Laura Osnes Leaves No Glass Slipper Behind, Christian Borle’s Best Served on the Rocks & More Lessons of the Week

Friday has arrived, and while we're no closer to figuring out Mama Morton's first name (Estelle?!) or how we are going to possibly complete this week's Culturalist without an epic debate, we're thankful that the holidays are fast approaching. Thanksgiving is the first feast to come and the stars of the Great White Way graced us with a solution to Turkey Day drama, a cocktail recipe to hunt down and more to keep us full until we return from the holiday break. Before you watch Sutton Foster's Sweet Charity performance on repeat, take a look at the Lessons of the Week!


Laura Osnes Signed for Those Slippers
You can have what’s in your own little corner of your own dressing room—if you get it in writing. Bandstand-bound Laura Osnes stopped by #LiveatFive and revealed how she was able to swing keeping her glass slippers well after the ball: “I actually wrote them into my contract,” Osnes said. Don’t let the bubbly personality fool you—Cinderella means business in the boardroom.


Anna Kendrick Is Still a Sondheim Geek
Speaking of Cinderellas, Tony nominee and Twitter goddess Anna Kendrick released Scrappy, Little Nobody on November 15. Now that Miss Kendrick is a fancy, schmancy author, is she too cool to hang with us theater dorks? Absolutely not! She sang Stephen Sondheim’s “I’m Still Here” from Follies on The Late Show. We’d expect nothing less from the girl who nailed “The Ladies Who Lunch” as a teenager.


Ektor Rivera Hits the Campaign Trail
Fans are ranking the Great White Way’s Sexiest Man Alive of 2016, and On Your Feet! heartthrob Ektor Rivera is a major contender. Just in case any fans are second guessing putting him in that number one slot, he included his shower as one of his most favorite things in his dressing room. “I like to run the water for a few minutes so I can feel fresh,” Rivera said. Wait, what were we talking about?


The Front Page Cast Gets Cozy
Talk about rubbing elbows with the rich and famous! The Front Page’s star-studded cast includes an ensemble of 28, and according to Holland Taylor, there are dressing rooms with eight or nine actors to a room. Do they all share one bathroom? Do they take turns walking Mabel? Does Jefferson Mays have a vat of Purell? Does Bert Cooper Robert Morse ever wear shoes? We need to know.


Dance Breaks Cure Turkey Day Drama
Tony winners Matthew Broderick and James Corden’s re-vamped Guys and Dolls’ “Fugue for Tinhorns” with a Thanksgiving theme, and the epic dance break is now our go-to should conflict arise at the dinner table this holiday, be it over the number of marshmallows in the sweet potato pie or political debates (you know, like why we don’t have a Sound Design Tony). Whatever it is, we're dancing it out.


Idina Menzel Has Always Been a Rebel
With roles like Maureen Johnson, Elphaba and Elsa on her resume, Idina Menzel specializes in playing rebels; perhaps it's because she’s always been one. The Tony winner recently discussed where she was during her, erm, first time, and let’s just say it wasn’t in Oz with Fiyero. “I did it in my parents’ bed when they went away for the weekend,” Menzel said. Oh, pookie!


Phillipa Soo’s Totally Crazy for Cats
Forget the Great Comet—Phillipa Soo wants to howl at the Jellicle Moon! Her answer to all of our Red Carpet Challenge questions during the Great Comet opening: “Cats!” Think about it: she channeled Victoria in her Natasha costume, Martha Washington named her feral tomcat after her dearest Alexander Hamilton and come on, Amélie eyes that goldfish for just a little too long.


Carrie Compere Can't Meet Lansbury
The Color Purple’s Carrie Compere is just as strong and collected as her character Sofia...that is until you mention Dame Angela Lansbury. “I would pass out if I saw her,” Compere said. “And she wouldn’t be able to catch me, so I can’t pass out!” It's all good, Carrie. We totally understand the fandom. Maybe Compere should hang with Al Silbs’ kitty cat instead (just don't make Phillipa Soo too jealous).


‘Christian Borle’s Erotica’—It’s a Cocktail
Nope, it’s not the name of his future memoir (darn). On Show People, Christian Borle spun some yarns about his bartending days at Vintage, a now-closed Ninth Avenue haunt known for its nachos and a drink named Christian’s Erotica. Borle said his father used to order it (“May I please have my son’s Erotica?”) during visits to the city. We’ll have to get the recipe before our 2017 Tony party.


Mama Morton’s First Name Is a Mystery
Maybe it’s Maybelline! After 20 years of hotcha, whoopee and jazz, Chicago has never given the Countess of the clink a first name. We got some suggestions from Mama Mortons past and present when we celebrated the Tony-winning revival's anniversary: Mildred, Madeline, Jasmine, Estelle, Helen and Chastity. (We’d bet our chips it’s not that last one.)