In my haste to deliver some late-breaking Tonys news, I neglected to send congrats out to Qween Jean, the costume designer of Cats: The Jellicle Ball.  Qween became the first openly trans person to win a Tony Award, and how fitting that the show is set in the legendary NYC ballroom scene.  “We are here for the legacy of queer people, trans people.  We are taking up space in ways we have to take up space.  We have to shift the paradigm.”  Congrats!

Back when Billy Porter was on death’s doorstep with sepsis, someone very close to him called me up to say he’d be fine.  How could this person be sure?  Because Billy was dying to do a revival of Jerry Herman’s La Cage aux Folles.  Let that be a lesson to you – always have something to live for.  Porter is poised to kick off performances of the musical – with Wayne Brady by his side.  The production comes to us courtesy of the Encores! series at New York City Center.  This is the same group that brought us such semi-staged productions as the recent transfer of Once Upon a Mattress, to say nothing of a little musical called Chicago, which just celebrated 30 years on Broadway.  While I don’t expect La Cage to match that success, I think it could have a mighty healthy transfer if the videos from rehearsal are any indication.  You can check them out on BillyMasters.com.

Rumors are picking up steam about Jamie Lloyd planning to direct a new production of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion.  Sure, the show returning to Broadway is enough to generate gossip, but the casting of Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Groff is certainly whetting people’s appetites (please, oh please, don’t let Groff’s best friend get cast as Clara).  While some are skeptical this Passion project will happen, it ain’t such an outrageous proposition.  Lloyd previously directed a production of the musical at London’s Donmar Warehouse way back in 2010, where it starred Elena Roger.  And, fun fact – this would be a reunion for Groff and Erivo since they previously did a one-night-only concert of How To Succeed in Business in London back in 2015.

I’m looking forward to Julia Louis-Dreyfus finally making her Broadway debut in a revival of Other Desert Cities alongside Allison Janney, Ed Harris and Lily Rabe.  Since there has been some speculation, let me clear one thing up – Julia is playing the role of Polly, which was originated by Stockard Channing.  Allison is playing Silda, previously played by Judith Light (and Linda Lavin off-Broadway).  They’ll be directed by John Benjamin Hickey.

In a somewhat curious casting notice, London’s West End will get a new production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? this fall.  The battling couple will be portrayed by Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup.  I’m putting my skepticism aside because this production will be directed by Marianne Elliott.  So perhaps Billy will play Martha!

A couple of months ago, I reviewed the world premiere of Matthew Lombardo’s play When Playwrights Kill, which took place in Boston.  The two leading actors, Beth Leavel and Matt Doyle, are reuniting for Hello, Dolly! at the Ogunquit Playhouse from June 18^th through July 18^th.  Grab your tickets at OgunquitPlayhouse.org.