Harry Potter breaks Broadway record
The limits of Harry Potter’s magic appear to be endless. The two-part Harry Potter and the Cursed Child set a Broadway record in ticket sales for a nonmusical for the week ending Sunday with a gross of $2,338,315 (all figures U.S.).
This isn’t the first time Harry Potter has made Broadway history since opening in April at the Lyric Theatre. The show hit a weekly ticket sales high of $2,277,446 in June, one week after it won six Tony Awards including one for Best Play.
A new block of tickets will go on sale for performances through Sept. 29 on Thursday at 11 a.m. Those hoping for a shot at seats can “get in line” by joining the Virtual Waiting Room at 10:30 a.m. at harrypottertheplay.com.
Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Cursed Child focuses on a grown-up Harry dealing with his job at the Ministry of Magic and his relationship with his son, Albus, who is having a hard time coping with the family legacy. Newsday
Deborah Cox named a Luminary
Canadian singer and actress
Deborah Cox is the newest recipient of the Luminary Award from the University of the West Indies, to be bestowed at the institution’s Toronto Benefit Gala on April 6.
Cox, who was born in Toronto to Guyanese parents, is the fifth musical artist to receive the award, after Harry Belafonte, Jimmy Cliff, Tessanne Chin and Shaggy.
The honour is given to people of Caribbean heritage who have achieved success internationally in their fields or brought prominence to the Caribbean.
Besides being a recording artist, Cox, 44, has appeared on Broadway in the musicals Aida and Jekyll and Hyde, in the touring company of The Bodyguard and in the off-Broadway musical Josephine. Debra Yeo
Brown posts on Rihanna’s page
Fans of pop star Rihanna have reacted strongly after rapper
Chris Brown, her ex-boyfriend who was convicted of assaulting her in 2009, commented on two sexy Instagram photos she posted.
According to E! News, Cosmopolitan magazine and other outlets, Brown had posted a “flushed face emoji” under one or both photos of Rihanna posing in a bed, wearing black stockings and red-and-black panties but otherwise covered up, as a promotion for her Savage X Fenty lingerie line.
Reactions on Instagram were mixed but appeared to be largely negative.
Some directly referenced Brown’s February 2009 attack on Rihanna, which left her bruised and bloodied.
He pleaded guilty to felony assault and was sentenced to five years probation and1,400 hours of community service, later lengthened by another 1,000 hours. Newsday
CTV seeks new Amazing Racers
You’ve got just over a month left to apply to star in a new season of The Amazing Race Canada.
CTV recently announced the seventh season will air next summer. The competition show has become Canada’s No. 1 summer series, with an average audience of1.8 million viewers per week, the network says.
Those who want to test their limits by performing mentally and physically taxing challenges across Canada and in international destinations can go to CTV.ca/TheAmazingRaceCanada to submit an audition video. The deadline is Jan. 2 at11:59 p.m. Debra Yeo