Odds & Ends: Idina Menzel's Snowman Challenge, See Brian d'Arcy James Abdicate for Jonathan Groff & More

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

Idina Menzel's Real-Life Olaf
Broadway and Frozen superstar Idina Menzel is inviting you to take The Snowman Challenge. It’s all in aid of A BroaderWay Foundation, the charity the If/Then headliner founded with her ex-hubby Taye Diggs that’s dedicated to empowering inner city girls through arts-based activities and education. Take part here and you could win a pair of tickets to one of Menzel’s upcoming concerts with exclusive access to the pre-show sound check! The cold never bothered you anyway, right?!

Maggie Smith Teases the Internet
Dame Maggie Smith sent the Interweb into overdrive this weekend by suggesting to The Sunday Times that she was done with treading the boards and Downton Abbey. Although the Tony and two-time Oscar winner's retirement from theater looks likely, Downton is set for a sixth season and Smith will definitely be a part of it. So breathe, everyone—you’ve got another year of put-downs from the Dowager Countess of Grantham to look forward to.

The Carmen Zeitgeist
The word on everyone’s lips is "Carmen!" Olivier winner Noma Dumezweni, John Light, Jack Farthing, Downton’s Sharon Small and Viktoria Vizin will star in the previously reported U.K. premiere of Simon Stephens’ Carmen Disruption. Helmed by Michael Longhurst, the production will run at London’s Almedia this spring. Meanwhile, on this side of the Pond, Arturo O'Farrill’s adaptation of the classic Bizet opera, Carmen: An Afro-Cuban Musical, will present a dance workshop in the Big Apple on March 6. This version has direction by Moisés Kaufman and choreography by Sergio Trujillo. Neither project is to be confused with Christopher Renshaw's update of the Broadway musical Carmen Jones that played in Cuba last year.

I Believe in Unicorns Goes Back to London
I Believe in Unicorns will return to the West End this summer and play a limited engagement at the Vaudeville Theatre August 1 through August 30. The one-woman show, starring storyteller Danyah Miller, is a celebration of books and the power of reading and is based on the eponymous novel by award-winning children’s author Michael Morpurgo. If you're over the age of six, then this one could be for you!

Brian d'Arcy James Abdicates in Favor of Jonathan Groff
Jonathan Groff is assuming the role of King George in off-Broadway hit Hamilton on March 3, taking over for Brian d’Arcy James, who is set to star in the Great White Way’s Something Rotten. Check out the fun pic below of Groff’s coronation!
 

Coronation. pic.twitter.com/MBIPWeRXkQ

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) March 2, 2015