Author Henry Bushkin Developing Musical About Johnny Carson and THE TONIGHT SHOW; Steve Tyrell to Pen Tunes

The New York Post writes that author and lawyer Henry Bushkin is kicking off rehearsals for a musical based on his book about Johnny Carson and THE TONIGHT SHOW.

Jazz artist Steve Tyrell is writing the music, with rehearsals set to begin at Bushkin's home in upstate Bedford this summer.

No word yet on an eventual venue (whether on Broadway or off), further creative team or casting details, but BWW will keep you updated as we learn more!

NBC's TONIGHT began in 1953 with host Steve Allen. Johnny Carson hosted THE TONIGHT SHOW for 30 years, having received six Emmy Awards, the Governor's Award and a 1985 Peabody Award. He was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987 and was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992, seeing a Kennedy Center Honor the following year. Carson stepped down as host in 1992, when he passed the torch to Jay Leno.

Current host of THE TONIGHT SHOW Jimmy Fallon recently expressed his desire for a TONIGHT SHOW musical, following NBC's live broadcast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC and its planned productions of PETER PAN and THE MUSIC MAN. We don't think he was being serious, nor do we think his version will be anything like Bushkin's show, but it's worth watching the hilarious clip again!