Negotiations are still in progress to bring Roundabout's Little Me, starring Martin Short and Faith Prince, to a new home in Los Angeles.
Producer Fran Weissler told PBOL (Dec. 8), "We talked about it; we did want to move it with Martin [Short] because he wants to be there with his family." Weissler also said a Los Angeles venue for the show is yet to be determined.
A spokesperson from Short's NY agency (William Morris) confirmed that negotiations were in progress but told PBOL (Dec. 1), "It's not set, yet."
Faith Prince's agent Gary Gersh (Innovative Artists) also indicated negotiations were under way, but added that nothing was definite. "Faith has the contractual right to do it and would like to do it in L.A.," he said.
No details are yet available about further casting of the show or which west coast theatre is being targeted. The revival, which opened on the Roundabout Theatre's Stage Right mainstage on Nov. 12 is set to play in New York through Jan. 24, 1999. The staging, said to be the largest in Roundabout history, stars Short and Prince.
Little Me was originally scheduled to open Oct. 29, but after Broadway previews were delayed because of technical problems with the set, the opening date was also pushed back.
In Little Me, Prince plays Belle Poitrine. Though Belle is the central character, the wildly different men she meets in her highly eventful life are played by same actor (Short), making it a tour-de force for a male comedy performer.
Co-starring in the musical are two veterans of Off Broadway's Forbidden Broadway revue, Michael McGrath and Christine Pedi. McGrath was showcased in the Broadway musical Swinging on a Star and was a well-received Groucho in Off Broadway's The Cocoanuts. He was also an original cast-member of Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know.
Also in the show are soap opera actor Michael Park and Charles Busch veteran Ruth Williamson (The Green Heart ), alongside Brooks Ashmanskas, Peter Benson, Michael Arnold, Jeffrey Hankinson, Ned Hannah, Denis Jones, Michael McEachron, Roxanne Barlow, Caroline Liadakus, Susan Misner, Cynthia Onrubia, Joey Pizzi, Josh Prince and Courtney Young.
1962's Little Me has music by Coleman (City of Angels, Sweet Charity, The Will Rogers Follies ), lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and book by Simon. Songs in Little Me, include "I've Got Your Number," "Real Live Girl" and "Be A Performer."
Initially, the Roundabout was seeking director Walter Bobbie (Chicago ) to stage the revival, but Little Me is instead helmed by Rob Marshall, who co-directed the Roundabout's current -- and sensationally reviewed -- Cabaret revival.
Marshall told the NY Times, "[Little Me ] is one of those plays that's rarely done because it has to be done for somebody. There has to be a star to build it around... We're fortunate that we still have Neil [Simon] and Cy [Coleman] with us, and they'll be working with us and tailoring it for Marty [Short]."
Short, comedy star of "SCTV," "Saturday Night Live" and the film Father of the Bride and Three Amigos, play roles originated by Sid Caesar and recreated in the 1980s by Victor Garber. Short appeared in the Encores!' concert staging last season of Promises, Promises.
Short made his Broadway debut in another Neil Simon musical, the short lived 1993 The Goodbye Girl. Other Simon plays include Proposals, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, The Sunshine Boys and Fools.
For tickets and information on Roundabout shows call (212) 719-1300.
