Arts & Entertainment
Jennifer Lopez will star in NBC musical ‘Bye Bye Birdie Live’
pop star will play Rosie in new production
(Screenshot via YouTube)
Jennifer Lopez will be starring in NBC’s next holiday musical “Bye Bye Birdie Live,” Deadline reports.
Lopez will play Rosie, originally played on Broadway by Chita Rivera in 1960, and will be one of the musical’s executive producers. Tony-Award winner Harvey Fierstein is on board to write the script.
“Broadway musicals and films fueled my childhood and ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ was one of my favorites. I’m proud to be a part of the NBC family with Shades of Blue and I thought it would be a blast to take on one of their big live musicals,” Lopez said in a statement.
“Bye Bye Birdie” tells the story of music heartthrob Conrad Birdie who must give his one last kiss to a teenage girl living in Sweet Apple, Ohio before he is drafted into the army. The story was inspired by Elvis Pressley’s real life draft notice into the army in 1957.
The Broadway musical originally starred Dick Van Dyke as Albert Patterson alongside Rivera. It was adapted into a Golden Globe-nominated movie in 1963 with Janet Leigh as Rosie and Van Dyke reprising his role.
“Bye Bye Birdie Live” is scheduled to air in the 2017 holiday season.
Sports
‘Heated Rivalry’ stars to participate in Olympic torch relay
Games to take place next month in Italy
“Heated Rivalry” stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will participate in the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics that will take place next month in Italy.
HBO Max, which distributes “Heated Rivalry” in the U.S., made the announcement on Thursday in a press release.
The games will take place in Milan and Cortina from Feb. 6-22. The HBO Max announcement did not specifically say when Williams and Storrie will participate in the torch relay.
Bars & Parties
Here’s where to watch ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ with fellow fans
Entertainers TrevHER and Grey host event with live performance
Spark Social Events will host “Ru Paul’s Drag Race S18 Watch Party Hosted by Local Drag Queens” on Friday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m.
Drag entertainers TrevHER and Grey will provide commentary and make live predictions on who’s staying and who’s going home. Stick around after the show for a live drag performance. The watch party will take place on a heated outdoor patio and cozy indoor space.
This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
The DC Center is hosting a watch party for an episode of the 10th and final season of “Queer Eye,” which was filmed in D.C. The screening will be held on Friday, Jan. 23 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Center.
The screening will last 45-55 minutes, with community time both before and after the episode. Drinks and snacks will be provided and organizers promise a “surprise or two.” For information on tickets, visit the DC Center’s website.
‘Heated Rivalry’ stars to participate in Olympic torch relay
Comings & Goings
Here’s where to watch ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ with fellow fans
‘Queer Eye’ watch party set for Friday
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