The New York Times has gotten more information on the story, talking to both Arthur Laurents and to Stephen Sondheim who told them that Warner Brothers and Joel Silver are on board as producers, and that he'd (Laurents) suggested Tom Hanks for Herbie, an idea that he says Barbra Streisand loved.
Laurents also says that Streisand is no longer going to direct the film, as she once wanted to but instead will just play the part.
Michael Riedel is reporting in the New York Post today that straight from the mouth of bookwriter Arthur Laurents is word that Barbra Streisand is 'deep in negotiations to direct, produce and star in a movie version of GYPSY' for which Laurents has given her approval.
Laurents, who directed Streisand in her first Broadway show, I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE, and who wrote THE WAY WE WERE for her said that he's has long talks with her on the subject, and that 'She had a mother who she always thought was Mama Rose. I don't want to get into the details, but the point is she knows. She's got it in her. She's going to be much more than people expect.'
Theater Talk, the series devoted to the world of the stage, is co-hosted by Michael Riedel, Broadway columnist for the New York Post and series producer Susan Haskins.
Gingold Theatrical Group -- which made history as the first company ever to present every play (including full-length works, one-acts and sketches) written by George Bernard Shaw -- continues its fifth year of PROJECT SHAW with George Bernard Shaw's beloved classic ANDROCLES AND THE LION, starring a cast of New York theater journalists -- on Monday, January 24 at 7pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. David Staller produces and directs.
The First Amendment, that noble invention of our founding fathers that grants all Americans the right of free speech, must frequently be defended under less than noble circumstances; the right of a neo-Nazi group to hold a march in the heavily Jewish community of Skokie, Illinois, the right of Lenny Bruce to use a certain euphemism for someone who performs oral sex on a man as part of his comedy act and now... perhaps... the right of Michael Riedel to get a good seat at Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark.
Update: The New York Times has now weighed in on the early reviews of SPIDER-MAN, in which they spoke to Manuela Hoelterhoff, the Executive Editor of Bloomberg News about their decision to review the show early. 'I worried that by the time the show opened,' Ms. Hoelterhoff wrote, 'I might be in a rest home with Jeremy. You know, in India, they teach elephants to fly in less time, while painting pictures and humming a capella.'
Jonathan Landman, the Culture Editor of the Times weighs in as well saying that 'It's easy to see why they did it and completely understandable and I admit that we've been tempted. After all, these guys are raking in the cash, charging some people more than $200 a ticket. Still, it's clear that the producers really are making significant changes and a review that's out of date when the show opens isn't all that useful. So we'll wait, but not forever.'
Well, last night Newsday, which normally hides Linda Winer's reviews behind a pay-wall, but made an exception for the sure traffic grabbing piece, published their critics take on SPIDER-MAN, in which she didn't so much express many of her own opinions, as she did talk to audience members. As to why she was not respecting the status quo of waiting for the show to be frozen and to invite critics, as is normal, she cited both the full-price cost of tickets being sold during previews, the multiple delays to opening night and the press attention.
Celebrate the Holidays with The Understudy's Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Justin Kirk, Theresa Rebeck and Julie White on Thirteen: Friday, December 25th at 1:00 AM
THEATER TALK invites viewers to celebrate the holidays with two of New York theater's current leading lights - Colin Quinn, now starring in "Long Story Short" on Broadway at the Booth, and Todd Robbins, star of "Play Dead" off-Broadway at the Players.
THEATER TALK invites viewers to celebrate the holidays with two of New York theater's current leading lights - Colin Quinn, now starring in "Long Story Short" on Broadway at the Booth, and Todd Robbins, star of "Play Dead" off-Broadway at the Players.
Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that Patrick Cassidy is at work on a new piece about his father, the late musical actor Jack Cassidy, who died in an accidental fire at the age of 49. The younger Cassidy is developing a one-man show about Jack, with the help of some of Jack's old friends, including Hal Prince and John McMartin.
Michael Riedel reported in the New York Post back in mid-November that critic John Simon, has been let go from Bloomberg Media who hired him in 2005 after he was let go from New York Magazine after 36 years.
Riedel notes that Bloomberg says he's retiring, while Simon claims he's been let go. Jeremy Gerard and Manuele Hoelterhoff will now be splitting Broadway duties at Bloomberg News.
Now, Simon has launched a new web site, http://johnsimon-uncensored.com/ on which he proclaims 'Like a giant tortoise from its shell, I am re-emerging on this web site. Here I will continue, freer and more independent than ever, to dispense my opinions, critiques and enthusiasms about our arts and culture.
I hope to be as interdisciplinary as all get-out and separate with might and main what might remain from what must go.'
He is also reportedly joining both the Yonkers Tribune and the Westchester Guardian.
Michael Riedel is reporting in today's New York Post that the Manhattan Theater Club is in talks to bring the Kennedy Center production of MASTER CLASS, which ran this Spring, starring Tyne Daly to Broadway in the Summer of 2011. The play is aiming for the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in June.
Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post that critic John Simon, has been let go from Bloomberg Media who hired him in 2005 after he was let go from New York Magazine after 36 years.
Riedel notes that Bloomberg says he's retiring, while Simon claims he's been let go. Jeremy Gerard and Manuele Hoelterhoff will now be splitting Broadway duties at Bloomberg News.
Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN is headed back to Broadway in a new revival that's expected to open on Broadway in the 2012-2013 season after a pre-Broadway stop at the ART in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The New York premiere of PLAY DEAD, a new Off-Broadway thriller co-written and directed by Teller of Penn & Teller and co-written & performed by Todd Robbins, began performances at Off-Broadway's Players Theater 115 MacDougal Street at Minetta Lane on Thursday, October 21 for an open-ended run. The official press opening was Wednesday, November 10.
Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that none other than Mike Myers (yes, Austin Powers) may step into Kelsey Grammer's role of Georges alongside Harvey Fierstein in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES after Grammer and Douglas Hodge depart the show in February. Writes Riedel: Hodge's co-star, the excellent Kelsey Grammer, is likely to leave the show in February as well, so the hunt is on for a new Georges...Mike Myers is said to be in the mix.'
In today's New York Post, Michael Riedel is reporting that RENT is headed back to New York, this time to open off-Broadway in a new production at New World Stages. The production will open in June, after the Tony awards, and will be directed by original RENT director, Michael Greif, and produced by Allan S. Gordon, who was one of the producers of the show's original production. They're said to be seeking an all new cast of unknowns for the show.
On Friday, November 5, 'Theater Talk' will feature an interview with THE PITMEN PAINTERS playwright Lee Hall and actor Deka Walmsley. THE PITMEN PAINTERS is currently playing at Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Also, Jerry Carlson, host of City Cinematheque, discusses BRIEF ENCOUNTER, the classic 1945 David Lean movie which inspired the Kneehigh Theatre's production of BRIEF ENCOUNTER being presented by Roundabout Theatre Company. 'Theater Talk' will air this Friday, November 5, at 12:30AM (Saturday Morning) on WNET-TV (Channel 13).
