You're gonna be bothered by how cool I am.

- In exactly four weeks, a revival of my FAVORITE MUSICAL EVER - Jesus Christ Superstar - is starting previews. Most of the cast, and indeed the production itself, seems to have migrated from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival (Canada, not upon Avon). And Andrew Lloyd Weber himself said that this is the best acted production he's seen in the show's 41 year history. I am EXCITE.

- I was beyond delighted to hear that Andrew Rannells, Josh Gad, Nikki James, Rory O'Malley, Michael Potts, and Brian Tyree Henry have all extended their contracts to perform in the Book of Mormon musical through February 2013. I suppose I shall have to see it at least one more time in the next year. I wonder how hard it would be to get tickets for their last night. Considering how hard it is to procure tickets for this show EVERY OTHER NIGHT, I am not optimistic.

- I've been periodically checking the Public Theater website to see when news of this summer's Shakespeare in the Park productions would be announced, and they now have been. They are doing As You Like It, with Rosalind being played by the fabulous Lily Rabe - who many of you may know as Nora from American Horror Story and who shocolate, emmacmf, and tmblue will know as Alan Rickman's lover from Seminar. Their other production, the non-Shakespeare offering, is none other than Into the Woods. I am so seeing both of these this summer. ITW is not my favorite, on the whole (though I do love many pieces of it), but I've never seen it live - only the video recording of the original 1987 production (HOW is this show 25 years old?!).

- In movies made from musical theater news, I am feeling a bit better about the forthcoming Les Miserables movie now that we will be spared Taylor Swift playing Eponine. The role will instead be played by Samantha Barks, who performed in the 25th anniversary whatsit. I, err, hope she can act, but I feel better that her voice will be more of a match for the rest of the cast. Quick rundown on the cast so far - Hugh Jackman as Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert (I seriously can't picture this, but whatever), Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Aaron Tveit (from Next to Normal and Catch Me If You Can, as well as one-time Fiyero from Wicked) as Enjolras, Eddie Redmayne (My Week With Marilyn) as Marius, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, and Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the Thenardier. Colm Wilkinson (Broadway's original Valjean) is also appearing as the Bishop of Digne ("I have bought your soul for God.").