Hugh Jackman to Star in Houdini Musical

Looks like Hugh Jackman is heading to Broadway again.

Jackman will star as the legendary magician in a Broadway play penned by The Social Network’s Aaron Sorkin.

Famed composer Danny Elfman will be composing the score.

According to Elfman, Sorkin is “writing away. We all have high hopes that Aaron’s going to come through and do some good stuff.”

Sorkin’s previous Broadway playwriting experience includes A Few Good Men and The Farnsworth Invention

Will you catch Jackman on Broadway?

Edited: November 3rd, 2010

Nicole Kidman is Broadway Bound

Nicole Kidman will star in the Broadway revival Tennessee Williams’ play Sweet Bird of Youth.

The 43-year-old actress will play Alexandra Del Lago, an aging, drunken and sexually voracious movie star.

David Cromer, who helmed the award-winning Off-Broadway revival of Our Town, will direct the production, which will arrive on Broadway next fall. Scott Rudin will produce.

Kidman has received a lot of praise from critics who saw her movie Rabbit Hole at the Toronto Film Festival.

Edited: September 17th, 2010

Chris Pine is The Lieutenant of Inishmore

Check out stills from Chris Pine’s new play The Lieutenant of Inishmore.

The black comedy takes place in 1993 on the rocky island of Inishmore. The story centers around Padraic (Pine), a hard-boiled terrorist, who has been away in Northern Ireland with his busy schedule of torture and assorted nationalist mayhem, but he is lured home to Inishmore by the news that his beloved cat, Wee Thomas, is doing poorly. When Padraic finds out Wee Thomas has been murdered, he initiates a cycle of revenge-killing that threatens everyone in his path, except perhaps the love-struck Mairead (Zoe Perry), a 16-year-old terrorist groupie with a BB gun.

The Lieutenant of Inishmore is already in previews at the Mark Taper Forum, LA, and opens on July 11. The play will continue through Aug. 8, 2010.

Edited: July 10th, 2010

‘The Addams Family’ Heads to Broadway

Looks like Justin Bartha isn’t the only person heading to Broadway.

The Addams Family will be making its Broadway debut next year, after it finishes a limited release in Chicago. Although the show’s reviews were mixed, many agreed that it needed major changes before it heads to Broadway.

Jerry Zaks, the man behind the revival of Little Shop Of Horrors will be working his wonders on The Addams Family.

Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth will be starring as Gomez and Morticia Addams.

The Addams Family will begin previews on March 4 and debut in April.

What do YOU think of The Addams Family heading to Broadway? Will YOU watch?

Edited: December 30th, 2009

Justin Bartha Cures His ‘Hangover,’ Heads to Broadway

Justin Bartha, one of the stars of this year’s big comedy hit, The Hangover is heading to Broadway to replace T.R. Knight in the revival of Lend Me a Tenor.

Although it’s not official and reps for the production haven’t confirmed Bartha’s casting, “his pictures are registered amid the cast on Telecharge.”

He’ll play an unlucky assistant who has to step in to star in the production of Otello at a Cleveland opera house. It’s set in the 1930s. Bartha will share the stage with Anthony LaPaglia and Tony Shalhoub.

Lend Me a Tenor is the Broadway directing debut of Stanley Tucci and will open in New York City on March 11.

Will YOU see him in Lend Me a Tenor?

Edited: December 29th, 2009

Kenny Ortega to Adapt Tony-winning Broadway Musical, ‘In the Heights’

Director Kenny Ortega (High School Musical, This is It) will direct the film adaption of the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights.

The film, which was acquired by Universal features the original writer, composer and star of the hit musical, Lin-Manuel Miranda who will reprise his role and also produce the film.

In the Heights centers around a New York City Dominican-American neighborhood in Washington Heights and features hip-hop, salsa, merengue and soul music.

The show was nominated for 13 Tonys, and won the award for best musical.

Edited: December 15th, 2009

Jennifer Morrison is Broadway Bound

House alum, Jennifer Morrison has joined the revival of William Gibson’s The Miracle Worker.

Morrison will be playing Helen Keller’s mother, Kate, while the role of Helen will be played by Abigail Breslin. The play will focus on the relationship that Helen had with her teacher (played by Alison Pill) who taught her to communicate.

Matthew Modine is also going to be in the play, although it hasn’t been announced on which role he will play.

The Miracle Worker begins previews in February and runs through spring.

Will YOU watch Morrison in The Miracle Worker?

Edited: December 14th, 2009

Denzel Washington Heading to Broadway

Denzel Washington will be starring in the Broadway production of Fences, based on a Pulitzer Prize winning play written by August Wilson.

Washington will play Troy Maxson, a role which was originally played by James Earl Jones. He will begin rehearsals in February for an April opening. The play will have a 14-week run through mid-July.

Washington can be seen next in The Book of Eli alongside Gary Oldman and Mila Kunis, out in theaters on Jan. 15, 2010.

Edited: November 11th, 2009

Ashlee Simpson Heading to Broadway

She may have moved out of Melrose Place, but Ashlee Simpson has found a new home – Broadway. She is set to reprise her role as Roxie Hart in Chicago.

Back in 2006, Simpson performed in London’s West End and received good reviews. She will reportedly begin her Broadway run in December and will be performing for six weeks.

Are YOU going to see her on Broadway?

Edited: November 9th, 2009

Reeve Carney is Spider-Man

Reeve Carney has been cast to play the lead in Spider-Man the musical. Carney will play Peter Parker and his alter-ego in Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark.

The show will be directed by Julie Taymore and music will be provided by Bono and The Edge. Evan Rachel Wood has already been cast to play Mary Jane Watson and Alan Cumming is going to play the Green Goblin.

Carney has previously had roles in Snow Falling on Cedars and will star next in Taymore’s The Tempest.

Edited: November 6th, 2009

Broadway’s ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’ to Close a Week After its Opening

Broadway’s revival of Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs will close this Sunday (Nov. 1). Although the play garnered several good reviews, the play only made $124,000 for eight performances last week.

Simon’s Broadway Bound has already begun its rehearsals and was planning to open in several weeks, but will not open as planned because lead producer Emanuel Azenberg believes that the play will also do poorly as far as tickets sales and “could not justify continuing to spend his investors’ money, or his own.”

Edited: October 31st, 2009

Adam Shankman Signs on to Direct ‘Rock of Ages”

Adam Shankman (Hairspray, Step Up 2: The Streets) has signed to to direct and choreograph the screen version of the Broadway musical, Rock of Ages.

According to Variey, production will begin next summer with a 2011 release date.

“I had the best time of my life making Hairspray and badly wanted another musical, and when I watched Rock of Ages, I was struck by the fact that not only had much of the audience seen it more than once, every guy in the audience knew the words to the songs. I thought, this is Mamma Mia! for dudes. What an extraordinary opportunity to open the genre to an audience that otherwise wouldn’t go see a musical.”

Rock of Ages started its production in Vegas briefly, but then moved to an off-Broadway location. After great ticket sales, the show re-located to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway. The show has been nominated for five Tonys and stars American Idol alum, Constantine Maroulis.

Are you excited to see it on the big screen?

Edited: October 20th, 2009