Rialto Chatter - Page 13

According to a report from Entertainment Weekly, Alan Cumming has cut ties with SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off The Dark. Cumming was to play the musical's villain, the Green Goblin. Cumming elected to depart the production this weekend, according to the report, due to new scheduling conflicts with The Good Wife, for which his role was recently expanded.

As BroadwayWorld has reported, Deadline.com revealed that Matt Cavenaugh and Will Swenson may join original cast member Tony Sheldon for the Broadway premiere of PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT. BroadwayGirlNYC revealed on her twitter that Jessica Philips and Joshua Buscher may be joining the cast, as well. Today in an article out in The Australian, Tony Sheldon's mother reveals that Sheldon, who originated the role of Bernadette in Australia and is now starring as the character in the West End, will make the Broadway transfer next season. Sheldon was nominated for a 2010 Olivier Award for his performance.

Disney may be gearing up to bring its Peter Pan sequel to the Broadway stage. There have been rumors about Disney bringing dley Pearson and Dave Barry' PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS to Broadway and Disney has fueled that flame, by registering numerous PETER AND THE STARCATCHER domain names, stitchkingdom.com is reporting.

As BroadwayWorld mentioned yesterday, Deadline.com revealed that Matt Cavenaugh and Will Swenson may join original cast member Tony Sheldon for the Broadway premiere of PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT. Today, BroadwayGirlNYC suggests on her twitter that Jessica Philips and Joshua Buscher may be joining the cast, as well.

Showbiz411.com is reporting this morning that Gwyneth Paltrow and her real-life mother, Blythe Danner, are considered to be possible replacements for Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury, respectively, in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, once the pair complete their run in the Sondheim revival after the Tony Awards in June.

Will Matt Cavenaugh and Will Swenson join original cast member Tony Sheldon for the Broadway premiere of PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT? Very likely, according to Deadline.com.

According to Broadway scoopster BroadwayGirlNYC on her Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/BroadwayGirlNYC) the rigging for SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark is currently being put up in the Hilton Theater. See the image of the Hilton Theater below, courtesy of BroadwayGirlNYC!

Roger Friedman of Showbiz411.com is reporting that producer David Garfinkle has told him that Spider-Man will be ready to make its Broadway debut this fall and that an announcement will be made soon regarding the shows schedule, as well a casting announcement as to who will replace Evan Rachel Wood.

Nathan Lane's next role may be in the classic Eugene O'Neill play, THE ICEMAN COMETH, in Chicago. TheDailyBeast.com is reporting that Lane may be set to play opposite Brian Dennehy in the production directed by Chicago's Robert Falls.

Last September, Kander and Ebb's new musical revue First You Dream premiered at the Signature Theatre in Arlington Virginia. Now, according to Boomberg.com, producer Jeffrey Richards is in talks to possibly bring the show to Broadway.

It seems Dame Edna and Michael Feinstein's ALL ABOUT ME will play its final performance on April 4, 2010 after opening on March 18, 2010. Telecharge.com, the show's official ticketing outlet, is only selling tickets through April 4, uncharacteristic of a new Broadway production that just opened. Tickets are usually available for purchase months out.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Nikki Finke at Deadline.com revealed yesterday that 'Sources tell me tonight CBS tried to hire Conan O'Brien to host this year's Tony Awards on June 13th. But he had to turn down the offer because of the restrictions NBC put on his activities until September 1st in exchange for that giant $40 million payout for himself and his Tonight Show staff.'

According to numerous published reports, Mariah Carey may be immortalized in a new musical about her life and, allegedly, the famous singer is hoping to be portrayed on Broadway by Leona Lewis. A spokesperson for Carey reveals: 'Mariah is in talks for a Broadway musical to be made about her life in 2009.'

The New York Times is reporting that the musical Everyday Rapture, based on actress Sherie ReneScott's journey with religion, theater, and fame, will replace Terrence McNally's Lips Together, Teeth Apart at the Roundabout Theatre Company. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Lips Tgether has been indefinitely postponed following the sudden departure of Megan Mullally from this four-person ensemble comedy over disagreements with director Joe Mantello. The show was to open on April 29, 2010.

Radar Online is reporting that former American Idol judge Paula Abdul will make her Broadway debut in the Tony Award winning musical 'In The Heights'.

Michael Riedel reports in The New York Post today that the next cast to step into the roles of the Broadway hit GOD OF CARNAGE may feature an all-star African-American cast. The top of producers' lists is film star Eddie Murphy, followed by a host of other celebrities including Nia Long, Sanaa Lathan, Sean Combs, Wesley Snipes, Regina King, Mo'Nique and Chris Rock.

The New York Times is reporting that Broadway's THE MIRACLE WORKER, which celebrated its opening night this past Wednesday, March 3, may be in trouble already.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Broadway audiences may be able to expect adaptations of both Dumbo and Newsies in the near future. Disney continues to fuel this speculation, as stitchkingdom.com is now revealing that Disney Theatricals has registered website domains for both productions.

There may soon be a new Disney neighbor on the Great White Way, Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning. According to his report, Disney Theatricals has begun making plans to bring 'Dumbo' to the stage, the classic children's story about a baby elephant born with oversized ears that allow him to fly, making him the target of ridicule amongst his peers.

The New York Times is reporting that the Classic Stage Company's critically-acclaimed production of VENUS IN FUR, a new play by David Ives and directed by Walter Bobbie, may be headed to the Great White Way. Featuring Nina Arianda and Wes Bentley, the production has received two extension off-Broadway and will now run through Sunday, March 28. VENUS IN FUR has now become the longest-running production in CSC's 42 year history.