News Round-Up: March 7, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• Hat-tip to Towleroad for pointing up InstaHunk Ammar Alkatib (above). How about that face??? About all I know is he lives/spends time in Madrid and is uber-handsome. Imma gonna just sit here and stare at that gorgeous face, m'k? #WOOF

• Hawaii's state Senate voted to protect LGBTQ youth from harmful "conversion therapy." The legislation now moves to the state House of Representatives.

• During the after show of Watch What Happens Live last night, out Olympian Adam Rippon was asked if there was anything to the rumors that figure skater-turned-announcer Johnny Weir might have been jealous of the attention Adam received at the PyeongChang Olympics. Check out Adam's answer below as he makes it clear he's not looking for Weir's job.

• Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi paid a visit to RuPaul's Drag Race and praised the queens: "You’re an inspiration, I hope you know. Because you really know your power. It’s about taking pride, and you take pride in yourself when you know your power.”

• New Hampshire’s House of Representatives passed HB 1319 which would prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation. The bill, HB 1319, now heads over to the state Senate.

• Out singer/songwriter Calum Scott recently teamed up with 3-time Grammy nominee Leona Lewis for a duet version of his hit single, “You Are The Reason.” Check out the newly-released music video below. Scott's debut album, Only Human, drops on Friday.

Broadway Revival Of CATS Announces Casting Of "Grizabella"

Pop star Leona Lewis will play "Grizabella, the Glamour Cat" in Broadway revival of CATS

From BroadwayWorld:

Producers The Shubert Organization and The Nederlander Organization announced today that chart-topping British pop star Leona Lewis will play the role of "Grizabella," the Glamour Cat, in the first-ever Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-breaking musical, Cats.

One of the biggest hits in theatrical history, Cats will return to Broadway this summer at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 W 52nd Street) with preview performances beginning Thursday, July 14, 2016, and an official opening set for Sunday, July 31, 2016.

"Leona has one of the greatest voices of her generation," said Andrew Lloyd Webber. "We are all hugely excited about working with her."

"It is an incredible honor to be asked by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber to join the Cats family," said Lewis. "I will never forget seeing the show as a little girl and how blown away I was by the magical experience of it. I am beyond thrilled for my Broadway debut to be in such an iconic show. To work with a team as legendary as those on Cats is an experience I will cherish every moment of. I cannot wait to see the audiences out in NYC!"

British Singing Sensation, Leona Lewis has sold over 20 million records worldwide, reached #1 in over 35 countries, and is a 3-time GRAMMY nominee, a 7-time BRIT Award nominee also has also been nominated for MTV VMAs, EMAs, Billboard and most recently in 2016 a CMT award for her performance of 'Girl Crush' with Adam Lambert. Leona became the first British female solo artist to top the US Billboard 200 album chart in more than 20 years. Leona is a vocal powerhouse who is renowned for her massive four octave mezzo-soprano vocal range and power.