Wake Up With BWW 3/20: The New Cast of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD Begin Performances, and More!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Get over the hump today with the top Broadway stories!

First, we'd like to wish a happy first performance to James Snyder and the new cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, who begin performances tonight!

Frozen is taking on the world! It was just announced that the hit musical, based on the iconic Disney animated film of the same name, will embark on three international productions in the coming years. London, Australia, and Germany, get ready!

Jekyll and Hyde is headed to the big screen! It was announced that the Broadway musical Jekyll and Hyde is being reimagined for a film adaptation by Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris.

Additional casting has been announced for the upcoming film adaptation of West Side Story! Brian d'Arcy James is set to play the iconic role of Sergeant Krupke, and Corey Stoll will play Lieutenant Schrank.

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

1) Broadway Musical JEKYLL & HYDE to Receive Film Adaptation
by TV News Desk

It's just been announced that two-time Academy Award® winner Leslie Bricusse and Emmy, Grammy and Tony nominated composer Frank Wildhorn's Broadway musical Jekyll and Hyde is being reimagined for the big screen by Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), The Revenant).. (more...)

---

2) Actors' Equity Releases Statement On Trump's Proposal To Eliminate The National Endowment For The Arts

Kate Shindle, President of Actors' Equity Association, has released the following statement in reaction to President Trump's proposed budget. The new budget plan again proposes to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts.. (more...)

---

3) Brian d'Arcy James and Corey Stoll Join Cast of WEST SIDE STORY Film
by TV News Desk

Brian d'Arcy James and Corey Stoll have been cast in Fox's Steven Spielberg West Side Story film, according to Deadline.. (more...)

---

4) Can't Hold Them Back Anymore! FROZEN Will Head to London, Australia, and Germany!

As Frozen celebrates its first smash year on Broadway on March 22nd, Disney Theatrical Productions has announced that the show will have three international productions, joining the previously announced North American tour launching this fall.. (more...)

---

5) Photo Coverage: Opening Up! Shoshana Bean Takes Her First Bow in WAITRESS!
by Monroe George

Opening up! Shoshana Bean has officially taken over the role of Jenna in Waitress! Bean had her first performance on March 18, and BroadwayWorld was there. Check out the photos below!. (more...)

---

---

Today's Call Sheet:

The new cast of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD begins performances tonight!

The new cast features James Snyder as Harry Potter, Diane Davis as Ginny Potter alongside Nicholas Podany as their son Albus Potter; Matt Mueller as Ron Weasley, Jenny Jules as Hermione Granger and Nadia Brown as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley; and Jonno Roberts as Draco Malfoy and Bubba Weiler as his son Scorpius Malfoy.

Encores! I MARRIED AN ANGEL begins performances tonight, featuring Mark Evans, Ann Harada, Nikki M. James, and more!

New York City Center begins performances for I Married an Angel, the second Encores! production of the City Center 75th Anniversary Season. Sara Mearns plays the Angel of the title, alongside Phillip Attmore (Peter Mueller), Max Baker (General Lucash), Mark Evans(Count Willy Palaffi), Ann Harada (Duchess of Holstein-Kuloff), Nikki M. James (Countess Peggy Palaffi), Hayley Podschun (Anna Murphy), and Tom Robbins (Harry Mischka Szigetti).

I Married an Angel will run for seven performances only, March 20 through 24, at New York City Center.

---

BWW Exclusive: Backstage with Richard Ridge: FROZEN's Michael Grandage Gets Ready To Take the Cold Front Overseas!

The cold still doesn't bother Michael Grandage, who has a busy couple of years ahead! That's because Frozen, which this week celebrates its first smash year at Broadway's St. James Theatre, will soon launch three international productions, joining the previously announced North American tour launching this fall.

Grandage, a Tony Award winner (Red) and director of three Olivier Award-winning Outstanding Musicals (Merrily We Roll Along, Grand Hotel and Guys and Dolls), just sat down with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to chat about the huge task of mounting four new productions, and why he can't wait for the rest of the world to get a chance to experience Elsa, Anna and Arendelle.

---

What we're geeking out over: Watch a First Look at the HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL Episode of RIVERDALE

The CW drama series RIVERDALE is set to air the season three musical episode this Wednesday. The episode will feature a staging of Heathers: The Musical, based on the 1989 cult hit film starring Wynona Ryder and Christian Slater.

The episode, which airs this Wednesday, March 20 at 8/7c on The CW, will include nine songs from the off-Broadway musical adaptation that was first staged in 2010.

---

What we're watching: Watch Ali Stroker Sing 'I Cain't Say No' from OKLAHOMA! on Broadway!

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! is officially in previews at Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre with an official opening on Sunday, April 7, 2019. It will play a limited engagement through Sunday, September 1, 2019.

Below, watch as Ali Stroker, who plays Ado Annie, performs her big number, "I Cain't Say No."

---

Social Butterfly: BWW Poll: Which Song Do You Most Want to See in the Britney Spears Musical?

Oh, baby baby! As BroadwayWorld recently reported, a new musical centered around the music of Britney Spears called Once Upon a One More Time is going to have a pre-Broadway tryout at Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theatre this fall! With this news, we wanted to hear from you about which of the iconic songs from the pop star's library you most want to see put on stage! Let your voice be heard by voting in our poll!

---

And a Happy Birthday shout-out to Chip Zien, who turns 72 today!

Chip Zien created the central role of the Baker in Sondheim/Lapine's award-winning INTO THE WOODS and also created the role of Mendel in William Finn's highly acclaimed FALSETTOS. Most recently he was seen on B'way in IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU. Previously, he was seen in THE BIG KNIFE directed by Douglas Hughes, The Roundabout's THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, THE COUNTRY GIRL directed by Mike Nichols and as Thenardier in the revival of LES MISERABLES. He appeared in Tommy Tune's GRAND HOTEL playing Otto Kringelein, the memorable dancing bookkeeper. Other Broadway credits include, THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, ALL OVER TOWN directed by Dustin Hoffman and THE SUICIDE with Derek Jacobi. Mr. Zien also starred in the La Jolla reworking of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG.

Mr. Zien has recently turned his attention to writing. His new musical, THE HISTORY OF WAR was selected and presented at The New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF). His one-man show DEATH IN ASHTABULA and a musical revue TRAVELS WITH MY DISCONTENT, showcasing the music of Deborah Abramson, were both developed and performed at The Barrington Stage.

Additionally, Mr. Zien has performed his solo concert at 54 Below to smashing notices.

---

See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!