All About Me – March 18

This Dame Edna and Michael Feinstein spectacle got a lot of buzz when the two stars originally claimed to be mounting similarly titled solo shows, but since then buzz about the show has died down. Written by Christopher Durang and directed by Casey Nicholaw, the show seems to be testing what happens when you put four big personalities in a room together. Having seen each of their creations in the past,  hopes are high that together they’ll pull off something wonderfully fun.

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Come Fly Away – March 25

There’s been next to no buzz about Twyla Tharp’s Frank Sinatra inspired musical, which will feature a lot of dancing and a 19-piece band. Burn the Floor, which just closed on Broadway, proved that there is an audience for ballroom dance, and Mamma Mia has shown that audiences love a good jukebox musical, so maybe it’ll work; it’ll either flop hard and fast, or go on to become the next Contact. Let’s hope its the latter.

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The Addams Family – April 8

Featuring Broadway vets Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth, writers of this new show penned an original storyline, rather than attempting to adapt the movie or TV show – a very smart move considering the limited successes of some recent adaptations. The musical will likely need to enjoy a long run in order to recoup its investment and from what they’ve shown so far – it looks like they may have a shot.

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Million Dollar Quartet – April 11

This Chicago transfer is hoping to capitalize on the jukebox musical phenomenon. Starring the four Broadway newcomers who originated their roles in Chicago, this musical tells the tale of a jam session that included Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. Audiences and critics in Chicago adored this production  largely due to the performances of the four leads – so Broadway theater-goers can count themselves lucky that producers are willing to take a risk on four unknowns.

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La Cage Aux Folles – April 18

Douglas Hodge will recreate his Oliver Award-winning performance in this UK transfer alongside Kelsey Grammer. Many were startled to see the show is returning to Broadway so soon (the last production  of La Cage aux Folles closed in June of 2005), but the Mernier Chocolate Factory has only sent over great productions in the past, so there’s little doubt this will be anything but a wonderful treat.

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American Idiot – April 20

After playing to packed houses in Berkley, this show, created by a phenomenal production team of Broadway big hitters, has developed a devoted following and earned a reputation for being something entirely new. With music from the Grammy Award-winning album, a fantastic, youthful cast and an audience among the Next to Normal and Spring Awakening crowd, this show has only to live up to half of the hype to become a success.

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Sondheim on Sondheim – April 22

A collection of fantastic actors (Barbara Cook, Vanessa Williams, Michael ARden, Leslie Kritzer and more) will be singing some of Sondheim’s best songs in this tribute to the man. Yes, Sondheim has had lots of musical reviews over the years, but this one may be worth it – if only to see some of these performers live again.

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Promises, Promises – April 25

Finally Kristin Chenoweth is making her way back to Broadway! Joining her is another star of the small screen, Sean Hayes. This show isn’t likely to change the course of musical theater, but it is nice to know there will be some lighthearted old-fashioned fare on Broadway.

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First – the New York Post reported that the New York Theatre Barn is wooing Lea Michele for a new musical based on the real-life attempts of a high school in Texas to produce Rent. The show, called Speargrove Presents, has a role written for her, but with her Glee filming schedule, taking time out to star in a non-profit’s musical just may not be in the cards. That said, she has been a fan of the Theatre Barn for years. I’m waiting to see whether any other names come on board for the project. Until they do – they can pine for her all they want – were I her agent, I’d tell her to politely decline.

Also rumored, this time by Variety, is that the Jeff Buckley jukebox musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet called The Last Goodbye is eyeing a Broadway premiere during the 2010-11 season. A concert version of the show was presented this past May at Joe’s Pub with a cast that included Kelli Barrett (The Royal Family, Rock of Ages) and Theo Stockman (Hair, American Idiot). After doing a workshop at Gotham and an out-of-town tryout somewhere yet-to-be announced, they’re hoping to hit the Great White Way. Anyone catch the Joe’s Pub performance? I think this show could either be really good, or do a big old flop.

In other news….

The Phantom Love Never Dies soundtrack is being released on March 9. We hooked you up with a sample of some music from the show. Be sure to pre-order your copy of the full cast album now!

The Matt Stone and Trey Parker Morman Musical, starring Cheyenne Jackson, will officially make an appearance Off-Broadway in the 2009-10 season. I am so on board with this show.

The Lion King officially became the 8th longest show in Broadway history, surpassing Rent, which previously held that position. Julie Taymor’s brilliant puppetry combined with a large Disney budget made this wonderful movie into a truly unique stage experience – and one that just keeps rolling along…

Speaking of Julie Taymor – the now $45 million dollar production of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark that was supposed to start previews earlier this month under her direction – “will open before the end of the year” according to U2’s the Edge. They’ve already run into hurdle after hurdle, found an entirely new set of producers, and returned money to those excited fans who bought their tickets months in advance. I really want to think the best of this production, but have to admit, I’ve grown wary. So, the Edge: Thank you for trying to inspire confidence, and I hope for the sake of those who gave you all the $45 million you’ve already spent, that you do, in fact, go up before the end of the year, but I have to tell you – I’ll not be holding my breath.

In West End news – Tony and Olivier Award-winning director Trevor Nunn will direct Aspects of Love, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical for the Menier Chocolate Factory this summer. This wonderful theatre has contributed a lot to Broadway in recent years (Sunday in the Park with George, La Cage aux Folles, A Little Night Music), so if its a successful revival over there – it’s likely to make its way across the Pacific.

And finally in other redo moves – Variety is reporting that Karen McCulluh and Kirsten Smith, the writers of the film Legally Blonde, are set to create a big screen remake of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. The film will be produced by Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey, of the “Twilight” franchise. First of all – why redo it? Secondly – what a weird assortment of people. I can only hope this new version will feature vampire prostitutes with chihuahuas!

With the majority of the original Broadway cast headed to London’s Gielgud Theatre, producers held a huge casting call for new Broadway tribe members.

Today, they’ve announced that Kyle Riabko (Spring Awakening) and American Idol favorites Ace Young (Grease) and Diana DeGarmo (The Toxic Avenger, Hairspray) will play Claude, Berger and Sheila when the new cast takes over on March 9.

They will be joined by Annaleigh Ashford, Jeannette Bayardelle, Vanessa Ray, Wallace Smith and Jason Wooten and an ensemble that includes Justin Badger, Nicholas Belton, Larkin Bogan, Natalie Bradshaw, Catherine Brookman, Brianna Carlson-Goodman, Antwayn Hopper, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Rachel Bay Jones, Mykal Kilgore, Josh Lamon, Nicole Lewis, Anastacia McClesky, Paris Remillard, Armender Robinson, Kate Rockwell, Cailan Rose, Rashidra Scott and Jen Sese.

What do you think of the new cast?

The West End’s Olivier Awards nominations are out and lots of trans-Pacific transfers are on the list, including the Broadway transfer of Spring Awakening, now on the West End, and the West-End transfers of A Little Night Music and Billy Elliot, now on Broadway.

The official awards ceremony will take place on March 21, and we’ll be announcing winners live on Twitter and on the blog here.

Here are the categories that include musicals (see a full list of this years nominees):

BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
HELLO DOLLY!
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
OLIVER!

BEST NEW MUSICAL

DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL
SPRING AWAKENING
SISTER ACT

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR ENTERTAINMENT

Melanie C, BLOOD BROTHERS
Patina Miller, SISTER ACT
Samantha Spiro, HELLO DOLLY!
Hannah Waddingham, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Charlotte Wakefield, SPRING AWAKENING

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR ENTERTAINMENT

Rowan Atkinson, OLIVER!
Aneurin Barnard, SPRING AWAKENING
Bob Golding, MORECAMBE
Alexander Hanson, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Tony Sheldon, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL OR ENTERTAINMENT

Sheila Hancock, SISTER ACT
Maureen Lipman, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Kelly Price, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Iwan Rheon, SPRING AWAKENING

BEST THEATRE CHOREOGRAPHER

Matthew Bourne, OLIVER!
Bill T Jones,r SPRING AWAKENING
Anthony Van Laast, SISTER ACT
Stephen Mear, HELLY DOLLY!

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

BURNT BY THE SUN, Mark Henderson
ENRON, Mark Henderson
SPRING AWAKENING, Kevin Adams
THREE DAYS OF RAIN, Jon Clark

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

HELLO DOLLY!, Peter McKintosh
MADAME DE SADE, Christopher Oram
THE MISANTHROPE, Amy Roberts
PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT- THE MUSICAL, Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner

BEST SOUND DESIGN

EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR, Christopher Shutt
JERUSALEM, Ian Dickinson
MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN, Andrew Bruce and Nick Lidster
SPRING AWAKENING, Brian Ronan

THE AUDIENCE AWARD FOR MOST POPULAR SHOW

BILLY ELLIOT
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
WAR HORSE
WE WILL ROCK YOU
WICKED

The West End transfer of La Cage Aux Folles, which opens April 18 at the Longacre Theater, previously announced its headliners Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge.

Today, producers have added some additional names to the cast list, including: Tony Award nominees Veanne Cox (Company) and Robin de Jesus (In the Heights), Christine Andreas (Oklahoma!), A.J. Shively, Elena Shaddow (Nine), Chris Hoch (Shrek), Heather Lindell (Hairspray), Bill Nolte (The Secret Garden, Joseph, 1776), David Nathan Perlow, and Nick Adams (Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line).

You’ve seen the artwork. How do you think the show is going to be received by theater-goers?

Andy Karl (9 to 5, Legally Blonde) joins the cast of Broadway’s Wicked in the role of Fiyero today, Feb 2.

David Pittsinger returns to the role of Emile de Becque in the Tony-winning revival of South Pacific today.

Big Announcements:

Next to Normal will officially tour the United States next year. The only venue that has been announced to date is San Diego’s Balboa Theatre; stay tuned to the blog for further announcements.

Whoopi Goldberg’s Sister Act, which has been setting records on the West End, is officially heading to Broadway in 2011. No details have yet been released, but it looks like Goldberg will transfer with the production when it makes the move to the states.

Cast Albums Released Today:

The New Broadway Cast Recording of Finian’s Rainbow

The Off-Broadway Cast Recording of Vanities

According to Variety, Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening) has been tapped to write 80s-style music and lyrics for an adaptation of the book and film, American Psycho, alongside librettist Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.

No cast or creatives have yet been announced, as the project is still in its infancy and Sheik is still busy preparing Whisper House for Broadway, but the project is already generating a lot of excitement…

What do you think? Is there an audience for something like this?

I got my hands on a song sample from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new sequel to Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies:

Till I Hear You Sing Once More

What do you think?

Producers just announced that John Gallagher Jr. (Spring Awakening), Stark Sands and Michael Esper will star in Broadway’s American Idiot, the new Green Day musical opening April 20 at the St. James Theatre.

Director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening) co-wrote the book with Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong. Music and lyrics are all by Green Day, with songs taken from their albums “American Idiot” and “21st Century Breakdown.”

The other creative team members include two-time Tony Award-winning composer and orchestrator Tom Kitt (Next to Normal), Olivier Award-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett, Tony nominated scenic designer Christine Jones (Spring Awakening), costume designer Andrea Lauer, two-time Tony Award-winning lighting designer Kevin Adams (Hair), Obie Award-winning sound designer Brian Ronan (Cabaret), video designer Darrel Maloney and music director Carmel Dean.

Gallagher Jr., Sands and Esper are joined by Rebecca Naomi Jones (Passing Strange), Christina Sajous (The Wild Party), Mary Faber (Avenue Q) and Tony Vincent (Jesus Christ Superstar) as well as an ensemble that includes: Declan Bennett (Rent), Andrew Call (Cry-Baby), Gerard Canonico (Spring Awakening), Miguel Cervantes (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Joshua Henry (In the Heights), Van Hughes (Hairspray), Brian Charles Johnson (Spring Awakening), Joshua Kobak (Rent), Lorin Latarro (Movin’ Out), Omar Lopez-Cepero, Leslie McDonel (Hairspray), Chase Peacock, Theo Stockman (Hair), Ben Thompson, Alysha Umphress, Aspen Vincent and Libby Winters.

The cast will be appearing with Green Day at the Grammy Awards, singing “21 Guns.” (The Grammys will air on CBS on Jan 31 at 8-11:30 PM).

Can’t wait for this one to hit the Great White Way! Apparently, it’s turning musical theater on its head.