Odds & Ends: Sondheim's Startling Scoop About Into the Woods, Cicely Tyson Tapped for Murder & More

Here's a quick roundup of stories you may have missed today and over the weekend.

Sondheim's Startling Scoop
In Case You Missed It (how?) we’ve been writing about the upcoming Into the Woods movie for quite some time. You know, the film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s classic tuner starring Meryl Streep as the Witch, the role originated by Bernadette Peters on Broadway in 1987. And then Sondheim goes and tells the LA Times something that blows our minds. Streep taking on the role was “ordained because the lady who played the Witch on the stage and the lady who's playing the Witch in the movie, their last names are anagrams of each other.” Streep, Peters—in all our endless column inches how could we not have noticed that before?

Cicely Tyson & Marcia Gay Harden Head to Shondaland
Shondaland is tapping Broadway again! Tony winners Cicely Tyson and Marcia Gay Harden will guest star and recur, respectively, on How to Get Away with Murder opposite two-time Tony winner Viola Davis. According to The Hollywood Reporter, details of Tyson’s role are being kept quiet; Harden's character will be a foil for Davis’ Annalise Keating. The hit ABC show will return to our screens on January 29.

Michele Pawk & More Set for Vanya and Sonia...
We now know who will be appearing in the previously reported production of Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Paper Mill. Directed by Don Stephenson, the comedy will feature Tony winner Michele Pawk (Hollywood Arms) as Sonia, Gina Daniels (All the Way) as Cassandra, Carolyn McCormick (Equus) as Masha, Mark Nelson (After the Fall) as Vanya, Philippe Bowgen as Spike and Jamie Ann Romero as Nina. The show will play January 21, 2015 through February 15, with opening night set for January 25.

Rachelle Rak to Play 54 Below
Broadway vet Rachelle Rak (Cats, Fosse, Catch Me If You Can) will perform her one-woman show, Sas with One 'S'™ at 54 Below on January 4, 2015 and January 29. Expect to hear songs from Starlight Express, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Fosse, The Jack Cole Project, Rak’s signature song “SAS” and more. We now know where we'll be bringing our sas in the New Year!