What's announced and what's in previews in the West End.

An improbable powdered wig, resting uncertainly on the head of conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos, popped up from the orchestra pit of the Imperial Theatre on May 2, and we were suddenly, officially, off to 18th-century England for a chaotic, character-cluttered, nigh-on-three-hour ride with Coram Boy, accompanied by choral surges of Handel.

My doubts have been confirmed about Natasha Richardson and Alan Cumming filming a "Cabaret" movie. Last month, I speculated that the talks would result in nothing more than a return to the Broadway production and possibly a taping for television, and that appears to be exactly what will happen. Along the way, Richardson also had to drop out of the planned Roundabout revival of Strindberg’s Miss Julie with Philip Seymour Hoffman. The production is apparently still on: Having lost Our Town and the new Spring Awakening musical in the space of about a month, the Roundabout can ill afford to drop its starriest revival of the season and is looking frantically for a new Julie. The most likely candidate appears to be Rachel Weisz, whose last stage role — in Neil LaBute’s The Shape of Things — involved sexual manipulation as well. Weisz repeated her role for the "Shape of Things" film, which is scheduled to open in either February or March of 2003.

My doubts have been confirmed about Natasha Richardson and Alan Cumming filming a "Cabaret" movie. Last month, I speculated that the talks would result in nothing more than a return to the Broadway production and possibly a taping for television, and that appears to be exactly what will happen. Along the way, Richardson also had to drop out of the planned Roundabout revival of Strindberg’s Miss Julie with Philip Seymour Hoffman. The production is apparently still on: Having lost Our Town and the new Spring Awakening musical in the space of about a month, the Roundabout can ill afford to drop its starriest revival of the season and is looking frantically for a new Julie. The most likely candidate appears to be Rachel Weisz, whose last stage role — in Neil LaBute’s The Shape of Things — involved sexual manipulation as well. Weisz repeated her role for the "Shape of Things" film, which is scheduled to open in either February or March of 2003.

The centennial year of the birth of Richard Rodgers has just been celebrated, with considerably more fanfare than that accorded Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and George Gershwin combined. This is understandable, in a way. Rodgers had two distinct careers as a songwriter. He would be equally celebrated had he only written the nine Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals, from 1943 through 1959. Before joining Oscar, however, he wrote almost 30 musicals with Lorenz (Larry) Hart. These scores include more than enough sublimely beautiful songs to have brought Rodgers lasting fame, even without Hammerstein.

The centennial year of the birth of Richard Rodgers has just been celebrated, with considerably more fanfare than that accorded Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and George Gershwin combined. This is understandable, in a way. Rodgers had two distinct careers as a songwriter. He would be equally celebrated had he only written the nine Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals, from 1943 through 1959. Before joining Oscar, however, he wrote almost 30 musicals with Lorenz (Larry) Hart. These scores include more than enough sublimely beautiful songs to have brought Rodgers lasting fame, even without Hammerstein.

Paul Dano — who currently stars in Off-Broadway's Things We Want — fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire with random facts, backstage trivia and pop culture tidbits.

Paul Dano — who currently stars in Off-Broadway's Things We Want — fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire with random facts, backstage trivia and pop culture tidbits.

Emerging cabaret singers and works-in-progress are featured in January performances of "The Garrick Gaieties," a series of shows in the Garrick restaurant at New York City's Mayfair Hotel.

Vassar & New York Stage and Film has also announced casting for its first mainstage production of the season, the bandaged place.

The Innovative Theatre Foundation celebrated the 11th annual New York Innovative Theatre Awards Sept. 21, honoring the best of the 2015 Off-Off-Broadway season. The Astoria Performing Arts Center was a recipient in three categories.