MOSCOW —  Madonna voiced hope Monday that three feminist Russian rockers on trial for performing a “punk prayer” against Vladimir Putin will be released soon.

“Obviously I believe in freedom of speech and I’m against censorship, so I hope that the judge is lenient with them and that they are freed soon,” the pop star said, during a concert tour of Russia.

Two weeks before Putin’s return to the presidency in a March election, five members of the Pussy Riot band staged their protest in Moscow’s main cathedral, singing “Virgin Mary, drive Putin away!”

Three of them were arrested, and have spent five months in custody on charges of hooliganism. They face up to seven years in prison if convicted. International rights groups have called them prisoners of conscience, and leading musicians have called for their release.

Madonna also shared impressions about her MDNA world tour, saying that performing in London’s Hyde Park was “really great.” She said she also enjoyed “the intimacy of it, being able to be so close to my fans” at a much smaller show in Paris’ Olympia Theatre.

Madonna, who is a co-partner in a new chain of global gyms, Hard Candy Fitness, also attended the opening Monday of one in Moscow.

“Exercise is a really big part of my life, everybody knows that. I work out, I’ve been working out all my life dancing, training for my shows,” she said. “My live shows are extremely physical and if I don’t stay in shape I can’t do them. Rather than going to gyms and complaining about what I don’t like about them I just decided to create my own and that way I can design the perfect gym.”

Star of ‘iCarly’ to helm spinoff after show ends

NEW YORK — Nickelodeon’s hit show “iCarly” made Jennette McCurdy a star, and although the show will air its series finale in November, the 20-year-old doesn’t have to worry about what comes next.

The network has tapped McCurdy and actress Ariana Grande to star in a spinoff tentatively titled, “Sam & Cat.” The series will follow the girls’ characters, Sam Puckett from “iCarly” and Cat Valentine from “Victorious,” as they become roommates and start a baby-sitting business.

“Sam & Cat” will be produced by Dan Schneider, who is behind Nickelodeon shows “iCarly,” “Victorious,” “Zoey 101” and “Drake & Josh.”

“I couldn’t be under a better person’s wing, so I’m really happy about that decision,” McCurdy said in a recent interview. “I haven’t seen a script … so I’m dying for information.”

Besides acting, McCurdy loves singing. She recorded a self-titled album with Capitol Records Nashville, but is no longer under contract with that label.

‘Scrubs’ doc returning to Broadway

NEW YORK — John C. McGinley, who played a lovable but scary doctor in the TV show “Scrubs,” is joining Broadway’s “Glengarry Glen Ross” opposite Al Pacino.

Producers of the David Mamet revival said Monday that McGinley will play Dave Moss alongside Pacino, Bobby Cannevale, David Harbour and Jeremy Shamos.

The revival marks the 30th anniversary of David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play about the backbiting world of salesmen.

McGinley was last on Broadway in “Requiem for a Heavyweight” in 1985 and his film credits include “Wall Street,” “Talk Radio,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” “Nixon” and “Any Given Sunday.”

Previews of “Glengarry Glen Ross” will start on Oct. 16 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre and an opening night has been set for Nov. 11.

Musician, wife say baby was stillborn

LONDON — Gary Barlow of the pop group Take That and his wife, Dawn, say their daughter was stillborn Saturday.

In a statement released Monday, the couple said they were devastated by the loss of Poppy Barlow and would like privacy.

Barlow, Take That’s frontman, also is a judge of “The X Factor” and organizer of June’s Buckingham Palace concert celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.