Marshall to Bring Starry Bennett Special to Small Screen

"Target Presents Tony Bennett: An American Classic," a music special featuring the legendary singer that will air on NBC, will be produced and directed by Oscar-winning stage and screen director Rob Marshall.  It will be presented on November 21st at 8 PM (check local listings).

Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl) will duet with Bennett on "Smile," while Elton John (Billy Elliot, Aida) will join him for "Rags to Riches."

"Set amongst the backdrops of different eras from Bennett's career, performances will include duets of his most memorable songs as well as spectacular dance numbers. Each musical performance is shot as a short movie," according to NBC notes.

Stevie Wonder, John Legend, kd lang, Diana Krall, Michael Bublé, Chris Botti, Juanes and Christina Aguilera will also be featured performers in the special, which will boast apperances by John Travolta, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Robert DeNiro, Bruce Willis and Billy Crystal.

The special, which will be choreographed by John DeLuca, will feature production designer John Myrhe, costume design by Colleen Atwood, and cinematography by Dion Beebe. Marshall, DeLuca and Danny Bennett will serve as executive producers; RPM TV Productions, Inc. produces.

Marshall, whose latest big screen effort was Memoirs of a Geisha, received an Oscar nomination for directing the film version of Chicago, which won the 2003 Oscar for Best Picture.  He also choreographed the TV musical versions of "Annie" and "Cinderella," as well as "Mrs. Santa Claus."

Marshall earned a Tony nomination for co-directing the latest revival of Cabaret with Sam Mendes; he was also recognized with a nod for his choreography.  He has also received Tony nominations for choreographing Kiss of the Spider Woman, Damn Yankees, She Loves Me and Little Me.

Visit www.nbc.com for more information.