Groceries? Check. Candles? Check. Broadway necessities? We've got you covered. Winter Storm Juno has arrived in the northeast, and while Broadway shows have been canceled for January 26 (and maybe on the 27th—we’ll keep you posted), that doesn’t mean that the spirit of the Great White Way can’t live on in your own, hopefully heated, home. Here are some of the indoors activities we recommend to keep you busy and cozy during the blizzard. Stay warm!
Stage a DIY "Defying Gravity"
As if you haven’t thought about doing this before. You know Skylar Astin has. If you can’t find a cherrypicker and a lifetime supply of dry ice, you can improvise. This kid did, and he’s our damn hero for it. It looks like you just need an office chair, lots of black fabric, a broom and…a high-powered fan? Surely you have all those objects lying around. Ah-ah-ah-ah-ahh!
Grab a Friend and Read Love Letters
“Defying Gravity” might be a bit ambitious, but two chairs and a table aren’t. The recent Broadway revival was cut short as incoming stars had to cancel their Broadway bow. But now you can grab your roommate or loved one and put on your own encore performance. You don’t even have to memorize lines! Tip: celebrity impersonations might help. Tony Danza and Carol Channing, perhaps?
Add a Beard to Broadway Hotties
Two of the most important questions we asked you in 2014: Do you prefer Aaron Tveit bearded or smoothly shaven? And what about Jeremy Jordan? Some scruff can be a valuable asset to keep guys warm as temperatures drop. Thanks to the folks at Manuary, an annual awareness campaign to support head and neck cancer research, you can now visualize all of your Broadway baes as lumbersexuals.
Play Broadway Cards Against Humanity
It’s a great/inappropriate game already. But if you haven't guessed, we tend to gravitate toward things with a theatrical flair. Kudos to the geniuses over at Musicals Against Humanity for getting the ball rolling. We especially like this card. Hey, can you blame him? We love Aaron Tveit—with or without a beard! Wait, what were we talking about? Sorry. Not sorry.
Prep for Bombshell with a Marilyn-thon
Lest you forget, the fictional Smash musical is coming to New York for one night only. Assuming you already binge-watch the show every few months, you might want to get ready by watching all of Marilyn Monroe’s movies available on Netflix. If it’s particularly frigid in your room, that pool scene in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes will make things pretty steamy. Shirtless guys in flesh-colored short shorts? Uhm, hi.
Make a Broadway Quilt*
Knitting and quilting are all the rage on the Great White Way. Former Wicked witches Christine Dwyer and Jenni Barber know what’s up. So does Dee Roscioli, actually. Just imagine that aforementioned Marilyn Monroe marathon while snuggled in a quilt featuring knitted versions of Idina Menzel and Norm Lewis’ faces. (*We have no idea how quilting works. Guess we’ll just stick with these.)
Go to a Winter Session of Summer Camp
This past summer, we celebrated all things camp on Broadway.com. Of course, one month is hardly enough time to highlight all of our favorite gems, so might we suggest a few more? Here’s a jumpsuit-clad Bernadette Peters singing The Wiz. Here’s the late Elaine Stritch singing a Disney princess ballad. Enjoy!
Learn a New Language™
Sure, you could finally perfect your Spanish or French, but isn't it time you became fluent in Sas-isms? Broadway vet Rachelle Rak will Cha Cha Puus™ over to 54 Below on January 29 for a night of biting the apple™. Before the big night, make sure you’re up to snuff with the proper lexicon (i.e. obsassed™). If not, well, Molly, you in danger, gurl.
Put Your Broadway Knowledge to the Test
How well-versed are you in Sondheim lyrics? Can you identify all of the Broadway theaters on a map? Which 66 musicals have taken home the Tony? Kill some time on Sporcle to see just how much of a Broadway baby you really are. Super scientific studies have proven that the more people read Broadway.com, the better they perform on these tests. Just saying.
Play the Broadway.com Vlog Drinking Game
Time to put on a liquid coat. The rules are simple: Drink every time Frankie J. Grande speaks with a fake accent! Drink every time Kara Lindsay’s book farts! Drink every time James Snyder has snack time! It’s what the cast of Rock of Ages would have wanted you to do. If you’re not of legal age, it’s equally fun with sparkling cider. Promise.