1st Nomination Predictions

Play
Other Desert Cities
Venus in Fur
Peter and the Starcatcher
Clybourne Park

Musical
Once
Lysistrata Jones
Ghost
Spider Man

Book
Once
Bonnie and Clyde
Lysistrata Jones
Ghost

Score
Bonnie and Clyde
Lysistrata Jones
Ghost
Once

Play Revival
Death of a Salesman
Private Lives
The Best Man
The Road to Mecca

Musical Revival
Follies
Godspell
Porgy & Bess
Evita

Leading Actor in a Musical
Norm Lewis, Porgy & Bess
Ricky Martin, Evita
Jason Segarra, Lysistrata Jones
Steve Kazee, Once
Ron Raines, Follies

Leading Actress in a Musical
Jan Maxwell, Follies
Audra McDonald, Porgy & Bess
Elena Roger, Evita
Patti Murin, Lysistrata Jones
Cristin Milioti, Once

Featured Actor in a Musical
Danny Burstein, Follies
Philip Boykin, Porgy & Bess
David Alan Grier, Porgy & Bess
Jason Tam, Lysistrata Jones
Josh Young, Jesus Christ Superstar

Featured Actress in a Musical
Elaine Paige, Follies
Jane Houdyshell, Follies
Melissa van der Schyff, Bonnie & Clyde
Jessie Mueller, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Ghost the Musical

Leading Actor in a Play
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Death of a Salesman
Hugh Dancy, Venus in Fur
Stacey Keach, Other Desert Cities
James Earl Jones, The Best Man
Alan Rickman, Seminar
John Larroquette, The Best Man
Outside Chance:
Samuel L. Jackson, The Mountaintop
Paul Gross, Private Lives
Frank Langella, Man and Boy

Leading Actress in a Play
Stockard Channing, Other Desert Cities
Nina Arianda, Venus in Fur
Tracie Bennett, End of the Rainbow
Rosemary Harris, The Road to Mecca
Rachel Griffiths, Other Desert Cities
Outside Chance:
Kim Cattrall, Private Lives
Angela Bassett, The Mountaintop
Angela Lin, Chinglish

Featured Actor in a Play
Thomas Sadoski, Other Desert Cities
Hamish Linklater, Seminar
Andrew Garfield, Death of a Salesman
Jim Dale, The Road to Mecca
Reuben Santiago Hudson, Stick Fly
Outside Chance:
Jerry O’Connell, Seminar
Adam Driver, Man and Boy

Featured Actress in a Play
Hettienne Park, Seminar
Lily Rabe, Seminar
Judith Light, Other Desert Cities
Candace Bergen, The Best Man
Angela Lansbury, The Best Man
Outside Chance:
Jennifer Lim, Chinglish

Director of a Play
Walter Bobbie, Venus in Fur
Joe Mantello, Other Desert Cities
Pam Mackinnon, Clybourne Park
Mike Nichols, Death of A Salesman
Outside Chance:
Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, Peter and the Starcatcher
Richard Eyre, Private Lives
Leigh Silverman, Chinglish
Lynne Meadow, Wit

Director of a Musical
Eric Schaeffer, Follies
Diane Paulus, Porgy & Bess
John Tiffany, Once
Michael Grandage, Evita
Outside Chance:
David Holcenberg, Ghost the Musical
Julie Taymor, Spider Man
Dan Knechtges, Lysistrata Jones


Scenic Design of a Play
Venus in Fur
Chinglish
Pater and the Starcatcher
The Mountaintop
Outside Chance:
Stick Fly
The Road to Mecca
Private Lives
Other Desert Cities

Scenic Design of a Musical
Follies
Once
SpiderMan
Lysastrata Jones
Outside Chance:
Godspell
Newsies
Bonnie and Clyde

Costume Design of a Play
Venus in Fur
Peter and the Starcatcher
Clybourne Park
Death of A Salesman
Outside Chance:
The Mountaintop
Private Lives

Costume Design of a Musical
Follies
Ghost the Musical
SpiderMan
Porgy & Bess
Evita
Outside Chance:
Bonnie and Clyde

Lighting Design of a Play
Venus in Fur
Peter and the Starcatcher
Death of A Salesman
Clybourne Park
Outside Chance:
Private Lives
Road to Mecca

Lighting Design of a Musical
Follies
Once
Ghost the Musical
Evita
Outside Chance:
Porgy and Bess?

Sound Design of a Play
Venus in Fur
Other Desert Cities
Peter and the Starcatcher
Clybourne Park

Sound Design of a Musical
Follies
Once
SpiderMan
Evita
Outside Chance
Ghost

Choreography
Dan Knechtges, Lysistrata Jones
Christopher Gattelli, Newsies or Godspell
Rob Ashford, Evita
Warren Carlyle, Follies

Orchestrations
On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
Porgy and Bess
Godspell
Jesus Christ Superstar

Newsies Opens on Broadway

The Broadway adaptation of the flop Disney movie has opened on Broadway and the reviews are in. The show has received a decidedly lukewarm reception on Broadway -- not quite the flop the film was, but not nearly as good as a terrible show like Sister Act. The New York Times panned the show, while Variety loved the show. Both reviews talked about the book, the score, and the choreography as their main talking points, taking decidedly different views on each.

The book and score were, by some accounts, fantastic -- exciting, creative, and it hit all the right notes. The Times, however, thought of the writing as merely "urchins with punctuation", to quote the review's title. I think this paragraph from Ben Brantley's review sums all that up.

"Here are a few titles of the songs by Alan Menken (music) and Jack Feldman (lyrics): “Carrying the Banner,” “The World Will Know,” “Seize the Day,” “Something to Believe In” and “Once and for All.” And if you asked me to explain what distinguishes one of these songs from another, I couldn’t begin to without consulting my notes, my program and possibly the show’s director, Jeff Calhoun, and book writer, Harvey Fierstein. You see, these are songs that take their cues from the hard-sell tactics of the show’s title characters, feisty lads of the urban jungle who make their living pushing the papes (to borrow their lingo). And if attracting the attention of potential customers requires yelling, pushing and pandering to baser sentimental instincts, well, a boy’s gotta do what a boy’s gotta do. "

The choreography was also loved by some and hated by others. To quote Velma Kelly and the Chicago gang, the choreography had "splits, spread eagles, flip flops, back flips, one right after the other." To some, this was exciting -- thrilling, actually. But, to others, it became tiring and looked like Broadway choreography's version of a paint-by-numbers.

With advance sales of $8 million already, the show is likely to be a box office hit regardless of what the critics say. The show was intended to play a limited engagement for a few months and then disappear over the summer, but has already extended on strong sales numbers.

Third Round of Tony Eligibility Rules Determined

The Tony Awards Administration Committee met for a third time this season on March 29 to determine eligibility for the Broadway productions of Porgy and Bess, Wit and The Road to Mecca. The following decisions were made at the meeting:

David Alan Grier will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical category for his performance in Porgy and Bess.

Cynthia Nixon will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category for her performance in Wit.

Carla Gugino and Jim Dale will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress/Actor in a Featured Role in a Play categories, respectively, for The Road to Mecca.

All other eligibility is consistent with the opening night credits. The Tony committee will meet one final time later this spring to rule on eligibility for the remainder of the 2011-2012 Broadway season. Tony Award nominations will be announced May 1, with the awards ceremony scheduled for June 10 at the Beacon Theatre.

Menier Chocolate Factory Gets Torched

The Menier Chocolate Factory, known to Broadway audiences for their pared down revivals of the American musicals Sunday in the Park with George, A Little Night Music, and La Cage Aux Folles, has announced its new season.

The Factory will bring London its first major revival of Harvey Fierstein's breakthrough play Torch Song Trilogy. Variety.com describes the play as an "evening of three linked plays focusing on a drag queen and the search for acceptance won the play Tony in 1983." The play, in a production to be directed by Tony-winning actor Douglas Hodge (Best Actor in a Musical 2010 for La Cage Aux Folles), will perform a limited 10-week engagement starting May 30.

Ian Talbot, who directed the Factory's earlier production of The Invisible Man, is coming back to the Factory to direct Charley's Aunt, which will run September 20 through November 10. "The 1892 English comedy most famous in the U.S. for Frank Loesser's tuner adaptation, Where's Charley."

The last show in the Menier season will bring the directorial debut of actress Maria Friedman, who will direct the Stephen Sondheim / George Furth musical Merrily We Roll Along, which will run November 16 through Feb 23. The show is often revised, with productions alternating between the original George Furth original and a James Lapine update. Friedman's production will use Lapine's version of the book.

Whoopi Goldberg to Appear on Glee

Broadway.com has announced that comedienne Whoopi Goldberg will have a role on the hit TV musical drama Glee. She will "play Carmen Tibideaux, a theater veteran and admissions professor at NYADA, the fictional performing arts college Lea Michele and Chris Colfer’s characters hope to attend," according to the article. The article continues, "As previously announced, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer will remain with the series for its fourth season, despite the fact that their characters are all graduating seniors. Glee returns to television on April 10."

The History of Newsies

I bet you didn't know that Newsies, the new musical based on the popular flop Disney film, has a history that dates back to before its 1992 release. In fact, the show (and movie) go back to the 1872 census, which said, "There are 10,000 children living on the streets of New York.... The newsboys constitute an important division of this army of homeless children. You see them everywhere.... They surround you on the sidewalk and almost force you to buy their papers. They are ragged and dirty. Some have no coats, no shoes and no hat." If that's not the impetus for a good show, I don't know what is!

Check out this article at Broadway.com to see the full story.

http://www.broadway.com/shows/newsies/buzz/160813/read-all-about-it-how-newsies-went-from-box-office-bust-to-king-of-new-york/

Porgy and Bess Record Cast Album

The cast of The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess are going into the studio March 26th and 17th to record yet another cast album of America's greatest opera. The album will be released May 22nd by PS Classics. The two-disc album was originally scheduled for a March 12th and 13th recording session but had to change schedules when a number of cast members became ill. The show stars Norm Lewis as Porgy and Audra McDonald as Bess.

"We had, of course, intended to record two weeks ago, but Audra came down with a sinus infection and had to go on vocal rest. You can't do Porgy and Bess without Bess," Tommy Krasker (co-founder of PS Classics) told Playbill.com. "There are lots of shows were you can lay down tracks, if necessary, and have a singer come in later, but Porgy and Bess isn't one of them, and in particular, this production of Porgy and Bess isn't one of them. You can't capture its vivid, raw emotionalism without the cast and orchestra there together, making music. There was no question that we had to postpone until Audra was all better; quality comes first – it has to."

Theresa Rebeck Steps Down From "Smash"

TV's "Smash", about the creation of a new musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe, has become a smash hit for NBC. The show was created by Theresa Rebeck, who has served as head writer and executive producer on the show since its inception. Broadway.com is now reporting that Rebeck is stepping down from her role as showrunner after the first season wraps up. The Broadway.com article said "Rebeck will keep her executive producer title and may have a hand in writing scripts, but she will no longer be involved in the daily operations of the show's second season." Rebeck reportedly is looking to focus on her stage writing career, currently represented by her play Seminar.

Godspell Casting Update

Hello Blog Buddies! I just got the following e-mail from Ken Davenport, lead producer on the current Broadway Revival of Godspell, about a casting change on the show. Read on to find out more.


I am thrilled to announce that "High School Musical" and In The Heights star Corbin Bleu will be joining the cast of Godspell on April 17th!

Corbin is an incredible performer, and the entire team is excited to welcome him to the cast.

Composer Stephen Schwartz had this to say: "I know Corbin has a special affinity for Godspell, and with his great talent, charisma and radiant energy, I know he will be terrific in the show. I am very much looking forward to working with him."

(Here's an insider's tip: our weekend performances have been selling out, so for best availability check the weekday shows.)

Thanks for being a part of the Godspell community. I'll see you at the show soon.

Jesus Christ Superstar Opens on Broadway

The Broadway revival of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar, one of two of the composer's shows being revived on Broadway this year, and the reviews are in. Directed by Des McAnuff, the show has been described as "a glitzy depiction of the most influential execution in world history." Charles Isherwood, who reviewed the show for the New York Times, said that if that description and production style "doesn't strike you as remotely absurd, Mr. McAnuff Jesus Christ Superstar may just be the right musical for you," continuing to describe "the two hours' busy traffic" of Mr. McAnuff's staging as brisk and lucid.

The strongest part of this production seems to be Josh Young, whose performance as Judas Iscariot has received strong notices -- he is definitely in the running for a Tony nomination. The music itself has also gotten some strong notices -- "Vocally [the show] is impressive. Mr. Young's voice is rangy, powerful, and pure. Ms. Kennedy [as Mary Magdalene] performs her solo ... with a graceful simplicity. Mr. Nolan [as Jesus] manages the murderous tessitura of the climactic "Gethsemane" number with impressive aplomb," continues Mr. Isherwood. On the other hand, Isherwood complained about the score being rather cringe-worthy on its own merits.

Stephanie J. Block Interview

Broadway.com has posted an interview with Stephanie J. Block, who is coming back to the revival of Anything Goes after covering for Sutton Foster during her vacation. She talks about channeling Liza Minelli, Wicked, The Pirate Queen, and more.

Check it out!

http://www.broadway.com/shows/anything-goes/buzz/160724/anything-goes-star-stephanie-j-block-looks-back-on-wicked-the-pirate-queen-channeling-liza-minnelli-more/

Newsies Continues Before It Starts

Variety's Gordon Cox has broken the news that, before even starting performances, the Broadway-bound production of Newsies, being produced by Disney, has such strong ticket sales that it is extending a run that was intended to be limited. Advanced sales have reportedly hit $7 million and the first six performances (previews, mind you, when these numbers tend to be much lower than during a post-opening eight-show week) were around $736,000. Let's see if that has any impact on the show's longer-term lasting power.

Once: the Musical Opens on Broadway

The musical adaptation of the heartwarming film Once has opened on Broadway. The reviews are in and are pretty stellar. Variety Magazine has stated that the movie "has been creatively expanded and adapted for the stage with terrific results ... to create a rhapsodic, unique stage musical that retains all the heart of the original Irish film. Once may not be enough for this impeccably made show."

One of the major draws of the show is that the cast doubles as the orchestra, but in a way that makes this a central plot device rather than a gimmick (think of the John Doyle revivals of Sweeney Todd and Company in recent years). In addition to this, the music is gorgeous. The physical production has also been highly lauded, from Bob Crowley's set and costumes to Natasha Katz' lighting. "The two leads are exceptional," says Variety Magazine, as both actors and musicians. "Paul Whitty, Andy Taylor and David Patrick Kelly stand out among the excellent ensemble, along with Elizabeth A. Davis for both her acting and viola skills."

The Times also brought up the point that space is relevant. Ben Brantley said, "Sometimes how cool you look depends on where you’re standing. When I first saw the musical Once at the New York Theater Workshop last December, it registered as a little too twee, too conventionally sentimental, for the East Village. Yet on Broadway — at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater to be exact, where Once opened on Sunday night — what is essentially the same production feels as vital and surprising as the early spring that has crept up on Manhattan." He also noted the production design and leading actors as being top notch.

How to Rock Up a Classic Film

Playbill.com released an article this week about the process of writing a new show and adapting a classic movie for the stage through the eyes of the musical Ghost. Check it out!

http://playbill.com/news/article/160796-Ghost-Writers-How-Rock-n-Roll-Writers-Scared-Up-a-Broadway-Score

Disney Theatricals Not Just for Broadway

Peter and the Starcatcher and Newsies, the two new shows Disney is bringing to Broadway this year, were never intended to Broadway. They also have a production of Aladdin in the works, being produced by Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater, and The Jungle Book is on the schedule for Chicago's Goodman Theater rather than Broadway. While most people know Disney Theatricals for their big budget Broadway productions of The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Tarzan, this set up is showing Disney's more conservative side. There are also shows that are being written just for the sake of licensing out -- like Freaky Friday and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. But then you have to consider their Broadway-bound productions of Dumbo (with a book to be written by Michael Chabon) and Alice in Wonderland, which Variety Magazine says "underscores the unusual fluidity with which Disney -- as a corporate stage division with access to a deep catalog of well-known titles -- can custom-tailor a project's legit path based on each individual title and its evolving needs."

Special Honors at 2012 Olivier Awards

Three-time Tony-winner Tim Rice, who is best known as Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's frequent collaborator (as book writer and lyricist) will receive a special award at the 2012 Olivier Awards to be held on April 15th. The award is cited as being in "celebration of his outstanding contribution to musical theater." The Olivier Awards will be hosted by Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton at the Royal Opera House in London.

According to Broadway.com, "Rice won two Tony Awards for his work on Evita and one for Aida. His other works include Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Chess, Beauty and the Beast and long-running hit The Lion King. He collaborated with composer Andrew Lloyd Webber on Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, revivals of which are both currently in previews on Broadway. They also worked together to write new additional songs for the London revival of The Wizard of Oz. Rice is currently working on adapting the 1953 film From Here to Eternity into a stage musical."

Death of a Salesman Opens on Broadway

The 5th Broadway revival (and 6th Broadway production overall) has opened on Broadway to strong reviews. Variety highly praised director Mike Nichols and the production overall, as well as the performance of Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman. Film star Andrew Garfield initially came across as miscast but held his own against his more famous costars. The New York Times called the decision to "recreate the original visual and aural landscape devised by the set designer Jo Mielziner and the composer Alex North" inspired. The Times continues, "So what you’re seeing and hearing at this production’s beginning is much what audiences at the Morosco Theater must have experienced in 1949." Lead actor Hoffman, director Nichols, and the revival overall are prime for Tony gold.

Tom Hewitt, Superstar -- or, Was That Supervillain?

The New York Times ran an article today profiling the character actor Tom Hewitt, who has become known as a Broadway villain of late. Also known as Broadway's Carey Grant (without the drinking), Hewitt was once known as a matinee idol of sorts. Check out the article (which also serves as a promotion for Hewitt's supporting turn in the upcoming revival of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar, which opens a week from today).


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/theater/tom-hewitt-pilate-in-superstar-indulges-in-villains.html?_r=1&ref=theater

Manderley Dreams Renew

Kenneth Jones of Playbill.com has announced that Rebecca, a new musical based on the 1938 Daphne DuMaurier novel and its 1940 film adaptation by Alfred Hitchcock, will appear at the Broadhurst Theatre this fall. The production had been announced and highly anticipated for this season, but fell through when it lost one of its major investors.

"Rebecca is moving forward," according to a posting credited to lead producer Ben Sprecher. "We have identified the final missing piece of investment and the Shuberts (to whom I shall be forever indebted) have graciously allowed us to resume production to open at the Broadhurst in fall of 2012. Thank you all for you patience and most of all to the extraordinary creative team who have stuck by this fantastic production through thick and thin as Rebecca continues to play in productions throughout the world."

It is not clear whether the previously announced cast will continue with the show. They include Sierra Boggess (I), Tam Mutu (Maxim DeWinter), Karen Mason (Mrs. Winters) and James Barbour (Jack Favell).

Celisse Henderson Q & A

Celisse Henderson, who is making her Broadway debut in the current revival of Godspell, gave an interview with Playbill.com. It's pretty cool to hear about her experiences growing up in San Francisco and her move to New York. Check it out!


http://playbill.com/news/article/160640-PLAYBILLCOMS-CUE-A-Godspells-Celisse-Henderson

Tony Honors in Excellence

Every year, the Tony Awards committee hands out awards to people not necessarily eligible in a competitive category that year, as well as a few honorary awards. This years winners have been announced in a press release through an article in Playbill by Andrew Gans.

In his article, Gans writes, "The honorees include Freddie Gershon, a longtime theatrical licensing executive who created a program of kids’ versions of Broadway works; Artie Siccardi, a production supervisor who has overseen more than 200 Broadway shows; and TDF Open Doors, a program that introduces New York City public high school students to theatre through mentorships with theatre professionals.

Tony Honors were established in 1990 and are awarded annually to 'institutions, individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre, but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories,' according to press notes."

The awards will be handed out at the Tony Eve Coctail Party on June 9th.

Julia Roberts Wants Shakespeare in the Park

Julia Roberts, who won an Academy Award in 2001 for her leading role in Erin Brokovich, is interested in coming to the Park. Ms. Roberts and director Mike Nichols (who collaborated on the films Closer and Charlie Wilson's War) had a chat that will appear in April's issue of Vanity Fair in which Roberts expressed interest in headlining a show for The Public Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park Series.

“[Julia and I] were just talking about Shakespeare in the Park today,” Nichols told Vanity Fair. “If we could do either Taming of the Shrew or Much Ado About Nothing—they’re plays that take care of you.” Roberts, who starred on Broadway in Three Days of Rain in 2006, is thrilled with Nichols’ idea. “To have fun and to be in the park!” Roberts gushed. “That would be a dream of mine."

If Roberts did appear in one of these shows, she would be following in a long line of Hollywood talent coming to that program, including Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, James Earl Jones and Al Pacino.

Diane Paulus to Direct Pippin at A.R.T.

Tony-nominated Director Diane Paulus will direct a production of Stephen Schwartz's 1972 musical Pippin. Her production, to be choreographed by Gypsy Snider, will appear at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass in December. Paulus, who directed the Tony-winning revival of Hair a few seasons ago, as well as the current Broadway revival of Porgy and Bess (which also transferred from the A.R.T.), directed a production of Pippin in 2010 starring Broadway star Gavin Creel. No other casting or production team have been announced.

According to Broadway.com, "Pippin, the Charlemagne-inspired story of a prince who leaves his kingdom but returns to fight his tyrannical father, originally opened on Broadway on October 18, 1972 at the Imperial Theatre. Featuring songs by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson, the original production was nominated for 11 Tony Awards. Ben Vereen received a Tony Award for Best Actor for his work as the Leading Player, and Bob Fosse took home trophies for his direction and choreography. The original Broadway production also starred Irene Ryan and Jill Clayburgh, in addition to John Rubenstein in the title role."

Raven-Symoné to Come to Broadway

Raven-Symoné, who grew up on TV's "The Cosby Show", will be coming to Broadway this year. She will be taking over the role of Delores Van Cartier from Olivier- and Tony-nominee Patina Miller in the Tony-nominated Best Musical, Sister Act. Raven-Symoné will begin performances March 27 while Miller will play her last performance March 18.

"Performing on Broadway has always been a dream of mine and I am beyond thrilled to be making my debut with this role in such a fantastic show," Symoné said in a statement. "Sister Act has everything – amazing songs, hilarious jokes and a fabulous lead character you can root for – I can't wait to get onstage and share her story with audiences eight times a week."

New Productions Coming Down the Pike

The current Broadway season is just picking up and new productions for next season are already under way. Lincoln Center will bring Clifford Odets' Golden Boy back to Broadway for the play's 75th anniversary in a production to be directed by Bartlett Sher. The production will begin previews on November 8, with opening night set for December 3. According to Broadway.com, "Golden Boy is the story of Joe Bonaparte, a young, gifted violinist who is torn between pursuing a career in music and earning big money as a prize fighter."

In other news, National Lampoon's Animal House is being turned into a musical, with a score to be written by the Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies and a book by Michael Mitnick. The show will be directed and choreographed by Tony winner (and friend to this blog) Casey Nicholaw.

Casey is also attached to direct and choreograph a musical adaptation of the novel Tuck Everlasting. The show will make its pre-Broadway debut at the Boston Citi Performing Arts Center Colonial Theatre in June 2013, with music by Chris Miller and lyrics by Nathan Tysen, and a book by actress/author Claudia Shear.

Spider-Man Emails to Come to Trial

In a continuation of the saga surrounding Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Julie Taymour has released "selected e-mails", according to the New York Times. To further support her case against the show's producers, she is providing the court with selected e-mails between her and the staff in which, Taymour claims, she was conspired against by her collaborators. Check out the Times article below for more details.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/05/theater/spider-man-e-mails-revealed-in-taymor-lawsuit.html?_r=1&ref=theater

A Flop Is Born

Have you ever wondered how a flop is born? Well, playbill.com may have the answer! Check out this article about the creation of Carrie: the Musical -- one of the most famous flops in Broadway history.

http://playbill.com/news/article/160301-Anatomy-of-a-Murdered-Show-Creators-of-Carrie-Talk-About-Musicals-Second-Coming

Bonnie & Clyde Sets Cast Album Release Date

Though it lasted only a month on the main stem, Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical will live on, much as its title characters will always do. The show's score will be recorded in a cast album to be released on April 24th by Broadway Records. The lyrics for the show are by Don black and the score was composed by Frank Wildhorn, whose successes have been limited on Broadway. The album, according to Broadway.com, is being "produced by Wildhorn, along with John McDaniel and David Lai, and executive produced by Van Dean, Corey Brunish, Howard Kagan and Terry Schnuck.

Cassie Levy Playbill Interview

Caissie Levy, a young, up-and-coming Broadway star who was a replacement in Hairspray and Wicked, but made her breakthrough performance in the revival of Hair three years ago, is returning to Broadway this year in the musical adaptation of Ghost, which is transferring from London's West End. She recently gave an interview to Playbill.com about her experiences in the show and being able to create the role onstage each night.

http://playbill.com/news/article/160250-DIVA-TALK-Catching-Up-With-Ghost-Star-Caissie-Levy

Stephen Sondheim and Chita Rivera to Return to New York Stages

Broadway.com has reported that Stephen Sondheim has a new musical in the works. The eight-time Tony-winner told the London Evening Standard that he has written “20 or 30 minutes” of a new musical in collaboration with playwright David Ives (Venus in Fur). Also in the news is the fat that one of Mr. Sondheim's more beloved musicals, Into the Woods, is getting a film transfer to be directed by Rob Marshall.

In other news, The Roundabout Theatre Company has announced its new season, and this year includes none other than theatrical legend Chita Rivera. Ms. Rivera will star in a revival of Rupert Holmes' The Mystery of Edwun Drood, which won the Best Musical Tony in 1986. The revival, a whodunnit based on Charles Dickens' last (and incomplete) novel, will be directed by Scott Ellis.

Also in the Roundabout season this year will be a revival of William Inge's Picnic, which will be directed by Sam Gold, who is currently represented on Broadway by Theresa Rebeck's play Seminar. It has been rumored that Picnic will star Academy Award-winning actress Melissa Leo.