Lin-Manuel Miranda's Gonna Shake It Off, Uzo Aduba's Running Out of Emmy Categories & More Lessons of the Week

The weekend is almost here, and it's time to party! Just not in any of these Manhattan zones. Although the pope couldn't get into Hamilton during his New York visit, it was still a super exciting week on the Great White Way. Take a break from listening to that cast recording and get caught up. It's Lessons of the Week time!  

Lin-Manuel Is the T-Swift of Broadway
Singing stick of Juicy Fruit Taylor Swift has welcomed to the stage a gaggle a celebrities, from Lisa Kudrow to Fetty Wap to the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. But she’s got nothing on Hamilton maestro Lin-Manuel Miranda, who just last week hosted Gloria Estefan, Gerard Butler, Nancy Pelosi, MC Hammer and Justice Anthony Kennedy at the Richard Rodgers. What do you think of that, L.A.?

Lesli's in a Sticky Situation at Dames
Lesli Margherita is back! For the next eight weeks, the Broadway queen is taking us backstage at Dames at Sea. Before becoming a tap dancing diva, Lesli started out as…a baby alien creature? At least that’s what it looks like during her wig fitting. We’re all for a good lace front, but we had no idea wrapping your skull in packing tape was a part of the process.

Rannells Needs to Calm the F**k Down
When Andrew Rannells showed up on the set of The Intern, filmmaker Nancy Meyers had some frank advice on being around Robert De Niro: “Don’t be an ass…you have to be normal.” Rannells’ version of normal was dropping (by our count) nine f-bombs. What is the f**king matter with you, Andrew? What are you, a f**king sick maniac or something? Rannells, I’m kidding with you. I’m f**king kidding with you.

Uzo Aduba Transcends Genre
Broadway alum Uzo Aduba is on track to become the Audra McDonald of the small screen. Last year, she took home an Emmy for Guest Actress in a Comedy series. Now she's won for Supporting Actress in a Drama. The twist: it was for the same role in Orange is the New Black. Don’t act surprised when the Godspell fave is bumped up to lead (in both genres.) Let’s work on getting Suzanne to sing…

The Rockettes Kick...the Tonys Out
Their synchronized high kicks are so powerful, they can displace an entire awards show some 20 blocks. The Rockettes’ New York Spring Spectacular is heading back to Radio City Music Hall next summer (spring? just a word), meaning the Tony Awards will have to move venues. So Broadway’s biggest night will be at the Beacon Theatre again? You mean we have to commute? Ugh, what we do for love…

Denzel Has a 10-Year Plan
Denzel Washington is taking a page out of the Bryan Cranston handbook and bringing his Tony-winning Fences performance to HBO. Joining him is recent Emmy winner and his Broadway co-star Viola Davis. (Have you watched her speech yet? WATCH IT!) That's not all: Washington will produce 10 of August Wilson’s plays for the network over the next decade. Will Andy Samberg’s login still work in 2026?

Cosette Never Saw Les Miz
When asking stage actors which shows they saw as kids, Les Miserables is a popular choice. But not for Alex Finke. Broadway’s newest Cosette revealed that she hadn’t even seen the tearful tuner on stage until her first week of rehearsal. Not even before your audition, Alex? Tsk! We’re sure she had the chance to at some point; it was just out of reach, just a whisper away waiting for her.

Andy Karl Is a Member of an Elite Squad
The best part of a TV series shot in New York is seeing Broadway faves (eg. Sutton Foster as a lesbian activist, Jane Krakowski and Anthony Rapp as murderous siblings and so many more). Next up: Andy Karl! The Tony nominee joined the squad on Law & Order: SVU. If he needs tips, he can turn to his wife Orfeh, who played the wife of a murdered FCC officer on Criminal Intent. It’s still on our DVR.

Gary Barlow Can't Stop Writing Musicals
Move over, One Direction. During a post-show concert with Gary Barlow and Elliot Kennedy at Finding Neverland, our British Boy Band Correspondent was on the scene and learned that the Take That frontman wants to create a Take That musical for the West End. He also has The Girls and Around the World in Eighty Days on his plate. Keep your feet on the ground, Barlow! Or, you know, don’t.

Marlee Matlin Wants to Be a Jellicle
Oscar winner Marlee Matlin makes her Broadway debut in the Deaf West revival of Spring Awakening, but she already has her eyes on another musical she’d like to see the ASL company take on: Cats. And before you quip that cats have paws and can’t sign, let’s keep in mind cats also can’t actually sing at the same time in more than one key. But jellicles do, and jellicles can.