Issue #152: June 1, 2005

• Wendy Wasserstein's new play Third will make its world premiere this fall at Lincoln Center Theater.  Heading the cast are Dianne Wiest (Law & Order, Hannah and Her Sisters) and Tom Aldredge.

• Now that Brad Garrett is finished with his Everybody Loves Raymond duties he will return to the stage in the revival of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple as Murray the cop.  Oh, yes the "odd couple" is Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.  No date and theatre information available just yet.

• Writer Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife) has been hired by Disney to write the book for The Little Mermaid, which they hope to have on Broadway in two years.

• Hank Azaria has temporarily vacated his role in the much-nominated Spamalot to film Huff.  During Azaria's hiatus you will find Alan Tudyk performing his role in the Monty Python musical.

• Broadway can look forward to a stunning production of Friedrich Schiller's revival of Don Carlos.  On the heels of the 11-week run at the Gielgud Theatre in London, which wrapped at the end of April, look for a fall opening with Sir Derek Jacobi reprising his role.

• The Public Theater has signed a heavy hitter for their 2006 summer production of Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children.  Meryl Streep will star in Tony Kushner's adaptation of the piece.

• The Rogers & Hammerstein Organization has agreed to have Andrew Lloyd Webber oversee the revival of The Sound of Music which is penciled in for the spring of 2006.  I suspect this will not be your ordinary revival since Lord Lloyd Webber has signed Trevor Nunn to direct and is looking at young starlet Scarlett Johansson to play Maria.

• Joseph Fiennes returns to the London stage in mid-October in the revival of John Osborne and Anthony Creighton's Epitaph for George Dillon.

• Producer Cameron Mackintosh is currently in conversation with Shanghai Grand Theater to take the current West End production of Guys and Dolls and present it there in Mandarin for Chinese audiences.  The London production starring Ewan McGregor at the Piccadilly Theatre is currently the box office leader this season.

• Star power can really make the box office ring!!!  The Sydney Theatre Company is heralding unprecedented growth in the 2004 season with the 11-week run of Hedda Gabler starring Aussie native Cate Blanchett reaching 105% capacity.  A record growth of 23% in subscription packages resulting in the sell-out of standing room only tickets contributed to the season's success.  Another hugely successful production during the season, Victory, had Judy Davis in the starring and director roles.  Davis is also from the land down under.