Rialto Chatter - Page 11

Michael Riedel reports this morning that stage and screen vet, Alec Baldwin, is undergoing a career 'rebirth' and is in search of a meatly Broadway show a means. He may have found one in a revival of Garson Kanin's Born Yesterday. According to the report, Baldwin led a reading on Monday of the piece alongside Nina Arianda (Venus in Fur). In the reading, Baldwin played Harry Brock, a weathly business man who bribes congressmen, while Arianda portrayed his blonde, airheaded lover, Billie Dawn. Josh Charles (The Good Wife) also partook in the reading. Doug Hughes (Doubt, The Royal Family, Oleanna) directed.

Rumors surrounding the possibility of GLEE representation on Broadway may in fact be true, if GLEE creator Ryan Murphy is to be understood correctly. At the Eat Pray Love premiere in New York City this Week Murphy revealed to the New York Daily News of a GLEE stage adaptation: it is 'definitely' happening. 'I'm auditioning people now.' As for a potential cast: 'I don't know just yet...You'll see.'

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that make no mistake about it - Robin and the 7 Hoods, which opened at San Deigo's Old Globe Theatre last Friday, July 30, is coming to town, at least if the widow of the show's lyricist has anything to do with it. Robin and the 7 Hoods, which garnered lukewarm reviews out west, features the music of Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, including the songs 'My Kind of Town,' 'Call Me Irresponsible,' 'Ain't That a Kick in the Head,' 'All the Way' and more. Cahn was Frank Sinatra's preferred lyricist and member of the famed 'Rat Pack.'

TVNZ reports that Cheryl Crow may be at work on a Broadway score for a stage adaptaton of the film, Diner. The songstress recently contributed a strip-tease number to the New York stage show. Revealing few details, Crow remarked: 'A friend of mine has asked me to write the music for the Broadway musical version of the film 'Diner...' There's a scene where these three women do a striptease and I came up with the music for it. It's so good I could strip to it. And I'm 48.'

The New York Times reports that Neil Simon's THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE, currently playing the West End's Vaudeville Theater through September 25, may see a Broadway transfer.

Variety reports today that the biographical musical about composer Florence Greenberg by Million Dollar Quartet producer and book writer Floyd Mutrux is being prepped for a 2011 Broadway opening. Entitled Baby, It's You, the musical is aiming to open in the winter of 2011, co- directed by Mutrux and Sheldon Epps. Mutrux and Epps also collaborated on the Pasadena Playhouse production in November of 2009. The show premiered at the Coast Playhouse in Los Angeles prior to its Pasadena run.

Le Journal de Montreal reports this morning that the musical, Mambo Italiano, may be headed to Broadway in 2013.

The New York Times has announced that The Public Theater is actively working on a Broadway transfer of it's production of Merchant of Venice, starring Al Pacino, now playing at the Delacorte Theater. That production is scheduled to close August 1. The Public's Executive Director Andrew Hamingston tells the Times that a transfer is dependant upon the film and television filming conflicts amongst several of the cast members, including Lily Rabe, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Hamish Linklater.

At a press junket in New York for his upcoming movie The Extra Man, Kevin Kline suggested he may be back on the boards within a year. BWW's Adrienne Onofri attended the junket on Monday, and on behalf of Kline's theater fans asked if he'd be working on stage again anytime soon. 'There's something I might do this season on Broadway,' Kline commented, though he didn't provide further details.

According to Michael Riedel this morning, Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith may be leading a production of Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway next year as Stanley and Stella, respectively. Reportedly, the pair have been approached by producers and are considering the possibility. Emily Mann will direct the production, which will be produced by Stephen Byrd. Click here for the full report.

American playwright Katori Hall's The Mountaintop was named Best Play at the 2010 Olivier Awards in London. Marking the first time a female African American playwright has received the honor in the Olivier Awards' 34-year history, Ms. Hall's play was nominated alongside such new works as Jerusalem, Enron and Red.

Whatsonstage.com is furthing speculation first reported by BroadwayWorld on May 4 that Sting may be bringing an autobiographical musical to Broadway in the near future. It was reported then that the singer/songwriter is collaborating with Next to Normal's Brian Yorkey on the project, which is believed that it is inspired by Sting's memoir, Broken Music. No word on whether or not the score would be original.

Michael Ridel reports in the New York Post this morning that the Tony Awards may be taking up shop in a surprising location next year: specifically, the United Palace Theatre at 175th and Broadway. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the Tony Awards will not be returning to its longtime home of 13 years at Radio City Music Hall come next year and have been in search of an appropriate replacement venue for some time. Radio City will be unavailable next year, as it will be housing a new Cirque du Soliel production.

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post today that LOVE NEVER DIES may be getting a new leader before it makes the leap to Broadway - PHANTOM OF THE OPERA helmer Hal Prince, to be precise. According to the report, Prince recently had lunch with Andrew Lloyd Webber in London during which Webber asked Prince to take the reins on the project for Broadway.

Actor Benjamin Walker, star of BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, has been dropped from his role as Beast in 'X-Men: First Class,' The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reports. However, adds Bamigboye, Walker may be offered the role again, as screen tests for potential replacements have not yet been satisfactory.

PerezHilton reports that Kylie Minogue is working with creative partner William Baker to conceive and possibly co-direct a jukebox musical of her hits.

Michael Reidel reports in the New York Post today that Liev Schreiber and director Gregory Mosher, who collaborated on this past season's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, may be teaming up again on a revival of Jason Miller's THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON. According to Reidel, Mosher also has his eye on Brian Cox to co-star in the all-male production. The show could come to Broadway as early as next season.

Theboot.com reports that Laura Bell Bundy may be coming back to Broadway in the very near future - as both a performer and producer. The actress/country music singer recently told KILT Radio: 'I'm working on a project that will be announced soon that's for Broadway...But it's to bring country music to Broadway. I'm trying to merge those worlds together. I think a lot of Broadway musical fans, they don't realize are from the South or from middle America. That's who comes to see Broadway shows in New York. It will be really cool, so I'm excited about it. I'm a producer of it as well.'

BroadwayWorld previously reported that Horton Foote's THE ORPHANS' HOME CYCLE would aim for a Fall 2010 Broadway opening, rather than rush the show into Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre following its acclaimed Signature Theatre run. The Hartford Courant is now reporting that Foote's play is no longer being considered for a Fall 2010 opening: 'all the talk is about the spring.'

American playwright Katori Hall's The Mountaintop was named Best Play at the 2010 Olivier Awards in London. Marking the first time a female African American playwright has received the honor in the Olivier Awards' 34-year history, Ms. Hall's play was nominated alongside such new works as Jerusalem, Enron and Red.