Wake Up With BWW 3/7: CHICK FLICK and FLEABAG Open Off-Broadway, and More!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! We're almost to Friday! Power through the end of your week with today's top Broadway stories!

First, we'd like to wish a happy opening to Chick Flick and Fleabag off-Broadway, as well as the West End company of Waitress!

Yesterday we learned the full cast that will be taking on The Who's Tommy at the Kennedy Center this year! The company will feature Casey Cott, Christian Borle, Mandy Gonzalez, Wesley Taylor, and more Broadway favorites!

Earlier this week, Kinky Boots had something to say 'yeah' about! Smithsonian Institution representatives, Abbe Raven and Anthea M. Hartig stopped by to formally induct the show into the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, and we've got all the photos from the event!

King Kong is now the king of Broadway! The show recently got a visit from a representative from the office of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who joined the company outside for a ceremonial street re-naming!

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

1) Casey Cott, Christian Borle, Mandy Gonzalez, Wesley Taylor and More Will Lead TOMMY at the Kennedy Center

The cast for the Kennedy Center's production of The Who's Tommy has been announced! Casey Cott, star of the hit CW series Riverdale, will play the title role in the Broadway Center Stage production of The Who's Tommy. Tony Award® winner Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher, Something Rotten!) and Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton, In the Heights) will co-star as Captain Walker and Mrs. Walker, respectively.. (more...)

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2) Photo Coverage: KINKY BOOTS Gets Inducted Into Smithsonian's National Museum of American History!
by Monroe George

Just last night, the cast and creative team of Kinky Boots had something to say 'yeah' about! Smithsonian Institution representatives, Abbe Raven and Anthea M. Hartig stopped by to formally induct the show into the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Check out photos from the onstage ceremony below!. (more...)

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3) BroadwayWorld Seeks Contributors in San Francisco

BroadwayWorld.com is looking for new contributors to help us grow our local coverage of theatre and support local talent and venues with our international platform! Find out more about joining the team!. (more...)

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4) VIDEO: Randy Rainbow Takes on Trump's 'Love Affair' With New SOUTH PACIFIC Parody
by Stage Tube

Randy Rainbow is back with another political parody that has us in stitches. This time, he parodies South Pacific while singing about Trump's 'love affair' with Kim Jong Un. watch!. (more...)

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5) Full Cast Revealed for 5th Ave's New Ahrens and Flaherty Musical MARIE, DANCING STILL

The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced full casting for its production of Marie, Dancing Still - A New Musical, the gorgeous new work from Tony Award-winning authors Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once On This Island) and five-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman (The Producers, Contact).. (more...)

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Today's Call Sheet:

CHICK FLICK officially opens off-Broadway tonight!

Chick Flick the Musical a new musical comedy with book, music and lyrics by Suzy Conn (Suffra-Jets; The Mercer Girls), is set to open tonight, March 7, at The Westside Theatre (407 W. 43rd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).

The cast of Chick Flick the Musical includes: Sharon Catherine Brown(Dreamgirls; Joseph...), Lindsay Nicole Chambers (Lysistrata Jones; Legally Blonde), Carla Duren(Hairspray; 110 In The Shade), and Megan Sikora (Holiday Inn, Clueless) with Jillian Louis (It Shoulda Been You; Soul Doctor) and Madison Stratton (Brigadoon; Baby) as Standbys.

FLEABAG officially opens off-Broadway tonight!

FLEABAG is written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, making her New York stage debut, and directed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge's long-time collaborator Vicky Jones. The play will open on March 7, 2019 at SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam St.). This is a strictly limited six-week engagement through Sunday, April 14, 2019.

After its sold-out run in London, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's award-winning comedic play, comes to New York for 6 weeks only. The play that inspired the hit television series, FLEABAG is a rip-roaring look at some sort of woman living her sort of life. Fleabag may seem oversexed, emotionally unfiltered and self-obsessed, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. With family and friendships under strain and a guinea pig café struggling to keep afloat, Fleabag suddenly finds herself with nothing to lose.

WAITRESS officially opens in London tonight, starring Katharine McPhee!

The Tony-nominated musical by Sara Bareilles has also recently extended its booking period to 19 October at the Adelphi Theatre, where it is now playing preview performances.

Waitress stars Katharine McPhee (Smash) as Jenna, Emmy-nominee Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) as Ogie, Marisha Wallace as Becky, Laura Baldwin as Dawn, Peter Hannah as Earl, David Hunter as Dr. Pomatter and Shaun Prendergast as Old Joe.

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BWW Exclusive: BWW Interview: Nassim Soleimanpour Explores Language and Friendship With a New Actor Each Night in NASSIM

Nassim Soleimanpour is an Iranian playwright whose new play Nassim is currently being produced by Barrow Street Theatricals at New York CityCenter Stage (ii). Nassim has previously played to sold-out audiences across the globe and features a unique set-up of a new guest actor at each performance who has not read or rehearsed the play. Soleimanpour previously explored this concept in his play White Rabbit Red Rabbit, which ran Off-Broadway for nine months in 2016. So far in its run, Nassim has been performed by guest actors such as Michael Urie,Tatiana Maslany, Beth Malone, Ethan Slater, Kate Walsh and many more.

Nassim Soleimanpour talked to BroadwayWorld about working with these amazing guest artists, how Nassim differs from White Rabbit Red Rabbit, and the difficult process that almost didn't allowed him to be in the country for the play's American premiere.

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What we're geeking out over: King of Broadway! NYC Celebrates KING KONG With Street Naming!

This afternoon, a representative from the office of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio stopped by the Broadway Theatre to celebrate the new King of Broadway, King Kong!

After a special appearance at the curtain call, representative Anna del Castillo joined the company outside for a ceremonial street re-naming!

Check out more photos here!

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What we're watching: Lin-Manuel Miranda Talks Playing Jack, Working with Rob Marshall in MARY POPPINS RETURNS

Disney's "Mary Poppins Returns," the irresistible sequel based upon the Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers, has had audiences dancing in their seats and critics singing its praises, earning Academy Award nominations for best original song, best original score, best costume design and best production design. Directed by Academy Award winner Rob Marshall, who helmed screen adaptations of "Chicago," "Nine" and "Into the Woods," and starring Emily Blunt, Golden Globe®-nominated for her role as practically-perfect nanny Mary Poppins, and award-winning composer, lyricist and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda as charming lamplighter Jack, the fantastical film arrives into homes instantly on Digital 4K Ultra HD™/HD and Movies Anywhere March 12 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™ and DVD March 19 - with a sing-along version and never-before-seen bonus features.

Watch a clip below where Lin-Manuel Miranda talks about why he loved playing Jack and working with Rob Marshall!

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And a Happy Birthday shout-out to Andy Blankenbuehler, who turns 49 today!

Andy Blankenbuehler won the 2016 and 2017 Tony Awards for Best Choreography for Hamilton and Bandstand. respectively Mr. Blankenbuehler won a 2008 Tony Award for his choreography in the Tony Award winning Best Musical In The Heights (also Lortel Award, Outer Critics Award and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography). He also choreographed the Broadway revivals of The Apple Tree and Cats.

Other recent projects include the new Broadway-bound musical Waiting For The Moon (music by Frank Wildhorn); the world premiere of the musical A Little Princess (music by Andrew Lippa); the Paper Mill Playhouse production of A Wonderful Life; as well as the off-Broadway play Burleigh Grimes (music by David Yazbek); and the hit Caesars Palace production Nights On Broadway. As a performer, he has danced on Broadway in Fosse, Contact, Man of La Mancha, Saturday Night Fever, Steel Pier, Big and Guys and Dolls.

Upcoming, he is choreographing the film adaptation of Cats!

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See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!