'Newsies' gets open run, 'Bring It On,' 'Ever After' coming to B'way, more

Disney's 'Newsies' now officially an open-ended run
It took much longer than anyone expected, but Disney has finally confirmed that "Newsies," which has been doing brisk business since previews, has been converted into an open-ended Broadway run. In light of the colossal failures of "The Little Mermaid" and "Tarzan," it took Disney a while to embrace the fact that it has a genuine hit.

'Bring It On' musical to play Broadway this summer
"Bring It On: The Musical," which has been touring the country for months, will have a short Broadway run this summer at the St. James Theatre. Although the show explores competitive high school cheerleading, its plot is different from the 2000 Kirsten Dunst film of the same name. Its Tony-winning creators include songwriters Lin-Manuel Miranda ("In the Heights") and Tom Kitt ("Next to Normal") and book-writer Jeff Whitty ("Avenue Q").

'Salesman' Willy Loman is minted a moneymaker
It seems ironic that "Death of a Salesman," which chronicles the plight of poor Willy Loman as he gets fired from his lifelong job, should be the most financially successful show of the spring. Its producers have confirmed that the Tony-nominated play will recoup its original investment this week. However, the show will not extend past June 2.

'Priscilla: Queen of the Desert' to close next month
No drag queen can lip-synch forever. "Priscilla Queen of the Desert," which never caught on with audiences despite a score full of recognizable pop hits, will close on June 24 after a yearlong run. The original trio of Will Swenson, Nick Adams and Tony Sheldon are still in the show.

'Ever After' to join 'Cinderella' on Broadway
If this was the season of Jesus musicals ("Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Godspell"), next season will apparently be all about Cinderella. It's already been announced that a new version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" will play Broadway next year. On that of that, it was confirmed this week that the musical version of the 1998 film "Ever After," which has long been in development, will arrive next season too. Kathleen Marshall ("Nice Work if You Can Get It," "Anything Goes") will direct and choreograph.

'Streetcar' extends, strikes against critics
In light of its lackluster grosses and lack of Tony nominations, many had expected the multiracial Broadway revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire" to pack up early. Instead, its run has been extended into August. Blair Underwood, who plays Stanley, has also taken to Facebook to criticize the theater critics who by and large dismissed the production. "As long as we stay in our place & do only the great "Black" classics .

'Evita,' 'Rainbow,' 'Starcatcher' all announce tour plans
Attempting to appeal to out-of-town Tony voters, the producers of "Evita," "End of the Rainbow" and "Peter and the Starcatcher" have all announced plans to mount tours next season. This was pretty unexpected for "End of the Rainbow" and "Peter and the Starcatcher," since plays rarely tour nowadays, and even for "Evita," since Ricky Martin is unlikely to tour.

Bret Michaels settles with Tony Awards over injuries
It's been three years since rocker Bret Michaels got smacked in the head by a descending piece of scenery at the Tony Awards, which lead to a lawsuit by Michaels for the physical injuries he suffered. You can probably still find the clip on YouTube. The Associated Press announced this week that both parties have reached "an amicable resolution" and settled.

Living Theatre gets new lease on life
The Living Theatre, the legendary experimental theater company founded by Judith Malina and Julian Beck, will live to see another season of strange, avant-garde programming. The East Village company was able to raise more than $24,000 through online fundraising pay its extensive back rent and keep its doors open.

Musicals Tonight and Encores! fight over 'Fiorello!'
Last week, Musicals Tonight, the scrappy off-off-Broadway version of City Center Encores!, announced that it would open its new season with the Pulitzer-winning musical "Fiorello!" But the next day, producer Mel Miller explained that the company's rights to "Fiorello!" had been revoked because Encores! intends to do it next season. Interestingly, "Fiorello!" was the first show ever done by Encores! back in 1994. It would be the first musical to receive a second Encores! production.

Spotted
Lea Michele and Corey Monteith at "The Book of Mormon" ... Emily Blunt, John Stamos, William H. Macy, Felicity Huffman, Lea Michele, Zooey Deschanel and Julianne Moore at "Once" ... Steve Martin at "One Man, Two Guvnors" ... Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Valerie Harper, Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs at "Peter and the Starcatcher" ... Beyoncé at "Ghost."