BuzzSugar

Katie Holmes to Sip Cocktails on Broadway?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:30:47 -0700

Sometimes it feels like everything comes full circle: Cocktail is coming to Broadway and Katie Holmes is in talks to star in it. The good news is that Heywood Gould, the man behind the original book and movie is working on the theater adaptation, but will it succeed on the Great White Way? I have a soft spot for the cheesy '80s flick, but my first reaction is that this could go more of the way of Big: The Musical (which kind of failed) than smash hit Hairspray.

Tony Winner August: Osage County Headed for the Big Screen

BuzzSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:35:13 -0700

The critically acclaimed and insanely well-received Broadway show August: Osage County will be adapted for film, with the playwright Tracy Letts on board to write the screenplay. The show took home five Tony awards and a Pulitzer prize. Variety continues:

August follows one volatile Oklahoma family in the aftermath of its patriarch's unexplained disappearance. Clocking in at more than three hours, the play began to attract buzz during its preem at the Steppenwolf Theater last summer.

There have been no discussions about cast, but producer Jean Doumanian has said, "So many actors and stars have come to see it on Broadway, and we've gotten inquiries. People are enthusiastic about the film version."

It's strange, I've heard nothing but gushing praise for this play from multiple people in the past month or so - and now it's going to be a movie. Have you seen August: Osage County? What did you think?

Source

Would You See 9 to 5 on Broadway?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:30:15 -0700

The recent casting news about Allison Janney reminded me that Janney is also set to perform in the Broadway musical version of the 1980 movie 9 to 5, which starred Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin. The stage musical will premiere in Los Angeles in September and then move on to New York.

I gotta say, I'm pretty excited to see this show! I love the movie, and I can see it becoming a really fun musical. What about you? Do you think this will be a great movie-to-Broadway musical adaptation? Or will it just be silly?

Source

What Do You Think About a Phantom of the Opera, Part II?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:30:06 -0700

According to Wikipedia, The Phantom of the Opera's 20-year run on Broadway has been "the most lucrative entertainment enterprise of all time." Capitalizing on the beloved musical's major success, creators of the award-winning show now say a sequel is on the way.

Andrew Lloyd Webber confirmed that he has written a new score for a follow-up musical which will pick up where the first story leaves off, starting with "how the Phantom got away in the big fire and was taken to a thriving Coney Island in old New York."

Will it be called The Phantom of Coney Island? And will fans embrace this second installment from Webber? What do you think about this development? Are you keeping an open mind?

Source

Did You Ever See Rent on Broadway?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:29:28 -0800

Sad news coming from New York's Nederlander Theater today: Broadway musical Rent is closing after a 12-year run. The last performance will take place June 1. Opening in the spring of 1996, Rent enjoyed immediate and explosive success with both critics and audiences, despite (or perhaps because of) the story's focus on AIDS, drug addiction, and poverty.

I was one of those crazy, obsessed fans when the musical first opened, traveling into the city with my high-school friends to get cheap tickets to the show several times. We'd even wait around afterward for glimpses of the actors emerging from the Nederlander. Later we followed their careers, from Anthony Rapp's solo album to Taye Diggs appearing on Ally McBeal and Jesse L. Martin getting his gig on Law & Order.

Did you ever see Rent on Broadway? What are your fondest Rent memories?

Source

What Do You Think About Movies Made Into Stage Musicals?

BuzzSugar — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 11:00:04 -0700

Earlier this week, Pop had pictures of some of the ladies from "The Hills" in New York for an event in which MTV filmed the Broadway stage musical production of "Legally Blonde". The show will air next Saturday, September 29. This whole thing got me thinking about the whole concept of making movies into stage musicals.

There have been plenty of these in recent years, from High Fidelity to Young Frankenstein and, soon enough in New York, Dirty Dancing.

What do you think about taking successful films and adapting them for musical theater?

Source

Gyllenhaal, Damon, Clooney Get Political

BuzzSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 12:28:24 -0700

The stage world is buzzing with the news that Jake Gyllenhaal will appear on Broadway in the Beau Willimon play "Farragut North". A politically charged drama directed by Mike Nichols (Silkwood, Working Girl, Closer), "Farragut North" has Gyllenhaal playing "an idealistic young press secretary who works for a Howard Dean-like presidential contender." Appropriately, the play will open the fall of 2008 - when we'll all be busy electing a new President ourselves.

Even before the show has hit Broadway, however, George Clooney and Matt Damon have reportedly bought up the film rights. No word on whether the duo will appear onscreen in the film version. I suppose whether Gyllenhaal reprises his stage role in the movie depends on how well he does on Broadway!

Source

"The Coast of Utopia" Makes History at 61st Tony Awards

BuzzSugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:16:30 -0700

With the series finale of "The Sopranos" on everyone's minds, last night's Tony Awards were a little bit overshadowed. That being said, the 61st Annual Tony Awards brought out some big names in NYC last night to celebrate all that is wonderful on Broadway. I myself was too wrapped up in the HBO Tony to catch most of the show, but I'm certain there was plenty of singing, dancing, sequins and fabulousness to go around. For the musicals "Spring Awakening" took home most of the awards, while Tom Stoppard's "The Coast of Utopia" set the record for Tony Awards won by a play in their history. Want to see who else won? Just read more

Best Play
"The Coast of Utopia"
Author: Tom Stoppard

Best Musical
"Spring Awakening"

Best Book of a Musical
"Spring Awakening"
Steven Sater

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Spring Awakening
Music: Duncan Sheik
Lyrics: Steven Sater

Best Revival of a Play
"Journey's End"

Best Revival of a Musical
"Company"

Best Special Theatrical Event
Jay Johnson: The Two and Only

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Frank Langella
"Frost/Nixon"

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Julie White
"The Little Dog Laughed"

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
David Hyde Pierce
"Curtains"

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Christine Ebersole
"Grey Gardens"

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Billy Crudup
"The Coast of Utopia"

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Jennifer Ehle
"The Coast of Utopia"

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
John Gallagher, Jr.
"Spring Awakening"

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Mary Louise Wilson
"Grey Gardens"

Best Direction of a Play
Jack O'Brien
"The Coast of Utopia"

Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Mayer
"Spring Awakening"

Best Choreography
Bill T. Jones
"Spring Awakening"

Best Orchestrations
Duncan Sheik
"Spring Awakening"

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Bob Crowley & Scott Pask
"The Coast of Utopia"

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Bob Crowley
"Mary Poppins"

Best Costume Design of a Play
Catherine Zuber
"The Coast of Utopia"

Best Costume Design of a Musical
William Ivey Long
"Grey Gardens"

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Brian MacDevitt, Kenneth Posner, and Natasha Katz
"The Coast of Utopia"

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams
"Spring Awakening"

Regional Theatre Tony Award
Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, GA Winner

Source

Tori Amos to Try Musical Theater

BuzzSugar — Wed, 09 May 2007 07:08:31 -0700

Tori Amos is feeling a bit theatrical these days. On her new album, American Doll Posse, she assumes five different personas, each with a distinct look and personality. Now, according to NME, the singer is writing a stage musical, which she hopes to bring to Broadway and London's West End.

According to the NME story, Amos is currently working on the music - a double album with 23 songs - and taking inspiration from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice:

"I think I am writing a musical. I'm gushing but I'm under lock and key," she explained. "I'm trying to be Lloyd Webber and (Tim) Rice. I'm trying to be both (of them). I'm busy. This is such a big project - a double record, 23 songs and the extras."

Though I often roll my eyes when I hear about rock musicians who have Broadway aspirations, I actually think Tori could pull this off quite well. Her piano-heavy, melodramatic style lends itself to musical theater, and she has always been good at crafting songs that tell stories. I'll be interested to hear what she comes up with. What do you think?

Also, If you're a Tori fan, don't forget to enter our Tori Amos giveaway for a signed copy and her Epic Records catalog.

Source

The Flaming Lips Are Broadway Bound

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:56:18 -0700

The Flaming Lips are famous for on-stage theatrics involving puppets, bunny costumes, and frontman Wayne Coyne crowd-surfing in a giant hamster ball. So it seems fitting that the band's highly captivating 2002 album, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, will soon be made into a Broadway musical.

In an exclusive interview, Coyne told EW.com that the band is working with "The West Wing" and "Studio 60" creator Aaron Sorkin to adapt the album for the stage. Tony Award-winning director/producer Des McAnuff, whose credits include "Jersey Boys" and "The Who's Tommy," has also signed on for the show.

For all of the details, read more

Coyne already beat me to the punch in making a joke about Sorkin's trademark walking and talking style: "Maybe that means they'll need to build a stage with lots of hallways on it." Here's what else he had to say to EW about the project:

"There's the real world and then there's this fantastical world," explains Coyne. "This girl, the Yoshimi character, is dying of something. And these two guys are battling to come visit her in the hospital. And as one of the boyfriends envisions trying to save the girl, he enters this other dimension where Yoshimi is this Japanese warrior and the pink robots are an incarnation of her disease. It's almost like the disease has to win in order for her soul to survive."

Bizarre, yes, but Broadway lately seems to be gravitating toward increasingly weird musicals. I mean, who knew the disturbing 1975 documentary Grey Gardens would make good song-and-dance fodder? And at least we can be sure that Yoshimi show will have plenty of good music. I know the production is probably years away, but already I'm excited to see it.

Source