Sutton Foster Is a Badass, Lin-Manuel Miranda Stole Andrew Lloyd Webber's Moves & More Lessons of the Week

It’s Friday, and you know what that means: It’s time to work on your Quincy Jones impression! (It's the best way to impress Barbra Streisand.) In the meantime, here are the Lessons of the Week. Find out how Sutton Foster lets everyone know she’s a badass, discover the new must-have instrument for Tony-winning composers and more below.


Queen Lesli Will Not Advance to Go
We all want Lesli Margherita to return to Broadway, but if you dare typecast her, go directly to jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Queen Lesli heard about the Monopoly musical that's in the works, and no, she is not interested in playing Community Chest. Oh, well. At the risk of typecasting others, though, we're still hoping for Annaleigh Ashford as the dog, Jefferson Mays as the top hat and Kristin Chenoweth as Short Line R.R.


Sierra Boggess Is Bringing Christine Home
When you've already done Phantom of the Opera in Vegas, on Broadway and in London, Paris might just be another notch in your belt (sorry, your head voice). But what about singing it in French? Sierra Boggess will play Christine once again later this year, and this time, it requires her to parlez français. Just remember: Vous êtes assez, vous êtes très assez. Il est incroyable comment vous êtes assez.


Sutton Foster Knows She's a Badass
We already know Sutton Foster is a badass, whether she's screlting in a bob or selling her panties on TV Land. You know who else knows? Sutton Foster. The Younger star created a piece of art with that particular moniker, and it hangs in her apartment. What a perfect way to remind yourself: you are badass; you are so badass; it's unbelievable how badass you are. How do you say that in French, Sierra?


Cheno's Reaching for the Crown...Again
Hey there, teenage Baltimore: a certain pocket diva (her words) is joining Hairspray Live! Tony and Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth will take on the role of Velma Von Tussle—"Miss Baltimore Crabs"—for the NBC telecast. Like Lesli as Community Chest, though, it's a little on the nose, as Cheno herself was once crowned Miss OCU and was second runner-up Miss Oklahoma. Hey, if the tiara fits, right?


Don't Give Diana DeGarmo Gum
Speaking of Hairspray, if you ever end up playing Penny, start practicing those gum-chewing skills now. The Marvelous Wonderettes' Diana DeGarmo recalled her Hairspray days, and how she was so bad at chewing gum that she would occasionally spit it out onto other people. We hope DeGarmo wasn't campaigning for Violet in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. At least not without some more practice.


Ricky Ubeda Needs a Feline Henry Higgins
The cast of Cats looks like they're having a lot of fun prancing around the rehearsal studio, but unfortunately, a certain Jellicle is having trouble with his lines. Because of his Miami accent, Ricky Ubeda pronounces "Deuteronomy" (as in "Old Deuteronomy") with a heavy liquid U. Ricky, why don't you just ask you resident Liza impersonator? We hear she has a song that might make things easier.


Orfeh Just Can't Wait to Be King
Orfeh may have earned a Tony nomination for belting her brains out about Ireland, but now she wants to return to the Broadway stage and sing about England. The one-named sensation admitted to straight-up begging Lin-Manuel Miranda to let her play King George in Hamilton. We can hear it in our heads now—and it could totally work. She's riffing royalty, so she may as well be crowned as such.


Even Dressers Go on Vocal Rest
Every now and then, Broadway's best go on "vocal rest" to preserve their instrument for the stage. Over at The Lion King, however, even the dressers—like Shannon McDowell—go mute. Tshidi Manye (who plays Rafiki) insists McDowell be silent, because if she makes her laugh, it'll ruin her intricate stage makeup. It's no fun to sing "Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba" with smeared makeup.


Patrice Covington Is Timeless to...Her
This week, we got to know Patrice Covington, who brings an impossibly high voice to The Color Purple as Squeak. She discussed her vocal inspirations, her first stage memory and more, but what was most surprising was her true age. According to Covington, she's 100,000 years old. Needless to say, she looks amazing, but we'd also love to see her take on a more age-appropriate role. Like Mae Tuck. Or God.


Hitmakers Love Tambourines
Move over, Andrew Lloyd Webber! There's a new composer going ham on the tam(bourine). After ALW's jam sesh at the Tonys, Lin-Manuel Miranda followed suit at the latest #Ham4Ham show with Rory O'Malley and (be still our hearts) Aaron Tveit. We don't want to speak for a certified genius or anything, but we think we just found the one thing keeping Hamilton from being perfect. You're welcome, Lin.