Kristin Chenoweth to Star in 'Pushing Daisies' Pilot

Tony Award-winner Kristin Chenoweth has been cast in ABC's new pilot "Pushing Daisies," according to Variety.

She will co-star with Lee Pace, Anna Friel and Chi McBride.  The pilot will be produced for Warner Brothers TV by executive producers Bryan Fuller, Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen and Barry Sonnenfeld, who also directs. 

According to the article, "Pushing Daisies" is a comedy-drama that concerns "a man who falls in love with a deceased woman after he figures out how to bring the dead back to life." 

If the pilot is picked up, Chenoweth will be featured on her first regular series since "The West Wing," in which she appeared as Annabeth Schott.  She also previously starred in the self-titled sitcom "Kristin."

The article also states the Chenoweth will indeed be starring as Dusty Springfield in an upcoming biopic of the rock singer; she had been rumored for the role for some time.

Chenoweth, who was nominated for a Tony for her performance as Glinda in Wicked and who won for her Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, plays the roles of Eve, Barbara and Passionella in The Apple Tree.  She has also been seen in Scapin, A New Brain, Steel Pier, Epic Proportions, in the Lincoln Center concert production of Candide, and the Encores! productions of Strike Up the Band, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and The Apple Tree. "As I Am" and "Let Yourself Go" are her two solo CDs. She also played Annabeth Schott on TV's "The West Wing."  Film credits include Running with Scissors, Stranger Than Fiction, Deck the Halls, R.V., Bewitched, and The Pink Panther.

Photo of Kristin Chenoweth by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.