The Broadway League announced that all 41 Broadway theaters in New York City have extended the current mask requirement for audiences through at least June 30, Playbill noted. Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League, said, "As always, the safety and security of our cast, crew, and audience [have] been our top priority. By maintaining our audience masking requirement through at least the month of June, we intend to continue that track record of safety for all, despite the Omicron subvariants." Audience masking protocols for July and beyond will be announced in June.
The Lilly Awards Foundation has launched the Lorraine Hansberry Initiative to honor the late playwright and civil-rights leader's legacy while investing in those following in her footsteps, according to Playbill. In 1959, Hansberry became the first Black female playwright produced on Broadway with her landmark play A Raisin in the Sun. The Initiative includes a statue of the playwright that will tour the country in 2022-2023 to raise awareness of the full breadth of her work and teachings.
Facebook Watch announced that it has greenlighted a new docuseries starring queer actress, dancer, singer and influencer JoJo Siwa, per Out Magazine. According to the show's description, Siwa "will be joined by her celebrity friends to partake in some crazy fun adventures she's always wanted to experience but never got the chance." The show, JoJo Goes, will air on Facebook Watch this summer; it will also be available on Watch Together via Messenger and Instagram video calls.
Marina, Lil' Kim, Jessie J, Greyson Chance, Years & Years, Taylor Bennett and Angelica Ross are just some of the people slated to appear/perform at WEHO Pride's OutLoud Raising Voices Music Festival on June 3-5 in West Hollywood, California. This concert will feature performances from the Raising Voices Main Stage, artist interviews in the OutLoud Twitch Lounge and an outdoor Dance Arena. Launched in 2020, the festival quickly pivoted to become one of the first virtual Pride celebrations, and counts Adam Lambert and Betty Who as past performers. See weareoutloud.com .
In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, She's Gotta Have It alum DeWanda Wise—who stars in the upcoming Jurassic World: Dominion sequel as a pilot named Kayla Watts—confirmed her character is, in fact, part of the queer community, according to Out Magazine. "It's important, and it's also important to me that we continue to expand the conversation beyond looking for the kiss," she told the website. "If you're queer, you're queer … I said what I said. All the time."
Instagram blocked Madonna from going live after she posted a series of scantily clad photos of herself—and she shared the moment she found out about the development, according to Page Six. "What the f—k?" the "Borderline" singer said when she saw the "Blocked from Sharing Live Video" message pop-up. "What's happening?" The Grammy winner took to her Instagram Stories to record herself on a call with her "Frozen on Fire" collaborator, Sickick, whom she was set to go live with, and told him Instagram was being "really mysterious" about why they blocked her. "Frozen on Fire" is a take on Madonna's 1998 hit "Frozen," per a press release.
Just 16 months after Olivia Rodrigo shot to stardom with the smash single "drivers license," the teen phenom was the top winner at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, which were held at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena, Billboard reported. Rodrigo won seven awards—one of the top showings ever. Some of the other winners included BTS, who won three awards; Lady Gaga (top dance/electronic artist); Lil Was X and Jack Harlow (top rap song, for "Industry Baby"); Doja Cat, who won four awards; and Sir Elton John (top dance/electronic song for his hit collab with Dua Lipa, "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)"). Also, Mary J. Blige received the Icon Award from Janet Jackson.
There is non-binary representation on the Apple TV+ children's series Pinecone & Pony, per a press release. Story editor Taneka Stotta, who is queer, partnered with non-binary writers Pilot Virut and Gigi D.G. to ensure authenticity when writing storylines for Wren, who identifies as non-binary, and was voiced by non-binary actor Ser Anzoategui. Based on the book The Princess and the Pony by New York Times best-selling author Kate Beaton, the series is an eight-episode animated comedy for kids and families about a young girl named Pinecone who, with the help of her best friend Pony, is learning that there's more than one way to be a warrior.
Hayley Kiyoko has released the song "For the Girls" and an accompanying video, Out Magazine noted. The video's plot involves a lesbian take on The Bachelorette, as all the contestants, representing so many different types of women-loving women, make their intros—with one even pulling up in a U-Haul truck. The big ending of the video has a surprise contestant—real-life former Bachelor contestant Becca Tilly—appear. Kiyoko's sophomore album, Panorama, will be out July 29.
Country singer Wynonna Judd announced she will carry on with the Judds' "The Final Tour," despite the death of her mother and musical partner Naomi in April, per Variety. The dates will now include tributes to her mother and their musical legacy, with appearances by artists such as Brandi Carlile, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Ashley McBryde and Trisha Yearwood. Wynonna Judd first revealed her plan to go on with the show at an all-star tribute in Nashville on May 15.
Ben Zook (Where the Bears Are) is taking his newest show, The Dirty Show with Skyler Gentry, on the road to Europe and the United States (including an Aug. 5 show in Chicago, at the Annoyance Theatre), per a press release. Zook plays Gentry—described as "America's favorite actor-singer-dancer-psychic" in a production filled with raunchy songs, comedy monologues and psychic readings with the audience. Tickets are available at skylergentry.com .
A New York judge appointed a guardian over Wendy Williams' finances until July, The Hollywood Reporter noted. In an affidavit to the New York Supreme Court, Williams stated that Wells Fargo improperly denied her access to her money, leading her to default or risk defaulting on several bills. She accused a Wells Fargo financial advisor of lying that she's mentally unstable as a basis to lock her out of her accounts.
Camila Cabello will be the newest coach for NBC's hit show The Voice this fall, iHeart noted. She will be a judge alongside John Legend, Blake Shelton and the returning Gwen Stefani. Cabello and Stefani will be replacing last season's coaches, Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande. Clarkson and her team of sibling trio Girl Named Tom took home the crown and gave her fourth victory before leaving the show; Grande appeared for the first time as a coach last season and likely departed because she is busy with her new r.e.m. beauty line and the Wicked films.
Riverdale will end with season seven at The CW, Variety noted. The news was part of The CW's 2022 fall schedule release, which stated that the popular series will debut its seventh and final season at midseason in 2023. The show was renewed for its seventh season in March among a slew of other CW shows like The Flash, All American, Kung Fu and Walker. Riverdale's cast includes KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse, Madelaine Petsch, Madchen Amick, Charles Melton and Vanessa Morgan; Luke Perry starred in the series as Archie's father until his death in 2019.
Singer and Fenty founder Rihanna has given birth to a baby boy—her first child with rapper A$AP Rocky, Vogue noted. Rihanna recently opened up to Vogue about her excitement, and musings, around motherhood. "They're going to teach me more than I could ever teach them," she said of her future child. "And I want them to go for it. I want to see who they are in the world, who they become."
A new series of Black Mirror is in the works at Netflix, Variety noted. It's been almost three years since the fifth season of the dystopian drama premiered on the streaming service in June 2019, but sources indicate that a new anthology series of Black Mirror is shaping up, and casting is now underway.
