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Lincoln Center Theater’s 2025-2026 season both on Broadway and Off Off Broadway has some surprises in store: Among the productions joining the previously announced Broadway revival of the Stephen Flaherty-Lynn Ahrens-Terrence McNally Ragtime will be the acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company and Good Chance production of Kyoto, Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin (both of Stranger Things: The First Shadow).

One of the productions set for Lincoln Center’s Off Broadway stage will be The Whoopi Monologues, a reimagining of Goldberg’s iconic Broadway play to be directed by Tony Award nominee Whitney White and adapted for an ensemble of women, including Kerry Washington and Kara Young. The play will arrive in summer 2026.

The upcoming season is the first under the leadership of a new executive team, consisting of Artistic Director Lear deBessonet, Managing Director Mike Schleifer, Executive Producer Bartlett Sher, Producer Nicole Kastrinos, Executive Director of Development and Planning Naomi Grabel,...

Lincoln Center Theater has revealed its 2025-2026 season of productions in the Vivian Beaumont, Mitzi E. Newhouse, and Claire Tow Theaters, along with a variety of expanded programming offerings and special events throughout the season. The upcoming season is the first under the leadership of a new executive team, consisting of Artistic Director Lear deBessonet, Managing Director Mike Schleifer, Executive Producer Bartlett Sher, Producer Nicole Kastrinos, Executive Director of Development and Planning Naomi Grabel, and LCT3 Artistic Director and Producer Maria Manuela Goyanes. As previously announced, deBessonet will open her inaugural season with a new production of her celebrated New York City Center Gala revival of Ragtime at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, starring Joshua Henry, <a...

Additional presenters and performances have been announced for the 69th Annual Drama Desk Awards, being held this Sunday, June 1 at NYU Skirball. Jeb Brown, Andrew Durand, Cole Escola, Sarah Hyland, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Bebe Neuwirth, and Nicole Scherzinger will present Awards that evening, along with previously announced Victoria Clark, Darren Criss, Brandon Victor Dixon, Tom Francis, Jonathan Groff, Jeremy Jordan, Norm Lewis, Jinkx Monsoon, Alex Newell, Gracie Lawrence, Adam Pascal, Lily Rabe, Jennifer Simard, Ryan Spahn, Will Swenson, and Michael Urie. There will also be performances by Joshua Henry, Norm Lewis, Lesli Margherita, and the 2024 Drama Desk Award winner for Best Musical Dead Outlaw. Staci Levine and Jessica R. Jenen return as co-executive producers of the Awards. This year’s awards...

It was the music of something beginning... Watch a video of the cast from the upcoming Ragtime revival gathering at Lincoln Center to perform the title song from the musical. With Joshua Henry on piano, the preview features Caissie Levy and Brandon Uranowitz, along with the newly-announced Nichelle Lewis, Colin Donnell, Ben Levi Ross, Shaina Taub, and Rodd Cyrus. The ensemble for the upcoming production will feature Nicholas Barrón, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Billy Cohen, Rheaume Crenshaw, Charity Angél Dawson, Ta’Nika Gibson, David Jennings, Marina Kondo, Morgan Marcell, Tom Nelis, Kent Overshown, John Rapson, Deandre Sevon, Jacob Keith Watson, and Alan Wiggins. Casting to round out the complete roster...

Lincoln Center Theater has announced additional casting and creative team for Ragtime, incoming Artistic Director Lear deBessonet’s first production of her inaugural season. Joining the previously announced Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, and Brandon Uranowitz are Colin Donnell, Nichelle Lewis (The Wiz), Ben Levi Ross, Tony Award-winner Shaina Taub, John Clay III, and Rodd Cyrus (Encores! The Light in the Piazza). The ensemble will feature Nicholas Barrón, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Billy Cohen, Rheaume Crenshaw, Charity Angél Dawson, Ta’Nika Gibson, David Jennings, Marina Kondo, Morgan Marcell, Tom Nelis, Kent Overshown, John Rapson, Deandre Sevon, Jacob Keith Watson, and Alan Wiggins. Casting to round out the complete roster of 33 performers will be announced at a...

Victoria Clark, Darren Criss, Brandon Victor Dixon, Tom Francis, Jonathan Groff, Joshua Henry, Jeremy Jordan, Norm Lewis, Jinkx Monsoon, Alex Newell, Gracie Lawrence, Adam Pascal, Lily Rabe, Jennifer Simard, Ryan Spahn, Will Swenson, Michael Urie, and more will be presenters at the 69th Annual Drama Desk Awards, being held on Sunday, June 1 at NYU Skirball at 7:30pm, it was announced today. Staci Levine and Jessica R. Jenen return as co-executive producers of the Awards. This year’s awards are being hosted by Debra Messing and Tituss Burgess. Gavin Creel will receive the Harold S. Prince Award for Lifetime Achievement (posthumously) and stage and screen...

Lincoln Center Theater has revealed that incoming Artistic Director Lear deBessonet’s inaugural season will open with a new production of her New York City Center Gala revival of Ragtime, starring Tony nominee Joshua Henry, Olivier and Grammy nominee Caissie Levy, and Tony Award-winner Brandon Uranowitz. Ragtime will begin previews on Friday, September 26, and open on Thursday, October 16 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater and will play a limited engagement of 14 weeks only through Sunday, January 4, 2026. Tickets to Ragtime will be available to members beginning Tuesday, May 13 at 10am Et. As previously announced, the 41st season at Lincoln Center Theater will be...

A strange, insistent music is coming back to Broadway. BroadwayWorld has just learned that Lear deBessonet’s inaugural season as Lincoln Center Theater's Artistic Director will open with a new production of her acclaimed New York City Center Gala revival of Ragtime, starring Tony nominee Joshua Henry, Olivier and Grammy nominee Caissie Levy, and Tony Award-winner Brandon Uranowitz. Ragtime will begin previews on Friday, September 26, and open on Thursday, October 16 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street) and will play a limited engagement of 14 weeks only through Sunday, January 4, 2026. Tickets to Ragtime will be available to members beginning Tuesday, May 13 at 10am Et. Tickets will go on sale to the general public...

Lincoln Center Theater has announced today that incoming Artistic Director Lear deBessonet’s inaugural season will open with a new production of her acclaimed New York City Center Gala revival of Ragtime, starring Tony nominee Joshua Henry, Olivier and Grammy nominee Caissie Levy and Tony Award-winner Brandon Uranowitz.

Ragtime will begin previews on Friday, September 26, and open on Thursday, October 16 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater and will play a limited engagement of 14 weeks only through Sunday, January 4, 2026. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, May 28 at 12 pm Et.

As previously announced, the 41st season at Lincoln Center Theater will be under the leadership of a new executive team, consisting of Artistic Director Lear deBessonet, Managing Director Mike Schleifer, Executive Producer Bartlett Sher, Producer Nicole Kastrinos, Executive Director of Development & Planning Naomi Grabel, and LCT3 Artistic Director & Producer Maria Manuela Goyanes.

Ragtime is a sweeping musical adaption...

Ragtime will be back on Broadway this fall.

The New York City Center Gala revival of Ragtime will play Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater starting Sept. 26. Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy and Brandon Uranowitz will reprise their roles in the production after taking part in the fall 2024 New York City Center production.

This marks the first production of the season under new Lincoln Center Artistic Director Lear deBessonet. DeBesonnet directs the revival, after directing the fall production while acting as the artistic director of City Center’s Encores! She previously directed Into the Woods at City Center, which also transferred to Broadway.

The musical revival, which features a score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens and a book by Terrence McNally, is scheduled to open Oct. 16 and run through Jan. 4. Based on E.L. Doctorow’s novel, the show follows three families in the early 1900s trying to pursue the American dream: a Black pianist,...

Lincoln Center Theater has teased a potential upcoming Ragtime revival on their social media. In a new video, an actor walks to a piano near the Vivian Beaumont Theatre to play the iconic opening chords from the musical. The video ends with text that states "Something's Beginning." The video is captioned "This is the music…," which led to a multitude of comments hoping the post teases an upcoming revival of the classic musical at Lincoln Center. The new tease follows the recent New York City Center production, which starred Joshua Henry, Nichelle Lewis, Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz, Shaina Taub, and more. This sweeping, powerful musical adaptation of E.L. Doctorow’s novel of the same name features music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and a book by Terrence McNally. <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJRqg5yur30/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"...

Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra hit the carpet at the opening night of The Last Five Years at Hudson Theatre on Sunday night (April 6) in New York City.

The 32-year-old star of the show got the support of his wife on his big night, as well as from all three of his brothers – Joe, Kevin and Franklin, with girlfriend Anna Olson – and his grandmother, Frances Madonia.

Nick‘s co-star Adrienne Warren also hit the carpet, as well as their standbys, Noah Kieserman and Nasia Thomas, writer Jason Robert Brown and director Whitney White.

This marks the Broadway returns for both Nick and Adrienne, but more importantly, this is the official Broadway debut for the 25-year-old musical!

Also in attendance at opening night were fellow Broadway stars Sherie Rene Scott, Darren Criss, Will Chase and Ingrid Michaelson, Betsy Wolfe, Shaina Taub, Gracie Lawrence, Adam Kantor, Betsy Wolfe, Norbert Leo Butz, Michael Park and Joshua Henry,...

The star-studded revival of the play Glengarry Glen Ross just had its Broadway opening night and an equally star-studded crowd stepped out to watch the performance.

Kieran Culkin and co-stars Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr took their opening night bows on Monday evening (March 31) at the Palace Theatre in New York City.

Among the attendees were Kieran‘s Broadway co-stars Sarah Snook, J. Smith-Cameron (with husband Kenneth Lonergan), Dagmara Dominczyk (with husband Patrick Wilson and son Kalin), and Sydney Lemmon.

More stars in attendance included Katie Holmes, Liev Schreiber, Ansel Elgort, and more.

Glengarry Glen Ross is “set in a cutthroat Chicago real estate office where four salespeople compete to sell mostly worthless properties to unwitting customers. Whoever sells the most wins a car; whoever sells the least is out of a job – a ruthless environment where each character will do anything to come out on top.”

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“A Complete Unknown” follows a young Bob Dylan’s rise to fame. Timothée Chalamet, who depicts the rock-folk artist in James Mangold’s film, insisted on singing live and learning to play guitar to authentically portray the music legend.

Following the success of his Academy Award-winning Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line,” the director was confident that the cast and crew of his new film could support live vocals. All of Bob Dylan’s vocals were performed live by Chalamet, as well as Edward Norton’s for Pete Seeger, Monica Barbaro’s for Joan Baez and Boyd Holbrook’s for Johnny Cash.

The 140-minute film is filled to the brim with music, highlighting the careers of Dylan as well as his influences Seeger, Barbaro, Cash, Woody Guthrie and more. With over 70 songs on the soundtrack, the film tracks Dylan’s sprint onto the folk music scene and culminates in his then-radical shift to “go electric.

While James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown spotlights mainly the life of Bob Dylan (portrayed by Timothée Chalamet), the lives of several other musicians intertwined with the iconic troubador’s. His visit to Woody Guthri (Scott McNairy) and Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) proved formative in his career and rise as a folk musician.

Later, Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) and Johnny Cash (Boyd Holbrook) came into the musician’s orbit as did Bob Neuwirth (Will Harrison). All Bob Dylan vocals in the film were performed by Chalamet, and the same goes for Edward Norton’s Pete Seeger songs, Monica Barbaro’s portrayal of Joan Baez and Boyd Holbrook’s Johnny Cash.

Below, find a list of all the songs in A Complete Unknown:

“Dusty Old Dust (So Long It’s Been Good To Know Yuh)” Written and Performed by Woody Guthrie “Oasis” Performed by Moondog, Written by Louis T. Hardin “Death,...

The Broadway revival of Gypsy, starring legendary performer Audra McDonald, is officially open!

Broadway besties Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff were among the celebs who led the star-studded red carpet at opening night on Thursday (December 19) at the Majestic Theatre in New York City.

Lea and Jonathan met while working together on the 2006 Broadway show Spring Awakening and have been best friends ever since. For those who don’t know, Lea worked with Audra when she was a child, playing the little girl in the original production of Ragtime back in 1998.

Audra is currently starring alongside Danny Burstein and Joy Woods in the new production of Gypsy, which is playing at the newly reopened Majestic Theatre. The theatre has been dark since The Phantom of the Opera closed back in April 2023.

Gypsy is getting rave reviews and tickets are on sale now.

Head inside to see the full list of celebs who attended the opening…...

You have one week left to catch the theatrical event of the season – Ragtime at New York City Center!

The two-week gala presentation of the beloved musical opened on Wednesday (October 30) to rave reviews and rumors of a Broadway transfer, which we hope actually happens!

The star-studded cast – including Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Stephanie Styles, Brandon Uranowitz, Nichelle Lewis, Colin Donnell, Shaina Taub and Ben Levi Ross – walked the red carpet at the opening night gala celebration and we have all the photos.

The production is getting multiple mid-show standing ovations and thunderous applause thanks to Joshua‘s “Make Them Hear You,” Caissie‘s “Back to Before,” Joshua and Nichelle‘s “Wheels of a Dream,” and the cast’s act one closer, “Till We Reach That Day.”

Ragtime is running at NY City Center through November 10 and there’s only a limited amount of tickets remaining. Get yours now while you still can!

Richard Kind's best movies and TV shows reveal that this incomparable character actor has found his niche working with some of the best filmmakers in the world - and in an impressive range of roles. Kind got his start in the entertainment industry when he worked with The Second City in Chicago, a group with alums like John Belushi, Bill Murray, Jordan Peele, and Amy Poehler. This start led to his eventual big break when he got a role in the Paul Reiser/Helen Hunt sitcom Mad About You and then, shortly after that, Spin City.

While Kind had his biggest success on television, with more roles in Curb Your Enthusiasm, Stargate Atlantis, and Scrubs, he has also developed a substantial list of movie roles. However, most have been in supporting and minor roles. He has worked with directors like Roland Emmerich, George Clooney, Christopher Guest, and The Coen...

New York City Center chooses a beloved musical to present as part of a two-week star-studded gala concert production each year and 2024′s selection is Ragtime!

It was previously announced that the cast would feature Colin Donnell as Father, Joshua Henry as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Caissie Levy as Mother, Ben Levi Ross as Younger Brother, Shaina Taub as Emma Goldman, and Brandon Uranowitz as Tateh.

Now, we know more cast members!

Tony winner Joaquina Kalukango is stepping into the role of Sarah, taking over for Joy Woods who had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.

Loot actress Stephanie Styles, who was last seen on Broadway in the acclaimed Kiss Me Kate revival, will take on the role of Evelyn Nesbitt.

Keep reading to find out more…

Also cast are John Clay III as Booker T. Washington, Rodd Cyrus as Harry Houdini, Matthew Lamb as the Little Boy, and Tabitha Lawing as the Little Girl.

All you need to know about The Last Five Years, starring Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren, among others! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Here’s good news for Jonas Brothers fans: Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren are returning next spring to Broadway in a new production of Jason Robert Brown’s acclaimed two-handler musical, The Last Five Years.

After over two decades, the show, which premiered in New York City in 2002, is coming to the boards for the first time, starring the iconic two singers. Directed by 2024 Tony nominee Whitney White, the revival will premiere in spring 2025 at a yet-to-be-named theatre, with tickets available starting Monday, July 22.

The announcement of this revival coincides with the 25th anniversary of Brown, a three-time Tony Award winner, composing the first song for The Last Five Years on June 15, 1999. The Last Five Years features a book, music, and lyrics by Brown and chronicles the demise of a relationship between Jamie,...

Artist Ulya Stuzhuk digitally transforms Gaston from Beauty and the Beast into a shockingly accurate live-action form. Stuzhuk uses a digital drawing technique to bring the character to life, making him even more handsome than his animated appearance. While the character starts off looking somewhat animated, as more details are added, he becomes increasingly real.

Beauty and the Beast's Gaston has been transformed into a shockingly accurate live-action form in new art. The 1991 Disney musical is based on the Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont fairy tale of the same time and follows a young woman named Belle who is imprisoned in the castle of a prince who has been cursed to be a beast, but eventually falls in love with the man behind the monstrous visage. The foil for the Beast is the hunter Gaston, who is handsome but cruel, ruthlessly seeking Belle's hand in marriage because she is valuable based on her looks alone.

A version of this story about H.E.R. and “Beauty and the Beast” first appeared in the Comedy Series issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.

Few multi-hyphenates working these days can claim the take-over of industries quite like H.E.R. In just the last four years, the California native with the signature spectacles has racked up five R&b Grammys, an Oscar (for her stirring “Fight for You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah”) and a Children’s and Family Emmy for a tune from Netflix’s “We the People.” And after her spirited turn as the beloved Belle from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” in ABC’s 30th anniversary special, the Primetime Emmy might be calling.. And here’s the kicker: She’s only 25.

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How did you become involved with...

Some of the biggest names of Broadway (and Hollywood) won’t be receiving those phone calls of congratulations today as this morning’s Tony Awards nominations included more than a few surprising — or, in some cases, not surprising — omissions.

Aaron Sorkin, whose rewritten book for the classic musical Camelot was not beloved by critics, didn’t get any Tony approval today. His revisions were extensive enough to make him eligible in the Best Book of a Musical category, but he is not among the nominees.

As for lead actors and actresses, Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan, the bold-name stars of The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, were overlooked, as was The Piano Lesson‘s John David Washington and Pictures From Home‘s Nathan Lane. Marcel Spears, the star of the acclaimed Fat Ham, was not nominated, nor was Olivier Award winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi). Jefferson Mays, so...

Exclusive: Grammy and three-time Tony Award nominee, Joshua Henry has signed with Liebman Entertainment for management.

Henry most recently starred as Gaston in ABC’s Beauty And The Beast: A 30th Celebration special and in Lin Manuel Miranda’s feature Tick, Tick….Boom! alongside Andrew Garfield.

He appeared in Steven Knight’s Apple drama series See. He can also be seen in a starring role in the action pic American Renegades for Luc Besson/EuropaCorp opposite Jk Simmons and Sullivan Stapleton.

On the stage, Henry most recently starred in the Grammy-winning, Broadway revival of Into the Woods alongside Phillipa Soo and also was in the cast of Waitress as the charming Dr. Pomatter. He made his Tony nominated Broadway run as Billy Bigelow in a revival of Carousel for producer Scott Rudin and director Jack O’Brien. He also portrayed Aaron Burr in Hamilton, in Chicago and on the first U.

Pictured: Casting directors Katja Zarolinski and Geoff Josselson of Jz Casting.

This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.

Casting director Geoff Josselson just checked off a major bucket list item. When he was asked what show he dreamed of casting, he would say “Into the Woods.” And just last year, working with Telsey Casting, Josselson was part of the team that assembled the heralded Broadway revival starring Sara Bareilles, Brian D’Arcy James and Joshua Henry. Josselson is on a bit of a Stephen Sondheim spree — with Telsey he also helped cast the new production of “Sweeney Todd,” starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford. And he and his partner at Jz Casting, Katja Zarolinski, just collaborated for the first time with the Pasadena Playhouse to cast “A Little Night Music,...

In the lead-up to Tony nominations being announced on May 2, Sam Eckmann and I are predicting 10 of the Musical categories, where new breakout shows like “Kimberly Akimbo” and “Some Like it Hot” and revivals of “Sweeney Todd” and “Into the Woods” will compete for the highest honors of the New York theatre community. Nominations will be announced on May 2 and winners will be revealed on June 11. Watch the full video slugfest above.

At the outset, I declare that I think “Kimberly Akimbo” will have “a sensational Tony night.” The new show by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire leads both of our predictions for the Best Musical prize, but we agree that “Some Like it Hot” will be a strong challenger. Sam describes it as “a ‘Hello Dolly!’ for the modern times,” noting how it’s both “super funny but also very poignant.”

As for Revival, Sam deems this contest “a...

The Tony Awards Administration Committee met for the first time during the 2022-2023 Broadway season on January 31 to discuss eligibility of 20 productions for the 76th Annual Tony Awards in 2023. The productions discussed were: “The Kite Runner,” “Into the Woods,” “Leopoldstadt,” “Cost of Living,” “1776,” “Death of a Salesman,” “The Piano Lesson,” “Topdog/Underdog,” “Walking With Ghosts,” “Almost Famous,” “Kimberly Akimbo,” “Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and The Pool,” “& Juliet,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Kpop,” “Ain’t No Mo’,” “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical,” “Ohio State Murders,” “Some Like it Hot,” and “The Collaboration.”

See 2023 Tony Awards: Get your MetroCard ready, new venue is 6 miles from Broadway

The following determinations were made:

Gavin Creel, Joshua Henry and Phillipa Soo will be considered eligible in the Featured Actor/Actress in a Musical categories for their respective performances in “Into the Woods.”

Amir Arison will be considered eligible in the Lead Actor...

The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced its first round of eligibility rulings for this Broadway season, determining some of the trickier potential nominees and their respective categories.

Both co-stars of The Collaboration – Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope – will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, rather than split up into leading and featured slots. Ohio State Murders, written by Adrienne Kennedy in 1991 and performed regionally but never on Broadway until this season, will be considered a revival in keeping with similar rulings in recent years about Broadway debuts of older shows such as The Boys in The Band.

Perhaps among the more surprising rulings is for Sharon D Clarke, who played Linda Loman opposite Wendell Pierce’s Willy Loman in Miranda Cromwell’s Death of a Salesman revival. Clarke will be eligible as a Featured Actress rather than Leading.

Netflix fans have pushed a new recruit into the most-streamed programming charts for the past week. The Noah Centineo-led series “The Recruit,” following a rookie CIA agent in an international political drama, debuted its first two episodes atop the streaming charts. The series joined Netflix’s “Wednesday” and “Harry & Meghan,” both of which remained on the charts in this week’s edition of Samba TV’s Weekly Wrap report.

The Wrap report provides an exclusive first look at the most-watched movies and individual TV programs from the past week across both linear television and streaming. Viewership insights come from data collected from a panel of more than 3 million households drawn from over 25 million connected TVs balanced to the U.S. Census. For the second consecutive week, Netflix dominated the streaming charts, sweeping each of the top 10 placements.

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The 30th anniversary of the Disney animated feature “Beauty and the Beast", is showcased in the new two-hour animated/live-action special "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration", directed by Hamish Hamilton, now streaming on Disney+:

H.E.R. and Josh Groban lead a cast including Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as 'Gaston', David Alan Grier as 'Cogsworth', Rizwan Manji as 'LeFou', Jon Jon Briones as 'Maurice', Leo Abelo Perry as 'Chip' and Shania Twain as 'Mrs. Potts'.

Click the images to enlarge...

ABC’s “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” — which stars the Grammy and Oscar-winning musician H.E.R. as Belle — has transported the network to a broadcast ratings win on Thursday night, per live plus same-day Nielsen figures.

The anniversary special captivated with 0.79 in the 18-49 demographic, averaging 4.3 million total viewers overall. Airing on Thursday at 8 p.m. Et with next-day viewing on Disney+ and Hulu, the show led the network to 0.66 in the demo and an average viewership of 3.5 million.

Presented by the anthology series The Wonderful World of Disney, the two-hour reimagining also starred Martin Short (“Lumière”), Josh Groban (“Beast”), Joshua Henry (“Gaston”), David Alan Grier (“Cogsworth”), Shania Twain (“Mrs. Potts”), Rizwan Manji (“LeFou”), Jon Jon Briones (Belle’s father “Maurice”) and Leo Abelo Perry (Mrs. Potts’ son “Chip”), along with narrator Rita Moreno. Jon M. Chu executive produced the hybrid animated/live-action special and Hamish Hamilton served as director,...

During ABC’s Beauty and the Beast – A 30th Celebration, a part-live action, part-animated anniversary celebration of the classic film, H.E.R. was the belle of the ball, literally. The singer starred in the special as Belle alongside Josh Groban, who took up the mantle as the gentle Beast.

The grand performance of “Beauty and the Beast” began with the charm of any princess adaptation, H.E.R. descending down a flight of candle-lit stairs into the ballroom arm in arm with Groban while her golden yellow dress cascaded around her.

In honor of Disney’s beloved 1991 animated film “Beauty and the Beast,” ABC and Disney is mounting the live-action “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration,” from “In the Heights” director Jon M. Chu.

Here’s all you need to know to watch the two-hour live-action and animated special (it’s a little bit of both!), featuring Oscar, Grammy and Emmy winner singer/songwriter H.E.R. as heroine Belle and singer Josh Groban as the Beast she grows to love.

What time does “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” start?

It airs Thursday, Dec. 15, at 8pm Et/Pt and 7 Central on ABC.

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See H.E.R. as Belle in First Look at ABC’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Special (Exclusive Photos) Is the “Beauty and the Beast” live special streaming?

Yes, but not immediately. It will be available to stream on Friday, Dec. 16 on Disney+ and Hulu.

Who...

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It’s been 30 years since Disney shared its love story of a tale as old as time, and now, the Mouse House is celebrating Beauty and the Beast with a brand new TV special.

Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration airs tonight, Thursday, December 15 on ABC with a star-studded cast that includes Grammy and Oscar-winner H.E.R. as Belle, Josh Groban as the Beast, Martin Short as Lumière and Shania Twain as Mrs.

This past summer, Disney and ABC announced that they would be celebrating the beloved animated film "Beauty and the Beast" with a TV special produced by "Crazy Rich Asians," "In the Heights," and "Wicked" filmmaker Jon M. Chu and directed by the 2012 London Olympic Games opening ceremony director Hamish Hamilton. Rather than commemorate the ground-breaking feature's 30th anniversary (which was last year), the two-hour hybrid animated/live-action special will celebrate the anniversary of the movie's Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Regardless of the reason, the Disney renaissance favorite is definitely worth celebrating.

For the live-action portion of the event, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-nominated performer Josh Groban will step into the role of the Beast alongside R&b artist H.E.R. as Belle. Rounding out the cast will be Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as Gaston, Shania Twain as Mrs. Potts, Martin Short as Lumiere, David Allen Grier as Cogsworth,...

Jon M. Chu, who directed “In the Heights” and is currently working on a two-part “Wicked” adaptation for Universal, is bringing his special sauce to another beloved musical property: Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

“Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Anniversary,” combines original footage from the animated masterpiece (the first animated feature ever to be nominated for Best Picture) with new live-action performances and Chu, as producer, as assembled an all-star line-up. H.E.R. and Josh Groban star as Belle and the Beast, with Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as Gaston, Martin Short as Lumière, David Alan Grier as Cogsworth, Rizwan Manji as LeFou, Jon Jon Briones as Maurice, Leo Abelo Perry as Chip and Shania Twain as Mrs. Potts.

But what is this 30th anniversary celebration all about? And why was Chu so compelled to remake “Beauty and the Beast” yet again? Read on to find out.

There may be something there that definitely wasn’t there before in Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration. The original Belle and Gaston, Paige O’Hara, and Richard White, as well as legendary Disney composer Alan Menken, will make special cameos in ABC‘s live-action Beauty and the Beast TV musical on December 15. Blending live-action with animation, the Beauty and the Beast 30th anniversary special airs Thursday, December 15 at 8/7c on ABC. Menken, O’Hara, and White will appear in the opening number, “Belle,” as townspeople in Belle’s “quiet” French village. Grammy-winner H.E.R. plays the Disney princess, with Broadway star Joshua Henry playing Gaston in this iteration. O’Hara will play the bookshop owner who helps keep Belle’s love of reading alive, and White will play the baker who dishes out the memorable line, “Marie! The baguettes! Hurry up!” Menken, meanwhile, will appear to play the piano in one of the songs.

ABC celebrates the 30th anniversary of “Beauty and The Beast” with a hybrid broadcast special.

The two-hour special, premiering Thursday, includes live never-before-seen musical performances and features brand-new sets inspired by the classic story. Costume designer Marina Toybina was tasked with creating original outfits that pay homage to the 1992 animated feature and heritage while having a modern touch. “90 were made from scratch and we’re looking at close to 400 costumes,” Toybina says of her designs.

Award-winning singer and songwriter H.E.R. will play Belle, Josh Groban is playing The Beast, Joshua Henry will play Gaston and Rita Moreno is the narrator.

Toybina revealed the famous Belle gown was inspired by Joan of Arc. “I decided to develop an armor-like bodice that goes in line with ‘Joan of Arc,’ Toybina teased as she breaks down her designs.

Belle’s Village Outfit

For Belle’s opening costume, Toybina created a look inspired by...

New images from Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration show off the lavish sets and costumes that the production uses to bring the classic story to life. The original Disney animated classic Beauty and the Beast premiered in theaters in 1991, adapting the classic French fairy tale by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve into a full scale musical with songs by dynamic duo Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. To celebrate the film's 30th anniversary, ABC is airing a recording of a star-studded live production of the musical, blending live-action and animated elements.

ABC (via Bleeding Cool) has shared a set of first-look images that shows off the cast in costume for Beauty and the Beast. This includes H.E.R. as Belle, Josh Groban as Beast, Rita Moreno as the narrator, Martin Short as Lumiére, Joshua Henry as Gaston, and Shania Twain as Mrs. Potts. The sets bringing Beast's castle to life are striking and stylized,...

The 30th anniversary of the Disney animated feature “Beauty and the Beast", is showcased in the new two-hour animated/live-action special "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration", directed by Hamish Hamilton, airing December 15, 2022 on Disney+:

H.E.R. and Josh Groban lead a cast including Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as 'Gaston', David Alan Grier as 'Cogsworth', Rizwan Manji as 'LeFou', Jon Jon Briones as 'Maurice', Leo Abelo Perry as 'Chip' and Shania Twain as 'Mrs. Potts'.

Click the images to enlarge...

Just as a magical transformation takes place front-and-center in “Beauty and the Beast,” so do the costumes of ABC’s TV special of the classic animated film come to life, in these first exclusive sketches and character depictions that TheWrap can reveal. In the photos, which you can view below, see stars H.E.R. (who plays Belle) and Martin Short (who portrays Lumière) embody their sketched designs, as created by Marina Toybina.

Presented by the anthology series The Wonderful World of Disney, the two-hour reimagining of the beloved story of “Beauty and the Beast” will air Thursday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. Et on ABC, with next-day viewing on Disney+. In addition to Grammy and Oscar-winning H.E.R. and Short, the special stars Josh Groban (“Beast”), Joshua Henry (“Gaston”), David Alan Grier (“Cogsworth”), Shania Twain (“Mrs. Potts”), Rizwan Manji (“LeFou”), Jon Jon Briones (Belle’s father “Maurice”) and Leo Abelo Perry (Mrs.

The 30th anniversary of the Disney animated feature “Beauty and the Beast", is showcased in the new two-hour animated/live-action special "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration", directed by Hamish Hamilton, airing December 15, 2022 on Disney+:

H.E.R. and Josh Groban lead a cast including Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as 'Gaston', David Alan Grier as 'Cogsworth', Rizwan Manji as 'LeFou', Jon Jon Briones as 'Maurice', Leo Abelo Perry as 'Chip' and Shania Twain as 'Mrs. Potts'.

Click the images to enlarge...

We know Beauty and the Beast‘s Belle can sing… but have you seen her pick up a guitar before?

ABC has released a pair of new promos for the upcoming special Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration (airing Thursday, Dec. 15 at 8/7c), giving us a sneak peek at Grammy winner H.E.R. as Belle and chart-topping singer Josh Groban as the Beast. The special is billed as a “reimagining” of the classic Disney animated film, with a blend of animation and live-action performances to be taped in front of a live audience.

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The 30th anniversary of the Disney animated feature |"Beauty and the Beast", is showcased in the new two-hour animated/live-action special "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration", directed by Hamish Hamilton, airing December 15, 2022 on Disney+:

H.E.R. and Josh Groban lead a cast including Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as 'Gaston', David Alan Grier as 'Cogsworth', Rizwan Manji as 'LeFou', Jon Jon Briones as 'Maurice', Leo Abelo Perry as 'Chip' and Shania Twain as 'Mrs. Potts'. 

Click the images to enlarge...

Prime Video has released the official teaser trailer for the upcoming dark comedy-drama series “Mammals,” starring James Corden and Sally Hawkins. All six episodes will drop Nov. 11.

Directed by Stephanie Laing and written by Jez Butterworth, “Mammals” follows Jamie (Corden), a chef who discovers shocking secrets about his pregnant wife, Amandine (Melia Kreiling). Jamie searches for answers with the help of his brother-in-law Jeff (Colin Morgan), but stumbles upon cracks in Jeff’s marriage to Jamie’s sister Lue (Hawkins) along the way.

The series is produced by Street Hassle, in association with Vertigo Films and Fulwell 73. Watch the teaser below.

Also in today’s TV news:

Trailers

Apple TV+ has released the official trailer of the original preschool series “Slumberkins,” premiering globally on the streamer Nov. 4.

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Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Monday, October 17, 2022.

Fans of FBI will be getting a special Sunday episode on November 6.

TV Line reports that a fresh episode of FBI Season 5 will air at 8:30 pm Et / 8 pm Pt on the night.

FBI and the spinoffs FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted will all be preempted on Tuesday, Nov. 8 by Election Night news coverage.

The original series has an extra episode in its inventory after airing the delayed Season 4 final earlier this month.

ABC's Beauty and the Beast anniversary special has added six people to its cast.

Martin Short will play the Lumiere, Shania Twain will play Mrs. Potts, David Alan Grier will play clock Cogsworth, Rizwan Manji will play Gaston’s sidekick LeFou, Jon Jon Briones will star as Belle’s father Maurice and Leo Abelo Perry as Mrs. Potts’ son Chip.

The...

ABC announces new ‘Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration’ cast

Five-time Grammy Award winner Shania Twain has signed on to play Mrs. Potts in ABC’s Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration, a live-action and animated blended special. The reimagining of the classic story has also just added Only Murders in the Building‘s Martin Short as Lumière and Tony Award winner David Alan Grier (A Soldier’s Play) as Cogsworth.

Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek) has joined the cast as Gaston’s sidekick, LeFou. Jon Jon Briones (The Last Voyage of the Demeter) will take on the role of Maurice, Belle’s father. Leo Abelo Perry (The Big Leap) is set to play Mrs. Potts’ son, Chip.

The just-announced cast join previously announced stars Oscar winner H.E.R. (“Fight For You” from Judas and the Black Messiah) as Belle, Grammy nominee Josh Groban as the Beast, and Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry as Gaston.

Martin Short and Shania Twain are set to play the world’s most famous candelabra and teapot. The two stars have joined ABC’s upcoming December 15 “Beauty and the Beast” 30th-anniversary special, along with David Alan Grier, Rizwan Manji, Jon Jon Briones, and Leo Abelo Perry.

Short, the Emmy and Tony winner who currently stars in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” will portray the flirtatious French candelabra Lumière, voiced in the original 1991 Disney film by Jerry Orbach. Five-time Grammy-winning country singer Twain will play the teapot Mrs. Potts, whose original voice actor, Angela Lansbury, died last week. Perry, who made his film debut this year in the Disney+ remake of “Cheaper by the Dozen,” will play Potts’ son Chip. Grier, who won a Tony last year for his performance in “A Soldier’s Play,” will portray the majordomo clock Cogsworth, while Jon Jon Briones will play village inventor Maurice,...

ABC’s “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” has found its Lumière, Cogsworth and Mrs. Potts in Martin Short (“Only Murders in the Building”), David Alan Grier (“In Living Color”) and country music star Shania Twain, respectively.

Rounding out the ensemble cast are Rizwan Manji (“Schitt’s Creek”) as Gaston’s loyal sidekick, LeFou; Jon Jon Briones (“Ratched”) as Belle’s loving father, Maurice; and Leo Abelo Perry (2022’s “Cheaper by the Dozen”), playing Mrs. Potts’ son Chip.

Presented by the anthology series The Wonderful World of Disney, the two-hour reimagining of the beloved story of “Beauty and the Beast” will be taped in front of a live audience at Disney Studios and will air Thursday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. Et on ABC, with next-day viewing on Disney+.

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ABC is rounding out the cast of its live Beauty and the Beast special.

The Dec. 15 special, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film’s best picture nomination — the first animated feature to earn that honor — has added Martin Short, David Alan Grier, Shania Twain, Rizwan Manji, Jon Jon Briones and Leo Abelo Perry to its cast. They join an ensemble led by Grammy winner H.E.R. as Belle and Josh Groban as the Beast; Joshua Henry also stars, and Rita Moreno will narrate the special.

Only Murders in the Building star Short will play Lumiere. Tony winner Grier (A Solider’s Play, The Patient) will play Cogsworth, while Grammy winner and country music star Twain will play Mrs. Potts and Perry her son, Chip. Manji (Schitt’s Creek) plays Gaston’s (Henry) sidekick, LeFou, and Briones (Ratched) will play Belle’s father, Maurice.

The special,...