Odds & Ends: Stanley Tucci Set for Beauty and the Beast, See Steven Pasquale Backstage at Carousel & More

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

Stanley Tucci Set for Beauty
Another stage and screen star has boarded Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast! Tony nominee Stanley Tucci (Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune) will play new character Cadenza, the neurotic grand piano, writes Variety. The film, which will star the previously reported Emma Watson, Ian McKellen, Ewan McGregor and many more, is scheduled to hit movie theaters on March 17, 2017.

Telly Leung Tapped for Tokio Confidential
Broadway faves Telly Leung (Allegiance), 
Jill Paice (An American in Paris) and Jeff Kready (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) will feature on the recording of Tokio Confidential: A New Musical. Eric Schorr’s show had its off-Broadway world premiere in 2012, starring Paice, Mel Sagrado Maghuyop and Benjamin J. McHugh, and follows the story of an American Civil War widow who in 1879 sails for Japan. The album will be released both digitally and in store on Broadway Records on May 12.

Jersey Boys Takes First Place
The 29th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition raised a new record of $4,711,386 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The news was revealed after two days of Easter Bonnet Competition performances, which honored the fundraising efforts of 52 Broadway, off-Broadway and national touring productions in song, dance, comedy and 18 ornate, handmade bonnets. The company of Jersey Boys took top design honors, with Avenue Q winning the best presentation award. The top Broadway fundraiser was The Book of Mormon, while Hamilton led the way off-Broadway.

See Steven Pasquale Backstage at Carousel
You've probably guessed by now that we at Broadway.com are extremely keen for the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s staging of Carousel to transfer to the Great White Way. Check out below a dressing room shot of star Steven Pasquale reading all our coverage to prepare for the show below (at least that's what we're telling ourselves).
 

How does @StevePasquale prepare to be great in #Carousel? Reading @broadwaycom on his phone before the show. #fiction pic.twitter.com/QHu2CdAbLW

— Paul Wontorek (@PaulWontorek) April 22, 2015