Broadway Friday

-Openly lesbian Tony winner Cherry Jones (Doubt) begins previews tonight in George Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession. Opening night is October 3rd.

-Next Sunday (Sept. 12) La Cage Aux Folles lead Kelsey Grammer hosts the annual Broadway On Broadway spectacular in which the casts of more than two dozen hit Broadway shows perform for free in Times Square to the accompaniment of a 30-piece orchestra. Arrive by 11am (or earlier) for a good view as Times Square will be mobbed blocks deep in front of the stage. Jay-Z and Alicia Keyes will perform New York State Of Mind for the finale.

-AbFab's Jennifer Saunders is collaborating with Mamma Mia! mastermind Judy Cramer on Spice Girls: The Musical, which "won't be a tribute or bio show, nor will it feature characters with any of the names of the famous five-piece." OK, then.

-John Paragon (the original Jambi) and Lynne Marie Stewart (the original Miss Yvonne) have been cast for the "re-imagined" Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway. Mekka-lekka-hi.

-Stephen Sondheim's 1981 bomb Merrily We Roll Along opens tonight at Fire Island Pine's Whyte Hall. Get tickets here.

-The Broadway debut of the WWII gay love story Yank! has been postponed until the fall of 2011. The show played Off Broadway last year to (mostly) rave reviews.

-Kenny Solms' gay comedy/musical It Must Be Him opened Off Broadway this week at Playwrights Horizon. Emmy nominee Peter Scolari (Newhart) stars. Get tickets here.

-Prostitution whores! On Thursday the cast of Real Housewives Of New Jersey kicked off a four night sold-out appearance in Off Broadway's My Big Gay Italian Wedding. Teresa Giudice, Ashley Holmes, Jacqueline Laurita, Caroline Manzo and Lauren Manzo return to the show for four more appearances beginning on October 20th. Get tickets here.