Issue #157: September 1, 2005,
Next issue October 1.

• It looks like Rosie O'Donnell hasn't shied away from Broadway after her $10 million loss on Taboo in 2003.she's heading back to the boards in September in the revival of Fiddler on the Roof.  Playing Golde, O'Donnell will be playing opposite another unconventional casting choice, Harvey Fierstein.  Fierstein and Rosie have been great friends for over 20 years with this being the first time they will share a the stage.  This announcement will no doubt boost ticket sales for Fiddler since they have been lagging the past month or so.

• Julia Roberts brings her star power to the stage next spring when she makes her Broadway debut in Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain. A limited run of 12 weeks will begin performances in March under the direction of Joe Mantello (Wicked, Glengarry Glen Ross) at a Shubert Theatre yet to be named.

• The producers of The Pajama Game have landed crooner Harry Connick Jr. to star in the revival that opens at the Roundabout's American Airlines Theater on March 2.

• A revival of Legends is scheduled to hit the road for at least 30 weeks beginning in Toronto on September 12.  Originally written for "legends" Carol Channing and Mary Martin this latest incarnation stars Joan Collins and Linda Evans of the 80's night-time soap Dynasty. 

• Seven years ago a small Toronto Fringe Festival production called the Drowsy Chaperone caught the eye of the local theatre presenter morphing the production into Toronto engagements at Theatre Passe Muraille then to the Winter Garden Theatre.  Now the latest incarnation will be playing in the U.S at the Ahmanson Theater beginning November 8.  If this little musical that could continues on this track expect to see it on Broadway in a season or two.

• That lavender haired Auzzie takes her show to Toronto in October.  Dame Edna Everage .Back With a Vengeance opens at the Royal Alexandra Theatre for one week only from October 25 to 30.  Those in the front row.beware!

• Billy Crystal's Tony Award winning show 700 Sundays also heads to Toronto, landing at the Canon Theatre for only 12 performances from September 28 to October 9.  Tickets are only available to Mirvish subscribers..a testament to the perks of being a subscriber.

• First it was Chicago then we had The Phantom of the Opera and with The Producers currently in the editing room, look for Rent to hit the big screen in November.  The proof is in the box office.both Chicago and Phantom saw a significant surge in theatre ticket sales to the stage productions once the movie version hit the big screen. The trailer for Rent started airing in movie theatres in June and it sparked a rise in tickets sales to the Broadway production.   Chicago proved to be a winner both on stage and at the movies, however with Phantom the film did not fare so well either critically or in attendance but that didn't stop die-hard fans from revisiting the theatre for another dose of the "chandelier" epic.   Rent, the movie, stars original cast members Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel.