[namaikaimvputka]

Oh noes, the video's gone!

This isn't technically Broadway news, but the first London revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Aspects of Love (my favourite score of his after Evita) opens next month at the Menier Chocolate Factory with the adorable Michael Arden as Alex.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/article...ctory_20100629

Not sure how I feel about Trevor Nunn directing it again, but I'm glad it's a more intimate staging than the original. Since a lot of Menier productions have eventually made it to Broadway (e.g., the recent Sunday in the Park With George, and the current A Little Night Music), chances are that Aspects will follow them if it's a big enough hit. And if a New York production happens, then I vote for Arden to reprise his role, with Laura Benanti taking over as Rose, Sierra Boggess as Giulietta, and Terrence Mann as George.

Here's the original Broadway cast at the 1990 Tony Awards:

[WhonyGataxott]

There are some upcoming shows that could be interesting:

"Driving Miss Daisy" - with Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones
"Elf" - a musicalization of the Will Ferrel holdiay movie
"La Bete" - with Patsy! and Niles!
"A Life In The Theater" - with Patrick Stewart and TR Knight
"The Pee Wee Herman Show" - !!!
"You Can't Take It With You" - not sure if anyone's attached, but it's one of my favorites.

[WhonyGataxott]

A Trainwreck set to Music: Love Never Dies Delayed; Creative Team Withdraws

The New York Times reports that Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies, which officially opened in London March 9 at the Adelphi Theatre, will likely not arrive on Broadway in spring 2011 as previously announced.

Mixed reviews and the recent illness of composer Lloyd Webber had prompted an earlier postponement. Originally, the sequel to the international hit The Phantom of the Opera had been scheduled for a November 2010 Broadway bow. In April it was announced that the musical would open at the Neil Simon Theatre in spring 2011.

The New York Times says director Jack O'Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, who staged the London production and were scheduled to repeat their duties for Broadway, have withdrawn from the project. No official announcement about their withdrawal has been made. The Phantom in Coney Island just sounded like a bad idea to begin with. The London reviews seem lulzworthy though.

[boltondd]

That show is the biggest pile of shit ever. It has two good songs, the rest sounds like it was ghost written by some upstart hack.

Anyone remember the revival of "Tell Me On a Sunday" with Denise Van Outen? I didn't mind the casting (though it's a crime it wasn't Ruthie Henshall), but the newer songs added to the show that were written by some other guy were utter shit. The criminally horrid new lyrics replacing the original lyrics in several songs, in an effort to bring the show 'up to date', were unforgivably terrible. My point is that I think that guy actually wrote Love Never Dies.

[DuePew]

^ There's a long-standing rumour (that I believe, just because I want it to be true) that the lyricist for The Phantom of the Opera - Charles Hart - actually wrote most of the score aswell, because ALW was too drunk/lazy to do it himself. When I first heard the cast recording of Love Never Dies my conviction in that rumour only strengthened. I haven't seen it live so I'm not in a position to judge the show itself - but the score is a massive clusterfuck. When Whoopie Goldberg was on Alan Carr last week, he mentioned to Whoopie that he liked Sister Act The Musical because it had actual songs in it, rather than Love Never Dies where 'every-one-sang-in-a-sticcato-fashion-for-three-hours-and-it-made-him-want-to-die'. Whoopie then pointed out that ALW owns the theatre that Sister Act was playing, and Carr backtracked - it was very very funny.

[Teprophopay]

^ Eh, it's a juicy rumour, but I don't see how him composing a dud musical is really indicative that he was dishonest about his creative output 20 years ago. That seems like a big leap. Most longtime musical artists go through their lacklustre periods (sometimes permanent), and from his other productions we know that he did once have a knack for composition, unless people want to contend that he didn't compose much of any of those, too.

I always thought Phantom was a dopey to begin with, though, and am happy to see its sequel go quickly and humanely.

That Carr interview was awesome, though. Thanks for pointing to it. Love em both.

Anyone else morbidly curious about ALWs new musical additions to The Wizard of Oz? I'm a little terrified. But I'll definitely be seeing it when it's released.

[cauddyVab]

I endorse this spelling of Theatre.

[appabessy]

My goodness, not only does Bernadette Peters have a fabulous voice (it's nice to see she's back on Broadway), but she looks frickin' amazing at 62! I bow down to her talent and beauty.

[DuePew]

^ Oh I know it's almost certainly not true, I just spread it around and try to believe it because it would be so awesome if it was. I'm only kidding, really.

[Audi_z]

I love Bernadette Peters so much. When I was young, she was just the female protagonist in "The Jerk," but the more shows/movies/bootlegs I see of her .. the more I love her.

IMHO, she is the only person who can sing "Not A Day Goes By."

-Jacob.

[DuePew]

IMHO, she is the only person who can sing "Not A Day Goes By."

-Jacob.

Incorrect

[Audi_z]

Oooh! I love Audra. She does, in fact, sing the shit out of that song. I still love Ms. Peters' version better, but to each their own

-Jacob.

[WhonyGataxott]

Okay, it's not Broadway bound yet, but still interesting...

"Absolutely Fabulous" Star Jennifer Saunders to Pen Book for Spice Girls Musical

Jennifer Saunders, who wrote and starred in the hit BBC sitcom "Absolutely Fabulous," will write the book for the new Spice Girl musical, Viva Forever.

Judy Craymer, who produced the international hit Mamma Mia!, is producing Viva, which is described as a "modern fable of camaraderie, love and loyalty based on the songs of the Spice Girls."

In a statement Craymer said, "Having Jennifer Saunders on board is the best possible start Viva Forever can have. We are creating a new contemporary story about friendship, celebrity and fame with the music of the Spice Girls. Jennifer is brilliant at writing about these themes and the Spice Girls' songs connect powerfully in a smart and moving way."

Saunders added, "I'm thrilled and terrified at the same time. It is very exciting to be writing a musical that encompasses the music and energy of the biggest girl-band of all time. My daughters grew up with The Spice Girls; I had to write the book for them as well as myself. It has been great fun so far."
Along with her comedy partner Dawn French, Saunders wrote and starred in the eponymous sketch show, "French and Saunders," and received international acclaim for writing and playing the lead role of Edina Monsoon in the BBC sitcom "Absolutely Fabulous."

Viva, which is scheduled to open in the West End in 2012, is produced by Craymer in association with Universal Music, Simon Fuller and the Spice Girls. "Having Jennifer Saunders on board is the best possible start Viva Forever can have." With that I have to agree. (That's the only thing that would get me to watch a show about the Spice Girls.)

[Teprophopay]

^ Alright, red-dotters can have their way with me, but I seriously am going to see that, and probably love it.

[Audi_z]

I saw this today, and I didn't know where to put it, so I stared this little thread.

Kanye West samples "Wicked."


Maybe it's because I like Kanye and "Wicked," but I really like this, and can't wait to hear the finished product!

-Jacob.

[aaaaaaaabbbby]

Not quite Broadway, but close enough.



http://www.broadwayworld.com/article...R_ACT_20100707

Sister Act have confirmed that star of the original film Whoopi Goldberg will be playing Mother Superior for three weeks only from 10th August.

She replaces Sheila Hancock, whose contract ends this summer.

There has been no announcement yet who will take over from Goldberg until the end of the show's run at the Palladium.

Whoopi Goldberg is among the most well-known performers around the world. She shot to international fame with her Oscar-nominated performance in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple,
before embarking on a prolific Hollywood career with films such as Jumpin' Jack Flash, Soapdish, The Lion King, How Stella Got Her Groove Back and, of course, Sister Act and its sequel. She has had success in virtually every area of entertainment, from film and television, to stage and recording, to radio host and best-selling author. In addition to the critically-acclaimed one-woman show that launched her career and the 20th anniversary production of that show in 2005, Whoopi starred on Broadway in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and, most recently, Xanadu. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Ghost in 1991 and is one of a very elite group of artists who has also won the Grammy, the Golden Globe, the Emmy and, as producer of the original Broadway production of Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002, a Tony Award. She is currently moderator of the award-winning, top rating daytime talk show The View in the United States.

Bill Taylor, Stage Entertainment UK CEO, said: "The Sister Act journey has been an incredible one so far, and Whoopi's input from the development stage onwards has been invaluable. Now, back in her habit and on stage with our company at the beautiful Palladium, theatregoers get to see a comedy legend at work. To say the Sister Act family is excited might be something of an understatement! This is also a chance to say a goodbye to the indomitable, multi-talented and unspeakably wonderful Sheila Hancock, who has been a mother figure both on and off stage. I can never thank her enough for her part in making the show the success it is today."

[fectsnanteemy]

Gee, that exactly coincides with my visit to London!

[boltondd]

That is an amazing performance, amazing. Audra is a force of nature, but I do have to agree... Bernadette owns that song.

[namaikaimvputka]

WHY THAT IS MY FAVORITE LINE *cuts*.

Other than that, it sounds awesome.

And now there are pictures!
http://www.playbill.com/news/article...colate-Factory

[aaaaaaaabbbby]

Bernadette knocked it out of the park tonight.