Odds & Ends: Dylan McDermott Takes on Tennessee Williams, Watch Laura Benanti Channel Patti LuPone & More

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

Dylan McDermott Takes on Tennessee Williams
Dylan McDermott, a Golden Globe winner for The Practice, will tread the boards this fall. He is set to lead a new stage adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ 1956 film Baby Doll at the McCarter Theater in Princeton, from September 11 through October 11. Directed by Emily Mann and penned by Mann and Pierre Laville, McDermott will take on the role of Silva Vacarro, a cotton gin owner whose relationship with the young title character ignites an explosive game of cat-and-mouse. McDermott has only appeared on Broadway once, as a replacement (under the name Mark McDermott) in 1985’s Biloxi Blues, although he has been seen at Playwrights Horizons and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Could a Great White Way engagement be on his radar in the near future?

Nathan Lane Set for American Crime Story
Nathan Lane is yet another stage fave tapped by mega producer Ryan Murphy for American Crime Story, which follows the murder trial of O.J. Simpson. According to Deadline, the two-time Tony winner will take on the role of lawyer F. Lee Bailey in the FX series. Lane joins John Travolta as Robert Shapiro, Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson, Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark, David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian, Steven Pasquale as Mark Fuhrman and Billy Magnussen as Kato Kaelin.

Brit Director's Axe Attack on Theater After Bad Reviews
Quite possibly everyone who works in theater has had a metaphorical axe to grind with critics after negative reviews, but a British director brought out an actual axe. BBC News reports that Douglas Gordon, who helmed Charlotte Rampling in Neck of the Woods as part of the Manchester International Festival, used one of the show’s prop axes to take a chunk out of the wall at the Home theatre. In a statement, MIF artistic director Alex Poots said: "This is totally unacceptable, and the artist involved will be paying for repairs."

James Lapine Garners 'Mr. Abbott' Award
Tony, Pulitzer and Emmy winner James Lapine will receive the 2015 “Mr. Abbott” Award from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation. Lapine, whose Broadway credits include penning the book and directing Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Passion and Sondheim on Sondheim, will be honored at a gala benefit on October 19 at Stage 48.

Watch Laura Benanti Channel Patti LuPone
Tony winner Laura Benanti, who will be returning to the Great White Way in the spring in the starry She Loves Me, has followed in Broadway icon Patti LuPone's footsteps and taken on the curse of the cellphone in theaters. Check out the video below of Benanti performing her self-penned "Look Up," with a little help from The Skivvies, Lauren Molina and Nick Cearley. It's as witty as you'd expect from the illustrious tweeter.