Odds & Ends: Lin-Manuel Miranda's a History Maker, Downton's Michelle Dockery Quits Donmar & More

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

Miranda's a History Maker
Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator and star of gargantuan Broadway hit Hamilton, will be honored alongside Ron Chernow at the New York Historical Society’s Annual History Makers Gala. It was Chernow’s biography of the founding father, of course, that inspired Miranda (whilst on an inflatable pool lounger) to pen the show. The event will take place on November 9 at the very swish Cipriani Wall Street and is set to feature a chat with the honorees moderated by Charlie Rose.

Downton's Michelle Dockery Quits Donmar
Big switcheroo at London’s Donmar Warehouse. Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery has withdrawn from Les Liaisons Dangereuses; Elaine Cassidy (Fathers and Sons) has been tapped to take on the role of Madame de Tourvel in her stead. The revival of Christopher Hampton’s classic will begin previews on December 11, open on December 17 and play through February 13, 2016. Annoyed you won’t be able to get across the pond to see all that sex, intrigue and betrayal? Those trusty folks over at National Theatre Live will broadcast the production to movie theaters on January 28.

Broadway Press Agents Switch It Up
An interesting nugget of Broadway business news that has caught the Main Stem's attention today. Publicist Rick Miramontez and a number of his staffers at O&M Company (who have masterminded the Tony campaigns for the past three Best Musical winners: Fun Home, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and Kinky Boots) have joined national public relations firm DKC. The new entity will be known as DKC/O&M, with the idea being that clients will now have a one-stop-shop for all their screlting, crisis management, marketing and government affairs needs.

Dame Maggie Smith is Oscar-Bait
It's the time of year when potential Oscar-winning movies start making their presence felt. Right up there in contention is the silver screen adaptation of Alan Bennett's The Lady in the Van, starring Maggie Smith. The Tony and Oscar winner (and Downton Abbey Dowager) appears as a real-life homeless woman in the film, which will receive an awards-qualifying run in New York and L.A. on December 4. Check out the latest trailer below, which includes more of Tony winner James Corden's scene-stealing cameo.