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Some theater news to start you off: The Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Lyric Theatre has made Broadway history. Grossing $2,138,859 for the week ending April 8, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has become the highest-grossing play ever on Broadway, shattering a record of $1,623,495 set by All the Way in June 2014. Based …

Tonight’s starter topic is retail blight: If you want to see the future of storefront retailing, walk nine blocks along Broadway from 57th to 48th Street and count the stores. The total number comes to precisely one — a tiny shop to buy drones. That’s right: On a nine-block stretch of what’s arguably the world’s most famous avenue, steps south …

For some light evening reading, this Spectator profile of Milo Yiannopoulos absolutely brutal. Here’s a taste: Meanwhile, he says, he has outgrown Breitbart: “It is not a star factory. I was outgrowing the masthead.” He is in denial about why he is hated. “Sarah Silverman has said worse stuff about Jews,” he says. “Joan Rivers said worse stuff about everyone. …

Encouraging news to start you off: California’s effort to get 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote has now enlisted 100,000 teenagers, according to information released on Friday by Secretary of State Alex Padilla. “This is a big milestone,” Padilla said. “I’m optimistic it’s going to translate into action at the ballot box.” The program, which began in the fall …

Much to the eternal anguish of Porno Pete, the gay teen romance Love, Simon is a surprise US box office hit, having grossed over $36 million. The film opens in Britain tomorrow and the Guardian raves: With its sheer warmth, openness, likability and idealism, Love, Simon won me over. It takes all the corniness and tweeness of the coming-of-age genre …

Tonight’s starter comes via the Washington Blade‘s Chris Johnson: In the aftermath of “Sex and the City” star and LGBT progressive activist Cynthia Nixon’s recently announced primary challenge to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the LGBT community isn’t lockstep in whom to support, but key LGBT rights supporters — including the Human Rights Campaign — are staying loyal to the …

Tonight’s starter is from Billboard Magazine: When celebrating the 50th anniversary of a landmark project like The Boys in the Band, it’s important to go big. That’s why when it was announced that stars like Zachary Quinto, Jim Parsons, Andrew Rannells and Matt Bomer would be joining the cast of the Broadway revival of Mart Crowley’s 1968 play, fans were …

Tonight’s starter comes via Billboard: As Spotify prepares to officially become a public company via a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange tomorrow (April 3), many of its early investors will be enjoying a happy return. But buried among more visible investors like Sean Parker and Shakil Khan is a lesser-known stakeholder that’s been key to Spotify’s evolution: …

Tonight’s starter topic: The author of new book on President Trump blames White House counselor Kellyanne Conway for being behind most of the leaks to the media. “If you wonder why there are so many leaks out of the White House, one reason is Kellyanne is the number one leaker,” said Ronald Kessler, author of “The Trump White House: Changing …

Here’s the latest on the Chinese space station: The doomed Tiangong-1 is now expected to fall to Earth around 7:25 p.m. EDT (2325 GMT) on Sunday (April 1), with a window that could stretch into early Monday, officials with ESA’s Space Debris Office said in an update today (March 31). The time for Tiangong-1’s uncontrolled descent remains highly uncertain, in …

Deadline reports: Following the massive ratings for the premiere of the Roseanne revival on ABC, the network has renewed the series for next season, which will be the classic sitcom’s 11th overall. Sources say the order is for 13 episodes, up from 9 in the current first installment of the revival. “We’re thrilled that America has welcomed the Conner family …

Billboard reports: Laverne Cox bags her first-ever Billboard chart appearance, entering the Dance Club Songs chart (dated March 31) at No. 41 with “Beat for the Gods.” The track was remixed by Drew G, Chris Daniel & DJ Suri, and DJ Mickey, to name a few. Cox tells Billboard of the track, “‘Beat for the Gods’ is a song about …

Opening tonight on Broadway: The life of late disco icon Donna Summer comes to Broadway in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, which begins previews March 28 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Summer stars Tony Award winner LaChanze (The Color Purple), Ariana DeBose (Hamilton), and newcomer Storm Lever, who portray Summer at three distinct points in her life and career. Directed by …

Another Broadway story to start you off: Stephanie J. Block will star as the title role in the Broadway-bound musical The Cher Show, the Tony nominee confirmed via Twitter. The latest in jukebox bio-musicals, the show makes its out-of-town debut at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre, beginning performances June 12 and playing through July 15. The show is slated to open on …

Some gay theater news to start you off: Sometimes, just when you need it most, a play courses into your system like a transfusion of new blood. You feel freshly awakened to the infinite possibilities not only of theater but also of the teeming world beyond. And when you hit the streets afterward, every one of your senses is singing. …

A cute item to get you started: Neil Patrick Harris and Kristen Bell really love Simon. The celebrities separately rented out theaters to provide free screenings of “Love, Simon,” the romcom about a closeted gay teenager and his coming out journey. “‘Love, Simon’ is a KNOCKOUT. There are so many important stories that don’t get made. I am so grateful …

Tonight’s item to get things started: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) swiped at President Trump on Saturday while attending the “March for Our Lives” rally in Washington, D.C., calling for action on gun violence. Asked about estimated attendance at the rally, which was expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people, Van Hollen said, “I can tell you for sure, …

Some news about tomorrow’s big anti-gun marches: Many of the Democrats who’ve been urging stricter gun control legislation will join throngs of students Saturday as they gather in Washington and elsewhere for the “March for Our Lives” demonstration. The event is expected to the biggest yet in a string of rallies and protests nationwide since a gunman killed 17 people …

Some good news to start you off: Tony Award winners Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt will perform their recent Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen mashup, “Found/Tonight,” at the March 24 March for Our Lives demonstration in Washington, D.C. The two shared on Twitter that they would also march in the student-led movement focused on ending gun violence and mass shootings …

Some Stormy news on a stormy day to start you off: CBS News said Wednesday evening that “60 Minutes” will indeed air the segment this Sunday, March 25, ensuring the American public will hear directly from the actress about her allegations that she had an affair with Donald Trump, now the President of the United States, in 2006 and 2007. …