George Takei and Utkarsh Ambudkar
(Photo: Emilio Madrid for Broadway.com & Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)
Here’s a quick roundup of stories you might have missed.
Painting George Takei & More Avatar: The Last Airbender
More Cast Revealed For Netflix Previously Announced Avatar: The Last Airbender, the live-action adaptation of the Nickelodeon animated series. Broadway alumni George Takei and Utkarsh Ambudkar as well as Nathaniel Arcand, Irene Bedard, Francois Chau, Lucian-River Chauhan, Arden Cho, Meegwun Fairbrother, Ruy Iskandar, Hiro Kanagawa, Randall Duk Kim, CS Lee, Ryan Mah, A Martinez, Amber Midthunder, Joel Oulette, Danny Pudi, James Sie, Momona Tamada and Thalia Tran joined the project. As previously reported, Daniel Dae Kim, who made his Broadway debut in 2016 in The king and me opposite Marin Mazzie, is set to star in the series alongside Dallas Liu, Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio and Ian Ousley.
Check out a preview of the world premiere of How to Dance in Ohio
The new musical How to dance in Ohio, inspired by the HBO documentary of the same name by Peabody Award winner Alexandra Shiva, has its world premiere at Syracuse Stage through October 9. by Sammi Cannold. It follows the challenges and elation experienced by a group of seven autistic young adults at a counseling center in Columbus, Ohio. With the support of clinical psychologist Dr. Emilio Amigo (played by Tony Wilson winner Jermaine Heredia), the center organizes a formal spring dance and encourages them as they encounter love, fear, stress, excitement and hope on the path of human connection. Take a look below.
Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti join No strong emotions
Tony winners Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti set to play Andrew Barth Feldman’s parents in previously announced comedy film No strong emotions, Deadline reports. Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence will star in the Sony Pictures film, directed by good boys director Gene Stupnitsky. The film, which was written by Stupnitsky with John Phillips, will be released on June 16, 2023.
Stand up! The Bob Marley Musical announce new cast
David Albury, replacement for Bob Marley, will take over the lead role from Michael Duke in the final weeks of the West End series Stand up! The Bob Marley Musical. Cleopatra Rey will play Rita Marley, reprising the role of Gabrielle Brooks. Joining the cast are Ivano Turco, Tom Bowen, Newtion Matthews, Philip Kamau, Kristiano Ricardo, Zack Richards, Jack Matthew, Andrè Antonio, Cartell Green-Brown, Michael Jeremiah, Summer Priest and Lauran Rae. As previously reported, the show will play its final performance in London’s West End on January 8, 2023. It has been playing at the Lyric Theater Shaftesbury Avenue since last October and has been nominated for four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, winning the price. for the best orchestrations. Following the West End tour, the production will embark on a UK tour, details of which will be announced shortly. A cast recording, featuring Olivier Award nominee Arinzé Kene as Bob Marley, will be released later this year.
London dates announced for Daniel Fish’s Oklahoma!
The Tony award-winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! will play at Wyndham’s Theater in London from February 16, 2023. Opening night is scheduled for February 28 and the run will run until September 2. Directed by Daniel Fish, this production of Oklahoma! premiered at Bard SummerScape, followed by an engagement at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, where it sold out in 2018. Oklahoma! has been re-orchestrated and reinvented for the 21st century. With music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on the play Grow lilacs green by Lynn Riggs, with original dances by Agnes de Mille, the production opened on Broadway in April 2019 and was nominated for eight 2019 Tony Awards, winning Best Revival of a Musical and Best Performance of an actress in a starring role in a Musical for Ali Stroker. Casting for the London production will be announced later.