Rialto Chatter - Page 27

The following statement has been issued by the producers of ?Speed-the-Plow.? The grievance went as expected yesterday. The grievance committee (made up of League and Equity representatives) did not rule for either side and we will be filing for arbitration as provided by our contract.

Actors' Equity Association could not reach a ruling today in the hearing involving Jeremy Piven, so now both sides will be headed to arbitration. The New York Times gives a detailed account of the proceedings, explaining that Piven convinced a group of fellow actors that he did not violate his contractual obligations when he dropped out of the Broadway play 'Speed-the-Plow' in December. His passionate plea in the closed door meeting helped him avoid potential penalties for his high-profile departure, which he attributed to mercury poisoning.

Actors' Equity Association could not reach a ruling today in the hearing involving Jeremy Piven, so now both sides will be headed to arbitration reports gossip site TMZ.com.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel is reporting that Jeremy Piven is expected to appear in person before the grievance committee of Actors' Equity tomorrow to defend his claim that high levels of mercury in his bloodstream, brought on by a passion for sushi, forced him to abandon the Broadway revival of David Mamet's 'Speed-the-Plow.'

THE STORY OF MY LIFE, starring Will Chase and Tony Award nominee Malcolm Gets just celebrated opening night at the Booth Theatre on Thursday February 19th, but if the swirling rumors are true, this tale of friendship lost and found will play its final performance this Sunday, February 22nd.

The New York Post has reported that Marc Ecko Enterprises is looking at a big time 'Broadway' sized legal battle for walking away from its lease at the former Times Square Theater, where it suddenly dropped plans to open a spectacular, three-level flagship store.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel is reporting in his 'On Broadway' column this morning that the mother and daughter team of Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha Richardson had such a wonderful time performing in the Roundabout gala benefit reading of Stephen Sondheim's 'A Little Night Music' last month that they're up for a full-fledged revival on Broadway next year.

Bloomberg News is reporting that Spider-Man The Musical will have to wait a little longer for his Broadway debut because of production delays that have troubled the $31.3 million musical featuring songs by U2.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel reports this morning that British producer John Gore has been seen scouting out Broadway's Cort Theatre for a possible production of Dario Fo's 'Accidental Death of an Anarchist' which would star Eddie Izzard. The producer is also currently hunting for a director and a writer to do a fresh adaption of the play.

EQUUS concluded its 22-week engagement as scheduled on Broadway on February 8th, 2009. The play opened in September 2008 at the Broadhurst Theatre, marking the Broadway debut of Daniel Radcliffe. Mr. Radcliffe starred in the revival of Peter Shaffer's play opposite Tony Award winner Richard Griffiths ('The History Boys'). The big question was always 'who'll replace Daniel on Broadway?'

Associated Press Theatre writer Michael Kuchwara is reporting that 'Minsky's,' the musical tale of Depression era burlesque that just opened last week in Los Angeles, is set for a summer or fall Broadway bow, according to its producers.

UK Theatre website WhatsOnStage.com has revealed that producer David Ian tipped off his plans to bring the popular former Broadway, now US Touring musical, Xanadu to the UK. Speaking on Radio Five Live, Ian hinted that a UK transfer will be 'coming to a stage near you in August' - by which WhatsOnStage assumes is the West End.

Sierra Boggess is currently singing 'Music In The Air' as part of the cast of the new Encores! production, will she soon be singing 'The Music of the Night' in the upcoming sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, 'Love Never Dies'? If The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye has his facts correct, then she will indeed be portraying the Phantom's true love, Christine Daae, a role she played in the Las Vegas presentation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber mega hit musical.

Theater News Online is reporting that Alan Ayckbourn's well regarded comic trilogy 'The Norman Conquests,' will open this April at Circle in the Square. The Norman Conquests is comprised of three plays - Table Manners, Living Together and Round and Round the Garden.

Howard Panter, the dynamic UK co-founder of the Ambassador Theater Group, the producing company and owner of 23 London theatre venues, is setting his sights on Broadway in a VERY big way reports Variety. The trade paper reports that he has created an ambitious list of new projects targeting for Broadway -- including a handful of productions and in very exciting news, a possible new theater space.

IMDB has reported that Kevin Spacey has dropped plans to star in a West End production of A Star Is Born. The Award winning Spacey was set to play the role of washed up star Norman Maine in a new stage adaptation of the famous film, to be presented at London's Old Vic theatre, where Spacey is artistic director.

The New York Times is reporting the positive news that the leaders of New York's Public Theater announced today, Thursday January 29th, that they have signed an agreement with the Broadway producer Elizabeth I. McCann that avoids legal action, threatened by Ms. McCann, over the upcoming transfer of the musical 'Hair,' which is scheduled to begin rehearsals on Friday.

UK's The Guardian is reporting that Magnum Force, the 1973 sequel to Dirty Harry, in which Clint Eastwood hunts down a group of vigilante cops with a penchant for murdering gangsters, is being planned as musical for a future Broadway bow. British singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock, is the man behind the inspiration to take Dirty Harry to the Great White Way. Hitchcock plans to produce the show alongside MTV executive Bill Flanagan.

Desire Under the Elms at the Goodman Theater just opened last night, Monday January 26th, 2009, but the New York Times is reporting plans for a Broadway mounting are already being worked out. The Times' Arts Beat column has revealed that producer Jeffrey Richards announced today, Tuesday January 27th that he was hoping to transfer a major new production to New York - a revival of the Eugene O'Neill classic 'Desire Under the Elms' - despite the current grip of fearful economics of the Rialto. The show has been extended at the Goodman and will now play through March 1. Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls and renowned actor Brian Dennehy bring their artistic partnership to new heights with Eugene O'Neill's haunting drama, Desire Under the Elms-marking their fifth collaboration on O'Neill's work over two decades. Falls' cast includes stage and screen stars Carla Gugino (Entourage, Spy Kids, Sin City) Pablo Schreiber (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Awake and Sing!), Boris McGiver (The Wire) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Broadway's Cyrano de Bergerac). The centerpiece production of Goodman Theatre's two-month 'A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century,' Desire Under the Elms appears January 17 - March 1 in the Goodman's 856-seat Albert Ivar Theatre. Tickets are $25 - 82; a full Exploration calendar, including dates, times and ticket prices, appears at the end of the release. Allstate is the Corporate Sponsor Partner of Desire Under the Elms and The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation is the Sponsor Partner. UBS is the Lead Corporate Sponsor for 'A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century' and The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is the Sponsor Partner. Motorola Foundation is the Corporate Sponsor Partner. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.

The New York Post's PAGE SIX is revealing that Jennifer Lopez 'insiders' say Lopez is interested in starring in 'In the Heights,' the musical about Washington Heights. She went to the show twice last week and accompanied the producer, Meryl Poster, to dinner Friday evening at Nobu 57, where they discussed roles. Another insider quotes PAGE SIX says Lopez might be more interested in a movie version, as Broadway shows are exhausting and time consuming, and Poster also produced the screen version of 'Chicago.' A rep for Lopez said, 'She loves the play but is not Broadway bound.' There has been other unconfirmed information that she would like to direct the film version. Back in October 2008, at the REVIVAL: Broadway's Next Act panel discussion at Carnegie Hall, Hairspray movie director Adam Shankman revealed that Jennifer Lopez is very interested in guiding In The Heights to the silver screen. The diplomatic answer from 'Heights' star and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda was that while he'd be leaving the show in February 2009, he hopes the musical will continue to thrive without him, but did not comment directly on a film version. Lopez spent a very public evening at a performance of In The Heights with her husband, Marc Anthony last year to celebrate her 39th birthday and is a very vocal fan of the show. Universal Pictures announced in November 2008 that it had acquired the rights to produce a feature film based on In The Heights, a multi-generational and multi-ethnic musical by Tony Award winner, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes.