Stephanie J. Block Gets on Her Fans' Backs, Steve Kazee Strips Down and More Lessons of the Week
As another week wraps on Broadway, we look back at some Tony nominee foolery, Broadway.com Audience Choice Award confessions and secret talents. From stage hunk Steve Kazee to the hilarious ladies of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, see who made Broadway's most educational headlines the week of May 6.
Steve Kazee Is the Male Tori Amos
Steve Kazee is getting naked...emotionally at 54 Below. Fans that check out the star in concert are really going to get to know him intimately. “They’re going to get to know my demons, I guess,” Kazee told us. “They are going to see some raw parts of me.” Um, Kazee sounds just like that super emo guy performing at your college open-mic night…except with a Tony Award…and infinitely hotter.
Sutton Foster Doesn’t Want to Look Like Jinkx Monsoon
Sutton Foster is performing a new concert in San Francisco and New York City, in which she promises, “a lot of American songbook and jazz standards”—but absolutely “no wigs or false lashes.” Sutton, darling! You're a TV star and a two-time Tony winner performing in two of the most fabulous locales. Live it up, and put on some lipstick! Most divas in these parts take the stage looking like a cross between Tammy Faye Baker and one of the RuPaul’s Drag Race gals. Give in, and let a stylist make you rainbow high.
Ryan Murphy is Normal Heart Obsessed
What brings out Glee and American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy's inner fanatic? If you guessed a tear-jerking 1980s AIDS drama, you’re correct! Murphy is recruiting some of Broadway and Hollywood’s biggest names for his HBO film adaptation of Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart, and the scribe has taken note of Murphy’s enthusiasm. “Ryan Murphy is just so obsessively obsessed with it,” Kramer told us. Ryan, we’re so happy you’re so happy; now just don’t add any musical numbers or ghosts. Seriously.
Kristine Nielsen May Rock a Comforter on Tony Night
If Scarlett O’Hara can walk around Atlanta in curtains, Kristine Nielsen can arrive at the Tony Awards in sheets and a comforter. When Broadway.com asked the Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Tony nominee what she plans on wearing on the big night, Nielsen replied, “I’ve been teasing everyone that I’ll be wearing Donna Karan bedding.” Well, Kristine, we’ve taken the liberty to narrow down some selections (Here, here, here and, if you’re feeling daring, here.) No fee for our consultation, just be sure to thank us in your Tony speech!
NHP Must Have One Trustworthy Accountant
Neil Patrick Harris is an undisputed triple threat; unfortunately, it appears that math is not one of the Emmy winner's many talents. The How I Met Your Mother star recently signed on to host the Tony Awards for the fourth time saying, “It'll be more impressive than ever—if my math is correct, it will be 267 times bigger than last year. Oh, wait. No, that can't... hold on... carry the one... I'm awful at math.” What Harris meant to say was this year’s Tony Awards will be 23 times more legen—wait for it—dary! (If our math is correct.)
Jane Lynch Doesn't Need the Practice
Here she is, boys! Here she is, world! Here’s Jane! (And a day early to boot.) Glee star Jane Lynch is making her Broadway debut as Miss Hannigan in Annie a day earlier than expected on May 15. How insanely impressive is that?! Apparently, Jane is an expert on swilling cheap hooch, swindling a billionaire and screaming at tiny orphans, so she nixed the extra day of rehearsal. Kids may rule Broadway, but TV stars sure do it quicker.
Danny Burstein Leads the Most Exciting Life
Danny Burstein is the man. The Golden Boy Tony nominee and Talley’s Folly star told us that as a teenager, he spent an afternoon with Stephen Sondheim day-drinking and talking shop. Then during the Broadway run of Women on the Verge, Patti LuPone flashed him her eggrolls backstage before curtain call one night. Burstein also went on to recall a basketball fight that included a gun and the time Bernadette Peters offered him tattoo advice. Needless to say, Danny Burstein is like Broadway’s real-life Ferris Bueller.
Stark Sands Still Has Two Good Years Left
Tony nominee Stark Sands might be a little too hard on himself. During his super sweet Tony confessions, the Kinky Boots star shared that he uber competitive with himself and that he’ll never play his dream role Romeo because, “I’m too old for it now.” Lighten up Stark and get to googling. Broadway’s next Romeo, Orlando Bloom, will be 36 on his opening night of the Shakespeare classic; which means 34-year-old Sands has at least two years left to play his dream role. Hear that CSC?
Shalita Grant Goes Au Naturale for Tony Nom Day
The thing we love the most about Vanya Tony nominee Shalita Grant is that she has no filter. The latest example comes from our Tony confessions series in which Grant said that on the biggest morning of her career (so far) she was wearing nothing but a smile. While fellow nominees like Laura Osnes and Carolee Carmello put on some cute pajamas for the occasion, Ms. Grant received the news as naked as the day she was born. And we applaud you for that. #onefreetonynominee
Stephanie J. Block's Most Devoted Fans Show Their Love in Ink
She may not be a GIF-magnet like our fave one-hand-clapping hunk (hi, Aaron!), but SJB's fans are super devoted. This past week has really opened our eyes to how much the Blockheads worship the Drood Tony nominee. Not only did Steph win our first-time Tony nominee poll, she also revealed that several different fans have tattoos of her on their bodies. Tattoos. On. Their. Bodies. Be careful, Stephanie, it starts with tattoos and ends up as taxidermy—just ask Matilda composer Tim Minchin.