Tommy Tune Expected to Direct, Choreograph and Star in Dr. Dolittle

Variety reports this morning that the nine-time Tony-winner is expected to take over the recently closed touring production of Dr. Dolittle, both as a performer and on the creative team.

The tour, which was starring Tom Hewitt, shuttered due to poor ticket sales, and the production has been reportedly courting Tune since then. Offering the starring role opposite Tommy Tune, is said to be Dee Hoty, who was directed twice by him - in The Will Rogers Follies, and the Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public.

Variety also reports, that if the tour is indeed to pick up again, it's anticipated that it'll pick back up in Seattle. No word on whether or not the tour would then follow it's previously announced schedule.

On November 12, 2003, The President of The United States presented Tommy Tune with the nations' highest honor for Artistic Achievement, The National Medal of Arts. In a private ceremony in the oval office of the White House, Mr. Tune received this honor to add to his already unprecedented nine Tony Awards in four different categories plus, among other accolades, eight Drama Desk Awards, two Obie Awards, two Astaire Awards, the American Dance Award, the Drama League Award, and the George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement.

It was back in 1965 when Tommy Tune first danced onto the Great White Way and into the chorus of Baker Street. Next up was A Joyful Noise in 1967 and How Now Dow Jones in 1968. Five years and countless raves later Tommy garnered his first Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in Michael Bennett's Seesaw. Tune's first foray into directing was the groundbreaking Off-Broadway hit The Club in 1976. Back on Broadway, but this time as choreographer and co-director Tune gave us The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas followed by A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, for which he won his second Tony Award, this time for Best Choreography.

Tommy returned to Off-Broadway in 1981 to direct the highly controversial production of Carol Churchill's Cloud 9. The next year Tommy brought us Nine for which he won his third Tony, and his first for Directing a Broadway Musical.

A double Tony Award win followed for Mr. Tune as Best Actor in a Musical and Best Choreography for the Broadway hit My One and Only co-starring Twiggy. Grand Hotel, The Musical followed with Tony wins for Best Choreography and Best Direction and the following year Mr. Tune did what no artist had done before when he won the same two prestigious honors back to back this time for The Will Rogers Follies.

Tommy once again returned to the other side of the Broadway footlights in his one-man song and dance show, Tommy Tune Tonight!, later touring with it throughout the country and around the world.