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Broadway star files for divorce amid Hugh Jackman rumour

<p>Broadway star Sutton Foster has filed for divorce from her screenwriter husband, Ted Griffin, after ten years of marriage. </p> <p>The 49-year-old actress filed for uncontested divorce in New York County Supreme Court on Tuesday, according to <em>Page Six</em>. </p> <p>The pair got married in Santa Barbara in 2014, and adopted their daughter Emily three years later. </p> <p>Page Six reports that rumours about Foster's marriage being on the rocks began circulating in Broadway circles when she starred in The Music Man alongside Hugh Jackman. They also said that multiple sources have claimed the pair have fallen in love. </p> <p>“They are 100 per cent together and are in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together,” a source previously told <em>Page Six</em>.</p> <p>The publication claims that their relationship is going strong, but they have been staying out of the public eye and keeping it under wraps. </p> <p>“They are still together,” a source told <em>Page Six</em>. </p> <p>“They go out of their way to hide it, but it’s common knowledge.”</p> <p>Jackman filed for divorce from Deborra-Lee Furness, after 27 years of marriage, in September 2023. </p> <p>Furness and Jackman released a joint statement at the time, saying: “We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting, and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.”</p> <p>Neither Jackman or Foster have commented on the reports. </p> <p><em>Image: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

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Hugh Jackman pleads for help in search for missing Broadway star

<p>Hugh Jackman is using his influence and wide reach to assist in the search for his former Broadway co-star, Zelig Williams, who has been missing since early October.</p> <p>Williams, a 28-year-old performer known for his roles in <em>MJ The Musical</em> and <em>Hamilton</em>, was last seen on October 3 at his home in Columbia, South Carolina. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a white T-shirt, black shorts and brown slides.</p> <p>The non-profit organisation <a href="https://blackandmissinginc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black and Missing</a> has released a missing person poster, stating that authorities believe Williams was last spotted driving in the Congaree National Park area, where his vehicle was later found abandoned.</p> <p>Jackman, who performed with Williams during the 2019 concert tour <em>The Man. The Music. The Show</em>, has taken to social media to amplify the call for information. On his 56th birthday, the Australian actor shared a photo of Williams and his mother with a link to a news report from <em>Good Morning America</em>, urging his 34.5 million Instagram followers to report any information to local authorities.</p> <p>"If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of ZELIG WILLIAMS please reach out to your local authorities," Jackman wrote in his post. He has continued to spread the message, using Instagram stories to ask followers to contact the Richland County Sheriff's Office with any potential leads.</p> <p>"Zelig, we love you and are praying for your safe return. Please pass this message on!!!" Jackman added.</p> <p>Williams' disappearance has left his family in anguish. His aunt, Christine McLaughlin Barber, initially believed he might have been involved in a car accident after receiving an SOS signal from his phone around 9:50am on October 3, shortly after he left home. However, authorities have since ruled out this possibility.</p> <p>Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott revealed to local news outlet WISTV that an extensive search operation has been underway, utilising helicopters, boats and drones to cover vast areas. "We've searched on foot, in the air, at various locations," Lott said. "We are also using other investigative techniques involving cell phones and other means, which I cannot disclose at this time."</p> <p>Lott also said that Williams is in need of prescription medication, adding urgency to the search.</p> <p>Williams' cousin, Mieoki Corbin-Jacobs, expressed the family's heartbreak, telling WISTV: "It's devastation. It's devastation for someone who is so close to his family to just disappear like that... there's no way to describe it."</p> <p>The Broadway community, along with Jackman, continues to rally in hopes of locating Williams and bringing him home safely.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Legendary broadway icon passes away

<p>Iconic Broadway performer Chita Rivera has passed away at the age of 91. </p> <p>The dynamic dancer, singer and actress scored two Tony awards throughout her career, while blazing a trail for Latin American artists to shine on stage. </p> <p>On Wednesday morning, Rivera's daughter Lisa Mordente confirmed the news of her passing, sharing that her mother had died in New York after a brief illness. </p> <p>Rivera's representative Merle Frimark also shared a statement about her death, writing, "It is with immense personal sorrow that I announce the death of the beloved Broadway icon Chita Rivera. My dear friend of over 40 years was 91."</p> <p>"She is also survived by her siblings Julio, Armando and Lola del Rivero, (her older sister Carmen predeceased her), along with her many nieces, nephews and friends."</p> <p>"Her funeral will be private. A memorial service will be announced in due course."</p> <p>Rivera's breakout role came in 1957 as she starred as Anita in the original production of <em>West Side Story</em>, and she stayed performing in a multitude of roles until 2015.</p> <p>Chita starred in Broadway shows such as <em>Bye Bye Birdie</em>, <em>Chicago</em>, <em>Merlin</em>, <em>Jerry's Girls</em>, <em>Nine</em>, and many more. </p> <p>She also released two solo albums during her career, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former US president Barack Obama.</p> <p>Rivera won Tonys for <em>The Rink</em> in 1984 and <em>Kiss of the Spider Woman</em> in 1993, and when accepting a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018, she said, "I wouldn't trade my life in the theatre for anything, because theatre is life."</p> <p>In 2015, she told <em>The Associated Press</em>, "I wouldn't know what to do if I wasn't moving or telling a story to you or singing a song." </p> <p>"That's the spirit of my life, and I'm really so lucky to be able to do what I love, even at this time in my life."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Hugh Jackman's joyful encounter with Betty Who lights up Broadway

<p>In the world of entertainment, new friendships and collaborations are always reasons to celebrate, and when two talented stars cross paths, it's like a burst of stardust lighting up the stage.</p> <p>Recently, the charismatic Hugh Jackman and the sensational Aussie singer Betty Who shared a moment that brought smiles to the faces of fans worldwide.</p> <p>Jackman, the beloved 54-year-old actor known for his impressive acting range, was seen beaming from ear to ear when he paid a visit to Betty Who's Broadway show, "Hadestown." This delightful encounter took place shortly after Jackman announced his separation from his wife of 27 years, Deborra-Lee Furness. The moment these two Aussie talents connected backstage at "Hadestown" was a genuine reflection of the magic of the theatre.</p> <p>Betty Who, a 31-year-old singer whose incredible vocal prowess has captured hearts far and wide, couldn't contain her excitement. She took to social media to share a heartwarming photo of herself with Hugh Jackman and expressed her gratitude, saying, "MY COUNTRYMAN!!!! 🇦🇺thank you for coming to see us in @hadestown and being so kind!" The photo radiated the joy of their meeting and set social media abuzz.</p> <p>Fans of both artists couldn't contain their delight at the sight of this Aussie duo coming together. The comments poured in, expressing the desire to see them collaborate in a movie musical. One fan wrote, "I’M CRYING 😭 we need a movie musical with you two as the leads IMMEDIATELY 😍." The enthusiasm was infectious, with many others expressing their excitement at this delightful encounter.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx1m7TiuF8n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx1m7TiuF8n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Betty Who (@bettywho)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The media has taken notice of this heartwarming friendship as well, with reports suggesting that Hugh Jackman and Betty Who are "really good friends who hope to work in a theater show or musical one day." The chemistry between them is undeniable, and fans can't help but hope for more collaborations that showcase their talents.</p> <p>It's not just Betty Who that Hugh Jackman has been spending time with in recent days. He has been <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/hugh-jackman-s-first-outing-with-his-famous-friends-after-bombshell-split" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spotted mingling with other famous friends</a>, including Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, and Taylor Swift. This star-studded social circle is a testament to Jackman's magnetic personality and the genuine connections he forms in the entertainment industry.</p> <p>In addition to his exciting social life, Hugh Jackman is reportedly in the early stages of writing a memoir that is set to be a revelation for his fans. This memoir will be a personal account of his life and experiences, and it promises to be a "bombshell". It's a project that Jackman is approaching with honesty and introspection, especially in light of his recent divorce from Deborra-Lee Furness.</p> <p>As Jackman and Furness publicly announced their separation, they expressed their deep appreciation for the three decades of shared experiences in their "wonderful, loving marriage". Their decision to part ways is driven by their individual paths of growth, and their commitment to their family remains steadfast. Their statement reflects an inspiring journey of gratitude, love, and kindness as they transition to new chapters in their lives.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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"OMG that's Nicole Kidman!": Magic moment at Hugh Jackman's Broadway fundraiser

<p dir="ltr">Nicole Kidman surprised fans when she appeared at fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman’s Broadway show. </p> <p dir="ltr">The actress attended New York's The Winter Garden Theatre to watch Hugh’s <em>The Music Man</em> show and was ready to dig deep into her pockets to support a charity. </p> <p dir="ltr">During a break in the show, Hugh came back on stage and announced that he will be auctioning off his signed hat.</p> <p dir="ltr">The winning bidder will see their proceeds going to Broadway Cares – a nonprofit US organisation that helps provide medicine, health care, and meals to those in need. </p> <p dir="ltr">As the bidding started, Nicole could be heard offering a huge US$100,000 (AU$150,000) for the hat and was met with cheering from the crowd. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CldqPWVOr1z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CldqPWVOr1z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Nicole won the bid and made her way to the stage as the crowd applauded her generosity. </p> <p dir="ltr">Later on Instagram, Hugh thanked her for her generosity in a post that showed him handing over the hat to her. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The generosity and love emanating from @nicolekidman leaves me speechless. Thank you Nic for your friendship and support! @musicmanbway @nicholastheward @bcefa,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">She replied: “Darling Hugh, To my friend of 30 years. Right back at you such a generous gorgeous man, it was a brilliant night in the theatre and an honor to be able to donate to @bcefa! + Congratulations to the talented cast.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Check out the amazing moment in full <a href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/nicole-kidman-hugh-jackman-the-music-man-broadway-show-bids-150000-for-hat/5d6a88fc-a056-4d33-9a66-a66e41c3ddb9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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Critics slam new “sanitised” Michael Jackson musical

<p dir="ltr">Theatre critics have slammed the new Michael Jackson musical that hit Broadway this year for its blatant “sanitisation” of child abuse allegations against the late popstar. </p><p dir="ltr">The musical, called <em>MJ</em>, documents Michael as he prepared for his four-continent Dangerous Tour of 1992, while also dealing with an MTV documentary crew who filmed his incessant rehearsals. </p><p dir="ltr">Throughout the musical, fans get glimpses into the artist's life, with flashbacks to his time in the Jackson Five and his difficult upbringing. </p><p dir="ltr"><em>MJ</em> was written by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, and was produced by Jackson's estate with an apparent promise not to mention the young boys who accused the star of sexually harassing them, despite taking place just one year before the first allegation came out. </p><p dir="ltr">The musical debuted on Broadway recently, with Michael’s three children Paris, 23, Prince, 24, and Prince Michael “Bigi” Jackson, 19, in the audience. </p><p dir="ltr">Critics at the show’s opening night rallied against the musical, noting that the show attempts to separate the art from the artist, while conveniently ignoring the child sex abuse allegations that overshadowed Jackson's career.  </p><p dir="ltr">Many of the reviews, including one for the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/01/theater/mj-musical-review.html">New York Times</a>, mentioned the fact that Jackson's estate were involved in producing what was essentially an 'authorised autobiography', which is why the story featured such watered-down references.</p><p dir="ltr">The review, written by Jesse Green, says, “In this, <em>MJ</em> is trying to have it both ways. It wants to blame everything sad and weird about Jackson on others… but credit him alone for his every good deed and success.”</p><p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Remembering Zoe Caldwell

<p>Australian-born stage, TV and film star Zoe Caldwell has died.</p> <p>Her son Charlie Whitehead said she died of Parkinson’s disease complications on Sunday at her home in New York. She was 86.</p> <p>The veteran actress won four lead actress Tony Awards spanning 30 years from the plays <em><span>The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie</span></em><span> (1968), <em>Slapstick Tragedy </em>(1966), <em>Madea </em>(1982) and <em>Master Class</em> (1996).</span></p> <p>Caldwell was born in Melbourne on September 14, 1933. She joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1959 and made her Broadway debut in 1965 as a replacement player in <em>The Devils</em>.</p> <p>One of her most famous roles is as the opera great Maria Callas in <em>Master Class</em>. From 1995 to 1997, the show played nearly 600 performances at the John Golden Theatre.</p> <p>Caldwell also starred in a number of films, including Disney’s <em>Lilo &amp; Stitch </em>and romantic fantasy <em>The Purple Rose of Cairo</em>.</p> <p>In 2001, Caldwell published her memoir <em>I Will Be Cleopatra</em>, which detailed her journey as an aspiring actor to achieve the role of the Egyptian ruler opposite Christopher Plummer in the 1967 production of <span>Shakespeare’s <em>Antony and Cleopatra</em>.</span></p> <p>She is survived by two sons, Sam and Charlie Whitehead, and grandchildren Ross and Ward Whitehead.</p>

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Princess Diana brought to life in new Broadway musical

<p>A new musical about the late Princess Diana is currently in the works with performances taking place in March 2020. The director, Christopher Ashley, won a Tony Award for his work on<span> </span><em>Come From Away</em><span> </span>with the show’s music and book written by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, who won a Tony for Memphis in 2010.</p> <p>Diana will be played by Jeanna de Waal.</p> <p>“To bring Diana to life onstage is obviously a huge privilege,” said de Waal of the role, as reported by<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.marieclaire.com.au/" target="_blank"><em>Marie Claire</em></a>. “I feel very daunted by the prospect, but I hope people who didn’t know about her and weren’t aware of her journey leave the theatre with an idea of what she did for the world. She made everyone feel special, from the highest person to the lowest-ranking person, and I think we want to celebrate her.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1E_xUUnIr8/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1E_xUUnIr8/" target="_blank">A post shared by kembricistan (@kembricistan)</a> on Aug 12, 2019 at 1:54pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>There will be 23 songs featured throughout the show, with one of them being “<em>A Pretty Girl in a Pretty Dress</em>,” which will seemingly reference Diana’s famous “revenge dress” – a black, off-the-shoulder Christina Stambolian gown that she wore while attending the Serpentine Gallery summer party in 1994.</p> <p>The Princess wore the jaw-dropping ensemble the same night Prince Charles confessed to having an affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles in a televised documentary.</p> <p>DiPietro, who took great interest in Tina Brown’s book<span> </span><em>The Diana Chronicles</em><span> </span>told the<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/" target="_blank"><em>Post</em></a><span> </span>that “(Diana) was a blue blood, she was beautiful, and she was a virgin, which was hard to find in 1980s London.”</p> <p>The musical is said to focus on Diana’s life, with her tragic death being referenced in an epilogue.</p> <p>Performances will begin on March 2, 2020 at the Longacre Theatre in New York.</p>

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Bette Midler breaks Broadway record

<p>A new revival of <em>Hello, Dolly!</em> starring Bette Midler has broken a Broadway record for highest first-day ticket sales.</p> <p>More than $9.08m (£6.96m) was spent in the first day of ticket sales for the show which will open at New York's Shubert Theatre in April.</p> <p>Midler tweeted, “Wow!” when she learned of the new record. 70-year-old Midler will play the lead role of Dolly Gallagher Levi, an outspoken widow who makes her living in 1890s New York by matchmaking wealthy clients.</p> <p>Ever since <em>Hello, Dolly!</em> first opened on Broadway in 1964, with Carol Channing in the lead role, it has been a hit. At the time, it was the longest-running production in the history of Broadway musicals. Give years later, Barbra Streisand starred in a movie version, which went on to win three Oscars.</p> <p>Philip J Smith, chairman of the Shubert Organisation, released a statement saying he was "thrilled with the tremendous response".</p> <p>"The combination of this show and Bette Midler has proven irresistible to theatregoers,” it read.</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/2016/07/12-iconic-roles-almost-given-to-others/"><em>12 iconic movie roles almost given to other actors</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/2016/07/7-actors-who-got-their-big-break-later-in-life/"><em>7 actors who got their big break later in life</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/2016/07/what-10-stars-looked-like-when-they-were-young/"><em>What 10 stars looked like when they were young</em></a></strong></span></p>

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Wicked movie gets 2019 release date

<p>Musical lovers, rejoice. One of the most popular Broadway productions in recent history is coming to the big screen – <em>Wicked</em>.</p> <p>Since its first show in 2003, <em>Wicked</em> has run more than 5,300 shows, won 3 Tony Awards, and was the fastest Broadway musical in history to earn $1 billion. It should come as no surprise that film executives have been fighting it out to bring the hit production to the big screen, and Universal Pictures have announced they’ll finally be doing just that – on 20 December 2019.</p> <p><em>Billy Elliot</em> director Stephen Daldry is up for the challenge of bringing Wicked to the silver screen, with Gregory Maguire (author of the book from which <em>Wicked</em> is adapted) and the musical’s composer and lyricist, Steven Schwartz, will be writing the screenplay.</p> <p>So far there’s no news as to who will play the leads in the <em>Wizard of Oz</em> prequel, but original cast member Idina Menzel (who played Elphaba) says as much as she would love to be involved in the film, it’s probably not realistic. “I’m gonna be way too old by the time [producer Marc Platt] gets it done,” she told the media at the Tribeca Film Festival in April. “Unless he CGI’s it, and he knows how I feel about that – I really want him to do that.”</p> <p>If past Broadway-to-big-screen adaptations are anything to go by, <em>Wicked</em> is set to be a blockbuster. To date <em>Mamma Mia</em> is the highest-earning adaptation, raking in more than US$600 million in 2008.</p> <p>Who would you like to see in the roles of Elphaba and Glinda? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/movies/2016/06/favourite-musical-films/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Our favourite musical films</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/movies/2016/05/highest-earning-films-of-all-time/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Highest-earning films of all time</em></span></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/movies/2016/05/8-classic-films-getting-remakes/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>8 classic films getting remakes</strong></em></span></a></p>

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Broadway legend Patti LuPone snatches phone from texting audience member mid-performance

<p>In a performance that deserves a standing ovation, Broadway legend Patti LuPone created headlines late last week when she strode into the audience and snatched the phone of a woman who had been texting throughout the entire performance of play <em>Shows for Days</em>. Miss LuPone, a two-time Tony Award and two-time Grammy Award winner, spoke with <em>The New York Times</em> to explain what happened.</p> <p>“This woman – a very pretty young woman – was sitting with her boyfriend of husband. We could see her text. She was so uninterested. She showed her husband what she was texting. We talked about it at intermission. When we went out for the second act I was very close to her, and she was still texting. I watched her and thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ At the very end of that scene, we all exit. What I normally do is shake the hand of the people in the front row. I just walked over to her, shook her hand and took her phone. I walked offstage and handed it to the stage manager, who gave it to the house manager.”</p> <p>Members of the audience reportedly applauded the confiscation, while some gasped. The phone was returned after the performance.</p> <p>Ms. LuPone released a statement after the incident, revealing, “I am so defeated by this issue that I seriously question whether I want to work onstage anymore.” Earlier that same day, during the matinee performance, mobile phones disturbed Shows for Days no less than four times. In 2009, Ms. LuPone stopped a performance of Gypsy to admonish a patron who was taking photographs.</p> <p>Mobile phone drama has plagued Broadway all week, with one rude theatre-goer walking onto the stage of play <em>Hand to God</em> and attempting to plug his phone into the set wall, and another texting throughout the performance of <em>Hamilton</em>.</p> <p>Speaking about the decline in theatre etiquette, Ms. LuPone said, “It’s getting worse. I’m hired to tell a story, and it takes a lot of effort and work to do that convincingly. It’s a handful of people who destroy that experience for everyone. It’s heartbreaking. Theater is not a social event.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/10/theater/hold-the-phone-its-patti-lupone.html?_r=0" target="_blank"><em>Source: The New York Times</em></a></p> <p><em>Image credit: Chris Lee</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/07/dog-sells-out-guilty-friend/">Watch this dog dob in her guilty best friend</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/07/official-pictures-of-princess-charlotte-christening/">See the gorgeous official photos from Princess Charlotte's christening</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/07/mother-decorates-hearing-aids/">This mother worked some magic to make children love their hearing aids</a></strong></span></em></p>

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