!

-Christie Brinkley will appear on THE Wendy Williams SHOW today!

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What we're watching: Watch Highlights from BEETLEJUICE on Broadway!

BEETLEJUICE, the new musical comedy, is currently in previews at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway), where it opens on Thursday, April 25, 2019.

It's showtime, folks! The ghost-with-the-most makes his Broadway debut in this edgy and irreverent musical comedy based on Tim Burton's dearly beloved film. Beetlejuice tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. When Lydia calls on Beetlejuice to scare away anyone with a pulse, this double-crossing specter shows his true stripes, unleashing a (Nether)world of pandemonium, and the biggest sandworm Broadway has ever seen.

People.com just released highlights of the cast in action and you can check them out below!

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Social Butterfly: Stephanie J. Block and BWW Readers Explain This Falsettos Meme!

We asked, and you answered! This past weekend, we asked BroadwayWorld readers to name what they think is happening in this meme of The Cher Show's Stephanie J. Block in her Tony-nominated role in Falsettos without any context.

Stephanie herself took a crack at it!

Read some of the fan responses here!

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And a Happy Birthday shout-out to Kelli O'Hara, who turns 43 today!

Kelli O'Hara is currently starring in Kiss Me, Kate on Broadway!

Kelli's portrayal of Anna Leonowens in the critically acclaimed revival of "The King and I" recently garnered her a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, along with Drama League and Outer Critics nominations. In 2014, her performance as Francesca in the musical adaptation of "The Bridges of Madison County" earned her Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle nominations. Also that year, she starred as Mrs. Darling in NBC's live telecast of "Peter Pan" alongside Allison Williams and Christian Borle, and on New Year's Eve, Kelli made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the production of "The Merry Widow" with Renee Fleming.

A native of Oklahoma, Kelli made her Broadway debut in "Jekyll & Hyde" and followed it with Sondheim's "Follies," "Sweet Smell of Success" opposite John Lithgow, and "Dracula." In 2003 Kelli committed to a production of "The Light in the Piazza" at Seattle's Intiman Theatre. The show landed on Broadway in 2005 and earned Kelli her first Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations. She moved from one critical and commercial success to another when she joined Harry Connick on Broadway in the 2006 Tony award-winning production of "The Pajama Game," for which Kelli received Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Award nominations. Kelli starred in the Tony Award-winning revival of "South Pacific" at Lincoln Center, enrapturing audiences and critics alike with her soulful and complex interpretation of Nellie Forbush, and garnering Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Award nominations. She later teamed up with Matthew Broderick in Broadway's musical comedy "Nice Work if You Can Get it," earning Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle nominations, as well as the Fred Astaire Nomination for dance.

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See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!