Once again, Rosie O'Donnell proves to be the most ardent Broadway fan and promoter on televison. As reported by the New York Times (Oct. 24), O'Donnell's 10 AM (EST), ABC-TV show will feature Broadway casts parodying songs from their shows, starting Thursday, Oct. 30. First up will be the cast of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, parodying the curtain-raiser, "Comedy Tonight."
Forthcoming shows include Titanic, Les Miz, Grease! and Smokey Joe's Cafe.
Reached by Playbill On-Line (Oct. 24) Renee Koblenz, spokesperson for "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," had no information on the parody song titles or their lyrics.
Host of the 1997 Tony Awards and former Grease! Rizzo, O'Donnell told the Times, "I've been a big fan of Broadway ever since I was growing up on Long Island. I think we need to encourage the next generation of theatregoers to start going."
-- By David Lefkowitz
