Odds & Ends: Benedict Cumberbatch's Hamlet Breaks Records, Darren Criss & Kristin Chenoweth Team Up & More

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

Benedict Cumberbatch's Hamlet Breaks Records
We gave our thumbs up to Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of the titular role in Hamlet back in August and now the world has! As we all know by now, the Olivier winner and Oscar nominee is currently appearing in one of the most talked-about productions of the play in its 400 or so years in existence at London's Barbican. On October 15, the Lyndsey Turner-helmed show was broadcast around the world to over 1,400 screens in 25 countries. Hamlet was seen by more than 225,000 people, making it the largest global audience for a live broadcast day of any title in National Theatre Live history. What a piece of work is Benedict, indeed...

Darren Criss & Kristin Chenoweth Team Up
Broadway.com Audience Choice Award winner Darren Criss will host and perform at the annual gala Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars, under the direction of Leigh Silverman. Other big names tapped for the lineup include Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth, Mo Rocca and Fiddler on the Roof’s Danny Burstein. The fundraising event for the Dramatists Guild Fund is scheduled to take place on October 26 at Gotham Hall in New York. We'd be thanking our lucky stars if we got to attend!

Original Funny Girl Cast Member Set for Revival
Maurice Lane, who was on stage with Barbra Streisand herself in the West End’s 1966 incarnation of Funny Girl, will play Mr. Keeney in the previously announced London revival, starring Sheridan Smith. Also boarding the cast will be Darius Campbell as Nick, Marilyn Cutts as Mrs. Brice, Valda Aviks as Mrs. O’Malley and Gay Soper as Mrs. Strakosh. Directed by Tony winner Michael Mayer and featuring a revised book by Broadway mayor Harvey Fierstein, the production will play a limited engagement November 20 through March 5, 2016 at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Opening night is set for December 2.

Absolute Brightness Heads West
The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, which finishes up its off-Broadway run on October 18, will transfer to L.A. Directed by Tony Speciale and written and performed by James Lecesne, the production is scheduled to play a limited engagement January 13, 2016 through January 31 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

Bernadette Peters Brings Stella & Charlie to Bloomies*
Self-proclaimed “doganizer” Bernadette Peters has released her third children’s book, Stella and Charlie: Friends Forever, and spoiler alert: Stella and Charlie are both dogs and it’s adorable. The Tony winner will stop by Bloomingdales on Third Avenue on October 17 at 2PM for a reading and signing. Because the only thing better than a story about canine besties is Bernadette Peters reading her own story about canine besties and then signing your copy.

* Broadway.com News Reporter Ryan McPhee naturally contributed to today's Odds & Ends.