Seriously? OMG! WTF?

The BBC has announced its follow-up to How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? – the TV search for a lead for Joseph And His Amazing Techicolor Dreamcoat. The new show follows Connie Fisher’s success in The Sound Of Music, after she was plucked from obscurity to play the role of Maria. Graham Norton will host the BBC One search for a new Joseph for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage production. Lord Lloyd-Webber, a panel of experts and viewers will also look for a girl to play the narrator figure and a Pharoah/Elvis in the TV show. The TV search is entitled Any Dream Will Do, after one of the famous musical numbers in the production. BBC One Controller Peter Fincham said: "Any Dream Will Do is the perfect follow-up to the success of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? "Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a classic musical known to generations of schoolchildren and I cannot wait for the reunion of 2006’s most unlikely but successful partnership – Graham Norton and Andrew Lloyd Webber. "I think this show will have huge appeal for the BBC One audience." Lord Lloyd-Webber said: "The success of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? this summer was a real boost for musical theatre in Britain and I was particularly thrilled with the reaction from schoolchildren up and down the country. I cannot wait to get them involved in Any Dream Will Do and to get back into the studio with Graham. "Joseph started in schools and I am looking for a great school choir – to play in the West End, we need a smashing girl, a great boy and of course a Pharoah/Elvis." Auditions for contestants will take place across the UK early next year before the show is broadcast in the summer.

The Press Association 

This is one of my favorite Broadway musicals, so I wish I could see this show. Hopefully they will have guest appearances from past Josephs like Michael Damian and Donny Osmond!!!

A musical version of the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan is heading to the West End. The musical, which will feature the hits of Blondie (and a new song by Deborah Harry), is scheduled to open in autumn 2007, following an out-of-town tryout to be determined. The story centers on Roberta Glass, a bored New Jersey housewife who seeks adventure through her obsession with personal ads and the mysterious Susan, a street-smart East Village drifter. When Roberta suffers a bad case of amnesia, she and Susan unexpectedly swap lives and are plunged into a world of jewel heists, magic shows and rock ‘n’ roll. The collision of Roberta and Susan’s identities takes them on a wild journey of mystery, self-awareness, and true love—with both women discovering that you never know where your life is going, until something magical happens. The film, written by Leora Barish and directed by Susan Seidelman, marked the big screen debut of Madonna, who played the role of Susan. Rosanna Arquette co-starred as Roberta. The stage version was conceived and written by American writer, director and actor Peter Michael Marino.

Broadway

Seriously make it stop. What is next 16 Candles? Pretty in Pink? Ishtar? Howard the Duck? I better stop typing, it might give someone an idea of which movie to turn into a musical next.

"High Fidelity" won’t be making music on Broadway much longer. The $10 million musical based on Nick Hornby’s novel and the 2000 film about a slacker record-store owner will close Sunday after 14 performances and 18 previews. The stage version, which has music by Tom Kitt, lyrics by Amanda Green and a book by David Lindsay-Abaire, opened Dec. 7 to mostly negative reviews. It has done meager business at the Imperial Theatre, one of Broadway’s larger houses, since beginning previews there Nov. 20. Last week it grossed only $282,734, playing to 45 percent capacity.

AP 

I don’t know I thought it was an ok movie, who really thought it would be a great musical?

Grease veterans (of stage and screen) Jeff Conaway, Adrian Zmed, Marilu Henner, Lucy Lawless and Barry Bostwick as well as Hairspray’s Marissa Jaret Winokur and Rent’s Jai Rodriguez will be special guests on NBC’s "You’re The One That I Want." The NBC show, which will cast the two lead roles in the Broadway revival of Grease, debuts on the broadcast network Jan. 7, 2007, at 8 PM (ET). "Access Hollywood" co-anchor Billy Bush and U.K. television and theatre star Denise Van Outen will host the show, which kicks off with two one-and-a-half hour shows (on Jan. 7 and 14) before continuing on Sunday nights in an hour-long format. Check your local listings. Jeff Conaway (Kenickie in the film and a Danny replacement in the original Broadway show), Adrian Zmed (Danny replacement in original and revival, Johnny in "Grease 2"), Marilu Henner (Marty replacement in original Broadway run), Lucy Lawless (Rizzo replacement in revival) and Barry Bostwick (the original Broadway Danny Zuko) are slated to appear on the show as guests. Jai Rodriguez (Rent, "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy") and Marissa Jaret Winokur (Tony Award winner from Hairspray) will also participate. Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall (The Pajama Game) will direct and choreograph the new Broadway production as well as judge the competition> Her judging co-horts will be Grease co-creator Jim Jacobs and theatre producer David Ian. Paul Nicholas and David Ian Associates, Nederlander Presentations and Phoenix Productions will produce the Broadway run of the show, which begins rehearsals on or about April 1, 2007. The musical Grease – by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey – debuted on Broadway Feb. 14, 1972 and captured the spirit of audiences with its the 1950’s-set all-American lovestory of two teens from opposite sides of the fence who fall in love one summer only to discover each other again, this time attending Rydell High School. Will the "bad boy" and the "good girl" be able to rekindle their romance amid the politics of high school?

Playbill 

As much as I love Adrian Zmed, I have to wonder if Grease 2 counts? And I did not know that Barry Bostwick was the original Danny Zuko, I bet he was great in the role!
BTW can you believe two Grease posts in one day? On that note, I think we can conclude that we can count out Olivia Newton-John in the show, don’t you? 

« Previous entries Next entries »