Rialto Chatter - Page 6

Though rumors have been circulating for some time that Pamela Anderson is headed to the Great White Way, the actress confirmed yesterday that she still plans to make an appearance on Broadway: 'I'm gonna end up in musical theater. I'm gonna be on Broadway,' she said after her elimination from DANCING WITH THE STARS.

Starring alongside Tony winners Michael McGrath and Beth Leavel are Brooks Ashmanskas, Richard Bell, Jack Doyle, Marty Passante, Jennifer Cody, Kelley Bradshaw, Mary Callahan, Melissa Jones, Amanda Kloots-Larsen, Brittan Marcin, Beth Nicely, Abbey O'Brien, Jillian Owens, Kristyn Pope, Kimber Stevenson, Scott Brateng, Barry Busby, Sean Quinn & Clifton Samuels.

Deadline.com, while reporting on an upcoming film project for Renee Zellwegger (her directorial debut, 4 1/2 minutes, oppposite Johnny Knoxville), also notes that 'She'll also star in the upcoming Broadway adaptation of The Hustler, written by Tambakis and to be directed by Warrior‘s Gavin O'Connor.'

While Latin hearthrob Ricky Martin is signed to star in EVITA through the end of the year, with a Spring 2013 contract extension possible as well, Michael Riedel reports in today's New York Post that producers are already on the hunt for replacement stars as 'Che' to ensure the show continues when Martin departs.

A new casting notice has gone out for both an upcoming fall developmental lab of the Broadway-bound HANDS ON A HARDBODY, as well as the upcoming Broadway production, which aims to begin rehearsals in January of 2013. This fits with the previously announced news that the La Jolla Playhouse production would be heading to Broadway this coming season.

According to a casting notice on Backstage, Shooting High Productions is casting an AGVA-sanctioned workshop/showcase of the Broadway-bound production of SUGAR BABIES, starring Tony Award winners Michael Mcgrath and Beth Leavel.

Is the Public's Shakespeare in the Park production of INTO THE WOODS headed for 45th Street? The New York Post's Michael Riedel says today that the show is raising money and looking toward the Hirschfeld Theatre, which currently houses a limited return run of FELA!; the Fela Kuti-inspired musical closes August 4 and no other show is lined up as of yet.

James Lapine has reportedly been commissioned for a stage adaptation of Moss Hart's landmark autobiography, ACT ONE, by Lincoln Center Theatre's artistic director Andre Bishop.

According to a recent Equity audition notice, Romeo and Juliet might be heading back to Broadway in the near future, with auditions taking place at the end of the month. The Shakespearan classic might also embark on a national tour in 2013. A production timeline has not been announced.

According to the New York Times, Broadway favorite Nathan Lane will be heading back to Broadway in Douglas Carter Beane's The Nance, a new play about a performer who played the role of the nance in burlesque shows in the early 20th century. Lincoln Center Theater is looking to bring the show to Broadway in spring 2013, with Jack O'Brien attached to direct.

In a recent interview with Showbiz411, stage and screen star Sigourney Weaver revealed that she might be heading back to the stage in another Christopher Durang play at Lincoln Center. Weaver, who previously worked with Durang in 1996's SEX AND LONGING, would join the cast of VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, opening November 12 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. An official casting announcement has not yet been made.

BroadwayWorld.com has learned that casting is now under way for a 29-hour reading of ANASTASIA - A New Musical, based on the hit 1997 animated motion picture from Fox Animation Studios. The musical, which is in its early stages of development will feature the five songs from the film along with fifteen new songs written for the stage.

Producer Scott Rudin, who holds the rights to produce the show on Broadway, has decided not to stage the Goodman Theatre production on the Great White Way.

A casting notice has revealed potential July starting dates for a new actor to take over for the Tony-nominated Christian Borle as 'Black Stache' in Peter and the Starcatcher when he departs (as expected) for the filming of season two of NBC's SMASH. We're told by a production source that no official date has been set for Borle's last performance, which remains to be determined.

Those who closely follow Broadway Grosses have been keeping an eye on GODSPELL's numbers as of late and wondering what the future held for the musical, which was recently announced for a performance on Sunday night's Tonys. Lead producer Ken Davenport has shed some light on the show's health in a new blog entry noting that after a slew of recent promotions ranging from 'Pay Your Age' to the 'Cast of 2032' and a Fan Appreciation Day:

Speculation is running rampant in California with an announcement expected shortly for the casting of the Hollywood Bowl's summer musical - THE PRODUCERS. Earlier this week, BWW reported that Richard Kind revealed on Kevin Pollak's Chat Show that he was on board for the project. Now, our LA sources are buzzing that Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson might play 'Leo Bloom' after recently tweeting: 'I wanna be a producer'. No official casting announcement has been made.

In an interview with thecraptacular.com, David Yazbek revealed that he and Jeffrey Lane have been rewriting WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN ahead of a new production in London next year.

According to an Equity casting notice posted today, it seems the Roundabout Theatre Company will be presenting a revival of Cyrano de Bergerac at the American Airlines Theatre this fall. Previews are listed as begining Sepember 14, 2012 in anticipation of a limited run ending December 9, 2012. Rehearsals will begin August 14, 2012.

Rumours that The Public Theatre's production of INTO THE WOODS will transfer to Broadway have been fueled once more by The New York Post, which reports that extentions to Donna Murphy, Amy Adams and the rest of the cast's contracts are being negotiated.

Today on Twitter, in response to a fan asking '@Rosie R U doing Annie or is that a rumor?', O'Donnell responded 'rumor - I auditioned but didn't get it'.