Odds & Ends: Nicole Kidman Preps for New Theater Role, Stephanie J. Block & Aaron Lazar Team Up & More

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

Nicole Kidman Preps for Latest Theater Role
Nicole Kidman will soon return to the stage in Anna Ziegler's new play Photograph 51 and the above pic has just been released of the Oscar winner preparing for her role as Rosalind Franklin. In it, she's visiting King’s College London and examining the original slide of Photograph 51 taken by Franklin, which was key to the discovery of DNA. Directed by Michael Grandage, Kidman will begin previews at the West End’s Noël Coward Theatre on September 5; the production will also star Will Attenborough, Edward Bennett, Stephen Campbell Moore, Patrick Kennedy and Joshua Silver. We're keeping an eye on this one—it has Broadway transfer written all over it.

Stephanie J. Block & Aaron Lazar Team Up
Broadway faves Stephanie J. Block and Aaron Lazar will join forces for A Cabaret Evening at 54 Below on September 28. Hosted by Steven Reineke, the event is a joint benefit in support of The New York Pops PopsEd Programs and Ronald McDonald House New York. The two organizations partner to provide music education programs that serve as creative outlets for the children and families in residence.

Brian Stokes Mitchell Set for Café Carlyle
Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell (Kiss Me, Kate) is set to make his Café Carlyle debut in Plays With Music September 15 through September 26. The all-new show will feature Broadway favorites, standards and jazz. Other names tapped for the fall 2015 season at the Big Apple hotspot include Kurt Elling, Buster Poindexter (aka David Johansen), Alexa Ray Joel, John Pizzarelli, along with Jessica Molaskey and Steve Tyrell. And never fear, throughout the season, Woody Allen will continue to perform Monday nights with the Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band.

Nick Hytner's New London Theater
Back to London, there's big news for the U.K. capital's theater scene. A new 900-seat theater is to be built at Tower Bridge as part of the One Tower Bridge development. The venue will be the flagship theater for the London Theatre Company, the new independent producing company founded by Tony winners Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr, following their departure from the U.K.’s National Theatre after 12 years. Designed to offer contemporary comfort for audiences and modern facilities for creative teams, the new venue will become the only commercial central London theater of its scale outside the historic West End. We can't wait to check it out when it opens in 2017!

Dusty Springfield Tuner Switches Up Cast
More shakeups with London’s new multi-media show Dusty. As previously reported, the production pushed back its opening night from June 3 to September 7 and it has now announced a plethora of cast switcheroos. Alison Arnopp will play Dusty/Mary O’Brien instead of Ellie Ann-Lowe, with Sienna Sebek as Norma for Arabella Rodrigo, Harvey Robinson as Dave Dean for Stewart McCheyne, Witney White as Martha Reeves for Allyson Ava Brown, Luke Thornton as Douggie Reece for Joe Vetch, Matt Blaker as Johnny Franz for Ben Tolley, Oliver Lynes as Vic Billing for Tristan Pate and Ellen Verenieks as Kay O’Brien for Joan Walker. Previously set to shutter on August 22, the world premiere will now play a limited engagement through November 21 at London's Charing Cross Theatre.