Sources say Broadway’s Benjamin Walker was in New York seeing some theater this week, and even checked out As You Like It in Central Park on Friday night. No wonder it’s been so goddamn hot! While you dodge the Walker Heat Wave — perhaps at a screening or two of Magic Mike — here are some theatrical happenings to consider:
- Speaking of Magic Mike. Apparently, that musical version isn’t as wild a fantasy as it may have seemed. Channing Tatum and Steven Soderberg are producing, and already have a Summer 2013 run in mind. BRB. Stockpiling singles in preparation.
- Shows that announced casting this week? Drood! Cinderella! Kinky Boots! And more! GTFO, 2011-2012 theater season, and don’t let the door hit you…
- Playwright, consummate New Yorker, and all-around funny lady Nora Ephron passed away this week. Just a few days later, there was talk that her final play, Lucky Guy, is on its way to Broadway.
- In case you somehow didn’t hear our caterwauling across the entire island of Manhattan—and indeed, this great nation—Andy Mientus joined the cast of Smash. He’ll be playing Jeremy Jordan’s best friend. That’s right. An Andy Mientus/Jeremy Jordan bromance is about to be a real thing, and not just the product of your fan-fiction addled brain. Smile file forever.
- Don’t let the 100 degree temperatures fool you, June is the new January, and its taking half of Broadway with it. Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sister Act, Anything Goes and Memphis all announced their closing this month. Hope everybody’s excited to see Phantom this summer. Pretty sure that’s all that’s left.
- Before you start scoffing at the idea of a jukebox musical called Motown, check out two of its key selling points: It’s written by Berry Gordy. It has nothing to do with those people who made Baby It’s You.
- Viva Forever, the Spice Girls Musical is opening on the West End this coming December. That is a real thing. Zig-a-zig-AH!
- Alec Baldwin will return to Broadway next spring in Lyle Kessler’s 1983 play Orphans. We don’t know much about Orphans, other than that Baldwin plays a kidnapped gangster, so we’re really just hoping we get to watch him punch people on stage.
- More now on movies that really don’t need to be musicals: Some dramz is impacting the would-be musical version of the film Slumdog Millionaire. Turns out that the film’s composer, A.R. Rahman, won’t allow his Academy Award-winning song, “Jai Ho,” to be in the musical if Danny Boyle doesn’t direct. Boyle, who directed the film, is allegedly being sidestepped in favor of someone like Julian Fellowes, who’s never directed a damn thing for the stage, or Matthew Warchus, who already took a look at this cray cray situation and was like, Oh hell naw. It’s always fun to watch movie people navigate hostile theatrical waters, right?
- If you’re obsessed with fast-talking Sutton Foster on fast-talking Bunheads, you should check out our recaps for Back Stage. They include some… um…. fast talking. As you might expect.
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