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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Billboard reports: A supporting cast of seasoned theater pros is coming together for the splashy Broadway revival of Meredith Willson’s classic The Music Man, with four Tony Award winners signing on to join stars Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster in the fall 2020 production. Jefferson Mays will play the pompous mayor of River City, Iowa, with Jayne Houdyshell as his …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Billboard Magazine reports: Sony has unveiled a new version of its iconic Walkman — but don’t dust off the old CDs just yet. The device will be available in Europe from November 2019 for €830, or roughly $917, about the price of a new iPhone. The refreshed Walkman NW-ZX507 is a hi-res touchscreen digital music player, capable of streaming music …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Playbill reports: Social media stars Colleen Ballinger (of Miranda Sings fame) and Todrick Hall (Kinky Boots) have given fans a behind-the-scenes preview of their turn in the Sara Bareilles musical Waitress. The pair currently play Dawn and Ogie, respectively, at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre until September 15. In a new video posted to Ballinger’s YouTube channel, the duo sing “I …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Playbill reports: Two-time Tony winner Patti LuPone has landed a role in mega-producer Ryan Murphy’s new Netflix series, Hollywood. In a Time Magazine profile, Murphy divulged that LuPone will join previously announced Tony nominee Holland Taylor (Ann) in his original series about Tinseltown’s relationship with the sex industry over the years. According to the Glee creator, it’s about “how absolutely …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Billboard Magazine reports: Lizzo lifts to her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as “Truth Hurts” rises from No. 3. The song reigns after Lizzo performed it on the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Aug. 26. Plus, as Taylor Swift’s new album Lover launches at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, two songs from …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

NBC News reports: A regular at a St. Louis bar was completely unfazed by an armed robber who stormed the watering hole. In fact, he lit up a cigarette moments after facing the barrel of the pistol. Tony Tovar was relaxing with a beer at the decades-old Behrmann’s Tavern when a gunman entered, demanding customers and staff get on the …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

UPI reports: A group of sculptures depicting men with hoodies covering their faces outside of a California city hall are receiving mixed reviews from residents, with some saying they find them threatening. The five sculptures depict men with sweatshirt hoods pulled tight over their faces while they engage in lawn games and other outdoor activities in front of Laguna Beach …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Billboard Magazine reports: The Dutch port city of Rotterdam has been selected to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The European Broadcasting Union announced Friday that Rotterdam edged the southern city of Maastricht in the race to host the annual music competition. The Netherlands won the right to host the 65th edition of the festival when Dutch singer Duncan Laurence …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

From the Hollywood Reporter: Beanie Feldstein, Blake Jenner and Ben Platt will star in an adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along. Richard Linklater will be directing the project, which is being backed by Blumhouse, and will shoot over a 20-year span. The director shot his Oscar-winning Boyhood over 12 years. The much-beloved musical, based on the …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

The Associated Press reports: Police in suburban Houston are looking for a woman who used a power tool to break into a Botox clinic and steal anti-aging products. Sugar Land police say surveillance cameras captured the burglary Friday night at the Botox RN MD Spa. The footage shows a woman approaching the locked door of the spa and trying unsuccessfully …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

The Tennessean reports: The “Old Town Road” now leads to country music’s biggest night. Once kicked off the Billboard country music charts for not embracing “enough elements of today’s country music” the Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus musical phenomenon earned a ticket Wednesday to the 53rd CMA Awards. The song received a “Musical Event of the Year” nomination. …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Billboard Magazine reports: If you’re looking to bring the house down at an awards show, Lizzo is one to call. The triple threat delivered a vibrant performance of her “Truth Hurts” and “Good As Hell” hits at the 2019 MTV VMAs on Monday night (Aug. 26). Introduced by friend (and possible future collaborator) Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo and her dancers …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Playbill reports: The response was immediate and swift across Broadway after Good Morning America host Lara Spencer made an on-air joke about Prince George enjoying ballet class: #BoysDanceToo. In social media posts from legendary dancers Chita Rivera and Debbie Allen to today’s working ensemble members, the outcry was loud and ferocious enough to prompt an on-air apology Monday morning from …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Variety reports: The character of Apu is not leaving “The Simpsons,” despite earlier reports to the contrary. Following the controversy surrounding the long-running character, creator Matt Groening reaffirmed the show’s commitment to the Kwik-E Mart clerk on Saturday during the show’s D23 Expo session. When asked by a young fan whether Apu would remain on the show — following reports …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

UPI reports: A Pennsylvania family’s home security camera captured the moment a bear wandered onto their porch and stole a box of mail-order dog food. The Newman family shared video of the bear grabbing the box from their front porch in Thornhurst and dragging it off into the woods. The family said the box was from Chewy, a mail-order dog …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Playbill reports: Ben Platt continues his cross-over artist reign with the release of his latest single, “Rain,” which dropped at midnight August 23. The actor, who won a 2016 Tony Award for his performance as Evan in Dear Evan Hansen, was also the youngest performer ever to win the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance. Platt is also the star …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

United Press reports: A visitor to a Florida amusement park captured video of the moment a bungee cable snapped on a slingshot ride just as it was about to launch with passengers. Krissy Hurst of Havana said she was filming while a friend and his brother-in-law, who was visiting from California, were about to ride the Vertical Accelerator at Cobra …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

UPI reports: A pack of service dogs in training were treated to a performance of a Canadian theater’s live musical as part of their preparation for service. A photo of the dozen eager canines sitting in the theater seats went viral when Ontario’s Stratford Festival shared it on Twitter, and the head trainer for K-9 Country Inn Working Service Dogs …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Playbill reports: Emmy Award nominee Jackie Hoffman, currently playing Yente the matchmaker in the Yiddish-language Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Joel Grey, stopped by the Playbill studio to work on her self-tape reel. Here, she gives us her best audition for characters from Wicked, Company, Chicago, and more. Watch the video to see her take on famous Broadway roles. …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Buzzfeed News reports: Netflix on Monday released the trailer for Ryan Murphy’s The Politician — the first series for the streaming service from the well-known TV producer, who last year signed a five-year $300 million contract with the company. The show is an anthology series, similar to Murphy’s American Horror Story and American Crime Story, meaning each season will focus …

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