Musicals

NEW YORK -- The profane show "The Book of Mormon" snagged five Drama Desk Awards on Monday night, adding to its pre-Tony Award critical haul and making it the musical to beat when the biggest prizes in theater are handed out next month.

The Drama Desk, an organization of theater journalists and critics, called "The Book of Mormon" the season's best musical and gave it awards for best lyrics, music, director and orchestrations.

The show, by the creators of "South Park" and "Avenue Q," has already been declared the best musical by the Outer Critics Circle and the New York Drama Critics' Circle. It has nabbed a leading 14 Tony Award nominations.

NEW YORK -- Producers of Broadway's "Spider-Man" musical postponed the show's official opening for a stunning sixth time, announcing Wednesday that it will not officially open until this summer and that it will bring in a new creative team.

Julie Taymor, who directed and co-wrote the book for "Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark," will no longer helm the production but will be a part of the creative team, the producers said.

The delay revealed a production so trouble-plagued that it has taken itself out of the running for Tony Award consideration this year, but it will be eligible for the 2012 season. The $65 million show was scheduled to open on March 15.

The best feeling in the world is sitting in a dark theater as the curtain opens to reveal a brand new life, new people, new music and a new story.

I grew up on "Showtune Saturday Night" and listening to musicals before bed. I practically lived on Broadway if you know what I mean. My dad loved Broadway and show tunes, a love he instilled in his kids. My bedtime movies were "Phantom of the Opera" and "Cats." My brother and I would sing "Les Miserables" to each other while doing the dishes in the kitchen! If you get my point, I love Broadway.