Odds & Ends: London's Hamilton to Hold Open Casting Call, Gary Busey to Play Serial Killer Off-Broadway & More

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

London's Hamilton to Hold Open Casting Call
Brits will get their shot to star in the London production of Hamilton. Producers are searching, via open auditions from next month, for singers who rap and hip-hop dancers in their 20s and 30s, who are of any ethnicity. However, unsurprisingly, they are not looking for anyone to play the scene-stealing role of Prince George from this process—we’re expecting a British national treasure of some sort to take on the cameo. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning tuner is scheduled to open at the refurbished West End’s Victoria Palace Theatre in October 2017.

Gary Busey to Play Serial Killer Off-Broadway
Oscar nominee Gary Busey (The Buddy Holly Story) is heading off-Broadway! The Lethal Weapon and Point Break star is set to join the company of Perfect Crime as charismatic serial killer Lionel McAuley for a limited engagement, November 21 through December 4. The longest-running play in Big Apple history takes place in the home of a wealthy psychiatrist, Margaret Brent, who is accused of murdering her husband. The handsome detective thinks he has it all figured out, but her husband's murder is only the beginning in what may just be the perfect crime. You can catch the whodunit at The Theater Center’s Anne L. Bernstein Theater.

17 Again Tuner Remains in Development
The stage musical adaptation of the 2009 Zac Efron movie 17 Again, about a former high school basketball player who magically jumps back in time, is still in the works. According to an Equity casting notice, a developmental lab will take place in New York City next month. Directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman, the musical has a score by First Date’s songwriters Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner and a book by Marco Pennette. Darren Criss, Taylor Louderman, Leslie Kritzer, Andy Mientus and more have taken part in previous workshops and readings—no word yet on who will be playing the leads this time round.

Sydney James Harcourt Set for Popstar Workshop
We turn to another new project. Sydney James Harcourt (Hamilton) will lead invitation-only readings of new musical Popstar on October 20 and October 21. Conceived and directed by Sharon Rosen, the show features a book by Martin Casella, music and lyrics by Jay Levine and Sophie Dupin. Popstar follows fallen Hollywood record label executive "Buzz" Michaelson, who needs to find the next big thing in pop music; other talent tapped for later this month includes Judy McLane, L. Steven Taylor and Alysha Umphress.

P.S. Check out the video below for Rob Morean's Raise Your Voice: A Benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which will star Eden Espinosa, Max von Essen, Claybourne Elder and more on October 16.

Raise Your Voice - A Cabaret for a Cure 2016 from Jake Nathanson on Vimeo.