Here's your Broadway update:

--Harry Connick Jr., the crooning heartthrob and jazz stylist, will star next season in a Broadway revival of "The Pajama Game," one of the musical theater's biggest hits of the 1950s.

Connick will play the role originated in 1954 by John Raitt, according to Jeffrey Richards, a co-producer of the revival. Richards called Connick "an actor of enormous charisma and skill, a wonderful singer and a bona fide star."

--Idina Menzel, the Tony-winning star of "Wicked," fell through a trap door during the Saturday matinee of the Broadway musical and cracked a lower rib.

The show, a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz," was halted for about 45 minutes while Menzel's understudy, Shoshana Bean, prepared to go on as the green-skinned Elphaba, according to Bob Fennell, a spokesman for the musical

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Posted by Lawren at January 10, 2005 06:37 AM

You Said

I'd rather have Menzel's cracked rib that sit through Harry Connick Jr on stage.

Says: chuck at January 10, 2005 12:51 PM

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Really? I like Harry! I would, however, have been completely bummed if I got the understudy of Idina Menzel at "Wicked!"

Says: Amanda at January 10, 2005 01:20 PM

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I too like Harry. Why don't you like him, Chuck?

Says: Lawren at January 10, 2005 01:28 PM

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Have you seen him on Will and Grace? He took a show that was already on the downslide and made it even worse through his wooden, horrible acting.

I thought he was good in "Copycat," but that was what,a decade ago? It's been a steep descent since then. Pajama Game does have an Adler and Ross score, so it shouldn't be that difficult to sing. It's the acting I am worried about.

But hey, who thought Antonio Banderas could handle "Nine?"

BTW, Sunday was supposed to be Menzel's last time in the show, so I imagine those who purchased tickets for that final performance were pissed off more than usual.

Says: chuck at January 10, 2005 04:48 PM

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That ought to be a favorite among bloggers.

Says: Jay at January 11, 2005 11:56 AM

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