Rialto Chatter - Page 24

With Michael Jackson's untimely death yesterday, the fate of a previously announced Broadway musical adaptation of THRILLER seems uncertain.

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reports that Matthew Warchus, the 2009 Tony Award winner for Best Direction of a Play for his work guiding Best Play honoree God of Carnage, will helm a new West End production of Ira Levin's 1978 Broadway play Deathtrap.

Several online sources including the UK Daily Mirror and WhatsOnStage are revealing that Mariah Carey is hoping to star in a play in London's West End next spring.

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Grey's Anatomy star T.R. Knight is exiting the hit ABC drama and eyeing a return to the stage, the Broadway stage to be exact.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel is reporting that film star Ashton Kutcher is being rumored to join the steady roster of screen actors making their Broadway debuts, Kutcher reveals Riedel is considering an offer to star in Neil LaBute's 'FAT PIG.'

PBS's Great Performances will air the spectacular London concert revival of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' 1986 cult musical Chess, featuring Reprise Records' Josh Groban and Idina Menzel as Chess in Concert on Wednesday, June 17th at 9 p.m. ET (check local listings).

The New York Times is reporting that screen and stage star Kerry Washington will join the Broadway production of RACE, the new play written and directed by David Mamet. Washington will co-star with previously announced James Spader and Richard Thomas in this world premiere production on Broadway.

Amanda Seyfried has found her pursuit of a stage career discouraging; The 'Mamma Mia!' film star has not been able to get past auditions for a Broadway show.

Variety is reporting that Broadway looks to be set to get a double dose of David Mamet this fall, with a transfer of his OLEANNA. Variety reveals that the production is likely to join a fall slate that also includes the playwright's new play 'Race.' The Doug Hughes-helmed staging of OLEANNA, starring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles, opened Sunday at L.A. Center Theater Group's Mark Taper Forum to enthusiastic reviews.

Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Terrence McNally's RAGTIME, which was a critically acclaimed sell out at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. now looks set to bring it's 'new music' to Broadway. While there is no official word or comment an Equity casting notice has been posted to Backstage for a Broadway/Production contract for RAGTIME. The notice states rehearsal and performance dates are to be announced. Equity principal auditions will be held June 22, 24 and 25 while Equity chorus calls are June 26 for dancers and June 23 for singers.

Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young might be eyeing a return to the stage. In a Tony night interview with Young and Frankie Valli, the actor stated that he and Valli have been discussing a return to JERSEY BOYS. Young said that while he recently moved to Los Angeles to pursue other opportunities, he hopes to return to the blockbuster show at some point.

A number of 'little birdies' are revealing that Tony Award-winning composing team Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have written something special for The Tony Awards. And that same gaggle of gregarious geese have informed us to set our DVR's for the telecast possibly going past 11pm.

Hollywood Superstars Zac Efron and Jake Gyllenhaal are both vying to star in the film adaptation of ROCK OF AGES, according to New York Magazine. It is thought that the two stars are contending for the role of 'Drew', a character originated onstage by Tony Award Nominee Constantine Maroulis.

WhatsOnStage.com is reporting that talks are under way to bring 'Minsky's,' the musical tale of Depression era burlesque that recently played in Los Angeles, to the West End in late 2010 or early 2011.

The New York Times is reporting that President Obama and his wife, Michelle, plan to visit New York City tomorrow, Saturday, May 30th and take in a Broadway show, the August Wilson play 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone' at the Belasco Theater on West 44th Street. The news of the First Couple's visit was revealed to The Times by three theater executives who had been informed of the First Family's plans.

When times are tough, the tough sell their Tony Awards. That is Jane Gaynor's plan, anyway. Gaynor, a producer of the 1978 original Broadway production of 'Ain't Misbehavin', is selling the Tony Award, and a slew of other theatrical artifacts, to the highest bidder in an effort to raise funds for those close to her.

The news today that the musical A Tale of Two Cities will be presented in concert form at the Theater Royal in Brighton, England, in preparation for a future CD and broadcast on the PBS station WGBH-Boston would at present seem premature.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel is reporting that Fela!, Bill T. Jones' electric and emotional musical about Nigerian political activist and Afrobeat creator Fela Kuti, is coming to Broadway in October to the Eugene O'Neill.

Kris Allen was crowned the 'American Idol' Season 8 champion tonight, Wednesday night May 20, after nearly 100 million votes were cast. Adam Lambert the glam-rock favorite to take the title came in second, but his future looks very bright as theatre industry insiders are already clamoring to steer him to The Great White Way and fast!

Might Jessical Biel be headed to a New York stage? The actress, soon appearing at the Hollywood Bowl in a concert version of 'GUYS AND DOLLS', indicated her interest in a recent interview with People Magazine.