Lea Michele Won't Grow Up, Nick Jonas is the Best Ex Ever and More Lessons of the Week
As another fun-filled week on the Main Stem comes to a close, Broadway.com is revisiting our top headlines from the past seven days. From little red puppets to the secret Broadway dreams of TV’s biggest stars, we’ve had a busy seven days. Need a refresher on this week’s top stories? Read our top 10 lessons from this week below.
Lea Michele Is Forever Young
Twenty-five-year-old Broadway vet Lea Michele has been dancing through the halls of McKinley High School for three seasons on TV’s Glee, and now she’s considering a reprise of her Broadway breakout role, Wendla, in the upcoming Spring Awakening film. We thought Michele had finally graduated after starring as an aspiring (adult) singer in the movie New Year’s Eve but nope, it looks like Michele could be held back in high school again. Keep up those math grades, girl!
Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks Are a Practically Perfect Match
How is it possible that Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks have a staggering four Oscar wins and 22 nominations combined, but they’ve never starred in a movie together? There’s something seriously wrong with that, so we were thrilled to hear that Streep and Hanks are in talks to play Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers and Walt Disney, respectively, in Saving Mr. Banks. But movies, shmovies. Can't they just come to Broadway together? Please?!?
Elmo Has Been Changed For Good by Kristin Chenoweth
The stars came out to honor Kristin Chenoweth at the Drama League’s annual fancy dress gala, and one special friend came all the way from Sesame Street. Elmo (in black tie!) sang “For Good” from Wicked with former Elphie Eden Espinosa, then sang the praises of the original Glinda, the one and only KC, who also played Ms. Noodle on the pioneering children's television program. What does Elmo love about Kristin? “Her voice, her hugs and her laugh,” he told Broadway.com with a giggle. This lesson has been brought to you by the letters A-D-O-R-A-B-L and E.
Playing a Bible-Thumping Frump Messes with Marin Mazzie’s Sex Life
We’re accustomed to seeing Marin Mazzie all glammed up at galas and benefits, so it comes as a bit of a shock to see her on stage in Carrie swimming in a baggy denim jumper from the Vermont Country Store. What does Mazzie’s husband, fellow Broadway star Jason Danieley, think of her new look? “I sent [Jason] a text message at intermission that said, ‘Will you still sleep with me?’” Mazzie revealed. Well? Is Danieley turned on by the backwoods getup? “He didn’t text back.” Awww.
TV Stars Secretly Dream of Singing on Broadway
NBC has caught Broadway fever. Not only did Smash premiere this week, but our favorite stars performed a surprisingly awesome rendition of “Brotherhood of Man” from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying before the Super Bowl. Law & Order: SVU’s Mariska Hargitay even confessed to New York Magazine that starring on Broadway was a secret dream of hers. So what do you think, TV land? Can Broadway borrow your celebs for a while? We’re thinking Hargitay as Reno Sweeney, stage vet Alec Baldwin as The Phantom and Amy Poehler as Glinda. On the other hand, maybe they should keep their day jobs.
Mormon Man Josh Gad Is a Belieber
Snagging one Grammy nomination for The Book of Mormon cast album just isn’t enough for Josh Gad. The actor told Broadway.com he plans to “release my solo album of Justin Bieber covers” in hopes of getting yet another Grammy nod. Even though the Broadway funnyman was clearly kidding, we’d like to start hearing Gad’s renditions of “Baby” and “U Smile” on the radio immediately. Imagine the choreography—and the hair!
Audra McDonald Behaves Like a Nun to Act Like a Prostitute
In Broadway’s Porgy and Bess, Audra McDonald serves up a healthy portion of passion and drama as troubled addict Bess eight shows a week. How does she harness the intense emotion into her awe-inspiring performance? She says she must be “a nun during the day,” which includes abstaining from "adult beverages," and refusing to talk on the phone in order to save her voice so she can "go on stage and act like a prostitute!” Squeaky clean by day, drug-addled by night? It's hard out there for a four-time Tony winner.
And Jennifer Holliday Is Telling You She’s Retiring as Effie
Tony winner Jennifer Holliday insists that her appearance as Effie White in the St. Louis production of Dreamgirls at the Muny is the last time she’ll play the famous role. Well, “pretty sure,” anyway. The 51-year-old actress has been reprising Effie frequently since she originated the role in 1981, but doesn’t want to “turn into Norma Desmond” from Sunset Boulevard. Jennifer, as long as you’ve got those killer pipes, you can play Effie until you’re 80...and we're gonna love you!
Jim Parsons Can Recite Shakespeare with an Airhorn Blaring
The Big Bang Theory Emmy winner Jim Parsons may be a stellar actor in the quiet confines of a TV studio, but is he prepared to return to the candy-unwrapping-cell-phone-buzzing audiences of the Great White Way? Sure, he was great in the Tony-winning revival of The Normal Heart, but Ellen DeGeneres wants to make sure Parson’s focus is still sharp. She tested the soon-to-be Harvey headliner by having him recite Shakespeare in a downpour of distractions. After surviving Ellen’s glittery attack, keeping track of an imaginary rabbit on Broadway should be a cinch.
Nick Jonas Succeeds at Being a Super Sweet Ex
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying star Nick Jonas isn’t just a pop icon and seasoned Broadway star—he’s also apparently a supportive ex-beau. Jonas purportedly dated Samantha Barks when they starred in the Les Miserables 25th anniversary concert and London production together, and now he couldn’t be happier that Barks (and not country singer-songwriter Taylor Swift) has been tapped to play Eponine in the upcoming Les Miz movie musical. “I am so proud of Samantha,” Jonas told Broadway.com. “She’s an incredible talent and is going to be incredible in this role in the film.” What a dreamboat!