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Where’s That Cast Now? The Book of Mormon Edition

Book of Mormon

When The Book of Mormon opened at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in March 2011, it was an instant cultural earthquake—raucous, irreverent, and packed with a powerhouse cast. Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez’s satirical masterpiece took home nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and cemented its place in Broadway history. But what happened to the original cast after they bid farewell to Uganda? Let’s check in.

Andrew Rannells (Elder Price)

The breakout star of The Book of Mormon, Rannells earned a Tony nomination for his pristine comedic timing and powerhouse vocals. After leaving the show, he jumped to HBO’s Girls as Elijah, a role that made him a TV fan favorite. He’s also appeared in The New Normal, Black Monday, and the film adaptation of The Prom. On Broadway, he returned in Falsettos (another Tony nomination), The Boys in the Band, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He’s now an established multi-hyphenate—actor, singer, and author (Too Much Is Not Enough), and came back to Broadway most recently in 2023 in Gutenberg! The Musical! opposite Mormon castmate Josh Gad.

Josh Gad (Elder Cunningham)

Josh Gad left The Book of Mormon with a Tony nomination and a rocket strapped to his career. He became a household name as the voice of Olaf in Disney’s Frozen franchise, starred in films like Beauty and the Beast as LeFou, Artemis Fowl, and Murder on the Orient Express, and fronted series like Central Park and Avenue 5. Recently, he co-created and starred in the Apple TV+ series Wolf Like Me. He returned to the stage in Gutenberg! The Musical! in 2023 and Broadway fans are eagerly awaiting his next project.

Nikki M. James (Nabulungi)

James earned a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her luminous performance as Nabulungi. Since then, she’s built a wide-ranging career spanning stage and screen. She appeared in Les Misérables (2014 revival), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and received a Tony Award nomination for playing Ida B. Wells in Suffs. On TV, she’s had recurring roles in BrainDead, The Good Wife, Severance, Daredevil: Born Again, and Proven Innocent. She continues to be a beloved Broadway presence and versatile performer.

Rory O’Malley (Elder McKinley)

O’Malley’s hilarious, scene-stealing “Turn It Off” won him a Tony nomination. After Mormon, he starred in Hamilton as King George III on Broadway and on the road, and has appeared in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and American Princess. Beyond acting, he co-founded Broadway Impact, an organization advocating for marriage equality. He remains a champion for social causes and LGBTQ+ rights within the theater community.

Michael Potts (Mafala Hatimbi)

Potts has built a robust career in both theatre and television. He starred in the Tony-winning revival of The Iceman Cometh alongside Denzel Washington and earned acclaim for The Piano Lesson on Broadway. TV fans know him from The Wire (Brother Mouzone), True Detective, and Show Me a Hero. His career continues to balance powerful stage work with scene-stealing screen roles.

Lewis Cleale (Price’s Dad / Mission President)

A Broadway veteran before Mormon, Cleale has continued working steadily, appearing in The Book of Mormon for several years and in productions like The Fantasticks. He’s also lent his voice to recordings and is a respected name in the theatre community.

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Creative

From Stage to Screen: Broadway Stars Who Made It in Hollywood

Broadway has always been a training ground for some of the world’s greatest performers. The discipline, stamina, and craft demanded by the stage often translate beautifully to the camera. Some actors find themselves moving seamlessly between the two worlds, carrying the essence of live performance into their screen roles. Here’s a look at a few who have successfully built careers in both Broadway and Hollywood.

Carrie Coon

Known for her searing stage work in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (for which she earned a Tony nomination), Carrie Coon quickly caught the attention of television and film audiences with The White Lotus, The Leftovers, Fargo, and The Gilded Age. Her ability to bring quiet intensity to both stage and screen has made her one of the most versatile actors of her generation.

Sam Rockwell

Before his Oscar-winning turn in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Rockwell sharpened his craft on stage in plays like Fool for Love and A Behanding in Spokane. He returned to Broadway in 2022 in American Buffalo alongside Laurence Fishburne and Darren Criss, proving his deep roots in live performance.

Cynthia Nixon

Long before Sex and the City made her a household name, Cynthia Nixon was a Broadway regular—making her debut at age 14 in The Philadelphia Story and famously performing in two Broadway shows simultaneously at age 18 (Hurlyburly and The Real Thing). She later won a Tony Award for Rabbit Hole and continues to balance stage roles with a thriving screen career, most recently on The Gilded Age and reprising Miranda in And Just Like That.

Natalie Portman

Portman made her stage debut in The Diary of Anne Frank on Broadway as a teenager, showcasing early on the depth that would define her film work. While she’s best known for Black Swan (for which she won an Oscar), Jackie, and Star Wars, her theater roots reflect the training and presence that ground her screen career.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Before she became Carrie Bradshaw, Parker was a Broadway baby, starring in Annie at age 14 and later in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Once Upon a Mattress. Though television cemented her pop-culture status, she frequently returns to the stage, most recently co-starring with Matthew Broderick in Plaza Suite—a reminder that her stage chops remain as sharp as ever.

Meryl Streep

Often hailed as the greatest living actress, Streep began her career in the theater, including Shakespeare in the Park and Broadway roles before her meteoric rise in film. She has periodically returned to the stage while dominating cinema with performances in Sophie’s Choice, Doubt, The Devil Wears Prada, and August: Osage County—all roles that draw heavily from her stage training.

Timothée Chalamet

Chalamet’s breakout came with Call Me By Your Name, but his roots trace back to Broadway, where he appeared in The Talls and Prodigal Son, the latter earning him rave reviews. He continues to balance Hollywood blockbusters like Dune and Wonka with his stage sensibilities, hinting at more theater work in his future.

Denzel Washington

Washington’s towering presence on screen (Training Day, The Book of Eli, Glory) has always been matched by his stage work. He’s taken on some of theater’s most iconic roles, including Julius Caesar, A Raisin in the Sun, and The Iceman Cometh, and most recently Othello in 2025. His Tony-winning turn in Fences exemplifies how he bridges the worlds of Broadway and Hollywood with equal force.

_____

For these performers, the theater is more than just a career stepping stone—it’s an artistic home. The immediacy of a live audience, the rigor of nightly performance, and the intimacy of the stage all inform their film and television work. As Broadway and Hollywood continue to overlap, these actors prove that great storytelling transcends medium.

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Creative

Broadway Love Triangles Ranked

Hamilton

Nothing stirs the pot in musical theatre quite like a good love triangle. The genre thrives on heightened stakes, soaring voices, and impossible choices – and when romance enters in threes, the drama practically writes itself. Some triangles are tragic, some are messy, some are swoon-worthy, but all are unforgettable when paired with powerhouse vocals.

Here’s a ranking of Broadway’s most iconic love triangles, judged by three criteria: dramatic tension (how badly do we want to know what happens?), vocal fireworks (who belts the house down in the process?), and cultural impact (how much staying power does this triangle have?).

10. Dear Evan Hansen

The unconventional triangle of Evan, the deceased Connor, and Zoe creates a uniquely modern dilemma built on deception and grief. While the stakes are emotionally high – Evan’s lies spiral out of control as he falls for his “best friend’s” sister – the resolution feels more therapeutic than romantic. “For Forever” and “You Will Be Found” showcase contemporary musical theatre vocals, but the triangle itself serves the larger themes of mental health and social media rather than classic romantic tension.

9. Chez Joey (formerly “Pal Joey”)

In Rodgers and Hart’s Pal Joey, Joey Evans (a charming heel) juggles relationships with socialite Vera and ingénue Linda. The “triangle” is less about true romance and more about social climbing, but it sets the template for morally ambiguous Broadway love plots. While the stakes are lighter compared to modern mega-musicals, the songs are lush, jazzy, and sly. “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” remains one of the all-time great torch songs.

8. Sweeney Todd

The twisted triangle of Sweeney Todd, Mrs. Lovett, and his deceased wife Lucy creates one of Broadway’s darkest romantic dynamics. Mrs. Lovett’s obsessive devotion to Sweeney, built on her lie about Lucy’s fate, drives much of the musical’s horror. “By the Sea” reveals Mrs. Lovett’s delusional domestic fantasies, while Sweeney’s “Lucy” shows his haunted devotion. It’s less traditional romance and more psychological thriller, but the vocal demands and Sondheim’s brilliant writing make it unforgettable.

7. Next to Normal

Diana’s struggle with bipolar disorder creates a complex triangle between her, husband Dan, and her idealized psychiatrist Dr. Madden (representing her various doctors and treatments). The “romance” here is really about Diana choosing between the fantasy of a quick fix and the hard work of real healing. “I Am the One” showcases the pull between Dan’s patient love and the seductive promise of medical solutions. While the vocals are more contemporary pop than traditional Broadway belting, the emotional stakes couldn’t be higher.

6. Wicked

The green girl vs. the blonde girl for the same prince. The triangle of Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero is less about romance and more about identity and friendship, but the “drama” of who Fiyero truly belongs with (spoiler: the green one) still keeps audiences invested. What cements Wicked’s placement here are the vocals: “Defying Gravity,” “As Long As You’re Mine,” and “I’m Not That Girl” are showstoppers that have launched countless careers. Few musicals can match the combined belting power required here. The cultural impact is undeniable – this show has redefined what Broadway blockbusters can be.

5. Hamilton

This is a triangle that pulses with both history and heartbreak: Alexander Hamilton, his wife Eliza, and her sister Angelica. It’s less a scandalous tug-of-war and more a portrait of missed opportunities, emotional restraint, and devastating betrayal. Angelica’s “Satisfied” reframes Eliza’s “Helpless” in one of the most ingenious bits of musical storytelling in the 21st century. Add Hamilton’s ultimate lapse with Maria Reynolds, and you’ve got not just a triangle but a full love web that ends in ruin. The vocals – rap, R&B, and Broadway balladry – are uniformly killer, and the cultural impact of Hamilton’s revolutionary approach to casting and music cannot be overstated.

4. Phantom of the Opera

Broadway’s former longest-running show is built entirely on one triangle: Christine torn between childhood sweetheart Raoul and tortured genius Erik, the Phantom. The stakes? Love, freedom, sanity, and sometimes life itself. Phantom thrives on gothic melodrama, with Christine’s “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” and the Phantom’s “Music of the Night” providing vocal catharsis. While the Phantom’s obsession can feel more sinister than romantic to modern audiences—sparking important conversations about consent and toxic relationships—there’s no denying the triangle’s grip on audiences for over three decades.

3. Chess

A Cold War chessboard becomes the backdrop for one of Broadway’s most intense triangles: Florence torn between American champion Freddie and Soviet rival Anatoly. Here, love and politics intersect, and the stakes feel monumental with personal relationships become metaphors for global tensions. Vocally, the score is among the most demanding in the canon: “Nobody’s Side,” “Pity the Child,” and “Anthem” test singers to their absolute limits (Not to mention “I Know Him So Well”). Though Chess has always struggled with its book and has had limited Broadway runs, the combination of high-stakes drama and vocal fireworks should be a must-see for the upcoming revival.

2. Miss Saigon

Kim, Chris, and Ellen form one of the most gut-wrenching Broadway triangles. Kim’s devotion to Chris, Chris’s conflicted love between past and present, and Ellen’s rightful claim as his wife create impossible choices with devastating consequences. “I Still Believe” is practically a masterclass in duet-writing, and Kim’s “I’d Give My Life for You” guarantees tears night after night. The sheer dramatic weight and operatic vocals make this unforgettable, though modern revivals have grappled with questions about cultural representation and the “white savior” narrative that somewhat complicate its legacy.

1. Les Misérables

The gold standard: Marius torn between the ethereal Cosette and the tragically overlooked Éponine. While some argue the outcome is predictable, the tension comes from Éponine’s unrequited devotion and her iconic solo “On My Own” – a song that has become an anthem for anyone who’s ever loved from the sidelines. The love triangle plays against the sweeping backdrop of revolution, amplifying every emotion. Add in Cosette and Marius’s soaring “A Heart Full of Love,” and you have the perfect balance of youthful idealism, heartbreak, and musical brilliance. Les Mis proves that when love triangles are set to powerhouse vocals and universal themes, they can become cultural touchstones that transcend generations.

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Creative

September Broadway Astrology Guide

broadway astrology guide


This month is a character shift. A wardrobe change. An emotional reprise. You’re stepping into autumn with vintage flair and fresh clarity. The past has a few encores left, but the next act is all yours!

Let’s dig into the vault. From Golden Age gems to cult favorites for a retro astrology take. September is all about transition, reflection, and reclaiming your spotlight.

Aries (Mar 21–Apr 19)

Damn Yankees
You’re going all in for the win this month. September’s energy has you tempted by ambition, speed, and a shot at glory. But be careful what you bargain away. Sometimes the game isn’t worth the soul contract.

Taurus (Apr 20–May 20)

She Loves Me
You’re craving romance, routine, and just the right amount of chaos. September feels like a handwritten love letter you weren’t expecting. Don’t rush it. The beauty is in the slow unfolding.

Gemini (May 21–Jun 20)

Company
This month, you’re balancing connection and independence. You’re the friend, the flirt, the questioner. September has you asking: Should I get married? Should I stay single? Should I book a flight to Barcelona? You don’t need answers, just better questions.

Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 22)

Follies
Memory is your scene partner this month. You’re walking through the ruins of old dreams, asking if they still matter. September brings nostalgia, beauty, and a little heartbreak. Let the past perform, but don’t let it direct.

Leo (Jul 23–Aug 22)

Gypsy
It’s time to grab the spotlight and strut. September wants you in full-blown star mode. Just remember: you can razzle-dazzle without steamrolling your ensemble. Lead with heart, not just sequins.

Virgo (Aug 23–Sep 22)

A Chorus Line
It’s audition season in your soul. You’re assessing what fits, what doesn’t, and who gets a callback in your life. September is all about precision, purpose, and figuring out what you really want. God, you hope you get it.

Libra (Sep 23–Oct 22)

My Fair Lady
This month is a glow-up arc. You’re refining your image, polishing your presence, and maybe coaching others in the art of grace. Just be careful not to lose yourself in the transformation. You’re the flower, not just the project.

Scorpio (Oct 23–Nov 21)

Sweeney Todd
Your intensity is showing, and September is the perfect month to sharpen your instincts. Something needs to be cut—just be sure it’s not the people who care about you. Revenge is satisfying. Healing is harder.

Sagittarius (Nov 22–Dec 21)

Pippin
You’re on a quest for meaning again, and September gives you plenty of paths to explore. Don’t let flashy distractions pull you off course. You don’t need a grand finale to prove your worth. Sometimes the simple life is the most extraordinary.

Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 19)

Sunday in the Park with George
You’re building something beautiful this month; layer by layer, dot by dot. September asks you to trust the process, even when it feels like no one sees the bigger picture. Keep going. You are the art and the artist.

Aquarius (Jan 20–Feb 18)

Hair
You’re channeling the revolution. September wants you wild, expressive, and unapologetically free. You’re not here to play by the rules. You’re here to rewrite the game entirely. Let the sun shine in…and let your weird flag fly.

Pisces (Feb 19–Mar 20)

Carousel
You’re deep in your romantic haze this month, dancing between dreams and disillusionment. September wants you to find beauty in the bittersweet. Don’t wait for a miracle. Be the one who brings it.

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Creative

Broadway’s Most Heartbreaking Songs

cynthia erivo signs I'm Still Hurting

There’s something about a Broadway heartbreak song that hits differently than any other kind of musical theatre moment. Maybe it’s the way the orchestra swells just as your heart breaks, or how a single spotlight can make an entire theatre feel like the most intimate space in the world. Whatever it is, these songs don’t just tell us about love ending; they make us feel every agonizing moment of it.

I’ve been thinking about the breakup songs that have stayed with me long after the curtain falls, the ones that make you sit on the train or the walk home afterward and just… breathe (or cry again.) Here are the most devastating goodbye songs in Broadway history, plus a few more that deserve their moment in the spotlight.

The Essential Heartbreakers

1. Then I Can Let You Go – Maybe Happy Ending

This Broadway gem gave us one of the most unexpectedly moving breakup duets in recent memory. Two obsolete helper robots learning to love and let go? It shouldn’t work, but it absolutely destroys you. There’s something about mechanical beings discovering the most human emotion of all—the pain of saying goodbye—that cuts right to the core.

Cynthia Erivo sings “I’m Still Hurting” at The Town Hall

2. Still Hurting – The Last Five Years

Jason Robert Brown opens his musical with a gut punch, and honestly, some of us never recover. Cathy’s quiet devastation in “Still Hurting” is so real it’s almost uncomfortable to watch. The way Brown uses simple melody to amplify crushing lyrics is pure genius—and pure torture.

3. Without You – Rent

Jonathan Larson knew how to write pain, and “Without You” might be his masterpiece of heartbreak. Mimi’s raw, desperate plea captures that moment when you realize the person you love is slipping away, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. Every time I hear it, I’m right back in that East Village apartment, feeling every note.

4. I Know Him So Well – Chess

Two women, one man, and a duet that somehow manages to be both civilized and devastating. There’s no screaming, no accusations—just two people who understand each other perfectly, which somehow makes the whole thing even more tragic. It’s the kind of song that makes you call your ex just to make sure you’re both okay.

5. I’d Give My Life for You (Reprise) – Miss Saigon

The original is a mother’s promise; the reprise is a mother’s goodbye. Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil took the most beautiful expression of love and twisted it into the most heartbreaking sacrifice. It’s the kind of moment that reminds you why musical theater exists—to make us feel things we didn’t know we could feel.

6. You Don’t Know This Man – Parade

Lucille Frank’s desperate defense of her husband becomes something much more complex—a woman realizing that love sometimes means accepting how little you really know someone. It’s not technically a breakup song, but it carries the same weight of love disappearing before your eyes.

7. For Good – Wicked

Stephen Schwartz gave us the ultimate friendship breakup, and honestly, it might hurt more than any romantic goodbye on this list. Elphaba and Glinda’s farewell reminds us that some relationships change us so fundamentally that losing them feels like losing a piece of ourselves.

8. All You Wanna Do – Six

Katherine Howard’s solo might be the most devastating example of a song that tricks you. What starts as a bouncy pop anthem slowly reveals itself as the story of a young woman who was manipulated and abused by every man in her life. The contrast between the upbeat music and the increasingly dark lyrics is absolutely gut-wrenching.

9. Far From the Home I Love – Fiddler on the Roof

Hodel’s quiet goodbye to her family is devastating in its acceptance. She’s choosing love over everything familiar, and you can feel the weight of knowing some distances can never be crossed again. It’s one of those songs that makes you call your parents afterward.

10. Burn – Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda gives Eliza the ultimate revenge song, and it’s terrifying in the best way. The way it builds from quiet devastation to blazing fury is breathtaking. Sometimes the most devastating thing you can do is erase someone completely—and Eliza knows it.

11. Not a Day Goes By – Merrily We Roll Along

Classic Sondheim genius: the same song appears twice with completely different meanings. Whether it’s about the beginning of love or the end depends on where you are in the timeline, which makes it heartbreaking in the most sophisticated way possible.

12. I Don’t Remember You – Happy Time

This Kander and Ebb gem sneaks up on you. Claiming not to remember someone while singing an entire song about not remembering them? It’s emotional gaslighting set to a beautiful melody, which somehow makes it even more devastating.

Why we love them?

The truth is, we don’t go to the theater to feel comfortable. We go to feel everything: the joy, the pain, the messy complicated middle of being human. These breakup songs remind us that endings, however painful, are part of every story worth telling.

They’re also proof that musical theater, at its best, doesn’t just entertain us…it helps us process our own experiences. Every time someone on stage says goodbye, they’re giving voice to all the goodbyes we’ve struggled to say ourselves.

Some heartbreak is worth carrying with you.

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Creative

2025-2026 Broadway Season (So Far)

Upcoming Broadway shows

It’s official: Broadway’s 2025–2026 season is set to be a showstopper. Between blockbuster revivals, high-profile debuts, daring comedies, and nostalgic musicals, this year’s lineup offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a die-hard theater nerd, a celebrity spotter, or just looking for your next night out in New York, here’s your essential guide to the productions lighting up the marquees.

BACK TO THE BLOCKBUSTER

MAMMA MIA!
Winter Garden Theatre | Opening August 14, 2025
ABBA’s beloved jukebox musical returns to the Winter Garden—its original Broadway home—bringing a dose of sun-drenched escapism and glittery nostalgia. With a cast led by Christine Sherrill, Amy Weaver, and Carly Sakolove, this revival promises to be both a retro party and a fresh celebration.

BEETLEJUICE
Palace Theatre | Opening October 8, 2025
After a successful tour and its cult following intact, Beetlejuice is rising from the dead once more. Alex Timbers’ high-octane production will haunt the newly reopened Palace Theatre, delivering chaotic comedy, killer design, and a second chance for audiences who missed it the first time.

CHESS
Imperial Theatre | Opening November 16, 2025
Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher take center stage in this long-awaited revival of the Cold War-set pop musical. With a brand-new book by Danny Strong (Dopesick), this CHESS is aiming for high drama and vocal fireworks.

RAGTIME
Vivian Beaumont Theatre | Opening October 16, 2025
Lear deBessonet helms a starry revival of this Tony-winning epic, featuring Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, and Brandon Uranowitz. Expect sweeping emotion, bold visuals, and powerful commentary on the American dream.

COMEDY & CHARACTER: SOLO SPOTLIGHTS

TAKE A BANANA FOR THE RIDE
Nederlander Theatre | Opening August 18, 2025
Jeff Ross, the king of roasts, gets personal in this comedic one-man show that unpacks his life behind the mic. Part memoir, part roast, all heart.

SUGAR DADDY
Dates & Venue TBD
Following a hit Off-Broadway run and an Edinburgh Festival breakout, Sam Morrison brings his darkly funny tale of grief, queerness, and seagulls to the Main Stem. Directed by A Strange Loop’s Stephen Brackett.

DRAMA, DEBATE & DYSTOPIA

ART
Music Box Theatre | Opening September 16, 2025
What’s more expensive: the price of art or the cost of friendship? Bobby Cannavale, James Corden, and Neil Patrick Harris star in this razor-sharp revival of Yasmina Reza’s Tony-winning play, directed by Scott Ellis.

PUNCH
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre | Opening September 29, 2025
Based on a true story, James Graham (Ink, Best of Enemies) explores justice, forgiveness, and moral complexity in a play that wowed UK critics. Camila Canó-Flaviá and Will Harrison lead a powerhouse cast.

WAITING FOR GODOT
Hudson Theatre | Opening September 28, 2025
Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter reunite (no, not as Bill & Ted) in Jamie Lloyd’s stripped-down revival of Beckett’s existential classic. Can two dudes just wait in peace? Apparently not.

OEDIPUS
Studio 54 | Opening November 13, 2025
Mark Strong and Lesley Manville lead Robert Icke’s critically-acclaimed West End take on Oedipus Rex. Modern, political, and devastatingly precise.

BUZZY NEW PLAYS & MUSICALS

THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES
St. James Theatre | Opening November 10, 2025
Kristin Chenoweth returns in a glitzy new musical based on the infamous documentary about Jacqueline Siegel. With music by Stephen Schwartz and direction by Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending), this could be the season’s most outrageous (and opulent) new musical.

LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD
Booth Theatre | Opening October 30, 2025
Playwright Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale) and director Joe Mantello team up for a quietly devastating family drama starring Laurie Metcalf. Small town. Big heartbreak.

MARJORIE PRIME
Hayes Theatre | Opening December 8, 2025
Jordan Harrison’s sci-fi-tinged meditation on memory and aging makes its Broadway debut, with Anne Kauffman at the helm. Get ready for tears, tech, and talkbacks.

THE LOST BOYS
Palace Theatre | Spring 2026
Yes, that Lost Boys. Michael Arden’s adaptation of the 1987 vampire flick is set to take a bite out of Broadway, fangs and all.

MORE NOTABLE ARRIVALS:

  • DOLLY: AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL – Dolly Parton is writing her own Broadway bio-musical. Enough said.
  • DOG DAY AFTERNOON – Stephen Adly Guirgis brings the gritty bank heist story to the stage, starring Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
  • THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW – Let’s do the Time Warp again… at Studio 54, no less.
  • JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE – August Wilson’s classic returns with Taraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer, directed by Debbie Allen.
  • THE BALUSTERS – David Lindsay-Abaire and Kenny Leon bring suburban HOA drama to a boiling point.
  • WANTED – Formerly Gun & Powder, this explosive new musical centers on twin sisters in the post-Reconstruction South.
  • PRIVATE LIVES and FALLEN ANGELS – Noël Coward’s comedies of manners and mischief are both slated for spring, starring Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara.
Categories
Creative

July Astrology: Broadway Edition

Broadway astrology

It’s time for some astrology, Broadway style. Starting now and carrying through the next few weeks, July is charged with emotional revelations, second chances, and bold rewrites. The stars are pushing us to confront the past, embrace vulnerability, and choose our own endings—whether it’s a plot twist, a love story, or a full-on revival.

Aries (Mar 21–Apr 19)

Maybe Happy Ending
You’re soft, electric, and feeling things you didn’t know you could. The next two weeks will have you glitching in the best way. Vulnerable, romantic, and cautiously optimistic. You’re not just rebooting. You’re learning how to love like it’s the first time.

Taurus (Apr 20–May 20)

The Outsiders
You’ve been chill for too long. July says it’s rumble time. It’s loyalty versus survival, and you’re about to prove that you’re more than just steady. You’re scrappy. Embrace your inner Ponyboy, defend your people, and don’t be afraid to burn a little brighter.

Gemini (May 21–Jun 20)

Six
You’re every version of yourself, and this month, you’re ready to headline. July wants you loud, proud, and remixing your own history. Step into your spotlight, split your screen, and serve Tudor realness with a pop beat and a mic drop.

Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 22)

Hadestown
You’re feeling epic. Star-crossed. On the edge of fate. July’s energy has you loving hard and longing harder. But remember, tragedy isn’t your only option. Sometimes the road to the underworld leads back to yourself. Sing anyway.

Leo (Jul 23–Aug 22)

& Juliet
This is your rewrite. You’re not waiting for anyone to give you a happy ending. You’re grabbing the quill and cueing the Backstreet Boys. July is your birth-month bop, and you’re writing it with rhinestones, revenge, and self-love choreography.

Virgo (Aug 23–Sep 22)

John Proctor is the Villain
July is your disillusionment arc and your awakening. You’re seeing things and people more clearly. This month might crack some foundations, but don’t flinch. You’re not here to be the teacher’s pet. You’re here to rewrite the rules and pass the test you believe in.

Libra (Sep 23–Oct 22)

Chicago
You’re giving courtroom couture and calculating charisma. July is about appearances and the truth behind them. You know how to charm, but don’t let that mask your real needs. The razzle dazzle works, but only when it’s anchored in something true.

Scorpio (Oct 23–Nov 21)

The Lion King
You’re being called to rise. Emotionally, spiritually, ancestrally. July brings echoes from the past, and it’s time to face your personal Scar. Step into the sun, reclaim your legacy, and roar like the royalty you are.

Sagittarius (Nov 22–Dec 21)

The Book of Mormon
July is sending you on an absurd journey with meaning hidden in the madness. You’re craving freedom, questioning belief systems, and laughing at it all. Follow the chaos. It just might lead you to the truth. Or at least to Uganda.

Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 19)

Hamilton
You’re running out of time. Or at least, it feels that way. This month is a sprint toward legacy, with work, ambition, and strategy at the center. But remember, even Hamilton paused for a moment alone in the eye of the hurricane. Rest is not failure.

Aquarius (Jan 20–Feb 18)

Wicked
You’re not like the others, and July makes that crystal clear. This is your moment to rise, defy gravity, and challenge the system. Not everyone will get you, but your uniqueness is your power. Stay green. Stay bold. Stay you.

Pisces (Feb 19–Mar 20)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
July has you time-traveling emotionally. Revisiting the past, dreaming alternate futures, feeling things no one else understands. You’re a little magic, a little mess, and a lot more powerful than you think. Cast the spell. Rewrite the ending.

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Creative

Tony Noms Make History in 2025

As Broadway artists and enthusiasts await the 2025 Tonys, there’s already so much to celebrate. This year’s class of nominees includes some historic firsts and notable exceptions to the rule, worth a shoutout. Read on!

Kara Young: Four Years, Four Noms

Breakout Broadway star Kara Young continues her impressive roll of nods with a fourth consecutive Tony nomination for Featured Actress in a Play—this time for playing Aziza Jasper in Purpose. She is now the first and sole Black artist nominated in this category for four consecutive years. Her previous nods were for her Broadway debut in Clyde’s (2022), followed by Cost of Living (2023), and Purlie Victorious (2024), for which she took home the award.

Photo by Marc J. Franklin

Pulitzer Power in the Best Play Category

In a major crossover between two of America’s greatest theatrical honors, three of the five Best Play-nominated pieces this season are already Pulitzer Prize finalists or winners. Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is already the recipient of the 2025 Pulitzer for drama, with Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary! cited as a finalist, and English won last year’s Pulitzer before making its Broadway debut this season. This year’s class of Best Play Tony nominees represents a staggering overlap—and evidence of the power of this season’s storytelling onstage. 

Gypsy review': Audra McDonald comes up roses in Broadway revival
Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Audra McDonald Makes Tony History

Broadway icon Audra McDonald has officially broken the record, becoming the most Tony-nominated actor in history. She already holds the record for Tony-winningest performer in Broadway history, with six to her name. Another milestone in an already impressive career. Her latest nomination—her 11th—is for her performance as Rose in the revival of Gypsy, breaking Chita Rivera and Julie Harris’s previous record of 10.

Our Town on Broadway
Photo by Daniel Rader

All Play Revivals Closed

In a highly unlikely turn of events, each of the four Best Revival of a Play nominees—Eureka Day, Our Town, Romeo + Juliet, and Yellow Face—had already closed by the time nominations were announced. That’s a strange plot and departure from norms, given that voters prefer productions still running during awards season. It’s normal for plays to open as limited engagements, but this often puts a wrench in Tony recognition later in the season; recency bias is (usually) real.

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Creative

Where’s That Cast Now? The Color Purple Revival Edition

The 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple, directed by John Doyle was a landmark production. The show performed at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre and ran for over a year and a half, spotlighting powerhouse work from newcomers and established performers alike. The revival won two Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Leading Actress for Cynthia Erivo. Since it ended its run in 2017, the cast has moved on to some pretty big projects. Let’s take a look at where the stars of this moving production are now.

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Cynthia Erivo (Celie)

Cynthia Erivo’s star has only continued to rise since her Tony-winning Broadway debut. Shortly after The Color Purple, she transitioned into film with her acclaimed role as Harriet Tubman in Harriet (2019), earning Oscar nominations for Best Actress and Best Original Song. She went on to star in HBO’s The Outsider (2020), play Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha (2021), and appear as the Blue Fairy in Disney’s Pinocchio (2022). She took on the iconic role of Elphaba in Wicked: Part One (2024) and will reprise the role for Part Two (2025), opposite Ariana Grande. Erivo sang a moving rendition of ‘Defying Gravity’ from the blockbuster musical at the 2025 Oscars. She is now not only an EGOT nominee but a bona fide Hollywood A-lister. What’s more, she’s hosting this year’s Tony Awards!

Jennifer Hudson celebrates EGOT win after Tony arrives in the mail

Jennifer Hudson (Shug Avery)

Already an Oscar winner by the time she made her Broadway debut as Shug Avery, Jennifer Hudson has continued to thrive. She delivered a soulful turn as Aretha Franklin in Respect (2021), and currently hosts The Jennifer Hudson Show, a daytime talk show that’s won her a Daytime Emmy. She also voiced Young Nana in the animated film Sing 2 (2021). In 2022, JHud got her EGOT when the new Broadway musical she produced, A Strange Loop, won the Tony for Best Musical, proving her GOAT status as the youngest woman to ever achieve that.

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Danielle Brooks (Sofia)

Danielle Brooks followed her Tony-nominated Broadway debut with a mix of screen and stage work. She reprised Sofia in the 2023 film adaptation of the Color Purple musical, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. On television, she played Leota Adebayo in Peacemaker (2022), earning praise for her comedic timing and emotional depth. Brooks also returned to voice acting in Close Enough and remains a vocal advocate for diversity in entertainment.

Isaiah Johnson In The Broadway Revival Of 'The Color Purple' | WAMC

Isaiah Johnson (Mister)

Isaiah Johnson continued his stage career with performances in regional productions and workshops, as well as a turn in Hamilton (Los Angeles production) and the musical adaptation of The Notebook. He’s appeared in television series such as The Good Fight and Bull, and remains an in-demand stage actor.

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Kyle Scatliffe (Harpo)

After The Color Purple, Kyle Scatliffe took on the emotional role of Tom Robinson in Broadway’s To Kill a Mockingbird (2019–2020). He also appeared in The Prince of Egypt in London’s West End, and continues to perform on national tours and concert stages across the U.S.

Listen to Joaquina Kalukango Sing 'Let It Burn' From the Upcoming Paradise Square Broadway Album | Playbill

Joaquina Kalukango (Nettie)

Joaquina Kalukango has become one of Broadway’s most celebrated leading ladies. In 2022, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her electrifying performance in Paradise Square, in which she belted the show’s 11 o’clock number ‘Let it Burn.’ She had previously earned a Tony nomination for Slave Play (2019) and appeared in Regina King’s film One Night in Miami (2020). She also had a six-episode stint as Esme in the TV show Lawmen: Bass Reeves.

Stage and Screen Actor Lawrence Clayton Dies at 64

Lawrence Clayton (Ol’ Mister)

Broadway veteran Lawrence Clayton brought depth to Ol’ Mister in The Color Purple, and continued to shine in the national tour of Les Misérables (as Bishop Myriel) and regional theater productions across the country. He made guest appearances on The Last O.G. and Bull, and continued to mentor young performers while remaining active in educational theatre. Clayton sadly passed away in 2020 at the age of 64.

Once on This Island' wins Equity's outstanding chorus award

Grasan Kingsberry (Buster)

A standout dancer and ensemble member he moved on to book big Broadway shows like Once On This Island (2017–2019) and Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations (2019–2022). In 2020, he was in the film The Aerialist. What’s more, he’s found a life in artistic offstage leadership, having recently choreographed and performed in regional productions of Rent and Caroline, or Change.

It’s rare for a show to be the launching catalyst for so many performers. The futures these artists found in TV, Film, and Theatre are proof enough that this revival was pretty incredible, and incredibly cast, rich with talent.

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Creative

To Run or Not To Run?: The Rise of Limited Engagements on Broadway

Think of the days when Neil Simon comedies like Barefoot in the Park or The Odd Couple could settle into their Broadway houses for years, or thrillers like Sleuth and Deathtrap kept audiences gasping and guessing night after night. Plays used to aim for open-ended runs, hoping to join the rarefied air of the longest-running shows. But in recent seasons, a new trend has emerged: plays aren’t sticking around forever anymore. Instead, limited engagements—where a show announces its closing date before it even opens—have become the Broadway standard for plays.

At first glance, this might seem disappointing. If a play is great, shouldn’t it be able to run indefinitely like Wicked or The Lion King? But there’s a method to the madness. First, there’s the star factor. Big-name actors—think Sarah Paulson in Appropriate or Jessica Chastain in A Doll’s House—often commit to Broadway for a set number of weeks because they have other projects lined up.

Several upcoming productions exemplify this trend. Sadie Sink, celebrated for her role in Stranger Things, is set to lead the upcoming play John Proctor Is the Villain in a strictly limited engagement. The revival of Glengarry Glen Ross boasts a star-studded cast, including Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk, and Bill Burr, all committed to a limited run. Similarly, the finite run of Othello will feature the powerhouse duo of Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, while Good Night and Good Luck, an adaptation of the 2005 film, marks George Clooney’s Broadway debut for a matter of weeks. These productions, with their all-star lineups, are designed as limited engagements, ensuring that performances remain exclusive events.

Limited runs also create urgency. When a play only has 16 weeks to dazzle audiences, people are more likely to snap up tickets fast, leading to a sold-out, buzzy hit rather than a slow-burn success.

Meanwhile, Oh, Mary!, a surprise downtown-sensation-moved-uptown, has bucked the trend by extending multiple times, something that’s become increasingly rare for plays. Originally slated for a short Off-Broadway run, Cole Escola’s darkly hilarious take on Mary Todd Lincoln’s life has proven so popular that it’s made the jump to Broadway with a string of extensions already in place, breaking box office records almost week to week. But this is the exception, not the rule. While extensions are more common for musicals, it’s a rare feat for a play to keep building momentum like this. Most plays, no matter how well-reviewed, close when they originally say they will.

And then there are the outliers—plays that still opt for the old-school open-ended model, usually because they have a built-in audience or added appeal. Stranger Things: The First Shadow is set to join the very short list of non-musicals launching an open-ended Broadway run, following in the footsteps of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Apparently, if you want to go for the long haul, it helps to have a massive pop-culture franchise behind you. The recent revival of To Kill a Mockingbird and last season’s new play Grey House were among the few other recent examples of plays to open without a closing date set.

For Broadway fans, this shift means that plays have become more of an event—something you need to catch while you can. If a show is a limited run, you know it’s now or never. And while some plays do extend, most close exactly when they say they will, making each production feel a little more special. It’s a different model from the past, but in a world where theatergoers have more entertainment options than ever, Broadway has found a way to make plays must-see experiences again.