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Wake Up With BWW 2/26: ALICE BY HEART Opens, Kids Night on Broadway, and More!
By: Stephi Wild Feb. 26, 2019
Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Get a start to your Tuesday morning by reading the latest from around the Broadway World!
First, yesterday brought us a first look at the Broadway company of Beetlejuice! A few new photos released show Alex Brightman and his costars in action.
The list of nominees for this year's MAC Awards was announced. Among Broadway stars represented are Laura Benanti and Norm Lewis.
Shoshana Bean is everywhere! We recently learned that she will be taking over the role of Jenna in Waitress soon, but yesterday brought more news. Bean is teaming up with Jason Robert Brown for a production of The Last Five Years as part of Second Stage's Musical Mondays!
Read more about these and other stories below!
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1) 
Samuel French Theatre & Film Bookshop To Close Its Doors At The End Of March
Samuel French has announced the upcoming closure of its bookstore on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, CA for March 31, 2019. Its extensive collection of iconic acting edition play scripts and musical libretti will continue to be available online through the Samuel French website. Samuel French's bookshop in London's Royal Court Theatre will remain open and celebrates its first anniversary in March.. (more...)
2) 
Photo Flash: First Look at the Cast of BEETLEJUICE on Broadway!
BEETLEJUICE, the new Broadway musical comedy presented by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures (Mark Kaufman) and Langley Park Productions (Kevin McCormick) will open on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway) on Thursday, April 25, 2019. It will begin Broadway previews March 28, 2019. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!. (more...)
3) 
VIDEO: Bette Midler Performs 'The Place Where Lost Things Go' From MARY POPPINS RETURNS on the Oscars
by Stage Tube
Bette Midler gave a beautiful performance at last night's Oscars with a rendition of 'The Place Where Lost Things Go' from Mary Poppins Returns.. (more...)
4) 
Norm Lewis, Laura Benanti, and More Among 2019 MAC Awards Nominees - Full List!
The Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) has announced the 2019 MAC Award nominees. The nominees, in a majority of the categories, were determined by votes cast by the active MAC membership. Special committees selected the nominees in the Ensemble Instrumentalist, Piano Bar Instrumentalist, Piano Bar Singing Entertainer (Female; Male), Recording (LaMott Friedman), Major Recording, Song and Comedy/Novelty Song categories.. (more...)
5) 
Shoshana Bean and Jason Robert Brown Bring THE LAST FIVE YEARS to MUSICAL MONDAYS
Second Stage Theater has announced Shoshana Bean and Jason Robert Brown will perform THE LAST FIVE YEARS as a part of the special concert series, MUSICAL MONDAYS, in celebration of the acclaimed company's 40th anniversary. Jason Robert Brown will also direct the sold-out performance on Monday, March 4th.. (more...)
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Today's Call Sheet:
Tonight is Kids Night On Broadway!
Kids' Night on Broadway is an annual event where kids 18 and under can attend participating Broadway shows for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult (all guests must have a ticket to attend shows; offer is applied as 50% off each ticket; no additional 'free' tickets are added to orders).
A Kids' Night on Broadway ticket also includes restaurant discounts, parking discounts, and more. Select shows will offer in-theatre activities for kids including talkbacks, Kids' Night on Broadway activity books, and other events still to be announced.
Kids' Night on Broadway will also take place in multiple cities around the country, with different shows and venues putting their own spin on the event on several dates throughout the year. Check KidsNightonBroadway.com for specific dates and locations.
Alice By Heart officially opens off-Broadway tonight!
When the madness of the world is too much to bear, we take refuge in the stories we love. Tony and Grammy award-winning creators of Spring Awakening, Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, reunite for their new musical Alice By Heart, inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and directed and co-written by Jessie Nelson (Waitress). In the rubble of the London Blitz of World War II, Alice Spencer's budding teen life is turned upside down, and she and her dear friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station. When the ailing Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland. As they travel through the tale, Alice By Heart explores the poignancy of first love, coming to terms with loss, and finding the courage to move forward. This world premiere musical encourages us all to celebrate the transformational power of the imagination, even in the harshest of times.
BWW Exclusive: Jessica Phillips Talks Taking DEAR EVAN HANSEN On Tour
BroadwayWorld had a chance to catch up with Dear Evan Hansen's touring Heidi Hansen, Jessica Phillips while the show is at their Chicago tour stop! Check out highlights from our Q&A here!
Jessica Phillips (Heidi Hansen) has established herself as one of Broadway's premiere leading ladies over the past several years. Broadway credits include: Leap of Faith opposite Raul Esparza, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Next to Normal, Jesus Christ Superstar (25th anniversary revival), and The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Set Your DVR...
-Neil Patrick Harris will appear on The Late Late Show With James Corden tonight!
What we're listening to: LITTLE KNOWN FACTS with Ilana Levine and Special Guest Amy Ryan!
Amy was last seen onstage in Mike Bartlett's play LOVE LOVE LOVE at the Roundabout theatre directed by Michael Mayer, for which she earned an Obie award. She made her Broadway debut in Wendy Wasserstein's THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG. Amy was nominated for two TONY awards as best featured actress for her performances in UNCLE VANYA and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Other theatre credits include DETROIT by Lisa D'Amour's Detroit, at Playwrights Horizons, Amy is perhaps best known for her acclaimed performance in Ben Affleck's GONE BABY GONE, for which she was earned an Academy Award nomination.
Social Butterfly: PRETTY WOMAN Cast Members Recreate Hilarious Real Housewives of New Jersey Reunion Moment
Members of the cast of Pretty Woman the Musical made an epic lip sync recreation of a moment from The Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion!
Andy Cohen, an executive producer of the Housewives franchise, and host of the reunion special, reposted the video on Instagram.
"The cast Of Broadway's Pretty Woman lip synchs #RHONJ Reunion brilliantly!" he wrote. "I'm riveted!"
And a Happy Birthday shout-out to Priscilla Lopez, who turns 71 today!
Priscilla Lopez was last seen on Broadway in the Tony Award Musical revival of Pippin, in the role of Berthe. The trapeze flying Granny. She then toured the USA and played Tokyo, where she joined her fellow 1972 Pippin alum, John Rubinstein. In Lin Manuel Miranda's Tony Winning In the Heights, she originated the role of Camila Rosario. She previously appeared in Nilo Cruz's Pulitzer Prize winning play Anna in the Tropics. She received a Tony Award as Best Featured Actress for her portrayal as Harpo Marx in the Broadway musical A Day in Hollywood A Night in the Ukraine and her performance as the original Diana Morales in A Chorus Line led to an OBIE Award and Tony Nomination, where she introduced the songs "Nothing" and "What I Did For Love". Her Broadway credits include: The Sister's Rosenswieg,Nine the Musical, The Boyfriend, Lysistrata, Pippin (1972), Company, Her First Roman, Henry Sweet Henry and Breakfast At Tiffany's. Off Broadway: Beauty of the Father, The Oldest Profession, newyorkers, Eric Weinberger"s Class Mother's 68 (Drama Desk Nomination), The Passion of Frida Kahlo, Antigone in New York, Other People's Money, Extremities, Buck and Your Own Thing. Los Angeles and Regionally:Irma La Douce, Vanities, Death and the Maiden and Matthew Lopez's Somewhere. Her film credits include Maid in Manhattan as Jennifer Lopez's mother, Center Stage, Revenge of the Nerds II, Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding, Musical Chairs and Swimming with the Fishes.
See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!
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