Photo/Video File

“It’s Hairspray meets Rent,” says Rosie in describing Taboo. “I went to see The Lion King in previews…and I sobbed like a baby. I went back with my three-year-old son on my lap and I talked about it incessantly for the entire year that it ran on Broadway. Why? I have never been so moved and amazed as I was at that show. And I’m telling you right now: The same thing will happen to you if you buy a ticket and sit in the theater and watch [Taboo]. I promise you. It’s really, really astounding.”

Asked to state the theme of Taboo, Boy George replied: “Don’t judge any book by the cover! You know, RuPaul said something wonderful once: She said, ‘We’re all born naked and everything’s drag.’ Whether the drag you wear is to say ‘I want to fit in’ or to say ‘I don’t want to fit in,’ it’s all drag. We’re all using our clothes as a way of saying something about ourselves, and it isn’t necessarily always true.” For more on Taboo, including archival video from the press conference, visit www.tabooonbroadway.com.

“God, I hope I get it!” This was the scene inside the Little Shubert Theatre on Wednesday, August 27 as an open call audition was held for Fame on 42nd Street — the first New York production of the musical stage adaptation of the movie Fame, a show that has been seen in various versions throughout the world.

Among the hundreds of hopefuls lined up outside the theater for their chance at Fame: Bobby Miga and Michelle Donelson Renda.

The line of young auditionees stretched all the way around the block and onto West 41st street. In total, about 500 people auditioned that afternoon.

Here are some TheaterMania video clips of the Fame open call, including interviews with a few of the hopefuls and with director Drew Scott Harris.

If you feel like you’ve been seeing lots of great pictures of Hugh Jackman lately, that’s because the movie star has been wonderfully cooperative with the press in order to get the word out on his current project: the Broadway production of The Boy From Oz, based on the life and music of pop music icon Peter Allen, in which Jackman plays his fellow Aussie. Here’s the star in motion at the first rehearsal for the show on Thursday, August 21 at the New 42nd Street Studios…

…and here he is again with co-star Stephanie Block, who plays Liza Minnelli — Allen’s longtime pal and, briefly, his wife. The Boy From Oz begins previews at the Imperial Theatre on September 16 and opens on October 16.

August 21 was also the date of the second annual Starving Artists Ball; held at the Metropolitan Pavilion, the event was a big success. Here’s Bradford Louryk, co-artistic director of Studio 42, unveiling the new Starving Artists trophy designed by Jonathan Adler.

The event’s keynote speakers were Stephanie D’Abruzzo of Avenue Q (left) and Frederick Weller of Take Me Out (right), pictured here with TheaterMania’s Alison Albeck.

Also on hand for the ball was Michael Arden, a.k.a. Tom Sawyer in the Roundabout/Deaf West Theatre production of Big River.

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party, a weekly event in the King Kong Room of The Supper Club, is still the place to be for those who don’t mind staying out late and partying on Monday nights. Here’s Caruso at a recent Cast Party, flanked by songwriter Marcy Heisler (left) and Mary Birdsong (right), who recently played Miss Garland in Judy Speaks at the Ars Nova Theater.

Also making the scene at the King Kong Room: Avenue Q composer-lyricists Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez.

We leave you with a shot of Daisy Eagan and Matt Bogart, taken at The Duplex following their performance in Love Letters on Monday, August 25. Cute as they look together, these two are not a couple off-stage: In fact, Matt was celebrating girlfriend Jessica Boevers’s birthday that very night, while Daisy and fiancé Patrick Comer were married just days after this photo was taken.