As Martha Stewart says—albeit not about NYC theatre in August—“It’s a Good Thing”! Admittedly, there’s no plethora of new shows accompanied by Hollywood honchos sweeping onto Broadway, but there is plenty to revel in on The Great White Way.
NOTABLE NEWCOMERS: Taye Diggs (Rent; Murder in the First; Private Practice)—the first African American to take on the transgender title character in Hedwig and the Angry Inch—is racking up standing ovations at the Belasco (through 10/11), while Dancing With the Stars victor Rumer Willis (daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis) plays the murderous vixen Roxie Hart in the long-running Kander-Ebb-Fosse phenom Chicago from 8/18 to 10/11.
Matthew Morrison and cast members of the hit musical Finding Neverland
NAMES IN THE GAME: You can still catch nice guy heartthrob/Glee star Matthew Morrison as Peter Pan’s creator, J. M. Barrie, in the ultra-hot familyfriendly musical Finding Neverland at the Lunt-Fontanne. And, if your looking to get in on some residual stardust from 2015’s Tony Awards, the entire cast of the year’s Best Musical, Fun Home—including Best Actor in a Musical, Michael Cerveris—continues to dazzle audiences at The Circle in the Square, while Something Rotten’s Tony-winning Featured Actor, Christian Borle – and his costars, Tony nominees Brian d’Arcy James and Brad Oscar, who will be forever remembered for their crazy/brilliant kick off of the Tony broadcast, are even more crazy/ brilliant onstage at the St. James.
Finally, I strongly suggest you make note of the following Tony winners and nominees who are currently electrifying Broadway theatregoers: Billy Porter (2013 Tony-winning actor, Kinky Boots); Jefferson Mays (multi-role genius who ushered A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder to 2014’s Best Musical Tony); Marc Kudisch (holding his own against ballyhooed newcomer Steven Boyer in Hand to God; and the theatrical powerhouses who have stepped into up-and-running successes: Christopher Sieber (Matilda); Gavin Creel and Daniel Breaker (The Book of Mormon); and Gavin Lee (Les Misérables).