Rialto Chatter - Page 15

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.

Today, one day before the first performance of Green Day's American Idiot, Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced that it will extend the show due to record-breaking sales and unprecedented demand for seats.

The New York Times is reporting that producers are considering changing the opening night of the new Broadway musical FELA! in order to accommodate the schedules of contributing celebrities, including rapper Jay-Z and movie and television stars Will and Jada Pinckett Smith. Producers want to include Jay-Z and the Smiths in order to increase publicity for the show and to allow them to be recognized for their investment.

World of Jewtopia, the Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson play, will be making it's Philadelphia debut at the Perelman Theatre at the Kimmel Center from December 24 - December 27. According to the show's official billing by the Kimmel Center, this will be the last production prior to a Broadway 2010 opening. No official announcement on a Broadway run has been made.

The New York Times has confirmed that the financially malnourished Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark is now expected to begin previews and open in the Spring of 2010 due to the weeks of production delays and financial difficulties that have plagued the multi-million dollar mega project for months.

It is something no artiste would like to admit, but according to a report in the London Evening Standard today, West End box offices may have reality television to thank for its swelled intake.

In the Chicago Tribune yesterday, theater critic Chris Jones reports that Shrek originals Brian D'Arcy James (Shek), Sutton Foster (Princess Fiona) and Christopher Sieber (Lord Farquaad) are scheduled to attend a preview event later this month surrounding the announcement of the Shrek National Tour, reported to be kicking off at Chicago's Ford Center for the Performing Arts in June 2010.

Kelly Osbourne sure is determined to play Roxie Hart in Broadway's Chicago. And, she is letting everyone know it. During a live broadcast of Dancing With The Stars on Monday, on which Osborne is currently competing, the reality star openly expressed her interest in the role several times.

The London Times is reporting that a computer program used to bust college students for plagiarism may have helped confirm that Shakespeare penned an unattributed play about Edward III entitled 'The Reign of King Edward III,' The London Times is reporting.

Whatsonstage.com is reporting that Michael Ball may be in talks to star in Sam Mendes' Neal Street Productions' stage adaptation of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Reports are circulating that William Gibson's classic, THE MIRACLE WORKER, will get a Broadway resurrection in the near future at the hands of Finnian's Rainbow producer David Richenthal.

Scarlett Johansson's next project very well may be in a musical after-all (as previously reported, she was rumored to be the new star of Broadway's upcoming Promises Promises). That, turned out to be just rumor, her reps confirmed, however, reports are now circulating that Johannson is in search of the next big movie musical in which to star. The actress apparently grew up with big dreams of becoming the next Judy Garland, and she is reportedly letting the Hollywood executives know, according to IMDB News.

Courthouse News is reporting that the verdict is still out on actress Patty Duke's claims that Golda's Balcony producers are in breach of contract for firing - or rather, not officially hiring - the star from the international tour of Broadway's wildly successful Golda's Balcony, the one-woman show about Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir that starred Tovah Feldshuh on Broadway. Golda's Balcony stands as the longest-running one woman show to play Broadway.

Despite numerous reports picked up on the rumor patrol, it seems that the particularly juicy one suggesting that Scarlett Johanssen will be starring in the upcoming Broadyway production of Promises Promises is in fact just that: rumor.

'Tis been the season of exciting news. RENT and IN THE HEIGHTS are setting out on National Tours. Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta Jones have finally been confirmed for the Broadway revival of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, and celebrity imports like Hugh Jackman, Daniel Craig and Jude Law are hanging around town while staring in A STEADY RAIN (Jackman and Craig) and HAMLET (Law). But alas, every industry has its underbelly, which was clearly manifested in actor Randy Quaid's arrest in Malfa Texas last Thursday for skipping out on a California hotel bill in excess of $10,000, the Texas cops are reporting.