Rialto Chatter - Page 10

According to UK Daily Mail, Brittish film actor Matthew James Thomas is rumored to be the alternate Peter Parker/Spider-Man for the upcoming Broadway production of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Thomas will take on the role twice a week.

According to an article in the NY Times, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Suzan-Lori Parks is collaborating with Diedre Murray, to create a new musical version of 'Porgy and Bess.' The show would feature rearrangements from George Gershwin's opera. Diane Paulus is set to direct the production, which is to premiere at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts next September.

As BroadwayWorld reported last night, according to the NY Times, the Broadway run of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark was rumored to be postponed once again; this time, because of safety issues. inspectors from The New York Department of Labor visited the Foxwoods Theatre to take a look at the flying devices and methods being used. Because they saw only some of the dozens of aerial stunts in the show, delays in the opening are likely. If the Department of Labor approves of the rest of the stunts in the next 10 days, then performances will begin on November 14.

According to the NY Times, the Broadway run of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark might be postponed once again; this time, because of safety issues. As reported previously, inspectors from The New York Department of Labor payed a visit to the Foxwoods Theatre to take a look at the flying devices and methods being used. Because they saw only some of the dozens of aerial stunts in the show, delays in the opening are likely. If the Department of Labor approves of the rest of the stunts in the next 10 days, then performances will begin on November 4.

According to a report by Variety, Broadway veterans Norbert Leo Butz and Aaron Tviet might be reprising their roles in the upcoming Broadway production of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. The duo played conman Frank Abagnale and FBI agent Carl Hanratty in the Seattle premiere in 2009. Though Butz is set to star in MIRACULOUS YEAR, if HBO picks up the series, shooting will not begin before the spring opening of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.

A rep for A Little Night Music star Bernadette Peters has revealed to the New York Times that Bernadette Peters and Trevor Nunn are hoping to continue their collaboration, possibly in the form of a Follies revival on Broadway. Nunn is possibly going to bring a revival of the Sondheim classic to the West End in 2011, a production which could transfer to Broadway thereafter.

According to the NY Times, there is a chance that the Colin Firth film, 'The King's Speech' might make an appearance on a Broadway or West End stage, depending on how well the movie does this awards season.

As BroadwayWorld reported last week, Ian Rickson will direct Keira Knightley and Elisabeth Moss in Lillian Hellman's The Children's Hour due to open in the West End in early 2011 for a limited run that will shutter in the spring. The New York Times suggests today that the production could be bound for Broadway in the fall of 2011, taking a hiatus to accommodate Knightley and Mosses respective filming schedules next summer.

According to a report by Baz Bamigboye for Uk Daily Mail, LOVE NEVER DIES lyricist Charles Hart has made some changes to the lyrics in the show, that will be implemented during their previously reported four-day break in November.

The New York Post reports on Page Six today that Jenna Jamison may be the next celebrity to be making her Broadway debut in the near future. The former adult film star is reportedly in talks to take the stage as 'Justice' in ROCK OF AGES, the Las Vegas strip club owner.

Last night, October 18, the Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart, earned a heartfelt standing ovation at the Walter Kerr Theatre. The reading starred Glenn Close, Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that raised $150,000 for The Actors Fund and Friends in Deed.

As BroadwayWorld reported back in July, Le Journal de Montreal broke the news that the musical, Mambo Italiano, may be headed to Broadway in 2013. Today, Pat Donnelly of the Montreal Gazette reveals that confirms that plans are very real and very much in the works.

Producers Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment announced today that the new Broadway musical, SISTER ACT, will play the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) this spring. Preview performances are scheduled to begin on March 24, 2011. Opening night is confirmed for Wednesday, April 20, 2011. Casting and on sale date will be announced shortly.

According to a report by Baz Bamigboye in UK Daily Mail, Rachel Weisz will appear in the upcoming revival of David Hare's Plenty. Robert Fox will produce the show, while David Leveaux is set to direct.

According to report by Michael Musto for Village Voice, Michael Andrew will star in the upcoming Broadway production of THE NUTTY PROFESSOR'. Director Jerry Lewis said, 'I've got Michael Andrew. He's great.' He added, 'He found me, but that's another story.'

The New York Times reports today that Nathan Lane may be teaming up with Douglas Carter Beane following his run in The Addams Family for The Nance, a new play 'about a performer who played the role of the nance in burlesque shows in the early 20th century.' The play centers on a nance (or 'nancy boy'), who performs at the downtown burlesque club, The Irving, 'during the era when Mayor Fiorello La Guardia was moving to ban burlesque in New York City.'

BroadwayWorld.com has learned from a Broadway insider that in talks to join the film alongside Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts are none other than Jack Nicholson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman and Mary Louise Parker. We'll bring you more information as it becomes available.

According to Deadline.com, both Edie Falco and Ben Stiller will be joining the Broadway revival of John Guare's of THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES. The production, which is to open in the Spring, will play at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Stiller will play Artie Shaughnessy, a zookeeper who dreams of being a songwriter, and Falco his schizophrenic wife named 'Bananas'.

BroadwayGirlNYC has revealed via a blog entry that Twisted Sister's Dee Snider may be joining the ROCK OF AGES cast on Broadway for a 10 week stint. Writes BroadwayGirlNYC: 'I have it on good authority that Dee Snider, lead rocker of Twisted Sister, will be joining the Rock of Ages cast...It isn't permanent, but this is no one night stand. Dee is in the final stages of talks to be a Broadway Rocker for 10 weeks!...My sources also tell me that Tuesday nights will be extra special - Dee Snider will be doing something special for fans after the show along the lines of Q&As and talk-backs.'

According to the Internet Movie database, Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan has always wanted to play Shakespeare's Juliet while she is still young enough for the role. The 25 year old is aiming to star in Romeo & Juliet within the coming year.