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Wake Up With BWW 12/31: CATS Box Office Loss, and More

By: Dec. 31, 2019
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Good morning, BroadwayWorld!

The new Cats film is not doing as well as hoped. It was revealed this past weekend that the film is expected to suffer a loss of $100 million after making just $38 globally in its first two weeks.

Yesterday we wished a congratulations to "Hamilton" director Thomas Kail and "Fosse/Verdon" star Michelle Williams, who have announced that they are engaged to be married and they are expecting their first child!

Read more about these and other top stories below.

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Wake Up With BWW 12/31: CATS Box Office Loss, and More Image
1) Wake Up With BWW 12/31: CATS Box Office Loss, and More Image VIDEO: Idina Menzel and Adam Sandler Teach You New York Slang
by Stage Tube

Idina Menzel and Adam Sandler stopped by Vanity Fair for a fun new video challenge!. (more...)

2) Wake Up With BWW 12/31: CATS Box Office Loss, and More Image CATS Film Expected to Suffer $100 Million Loss

According to Variety, the new Cats film is expected to suffer a $100 million loss, after making just $38 million globally in its first two weeks in theaters.. (more...)

3) Wake Up With BWW 12/31: CATS Box Office Loss, and More Image WEST SIDE STORY Has Broken All-Time Broadway Theatre House Record

Producers Scott Rudin / Barry Diller / David Geffen announced today that the Broadway return of the Jerome Robbins / Arthur Laurents / Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim musical, West Side Story, has once again broken the all-time Broadway Theatre house record for a single week, with a gross of $1,807,025.94. In 7 performances the previous week, West Side Story broke the record (with a gross of $1,497,319) held by Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella ($1,479,889.97, established on 12/29/13, for an 8-performance week).. (more...)

4) Wake Up With BWW 12/31: CATS Box Office Loss, and More Image Norm Lewis Joins CHILDREN OF EDEN in Chicago

Broadway star, Norm Lewis, will be joining Children of Eden at the Arcada Theatre in Chicago in the role of Father.. (more...)

5) Wake Up With BWW 12/31: CATS Box Office Loss, and More Image Photo Flash: Hillary Clinton Stops By FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in Yiddish

Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish got a special guest this weekend when Hillary Clinton stopped by!. (more...)

Wake Up With BWW 12/31: CATS Box Office Loss, and More Image
Next up in our "mug shots" series is Joshua Henry
(portrait by Walter McBride). Plus visit our merchandise shop
to get your own BWW mug, t-shirt, tote bag and more!

BWW Exclusive: Backstage Bite with Katie Lynch: The Decade's Most Magical Episode with the Stars of ALADDIN

On Backstage Bite with Katie Lynch, come into Katie's kitchen with some of Broadway's brightest as they eat, drink and merrily mix it up. See your favorite stars out of their element as they whip up dishes inspired by their Broadway show. Watch what happens when these actors trade belting for baking!

In this episode, Katie is joined in the kitchen by the Broadway's two best friends: Aladdin and the Genie aka Clinton Greenspan and Major Attaway from Disney's Aladdin!

What we're geeking out over: Thomas Kail and Michelle Williams are Engaged & Expecting Their First Child

Congratulations are in order! "Hamilton" director Thomas Kail and "Fosse/Verdon" star Michelle Williams have announced they are engaged to be married - and they are expecting their first child!

What we're watching: Cynthia Erivo Talks HARRIET and Sings 'Stand Up' on TODAY

Cynthia Erivo stopped by TODAY to discuss what it was like to play activist Harriet Tubman in the new film Harriet.

Erivo describes how "awesome" it was to receive two Golden Globe nominations for Harriet and she talks about Tubman's faith sustained her in her struggles for freedom and justice.

Erivo also took to the stage in the TODAY studio to perform the Golden Globe nominated song from Harriet, "Stand Up."

And a Happy Birthday shout-out to Bebe Neuwirth, who turns 61 today!

Wake Up With BWW 12/31: CATS Box Office Loss, and More Image

Neuwirth studied dance at the Juilliard School in New York City before making her professional debut in a touring company of A Chorus Line in 1980.She made her TV debut on the hit sitcom "Cheers" as Lilith Sternin-Crane, wife of Dr. Frasier Crane, the role for which she won an Emmy Award and an American Comedy Award for Funniest Female Guest Appearance in a Television Series. When offered a regular role on "Frasier," she turned it down and returned to the stage where she won her first Tony in 1986 as Best Actress (Featured Role - Musical) for playing Nicki in a revival of Sweet Charity. She has played all three of the principle female roles in the long-running Broadway Revival of Chicago. She was in the revival's original cast as Velma Kelly (for which she won the Tony). In 2007, Neuwirth did a stint as Roxie Hart, and in 2014, she returned to the show again, this time playing Warden "Mama" Morton. She has appeared in many films, including Jumanji, Say Anything and Summer of Sam and in countless television appearances including a recent recurring role on "Madam Secretary."

See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!




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