Pintauro doesn’t have the most unlikely gig.  That honor goes to Pink (or P!NK), who got an offer that even took her aback: “When I was asked to host the Tonys, I immediately thought, ‘I have to get permission from my daughter.’  I’ve never been on Broadway, and shouldn’t you have to have been on Broadway in order to host?  That seems fair and right.  But when I asked my daughter, she was really excited about being able to have a ticket to go to the Tonys, so I’m hosting the Tonys and I’m really, really, excited and very nervous because that girl is a tough crowd!”

I expect many awards for the recently-opened revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman – starring Nathan Lane.  Sure, it stars lots of other nifty folk (including Laurie Metcalf), but it is Lane who will likely reap the plaudits for a portrayal every critic is calling masterful.  It could also be his swan song.  When a reporter asked his future plans, Nathan said, “Oh, Jesus, who the hell knows?  This could be my farewell to Broadway.”

I was in New York City for a workshop of Jenifer Lewis’ latest one-woman show.  This was an invitation-only event with limited capacity, so I was told to pick my companion with care.  Actually, what Jenifer’s message said was, “There Will Be No Riff Raff”, which I propose would make a great title for the show!  I chose the perfect companion – Charles Busch.  Well, Jenifer and Charles have a mutual admiration society, and it was a convergence of almost Biblical proportions.  Jenifer was ably assisted on the keyboards by the incomparable Marc Shaiman (you have read his memoir, right?  Juicy!).  The story of Jenifer’s near-death experience in Africa (and her miraculous recovery) is ripe for the stage.   I’ll keep you posted.

I zipped back to Boston for the world premiere of Matthew Lombardo’s new play, When Playwrights Kill, which takes its genesis from his experience with Faye Dunaway as Katharine Hepburn in his play, Tea at Five.  Lombardo has a knack for clever dialogue and peppers his script with bitchy quips alongside more introspective moments.  The cast could hardly be bettered.  As the titular playwright, Matt Doyle is an adorable and earnest lad pushed to the brink.  As the Faye surrogate, Beth Leavel leaves no inch of scenery un-chewed.  She also brings more humanity than one would expect.  Lots of well-deserved praise is going to scene-stealer Tomás Matos.  But the cast’s secret weapon is Marissa Jaret Winokur.  As the stage manager, she’s almost the Greek chorus seeing everyone’s truth (but not necessarily hearing it).  Marissa can get a laugh with a look that anticipates exactly what the audience is thinking.  Boston got every inside joke and gave the show a standing ovation.  It continues at the Huntington Theatre through April 18^th.  Check out WhenPlaywrightsKillBoston.com.