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.

Broadway Friday

- Jesse Tyler Ferguson and a host of fellow gays earned Emmy nominations yesterday. Joining the Modern Family star with noms are Neil Patrick Harris, Jane Lynch, Chris Colfer, Alan Cumming, Lily Tomlin, and Ian McKellen. Glee leads the pack with 19 nominations. Darling of the gays Betty White scored a nom for her gig as SNL host.

- South Pacific will be made as a movie again, but the songs will be retooled to be "edgier," whatever that means. Casting not announced. The show first opened on Broadway in 1949, the last revival has been playing Lincoln Center since March, 2008. The first movie version opened in 1958.

- Four-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks will helm Sister Act: The Musical when it arrives from London's West End next spring. It's expected to be next season's blockbuster.

- After 13 years at Radio City, next year's Tony Awards may take place at Washington Height's United Palace Theatre waaay up at 175th Street.

- Tomorrow Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore stage their 12th annual Broadway Barks on Schubert Alley to benefit local animal rescue groups. Expect major Broadway talent and legendary stars of the past to be on hand.

- Broadway In Bryant Park's summer series of free lunchtime shows began yesterday and continues for the next five Thursdays. Next Thursday's performers include the casts of South Pacific, Billy Eliot, and Memphis. Shows start at 12:30pm behind the Main Public Library.

- The New York Times tips Hell's Kitchen's Bar-Tini Ultra Lounge as the hip new place to meet chorus boys on their night off. I've been, it's true. Love the hostess, Paige Turner.

VIDEO: Jim David's South Pathetic plays the NYC Fringe Festival next month.