Behind the Curtain: Butz to lend Katie Holmes a hand, more

Katie Holmes in 'Dead Accounts'
Katie Holmes, who will headline the new comedy "Dead Accounts" on Broadway this fall, will get some help from two-time Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz, who will play Holmes' brother Jack, who returns home following a prolonged absence and proceeds to throw his family into a state of chaos.

John C. McGinley to join Pacino in 'Glengarry'
The forthcoming Broadway revival of David Mamet's Pulitzer-winning drama "Glengarry Glen Ross" - which will star Al Pacino, Bobby Cannavale and Richard Schiff - just got even more interesting. Now joining the cast is John C. McGinley, who starred on the television series "Scrubs."

'Diner' cancels S.F. tryout; still set for NYC run
The new musical "Diner," based on the 1982 high school reunion film and with a new score by Sheryl Crow, has canceled its fall out-of-town tryout in San Francisco. But that's not to say it won't play Broadway. According to its producers, the musical has been reconceived to suit a smaller theater and will still open in New York this spring.

Spiner wants to play Don Quixote on Broadway
I still have vivid memories of Brent Spiner, who is best remembered as Data on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," playing John Adams in "1776" and would love to see him onstage again. Spiner recently told a blogger that he desperately wants to play Don Quixote in "Man of La Mancha" on Broadway but fears that composer Mitch Leigh, who holds the rights, has no clue who he is. If it would help, I'll happily lend Leigh my "1776" revival cast album.

Thicke to host 'Queen for a Day'
Remember the classic television series "Queen for a Day," a historic precursor of reality television where women opened up about their problems and won prizes? Canadian actor Alan Thicke, best known for the television series "Growing Pains," is headlining a test run of "Queen for a Day: The Musical" in Toronto next month. I can't help but wonder whether the theater audience will get to pick the winner.

'Cinderella' revamp set for Broadway Theatre
It looks as if the new version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "'Cinderella" will really play Broadway. Its producers have announced that the production - with a new book by comic playwright Douglas Carter Beane and starring Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana and Tony-winners Victoria Clark and Harriet Harris - will begin previews at the Broadway Theatre (currently home to "Sister Act") in January. I'll be sure to ride a magic pumpkin there.

Spotted ...
Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt at "Into the Woods" ... Annette Bening at "Once" ... Stephen Colbert at "One Man, Two Guvnors."