Dirty Rotten Scoundrels may be swindling London in Spring 2007; producer Marty Bell is currently mulling casting ideas for the West End incarnation of the David Yazbeck hit.
The show would not be able to hit London right away. Director Jack O'Brien currently has his hands full with the upcoming film version of Hairspray, and is very involved in getting that show mounted in London as well. However, an American national tour will kick off on Labor Day in a as-of-yet unnamed city.Norbert Leo Butz recently nabbed a Best Leading Actor in a Musical Tony Award for his performance as lovable con man Freddy Benson. However, Variety has reported that Bell has his eyes on British leading men for the roles of Freddy and Lawrence Jamison, played on Broadway by John Lithgow. According to the trade paper, "Everything that's down and dirty about Scoundrels -- and
that drew sneers from New York crix -- could work on its British behalf. Praising
the Broadway production as 'elegant, wittily designed and deliciously
mischievous' in April, the Independent's Paul Taylor lauded Scoundrels as he dismissed Spamalot."
The French Riviera-set Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was nominated for 10 other Tonys, including Best Musical. With a score by Yazbek, a book by Jeffrey Lane, direction by O'Brien and choreography by Jerry Mitchell, the show is currently a hit at the Imperial Theatre, where it opened on March 3rd. In addition to Butz and Lithgow, the show stars Sherie Rene Scott, Joanna Gleason, Gregory Jbara and Sara Gettelfinger. A cast album released on Ghostlight Records is a high-seller, and Bell is also eyeing production opportunities in Europe and Japan.