Theaters Improve Actor Housing; Fire at Universal

• Recently, two regional theaters improved their housing for visiting artists. In 2010, Salt Lake City's Pioneer Theatre Company spent $2.6 million renovating a historic building into actor residences. Also, this year, Connecticut's Godspeed Musicals used $5.5 million to create a sort of village of artist houses. Check it out at Playbill.

• Kiosk rental service Redbox is planning to partner with Verizon on a streaming service. According to TechCrunch, the endeavor is reportedly directed toward digital platforms, but not cable.

• A fire erupted in a construction zone at Universal Studios on Thursday afternoon, reported Deadline. It was extinguished quickly and damage was limited. 

• 6'5" actor Tug Coker has been cast to play Larry Bird in the biographical play "Magic/Bird." Read the story at The New York Times.