RIALTO CHATTER: BORN YESTERDAY Headed to Broadway with Hayley Atwell & Chris Noth?

Baz Bamigboye is reporting in the UK Daily Mail that Garson Kanin's classic comedy Born Yesterday, an enduring story of a corrupt tycoon and his not-so-dumb blonde girlfriend is in talks to head back to the Broadway stage this fall, starring Hayley Atwell and Sex and the City star Chris Noth.

Baz reports that "Hayley, who was nominated in the recent Olivier awards for her striking performance in A View From the Bridge (Ruth Wilson won), told me she went to New York, read for director Doug Hughes and was given the part, which would mark her debut on the Great white way." and that "However, everything hinges on the leading man. If the compass of availability hits due Noth, then Born Yesterday will be on for later in the autumn."

The play was a huge hit on Broadway in 1946 with Judy Holliday as Billie Dawn and the play was adapted into a successful 1950 film of the same name starring Holliday as well. It was remade in 1993 with the same name starring Melanie Griffith as the central character and updating the plot. A 1989 revival of the play starred Madeline Kahn.

Billie Dawn is the mistress of Harry Brock, a Washington D.C. power broker who has come to town to bribe and buy his way to the top. Harry hires a magazine reporter, Paul Verral, to teach Billie the knowledge and manner needed to make a good impression on Washington's elite. When Paul and Billie fall in love, however, the play becomes a statement on feminism and the power one woman can hold.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.