Another seven days, another 10 lessons from the week on Broadway! Read on below to find out what we’ve learned from stars like Cheyenne Jackson, Steve Kazee and Andy Karl in this hot summer week on the Great White Way.
Cheyenne Jackson Wants to Fake-Marry Nina Arianda
When Broadway fave Cheyenne Jackson was chatting about his fascination with closeted gay movie stars of the 1950s on Broadway.com’s Show People, host Paul Wontorek had to ask Jackson whom he’d want his fake wife to be, should he ever need a Broadway beard. He picked 2012 Tony winner and current movie role magnet Nina Arianda, who was recently his date to the Met Gala. "I love her!" he gushed. Your hubby might get a little jealous, Cheyenne, but we're all for this fake romance of super-talented gorgeous people!
Jeremy Jordan and Ashley Spencer Found High-Carb Love
Newsies headliner Jeremy Jordan and Rock of Ages star Ashley Spencer are getting married in September, but their love began over pasta in Midtown Manhattan. Their first date was to Trattoria Trecolori on 47th Street. “We decided to meet there one night, after [Jordan] got out of Rock of Ages,” Spencer told Broadway.com, “And it was history. Now we’re getting married!” Spencer says it's now the couple's favorite restaurant. If we had fallen for one of these hot Broadway babes there, it would be our favorite spot, too.
Steve Kazee May Ditch Broadway to Go Stargazing
Once Tony winner Steve Kazee sees a star every time he looks in the mirror, but he may leave that Broadway brand of heaven behind to check out a different kind of stargazing. “I often think about going back to school and getting my astrophysics degree, moving to Montana and looking at the stars for the rest of my life,” Kazee said in a recent interview on CBS. “I could be so happy doing that.” We've got a really comfy blanket, Steve. Can we join you?
Broadway Pets are Pervy
When we asked Broadway performers to introduce us to their pets in honor of Broadway Barks, we were expecting serious cuteness. We got cuteness and then some, but we also learned that these pooches have some super weird habits! One adorable pup can’t stop humping, another is a panty thief, and two have very weird reactions to farts. Hey Broadway pet parents, where are they learning these things?! Just curious.
A Mormon Really Wants to Meet a Bootlegger
The Book of Mormon’s Nic Rouleau is a now a bona fide stage star, but he’s still a Broadway fan, and the one star he’s dying to meet is Nice Work If You Can Get It’s Kelli O’Hara. “I saw her in Light in the Piazza seven times,” Rouleau told Broadway.com. “She is my absolute number one favorite performer on Broadway. I need to meet her somehow!” We'll put in a good word for you, Nic.
Steve Martin Heals Jersey Boys' Andy Karl
Broadway performers are always swearing by a brand of tea or some secret nose-rinsing technique, but Jersey Boys star Andy Karl has a simple solution for all his ills: The Three Amigos. “It’s actually a cure-all for any bad thing,” Karl told Broadway.com. “I regrew a severed foot once watching the 'Singing Bush' scene.” Kids, do not try that at home.
Jefferson Mays Reveals Solo Pleasure Trick
Among The Best Man’s Jefferson Mays’ eclectic assortment of backstage must-haves (1st century AD votive heads, anyone?) is something that looks like "an implement of torture” but is in fact a truly transporting head massager. “This is the best thing in the world,” he told Broadway.com. “You just have a little mini-vacation. I can do it to myself alone for hours.” Well, you know what they say. If the dressing room’s rocking…
Megan Hilty Wants to Have a Diva-Off with Jennifer Hudson
Smash star Megan Hilty can’t wait to go head to head with Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, who will be playing Tony-winning actress Veronica Moore on the second season of the Broadway-themed show. “I hope we have an angry duet,” Hilty said recently. “I'd like to really duke it out with her.” That's a belting battle we'd love to see! Sorry, Mike Tyson; Hilty v. Hudson may be the fight to beat this season.
Shaving is Rory O'Malley's Secret to a Good Show
Rory O’Malley let Book of Mormon fans in on his pre-show routine on a recent episode of his Broadway.com video blog. “It’s half hour which means it’s time for me to shave and look a little bit closer to being 19,” he said. “Once I didn’t shave before a show,” he went on. “Worst show of my life. I will never make that mistake again.” Post-shave: “And voila! I’m 19!” Yeah, Rory, us too. We’re allllll 19.
Wicked Film Has a Possible Wizard
Tony-winning and Oscar-nominated director Stephen Daldry may go from exploring dance in Billy Elliot to staging "Dancing Through Life" as the director of the much-discussed film version of Wicked. He has reportedly become the frontrunner for the project, over the likes of Rob Marshall (Chicago) and Ryan Murphy (Glee). No casting has been announced yet, so Stephen should expect a gift basket from Lea Michele any day now.