RIALTO CHATTER: Lee Daniels to Helm SCOTTSBORO BOYS on Screen?

Deadline.com reports today that Precious mastermind Lee Daniels has his eye on a screen adaptation of Kander & Ebb's SCOTTSBORO BOYS, playing out its final performances at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway. According to the report: "While The Scottsboro Boys ends its Broadway run on December 12 at the Lyceum Theatre, there are flickers of hope that the last collaboration between songwriting legends John Kander and Fred Ebb will have a feature future. I'm told that Oscar-nominated Precious director Lee Daniels has seen the show several times and is in early conversations to develop it."

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS will play its final performance on Broadway on Sunday, December 12. The production, which opened October 31 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street), will have played 49 performances and 29 previews. Previews began on October 7.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS is the last collaboration of Broadway songwriting legends John Kander and Fred Ebb. The musical features a book by David Thompson and is directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS stars John Cullum as Interlocutor, Joshua Henry as Haywood Patterson, Colman Domingo as Mr. Bones, Forrest McClendon as Mr. Tambo, Sharon Washington as The Lady, Josh Breckenridge as Olen Montgomery, Derrick Cobey as Andy Wright, Jeremy Gumbs as Eugene Williams, Rodney Hicks as Clarence Norris, KendRick Jones as Willie Roberson, James T. Lane as Ozie Powell and Ruby Bates, Julius Thomas III as Roy Wright, and Christian Dante White as Charles Weems and Victoria Price. The production also features E. Clayton Cornelious, JC Montgomery, Clinton Roane and Robin S. Walker.

Based on the notorious ‘Scottsboro' case in the 1930s (in which nine African-American men were unjustly accused of a terrible crime) this daring and wildly entertaining musical explores a fascinating chapter in American history with brilliant originality. This critically-acclaimed production, directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (The Producers) and featuring a book by David Thompson (who adapted the script for Chicago's record-breaking revival), comes to Broadway following a sold-out run at the Vineyard Theatre.

The production is the winner of the 2010 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical and the 2010 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical and a 2010 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics. The show has also been nominated for four AUDELCO Awards for Excellence in Black Theatre, including Outstanding Musical Production.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS had its world premiere earlier this year at the Vineyard Theatre (Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director). The show was further developed this summer in a critically acclaimed production at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis (Joe Dowling, Artistic Director), where it played from July 31 through September 25 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage.

Set design is by Beowulf Boritt, costume design is by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design is Ken Billington and sound design is by Peter Hylenski. Orchestrations are by Larry Hochman, with musical arrangements by Glen Kelly. Music direction is by David Loud.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS is produced on Broadway by Barry and Fran Weissler, Jacki Barlia Florin, Janet Pailet/SHARON A. CARR/Patricia R. Klausner, Nederlander Presentations Inc./The Shubert Organization Inc., Beechwood Entertainment, Broadway Across America, Mark Zimmerman, Joseph R. & Sandra Schneider, Adam Blanshay/R2D2 Productions, RICK DANZANSKY/Barry Tatelman, Bruce Robert Harris/Jack W. Batman, Allen Spivak/Jerry Frankel, Bard Theatricals/Probo Productions/RAndy Donaldson, Catherine Schreiber/Michael Palitz/Patti Laskawy, Vineyard Theatre.

Tickets ($39.50 - $131.50; Premium $251.50) are available by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200, online at www.telecharge.com and at the Lyceum Theatre box office (149 West 45th Street). Performances are Tuesday through Sunday at 8:00 PM, with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 PM.

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski