Awards: critic's picks "The Ferryman" and "What the Constitution Means to Me" are the New York Drama Critics Circle winners for best play; "Carmen Jones" led the pack of Lortel Award winners (see the full list); check out the list of the 12 Theatre World awardees recognized for their debuts or breakout performances over the course of the season; see the list of Broadway.com "Audience Choice" award nominees; and check out these awesome portraits of the 2019 Tony Award nominees
News: Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" musical has booked Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre for a December opening; Diane Paulus will direct a Broadway revival of "1776" for Roundabout Theatre Company in 2021; critic's pick "All My Sons" extends to June 30th (read my review); Vanessa Carlton will make her Broadway debut in "Beautiful" in June; Stephen Schwartz's "The Prince of Egypt" musical will open in Londonin February 2020; "Pretty Woman" will launch a national tour in 2020 (read my review); and Roundabout will present the premiere of Adam Gwon's musical "Scotland, PA", based on the 2001 film
Development: the 2004 film "Sideways" is in development as a stage musical; fresh off their work on "Tootsie", David Yazbek and Robert Horn are writing a Tammy Faye Bakker bio-musical for Kristen Chenoweth; Fran Descher hints that "The Nanny" might be headed to the stage; John O'Farrell and Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick's musical adaptation of "Mrs. Doubtfire" will receive a starry reading; and book writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, composer Tom Kitt, and lyricist Brian Yorkey have departed "Magic Mike: The Musical" over "creative differences", though its November bow in Boston is still on the calendar
Rumor: is "The Full Monty" headed back to Broadway? This recent private reading might suggest so (check out this cast!)
Mark Your Calendar: Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner's film adaptation of "West Side Story" will open in theatres on December 18, 2020
Read: this important review of "Tootsie" by queer theater critic Christian Lewis; this take on Broadway's "man problem"; this lovely reflection by "Beetlejuice" star Rob McClure; and this smart piece about comedy on Broadway
Watch: the trailer for "No One Called Ahead" a new musical that will stream on your favorite device; the trailer for the forthcoming bio-pic "Judy"; and a performance of "Out of My Dreams" featuring the "instrument of hope" made from spent AR-15 bullet casings
RIP: long-time cast member of "The Phantom of the Opera" Harlan Bengel is dead of an apparent suicide at 45; original "West Side Story" cast member turned choreographer David Winters is dead at 80; six time Tony Award winning producer and socialite Terry Allen Kramer is dead at 86; and Broadway wig and makeup designer Dave Bova is dead at 40
