NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Diggs to take on role of Hedwig onstage

NEW YORK

Taye Diggs is about to get a little freaky onstage — as the next transsexual singer Hedwig.

Producers of the Tony-Winning show said Monday that the “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” star will take over the title role in Broadway’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” starting July 22.

The show opened last season with Neil Patrick Harris starting off the Hedwigs — and winning a Tony Award — and was replaced by Andrew Rannells, Michael C. Hall, co-creator John Cameron Mitchell and currently Darren Criss.

Diggs, who has been onstage in “Chicago” and “Rent,” was on David E. Kelley’s “Ally McBeal” as attorney Jackson Duper and played Dr. Sam Bennett on Shonda Rhimes’ “Private Practice.” His films include “The Best Man Holiday” and “Brown Sugar.”

De Niro opens Nobu Hotel in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines

Robert de Niro and his business partners formally opened Asia’s first Nobu Hotel in Manila on Monday as the luxury brand gears up for global expansion.

The 321-room hotel within the bayside casino and entertainment City of Dreams complex opened to the beat of traditional drums and a shower of gold and silver confetti.

De Niro and his Nobu Hospitality partners, renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Hollywood producer Meir Teper, led the ribbon-cutting with Australian billionaire James Packer and Macau tycoon Lawrence Ho, co-chairmen of complex operator Melco Crown Entertainment.

The Oscar-winning actor said he is not only lending his name to the project but is personally involved in it.

“I’ve looked at what everything is, I am aware very much about the design, and so on and if there’s anything I don’t like I say it,” de Niro told reporters.

Associated Press