Rialto Chatter - Page 20

Variety is reporting (sourcing the show's Telecharge ticketing page, not any sort of official confirmation) that Justin Bartha, known from his big screen roles in The Hangover and National Treasure will join the upcoming revival of LEND ME A TENOR in the role that was originally set to be played by T.R. Knight.

Wayman Wong of the NY Daily News has revealed that Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken has told him that he and lyricist Jack Feldman who wrote the music for the 1992 film are working on bringing the show to the stage, with a reading scheduled for the Spring of 2010 and a new book being written by Harvey Fierstein.

A new post on the Memphis blog hints at the possibility of a film version of the musical,and a potential tour, all the while promoting the limited edition of the original Broadway cast recording.

I was lucky enough to accompany one of the invited guests to the private reading of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. It took place Monday (Dec 21) at Playwrights Horizons at 3 pm in one of their rehearsal rooms. I was told that the guest list was very tight and not a lot of people were allowed to go because it was more of a test run and not any kind of backers audition.

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post that Will Ferrell's 2003 comedy Elf may be getting Broadway treatment, as a production underwent an industry staged reading last week. Riedel alleges that the buzz surrounding the reading has been positive.

BroadwayWorld.com has received a slew of emails tonight from theatergoers noting that tonight's scheduled 7pm performance of FELA! was cancelled due to multiple injuries. Audience members tell BroadwayWorld.com that they arrived at the theatre to be told that the show would begin late because they were doing onstage rehearsals of understudies to see if the show could go on, which ultimately it did not as the show was officially cancelled at 7:15, fifteen minutes after its scheduled start time. There's no word at this time on which performers from the dance-heavy show are injured. More information to come as it's available.

Niamh Perry who was a finalist on the BBC's I'd Do Anything reality show to cast Oliver! and who is currently appearing in Mamma Mia! in the West End tells the UK Daily Mail that she'll be creating the role of 'Fleck' in the upcoming The Phantom of the Opera sequel, Love Never Dies.

The world premiere of A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE, by Academy Award®- winning playwright Martin McDonagh will open on Broadway on Thursday, March 4, 2010. Directed by John Crowley (A Steady Rain), A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE will be McDonagh's first play to originate on Broadway.

According to the The New York Times, Kelsey Grammer is in talks to play Georges in the upcoming Broadway revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES.

While there has been no official news on the SPIDER-MAN front since an announcement on November 6 that Michael Cohl had joined the show as lead producer, and that it would indeed 'open in 2010' things have been rolling along behind the scenes trying to put everything into place.

Radaronline.com is reporting that Disney star Cody Linley is Broadway-bound in the remake of the musical Over Here! Linley, of Hannah Montana and Dancing with the Stars fame, reportedly has passed on the Disney Channel's television movie Starstruck in order to participate in the Broadway production. Sterling Knight has since taken over the Starstruck role. Over Here! is hoping for an opening in the beginning of 2010.

Michael Riedel in this morning's New York Post reports that Oskar Eustis, the head of the Public Theater, is in talks with Paul Simon about bringing his Broadway flop, THE CAPEMAN, back to the theatrical stage.

Deriving inspiration from the timeless big band sounds of Frank Sinatra, Tony Award Winner Twyla Tharp brings her new musical'Come Fly With Me' to the Alliance Theatre stage in Atlanta. Conceived, directed and choreographed by Tharp, the musical, which, with permission from the Frank Sinatra Enterprises and the Sinatra family, features original masters of Sinatra's voice, began performances Sept. 15, and officially opened on Sept. 23.

Recent reports have confirmed that producers, Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, are in the process of resurrecting the infamous flop musical CARRIE for the Broadway stage.

The New York Times is reporting that the producers of THE 39 STEPS have begun discussions to move the play to New World Stages (where it could take the place of The Toxic Avenger, which announced this morning that it was closing). No decisions have been made, but Bob Boyett, the lead producer, tells the paper that they hope to follow Avenue Q's successful lead if business arrangements can be made.

Today, one day before the first performance of Green Day's American Idiot, Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced that it will extend the show due to record-breaking sales and unprecedented demand for seats.

Recent reports have confirmed that producers, Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, are in the process of resurrecting the infamous flop musical CARRIE for the Broadway stage.

Michael Riedel in this morning's New York Post reports that SPIDER-MAN, Turn Off the Dark looks to be swinging a more positive web after recent weeks and months of negative drama.

The New York Times is now reporting that a meeting has been scheduled for Friday with director Julie Taymor and members of the creative team and producers to discuss and determine the fate of the show. Executives quoted (anonymously) in the New York Times story tell the paper that it's expected that the show may not be prepared to open by April 29, 2010, the cutoff date for the Tony Awards nominators.

Is the Windy City's hit production of the comic farce, 'Don't Dress For Dinner' setting its sights on making a 'reservation' on Broadway in 2010?