Odds & Ends: Robert Fairchild's Gene Kelly Tribute, Watch Misty Copeland Teach a Dog New Tricks & More

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

Robert Fairchild's Gene Kelly Tribute
An American in Paris’ Robert Fairchild has been called the new Gene Kelly after taking on the role of Jerry Mulligan, which the iconic triple-threat created in the 1951 movie, on Broadway, so it's fitting that he'll perform a tribute to him at the Career Transition For Dancers’ 30th Anniversary Pearl Jubilee: A Star-Studded Retrospective. Other big names attached to the event include two-time Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth, who will revisit the iconic "All That Jazz” from Chicago, along with Oscar winner and Broadway vet Shirley MacLaine, who is set to receive the 2015 Rolex Dance Award. The show will take place on September 28 at New York City Center.

Amazon Picks Up Bryan Cranston's Sneaky Pete
A trio of Broadway names are attached to Amazon’s latest series, which was selected for further episodes after viewers recently checked out the pilot. Tony nominees Marin Ireland (Reasons to be Pretty) and Margo Martindale (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) will feature in new drama Sneaky Pete, which is executive produced by Tony winner Bryan Cranston (All the Way). According to Variety, the show stars Giovanni Ribisi as a man who assumes the identity of a cellmate when he departs prison so he can escape his debtors.

Stellar Cast Set for London's In The Heights
Olivier winner David Bedella (Jerry Springer the Opera) will reprise his role of Kevin in the U.K. return of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning musical In The Heights. Additional new cast members include Broadway alum Joe Aaron Reid (If/Then) as Benny, Sugababes' Jade Ewen as Vanessa and Antoine Murray-Straughan, who played the rebooted Rum Tum Tugger in the recent West End revival of Cats, as Graffiti Pete. The production will play at London’s King’s Cross Theatre October 3 through November 1, with opening night scheduled for October 13.

Dylan Baker's a Real-Life Hero
Broadway vet Dylan Baker, who starred opposite Helen Mirren earlier this year in The Audience and was Tony nominated for La Bête, attempted to rescue a neighbor from a fire that erupted at his midtown Manhattan apartment building on September 1. According to NBC News, he got his family to safety then tried to help his elderly neighbor on the 33rd floor. In the end it was firefighters who found the woman after getting the fire under control; she was hospitalized in critical condition.

Watch Misty Copeland Teach Dog New Tricks
Switching gears to a much lighter note, we turn to Alysha Umphress. The former Broadway.com Vlogger enlisted ballet supernova and On the Town co-star Misty Copeland for her dog Dizzy's first dance lesson...with hilarious results! Check out the highly amusing video below and then hurry to the Lyric Theatre to catch the pair in the revival before it closes on September 6.
 

Dizzy's first ballet lesson wearing her @OnTheTownNYC tutu. I hired the best to teach her Obvi. @mistyonpointe pic.twitter.com/bRTCm316mH

— Alysha Umphress (@Cristalzheat) September 2, 2015