Wake Up With BWW 4/18: HILLARY AND CLINTON Opens, Christie Brinkley Returns to CHICAGO, and More!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld!

First, we'd like to wish a happy opening to Hillary and Clinton, which officially opens tonight on Broadway!

Yesterday, the Drama League Award nominations were announced! Earning nods were shows including Hadestown, The Prom, Ain't Too Proud, Beetlejuice, and more! Check out the full list below!

Hadestown is officially open on Broadway! Check out our opening night coverage below, and read all of the reviews here!

The Boys In The Band are getting back together! Ryan Murphy is planning to bring the play to Netflix!

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

1) THE PROM, AIN'T TOO PROUD, BEETLEJUICE & More Earn Drama League Awards Nominations!

The Drama League (Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Artistic Director) today announced the 2019 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. The nominations were announced this morning by the current stars of Waitress, Shoshana Bean and Jeremy Jordan, at the official announcement event at Sardi's Restaurant, which was streamed live online here at BroadwayWorld.. (more...)

2) Taylor Louderman, Will Swenson, Mamie Parris, Ann Harada, Jason Gotay, Laura Michelle Kelly and More Announced For THE MUNY's 101st Season

BroadwayWorld has learned that The Muny announced today 25 principal cast members for the first season of its second century. Complete company casting will be announced throughout April and May. The 101st season opens on a brand new, state-of-the-art stage with Muny favorite Guys and Dolls followed by the U.S. regional premiere of Kinky Boots. The season continues with 1776, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, Footloose and a newly-reimagined Lerner and Loewe's Paint Your Wagon. Season 101 closes with the highly-anticipated Muny debut of Roald Dahl's Matilda.. (more...)

3) WEST SIDE STORY Revival Accepting Video Submissions for Roles of Maria & Anita

The much-anticipated Broadway revival of West Side Story is continuing its nationwide search for actors to fill the roles of Maria and Anita. Directed by Ivo van Hove and choreographed by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, the production is seeking actors who authentically identify as Latina for the roles. The breakdown is as follows:. (more...)

4) Broadway Cast to Return for THE BOYS IN THE BAND on Netflix
by TV News Desk

Ryan Murphy took to Instagram to announce that he is bringing The Boys in the Band to Netflix.. (more...)

Today's Call Sheet:

HILLARY AND CLINTON officially opens tonight!

The new play by Tony Award nominee Lucas Hnath, stars award-winning actors Laurie Metcalf and John Lithgow. Completing the cast are Zak Orth and Peter Francis James.

Behind closed doors in the state of New Hampshire during the early days of 2008, a former First Lady named Hillary (Metcalf) is in a desperate bid to save her troubled campaign for President of the United States. Her husband, Bill (Lithgow), sees things one way; her campaign manager, Mark, sees things another. If any of this sounds familiar, don't be fooled; in a universe of infinite possibilities, anything that can happen, will.

Christie Brinkley returns to CHICAGO tonight!

Supermodel & actress Christie Brinkley will return to Broadway's Chicago as "Roxie Hart" for four weeks only, Thursday, April 18 to Sunday, May 12, 2019.

Ms. Brinkley received critical acclaim in 2010 when she made her Broadway stage debut as merry murderess "Roxie Hart" in Chicago. She continued her stage success reprising the role in London's West End for a limited four-week run and again, wowed sold-out audiences. Back by popular demand, Brinkley reprised the role of Roxie Hart in 2012 with a return engagement on Broadway.

BWW Exclusive: BWW Hits The Red Carpet At Opening Night of HADESTOWN

What we're geeking out over: Ben Platt Releases New Video for 'Older'

BroadwayWorld has a first look at a brand new video for Ben Platt's song "Older!"

Platt's album was released on March 29 and he will head out on a solo tour in May. The tour will make stops in Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Austin, Irving (TX), San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

SING TO ME INSTEAD marks Platt's first recorded output since his stunning duet with Lin-Manuel Miranda in March 2018 on "Found/Tonight." The track - which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart - was an installment in Miranda's 'Hamildrop' series, and featured vocals from both men in an original medley of "The Story of Tonight" from Hamilton and "You Will Be Found" from Dear Evan Hansen.

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

In the warmth of summertime, songwriter Orpheus and his muse Eurydice are living it up and falling in love. But as winter approaches, reality sets in: these young dreamers can't survive on songs alone. Tempted by the promise of plenty, Eurydice is lured to the depths of industrial Hadestown. On a quest to save her, Orpheus journeys to the underworld where their trust in each other is put to a final test.

Written by celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and developed with innovative director and Tony Award® nominee Rachel Chavkin, the cast of Hadestown is led by the acclaimed actors from its sold-out run at London's National Theatre: Reeve Carney, André De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada, and Patrick Page. They are joined by Jewelle Blackman, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, and Kay Trinidad as the Fates. The Workers Chorus is played by Afra Hines, Timothy Hughes, John Krause, Kimberly Marable, and Ahmad Simmons. The full cast also includes swings Malcolm Armwood, T. Oliver Reid, Jessie Shelton, and Khaila Wilcoxon.

And a Happy Birthday shout-out to Gavin Creel, who turns 43 today!

Gavin Creel won the 2017 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for Hello, Dolly!. This marks the actor's third Tony nomination and first win. He was previously nominated for 2019's HAIR AND 2002's THROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. Creel won the 2014 Olivier and WhatsOnStage Awards for his starring role as "Elder Price" in the London production of THE BOOK OF MORMON.

Gavin Creel is a two-time Tony Award nominee for his performances as "Claude" in Hair and "Jimmy" in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Additional credits include the Broadway production of The Book of Mormon, the 2004 revival of La Cage Aux Folles, the Goodman Theatre/Kennedy Center production of Sondheim and Weidman's Bounce (dir. Hal Prince), A.R.T.'s world premiere of Prometheus Bound, as well as Hair and Mary Poppins in the West End. Creel has recorded three original albums, is a member of the Broadway Inspirational Voices Choir and graduated from The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance. As a co-founder of Broadway Impact and for his work fighting for marriage equality, Creel has been recognized as one of OUT Magazine's OUT 100, and in 2011, he co-wrote and released the single "Noise," to raise money and awareness for that fight.

See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!