Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks Studios have bought the rights to the book “War Horse,” about the long friendship between a British boy and his horse Joey before and during World War I — a novel that was adapted into a hit play now running in London and expected in New York in 2011.

DreamWorks has tapped Lee Hall, who wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for “Billy Elliot” and the book and lyrics for “Billy Elliot: The Musical,” to adapt “War Horse” for the screen. The novel was written by Michael Morpurgo and published in 1982.

A DreamWorks statement did not say if Mr. Spielberg or someone else would direct the film, which the statement referred to as “a dramatic adventure set during World War I.” Mr. Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Revel Guest will produce. No release date was set.

Mr. Spielberg said and his DreamWorks partner Stacey Snider acquired the rights after reading the book, according to the statement, which was released last week. “Its heart and its message provide a story that can be felt in every country,” he said.

The theater producer Bob Boyett said in a telephone interview on Tuesday afternoon that he was deep into planning a transfer of the National Theater production of “War Horse” to New York in 2011, and that he hoped to announce a performance schedule and a theater in early 2010. He said no New York theater, on Broadway or off, had been secured yet for the production, which in London has required a relatively large stage and backstage space. The play uses uncommonly lifelike puppets in the roles of Joey and other horses and animals in the story.

“I highly doubt that Steven Spielberg will use puppets the way that we are going to, but this is nonetheless fantastic news for the property and very exciting for the story of ‘War Horse,’” Mr. Boyett said.

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• Andrew Rannells, Patti Murin and Curtis Holbrook will star in the Dallas world premiere of Give It Up!, the new Lysistrata-inspired musical from Tony Award-nominated playwright Douglas Carter Beane and composer Lewis Flinn. It is set to run Jan. 15-Feb. 14, 2010, at the new Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in the AT&T Performing Arts Center. The company that will also feature Katie Boren, Xavier Cano, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Noemi Del Rio, Carla Duren, Justin Keyes, Telly Leung, Preston Sadleir and Liz Mikel as Hetairai.
• Kristin Scott Thomas will not appear in the Théâtre du Châtelet production of A Little Night Music due to a foot injury. Variety reports that Thomas, who was to star as Desiree Armfeldt in the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical, has bowed out of the Paris production. Italian actress Greta Scacchi will step into the role and perform the musical's signature tune, "Send in the Clowns."
• Jefferson Mays will star with Elisabeth Waterston, Mary Testa and Rocco Sisto in Theater for a New Audience's upcoming Off-Broadway production of William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. Arin Arbus (TFANA's Othello last season) will stage the Bard classic scheduled to start Feb. 6, 2010 and open Feb. 14 at The Duke on 42nd Street. The run will last to March 14.
• Marc Kudisch, Jeffrey Carlson and Hoon Lee will star in Terrence McNally's operatic backstage drama Golden Age at the Kennedy Center in March 2010.
• Alex Cendese, Anthony DeSando, Antoinette LaVecchia, Mark Morettini, Joe Ricci, Morgan Spector, Robert Turano and Marco Verna help populate the Italian-American world of Broadway's new production of Arthur Miller's 1955 drama A View From the Bridge.
• More casting has been announced for the Chicago run of Billy Elliot the Musical, to play at Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre. John Peter (J.P.) Viernes will join previously announced stars Tommy Batchelor, Giuseppe Bausilio and Cesar Corrales — who will alternate in the title role. The production is set to begin March 18, 2010 and open April 11 in Chicago prior to a multi-city tour. Joining the boys will be Armand Schultz (as Dad), Cynthia Darlow (Grandma), Patrick Mulvey (Tony), Keean Johnson and Gabriel Rush (Michael), Samuel Pergande (Billy's Older Self), Jim Ortlieb (George), Susie McMonagle (Mum), Blake Hammond (Mr. Braithwaite) and Maria Connelly (Debbie).
• Martin Sheen's early-career success, The Subject Was Roses, will be a late-career opportunity in 2010, when he stars in the Frank D. Gilroy play at Mark Taper Forum. Brian Geraghty will play Sheen's old role of the son (for which Sheen was Tony-nominated). Frances Conroy will play the mother.

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• Stephanie J. Block will perform a one-night-only concert at the New Players Theatre in London Feb. 28, 2010, to benefit TheatreMAD. The 9 to 5 and Wicked star will offer 6 PM and 8:30 PM concerts.
• Carey Anderson, Donna Lynne Champlin, Michele Dowdy, Joan Treacy Egan, Judy Gold, Liz McCartney, Laura Osnes and Joan Rivers are among the stage folk lined up for upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre. For dates click here.
• Broadway and concert divas will fill the The Carlyle Hotel's Café Carlyle with song in 2010 in New York City. Elaine Stritch, Christine Ebersole, Lea Salonga, Judy Collins and Sutton Foster are scheduled. Dates here.
• Kelli O'Hara will fete Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher at the Intiman Theatre's A Bash for Bart Jan. 30, 2010.
• Sutton Foster will perform a one-night-only concert Feb. 6, 2010, at PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland, OH.
• Jeffrey Johnson will recreate the infamous 1978 performance of Edith Beale Live at Reno Sweeney in After the Garden at Joe's Pub Dec. 29.

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True Colors Cabaret to Feature Olivo, Wainwright and Perabo in 2010



Tony Award-winning actress Karen Olivo and singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright will headline the True Colors Cabaret Jan. 11, 2010, at Feinstein's at Loews Regency.

The concerts are a co-presentation between Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund and Broadway Impact, which was co-founded by Gavin Creel. Reasons to Be Pretty actress Piper Perabo will host.

Grammy nominee Wainwright, who was originally announced to appear as part of a previous True Colors event, will now make his debut with the cabaret benefit in the 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM concerts. West Side Story Tony winner Olivo will also perform.

The monthly cabaret began in September and has welcomed such guests as Cyndi Lauper, Gavin Creel, Lea Michele, Jonathan Groff, Jason Mraz, Sara Bareilles and the Broadway Inspirational Voices.

Tickets, ranging $40-$60, with $500 VIP tables, are available by phoning (212) 339-4095 or by visiting FeinsteinsatLoewsRegency.

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As 2009 winds down, Broadway.com asked your favorite stars to look back on personal highlights from the past year and share their resolutions for 2010. Read on to be inspired—and have a Happy New Year!

BRENT BARRETT (Billy Flynn in Chicago)

Highlight of 2009: “Starting the move back to New York from Las Vegas and putting out my holiday CD Christmas Mornings.”

Resolution for 2010: “To replace Zac Efron in High School Musical 4.”

J. ROBERT SPENCER (Dan in Next to Normal)

Highlight of 2009: “Next to Normal! And being home with my family in NYC!”

Resolution for 2010: “Stop cracking my neck so much. Leave it to the professionals!”

TONY YAZBECK (Phil Davis in White Christmas)

Highlight of 2009: “Becoming even more honest with my family and, in turn, growing even closer with them.”

Resolution for 2010: “To become more of a volunteer and reach out more to those in need. We can all make a difference in someone’s life.”

JENNIFER HOPE WILLS (Christine in The Phantom of the Opera)

Highlight of 2009: “That would definitely be watching my son navigate his first year of life—and sinking all of our money into buying our first home.”

Resolution for 2010: “To try and not go bankrupt as my son navigates his second year of life and we discover all the hidden problems that come with being a homeowner.”

KEVIN CHAMBERLIN (Uncle Fester in The Addams Family)

Highlight of 2009: “Getting my freshly shaved head licked by Susan Blackwell at the Broadway Cares Flea Market.”

Resolution for 2010: “Never shave my head without a mirror. And get licked by Susan Blackwell again.”

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Not Since Tamyra Gray...

I am all for colorblind casting. And yet something about the casting of Corbin Bleu in In The Heights upset me (and, no, it wasn't a hidden hatred for anyone associated with High School Musical). Bleu was born of an Italian-American mother and Jamaican-American father. In The Heights is a show that built part of its media campaign around this whole idea that it offered amazing opportunities for Latino actors. Creator, and original star, Lin-Manuel Miranda, gave countless interviews mentioning this fact. But now, as we enter into the cold Broadway winter, they hire a lead that is not Latino. Does that not hint of dishonesty?

( Everybody's got a job, everybody's got a dream )

This is going off topic a little bit, but I really hate that In The Heights is the "avenue for Latino actors." It's great that we have our own show (and I love ITH sfm) but we should be fighting to be cast in regular shows. Why should In the Heights be THE show to cast Latinos?

Spike Lee's PASSING STRANGE Gets PBS Broadcast, 1/13



The show universally applauded for its originality, deep emotional resonance, and powerful, high-octane score, makes its broadcast debut on THIRTEEN'S Great Performances on PBS. Passing Strange, the Spike Lee-directed film featuring the award-winning Broadway rock musical of the same title, will air in primetime on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 9 p.m. EST (check local listings).

"When I saw the play I was knocked out," Lee has said.

Great Performances is a production of THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG - one of America's most prolific and respected public media providers.

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the happy ones are near
hp/mad men. luna/pete. it looks like magic, but it can’t be. pg-13. 348 words.
for missy_useless. not mine.

Multiple Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Jason Mraz and the renowned Broadway Inspirational Voices (B.I.V.) including Gavin Creel, Lucia Giannetta, Montego Glover, Celisse Henderson, Kimberly JaJuan, Lisa Lynne Mathis, Crystal Monee Hall, Danielle Lee Greaves, John Eric Parker, Eliseo Roman, Shayna Steele Cook and Chris Zelno, in addition to B.I.V. Director Michael McElroy participated in the True Colors Cabaret, a special event promoting LGBT equality at Feinstein's at Lowes Regency last night, December 21.

The True Colors Tour partnered with Feinstein's at Loews Regency, Broadway Impact and the True Colors Fund to present the True Colors Cabaret, a monthly series in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) equality. Each show intertwines performers from the world of Broadway and popular music, along with a celebrity host. 100% of the net proceeds from each show will go directly to the True Colors Fund and Broadway Impact.

( waiting for my rocket ship )

Anonymous Post!




Christmas break is crazy, so I'm a little off schedule here! Sorry, y'all!

This anon post is holiday themed! What shows would you love to see close for Christmas? Who would you like to be naked under your tree? Who would you like to diaf with your yule log? BE HONEST AND NAME NAMES, BITCHES.

Don't forget to check the anonymous comment box! IP logging is disabled, so you'll be just about as anonymous as possible!

( Still confused? )


How many of you are getting snuggies for Christmas? My dog wants one. ;]

It’s always challenging to narrow down the dozens of productions that open on Broadway every year to a list of the five very best. After a lively discussion, the Broadway.com editorial staff enthusiastically agreed on a Best Show roster that includes a pair of unforgettable original musicals and three very special revivals. Take a look at our selections for the five most outstanding Broadway shows of 2009, and see if you agree!
( Fun fact: 44 shows opened this year. )

RIALTO CHATTER: Scoop on New Reading of How To Succeed in Business




This just in from one of the Rialto Chatter's trusted "scoopers"...

I was lucky enough to accompany one of the invited guests to the private reading of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. It took place Monday (Dec 21) at Playwrights Horizons at 3 pm in one of their rehearsal rooms. I was told that the guest list was very tight and not a lot of people were allowed to go because it was more of a test run and not any kind of backers audition.

The producers seem to be the same group who are doing the new production of Promises, Promises: Broadway Across America, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

It was directed by Rob Ashford...and it was clear that if it moved forward that Ashford would direct and choreograph it. I didn't recognize many people there in the audience but the excitement was that Jo Loesser was front and center. David Chase played the piano and was the musical director.

First things first. Daniel Radcliffe was AMAZING. He interpreted the role in a charming, adorable and fresh way. He sang great. I think everyone was there to see if he could do it. And boy, he really did it. He was great. He came off as a full-fledged musical star. Those of us who saw him in Equus know he has the stage chops as a dramatic actor but now I can say that he could easily take Broadway by storm as a musical comedy star, too. After that final Harry Potter movie comes out, this guy can do whatever he wants in any medium. I loved him. And it seems to me that he is the youngest actor to play the role of Finch. And his youth made the show feel fresh and new. It had a new kind of innocence to contrast the cynicism of the world he is in.

They really cast it well, too, even though I know it was just a reading. Rose Sezniak was Rosemary and she was also young and a perfect match for Daniel. She sang and acted the role really well. Everyone loved her. She was kinda magical. David Hyde Pierce was hilarious and unexpected as Biggley. What a great idea for that part. And Michael Urie (from Ugly Betty) was outrageous as Frump. He was hysterical! I also liked Mary Faber as Smitty, Lewis Stadlen as Womper and Twimble, Nancy Opel as Miss Jones, Don Stephenson as Mr. Bratt, and Renee Goldsberry as Heddy La Rue. (The had handed out a sheet of paper with all the names as a sort of program.)
( ... )

Beth Leavel on Taking the Lead (in Spandex!) in Mamma Mia!




Nobody plays musical comedy—with the emphasis on comedy—better than Beth Leavel. From her Broadway debut 26 years ago as Anytime Annie in 42nd Street to her Tony-winning performance in the title role of The Drowsy Chaperone, Leavel has been a reliable laugh-getter, as well as a powerful singer and all-around stage presence. Now she’s stepping into the Broadway spotlight as Donna Sheridan in the long-running megahit Mamma Mia! and—sounding almost surprised—the down-to-earth actress says she is loving every ABBA-riffic minute. Leavel recently chatted with Broadway.com about her latest challenge and level-headed (or should we say leavel-headed?) approach to her career.

What’s fun about playing Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!? ( ... )

Finian's Rainbow on Broadway Announces German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish Translation and Vision/Hearing Impaired Services



The producers of the hit Broadway show Finian's Rainbow have announced that ShowTrans, I-Caption, and D-Scriptive services have now been installed in the St. James Theatre.

ShowTrans provides translating services to theatergoers in four languages: German, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.

D-Scriptive is a revolutionary automated audio description system for blind and low vision theatergoers. During the performance, audience members hear a detailed description of all visual aspects of the production, including physical drama and humor, choreography, lighting, sets, and costumes. The theatre patron wears a tiny earphone in one ear, which is connected to a multi-channel receiver that picks up signals from the master system, through which they can hear the commentary throughout the show.

I-Caption is a state-of-the-art hand-held captioning system for deaf and hard of hearing theatergoers. Also automated, it receives the signal from the master system and displays verbatim texts of the entire show, including lyrics, announcements, and show information. It is timed perfectly to the show's cueing system, and adjusts itself according to any fluctuations in the performance. The captioning device, which is approximately the size of a small PDA, has an incredibly sharp screen which is visible only to the user, so as to avoid any distraction to neighbors. Even though the text keeps pace with the show, the user can scroll backwards at any time, to review previously displayed information.

These systems were designed and installed by Sound Associates.


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ngl, these sound like magic to me.









STAGE TUBE: In the Studio with Finian's Rainbow; CD Available for Pre-Order



The album, featuring Yip Harburg-Burton Lane's score, is being produced by Tommy Kasker of PS Classics. The CD's official release date is February 2, 2010 but pre-orders are being accepted now on the show's official web site for shipping in late January.

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Q&A with Kate Baldwin




When the producers of the Broadway revival of "Finian's Rainbow" went looking for the perfect actress to play Sharon, they needed to look no further than Broadway veteran Kate Baldwin. The Illinois-born actress and singer, who made her Broadway debut in "The Full Monty" in 2000, played the role of the wistful Irish lass earlier this year, in the City Center Encores production of the show. Critics hailed her performance, with the New York Times praising her "rich, pure soprano" and declaring her a "discovery." This week, Kate took time out from dodging an avaricious leprechaun (Og) and pondering the state of affairs in Glocca Morra to answer a few questions.

Q. So give us a thumbnail sketch: where were you born and raised?( ... )






N.Y. theater veteran Toni-Leslie James ‘tells a story with the clothes’



A theatrical costume designer must often grapple with knotty challenges; sometimes these involve cereal-box iconography. When planning the attire for a leprechaun character in the Broadway revival of "Finian's Rainbow," designer and VCU professor Toni-Leslie James says a priority was avoiding any similarity to a certain General Mills mascot.

"I don't want him to look like Mr. Lucky Charms," was the request James says she received from director Warren Carlyle.

An award-winning veteran of New York City's dance and theater scene, James solved the problem by giving the leprechaun a green jacket that, in her words, looks modern and businesslike. She also devised trousers that appear to get shorter as the elf becomes increasingly smitten with human women. ( ... )