Darren Criss Is a Tveitertot, Lupita Listens to Nanny McPhee & More Lessons of the Week

Happy Friday! The Emmy Awards are this weekend, so before you go home to watch Cicely Tyson’s guest performance on How to Get Away With Murder on loop, we want to make sure you’re up to speed on all things Broadway. From misguided cell phone companies to a gorilla singing JRB, some crazy things happened this week. Take it all in with the Lessons of the Week!

There's a Curly-Haired Tveitertot
When Darren Criss and Paul Wontorek went on a field trip to the site of next week’s Elsie Fest, the Broadway.com Audience Choice Award winner made a taxicab confession: he’s “absolutely” an Aaron Tveit fan boy, and he freaked out when meeting him at a pre-Oscars party for Les Miserables. You could call us Tveitertots as well. We wouldn’t go to jail for him or anything, but…

AT&T Is Sending Mixed Signals
When AT&T released an ad encouraging anti-Patti behavior, virtually everyone who’s worked on Broadway, has seen a Broadway show or at some point heard the term “Broadway” had something to say. But then the company backpedaled and said the ad existed in an alternate universe (or something), then they applauded our facetious retort. Stop making ads right now. Who do you think you are?! 

Melchior Is a Leading Lady at Heart
Fresh face Austin McKenzie gives a heartfelt performance (in two languages!) as Melchior in the Spring Awakening revival, but when he saw the show 10 years ago, he connected to another character: Wendla. We’re not sure that role is in the cards for him, but hey, it’s 2015. You never know. At least he gets to be (very) up close and personal with her now.

Lupita's Her Own Agent
Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, at long last, is making her New York stage debut this fall in the Public’s Eclipsed. We have two people to thank: Emma Thompson, who encouraged her to do more stage work, and Lupita, who chose the play herself. Would that it were always so simple! We’ve been trying to stage a one-woman Jersey Boys in our office for over a year!

Alex Sharp's Talking to Aliens
He talked to rats on stage, but now that he’s left Curious Incident, he’s talking to another, perhaps otherworldly, species on screen. The Tony winner has boarded the film How to Talk to Girls at Parties, appearing opposite Nicole Kidman. It’s billed as a Romeo and Juliet-esque tale between punks and aliens, so let’s hope Sharp can trade Christopher’s math talents for some astronomy skills.

There's a Gravity-Defying Diva at the Met
The Metropolitan Opera’s lineup features an assortment of classic characters, including Musetta, Figaro, Cio-Cio San and, uh, Elphaba? Sort of. Stay with us. In Maria Stuarda, Mary Queen of Scots, after asserting her innocence and lamenting those she’s indirectly harmed, accepts her martyrdom and marches to her beheading. It’s just like “No Good Deed” in Wicked. But, you know, with less belting.

Truffles Are Big at the Brooks
When Andy Mientus hosted a snack taste test backstage with four new potato chip flavors, the West Coast Truffle variety was far and away the victor. On the other hand, it was a quartet of weak contenders. Oh, well. By the way, if anyone wants us to taste snacks, please send them our way. Are there West Coast Truffle-flavored peanut butter cups? We will try any flavor of peanut butter cups.

The Key to Success Is a F*cking Glove
The Gentleman’s Guide cast is quite talented, especially when it come to high notes and quick changes. But the most dedicated performer is one who you don’t see: glove wrangler Andrew Sliwinski, who has an extremely involved prep for his bit in the show. This includes the mantra, “It’s a f*cking glove, it’s a f*cking glove, it’s a f*cking glove.” We’re petitioning to have glove wranglers recognized at the Tonys. #TonyCanYouFeelMe?

King Kong's Not Fading Away
The classic gorilla monster-meets-girl story is still planning to stomp on the Great White Way. Boarding the project are the two writers behind The Bridges of Madison County: Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman. We can’t wait to see Broadway sweetheart Kelli O’Hara win her second Tony Award for her daring performance as the titular misunderstood creature. We have chills already picturing her performance of "Falling Into You (The Empire State Building)."

Lesli Won't Stop Vlogging
It’s a good thing we let her keep that camera. After a successful 17-year stint of Looks Not Books, the Dames At Sea queen Lesli Margherita is back for more vlogging (OH. MAH. GAW.) Think of it as a Broadway.com spinoff, not unlike Kyle Dean Massey’s Normal Life and Fresh Prince. Ship Happens will still have crotch punches (we hope!), just at a different theater.