Not unexpectedly, the current touring production of Applause, 1970's Tony Award-winning Best Musical, announced that it will go to Broadway in April, 1997.

No theatre or specific dates were announced.

The revival, originated at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse, stars Stefanie Powers, as well as John Dossett, Kate Jennings Grant, Janet Aldrich, Nick Wyman and Stuart Zagnit. Lee Adams and Charles Strouse have put together a brand new opening number for the musical, which has a book by Betty Comden & Adolph Green (Will Rogers Follies, Wonderful Town). Gene Saks directs the show, which is choreographed by Anne Reinking, who currently stars in Broadway's Chicago revival.

Stefanie Powers began her career at age fifteen dancing for Jerome Robbins but is best known for appearing in TV's "Hart To Hart" with Robert Wagner. She also toured with him in A.R. Gurney's epistolary comedy/drama, Love Letters.

Applause, a musical tale of backstage back-stabbing, will begin its 22-city national tour in Tampa, Oct. 22. -- By David Lefkowitz