Back in July, Theatrical Index reported that theatre advertising maven Nick Nappi was hoping to bring his play, Two Were Called, to Broadway in October, with star George C. Scott. Nappi told Playbill On-Line (July 7) he linked up with director Tony Giordano thanks to a recommendation from producer Edgar Lansbury. Giordano then sent the script to Scott, who apparently wanted to star but wanted to do it in October (with a six-month commitment thereafter).

Reached Aug. 24, Nappi said financing was not yet in place for the $1.5 million production, though he still hoped to find a window for the play sometime in October or November. That said, he acknowledged the time frame was looking more and more "improbable."

The play concerns the 1950s power struggle between Catholic Cardinal Francis Spellman (Scott) and Bishop Fulton Sheen. No theatre has yet been chosen for the project.

"We're waiting to get the rest of the cast together," Nappi said in July . "We had a reading at the Kaufman Theatre earlier this year, but no big names. Now we're talking to Maxwell Caulfield, who's very interested, and Keith Carradine. We sent a script to Irene Worth, who said she was sorely tempted, but she won't do eight performances a week anymore."

Robert Straus is acting producer on the project, capitalized at $1.5 million. Discussions are underway with Eugene Lee for the set design. Other plays by Nappi include Espresso Rossini, staged in Italy, and Room For Terror, which had a reading at PA's Bristol Riverside Theatre. A partner in the advertising firm of Nappi/Eliran/Murphy, Nappi is used to dealing with live entertainment, including the Roundabout Theatre, NY City Opera and the NY Philharmonic.

The last time Scott was on the Broadway stage was in a National Actors Theatre mounting of Inherit The Wind. Ill health and personal troubles forced Scott to miss several performances and ultimately leave the production, but he has since worked on various film and television projects.

-- By David Lefkowitz