One day after Variety broke the news that Chenoweth — currently starring in the Broadway revival of The Apple Tree — would star in the Warner Bros. TV series, the rival trade publication reports that Kurtz has been cast as the aunt to the character played by Lee Pace.
"Pushing Daisies," according to Variety, "revolves around a man who falls in love with a deceased woman after he figures out how to bring the dead back to life." The series will feature executive producers Bryan Fuller, Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen and Barry Sonnenfeld — the latter also directs.
Pace — seen recently in Off-Broadway's The Guardians — is slated to appear with Anna Friel (original star of Closer) and Chi McBride ("Boston Public," "The Nine"). Pace's other stage credits include Small Tragedy, The Fourth Sister and The Credeaux Canvas as well as TV's "Wonderfalls" and "Soldier's Girl."
Kurtz — last seen in the Broadway revival of Heartbreak House — has provided Emmy Award-nominated turns on Showtime's "Huff" and "Sisters." The actress won Tony Awards for The House of Blue Leaves and Fifth of July and a nomination for her turn in Frozen. Other stage credits include Imaginary Friends, Love Letters, A History of the American Film, Tartuffe, The Mineola Twins, and Ah, Wilderness!
* A Tony winner for You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Chenoweth has also played on Broadway in Wicked, Steel Pier and Epic Proportions. She has recently taken to both the big and small screens: in TV's "The West Wing" and in the films "Bewitched," "The Pink Panther," "RV," "Running with Scissors," "Stranger Than Fiction" and "Deck the Halls." She headed the TV comedy "Kristin" and has been seen on the Aaron Sorkin drama "The West Wing."
Chenoweth currently reprises her 2005 New York City Center Encores! turn in the central roles of Eve, Princess Barbara and Ella in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of The Apple Tree at Studio 54 through March 11. Next, she will appear in the City Center Encores! run of Stairway to Paradise (May 10-14).
The actress was also reportedly linked to another television project. The New York Times paired her with fellow stage star Nathan Lane on a developing sitcom about a talk-show duo a la Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa.
