Odds and Ends: Jason Blum to Host Special Paranormal Activity Performance, Falsettos Adds Second Concert & More

Here’s a quick roundup of stories you might have missed.

Blum on Broadway
Jason Blum, producer of the original Paranormal Activity films, is hosting a special performance of the franchise’s stage adaptation on August 26. Paranormal Activity is currently playing at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre. The show follows James (Travis A. Knight) and Lou (Cher Álvarez), a couple who relocate from Chicago to London in hopes of escaping their past, only to discover that “places aren’t haunted, people are.” Blum is the CEO and co-founder of Blumhouse, the production company behind Get Out, The Purge, Insidious and the seven (soon to be eight!) installments of Paranormal Activity.

Two Nights in Falsettoland
Another miracle has occurred! Due to popular demand, a second performance has been added for the Falsettos 10th anniversary reunion concert at Carnegie Hall on November 2. The October 18 performance, which was meant to be a one-night-only benefit concert, sold out quickly. The 1992 musical comedy by William Finn and James Lapine was remounted in 2016, helme by original director Lapine. Two-time Tony winner star Christian Borle starred as Marvin, with Tony winner Stephanie J. Block as Trina, Andrew Rannells as Whizzer, Tony winner Brandon Uranowitz as Mendel, Tracie Thoms as Charlotte and Betsy Wolfe as Cordelia. Anthony Rosenthal, the revival’s original Jason, is set to make a guest appearance. Both performances will benefit the BroadwayEveryDay Foundation and Family Equality.

Christine Baranski (Photo by Sergio Villarini for Broadway.com)

Haymazing Casting
As previously announced, Christine Barnaski is making her West End debut as Judith Bliss in the Noël Coward comedy Hay Fever alongside Oscar nominee Richard E. Grant as David Bliss. The pair of stars will be joined by Nancy Carroll as Myra Arundel, Will Close as Simon Bliss, Charles Edwards as Richard Greatham, Ophelia Lovibond as Sorel Bliss, Ash Hunter as Sandy Tyrell, Lucy Karczewski as Jackie Coryton and Jo McInnes as Clara with Helena Antoniou, Charlotte Avery and Shaun Mendum. The comedy of manners about a family of egotistical actors will play London's Wyndham’s Theater from September 22 through December 12.

The West End company of Rent (Photo: Oliver Rosser)

Bohemian Rhapsody
Casting is set for the new West End production of Rent. Joining previously announced Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo as Mark Cohen will be Travis Ross as Roger, Alexa Lopez as Mimi, Billy Nevers as Collins, Lazy Violet as Maureen, Olivier nominee Danielle Fiamanya as Joanne, Jeevan Braich as Angel and Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Benny. The cast will also include Baylie Carson, Laura Delany, Ryesha Higgs, Montoya Holloway-Johnson, Rhys Hopkins, Shem Omari James, Hannah Macpherson, TJ Matara-Holloway, Ryan Nixon, Leah Vassell, James Wilkinson-Jones and Kevin Yates. Directed by Olivier winner Luke Shepard and choreographed by Tom Jackson Greaves, Jonathan Larson’s rock musical will play London's Duke of York's Theatre. This production is inspired by Shepard’s previous staging of Rent at Hope Mill Theatre in 2020. Rent will begin performances in the West End on September 26 with opening night scheduled for October 8.

Return of the Genie
Tony winners Darren Criss and James Monroe Iglehart have joined the cast of Disney Channel’s latest Descendants installment, Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story. Darren Criss takes on Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio, while Iglehart has been tapped to play Genie, a role for which he won a 2014 Tony for her performance in Broadway's Aladdin. The cast of Descendants will also  include Sherry Cola as Yzma and Hugo Ateo as Kron from The Emperor’s New Groove, Sean Yves Lessard as Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast and Dan Bakkedahl as Yen Sid from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice sequence in Fantasia. Production is underway, but a release date has yet to be announced.

P.S.
Ragtime Tony winner Caissie Levy is crossing the pond for a solo concert on December 13. Caissie Levy Live at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane will blend songs from her stacked Broadway resume, contemporary classics and personal storytelling.