Odds & Ends: Idina Menzel's New Album, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Special School of Rock Consultant & More

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

Idina Menzel's New Album
Broadway supernova Idina Menzel has some big news! According to Billboard, the Tony winner recently revealed: "I've been working on a new album.” The record is still in the early stages, with Menzel going on to admit that “there's not much to say other than that I feel creative and I'm sort of putting my heart out there and exploring different sounds and things like that. I'm not limiting myself.” It's time to see what she can do, test the limits and break through...! OK, yes we admit that we know all the words to Menzel's Frozen anthem "Let It Go"—doesn't everyone?!

Annaleigh Ashford & More Set for Drama Desk
Annaleigh Ashford, Andrew Rannells, Christian Borle, John Cariani, Sydney Lucas, Jessie Mueller and more will present or perform at the 2015 Drama Desk Awards. The previously reported event will take place on May 31 at The Town Hall, hosted by Tony winner Laura Benanti for the second consecutive year. Off-Broadway hit Hamilton, which will begin performances on Broadway in July, garnered the most nominations, with 13.

Liza Minnelli Books Stage Return
The legendary Liza Minnelli is heading back to the London Palladium for the fifth time! The Tony and Oscar winner will appear in An Intimate Evening with Liza Minnelli at the venue on September 20. Minnelli will be interviewed for 90 minutes live on stage talking about her extraordinary career, from growing up in Hollywood to the present day, ending with a performance of a few intimate songs. She first appeared on the Palladium’s stage with her mom, Judy Garland, in 1964. The show will also play in Sheffield and Glasgow on September 22 and September 24, respectively.

Off-Broadway Switcheroos
An off-Broadway update. Due to his previously reported injuries, Sahr Ngaujah will now not return to Signature Theatre’s production of Athol Fugard’s The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek. Kevin Mambo will perform the role through May 31; from June 2 through the end of the run on June 14, the role of Jonathan will be played by Yaegel T. Welch. Meanwhile, over at of A.R. Gurney’s What I Did Last Summer Izzie Steele will join the company in the role of Elsie, also beginning June 2; she steps in for Kate McGonigle.

Lloyd Webber's Special School of Rock Consultant
Andrew Lloyd Webber famously loves his cats. Indeed his musical Cats ran at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre for 18 years. Now his latest show, School of Rock, will start performances there in November and he recently proudly emailed out a picture of his cat Mika deciding what the front of house at the venue will look like. Incidentally, a Cats revival is Broadway-bound in 2016. And on that meta note, have a lovely weekend!