Odds & Ends: Jennifer Holliday Will Lead The Color Purple, West End's Beautiful Adds Stars & More

Here's a quick roundup of stories you may have missed today.

Jennifer Holliday Will Lead The Color Purple
Tony winner Jennifer Holliday will headline a three-city-tour of The Color Purple. The Dreamgirls star revealed on her Facebook page that she’ll take on the role of Sofia in the tuner, starting performances next week in Detroit. This production is not to be confused with director John Doyle’s version, which is co-produced by Oprah, although of course we’d love to see Holliday leading that one too.

Mrs Henderson Presents Aims for the West End?
This musical surely has to be West End-bound, not least for its tagline: "For the show to go on the clothes must come off!" The stage adaptation of cult film Mrs Henderson Presents will play the U.K.'s Theatre Royal Bath August 14, 2015 through September 5 and officially open on August 26. The tuner has a stellar creative team: book and direction by Tony winner Terry Johnson (La Cage aux Folles), with lyrics by Tony winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard) and music by George Fenton (The Judas Kiss) and Simon Chamberlain (Love Actually). No word yet on casting—the movie famously starred Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins.

Ian McIntosh & More Tapped for West End's Beautiful
Some kind of wonderful additional casting for the West End production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Ian McIntosh will star as Barry Mann, while Vivien Carter, Ed Currie, Oliver Lidert, Fela Lufadeju, Tanya Nicole-Edwards, Terel Nugent, Jay Perry, Tanisha Spring, Lucy St. Louis, Danielle Steers, Dylan Turner and Joanna Woodwood will play iconic musical performers and band members of the era. The previously announced Katie Brayben will lead the production as King, which will now officially open on February 24, 2015.

Megan Mullally Talks B'way, Surgery & More
It's Only a Play's Megan Mullally recently stopped by The Wendy Williams Show. The adorable Will & Grace star (and flight attendant favorite) talked her hubby Nick Offerman, Broadway, plastic surgery and more. Check out the interview below.



Watch Out Canadian Little Old Ladies: Drabinsky's Back
Garth Drabinsky, the Canadian theatrical impresario who landed up in jail for fraud, is not letting his criminal record stand in the way of producing another show. The New York Post reports that he is planning on bringing Madame Sousatzka to Toronto’s Elgin Theatre. The stage adaptation, possibly by Richard Maltby, would be based on the 1988 Shirley MacLaine movie, which Drabinsky produced. Sounds like any little old ladies out there need to beware.