Odds & Ends: Jenn Gambatese Joins Steven Pasquale & Laura Osnes in Carousel, NPH on the Oscars & More

Here's a quick roundup of stories you may have missed today.

Jenn Gambatese Joins Carousel
Mister Snow has met his match! Broadway fave Jenn Gambatese (Is He Dead?, Tarzan, Hairspray) will portray Carrie Pipperidge in Chicago’s Carousel, starring the previously announced Steven Pasquale and Laura Osnes. Directed by Rob Ashford, the Lyric Opera production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic tuner will play April 10 through May 3, with opening night set for April 11. We’d like this one on Broadway, STAT, please.

Carey Mulligan & Bill Nighy Move In Early
Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy will be treading the Great White Way’s boards earlier than expected. The upcoming Broadway transfer of the acclaimed West End production of David Hare’s Skylight will now begin performances on March 13 at the Golden Theatre; the show had been set to start on March 16. The Stephen Daldry-helmed play features Matthew Beard and will officially open on April 2.

Tonya Pinkins & More Unite for Literacy
Stage faves Tonya Pinkins, Kathleen Chalfant, Brian Murray, Jay O. Sanders, Nilaja Sun and more have been tapped for a benefit reading for The International Theatre and Literacy Project (ITLP) on February 9. Directed by Stephen DiMenna, the actors will perform plays written by groups of teenagers from Africa. Pinkins will conclude the evening with a performance of musical numbers.

Nathan Lane Honored With Monte Cristo Award
Stage and screen star Nathan Lane will receive the 15th Annual Monte Cristo Award from the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center; past recipients include Meryl Streep and Kevin Spacey. A gala dinner will be held for the two-time Tony winner at the Edison Ballroom in New York City on April 13.

NPH on the Oscars: 'Anything Can Happen'
Hollywood is showing some big love to Broadway at the moment. A slew of Great White Way alums have just been nominated for Oscars and we can’t wait to see what host Neil Patrick Harris has in store for us at the ceremony on February 22. As the Tony winner tells us in the teaser video below, “it’s looking like it’s going to be an amazing show. Anything can happen. Anything.”