Ben Platt
Sundance Review: The Hilarious and Authentic Theater Camp Takes Center Stage
This review is part of our coverage of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The Pitch: “You need to know that only 3% of people make it. The rest end up in a mental facility — or a Go Go box in Hell’s Kitchen.” Welcome to AdirondACTS, a cozy, scrappy theater camp where such nuggets of wisdom are imparted upon young thespians. Over the course of the summer, we see the minutiae of theater camp play out in a mockumentary-style film, sharply directed by Nick Lieberman and Molly Gordon (both making their feature directorial debuts). First framed as a documentary following AdirondACTS founder Joan (Amy Sedaris), things begin to go awry when she falls into a coma — a result of “the first Bye Bye Birdie-related injury in the history of Passaic County” — leaving former campers, best friends, and devote...
Lady Gaga Unveils 10th Anniversary Edition of Born This Way: Stream
Lady Gaga has released Born This Way: The Tenth Anniversary. Stream it below on Apple Music and Spotify. Available via Interscope Records, the special edition of the landmark 2011 LP includes all 14 tracks from the original version. The second disc, subtitled Born This Way Reimagined, contains reworked renditions of the album’s most popular songs by queer artists whom, as Gaga shared on Instagram, “both represent and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community.” This includes Big Freedia (“Judas”), Years & Years (“The Edge of Glory”), Kylie Minogue (“Marry the Night”), Ben Platt (“Yoü and I”), Orville Peck (“Born This Way [The Country Road Version]”), and The Highwomen with Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards (“Highway Unicorn [Road To Love]”). Originally released on May 23rd, 2011, Born Thi...
Broadway and EDM Collide in Tiësto’s Remix of Ben Platt’s “Imagine”: Listen
Two of the biggest names in EDM and Broadway, respectively, have joined forces in Tiësto‘s new remix of Ben Platt‘s “Imagine.” Packed with electronic euphoria and showbiz spirit, the pop-house rework is a shining synthesis of the best of both musical worlds. Anthemic and uplifting, the release comes just in time for the return of festival season, where it’s certain to blast from the speakers of a main stage. Out May 28th via Atlantic Records, Tiësto’s version of “Imagine” gains momentum from bright, pulsing tones and a cheerful synth melody. The powerhouse producer was also careful to preserve and highlight Platt’s soaring vocals, which earned him a Tony Award for his starring role in Dear Evan Hansen. You can listen to ...
No One Is Alone in Trailer for Dear Evan Hansen Theatrical Adaptation: Watch
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-18T20:22:46+00:00“>May 18, 2021 | 4:22pm ET Ben Platt reprises his Tony Award-winning role in the official trailer for the cinematic adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen. With music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the musical Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of an anxious, awkward high school student who writes letters to himself at his therapist’s request. One of those letters is snatched up by Connor, a troubled kid with bullying tendencies who commits suicide soon after. When the letter is found, Connor’s parents reach out to Evan in the mistaken belief that the two were friends. Too uncomfortable to tell the truth, Evan finds himself ensnared in a web ...
Father of the Bride Cast Reunites for Virtual Netflix “Sequel”: Watch
The cast of Father of the Bride reunited for the first time in 25 years (!) on Friday. The all-star group of actors got back together for Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish), a “special sequel” that caught up with the Banks family over a Zoom call for a wedding-related announcement. Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Kieran Culkin, Martin Short, and George Newbern all looked delighted to see one another again for the 25-minute performance. There to host for the modern family gathering was Reese Witherspoon. And because the miniature sequel is supposed to take places years down the road, the ensemble was expanded to include several new faces, with Alexandra Shipp, Ben Platt, Florence Pugh, and Robert DeNiro all joining the fold. We won’t spoil anything, but make sure t...
Nigerian doctor named one of TIME’s Most Influential People in the world
TIME named Nigerian physician Tunji Funsho to the 2020 TIME100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The full list and related tributes are available now at time.com/time100, and Mr Funsho’s TIME100 profile is available here. The list, now in its seventeenth year, recognizes the activism, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals. Mr Funsho, a cardiologist based in Lagos, Nigeria, is the first Rotary member to receive this honour for the organisation’s work to eradicate polio, having played an essential role in ensuring Africa’s certification as wild polio-free in August of 2020. “I’m honored to be recognized by TIME for my part in ensuring that no child in Africa will ever again be paralyzed by wild polio, a disease that once disabl...
