1. Cameron Esposito talks about mullets all over town ‘cause she has one and she knows all about them. Esposito’s making the rounds becaus her show Side Mullet Nation starts at the Playground tomorrow night for an extended three week run on Friday nights. She says two of the comics she’s included in her line-up, Andrew Halter and Caitlin Bergh, “rock my socks.” She also talks about some of her favorite locations to perform, one of which is a little surprising. “I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of holding a crowd’s attention at Steamworks” Esposito said, and yes, she’s referring to the Boystown men’s bathhouse. 

2. Lots of Funny Girl drama, albeit outside of Chicago. The producers announced this week that Lauren Ambrose has been cast as the lead in that particular production, making Lea Michele cry herself to sleep, or into her large Glee paycheck. Ambrose has done more theater in the past few years than usual — we’ve mentioned her turn as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare in the Park before — but what about musical theater? Director Bartlett Sher said, “It’s important that people not see this casting process as trying to find the next Barbara Streisand. She is one of a kind. Instead, I really needed someone with whom I could explore the original musical and come to terms with Fanny Brice for a new era.”

3. Michelle Krusiec also said goodbye to Chinglish on Saturday. The actress flew in from Los Angeles, and also managed to get some shopping time in in Wicker Park, and throughly enjoyed herself. It’s no Fred Segal, but it’ll do. You might remember her most as the competitive eater on Grey’s Anatomy whose coach just won’t say stop, but Krusiec has been in many films, and more recently returned to the small screen with roles on Community and General Hospital. 

4. The New York Times must have picked up on Jonathan Abarbanel‘s commentary about how standing ovations are so out, because they have a piece today about booing and whether it should make a comeback. “Today, I’m a theater critic with a platform to express myself,” says David Fox. “But as a civilian, I’ll admit I contemplated booing.”

5. Want to know what’s going on in Canada? Chris Jones knows all about the Stratford Shakespeare Fest, including the story on how artistic director Des McAnuff is leaving his post in 2013.

Questions? Tips? Email kdries@wbez.org.