Rialto Chatter - Page 28

Recording and stage star Sam Harris has revealed via his 'vlog' that he has joined the workshop for the upcoming musical version of the hit film THE FIRST WIVES CLUB. he'll be playing a new character not found in the movie, he begins rehearsals this week in NYC for the reading. He also hinted that after the Old Globe run of the musical the production team was aiming for an October 2009 bow on Broadway. Sam Harris first shot into the public eye as the 'Star Search' icon and has found success as a Tony-nominated Broadway star for THE LIFE and also as an acclaimed replacement in THE PRODUCERS, a multi-million selling recording artist, a concert touring sell-out in venues all over the country including Carnegie Hall and on television in last years CBS series, 'The Class,' where he was touted by Liz Smith as 'the comedy breakout character of the television season.' Based on the best-selling novel and Hollywood blockbuster of the same name, FIRST WIVES CLUB features music & lyrics by the famous songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland and a book by Tony winner Rupert Holmes (Curtains!, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Say Goodnight Gracie). The production will be directed by award winning opera and theatrical director Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid for Disney on Broadway, Little House on the Prairie for the Guthrie Theatre, Rebecca at the Vienna Raimund Theatre and Porgy and Bess and the Wagner Ring Cycle at the San Francisco Opera). The popular 1996 Paramount film The First Wives Club - about three divorced women who seek revenge on their former husbands - was based on Olivia Goldsmith's novel and featured a screenplay by Robert Harling. The motion picture grossed over $130 million and boasted a star-studded cast comprising Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton.

The New York Post's gossip icon Cindy Adams has returned from Washington, D.C and her exhaustive coverage of all the behind the scenes action at the Inaugural and brings a slew of Broadway related news with her. What is of most interest is the fact Will Ferrell hinted that his currently in previews 'You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush' may be looking at extending. The show is gaining excellent word of mouth (including Cindy herself) and an extension would not be a surprise. There is no official word regarding such a move at this time, well keep you posted. Adams also chats with Broadway favorite Stephanie J. Block about the upcoming '9 To 5 The Musical', the always engaging Block describes the many set changes in the film to stage transfer of the Dolly Parton hit.

Mad Men and SPEED-THE-PLOW star Elizabeth Moss and Saturday Night Live cast member Fred Armisen have recently gotten engaged. Mad Men star Moss accepted Armisen's proposal last week. She told USAWeekend.com this past weekend that, 'I don't want to share the details of how it happened, but I will say it was perfect.' The two talented stars have been very low key regarding the romance, but Armisen has been seen at 'SPEED' quite frequently and as a matter of fact shared the 'BWW TV' screen with Moss for our 'Night Before Christmas' video! We wish the happy couple all the very best.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel has revealed that Hugh Jackman, who was flirting with starring in a stage musical of 'A Star Is Born,' has passed on being a part of the upcoming production. Kevin Spacey will now play the role of washed-up Hollywood star Norman Maine in a workshop in London next month reports Riedel. If all goes well explains Michael Riedel, look for it to open at the Old Vic, which Spacey heads, in the fall of 2009.

Variety reports that Broadway revivals of 'Bye Bye Birdie' and 'Merrily We Roll Along' are contenders for the 2009-10 season at the Roundabout Theater Company, with the 'Birdie' production potentially opening the newly rebuilt Henry Miller's Theater. Composer Stephen Sondheim has been talking up an upcoming Roundabout staging of 'Merrily,' his 1981 tuner penned with book writer George Furth, at public appearances. And Roundabout a.d. Todd Haimes has previously expressed his desire to produce the show.

Broadway producers Jeffrey Richards announced in an official statement on Friday that, 'The producers of SPEED THE PLOW have officially filed a grievance with Actors' Equity re: Jeremy Piven's departure. A date for the arbitration is to be determined.' Piven countered with his own response stating, 'The claims made by the producers of Speed-the-Plow are absurd and outrageous. Mr. Piven's serious medical condition has been well documented by multiple physicians. He withdrew from the play due to medical necessity on the advice of his doctors, after he was hospitalized and warned by his physicians that enforced rest was necessary in order to avoid serious medical problems, including a heart attack.' There is now rumors on the street intimating that the grievance was actually filed a week earlier than first reported but was kept quiet as SPEED producers didn't want any more negative press for the hit show. Sources also reveal that Piven's exit from the Broadway drama has given Hollywood producers pause regarding the Emmy winning actor. That being said up until the SPEED-THE-PLOW scandal he was sought after by industry executives and was celebrated by his peers in relation to his work in television and film.

WENN News Services is reporting that Tony winning actor Ben Vereen has been hit with a $10 million lawsuit by his daughter's ex-fiance over a house the former couple once shared together. William McGlynn, 39, in the lawsuit filed last week, claims he proposed to Malaika Vereen with a $30,500 engagement ring in 2004 and spent over $250,500 on the entertainer's daughter and grandson during their two-year courtship. McGlynn alleges he made a $123,000down payment on the $600,000 New Jersey home the couple shared, which was co-signed by Ben Vereen reports WENN. McGlynn allegedly called off the wedding in 2005 and demanded to sell the home and be reimbursed for his down payment, when he learned his future father-in-law was the only name on the deed. McGlynn says, '(Vereen) said my word is my word, we don't have to sign anything. He told me that everything would be okay... I tried reaching out to him... he said it's out of his hands. Even if I don't get the money back, I can let people know who these people are - to beware. Love is blind, I guess.'

Various reports indicate that the 2009 Reprise Theatre Company season which was to present the world premiere of CHESS with a new book by Tony? winner Richard Maltby, Jr., has cancelled the production. THE FANTASTICKS, a musical they were planning for next season will now take it's place. CHESS was to play May 5th through 17th, 2009. Reprise is getting ready to open the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' it begins performances on Feburary 14th.

SPEED-THE-PLOW producer Jeffrey Richards is not taking Piven's 'fishy' pleas regarding his departure from the show sitting down. Richards announced in a statement that, 'The producers of SPEED THE PLOW have officially filed a grievance with Actors' Equity re: Jeremy Piven's departure. A date for the arbitration is to be determined.' Jeremy Piven defended his sudden and shocking exit from SPEED-THE-PLOW in an exclusive interview on 'Good Morning America' yesterday morning. Piven told GMA host Diane Sawyer was 'brought to my knees' by his condition and said that on doctor's orders he 'couldn't do it.' 'You talk about 'the show must go on,' this is in my DNA. To have the rap be on me that I walked out on this thing. ... This was the greatest moment of my life,' he revealed to Sawyer. To watch the entire video visit the official ABC GMA site by going here.

In his New York Post column this Friday, Michael Riedel writes that 'I had a cameo last week, reading a particular favorite of mine: 'The Unimaginable Life: Lessons Learned on the Path of Love' by Kenny Loggins.

Jeremy Piven, for the first time on a national news program defended his sudden and shocking exit from SPEED-THE-PLOW in an exclusive interview on 'Good Morning America' this morning. Piven told GMA host Diane Sawyer was 'brought to my knees' by his condition and said that on doctor's orders he 'couldn't do it.' 'You talk about 'the show must go on,' this is in my DNA. To have the rap be on me that I walked out on this thing. ... This was the greatest moment of my life,' he revealed to Sawyer. To watch the entire video visit the official GMA site by going here.

Self-proclaimed 'Queen of All Media' Perez Hilton makes his publishing debut with 'RED CARPET SUICIDE' he took a few moments out of his book party to chat up the book and Broadway with BWW TV Guest Correspondent Nick Adams.

Jeremy Piven has been talking mercury poisoning for the past number of days and he'll continue his toxicity talking points tour on tomorrow's GOOD MORNING AMERICA between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Jeremy Piven claimed he was too sick with 'mercury poisoning' to show up for his Broadway show and abruptly left the production under a cloud of questions and mystery. In a Dec. 18 statement the play's producers gave a statement regarding the Piven exit, 'We have been advised by Jeremy Piven's medical representatives that he is seriously ill and is unable to fulfill his contractual obligation to Speed-the-Plow. Consequently, he has left the production ten weeks early.'

Former Speed-The-Plow star and mercury poisoning victim Jeremy Piven hit the red carpet at Sunday night's Golden Globe Awards, and was vocal regarding his bailing on Broadway scandal. In an exchange with The New York Daily News' GATECRASHER gossip column, Piven continued his tale of medicial woe, but seems to have bounced back to full 'Hollywood' level health.

Various online reports are indicating that Tony Winner Lin-Manuel Miranda will play his final performance as 'Usnavi' in his acclaimed Broadway hit, IN THE HEIGHTS on Sunday, February 15th, 2009 at 7pm. IN THE HEIGHTS opened to critical acclaim, going on to win four 2008 Tony Awards (Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations), and garnering a 2008 Grammy Award nomination for the original cast album. In November, 2008, Universal Pictures acquired the rights to produce a feature film based on IN THE HEIGHTS.

Former Speed-The-Plow star Jeremy Piven was out and about at last night's Golden Globe Awards, and was vocal regarding his scandalous exit from the Broadway production.

Variety has an informative little interview that sheds new light on the upcoming musical adaptation of 'Catch Me if You Can,' by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the team behind 'Hairspray.'

The Huffington Post is reporting that Police in Illinois have stated that actor and playwright Sam Shepard has been arrested on preliminary charges of speeding and drunken driving. Police Lt. Mark Kotte says officers stopped Shepard early Saturday morning, January 3rd in the central Illinois town of Normal.

In an interview with the Cleveland based entertainment online magazine Spangler.com, RENT star Anthony Rapp gives a few hints at the creative changed that the tour has made due to the inspired rehearsals the cast had with the production's director, Michael Greif. Greif directed the original RENT from its very first workshop and was inspired to embrace some of the organic moments that come out of the rehearsal process.