The show was originally produced on Broadway in 1968, with a cast including Jerry Orbach, Jill O'Hara and Edward Winter. It played at the Shubert Theatre, where it ran until 1972, for a total of 1,281 performances. The show had a London production at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1969, featuring Tony Roberts and Betty Buckley.
Together, Zadan and Meron produced the blockbuster "Hairspray" and the critically acclaimed "Chicago," which was the first musical in 34 years to win the top honor of Best Picture Oscar at the 2002 Academy Awards. They also produced the made for television "A Raisin in the Sun", and had a recent collaboration with Lifetime on the film "Living Proof" featuring Rene Zellweger, Harry Connick, Jr. andBernadette Peters. Last winter they released "The Bucket List" with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. In 2007 they were honored with the Hollywood Film Festival's producers of the year award. Last year the talented producing duo were honored by the The casting Society of America with career achievement awards at the 24th Annual Artios Awards. They are currently guiding the upcoming big screen remake of the 80's hit "Footloose" back to the silver screen with Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford in the lead. Craig Zadan was a producer of the original "Footloose" in 1984.
Lifetime's hit comedic drama "Drop Dead Diva" has been renewed for a second season. Lifetime has ordered 13 new episodes of the freshman series, from Sony TV, creator Josh Berman and exec producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, to air in 2010.
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