Rialto Chatter - Page 14

According to Empireonline.com, the next cinematic hit to receive Broadway musical treatment is A Fish Called Wanda. The musical book has been written by original screenwriter John Cleese and his daughter Camilla. Bill Bailey has been recruited to compose.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, the highly anticipated new Kander and Ebb musical now in previews at the Vineyard Theatre, may be preparing itself for a Broadway transfer as early as this season, pending the availability of a theater. Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that heavy-hitting producers Fran and Barry Weissler have invested $400,000 into THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, and writes that 'If the reviews are strong, they'll move it to a small Broadway house, very possibly before this year's Tony cutoff date, should a theater become available.'

The New York Post is reporting Lea Michele may be returning to Broadway in a role specifically crafted for the GLEE actress. The musical, entitled Speargrove Presents, surrounds a Texas high school attempting to put on a production of Rent, and their fight in order to get the show produced.

According to U2's The Edge, SPIDER-MAN is poised for a fall 2010 opening, as has been speculated. 411.com reports that a productive creative meeting with all of the principles took place yesterday, February 18, and that new lead producer Michael Cohl is rapidly getting funds in place.

According to numerous published reports in Spanish media outlets, Olivier Award winning stage star Elena Roger may be bringing her famed Eva Peron to Broadway in Evita in the 2011 - 2012 season.

As HAIR readies for its Broadway makeover and London premiere, rumors are beginning to swirl as to which current cast members will be settling in across the pond and which new faces will be gracing the Broadway production. The newest reports out suggest that American Idol alumni Ace Young (season 5's seventh runner up) and Diana DeGarmo (season 3 runner up) are among the new picks for the Broadway replacement cast. No official announcement has been made by the production, although it is expected that casting announcements for London and New York are imminent, as the new Broadway performers go into rehearsal in the coming weeks.

According to Popeater.com, Neil Patrick Harris may be heading from the small screen back to the Great White Way to star as P.T. Barnum in the musical BARNUM, about the famed showman. According to the site, Harris is the first and only choice for the role.

According to an equity casting notice, the West End hit, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, will open on Broadway at a house to be announced on March 6, 2011. According to the same notice, the production will first play the Prince of Wales Theater in Toronto, with previews beginning October 12, 2010.

According to a new season announcement from Broadway/San Diego, a National tour of the Broadway sensation 'Next To Normal' is headed to the Balboa Theatre in downtown San Diego for a limited engagement run from January 18 to 23, 2011. The announcement from Broadway/San Diego reads, 'And don't miss NEXT TO NORMAL; a thrilling emotional powerhouse about a loving family trying to take care of themselves and each other; the acclaimed, groundbreaking musical "that pushes Broadway in new directions" (Rolling Stone)."

According to a report from the New York Times, the Broadway revival of A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE may extend past it's closing date of April 4. A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE is housed at the Cort theater, which is scheduled to house the revival of August Wilson's FENCES starting April 14, which would mean BRIDGE would most likely have to transfer theatres to stay open. Executives involved in BRIDGE said moving would be costly, as would trying to arrange for FENCES to move, as most Broadway houses are booked for the spring as of now.

Michael Riedel reports this morning in the Post that Broadway may be welcoming another U.K. import this spring in John Logan's RED, which is currently playing at the Donmar Warehouse through February 6.

Michael Riedel reveals this morning that a likely Broadway-bound musical adaptation of Leap of Faith (based off of the 1992 film starring Steve Martin) had an industry reading last week starring Raul Esparza as the preacher, Sutton Foster, and Kendra Kassebaum. The musical workshop, featuring a score by Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermain composer Alan Menken and lryics by Glenn Slater, had Promises, Promises director/choreographer Rob Ashford at the helm. Janus Cercone, who authored the original screenplay also penned the musical book.

In his morning column today, Michael Riedel writes that SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark will begin performances in the fall of 2010. The $50 million production was supposed to begin previews next month, but as previously reported, was delayed due to significant financial fallout the production faced last year.

Broadway vet Alan Cumming, who is set to star as the Green Goblin in Broadway's upcoming SPIDER-MAN: Turn off the Dark, told the New York Times on Saturday that the show will indeeed experience further delays. Though the show's official website claims that previews are set to begin on February 25, Cumming tells the Times at a TimesTalk event this weekend (as part of the paper's annual Arts & Leisure Weekend), 'No one's going to be there that day. We're just waiting.'

The Clive Fitch Report has revealed that Christopher Carter Sanderson, founding artistic and producing director of the Gorilla Repertory Theater Company, is planning to bring the work of famed blogger Tucker Max - specifically, his book I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell - to the Broadway Stage. Reportedly, the show will be titled: I Hope They Serve Beer... On Broadway!

In a recent interview with Essence Magazine, Broadway star and current Disney Princess revealed that among her upcoming projects is starring in a new Broadway-bound musical that she has co-composed.

A new post on the Memphis blog hints at the possibility of a film version of the musical,and a potential tour, all the while promoting the limited edition of the original Broadway cast recording.

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post that Will Ferrell's 2003 comedy Elf may be getting Broadway treatment, as a production underwent an industry staged reading last week. Riedel alleges that the buzz surrounding the reading has been positive.

Now that Alec Baldwin has conquered the big and small screens, it seems he has his eye on the Great White Way and that coveted Tony Award. Baldwin recently told Elle Magazine: 'I'd love to win a Tony Award. A Tony Award I really crave. That would have great meaning.'

Radaronline.com is reporting that Disney star Cody Linley is Broadway-bound in the remake of the musical Over Here! Linley, of Hannah Montana and Dancing with the Stars fame, reportedly has passed on the Disney Channel's television movie Starstruck in order to participate in the Broadway production. Sterling Knight has since taken over the Starstruck role. Over Here! is hoping for an opening in the beginning of 2010.