Marc Shaiman News

As previously announced, the producers of 'HAIRSPRAY' are delighted to welcome Brian Conley to the role of larger-than-life ?Edna Turnblad' in the hit musical, currently playing at London's Shaftesbury Theatre. Brian is joined by Chloe Hart, taking over as big-haired big-hearted ?Tracy Turnblad' and Liam Tamne as heart-throb ?Link Larkin'.

This Week on Theater Talk... Irena's Vow: The Truth Behind the Legend Three-time Tony-nominated actress Tovah Feldshuh, and critic Adam Feldman of Time Out New York debate the accuracy of Irena's Vow, the compelling Holocaust drama in which Ms. Feldshuh is now starring at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

This Week on Theater Talk... Irena's Vow: The Truth Behind the Legend Three-time Tony-nominated actress Tovah Feldshuh, and critic Adam Feldman of Time Out New York debate the accuracy of Irena's Vow, the compelling Holocaust drama in which Ms. Feldshuh is now starring at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

A film adaptation of Cy Coleman's CITY OF ANGELS is headed to the screen, to be helmed by Director Barry Levinson ('Wag the Dog', 'Good Morning, Vietnam'). The picture is one of many new projects to be produced by new company Unique Features, headed by former New Line Films principals Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, Variety reported today.

Tony Award-winning composing team Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman wrote something special for Neil Patrick Harris to sing at last night's The Tony Awards. We now bring you their comic lyrics that were set to tune of West Side Story's 'Tonight' and Guys and Dolls' 'Luck Be a Lady.'

BroadwayWorld Congratulates tied winners Michael Starobin/Tom Kitt and Martin Koch, 2009 Tony Award Winners, 'Best Orchestrations'

A number of 'little birdies' are revealing that Tony Award-winning composing team Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have written something special for The Tony Awards. And that same gaggle of gregarious geese have informed us to set our DVR's for the telecast possibly going past 11pm.

Variety reports that Universal Pictures has made a big-bucks deal to acquire an untitled Mattel toy property for a live-action musical film to be produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. The duo will reunite with the 'Hairspray' team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Shaiman and Wittman are in talks to write an original score for the musical.

NCTC is proud to announce the West Coast premiere of Some Men by Terrence McNally and directed by Ed Decker. The show previews May 29 - June 5, opens on Saturday, June 6th and runs through July 12: Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. (No Shows 6/7, 6/28, 7/4) All performances will take place at The New Conservatory Theatre Center (Decker Theatre), located at 25 Van Ness Ave. near Market St. in San Francisco, 94102.

Hunter Foster and Titus Burgess will join SIRIUS XM Radio host Seth Rudetsky for SIRIUS XM Live on Broadway, an exclusive SIRIUS XM musical series that invites Broadway artists to perform live and speak candidly with fans.

BroadwayWorld Presents The 2009 Tony Award Nominees: 'Best Orchestrations'

Sara Katz and Sh-K-Boom Records are happy to announce a new venue for THINGS TO RUIN, the critically acclaimed, incendiary collection of songs by Joe Iconis, directed by John Simpkins. For the month of May, T2R will be presented at Second Stage Theatre (307 W 43rd) with performances beginning Monday, May 4, 2009. This limited-engagement run is scheduled through Monday, May 18th (detailed schedule below). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 212-246-4422 or online at www.2st.com.

BroadwayWorld has gotten the news that Rialto favorite Barrett Foa has been cast in the pilot of 'NCIS: Legend,' playing Tech Operator, Eric Beal. The two-part pilot for the new series will air as two episodes of the hit CBS show, 'NCIS: Navy Criminal Investigative Service.'

It's time to let your hair down and dance the night away! The national tour of HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture is returning to the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a limited four show engagement April 24-26. Curtain times for this U.S. Bank Broadway series presentation are Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets go on sale Sunday, March 1 at noon at the Fox Theatre box office and through MetroTix.

At its annual awards ceremony GLAAD recognized Prop 8: The Musical, a video created for FunnyorDie.com in response to the passage of Proposition 8, a California ballot initiative which eliminated the right to marry for same-sex couples. Directed by Adam Shankman and written by Marc Shaiman, the video received over one million hits on its first day online. During the show, Miss Coco Peru and the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles performed the song live onstage. Shankman accepted the award on behalf of the team of creators.

New casting finally confirmed for the Shaftesbury smash

It's time to let your hair down and dance the night away! The national tour of HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture is returning to the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a limited four show engagement April 24-26. Curtain times for this U.S. Bank Broadway series presentation are Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday at 2 p.m

NCTC is proud to announce the West Coast premiere of Some Men by Terrence McNally and directed by Ed Decker. The show previews May 29 - June 5, opens on Saturday, June 6th and runs through July 12: Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. (No Shows 6/7, 6/28, 7/4) All performances will take place at The New Conservatory Theatre Center (Decker Theatre), located at 25 Van Ness Ave. near Market St. in San Francisco, 94102.

Sara Katz and Sh-K-Boom Records are happy to announce a new venue for THINGS TO RUIN, the critically acclaimed, incendiary collection of songs by Joe Iconis, directed by John Simpkins. For the month of May, T2R will be presented at Second Stage Theatre (307 W 43rd) with performances beginning Monday, May 4, 2009. This limited-engagement run is scheduled through Monday, May 18th (detailed schedule below). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 212-246-4422 or online at www.2st.com.

WhatsOnStage.com reports that UK comedy star Brian Conley will make his return to the West End this summer when he takes over from Michael Ball as the 'Mama of all Mamas', Edna Turnblad in the multi award-winning Broadway import Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre.