News

Casting in Hollywood is a battleground for talent, and when it came to Wicked, a film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, the stakes were even higher. The roles of Elphaba and Glinda were dream parts for many actresses, but only Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande made the cut.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked | Universal Pictures

Recently, Erivo, who played Elphaba made comments about Grande’s casting as Glinda. We’re not sure if she intended to shade anyone, but the fans are still divided. So, was it a harmless remark or a sly dig?

Cynthia Erivo’s remarks on Glinda: A compliment or a jab? Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked | Universal Pictures

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s public appearances have been the talk of the town ever since they started their promotional campaign for Wicked. The two have shared a mutual admiration for each other,...

While Ariana Grande has iconically made Wicked’s Glinda her own, she went through a long audition process and had to compete against many other seasoned performers to get the role. Stephen Schwartz’s affecting music and lyrics have made the story the second-highest-grossing musical of all time and turned the Wicked characters of Glinda and Elphaba into beloved pop culture icons. Naturally, the Good Witch of the South represented a dream career challenge for many actresses, having been set as one of those impossible-to-repeat roles in Kristin Chenoweth’s immortal 2003 performance.

Reviews for Wicked have shown no shortage of praise for Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s fantastic characterization — especially in Wicked’s powerful ending — making it feel like they were born to bring these characters to the big screen. Clearly, the talented artists weren’t the only ones considered for a part in Wicked, as the movie’s...

Amanda Seyfried, known for her iconic roles in Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables, and Mean Girls, has addressed the rumors surrounding her viral Wicked video. When a video of the actor singing "Popular" from the iconic musical went viral, people online immediately speculated that it was her audition video for the role of Glinda in the highly anticipated film adaptation. The buzz around her potential audition video grew rapidly, as Seyfrienf has often expressed her love for the musical, and was one of the many fan-cast choices circulating on the internet before the official announcement that Ariana Grande-Butera would be bringing life to the bubbly character.

The actor has since revealed the context of the video and shared her thoughts on Grande's casting. Speaking to People, Seyfried revealed that the viral video was not part of the official Wicked audition process. Instead, it was more of a casual moment taken out of context.

From Dove Cameron to Joe Jonas, these stars attempted to be part of the 2024 Jon M. Chu-directed film 'Wicked.'MEGAAmanda SeyfriedAmanda Seyfried auditioned for Glinda, a role that eventually went to Ariana Grande.Mega

Following her notable performances in the musical adaptations of Les Misérables and Mamma Mia!, Amanda Seyfried attempted to score the role of Glinda in Wicked.

"Last summer while I was playing Elizabeth [The Dropout], on the weekends I was auditioning in person to play Glinda in the movie version of Wicked — because I wanted it that much that I was like, 'You know what? Yeah, I have to play the last scene of The Dropout on Tuesday. I’ll give my Sunday to you,’" she told Backstage.

Dove CameronDove Cameron opened up about the lengthy audition process she went through.Mega

For her Wicked audition, Dove Cameron performed Annie Golden's "How Can I Lose You?...

This article contains spoilers for "Mean Girls."

The 2024 movie musical reimagining of "Mean Girls" restores a missing puzzle piece in the original film. Penned by Tina Fey and directed by Mark Waters, the original "Mean Girls" is a cautionary tale about the corrosive effects of cliques. Having grown up homeschooled, Cady (Lindsay Lohan) is figuring out how to survive in the jungle of a Chicago public high school. She befriends two outcasts, Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian (Daniel Franzese), who recruit her to infiltrate the Plastics, a pink-clad clique of popular girls ruled by Queen Bee Regina George (Rachel McAdams). Cady finds herself allured by Regina's seemingly titanic confidence -- that is, until Regina steals Cady's crush, locking the two teens in a vicious cycle of revenge. 

Eventually, these incidents come to a boil when Regina is accidentally hit by a bus. When a recuperating Regina attends the Spring Fling,...

Mark Waters’ hit comedy about the savage jungle of high school cliques, Mean Girls, had enough instant-classic dialogue and memorable characters to become a touchstone for the generation either in or fresh out of their teens when it was released in 2004 and those who have discovered it in the years since. With screenwriter Tina Fey continuing to steer the vehicle, the property navigated the transition to Broadway musical in 2018 with plenty of its original charms intact and some even fortified thanks to the expressive magic of characters bursting into songs that reveal their inner lives.

The show was never going to keep Stephen Sondheim awake nights with its workmanlike tunes composed by Fey’s husband, Jeff Richmond. But Nell Benjamin’s frequently clever lyrics delivered laughs and director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw’s flair for kinetic showmanship made it a high-energy explosion of hormonal insecurity, malice, vulnerability and hard-won life lessons. A top-notch cast didn’t hurt,...

On Wednesdays, we release trailers for the upcoming movie adaptation of the “Mean Girls” musical.

Paramount has debuted the first teaser for the new comedy from original “Mean Girls” screenwriter Tina Fey, who adapted her winning script into a Broadway musical and has now turned the stage adaptation back into a feature.

As with the 2004 comedy classic, Fey again stars as the school’s put-upon guidance counselor, Ms. Norbury. Tim Meadows also returns from the film to play Principal Duvall. From the Broadway musical, Renee Rapp stars again as Regina George, the character made famous by Rachel McAdams. (Rapp replaced original Broadway star Taylor Louderman in the role.) Ashley Park, who played Gretchen Wieners in the stage musical, also features in this new film, albeit in a different role.

Angourie Rice stars as Cady Heron (played by Lindsay Lohan in the film), with “Moana” voice actress Auli’i Cravalho as Janis...

Four writer-participants for a DreamWorks Theatricals emerging writers program have been selected to help develop new musical adaptations of DreamWorks Animation films for the theatrical licensing agency Music Theatre International’s catalogue.

The program is sponsored by DreamWorks Theatricals and Mti in partnership with NBCUniversal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion team. Beginning this month, the selected writers – Krista Knight, Joriah Kwamé, Veronica Mansour, and Kate Thomas – will participate in projects intended for the Mti catalogue.

The program also provides access to various industry professionals and agents via roundtable discussions, master classes, and individual meetings to advance career development.

Drew Cohen, CEO of Mti, said in a statement that the work of the new participants will “in turn “inspire a new, expanded generation of theater performers, theater writers, and theatergoers.”

Selected participants in the Emerging Writers Program are:

Krista Knight achievements include a Juilliard School Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program...

Reneé Rapp has signed with WME for agency representation in all areas.

Rapp is an actor and singer is best known for her role in Mindy Kaling’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls.” She stars in the HBO Max comedy series, which is now in its second season, as Leighton, a closeted lesbian at Essex College who comes from an affluent family.

Though “The Sex Lives of College Girls” marked her TV debut, Rapp became a breakout star on Broadway in 2019 when she took over the role of Regina George from Taylor Louderman in the “Mean Girls” musical. She earned the role after winning the 2018 Jimmy Award for best actress for starring in a production of “Big Fish.”

As a recording artist, Rapp recently signed with Interscope Records and released her debut EP “Everything to Everyone” on Nov. 11. She will tour with the project throughout the month of December...

Have you ever dreamt of being on an official cast recording of a musical How about one with Broadway's Taylor Louderman, Brandon Victor Dixon, and TV's Tristin Mays Or imagined yourself as MacGyver Now's your chance to take a shot at doing all of those at once... Because MacGyver is not only a classic TV show it's now a musical...

Will it be clear skies for the second season of the Kenan TV show on NBC? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like Kenan is cancelled or renewed for season three. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustrated when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we invite you to rate all of the second season episodes of Kenan here. Status Update Below.

An NBC single-camera comedy, the Kenan TV show stars Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd, Kimrie Lewis, Dani Lane, Dannah Lane, Taylor Louderman and Don Johnson. In the story, Kenan Williams (Thompson) is trying to reclaim his life following his wife’s death. Kenan’s two daughters are his world – the very intelligent Aubrey (Dani Lane) and the silly and unpredictable...

Last season, Kenan was a middle-of-the-road performer in the ratings for NBC. Will the numbers improve this time around? Will Kenan be cancelled or renewed for season three? Stay tuned. Status Update Below.

A single-camera comedy, the Kenan TV show stars Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd, Kimrie Lewis, Dani Lane, Dannah Lane, Taylor Louderman and Don Johnson. In the story, Kenan Williams (Thompson) is trying to reclaim his life following his wife’s death. Kenan’s two daughters are his world – the very intelligent Aubrey (Dani Lane) and the silly and unpredictable Birdie (Dannah Lane). He struggles to parent them as a single dad and host his Atlanta-based talk show. This leads Kenan to reluctantly accept help from his father-in-law, Rick (Johnson), but their parenting styles aren't exactly a match. At work, Kenan excels at his job -- with the help...

It looks like Kenan Thompson won't need to do double duty on NBC any longer. The longtime Saturday Night Live performer's sitcom, Kenan, has been cancelled so we won't see a third season on the peacock network. The second season of 10 episodes finished airing in late January.

A single-camera comedy series, the Kenan TV show stars Thompson, Chris Redd, Kimrie Lewis, Dani Lane, Dannah Lane, Taylor Louderman, and Don Johnson. In the story, Kenan Williams (Thompson) is trying to reclaim his life following his wife’s death. Kenan’s two daughters are his world – the very intelligent Aubrey (Dani Lane) and the silly and unpredictable Birdie (Dannah Lane). He struggles to parent them as a single dad and host his Atlanta-based talk show. This leads Kenan to reluctantly accept help from his father-in-law, Rick (Johnson), but their parenting styles...

Kenan Thompson’s comedy “Kenan” has been canceled after two seasons by NBC, Variety has learned.

Starring Thompson and produced by “Saturday Night Live” boss Lorne Michaels, “Kenan” follows the life of busy single dad Kenan Williams (Thompson), who is juggling a high-profile job as host of Atlanta morning show “Wake Up With Kenan!” He’s also raising two adorable pre-teen daughters — the too smart Aubrey (Dani Lane) and the silly, unpredictable Birdie (Dannah Lane). As Kenan moves on from the loss of his wife a year earlier, his live-in father-in-law Rick (Don Johnson), his brother/manager/roommate Gary (Chris Redd) and his colorful co-workers all have strong opinions on the best way for him to live his life.

Along with Thompson, Dani and Dannah Lane, Don Johnson and Redd, “Kenan” stars Kimrie Lewis and Taylor Louderman.

During its second season, “Kenan” has averaged a 0.4 rating among adults 18-49 and 2.4 million total viewers,...

It seems like just yesterday that Kenan‘s second season began (it was January 3), but the final two episodes are already here. And in the January 31 finale, everyone’s going to Miami! TV Insider has an exclusive sneak peek at their arrival at the hotel. As Mika (Kimrie Lewis) leaves the others, Kenan (Kenan Thompson) can’t help but ask, “Did you all notice she was half-naked up underneath that cover-up?” But as Tami (Taylor Louderman) sees it, “Good for her. A woman that knows what she wants.” To that, Gary (Chris Redd) scoffs, “Unlike you,” before explaining, “David’s only crime was loving you too damn much.” Tami disagrees. “No, his only crime was crying every time we had sex,” she says. “It’s called a tear-gasm, and it represents strength in some countries,” he tells her. Watch the clip above to hear some of Gary’s examples, then...

Kenan's second season is in full swing, and we have an exclusive interview with star Taylor Louderman about her transition on the show!

Taylor Louderman is a Tony-nominated actress, starring on Broadway and making an easy transition to TV.

We sat down with Taylor Louderman to discuss Kenan, her career, and more!

TV Fanatic: How has it been working with Kenan?

Taylor Louderman: It's a little unreal. It's Surreal. I've been watching him since I was a little kid: Kenan and Kel and all that. So to be next to him now was very scary at first. But he's a really good guy!

He's cool, he's chill, and he's so funny! He makes you look good no matter what. It's a dream!

In terms of when the camera isn't rolling, it's so much fun because he (and especially next to Chris Redd) is always pitching bits or turning the silliest thing into a comedy sketch.

Vulture Watch

Can Kenan continue to juggle his professional and personal lives? Has the Kenan TV show been cancelled or renewed for a third season on NBC? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Kenan, season three. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?

What's This TV Show About?

Airing on the NBC television network, the Kenan TV show stars Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd, Kimrie Lewis, Dani Lane, Dannah Lane, Taylor Louderman and Don Johnson. In the story, Kenan Williams (Thompson) is trying to reclaim his life following his wife’s death. Kenan’s two daughters are his world – the very intelligent Aubrey (Dani Lane) and the silly and unpredictable Birdie (Dannah Lane). He struggles to...

If you loved laughing while watching the first season of Kenan, then you’re going to love how much you’re going to get in the next few weeks. First, the NBC comedy returns with a holiday-themed episode on December 15, as the morning show’s team prepares for the annual Holiday Spectacular. But Kenan is upset when his brother Gary (Chris Redd) pursues a new client. Plus, Kenan’s father-in-law, Rick (Don Johnson) tries to unseat Tami (Taylor Louderman) as the leader of the band, and executive producer Mika (Kimrie Lewis) feels her work is unappreciated. Then, Season 2 officially kicks off with back-to-back episodes on Monday, January 3 Thompson teases what’s coming up. How’s the family celebrating the holidays? Kenan Thompson: A lot of people have their own little traditions or whatever, but [there are also] the basic themes of love and not really forgetting to appreciate those around you and ...

NBC will air original episodes of all five of its comedy series — returning shows Young Rock, Kenan and Mr. Mayor – and new series Grand Crew and American Auto — during the week of December 13, ahead of their regular 2022 season premieres. The standalone holiday specials were initially announced in May before Grand Crew and American Auto had been given series orders.

Young Rock, Kenan and Mr. Mayor will return December 15 for holiday-inspired special episodes before their second season premieres in the new year.

New comedy American Auto, from Superstore executive produce Justin Spitzer, – will air its first two episodes in a special preview on Monday, December 13 at 10 p.m. following a live two-hour telecast of The Voice. Then, on Tuesday, December 14 from 8-9 p.m., Grand Crew – from Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Insecure writer Phil Augusta Jackson – will preview its first two episodes as well. Both will be available on digital platforms leading...

Plastics, meet Arturo Perez Jr. and Samantha Jayne.

Paramount has hired the filmmakers, who are married, to direct the movie adaptation of “Mean Girls: The Musical.” The upcoming version isn’t a remake of Tina Fey’s 2004 modern cult classic — about cliquey high schoolers for whom the limit does not exist — but rather a cinematic take of the song-and-dance version that opened on Broadway in 2018.

Paramount Players, the studio’s division that’s developing the film, is keeping the exact logline under wraps, even though the stage version was faithful to the original source material. The cast has not been set yet. However, Fey, who wrote the screenplay and adapted it into a musical, previously told Variety the original Broadway actors — Erika Henningsen, Taylor Louderman and Ashley Park — won’t reprise their roles on screen. Lindsey Lohan, Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried played the core clique, who call themselves the Plastics,...

Kenan (Kenan Thompson) is now all-too familiar with being an influencer. In a new clip from Tuesday's Kenan, exclusive to E! News, Kenan wears an outrageous suit filled with sponsors' logos in effort to boost advertising revenue for the TV station behind his show. The annual "Wednesday's Gal" wedding segment is a prime target for ads, and phrases like "honeymoon" and "I do" linked to sponsors. It seems like a great plan from manager Mika (Kimrie Lewis)—that is, until the questionable products come to light. "It's cute. You look like a really accomplished Girl Scout," Tami (Taylor Louderman) encourages Kenan. "Nah, he looks like he's going to a...

An eye-opening conversation. In this exclusive clip from tonight, March 30's all-new Kenan, single dad Kenan (Kenan Thompson) braces himself for his daughters' first sleepover. As he prepares for this major milestone, Kenan runs into co-workers Mika (Kimrie Lewis), Pam (Fortune Feimster) and Tami (Taylor Louderman). "No, this isn't all for me," Kenan notes as he carries large bags of takeout food. "Is that what you asked?" Mika responds, "No, but now that you mention it…" Realizing he's caught with an extreme amount of comfort food, Kenan explains that his daughters are heading to a sleepover. He adds, "I'm alone to do whatever I want. It's...

Kenan Thompson, who currently holds the record as the longest-running Saturday Night Live cast member, brings his abounding charisma to the aptly titled Kenan. The NBC series stars the beloved comedian as a recently widowed dad trying to raise his daughters Aubrey (Dani Lane) and Birdie (Dannah Lane) alongside his father-in-law Rick (played by Don Johnson) and brother Gary (Chris Redd).

Tuesday’s debut finds the titular character still struggling to juggle his job as an on-air host and a full house in the wake of his wife Cori’s (Niccole Thurman) death. The episode begins with the sweet image...

Kenan Thompson’s been on television for the better part of three decades. His broad smile and enthusiastic delivery immediately broke him out from the crowded cast of Nickelodeon’s “All That” years before he did the same on “Saturday Night Live,” the adult inspiration for the show that first made clear he was a star. Almost 20 seasons of “SNL” later, Thompson is striking out on his own to headline the first show that bears his name since “Kenan and Kel,” the slapstick 1996 sitcom in which he played, to use a fitting reference from the same era, the Brain to Kel Mitchell’s Pinky. Twenty-five years later, Thompson is an established veteran of the medium and one of its most immediately recognizable faces. What does it look like for him to have his own show now?

As per the first episode of “Kenan,” premiering February 16 on NBC, it looks like...

Mean Girls won’t be back when Broadway reopens, producers announced today. The musical based on Tina Fey’s 2004 film suspended production when Broadway went dark due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The musical, with a book by Fey, music by Jeff Richmond, lyrics by Nell Benjamin and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, opened on Broadway in 2018 and grossed $124 million by the time it close in March. Plans to adapt it for a new Paramount Pictures film version were announced previously.

“We remain excited to bring this musical to the big screen, relaunch the tour and prepare for a London production,” said Lorne Michaels, who produced the musical with Stuart Thompson, Sonia Friedman, and Paramount Pictures. “I look forward to the day, hopefully soon, when theaters can open their doors again.”

The producers said the permanent closing was due to the ongoing Broadway shutdown. The show had recouped its capitalization...

Mean Girls has officially come full circle.

Tina Fey’s beloved 2004 teen comedy is making its way back to the big screen, with a new movie of the Tony-nominated 2018 musical adaptation on the way from Paramount Pictures.

Plans for the new movie were announced on Thursday. Like the original film and musical, Fey and Lorne Michaels will produce. Fey will also pen the movie musical’s screenplay, as she did with both the original movie and the musical’s book for the stage.

The musicals songs — by composer Jeff Richmond (Fey’s husband) and lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde: The Musical...

Tony Nominee Taylor Louderman Mean Girls, Bring it On, Kinky Boots wants to give new songwriters the opportunity to collaborate with professionals in the Musical Theater industry. Last year with 500 song submissions Taylor teamed up with Ben Rauhala and Warner Music Group to give musical songwriters the chance to have their original song recorded in-studio, showcased and performed by Taylor and Broadway Alum. Click hereto listen and view. This year, producers Hannah Kloepfer and Sarah Glugatch join the team.

The Netflix original series Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts from DreamWorks Animation has unveiled their voice cast for the forthcoming coming-of-age animated series which includes Karen Fukuhara, Deon Cole, Coy Stewart, Sydney Mikayla and Dee Bradley Baker. The series will also feature an all-star roster of guest stars including Sterling K. Brown, Dan Stevens, Lea Delaria, Joan Jett, John Hodgman, Gza and more. Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts will premiere on the streaming platform January 14.

Here’s the logline of the series: “After spending her entire life living in an underground burrow, a curious young girl named Kipo (Fukuhara) is thrust into an adventure on the surface of a fantastical post-apocalyptic Earth. She joins a ragtag group of survivors as they embark on a journey through a vibrant wonderland where everything trying to kill them is downright adorable.”

Mikayla (General Hospital) will lend her voice as “Wolf,” a...

Image Source: Jeremy Daniel

Reneé Rapp isn't a regular 19-year-old, she's a cool 19-year-old. The North Carolina native currently stars as Regina George on Broadway's Mean Girls, but it wasn't that long ago that she was a high schooler herself. Before playing the queen of the Plastics, Rapp gained critical acclaim for her performance at the 2018 Jimmy Awards, an award show that recognizes musical theatre performances by high school students. Shortly after her high school graduation, she didn't waste any time chasing her Broadway dreams.

While Rapp admitted it was "a little bit scary" auditioning in front of legends like Tina Fey and Tony-nominated director Casey Nicholaw for Mean Girls, she did feel like she had an extra edge since she was recently in high school herself. "It was nice to audition right after I had graduated because I had a little bit more perspective on some things that...

Her name is Taylor Louderman, and she is a massive deal. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the queen bee herself is taking her final bow as Regina George in the Broadway production of Mean Girlsthis Sunday, September 8th. To celebrate, we're looking back at her journey at North Shore High, from the casting announcement to the D.C. run to Broadway opening and beyond. Check it all out...

Mean Girls star, Taylor Louderman, will be on hand at Le Poisson Rouge this Monday, May 6, as the 'Comfort Counselor' for Broadway stars participating in the 4th Annual Broadway Bee, a fundraiser for Broadway Bound Kids. In addition to the fetch Louderman, Afra Hines Hadestown and Jillian Mueller Pretty Woman round out the classroom of spellers who join previously announced Paige Davis Chicago, Ali Stroker Oklahoma, J Harrison Ghee Kinky Boots, Jelani Remy Ain't Too Proud, Lee Aaron Rosen Angels in America, Evan Todd Beautiful The Carole King Musical, Zach Hess Frozen, Lauryn Ciardullo Aladdin, and Alex Weisman Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Exclusive: Tony nominee Taylor Louderman (Mean Girls) is set as the female lead opposite Ken Jeong and Max Willems in CBS’ multi-camera comedy pilot The Emperor of Malibu, from Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan and Warner Bros. TV.

In The Emperor of Malibu, written by Kwan and David Sangalli, directed by Andy Ackerman and showrun by Michelle Nader and Christina Lee, when Auggie (Willems), the son of a Chinese billionaire (Ken Jeong), announces his engagement to an American woman (Louderman), his outrageous family descends upon the couple to win their son back and test drive the American dream.

Louderman portrays Kate. A charming, easygoing classic California blonde, Kate’s an intellectual property lawyer who urges her fiancé, Auggie, to tell his parents about their engagement — confident that they’ll eventually get over the cultural differences and embrace the relationship. But that was before she actually met his parents.

Deborah S. Craig also stars.

The stars came out last night to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Audience Rewards. Among those in attendance were presenters Kerry Washington, Daniel Radcliffe and Steven Pasquale, along with performers Caissie Levy and Laura Osnes, and attendees Bobby Cannavale, Mean Girls stars Taylor Louderman, Ashley Park, and Barrett Weed, Wicked stars Jessica Vosk and Ryan McCartan, Beautiful star Abby Mueller and more.

On May 1, the Broadway production of “Mean Girls,” based on the popular 2004 movie, earned a whopping 12 Tony nominations and became the most-nominated show of the year alongside musical “SpongeBob Squarepants.” In the wake of the awards being handed out on June 10, “Mean Girls” tied for another record, albeit one more dubious. By going 0-for-12 at the Tonys, “Mean Girls” ties the all-time record for most nominations without a single win.

See 2018 Tonys: ‘The Band’s Visit’ wins 10 including Best Musical, ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ takes 6 including Best Play

Tina Fey, who wrote the film, adapted her work for the stage with her husband Jeff Richmond contributing an original score and Tony-winner Casey Nicholaw providing both the direction and choreography. Along with Best Musical, “Mean Girls” earned nominations for Best Actress (Taylor Louderman), Featured Actor (Grey Henson), Featured Actress (Ashley Park), Book of a Musical, Original Score, Direction, Choreography,...

The 72nd Annual Tony Awards are taking place Sunday evening in New York at Radio City Music Hall, with “Mean Girls” and “Spongebob Squarepants” topping the nominees list at 12 nominations each. Musical “The Band’s Visit” and play revival “Angels in America” took 11 each, while hot-ticket play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” got 10.

Bruce Springsteen will pick up a special Tony for his mega-selling show “Springsteen on Broadway,” as well as John Leguizamo. Critical favorite “The Band’s Visit” is widely considered the title to beat for new musical, while “Harry Potter” looks like the shoo-in for best play.

Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles will host the show.

Keep checking back as the list is updated live.

Best Play:

“The Children”

“Farinelli and The King”

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two” (Winner)

“Junk”

“Latin History for Morons”

Best Musical:

“The Band’s Visit”

“Frozen”

“Mean Girls...

“The Band’s Visit” emerged as the big winner at the 72nd Annual Tony Awards, winning 10 prizes, including Best Musical.

The show, based on a 2007 movie about an Egyptian band that mistakenly finds itself in an isolated village in Israel, also earned prizes for its lead performers, “Monk” star Tony Shalhoub and Katrina Lenk, as well as supporting player Itamar Moses.

Director David Cromer, composer David Yazbek, book writer Itamar Moses were recognized in addition to the show’s orchestrations, sound and lighting design.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” the two-part drama that extended J.K. Rowling’s beloved wizard franchise to Broadway, won six awards, including Best Play. The hit show, which broke the record in its London run by winning nine Olivier Awards, also won prizes for director John Tiffany, as well as for scenic, costume, lighting and sound design.

Also Read: All 12 Egot Winners, From Audrey Hepburn...

The 72nd annual Tony Awards took place on Sunday, June 10 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. Two previous nominees, composer Sara Bareilles (“Waitress”) and actor Josh Groban, hosted the ceremony that aired on CBS.

While the nominees for these top theater kudos were determined by 51 theater professionals, the winners were voted on by 846 members of the Broadway community. Below, is the full and complete list of 2018 Tonys winners in each of the 26 competitive categories.

See 2018 Tonys online: How to watch 72nd Tony Awards live stream without a TV

Heading into the evening, the British import “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” led among plays with a whopping 10 nominations. That is twice the haul of its closest rival for Best Play, “Farinelli and the King.” Two new musicals – “Mean Girls” and “SpongeBob SquarePants” — earned a leading 12 Tony Awards nominations apiece while a third, “The Band’s Visit,” had to...

The 2018 Tony Awards take place on Sunday, June 10 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. The three-hour ceremony hosted by two past nominees, composer Sara Bareilles (“Waitress”) and actor Josh Groban, will air on CBS. Those in the Eastern and Central time zones can see it live while those in the Mountain and Pacific time zones have a three-hour tape delay.

Thirty shows were eligible for consideration. A whopping 21 of these reaped at least one bid across the 26 Tony Awards categories. While the nominations were determined by 51 theater professionals, the 2018 Tonys winners will be decided by 842 members of the Broadway community.

See 2018 Tony Awards: When does the show start on Sunday, who are the hosts and presenters and what will win?

Two new musicals – “Mean Girls” and “SpongeBob SquarePants” — earned a leading dozen Tony Awards nominations apiece while “The Band’s Visit,” had to settle for 11 bids. Among new plays,...

This year’s Tony Awards race for Best Actress in a Musical is turning into a nail-biter. Competition was so fierce that the nominating committee found an extra slot in the category. On the eve of Sunday’s ceremony, the race has narrowed to two nominees: Katrina Lenk (“The Band’s Visit”) and Lauren Ambrose (“My Fair Lady”).

Lenk turns in a haunting and nuanced performance in the David Yazbek tuner, which is tipped to take home Best Musical. Like the show, Lenk’s performance as Israeli restaurant owner Dina displays a subtlety rarely witnessed on Broadway. Watching her sift through old memories as her exquisite voice soars through the song ‘Omar Sharif’ is one of the great joys of this theater season. After a Lucille Lortel award for the Off-Broadway run and heaps of critically accolades, Lenk was thought to be a lock for a Tony.

Watch Tony nominee...

Looking for a handy cheat sheet before entering your predictions for the 2018 Tony Awards? Winners will be announced on June 10 during a live ceremony on CBS hosted by Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban. Take a look at our racetrack odds below for all of the categories. The predicted winners are indicated in gold.

These official odds for the Tonys are derived from the predictions of our Experts who write about theater year-round, our in-house team of Editors, the Top 24 Users who got the top scores predicting last year’s winners the All-Star Top 24 who got the highest scores when you combine predictions from the last two years, and all Users who make up the largest (and often savviest) bloc of predictors.

We’re predicting all 26 categories. Below, find out who we’re betting on as of this writing. And there’s still time to make or edit your own predictions...

One of your 2018 Tony nominees spits on the stage before every performance. It’s his way of, as he puts it, preparing to “offer all of myself, opposed to just the parts that are pretty.” Not all pre-show rituals are as eccentric, but that doesn’t make them any less crucial for a number of this year’s nominees, including Lachanze, Andrew Garfield, Hailey Kilgore, and Taylor Louderman, who all opened up about steaming, pineapple juice, and their other pre-performance musts. Don’t forget to check out Set the Scene, our video series of advice for actors, and be sure to subscribe to the Backstage YouTube Channel. Happy Tony Awards season! Aspiring Broadway baby? Check out Backstage's theater audition listings!

Tony-nominated actors Taylor Louderman and Grey Henson from new musical Mean Girls have a fabulous time with Julie Halston, Michael Musto and Susan Haskins, celebrating their successful Broadway show. Next, our intrepid producer Lane Binkley goes on location to Theatre Row to interview Randy, the witty and insightful and Australian star of Off-Broadway's new hit Randy Writes a Novel.

Is it cliche to say the Mean Girls musical is so fetch? Because it totally is. The show made its Broadway debut in April, and now the full album is here. Not only do the catchy tracks include references to iconic moments from the 2004 film, but we can't get over how talented the cast is. Taylor Louderman hits all the right notes as the infamous Regina George, while Barrett Wilbert Weed (who plays Janice) will blow you away with her show-stopping number "Apex Predator."

The release of the musical's cast recording certainly comes at the perfect time, as the 2018 Tony Awards air next month. The show is up for 12 awards, including best musical and Louderman for best leading actress in a musical! While we'll have to wait and see if Regina George takes the crown - er, Tony - for the latter, in the meantime, you can grab your best...

Exclusive: Mean Girls led the field by winning eight prizes, including Favorite New Musical, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child won Favorite New Play in the 18th annual Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards.

The winners were announced today ahead of a cocktail reception for winners set for May 24 in Manhattan. The list of winners (see full list below) overlaps to some degree with the Tony Award nominees. But because they were determined by nearly 21,000 fans voting in a Broadway.com survey, there are some notable departures, with The Parisian Woman winning twice and Lobby Hero‘s Chris Evans also getting on the board.

The 22 competitive categories include areas not covered by the Tonys, such as Favorite Long Running Show. This year that honor went to Dear Evan Hansen, last year’s winner for Favorite New Musical. Before Hamilton broke the streak last year, Favorite Long-Running Musical had gone to...

So fetch!

The Mean Girls musical‘s original Broadway cast recording drops Friday, but People is exclusively streaming the full album (all 21 tracks!) a day before its release.

The collection includes all the stand-outs from the acclaimed show, from the Halloween-themed showstopper “Sexy,” scorched-earth stomper “World Burn” and just deserts jam “Revenge Party” — to individuality anthems “Fearless” and “I See Stars.”

The musical adaption of the smash 2004 comedy opened April 8 at the August Wilson Theatre; Tina Fey wrote the book, her 30 Rock collaborator Jeff Richmond wrote the music, and Broadway vet Nell Benjamin provided the lyrics.

Mean Girl on Broadway...

This is a cautionary interview...Don't be fooled by the characters they play.The ladies of Mean Girls are tight, and we've got the proofRight before the show's whopping twelve Tony nominations rolled in earlier this week, BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge sat down with five of the coolest ladies on Broadway Erika Henningsen, Taylor Louderman, Ashley Park, Kate Rockwell and Barrett Wilbert Weed.

I suspect we’ll be seeing more than one silly and misleading “frozen out” reference in coverage of this year’s Tony Awards nominations – starting with that one – but the absence of Frozen in the leading actress categories (Patti Murin and Caissie Levy), and director (Michael Grandage) from the 2018 nominations roster has gotta be a sting for Disney, even with major consolations like nods for Best musical, book and original score.

Though critical praise for Frozen was hardly unanimous, I’d have thought Levy’s performance of “Let It Go” would have provided safe passage. Same for Murin’s charming, barely-leaves-the-stage performance as the underdog Princess Anna, and I’d have nominated either over…But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Here’s a closer, first-reaction look at some of the categories. Just my opinions, of course, and I might very well be fine-tuning and re-thinking right up until...

The 2018 Tony Award nominations this morning spread the honors around, with Mean Girls and SpongeBob SquarePants leading the field with 12 nominations apiece.

Tied with 11 nominations each were The Band’s Visit and revivals of Angels in America and Carousel. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child topped all original plays with 10 nominations.

The following is a sampling of reactions from select nominees:

Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond, Mean Girls

“We are honestly too excited and too proud of our ensemble to make a joke about this. We are are so grateful to be embraced by the Broadway community in this way and that we get to work together twenty-five hours a day with the same amount of excitement as our young cast. This is new for all of us.”

Nathan Lane, Angels in America

“I am thrilled to be a part of the most nominated revival in Tony history. Just to...

What to think of the list of 2018 Tony Award nominations? Join the fierce live discussion going on right now in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz insiders lurk, roar, snoop, cheer and giggle every day. Share your views. Pipe in here. Sample comments below.

SEEComplete List of 2018 Tony Award Nominations in all 26 categories

Jeffrey Kare: Wow! Carousel overperformed! 11 nominations overall, though none for Jack O’Brien.Once on This Island sort of underperformed because to failed to receive any featured acting nominations and Camille Brown was snubbed for Best Choreography.

SkyLight: Wow, Mean Girls. I think they want to give Tina Fey the Tony.

FreemanGriffin: Latin History for Morons for Best Play? Wow!Lachanze, Taylor Louderman and Jessie Mueller all getting 3 of the 6 slots surprised me, with no nomination for either of the Frozen actresses.

Renee Flemng? Wow! Ahsley Park was the only Mean Girls nominee in the category. Diana Rigg made it in.

The 2018 Tony Awards will take place on Sunday, June 10 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall and will air live on CBS. Nominees were announced today by Tony winner Leslie Odom, Jr. (“Hamilton”) and “American Idol” Katharine McPhee,who is starring in the Broadway musical “Waitress.” While the nominations were determined by 51 theater professionals, the 2018 Tonys winners will be decided by 863 members of the Broadway community. (Read the full report on the 2018 Tony Awards nominations.)

The Tony Awards have lined up two past nominees — composer Sara Bareilles and actor Josh Groban — to host the 72nd annual edition of these top theater honors. Bareilles lost her 2016 bid for Best Score for “Waitress” to Lin-Manuel Miranda for “Hamilton.” Groban contended last year for his lead role in the tuner “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” but was bested by Ben Platt (“Dear Evan Hansen”).

Musicals

Best Musical

“Frozen”

“Mean Girls”

“SpongeBob SquarePants...