Sutton Foster Tastes Yummy, Raúl Esparza Gets Bloody and Other Lessons of the Week

Another week is over, and man, have we learned a lot about Broadway! From even more info on what Sutton Foster tastes like to lifestyle secrets of a Mormon, it’s been a very interesting week on the Great White Way. Read on below to get the inside scoop on some of your favorite Broadway stars and shows.

Sutton Foster Has a Tasty Face
Side by Side host Susan Blackwell’s signature face-lick has become a Broadway.com staple, but where did it come from? On a recent episode of Show People, Blackwell revealed the inspiration: Tony winner Sutton Foster. “She had that beautiful, clean, fresh Sutton Foster face,” said Blackwell, so instead of returning Foster’s post-interview kiss on the cheek a few years ago, Blackwell went for the face lick. “And I was like, 'That was delicious!’” she said. Well, we could have told you that, Susan.

Jeremy Jordan Found Love on Facebook
Hunky Newsies star Jeremy Jordan has Broadway fans swooning at his feet, but he met his fiancee Ashley Spencer online. “Ashley and I actually met via Facebook,” he told Broadway.com. “She was looking for advice on an audition for Rock of Ages and ended up sending me a message.” He was macking (his word) unsuccessfully on another girl, but when he and Spencer finally met in person the sparks flew. Way to seize the day, Jere!

Raúl Esparza Bleeds for His Art
Raúl Esparza is going to look like a million bucks as traveling minister/con artist Jonas Nightingale in Leap of Faith, but he’s paying for the privilege. "It cuts,” he told Broadway.com about the dazzling mirror jacket he wears on stage. “I actually have some blood on me. Yep! That’s what I do for theater." We applaud your commitment, Raúl, but in our opinion you don't need any help lighting up the stage.

Laura Benanti Is Back in the Saddle
You can’t keep a good Tony winner down! Even though Broadway darling Laura Benanti’s NBC show The Playboy Club was canceled after three episodes, she is getting right back on the bandwagon in NBC pilot Go On opposite Matthew Perry and fellow Tony winner Julie White. We’ll always tune in for you Laura, with or without the bunny outfit.

A New Argentina Is a Soggy Argentina
Eva Peron was a force of nature, but even she (as played by Elena Roger in the Broadway revival of Evita) was no match for the flood unleashed on the Marquis Theatre this week. The second and third previews of the revival were canceled when the water reservoir kept above the stage as a fire safety measure went off unexpectedly. This never happened to Madonna!

Kristen Wiig Has Clearly Never Heard Liza Minnelli
We love SNL stalwart Kristen Wiig. We love Liza Minnelli. And while we love Wiig’s recent Minnelli impression on Saturday Night Live, there ain’t nothing like the real thing. Sure, Wiig had the red sparkly outfit and the shaggy ‘do, but (and maybe it’s just our Liza love coloring our judgment here) what was that voice? Come on, Kristen, do we need to send Christine Pedi in to school you? That being said: nice moves.

Gypsy May Get an Upper-Crusty Makeover
Julian Fellowes, the mastermind behind upstairs/downstairs hits like TV's Downton Abbey and movie Gosford Park (which won him an Oscar), is being tapped for the film remake of Gypsy. Barbra Streisand is planning a remount of the vaudeville-era musical (starring herself as Rose, natch), and she’s enlisted Fellowes as the screenwriter. Hey Julian, Lady Mary Crawley would make one hell of a Gypsy Rose Lee. Think about it.

Josh Gad Really Lives Like a Mormon
Book of Mormon star Josh Gad recently called keeping in shape for his Broadway show his “Adele routine” (after the Grammy-winning, concert-canceling British pop star), but we’re thinking it sounds a little bit like real-life Mormon-ism. “I can’t drink alcohol, I can’ t smoke, I have to have sex in certain positions,” he said on Chelsea Lately. Sounds rough, Josh. Maybe a visit to your Grammy Award would cheer you up?

Nick Jonas and Darren Criss Are Always Welcome in Jersey
After How to Succeed star Nick Jonas mentioned that he’d love to play Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys, Broadway.com asked the show’s choreographer Sergio Trujillo if he would approve that casting. Turns out that Trujillo is on board for Jonas and more. “I work very closely with the Frankies, [and] I welcome all those guys—Nick Jonas and Darren Criss,” he said. Who loves you, Finches!

Kristin Chenoweth Ain’t Afraid of Newt Gingrich
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich recently called Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth’s new TV comedy GCB “anti-Christian bigotry,” and Cheno wasn’t having it. “I was like, 'No, Newt, don’t talk about my show!'” she told Broadway.com. “I would never do anything that would make fun of my own religion! I don’t think [GCB] does that.” Chenoweth 2016, anyone?