Theatre News Roundup: 8/7-8/8

I saw an interesting play today but I don't want to offer an opinion because I was 20 minutes late. I thought it had some interesting things to say but it kept me at distancing as it mostly told instead of showed. It did reach me in the regular dialogue scenes but it was a struggle to bridge that gap. I question some of the logic but I appreciated that it gave most of the characters depth. It's always more interesting when no one is strictly right or wrong. The performances were good but not revelatory. Message me if you're OK with that and want to know more.

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• Rumer Willis will make her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the current revival of Chicago a little bit later than originally planned. She will begin her eight-week engagement Sept. 14, instead of the originally announced Aug. 18. Filling in for the extra month as Roxie Hart will be Chicago veterans Amy Spanger (Aug. 4-16) and Dylis Croman (beginning Aug. 18). Willis will extend her planned limited run through Nov. 1 at the Ambassador Theatre.

Come to the Cabaret (CABARETS/CONCERTS/ETC)

• Songwriter Zoe Sarnak and her friends from the Broadway community will perform at Joe's Pub Aug. 26. 

One Song Glory (ALBUMS)

• The 46-track, original Broadway cast album of the new musical Hamilton, is now available for pre-order from Atlantic Records.
• "Matters of the Heart,"Patti LuPone's studio recording of her acclaimed 2000 Lincoln Center Theater concert, will be reissued with all-new artwork by Broadway Records. 

A Foggy Day in London Town (UK NEWS)

• Steven Berkoff is set to return to the London stage in the world premiere of Anthony Horowitz's Dinner with Saddam that begins performances at the Menier Chocolate Factory Sept. 10, prior to an official opening Sept. 22, for a run through Nov. 14.
• Harvey Fierstein's 2014 Broadway play Casa Valentina is to receive its European premiere at London's Southwark Playhouse, beginning performances Sept. 10 prior to an official opening Sept. 16, for a run through Oct. 10. 

I Want to Go to Hollywood (MOVIE NEWS)

• Meryl Streep's new film "Ricki and the Flash" opens in theatres Aug. 7. The cast includes Audra McDonald and Gabriel Ebert.

Stop! Wait! What?! (EVERYTHING ELSE)

• Hamilton had already taken in $30 million at the box office prior to its official Broadway bow. 
• Alfie, a one-year-old Maltipoo from New Jersey, was chosen to be the face of Sylvia.
•  The Federal Communications Commission voted Aug. 6 to adopt new rules intended to address the growing demand for frequencies and airwaves in the ever-expanding world of mobile phones. The new rules, however, could negatively impact the sound of cordless microphones used on Broadway. Assigning less desirable frequencies could result in static, according to Bloomberg Business, which reports an FCC auction in 2010 required many Broadway theatres to purchase new microphones when the cordless mics "were relocated on the airwave spectrum."