Hugh Dancy’s Kinky, Barbra Streisand’s on YouTube and Other Lessons of the Week
Looking for a quick recap of the week's news on Broadway? You've come to the right place! Yes, it's been another week of crazy theater news and fun features on Broadway.com and, of course, another week of learning. Read on for our recap of the top 10 lessons from the week!
Hugh Dancy’s Getting Kinky!
On TV’s The Big C, he’s a chubby-chasing gay cancer patient who recently brought Laura Linney and Oliver Platt to a bear bar, leaving them with their beers while he got it on in a back room with a new friend. On the big screen, he’s giving Victorian gals orgasms in the new flick Hysteria. And now Hugh Dancy’s signed on for a run in the kinky S&M-flavored Broadway play Venus In Fur. Clearly this talented star is exploring his wild side...and we love it!
Barbra Streisand’s on YouTube
When she heard Six Feet Under star Lauren Ambrose had been chosen to step into her large Fanny Brice shoes, Barbra Streisand ran to her computer and did what everyone else did: clicked on her keyboard with those long, luxurious nails to search for singing clips of Ambrose on YouTube. “I saw a clip on YouTube of her singing ‘My Man,'" she told USA Today. "But it was uptempo, so I couldn't judge it.” Think she Googles herself, too? We’re guessing yes!
Reeve Carney’s Going Hollywood
We never thought about the crazy physical similarities between Carney and late great rocker Jeff Buckley until he was announced as the star of a high-profile new bio-movie. The unexpected news has us cheering for Broadway's Spider-Man. We love rewarding hard-workers, and after the past year of nonstop drama that he’s been through, Carney deserves a big break!
There’s a Sophie/Sky Curse!
In her Fresh Face, Mamma Mia! star Liana Hunt referred to “the Sky/Sophie curse” of starting a showmance with a co-star. Who knew such a curse existed?! We immediately started going back and mentally relinking past Sky/Sophie pairings and wondering who who’s been hooking up backstage at the Winter Garden Theatre. We need names, Liana!
Farquaad Builds the Butt
Nigel Harman is loving starring as evil Lord Farquaad in the London production of Shrek...and not just because he’s getting all the big laughs. According to Harman himself, all that walking on his knees has done wonders for his backside. “I’ve got muscles in my bottom I didn’t know I had!” he boasted in his Broadway.com interview. “My ass muscles are like, ‘Wow!’” Like, wow!
McKinley is Nutty (And We Love It!)
We’re not sure if Philip William McKinley, the man who fixed Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark, will go down as one of our great stage directors, but he must be one of the craziest! How else to explain the desire to always stage the biggest, nuttiest, balls-to-the-walls shows on earth? Ben-Hur onstage?! The Ten Commandments? And now, The Bible: The Beginning? Insane! And we love him for it!
Jenn Harris Likes (Really) Bad Boys
As the star of Silence! The Musical!, Jenn Harris gets a lot of face time with creepy cannibal Hannibal Lecter, played by Broadway crooner Brent Barrett. And she told us that she loves it: “He’s scary, sexy and charming all in one look and I’ll be like, ‘Oh my god, I kind of want to make out with him,’ but then I have to remember he’d probably want to eat my face off.’” Indeed!
Bridget Jones Might Be Good!
We’ve always got an eyebrow raised when we hear of musical adaptations of beloved films (especially in the West End, which has recently seen flops like Flashdance and Desperately Seeking Susan), but the people behind Bridget Jones have done one thing right already by casting Sheridan Smith in the lead. The bubbly Brit was perfect as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde and we can imagine similar magic as lovelorn Bridget. Just perfect!
Bachelorette Could Be the New Bridesmaids
After the smashing success of Bridesmaids, estrogen-driven comedies are the new rage, so why not blow up Leslye Headland’s Bachelorette for the big screen? The comedy only ran briefly off-Broadway but now boasts a terrific cast of Hollywood funny ladies. And playwright Headland not only got her work to Hollywood, but is writing the screenplay and directing. Way to go, girl!
Paris Gets Jailbait, Steel Gets Cougars
In our hilarious backstage tour of Broadway’s Hair, leading dudes Paris Remillard and Steel Burkhardt share war stories of amorous female fans of the show. It turns out Remillard is a magnet for underage girls who want their boobs autographed while Burkhardt attracts cougars. Meanwhile, the entire time they’re talking about this hot topic, they’re openly flirting with each other. Priceless!
