RIALTO CHATTER: Riedel Reveals 'WOMEN' On The 'VERGE' Of A Broadwy Run

The New York Post's Michael Riedel reports today in his 'On Broadway' column that successful progress is being made on the musical version of the film "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown," written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar.

Riedel reveals that Barlett Sher, whose production of "South Pacific" continues to delight at Lincoln Center, staged a by-invitation-only workshop earlier this summer.

Andre Bishop, longtime Lincoln Center head, was impressed with the reading and now, reports The Post, there is rumor that he'll slip it into a Broadway theater before the Tony Award cutoff date in April. To read the entire 'On Broadway' column in The Post click here.

David Yazbeck is developing the music and lyrics, and Jeffrey Lane is writing the book, (Yazbeck and Lane teamed up before for the musical "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"). 

While the musical is not a part of the 2009-2010 season at Lincoln Center Theater, Almodóvar told reporters in Cannes in May that the musical was moving ahead. "The dialogues are done, the songs are almost finished."

Sher's credits include South Pacific (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards), Awake and Sing! (Tony nomination), The Light in the Piazza (Tony nomination). Artistic Director of Seattle's Intiman Theatre, credits there include the world premieres of Prayer For My Enemy and Singing Forest by Craig Lucas (both also Long Wharf Theatre) and Nickel and Dimed; plays by Chekhov, Wilder, Shakespeare, Goldoni and Tony Kushner. Opera: The Barber of Seville (Metropolitan Opera), Roméo et Juliette (Salzburg Festival), Mourning Becomes Electra (Seattle Opera and New York City Opera). New York: Prayer For My Enemy (Playwrights); Cymbeline (2001 Callaway Award for Best Director; first American Shakespeare at the Royal Shakespeare Company), Waste (2000 Best Play Obie), Don Juan (all TFANA). He is a member of the TCG Board. Upcoming productions: Tales of Hoffmann at the Met and Bruce Lee: Journey to the West, a new musical by David Yazbek and David Henry Hwang.

Bartlett Sher was a 2009 Tony Award Nominee for 'Best Direction of a Play' for his work on Joe Turner's Come and Gone.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.