Rosie Says New Talk Show to 'Feature Broadway Prominently'

Rosie O'Donnell has signed a new deal to star in a new talk show slated for the 2011-2012 season. The new show will likely follow Rosie's current radio show format rather than her old daytime television talk show. 

Great news for theatre fans - Rosie told listeners on Rosie Radio today on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio would "feature Broadway prominently" and also re-iterated what the New York Times reported yesterday, that she would love to do it in a Broadway theatre.

The show is aiming to start in September of 2011, which puts its launch 15 months away.

A new story in the New York Times sheds some more light on the new show which is hoping to take Oprah Winfrey's slot in TV line-ups when she departs television in the same month.

The NY Times also notes that "The producers are in talks with real estate agents about possibly staging the show from a Broadway theater in New York City."

Rosie's short-lived recent Variety show was filmed live from The Little Shubert theatre, which is currently empty but there's no word if this is the theatre in question or not for her new show.

Former president of Warner Brothers Domestic Television Distribution Dick Robertson is one of the creative forces behind the new show.

After formally taking a break from the comedy circuit in 1995, O'Donnell went onto host the Emmy winning The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and The View and star on Broadway in GREASE. Additional Broadway credits for the star include FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, TABOO, and SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL. O'Donnell is currently emceeing her own radio show, Rosie Radio, on Sirius XM Radio.  For more information on all things Rosie, visit www.rosie.com.