Hugh Jackman Gets Presidential, Ed Harris Says 'Bye Y'all' & Paul Nolan Is One of the Guys in This Week's Datebook

Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the theater district... so much was going on! That's right, this week a slew of Broadway vets get together for various holiday benefits and cabarets, Hugh Jackman hosts Christmas in Washington for the Obamas and Paul Nolan strums his way into Once. Make sure those presents are wrapped early, because you won't want to miss this week's list of hottest Broadway events.  


MONDAY, DECEMBER 16
BROADWAY STARS GIVE BACK
A long list of theater headliners, including Sierra Boggess, Andy Karl, Orfeh and Lindsay Mendez, will get into the holiday spirit by performing at Joe’s Pub’s 5th Annual New York City Christmas: A Concert to Benefit ASTEP (Artists Striving to Prevent Poverty). None of these stars are scrooges with their talent or their time, so head downtown to make helping others the reason for the season!

ALSO: The trippy Graff Family Holiday Special closes its doors at 54 Below with special guest Joanna Gleason; America Ferrera, Christian Borle, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Patrick Wilson and more star in a benefit performance of Ethan Lipton' Tumacho at Classic Stage Company; Cyndi Lauper joins Kinky Boots stars Billy Porter, Stark Sands and Annaleigh Ashford for a Kinky Cabaret at Birdland to benefit her True Colors Fund.


TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17
JESUS CHRIST VACCUUM REPAIRMAN
Ladies, be prepared to fall in love again! Paul Nolan is going from playing Jesus in Broadway’s 2012 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar to tear-jerking Dublin street musician Guy in the Once. Taking over from Arthur Darvill, Nolan joins Joanna Christie as Girl in the Tony-winning musical. Check out the new Guy in town for the first time tonight at the Jacobs Theatre.

ALSO: Carolee Carmello, Allison Case and more take on the hits of a top songwriting team in Maltby & Shire: What Could Be Better at 54 Below; Seasoned Broadway funny man Jesse Tyler Ferguson stops by Conan; award-winning Broadway casting director Jen Rudin’s book Confessions of a Casting Director is released.


WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18
THE ESCAPE OF EDWIN DROOD
If you like piña coladas, and getting caught in the…oh, sorry! The songs of Tony winner Rupert Holmes (Edwin Drood, Curtains) songs are so catchy, we can’t help ourselves. Laura Benanti, Norm Lewis, Tonya Pinkins and more Time to Kill alums can’t help themselves either, because they’ll be singing this composer’s songs at 54 Below in a benefit for the NAACP.

ALSO: Broadway cutie Paul Rudd talks Anchorman 2 on Kelly & Michael.


THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19
A SPOONFUL OF HOLIDAY POPS
Broadway’s original Mary Poppins Ashley Brown joins conductor Steven Reineke and the New York Pops orchestra for Under the Mistletoe with Ashley Brown. Tonight and on Friday, the Disney maven (she played Belle, too) transforms Carnegie Hall into a winter wonderland with a concert of traditional favorites and new holiday hits. Be her guest!

ALSO: Jersey Boys original star Daniel Reichard closes his show It’s Christmas…Again at 54 Below.


FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20
HUGH JACKMAN SINGS FOR POTUS AND FLOTUS
Hugh Jackman is back on Broadway...make that Pennsylvania Avenue. The Oscar nominee, three-time Emmy winner and Tony Award winner hosts TNT’s annual Christmas in Washington concert, with President and Mrs. Obama enjoying songs from the Backstreet Boys, Sheryl Crow, Janelle Monae, Anna Kendrick and, of course, Hugh. Sounds like a perfect way to decompress after last-minute shopping.

ALSO: Brian Stokes Mitchell sings with the New York Philharmonic at A Broadway Christmas; Machinal begins at American Airlines Theatre; Jackie Hoffman makes ‘em laugh in Heeb for the Holidays at Joe’s Pub; The 6th Annual Joe Iconis Christmas Spectacular decks the halls at 54 Below.


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21
THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN…FOR ONE MORE NIGHT
If you’ve missed the twists and turns of the lives of the townie burnouts in MCC's Small Engine Repair, today is your final chance to watch them flinch at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. If you don’t go, you’re missing out on some serious eye candy, including Pretty Little Liars’ Keegan Allen and Broadway.com Fresh Face James Badge Dale.

ALSO: Lea DeLaria finds the funny in F*#K! It’s Christmas! at Joe’s Pub .


SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22
MISSISSIPPI MAYHEM
It’s chilly outside, but The Jacksonian will leave you with chills up your spine. The New Group production of Beth Henley's new noir-esque murder mystery closes tonight, so it’s your last chance to get freaked out by Bill Pullman, Ed Harris, Glenne Headly and Amy Madigan at the Acorn Theatre on Theatre Row. It's creepy good fun.

ALSO: The hilarious and poignant Becoming Dr. Ruth closes at the Westside Theatre; Pamela Myers, Sarah Rice and Jim Walton join the company of Sondheim Unplugged at 54 Below.