Odds & Ends: #Ham4Ham Honors Olympian, Smokey Joe’s Cafe Revival Eyes Broadway & More

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

#Ham4Ham Honors Olympian
#Swam4Ham? At #Ham4Ham on August 24, host Rory O'Malley and more Hamilton cast members welcomed Olympic gold medalist Maya DiRado, who blew us all away in Rio. The team, decked out in suitably patriotic attire, congratulated the swimmer with awards of their own and a singing of the National Anthem. The Tony-winning tuner, as you are fully aware by now, is playing at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, led by Javier Muñoz and Brandon Victor Dixon (Sir).


Smokey Joe’s Cafe Revival Eyes Broadway
Next stop the Great White Way? Broadway.com has confirmed that Wayne Brady, Emily Padgett, Chester Gregory, Alysha Umphress, Dwayne Cooper, J. Daughtry, Aisha Jackson, Nicole Vanessa Ortiz and Ben Thompson are taking part in a developmental reading of Smokey Joe’s Cafe. There will be invited presentations of selections from the revival in September in anticipation of a Main Stem production to be announced. The show—Broadway’s longest-running revue—features a catalog comprised primarily of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller hits, including “Ruby Baby,” “Fools Fall In Love,” “Poison Ivy,” “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock.” Smokey Joe’s Cafe first opened on the Great White Way in 1995 and went on to play over 2,000 performances. The current incarnation is helmed by John Rando, with choreography by Joshua Bergasse and musical direction by Sonny Paladino.

Starry Cast Tapped for Reading of New Sondheim Tuner
Some more information has come to light about Stephen Sondheim and David Ives' new Luis Buñuel-inspired musical, which the legendary composer has said should bow at the Public Theater next year. Currently titled Buñuel, the New York Post reports that Brian Stokes Mitchell, Shuler Hensley, Sierra Boggess, Nancy Opel and Marc Kudisch took part in a reading of the project last week, which was attended by luminaries including Joe Mantello (who won a Tony for helming Sondheim’s Assassins). Coincidentally, a director isn’t attached to the project…yet.

Brian Justin Crum Nails It on AGT (Again!)
Broadway alum Brian Justin Crum (Next to Normal) continues to thrill on this season's America's Got Talent. Take a look at his recent cover of "In the Air Tonight" below.


P.S. Check out the new music video fron indie band Fialta—it’s directed and choreographed by Broadway’s Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Charlie Williams and features Main Stem dancers!