Idina Menzel Is Forever the Queen, Santino Fontana's Our Favorite Plan B & More Lessons of the Week

Ready or not, here comes Mama Lessons of the Week! We’ve had a spectacular seven days filled with screlting, short shorts and this video of Ethel Merman’s failed pilot from the ‘70s, and we’re here to talk about at least two of those with you! Let’s get started. Enjoy your weekend (by watching Ethel Merman's failed pilot from the '70s)!

T-Swift's Stage Is Ice Cold & Full of Screlt
Much like Lin-Manuel Miranda at the Richard Rodgers, Taylor Swift has welcomed to the stage a plethora of celebs at her concerts. The pop princess outdid herself on Halloween by inviting a certain Tony winner to test the limits, break through, etc. Idina even donned Elsa’s gown, rising to the stage like the break of dawn. And Swift dressed as Olaf. We always considered T-Swift the Josh Gad of pop!

We Will Absolutely Settle For Santino
Santino Fontana is a catch (that lucky Jessica Hershberg) and TV has it twisted. On the latest episode of Crazy Ex Girlfriend, the Tony nominee went back to his musical theater roots for a toe-tapping routine all about how spectacularly mediocre he is (“Like two percent milk or seitan beef, I almost taste the same”). Self-degrade all you want, Santino. We still love you almost as much as you love Eggo waffles.

Gloria & Ana Had a Total If/Then Moment
Broadway newcomer/fake equestrian Ana Villafañe has the fortune to play her dream role of Gloria Estefan in On Your Feet!. That may seem like fate, but there’s a whole level of kismet above that. The two attended the same high school! Plus, long before Villafañe was conga-ing on Broadway, their paths crossed on campus during a book signing. Clearly, some talent (and rhythm) rubbed off.

Josh Segarra's Protecting the Tree Trunks
Not only does Villafañe rock Estefan’s curls in On Your Feet!, but her dashing co-star Josh Segarra is taking on style tips from Emilio as well. Namely, some very very short shorts. Segarra was more than ready to rock that look. “I’ve had these tree trunks for life, bro,” he told us on the red carpet. “I finally get to showcase them.” And to that, we say more tree trunks on Broadway! #BroadwayGreenAlliance

We Need an Invite to a Party We Made Up 
We all know Annaleigh Ashford is the most magical sugar plum fairy around. And Bernadette Peters—if this clip from The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour is any indication—is a Christmas enthusiast. Put them together, and you have the merriest Yuletide ever. The Tony-winning duo snapped a pose in their red and green, and now we want nothing more than to drink eggnog and sing carols with both of them.

Lesli Prob Settled that L. Carroll Lawsuit
Lesli may be the queen, but this week, she’s Alice adjacent. For her penultimate (maybe?) Ship Happens episode, the Dames at Sea star spiraled down the Shubert Alley wormhole into Broadwayland. It’s kind of like Wonderland, but with screlting. We’re glad you made it back safely, Lesli, but remember: if you ever find yourself lost there again, a certain AEA president has some ties and can probably help out!

Hal Prince Mixes Up His Sondheim & ALW
What do Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber have in common? They both found tremendous success on Broadway. They were both born on March 22. Most importantly, they both get birthday cards from Hal Prince. However, Prince doesn’t always address the cards properly. Come on, Prince. Lloyd Webber is the one with the cats. Sondheim is the one with the…frogs.

Gabriella Made a Hat (and Other Stuff)
Small Alison wants to play airplane, but Gabriella Pizzolo, who plays her in Fun Home, probably wants to build them instead. When chatting with us, the pint-sized star admitted her addiction to Minecraft by waxing poetic. “You’re building something, yet you’re building nothing at the same time,” the tiny philosopher said. You’re blowing our minds, Gabby. We feel so dumb (we feel…we feel…)

Bob Saget Sweated All Over His Script
Bob Saget is back on Broadway in Hand to God, and the Full House star’s preparation was easy, breezy and steamy. This week, he revealed that he learned all his lines while smoking a cigar in a Jacuzzi. That’s not too uncommon, apparently, as he added, “Everything I do involves a Jacuzzi.” If you need someone to be your reader next time, let us know.

Nathan Lane Is Surprisingly Flexible
Annaleigh Ashford may roll over, sit, bark (or rather, shout “HEY HEY HEY!) and play fetch in Sylvia, but the guests of the play’s opening night have some tricks up their sleeves as well. Take Nathan Lane, for example. He can sing, dance, win Tonys, make a musical out of anything and…uh…lick…something. You can guess what. Or you can just watch the clip. Happy Friday?