Issue #99: November 15, 2002

• The latest revival of The Miracle Worker is confirmed to hit Broadway in April starring Hilary Swank.  A pre-Broadway try out will be at the Charlotte Repertory Theater in March before heading north.

• Speaking of revivals, the latest one of Gypsy starring Bernadette Peters is now confirmed to begin previews on March 24 at the Shubert Theater.  The production team includes director Sam Mendes, choreographer Jerry Mitchell, costume designer Anthony Ward along with lighting designers Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer.  This will be the fourth Broadway production of Gypsy since its world premiere in 1959.

• The arrival of Gypsy at the Shubert Theater means that the long running revival of Chicago heads to the Ambassador Theatre in late January.  Enough revivals already, any new material out there!!!

• Well apparently there is—Tony award winner Brent Carver returns to Broadway in February in the world premiere of My Life With Albertine.  The new musical by Richard Nelson and Ricky Ian Gordon is the inaugural production of the Playwrights Horizons newly renovated 42nd Street theater.

• The off-Broadway hit Take Me Out is scheduled for a Broadway transfer to the Walter Kerr Theater with previews beginning in February.

• It sounds like it was a fabulous opening for the Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp musical Movin' Out now playing at the Richard Rodgers Theater.  Even though the production is not a star vehicle, Patrick Swayze was overheard saying "I want to be part of it, this might be it for me."  I wonder if we will see the Dirty Dancing star hit the stage in this production sometime down the road.

• Stephen Sondheim will stage his latest musical Gold at Chicago's Goodman Theater for a five-week run beginning June 13.  If the production makes its way to Broadway it will be Sondheim's first production to open in New York since Passions in 1994.  One of the lead roles will be taken by Richard Kind, last seen on Broadway in The Tale of the Allergist's Wife. You may know him as a regular on TV's Spin City, Mad About You and Carol Burnett and Company.

• The sleeper hit movie Billy Elliot will be making its way to the stage probably within a year.  The Elton John  score is scheduled to be completed by Christmas.  No casting has been mentioned but the role of ballet lover Billy will have to be filled by a talented triple threat actor—competent in singing, acting and dancing.
  

• What do you think of the new look of the column?  Visit OTB Talk and post your comments.  How about any shows you've seen recently?  Share your reviews on OTB Talk.  The next issue will be the 100th! Who knew when we started this little column more than four years ago it would develop such a following.  Let me know your thoughts, things you'd like to have covered, questions you have about the theatre, etc.  This is your column too.