Three Chers Are Better Than One, Magic Mike Gets Into the Broadway Grind & More Lessons of the Week

The lights are going down on another week on Broadway, which means it’s time for the week’s highlights to go up Broadway.com! Read on to find out what we learned during seven eventful days on the Great White Way.

Broadway Fans Could Get Handsy with Magic Mike
According to Reid Carolin, the producer/screenwriter of Magic Mike (starring Channing Tatum and loosely based on his experience as a stripper), Broadway fans may get to enjoy this story in the flesh. Carlin described a Broadway incarnation as, "The perfect thing for women to go see on Broadway, to be participants in the show.” A Broadway show with near-naked men and audience participation? Gonna be a tough sell.

One Cher Isn’t Enough for Broadway
Cher lovers are in for a triple treat when the Goddess of Pop’s musical hits the Broadway stage. The EGOT contender is creating a show based on her own life and music, and in it Cher herself will play a "wise" character looking back and communicating with two younger versions of herself. There’s gotta be a “Turn Back Time” joke in there somewhere….Oh, well. As long as someone’s wearing Bob Mackie, we’re into it.

Jemima Rooper Can’t Live Without Her Fake Penis
One Man, Two Guvnors star Jemima Rooper cannot get enough of her cock sock. She talked to Broadway.com about it on opening night, and it earned a spot on her list of favorite backstage things. After singing its praises (aerodynamic, easy to get in and out of her underwear, etc.) Rooper said, “Pretty much all my happiness rests on this cock sock,” before leaning in to give it a gentle kiss. That's great, Jemima, because we're guessing no one will ever try and take away your happiness. (Also: Ew.)

Max von Essen Swoons for One Special Movie Star
Evita’s charming Magaldi, Max von Essen, shared some of his current obsessions with Broadway.com, and there’s one in particular that has us a little worried. “My obsession with James Franco borders on the unhealthy," said von Essen, who chose not to elaborate further on his love for film star/writer/student/artist/etc., Franco. OK, Max, if and when Franco finally arrives on Broadway, we’re recommending you as his official tour guide. You in?

Brian d’Arcy James Gets Down to Stevie Wonder
Broadway vet Brian d’Arcy James has audiences grooving at 54 Below, but the artist that gets James going is Stevie Wonder. When Broadway.com asked him about his own musical tastes, James chose Wonder’s music in three different categories: Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life was one of his favorite albums growing up, the song “Sir Duke” makes him smile and he can’t resist dancing to “I Wish.” Why does James love Wonder so much? We're pretty sure it's because Saginaw boys stick together.

Duckface Wants to Marry Jimmy McNulty
Anna Chancellor, known forever to film fans as Duckface in Four Weddings and a Funeral, recently revealed her dream project and dream co-star. The play: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The George to her Martha? “I’m trying to encourage Dominic West to play it with me,” Chancellor told Broadway.com about her The Hour co-star, known forever as hard-drinking Baltimore detective Jimmy McNulty on The Wire. Sounds good! Not only are they both kick-ass actors, we know they can both throw a punch.

Lindsay Mendez Would Die for Sherie Rene Scott
When Lindsay Mendez loves you, she’s not messing around. The Dogfight star recently chatted with Broadway.com's Paul Wontorek about her time in Everyday Rapture on Broadway, and the subject naturally came around to leading lady Sherie Rene Scott. “I would take a bullet for that woman,” she said. “I love her to death, and she didn't brainwash me to say that!” We believe you, Lindsay! But here’s hoping it never comes to that, yes?

Two Comedy Heavy-Hitters Finally Join Forces on Broadway
Talk about comedy tonight! We’re excited enough that the always-hilarious Douglas Carter Beane (The Little Dog Laughed, Xanadu, Sister Act) has a new play coming to Broadway, but the fact that it's coming with two-time Tony winner Nathan Lane has us super excited. Lane will play the title role in Beane’s The Nance. Guess Lane's much more serious O'Neill drama has iced Broadway prospects. No worries. A Beane-Lane collaboration has our sides are splitting just thinking about it.

John Gallagher Jr. Could Be Kissing His (Former) Sister
He wouldn't spill any Newsroom secrets, but Tony winner John Gallagher Jr. did add an interesting tidbit to the potential romance between his character and the one played by Alison Pill. " We did an independent movie together called Pieces of April in which we played brother and sister,” he told Broadway.com. “So it’s funny to me that we are playing prospective love interests.” It’s cool, John, you’re on HBO. Have you seen Game of Thrones? They are all about the brother/sister romance.

Darren Criss Dominates the Hot Guy List For the second year in a row, Glee cutie Darren Criss earned the number one spot on AfterElton’s Hot 100 List, beating out the likes of Jonathan Groff, Ricky Martin and Cheyenne Jackson. After our brief stint as Darrencriss.com, we like to think we’ve done our part to take this totally charmless, underappreciated, borderline ugly no-talent to the top of the heap. You're welcome, Darren. (P.S. Call us! Miss you!)