Bruce Beresford to Direct Buddy Holly Biopic CLEAR LAKE
Director Bruce Beresford, whose iconic film Driving Miss Daisy captured four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, is teaming with Ray and La Bamba Producer Stuart Benjamin, in helping to tell the story of how Buddy Holly and other famous musicians of the late 1950s helped birth rock 'n' roll and change the trajectory of civil rights in America.
Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville Working on Second Broadway-Bound Stax Records Musical and Film
As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this summer, Grammy-winning producer Stuart Benjamin, along with Concord Music Group, is in the process of developing a new musical based on the Stax Records music label, with book by Matthew Benjamin and sights on a 2016 Broadway bow. Now according to the Hollywood Reporter, Evergreen Media Group (which is currently suing Concord for publishing rights to the music) is working with Robert Gordon to adapt his book 'Respect Yourself' into both a film and musical on the same subject. Morgan Neville has signed on to produce the project.
TOMORROW MORNING Plays Final Performance Tonight
The acclaimed "Tomorrow Morning" by Bill Quigley performing Off Broadway at the HB Playwrights Theatre, 124 Bank street (between Greenwich and Washington Streets) concludes this run tonight, Wednesday, April 20th at 8:00 pm .
RIALTO CHATTER: Ray Charles Musical Unlikely for Spring
According to Variety, UNCHAIN MY HEART might not move to Broadway this spring after all. The show, which was previously titled RAY CHARLES LIVE!, was to open at the Ethel Barrymore on November 7, but was postponed until spring. Now the production has been put on hold because a producer of the show is suing the show's primary investor. A rep for UNCHAIN MY HEART commented that he 'had no details about a new production timeline, but admitted a spring start doesn't seem viable.'
RAY CHARLES Musical Producer Sues Investor for Fraud
According to the Hollywood Reporter, RAY CHARLES LIVE! producer Stuart Benjamin is suing his primary investor, Maurice Grant, for fraud, and is demanding $20 million in damages. Grant reportedly 'promised him $9 million in several installments to get Ray Charles Live! to Broadway'. Grant's first payment of $150,000 never cleared, and he never received a $2 million payment from February.
NCTC Closes DON'T ASK 8/20
NCTC is proud to present the West Coast premiere of Don't Ask, a drama by Bill Quigley and directed by Ben Randle.The show previews August 13 - 20th (Press Night is Friday, August 20th), opens on Saturday, August 21st and runs through September 19, 2010: Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.
NCTC Presents DON'T ASK 8/13-20
NCTC is proud to present the West Coast premiere of Don't Ask, a drama by Bill Quigley and directed by Ben Randle.The show previews August 13 - 20th (Press Night is Friday, August 20th), opens on Saturday, August 21st and runs through September 19, 2010: Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.
NCTC Presents DON'T ASK 8/13-20
NCTC is proud to present the West Coast premiere of Don't Ask, a drama by Bill Quigley and directed by Ben Randle.The show previews August 13 - 20th (Press Night is Friday, August 20th), opens on Saturday, August 21st and runs through September 19, 2010: Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.
NCTC Presents DON'T ASK 8/13-20
NCTC is proud to present the West Coast premiere of Don't Ask, a drama by Bill Quigley and directed by Ben Randle.The show previews August 13 - 20th (Press Night is Friday, August 20th), opens on Saturday, August 21st and runs through September 19, 2010: Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.
NCTC Presents DON'T ASK 8/13-20
NCTC is proud to present the West Coast premiere of Don't Ask, a drama by Bill Quigley and directed by Ben Randle.The show previews August 13 - 20th (Press Night is Friday, August 20th), opens on Saturday, August 21st and runs through September 19, 2010: Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.
UNCHAIN MY HEART Now to Play Bway in Spring 2011
UNCHAIN MY HEART, the Ray Charles Musical, which was scheduled to open at the Barrymore Theatre on Broadway on November 7, will now open in the Spring of 2011 at a Shubert Theatre to be announced. The principal cast is expected to stay with the production. Producer Stuart Benjamin cited logistical reasons for the change in date.
UNCHAIN MY HEART Books Ethel Barrymore Theatre; Previews Oct. 8, Opens Nov. 7
Producer Stuart Benjamin has announced that UNCHAIN MY HEART, The Ray Charles Musical, will open at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th St.) on Broadway on November 7, 2010; previews begin October 8. Directed by Sheldon Epps, UNCHAIN MY HEART features the music of Ray Charles and a book by Suzan-Lori Parks.