The Shaw Festival has hired playwright Norm Foster to complete the found, unfinished Gershwin stage musical, A Foggy Day, premiering at the Shaw this summer. Foster is best known for a number of slick, commercial comedies that have led him to be dubbed Canada's Neil Simon.

The Festival is adapting the original novel, developing the score, which includes songs like Nice Work If You Can Get It and A Foggy Day in London Town, as well as adding a couple of songs that were intended for the musical but never published after the project was abandoned. They have also included several songs from the same period, including Love Is Here To Stay.

A Shaw company member recenty told Playbill On-Line that she loves the song list, though she hasn't seen the script yet.

A Foggy Day runs at the Shaw Festival's Royal George Theatre from May 3 to November 1. For more information about the premiere and the Shaw season, see Playbill On-Line story Shaw Festival Announces Gershwin Premiere and 1998 Season.

For tickets and information call: 1-800-511-SHAW. By Mira Friedlander
Canada Correspondent