Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz, the two-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist behind such hits as “I’m Yours” and “I Won’t Give Up,” will make his Broadway debut in the musical, “Waitress,” in November.
And, he hopes to “live up to the hype.”
The 40-year-old singer-songwriter said in an interview with the Associated Press (AP): “[The show’s] classy, it’s whimsical, it’s kitschy, it’s funny, it’s scandalous—it has got a little bit for everyone.”
In “Waitress,” Jason will play Dr. Pomatter, the “complicated” love interest of main protagonist Jenna, a waitress and pie-maker. The songs were composed by Sara Bareilles, with whom Jason had recorded duets in the past. “I love Sara, I love the music, I love the story,” Jason said.
Jason once considered pursuing theater, but was discouraged by the possibility of not landing roles. “That scared me…I thought, ‘I’m going to be a waiter for the rest of my life,” he related.
Ian Somerhalder, wife apologize for pills brouhaha
“Vampire Diaries” star Ian Somerhalder was criticized on social media after the comments he made last week about throwing away his wife Nikki Reed’s birth control pills and recording the “Twilight” actress’ panic on video when she couldn’t find them.
While the couple had been working on becoming parents, some called out Somerhalder for his actions, which they said were disrespectful of her rights. Somerhalder was quoted in the “Dr. Berlin’s Informed Pregnancy Podcast” as saying, “Unbeknownst to poor Nikki, she didn’t realize that I was going to go in her purse and take out her birth control [pills].”
In a joint statement released days later, the spouses said: “To anyone who has been affected by reproductive coercion, we’re deeply sorry. [The issue of] women’s rights is incredibly important to us… If this somehow sheds light on a topic that needs mainstream attention, then we’re grateful for the unintended consequence.”
The statement clarified that Somerhalder and Reed “are happily married people who [choose] to have a baby.” Their child, Bodhi Soleil Reed, was born in July. —ALLAN POLICARPIO AND OLIVER PULUMBARIT