Odds & Ends: Benedict Cumberbatch Is a Popular Prince, Barbra's Singing with Elvis & More
Here's a quick roundup of stories you may have missed today.
Who Run the World? Benedict Cumberbatch
He’s a hot ticket and a hot Prince of Denmark. According to The Daily Telegraph, the forthcoming Cumberbatch-led London production of Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre has become the most in-demand production…ever. Within minutes of going on sale to the public on August 11, hopeful ticket buyers found themselves in an online queue of over 20,000 people. The show registered over 200% more searches than Beyonce and Jay Z’s world tour in the hours after going on sale. The Lyndsey Turner-helmed production does not begin performances until August 5, 2015. Fortunately for a certain Broadway.com News Editor, tickets went on sale to Barbican members earlier this month.
Streisand’s Sharing the Mic with Elvis & More
After posting a clearly untouched #nofilter portrait with her dog and the world’s most ridiculous cupcakes, Barbra Streisand has taken to her new Instagram account to drop some major news about her latest album, Partners. The album will feature Streisand performing duets with the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Babyface, Josh Groban, Billy Joel and the late King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley. Babs says it best herself: “What an extraordinary collection of talent!” Partners is scheduled for release on September 16.
Mark Ruffalo Wants to Return to the Stage
The revival of This Is Our Youth begins on Broadway next week, and Mark Ruffalo can’t wait. The The Normal Heart Emmy nominee, who got his big break in the off-Broadway production of Kenneth Lonergan’s play in 1996, told Deadline that he believes the piece will “resonate even deeper now than it did when it came out” and that he’s “thrilled by the cast.” That’s nice, but what about actually getting him back on stage? “I’m dying to come back,” he revealed. “I actually read a beautiful new play by Timothy McNeil that I am going to start just seeing if there’s some interest in it.” Get on that, Ruffalo!
Patti LaBelle Will Make Way for the Clowns
Grammy winner and Broadway alum Patti LaBelle is about to get freaky. According to TVLine, LaBelle, who recently starred on the Great White Way in After Midnight, will appear in four episodes of American Horror Story: Freak Show as the mother to Gabourey Sidibe’s character. She’ll play a local townsperson who investigates the secrets of the murderous clown Twisty. She joins a slew of Broadway vets who are returning to the series. The site reports that LaBelle’s character will not sing, but here’s hoping that that changes. Because if this golden opportunity doesn’t occur at some point during the season, we will be livid.