Samantha Barks Says ‘Oui’ to NYC, Ewan McGregor Plays With Fire & More Lessons of the Week
Look, we know you’re getting your stuffed animal guests all arranged for your Tony nomination breakfast party on April 28, but it’s time to take a break for...the Lessons of the Week! We’ve learned all kinds of crazy stuff over the last seven days, from Douglas Sills’ food fantasies to Jarrod Spector’s desire for a cleft chin of his very own. Well, what are you waiting for? Find out below!
Samantha Barks Is Befriending a Gnome
West End star Samantha Barks has been hanging around NYC this week, seeing shows, exploring and practicing her French. It can only mean one thing: no, the Les Miz star isn’t reprising the role of Eponine on Broadway. But she is playing another French dreamer, Amelie, in a workshop of the new musical. Oui, oui, Sam, we approve!
Tam Mutu Disappointed His Dad
If you ask us, the Doctor Zhivago star, who just made his Broadway debut, is living the dream. But if you ask his late father, Mutu has completely missed his true calling of becoming a hairdresser. Yo Tam’s Dad, we all have lots of hopes and dreams. Jarrod Spector, for example, wishes he had Tam’s chin dimple. We can’t always get what we want.
Matthew Morrison Acts with His Mouth Full
How does Finding Neverland star Matthew Morrison keep his voice so smooth and silky? He took us to his extra-steamy, chandelier-filled dressing room (seriously, what is going on in there?) to find out. Apparently he shoves pastilles in his cheeks to keep his mouth moist during the show. First three rows, watch out for flying pastille particles.
There’s an Ingenious Rhyme For ‘Penis’
Something Rotten! lyricists Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick have managed to create one of the most hilarious rhymes in musical theater history: They rhymed “penis” with “genius”! Sure, it's not an exact match, but opening night red carpet guests—especially Perez Hilton—were wildly impressed. Wow, guys! Now write a song about oranges, elbows, hyphenates, spatulas and condoms.
Madonna Pissed Off Alexander Hamilton
The Material Girl was in hot water with founding father Lin-Manuel Miranda this week when he caught her texting throughout his musical Hamilton—he later called the Grammy winner out on Twitter with the hashtag “#noselfieforyou.” Madge responded by taking her own selfie and texting it to Lin while she watched Fun Home.
Douglas Sills Wants to Eat the Audience
Starring in a Broadway show must make you work up an appetite, because Living on Love’s Douglas Sills had desserts on the brain when we interviewed him on opening night. “The audience was meringue,” he told us. Meringue? Like, lemon meringue? Great, now we’re starving. Thanks a lot, Doug. Where’s a peanut butter cup care package when you need one?
Neil Patrick Harris Is a Vlog Thief
Tony winner Neil Patrick Harris is stepping out of the spotlight to play supportive (and a little bit jealous) partner to his real-life husband, It Shoulda Been You star David Burtka...until he hijacked Broadway.com vlogger Sierra Boggess’ video camera and turned it into The NPH Show. Neil, you are more than welcome to drop by Broadway.com HQ anytime and #LiveatFive with us.
Relax, It’s Only a Smackdown
Every week on The Broadway.com Show, we pit stars and shows against each other just for fun, like Matt Bomer vs. Cheyenne Jackson, SpongeBob vs. Hee Haw and the velociraptor impressions of Sutton Foster vs. Rob McClure, just to name a few. But when we asked if you’re more excited about Laura Benanti or Anna Kendrick’s new book, we got hate tweets for “pitting these women against each other.” Guys, we love everyone in the Cinderella sisterhood! Calm down, little birds.
Brian D’Arcy James Terrified Takeout Guys
Before Something Rotten! star Brian D’Arcy James hated Shakespeare, he starred in Broadway’s Shrek, wearing a giant green head that he couldn’t take off between shows. He successfully freaked out his daughter and any delivery guy that came to the stage door. Broadway definitely needs a green people support group.
Ewan McGregor Is Highly Flammable
Wow. As if Stanley Tucci, Emma Watson, Ian McKellen, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Emma Thompson and Audra McDonald weren’t exciting enough, Ewan “my gift is my song” McGregor has signed on to play Lumiere in the Beauty and the Beast live-action movie. But um, how is this going to work, exactly? Will he shrink to actual candelabra size? Will his hands really catch on fire? Will he finally let us try this elusive gray stuff we keep hearing about? Ewan, we have so many questions!