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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Soap Opera Legend Susan Lucci Stuns in Strapless Dress During Special Moment With Fan
Soap Opera Legend Susan Lucci Stuns in Strapless Dress During Special Moment With Fan originally appeared on Parade. Soap opera star was enjoying a nice night out at the theater when she ran into a fan, with the actress sharing the special meeting on social media. The 78-year-old took to Instagram on July 30 to post the meaningful update, beginning the caption by saying, "Leaving—or should I say Dancing out—after the fabulous Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway last night!!!" 🎬 The All My Children legend went on, "To add to the joy of the evening—this lovely woman celebrating her birthday stopped to tell me that she and her husband had just seen me in 'My First Ex Husband' in Sag Harbor last week—and how much they loved it and all the laughs!!!" The photo showed Lucci looking lovely in a strapless dress with a floral pattern all over as she posed with her arm around a woman in a black dress, with both women smiling brightly at the camera. Lucci concluded in the caption, "What we all need now—music and dancing and laughter!!! Run, dance or fly to see BUENA VISTA—and if you're in Westhampton this Saturday night August 2–come see me and our amazing Off-Broadway cast onstage at WHPAC theatre for the smash hit MY FIRST EX-HUSBAND!!!💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽🎉🎉🎉." "You are so incredibly gracious," shared one fan, while more referenced the fan interaction as they wrote, "What a lucky fan and love your smile!😍," and "Fun! I bet you made her day! Looking fabulous as usual!" "That woman must have been thrilled and what a lovely photo she has to remember it by! You are always so gracious. ❤️," read a similar comment. Others complimented Lucci's beauty, commenting, "you never age 😘," "look stunning susan🔥🔥," and "Gorgeous as ever Susan!! 💖."Soap Opera Legend Susan Lucci Stuns in Strapless Dress During Special Moment With Fan first appeared on Parade on Jul 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Time Out
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
All kids under 18 can see a Broadway show for free next month
Mark your calendars! Kids' Night on Broadway returns this summer on Tuesday, August 19, offering free Broadway tickets for all kids and teens aged 18 or younger when they're accompanied by a full-paying adult. The one-night-only event is one of the city's most beloved annual traditions, encouraging young theatergoers to experience the magic of Broadway without the hefty price tag. (The Great Gatsby will participate with a performance on August 20 instead.) This year, 18 shows are participating: & Juliet, Aladdin, Buena Vista Social Club, Chicago, The Great Gatsby, Hadestown, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hell's Kitchen, John Proctor Is the Villain, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, MJ The Musical, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Operation Mincemeat, The Outsiders, Six and Stranger Things: The First Shadow. (And just in case you need some help deciding what to see, here is our list of the best Broadway shows right now.) "New York City is alive during the summer and Kids' Night creates a unique opportunity for families to come to Broadway for an evening of fun,' said Jason Laks, president of The Broadway League, in a statement. 'These 18 extraordinary shows offer something for all ages and allow parents, grandparents, or other family members to introduce younger audiences to live theatre and nurture their love for the arts." Before curtain time, Duffy Square will host a pre-show block party from 4:30pm to 6:15 Aupm, with Broadway cast meet-and-greets, interactive games, prizes and giveaways. The first 500 ticketholders to check in will score a free Krispy Kreme donut and a special KNOB tote bag. Inside participating theaters, audiences can enjoy extra surprises, including cast talkbacks, art projects, sing-alongs and activity guides available for download. The fun doesn't stop at the theater. More than a dozen restaurants across the Theater District will offer free kids' meals with the purchase of an adult entree. Tickets will go on sale later this summer. Families with kids ages 13 and up can sign up for alerts and early access through the Broadway Fan Club. Since launching in 1996, the program has introduced more than 200,000 kids nationwide to Broadway—and August 2025 promises to be one of its biggest celebrations yet.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 Tony Award winners: How to get tickets to 'Maybe Happy Ending,' 'Oh Mary!' and more
We independently evaluate the products we review. When you buy via links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read more about how we vet products and deals. Maybe Happy Ending was the most awarded show at the 78th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, 2025. But the Best Musical-winning show about two robots and their faulty battery charger wasn't the only star of the evening. Cole Escola made history as the first non-binary actor to win Best Leading Actor in a Play for their performance in Oh Mary!, which won for Best Direction of a Play. Actor Kara Young made history as the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively for Purpose, which won Best New Play. Sunset Blvd, Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her and Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical also took home awards. Looking to finally check out some of the biggest shows on Broadway this season? While a few of the winning plays, including Yellow Face and Eureka Day, have already closed, you can get tickets to nearly all the 2025 Tony winners today. Here's what you need to know about how to get tickets on Broadway. Maybe Happy Ending came away from the night with the most Tonys. Sunset Blvd, Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her and Operation Mincemeat also brought home awards. Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Darren Criss), Best Direction of a Musical, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theater, Best Scenic Design of a Musical, Best Book of a Musical Where to get tickets: You can get tickets to Maybe Happy Ending via Telecharge, TodayTix, or SeatGeek. From $63 at TodayTix Tony Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Nicole Scherzinger), Best Revival of a Musical, Best Lighting Design of a Musical Where to get tickets: You can get tickets to Sunset Blvd via TodayTix or directly through the St. James Theater From $62 at TodayTix Tony Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Natalie Venetia Belcon), Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, Best Sound Design of a Musical Where to get tickets: You can get Buena Vista Social Club tickets via Telecharge, TodayTix or SeatGeek. From $77 at TodayTix Tony Awards: Best Costume Design of a Musical Where to get tickets: You can get Death Becomes Her tickets via Broadway Direct, TodayTix or Vivid Seats. From $61 at TodayTix Tony Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Jak Malone) Where to get tickets: You can get Operation Mincemeat tickets via Telecharge or TodayTix. From $53 at TodayTix Stranger Things: The First Shadow: Best Scenic Design of a Play, Best Lighting Design of a Play, Best Sound Design of a Play — get tickets Oh, Mary!: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Cole Escola), Best Direction of a Play — get tickets The Picture of Dorian Gray: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Sarah Snook), Best Costume Design of a Play — get tickets Purpose: Best Play, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Kara Young) — get tickets Yellow Face: Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Francis Jue) — show has closed Eureka Day: Best Revival of a Play — show has closed Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck Cole Escola, Oh, Mary! (WINNER) Jon Michael Hill, Purpose Daniel Dae Kim, Yellow Face Harry Lennix, Purpose Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California Mia Farrow, The Roommate LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose Sadie Sink, John Proctor is the Villain Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray (WINNER) Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER) Andrew Durand, Dead Outlaw Tom Francis, Sunset Blvd. Jonathan Groff, Just in Time James Monroe Iglehart, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Megan Hilty, Death Becomes Her Audra McDonald, Gypsy Jasmine Amy Rogers, BOOP! The Musical Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd. (WINNER) Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play Glenn Davis, Purpose Gabriel Ebert, John Proctor is the Villain Francis Jue, Yellow Face (WINNER) Bob Odenkirk, Glengarry Glen Ross Conrad Ricamora, Oh, Mary! Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play Tala Ashe, English Jessica Hecht, Eureka Day Marjan Neshat, English Fina Strazza, John Proctor is the Villain Kara Young, Purpose (WINNER) Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Brooks Ashmanskas, SMASH Jeb Brown, Dead Outlaw Danny Burstein, Gypsy Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical (WINNER) Taylor Trensch, Floyd Collins Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club (WINNER) Julia Knitel, Dead Outlaw Gracie Lawrence, Just in Time Justina Machado, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical Joy Woods, Gypsy Best Play English The Hills of California John Proctor is the Villain Oh, Mary! Purpose (WINNER) Best Musical Buena Vista Social Club Dead Outlaw Death Becomes Her Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER) Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical Best Revival of a Play Eureka Day (WINNER) Romeo + Juliet Thornton Wilder's Our Town Yellow Face Best Revival of a Musical Floyd Collins Gypsy Pirates! The Penzance Musical Sunset Blvd. (WINNER) Best Direction of a Play Knud Adams, English Sam Mendes, The Hills of California Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary! (WINNER) Danya Taymor, John Proctor is the Villain Kip Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray Best Direction of a Musical Saheem Ali, Buena Vista Social Club Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER) David Cromer, Dead Outlaw Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Blvd. Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theater Dead Outlaw Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna Death Becomes Her Music & Lyrics: Julia Mattison and Noel Carey Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER) Music: Will Aronson, Lyrics: Will Aronson and Hue Park Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical Music & Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts Real Women Have Curves: The Musical Music & Lyrics: Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez Best Costume Design of a Musical Dede Ayite, Buena Vista Social Club Gregg Barnes, BOOP! The Musical Clint Ramos, Maybe Happy Ending Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her (WINNER) Catherine Zuber, Just in Time Best Costume Design of a Play Brenda Abbandandolo, Good Night, and Good Luck Marg Horwell, The Picture of Dorian Gray (WINNER) Rob Howell, The Hills of California Holly Pierson, Oh, Mary! Brigitte Reiffenstuel, Stranger Things: The First Shadow Best Scenic Design of a Musical Rachel Hauck, Swept Away Dane Laffrey and George Reeve, Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER) Arnulfo Maldonado, Buena Vista Social Club Derek McLane, Death Becomes Her Derek McLane, Just in Time Best Scenic Design of a Play Marsha Ginsberg, English Rob Howell, The Hills of California Marg Horwell and David Bergman, The Picture of Dorian Gray Miriam Buether and 59, Stranger Things: The First Shadow (WINNER) Scott Pask, Good Night, and Good Luck Best Lighting Design of a Musical Jack Knowles, Sunset Blvd. (WINNER) Tyler Micoleau, Buena Vista Social Club Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun, Floyd Collins Ben Stanton, Maybe Happy Ending Justin Townsend, Death Becomes Her Best Lighting Design of a Play Natasha Chivers, The Hills of California Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow (WINNER) Heather Gilbert and David Bengali, Good Night, and Good Luck Natasha Katz and Hannah Wasileski, John Proctor is the Villain Nick Schlieper, The Picture of Dorian Gray Best Choreography Joshua Bergasse, SMASH Camille A. Brown, Gypsy Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her Jerry Mitchell, BOOP! The Musical Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, Buena Vista Social Club (WINNER) Best Orchestrations Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber, Just in Time Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending Bruce Coughlin, Floyd Collins Marco Paguia, Buena Vista Social Club (WINNER) David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sunset Blvd. Best Sound Design of a Musical Jonathan Deans, Buena Vista Social Club (WINNER) Adam Fisher, Sunset Blvd. Peter Hylenski, Just in Time Peter Hylenski, Maybe Happy Ending Dan Moses Schreier, Floyd Collins Best Sound Design of a Play Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow (WINNER) Palmer Hefferan, John Proctor is the Villain Daniel Kluger, Good Night, and Good Luck Nick Powell, The Hills of California Clemence Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray Best Book of a Musical Marco Ramirez, Buena Vista Social Club Itamar Moses, Dead Outlaw Marco Pennette, Death Becomes Her Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER) David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 Tony Award winners: How to get tickets to 'Maybe Happy Ending,' 'Oh Mary!' and more
Maybe Happy Ending was the most awarded show at the 78th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, 2025. But the Best Musical-winning show about two robots and their faulty battery charger wasn't the only star of the evening. Cole Escola made history as the first non-binary actor to win Best Leading Actor in a Play for their performance in Oh Mary!, which won for Best Direction of a Play. Actor Kara Young made history as the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively for Purpose, which won Best New Play. Sunset Blvd, Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her and Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical also took home awards. Looking to finally check out some of the biggest shows on Broadway this season? While a few of the winning plays, including Yellow Face and Eureka Day, have already closed, you can get tickets to nearly all the 2025 Tony winners today. Here's what you need to know about how to get tickets on Broadway. Maybe Happy Ending came away from the night with the most Tonys. Sunset Blvd, Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her and Operation Mincemeat also brought home awards. Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Darren Criss), Best Direction of a Musical, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theater, Best Scenic Design of a Musical, Best Book of a Musical Where to get tickets: You can get tickets to Maybe Happy Ending via Telecharge, TodayTix, or SeatGeek. From $63 at TodayTix Tony Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Nicole Scherzinger), Best Revival of a Musical, Best Lighting Design of a Musical Where to get tickets: You can get tickets to Sunset Blvd via TodayTix or directly through the St. James Theater From $62 at TodayTix Tony Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Natalie Venetia Belcon), Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, Best Sound Design of a Musical Where to get tickets: You can get Buena Vista Social Club tickets via Telecharge, TodayTix or SeatGeek. From $77 at TodayTix Tony Awards: Best Costume Design of a Musical Where to get tickets: You can get Death Becomes Her tickets via Broadway Direct, TodayTix or Vivid Seats. From $61 at TodayTix Tony Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Jak Malone) Where to get tickets: You can get Operation Mincemeat tickets via Telecharge or TodayTix. From $53 at TodayTix Stranger Things: The First Shadow: Best Scenic Design of a Play, Best Lighting Design of a Play, Best Sound Design of a Play — get tickets Oh, Mary!: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Cole Escola), Best Direction of a Play — get tickets The Picture of Dorian Gray: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Sarah Snook), Best Costume Design of a Play — get tickets Purpose: Best Play, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Kara Young) — get tickets Yellow Face: Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Francis Jue) — show has closed Eureka Day: Best Revival of a Play — show has closed Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck Cole Escola, Oh, Mary! (WINNER) Jon Michael Hill, Purpose Daniel Dae Kim, Yellow Face Harry Lennix, Purpose Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California Mia Farrow, The Roommate LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose Sadie Sink, John Proctor is the Villain Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray (WINNER) Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER) Andrew Durand, Dead Outlaw Tom Francis, Sunset Blvd. Jonathan Groff, Just in Time James Monroe Iglehart, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Megan Hilty, Death Becomes Her Audra McDonald, Gypsy Jasmine Amy Rogers, BOOP! The Musical Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd. (WINNER) Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play Glenn Davis, Purpose Gabriel Ebert, John Proctor is the Villain Francis Jue, Yellow Face (WINNER) Bob Odenkirk, Glengarry Glen Ross Conrad Ricamora, Oh, Mary! Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play Tala Ashe, English Jessica Hecht, Eureka Day Marjan Neshat, English Fina Strazza, John Proctor is the Villain Kara Young, Purpose (WINNER) Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Brooks Ashmanskas, SMASH Jeb Brown, Dead Outlaw Danny Burstein, Gypsy Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical (WINNER) Taylor Trensch, Floyd Collins Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club (WINNER) Julia Knitel, Dead Outlaw Gracie Lawrence, Just in Time Justina Machado, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical Joy Woods, Gypsy Best Play English The Hills of California John Proctor is the Villain Oh, Mary! Purpose (WINNER) Best Musical Buena Vista Social Club Dead Outlaw Death Becomes Her Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER) Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical Best Revival of a Play Eureka Day (WINNER) Romeo + Juliet Thornton Wilder's Our Town Yellow Face Best Revival of a Musical Floyd Collins Gypsy Pirates! The Penzance Musical Sunset Blvd. (WINNER) Best Direction of a Play Knud Adams, English Sam Mendes, The Hills of California Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary! (WINNER) Danya Taymor, John Proctor is the Villain Kip Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray Best Direction of a Musical Saheem Ali, Buena Vista Social Club Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER) David Cromer, Dead Outlaw Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Blvd. Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theater Dead Outlaw Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna Death Becomes Her Music & Lyrics: Julia Mattison and Noel Carey Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER) Music: Will Aronson, Lyrics: Will Aronson and Hue Park Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical Music & Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts Real Women Have Curves: The Musical Music & Lyrics: Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez Best Costume Design of a Musical Dede Ayite, Buena Vista Social Club Gregg Barnes, BOOP! The Musical Clint Ramos, Maybe Happy Ending Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her (WINNER) Catherine Zuber, Just in Time Best Costume Design of a Play Brenda Abbandandolo, Good Night, and Good Luck Marg Horwell, The Picture of Dorian Gray (WINNER) Rob Howell, The Hills of California Holly Pierson, Oh, Mary! Brigitte Reiffenstuel, Stranger Things: The First Shadow Best Scenic Design of a Musical Rachel Hauck, Swept Away Dane Laffrey and George Reeve, Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER) Arnulfo Maldonado, Buena Vista Social Club Derek McLane, Death Becomes Her Derek McLane, Just in Time Best Scenic Design of a Play Marsha Ginsberg, English Rob Howell, The Hills of California Marg Horwell and David Bergman, The Picture of Dorian Gray Miriam Buether and 59, Stranger Things: The First Shadow (WINNER) Scott Pask, Good Night, and Good Luck Best Lighting Design of a Musical Jack Knowles, Sunset Blvd. (WINNER) Tyler Micoleau, Buena Vista Social Club Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun, Floyd Collins Ben Stanton, Maybe Happy Ending Justin Townsend, Death Becomes Her Best Lighting Design of a Play Natasha Chivers, The Hills of California Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow (WINNER) Heather Gilbert and David Bengali, Good Night, and Good Luck Natasha Katz and Hannah Wasileski, John Proctor is the Villain Nick Schlieper, The Picture of Dorian Gray Best Choreography Joshua Bergasse, SMASH Camille A. Brown, Gypsy Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her Jerry Mitchell, BOOP! The Musical Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, Buena Vista Social Club (WINNER) Best Orchestrations Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber, Just in Time Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending Bruce Coughlin, Floyd Collins Marco Paguia, Buena Vista Social Club (WINNER) David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sunset Blvd. Best Sound Design of a Musical Jonathan Deans, Buena Vista Social Club (WINNER) Adam Fisher, Sunset Blvd. Peter Hylenski, Just in Time Peter Hylenski, Maybe Happy Ending Dan Moses Schreier, Floyd Collins Best Sound Design of a Play Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow (WINNER) Palmer Hefferan, John Proctor is the Villain Daniel Kluger, Good Night, and Good Luck Nick Powell, The Hills of California Clemence Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray Best Book of a Musical Marco Ramirez, Buena Vista Social Club Itamar Moses, Dead Outlaw Marco Pennette, Death Becomes Her Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER) David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Once Upon a Time, They Considered Giving Up. Now They're 2025 Tony Nominees (Exclusive)
Five years ago on March 12, 2020, the show did not go on. As COVID-19 spread like wildfire throughout the United States, Broadway was ultimately forced to go dark. It was a devastating blow to New York City's vibrant and beloved theater community, putting thousands of performers and creative artists out of work for 18 months — the industry's longest shutdown in history. Thespians, however, pushed forward, and the creation of new art never ceased. 'There were so many works that were cooking,' Gypsy's Tony-nominated featured actressJoy Woods exclusively tells Parade, 'and now they're finally out of the oven.' In fact, 'this is like a post-pandemic Golden Era,' LaTanya Richardson Jackson says as she proudly dons her Tony Awards nominee pin at the annual meet and greet with this year's star-studded honorees. 'I am grateful to be a part of a season that is extraordinary.' 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Extraordinary it is, with a little something for everyone. Cuban culture comes alive in the critically acclaimed musical Buena Vista Social Club. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play Purpose, starring Jackson (wife of Samuel L. Jackson), explores Black culture and politics under the direction of Phylicia Rashad. Comedian Cole Escola's unapologetically queer take on Mary Todd Lincoln in their 80-minute Oh, Mary! has audiences begging for more. And fans of the Netflix hit Stranger Things are rushing to the Marquis Theatre to fully immerse themselves in the Upside Down courtesy of Stranger Things: The First Shadow's already Tony Award-winning illusions and technical effects. Related: Plus, this year's lineup of plays and musicals is jam-packed with star power, from George Clooney's Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck to Pussycat Dolls alum Nicole Scherzinger's triumphant turn as Norma Desmond in the much-talked-about revival of Sunset Boulevard. But the road to Broadway — even for the brightest of stars — is not always easy. 'I remember several years ago when no one would give me a chance and take me seriously in the space that I'm at now, and I put on a [cabaret] show at Django at the Roxy [Hotel],' Scherzinger tells Parade of the 2019 solo act she staged herself to perform musical theater classics. 'You have to keep your mind and your heart open, because you never know when that unexpected dream opportunity is going to come. I didn't know that playing Norma Desmond was going to be my unexpected dream role and change my life. I kept an open mind and heart, and I trusted, and I was brave.' PERSEVERING THROUGH IT ALL It takes courage to work in live theater. Rejection is part of the gig, and even when an artist is lucky enough to land a job, they must bare their soul for all to see — and be prepared if the reviews are not in their favor. Long before Conrad Ricamora starred on the ABC series How to Get Away with Murder and was Tony-nominated for playing Abraham Lincoln in Oh, Mary!, he was just another up-and-coming actor taking a stab at Shakespeare. 'I was doing Romeo and Juliet in Philadelphia, and I was in my early 20s,' he explains. 'I was playing Romeo. I got this scathing review in the Philadelphia Inquirer. And it was the first time I'd ever been reviewed, and I made the mistake of looking at the review, and I then was in a depression for, like, two months. And I [thought], 'Well, if everyone hates you, do you still want to do this?' … And I told myself, 'Yeah.' The answer was yes.' Jonathan Groff, famous for hit projects like Glee, Frozenand Hamilton, had a similar experience when he was just starting out. As an aspiring actor who moved to the Big Apple from Lancaster, Pa., with big dreams and a big heart, Groff wanted nothing more than to be on Broadway. At that point, he was also still learning more about himself and his sexuality. 'The first month that I moved to New York, I was waiting tables at the [now closed] Chelsea Grill of Hell's Kitchen on 9th between 46th and 47th,' Broadway's Just in Time star recalls. 'Lots of rejection. Lots of like really failed dance calls — going to dance calls and getting cut and feeling like, 'What am I doing here?' And I remember going back to my apartment and taking down the Bible that my Mennonite grandmother had given me upon moving to New York and being like, 'This isn't making me feel better.' Putting the Bible back up on the shelf and running to Central Park and standing in front of the Bethesda Fountain and looking up at that angel and being like, 'I got this.' 'I was feeling the magic of New York City, the magic of Central Park, the magic of the Angels in America HBO special that had just come out. And feeling like I was also about to step into my gay self for the first time. That was the moment — looking at that statue — that I was like, 'Everything's going to be OK. This is a magical place. I want to be here.' And now here we are.' The theater does, in fact, have a funny way of letting you know you're right where you ought to be. At least that was the case for Jasmine Amy Rogers, Tony-nominated in her Broadway debut as the iconic cartoon character Betty Boop. Before the theater community suddenly lost beloved actor Gavin Creel last year at age 48 following a brief but aggressive battle with cancer, he encouraged Rogers to keep following her dreams. 'It was August of 2023, and I was just auditioning for everything that I could, and I wasn't getting anything,' she remembers. 'And I actually had an audition for Gavin Creel's [musical] Walk on Through, and I didn't get it, but he sent me the most beautiful email, and it lit a fire underneath me. A couple weeks later, I went and booked this. So honestly, I feel like in a way, I have him to thank.' Though Rogers didn't know Creel as well as some of her peers (he and Groff dated around 2009, and Groff credits Creel for helping him embrace his sexuality), 'In those brief auditions, he was so kind and giving,' she says. 'And he went out of his way to make sure he introduced himself and hugged me at the end, and he just cared so much. It means the world. And I hope that I can be that person to somebody one day.' But even when an artist feels like they've made it on Broadway, the hustle never ends. 'There was one time I was working for a Tasker app,' explains , who is nominated for his first Tony Award for his performance as real-life robber Elmer McCurdy in the musical Dead Outlaw. 'I was building a cabinet for someone in their house, and they were like, 'Did I see you in War Horse on Broadway?' And I was like, 'Yes… Where would you like this cabinet?' So yeah, highs and lows — that's what it's all about. But I'm grateful to be an actor. I used to resent that, but now I love it because I appreciate the highs so much. And the lows are just the time to sort of gather yourself and look forward to what's next.' See more photos of the Tony Award-nominated performers below: View the 13 images of this gallery on the original article A SPACE FOR EVERYONE As the world continues to evolve, so do the stories theater artists put forth. Broadway's diverse landscape 'feels correct,' Branden Jacobs Jenkins, who wrote the Pulitzer-winning play Purpose, says of this season's offering. 'It feels accurate. It's the world I moved through. It's our professional world. And I see these people everywhere. They're incredible.' In a time when representation matters more than ever, Broadway's current class of Tony nominees come from all different races and cultural backgrounds, a fact they're especially proud of. 'This has been a historic season for Asian-Americans in particular,' says Francis Jue, a featured actor nominee for the play Yellow Face, which explores the issue of yellowface casting (or using a non-Asian actor for a race-specific role). Jue points out, 'It's the very first time in 78 years of Tony history that an Asian-American actor, Daniel Dae Kim, has been nominated as lead actor in a Broadway play. It's the first time in 78 years of Tony history that two Asian-American actors, Conrad Ricamora and myself, are nominated in the same category for a play on Broadway.' Gypsy's Woods, who plays Louise opposite Audra McDonald's Momma Rose, never thought she had a chance to play the woman who would become Gypsy Rose Lee, a real-life burlesque entertainer in the 1920s and 30s who was white. 'When we're taught [the musical] in school, you are shown clips, and you don't see anybody in those clips that looks like you,' Woods explains. 'So, no, I didn't think [I'd play this role]. And when I saw the day that they announced that they were doing Audra [in] Gypsy, I remember leaving a matinee of The Notebook [in which she previously starred] and seeing the sign and saying, 'Oh my God, I can't wait to see that. That's going to be so good. Whoever plays Louise, they're going to kill it.' I did not think it was going to be me.' The stories themselves are varied as well. Big, splashy musicals like the comedy Death Becomes Her play alongside works with more serious subject matter such as John Proctor Is the Villain, the play starring Stranger Things actress Sadie Sink that is set during a time when survivors of sexual assault felt empowered to come forward. 'We start right in the wake of the #MeToo movement in 2018, which is seven years ago now,' explains the show's Tony-nominated featured actress Fina Strazza. 'But the play feels more relevant than ever. I think there's a lot going on in our world with some pretty powerful men that probably shouldn't be so powerful. So it's nice to sit in the theater for an hour or two and experience that — and hopefully be motivated to make change in small communities.' Overall, as the calendar inches closer to the June 8 Tony Awards ceremony at Radio City Music Hall with Wicked star Cynthia Erivo as its host, the vibe is nothing but celebratory. Darren Criss, Tony-nominated for his performance as a robot named Oliver in the endearing new musical Maybe Happy Ending, reveals to Parade that he has a group chat with his former Glee pals, which includes Groff — whom he is up against for best lead actor in a musical. 'We got a whole group thread going, man,' Criss says. 'It's the nice thing about working on Broadway. We're all on the same campus. We're all within several blocks of each other. We all know each other. We all know each other's work. We've all, you know, been in rooms together before. We're not all separated. There's a real fraternity there, and that's not just some canned line. It's true. We're all working [in the] same village. It's such a fun, amazing thing. We all grew up loving this so much. The fact that we get to do it is already such a huge 'W,' so getting to be in a category together for a fancy party is just a fun little bonus.' ParadeParade With additional reporting by Garid Garcia. See photos of the Tony Award-nominated creative team members below: View the 41 images of this gallery on the original article
