Odds & Ends: Los Angeles Theater Titan Gordon Davidson Dies, Watch Idina Menzel Sing 'Memory' & More

Here's a quick roundup of stories you may have missed today and over the weekend.

Los Angeles Theater Titan Gordon Davidson Dies
Gordon Davidson, a Tony-winning director and producer who became a monumental figure in the development of Los Angeles theater, has died at the age of 83. The Mark Taper Forum founder’s death was confirmed to the Los Angeles Times by his wife Judi. He led Center Theatre Group from 1967 to 2004; in his first year, he opened the Mark Taper Forum, which has premiered countless notable plays, including The Shadow Box (Davidson won a Tony for directing the Broadway transfer), Zoot Suit, Children of a Lesser God, Jelly’s Last Jam and Radio Golf.

FringeNYC to Take a Break in 2017
After 20 summers, the New York International Fringe Festival will go on hiatus in 2017. Organizers will use the break to reevaluate FringeNYC’s goals. “It really is a blank canvas,” the event’s artistic director, Elena K. Holy, told the New York Times. “Should it be bigger? Should it be smaller? Should it be find-your-own-venue? Should it be a particular genre? Everything is game.”

Drama League Awards Sets Date
Save the date! The 83rd Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony will be held on May 19 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. The eligibility period for Broadway and off-Broadway productions will end on April 17, followed by the nominations announcement on April 19. First awarded in 1922, the Drama League Awards are the oldest theatrical honors in America and include the prestigious Distinguished Performer Award, which recipients can only receive once during his or her career. This year’s big prize went to Lin-Manuel Miranda.

John Oliver to Honor Jude Law on Broadway
Two-time Tony nominee Jude Law will be honored at the Make Believe On Broadway gala on November 14 at the St. James Theatre. Hosted by John Oliver and helmed by Joe DiPietro, the event is set to include performances and appearances by Michael Cerveris, Montego Glover, Lesli Margherita, Brad Oscar, Adam Kantor, David Bryan and more. The fundraiser is in aid of Only Make Believe, a non-profit organization that creates and performs interactive theater for children in hospitals and care facilities.

Watch Idina Menzel Sing 'Memory'
Idina Menzel recently took on Andrew Lloyd Webber's epic 11 o'clock number "Memory" from Cats to celebrate the last day of Ellen's Annual Cat Week. The result, below, needs to be seen to be believed. In other news, Billboard reports that the Broadway supernova is set to perform at the second annual Latin American Music Awards on October 6.