I'm a week early, but I think it's never too early to talk about Thanksgiving. In fact, I know a few people who are already done with their Christmas shopping.
But, since I don't want to rush you, we'll focus on Turkey Day — the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, to be exact. I thought I'd fill you in on a few of the reasons why it might be worth getting up early so your bird can be in the oven and then plop down on the couch at 9 a.m. on NBC.
As usual, the parade will offer a taste of some of Broadway's biggest names and shows — and sounds like most of them will be on in the first hour. But, the soloists will be on toward the end of the parade.
During the first hour of the parade, the cast of "White Christmas" will perform "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm/White Christmas," followed by the gang from "Washington Heights" singing (rapping?) the title song "In the Heights."
The next treat will be from "South Pacific," as the sailors belt out "There Is Nothing Like a Dame," and "Little Mermaid" will round out the first hour with "Under the Sea."
This is when you can take a break from watching and head back the kitchen. But get back in time for the revival cast of "Hair" performing "Aquarius," and solos from two leading ladies: Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. Sitting atop the Care Bears Winter Fun-derland float, Chenoweth will sing "The Christmas Waltz." And from the M&Ms float, Menzel will sing "I Stand," from her solo CD of the same name.
And, an important side note for us Utah folks, our "American Idol" runner-up, David Archuleta, will be singing as well!
Here's the rest of the Broadway news:
"Roxie!" Melora Hardin, who plays Jan on "The Office," will be joining the cast of "Chicago" starting Dec. 29. Hardin sang this past summer at the Hollywood Bowl in the "Les Miserables in Concert" and will be in the tights until Feb. 12. I could insert a funny reference to the hit comedy "The Office," but many of them aren't entirely appropriate.
"Whoopee!" Or, Whoopi, more accurately, as in Goldberg, star of the 1992 film "Sister Act," which will be adapted to the stage. It will open in London in June. This is a "completely retooled" version of the one that was tried out in California in 2006, which had mixed reviews.
"Ugly Betty" will dabble among Broadway's elite again. Since the show is set in New York City, notables have appeared before. (Most notably an episode where Betty goes to "Wicked" and talks through the whole show.) This time, the lovely Bernadette Peters will grace the airwaves in an episode scheduled for January. She's playing a "magazine mogul with a mouthful for a name."
E-mail: ehansen@desnews.com