|
|
 |
Fall Star Is Born Workshop Will Go On As Scheduled
By Andrew Gans
15 May 2008
The Sept. 22-Oct. 27 workshop of A Star Is Born — the new musical based on the classic 1954 film of the same name — will go on as originally scheduled.
A May 14 Equity announcement had said that the workshop had been "postponed until further notice." A May 15 follow-up notice retracted that statement, saying, "The Workshop Contract Production of A Star Is Born will be produced as
scheduled. It is only the Equity Principal Auditions that are being postponed."
Jonathan Butterell — who provided musical staging for The Light in the Piazza as well as the revivals of Assassins, Fiddler on the Roof and Nine — will direct and choreograph the workshop. Warner Theatre Ventures, Inc.; Emanuel Azenberg; and Gregg Maday for Warner Bros. are the producers.
In the new musical, the Moss Hart screenplay has been adapted for the stage by Butterell and The Wild Party composer Michael John LaChiusa, who is the production's musical supervisor. A Star Is Born features the Harold Arlen-Ira Gershwin songs heard in the original film with additional lyrics penned by Dory Langdon, Johnny Mercer, Carolyn Leigh, E.Y. Harburg, Roger Edens and LaChiusa. The score boasts such popular American standards as "The Man That Got Away" and "Swanee."
The New York Post recently reported that stage and screen star Hugh Jackman — who won his Tony for his high-voltage performance as Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz — is in negotiations to portray Norman Maine in a possible Broadway production of this version of A Star Is Born.
A Star Is Born concerns the tumultuous relationship between Esther Blodgett and Norman Maine. A recent casting notice described Blodgett as a "small-time singer in a nightclub band act who never imagines that one day she will achieve international stardom. Norman recognizes her immense talent, falls in love with her and makes her a star. Ultimately, her success causes a conflict in her relationship with Norman. She is a street girl, open, warm and has an immense emotional capacity."
George Cukor directed the 1954 film "A Star Is Born," which co-starred Judy Garland as Vicki Lester (Esther Blodgett) and James Mason as Norman Maine. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Actor in a Leading Role (Mason), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Garland), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Original Song (Gershwin and Arlen's "The Man That Got Away") and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture. Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson starred in a 1976 remake.
Contact Us | Advertise | Privacy Policy
Send questions and comments to the Webmaster
Copyright © 2008 Playbill, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
 |
|
Free Membership
Exclusive Ticket Discounts
NEWEST DISCOUNTS
The Country Girl
Some Americans Abroad
Grease
Summertime Classics
Damn Yankees
A Catered Affair
Naked Boys Singing
Thurgood
Title of Show
The 39 Steps
ALSO SAVE ON BROADWAY'S BEST
A Chorus Line
August: Osage County
Boeing-Boeing
Cirque Dreams
Gypsy
Spamalot
Title of Show
Xanadu
Young Frankenstein
and more!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|