Thanksgiving Day Parade Features Performances by ‘Once,’ ‘Newsies’

The casts of the hit Broadway musicals “Once” and “Newsies” will be featured performers during this year’s 86^th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

This year’s event will be hosted by Kevin Frazier and Brooke Anderson – co-hosts of “The Insider,” and they also will welcome some stars currently appearing on Broadway to speak with them throughout the parade. Country music and Broadway star Laura Bell Bundy will appear as an “on-the-street” reporter during the parade for the second year in a row.

Emmy-winner Henry Winkler, best known as Arthur “the Fonz” Fonzarelli from “Happy Days” will talk with the two hosts. Winkler currently is starring in the new production “The Performers.” Another television legend, Ed Asner, also will appear during the parade. Asner currently stars in the hit play “Grace” along with Paul Rudd.

Oscar winner Jessica Chastain also will appear alongside Dan Stevens. The two currently star in the Broadway revival of “The Heiress.”

In other news for the cast of “Newsies,” the group will appear tonight (November 13) on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” reality competition. They are expected to perform the song “Seize the Day” from their Tony Award-winning musical.

The appearance by the cast of “Newsies” will be the third time the reality show has welcomed a Broadway cast. The cast of “The Lion King” performed “Circle of Life” in 2009, and the following year the cast of “Mary Poppins” appeared to celebrate the 200^th episode of the show. The “Mary Poppins” group performed “Step in Time.”

“Newsies” broke five house records at the Nederlander Theatre and became the best selling new musical of last spring. In all, it was nominated for eight Tony Awards, winning two, for Best Choreography and Best Score. A London version is expected to open on West End late next year.