Stephen Sondheim’s music will be on the big screen because Rob Marshall is set to direct a film adaptation of one of Sondheim’s most entertaining and lyrical Broadway musicals — “Into the Woods”.

The Walt Disney Studios and Lucamar productions are producing the movie. James Lapine, who wrote the stage musical with Stephen Sondheim, will adapt the story for the screen.

“Into the Woods” weaves together the story of several of the most beloved fairytales (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel) into the original story of a Baker and his wife who try to reverse a curse on their family in order to have a child, exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests and their desire for “happily ever after.” With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book and direction by James Lapine, “Into the Woods” earned 10 nominations at the 1988 Tony Awards, winning three including best score and best book of a musical. The 2002 Broadway revival won a Tony for best revival of a musical.

Since the musical has so many characters as an ensemble piece, it will be interesting to see which mega stars will be casted in the movie.

You know, I didn’t feel old until I discovered that this year, 2011, represents the 25th anniversary of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. And as part of the celebration around this, the folks at Image Entertainment sent out a copy of The Pee-Wee Herman Show On Broadway for us to review, and if this looks familiar to you, well, you’ve probably recognized it from a variety of previous selections. But we’ll also get plenty of new features too.

Once again, we go back out to the place that can only be described as where we go when we want to go to do what we want–or possibly as a gigantic but largely benign insane asylum–where Pee-Wee Herman, his various friends (some old and some new) and various animated chunks of furniture and giant puppets alike, have a variety of adventures and just plain bizarre occurrences.

You might notice some differences, if you’ve been keeping up with Pee-Wee for any length of time. For instance, you might notice that for some reason Cowboy Curtis (played more than ably by Phil Lamaar) is doing most of the lines that would have been done by Captain Carl (formerly done by Phil Hartman), up to and including the subplot in which Miss Yvonne and Cowboy Curtis fall for each other. But much of the original work is still in tact. Yes, all the greatest parts of Pee-Wee Herman lore are still in effect, from the Secret Word (when anyone says the Secret Word, scream real loud) to a Penny cartoon. But there will be some new stuff going on here, like the reaction of Pee-Wee’s various puppet friends to Pee-Wee’s intention to get a computer into the playhouse.

And the combination of old and new mixes surprisingly well into a larger whole that’s pretty much as funny and as thoroughly preposterous as you’d likely expect from a guy who’s been playing an overgrown six year old for the last twenty five years. In fact, it’s amazing that Paul Reubens–still playing Pee-Wee–can still put up a presentation with this kind of energy and sheer vivaciousness even after twenty five years.

But either way, you’re still going to get a thoroughly bang-up time with this one, and a ton of laughs here. Some jokes will fall flat, but some will be an absolute delight. I had a great time with this one, and chances are you will too.

The Screenhead Ten Scale gives The Pee-Wee Herman Show On Broadway an eight out of ten for being packed with laughs, even if they are somewhat unoriginal laughs, especially if you’ve been around for a while. But for an unquestioned shot of nostalgia, well, you’ll definitely be in for a great time.

The folks out at Image Entertainment sent over a copy of Sondheim: The Birthday Concert to review–though you’ll have to wait until next Tuesday to actually see this one–and I’ll be up front with you (like normal) this can’t be more of a niche product if it tried.

Sondheim: The Birthday Concert puts David Hyde Pierce (of Frasier fame) and Paul Gemignani together with the New York Philharmonic to play a massive concert featuring over two dozen of Stephen Sondheim’s compositions in celebration of his eightieth birthday. Vocal performances are also thrown in, as well as a little comedy thanks to host Hyde Pierce.

Yes, this is a two hour concert. It’s pretty much implied right there in the title. And while you’re going to get an earful and then some of music from a host of different broadway shows (even a movie in the form of Sweeney Todd–in fact, that’s the opening joke) but the fact remains that you’re going to be watching two hours of music and musical performances here, backed up with occasional dancing and some singing to boot.

They’ll even throw in some alternate lyrics–pay attention to things like “We’re Gonna Be All Right” from Do I Hear A Waltz? for a perfect example of same.

Here’s the thing. Like I said, this is niche product at its finest. For crying out loud, the thing is a PBS product (WNET 13 is a PBS station if I remember right), so if you’re not absolutely enamored with the thought of watching two hours of Stephen Sondheim, you’re going to hate this like fire. Otherwise, it’s beautiful.

So basically, if you’re into musicals, if you love Broadway, if musical theater is totally your thing, you’re going to love this.  Otherwise, stay far, far away.

The Screenhead Ten Scale gives this unbelievably deep, rich musical experience an eight out of ten–it’s top flight musical fare, but rest assured, you need to be at least somewhat fond of musicals to get anywhere at all with this.

Bette Midler talks with about the children’s film Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, which premiered July 30^th nationwide.

Bette Midler (Link to Interview) 

SK: Learning from the Broadway upbringing: 

I spent most of my life on my own stages. I spent a couple of years on the Broadway stage in Fiddler on the Roof. I started going out doing my own night club performances and my own shows as a youngster. Most of what I learned, I learned on my own. I will say the actual infrastructure of a producer and director, lighting designer, set person – all those jobs that are in the structure of a Broadway show are elements and ideas that I took with me when I started doing my own shows. I think knowing those jobs existed really helped me find people who could help me to my shows. I’ve never done a show alone.

No song and dance man — Hugh Jackman will not host the Oscars a second year in a row.  

The actor, who’s starring on Broadway with Daniel Craig in the drama “A Steady Rain,” quietly turned down the job sometime during the past few weeks.

I liked Jackman as the song and dance man of the Oscars. He drew praise from others as well. He says he’ll host the Oscar show again in the future, but is not certain.

After his Broadway run, Jackman plans to take time off and prepare for The Real Steel, the Shawn Levy-directed DreamWorks drama that starts production in the spring.

(Source)

Disney and director Robert Zemeckis are talking it up to remake Yellow Submarine, the 1968 psychedelic animated film based on the music of The Beatles.  This is awesome because Zemeckis movies bring justice to turning this classic into a remake.  Zemeckis knowledge of performance-capture and 3-D animation will make the film. Although I really doubt it can be the same kind of movie as The Beatles production because no one can redo The Beatles, not even Zemeckis.  It really is about making the deal to use all of the songs in the original movie. If that doesn’t happen, well…no deal, no movie.

Disney has been working on the intricate rights deal to give Zemeckis access to 16 original Beatles songs for the movie. There is nothing like The Beatles music and what a coup this would be for Disney and Zemeckis.

The deal isn’t solid yet, but if Variety is reporting this as breaking news, it must be close to a sealed deal. The plan is to have Yellow Submarine ready to premiere around the 2012 Summer Olympics.

When the deal is solid we will see a union of cutting-edge 3-D feature technology with a strong, growing interest in The Beatles, again.  Interestingly, The Beatles appeared just in the film’s closing scene.  Hired actors (John Clive, Paul Angelis, Goeffery Hughes) provided the voices for the animated characters of Beatles Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.  So, realistically just having the music from the original movie could prove successful with The Beatles icon heavily connected by their music.

The original story took place in a magical setting called Pepperland, an undersea paradise protected by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.  The band gets captured by the music-hating Blue Meanies and a soldier is dispatched to Liverpool to bring back the Fab Four, who jump in the submarine and save the day.

Obviously, the cinch to this deal and success of the remake is Zemeckis’ ability to use a treasure trove of classic Beatles tunes, starting from the title song to “All Together Now,” “Baby You’re a Rich Man,” “All You Need Is Love,” “When I’m 64,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.”   Those songs are buzzing in my head now, I love their music.

Apparently,  the deal has been months in the making with ”armies” of lawyers (sounds expensive) and the rights will include the future prospects of a Broadway stage musical similar to what Disney accomplished with “The Lion King.”

(Source)

Tony Award Winning broadway musical Hairspray brings its act to the Royal Caribbean International’s highly anticipated Oasis of the Seas when the ship sets sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in December 2009. One of two productions to take place in the ship’s grand Opal Theater, Hairspray will open with a wide array of cruise industry firsts that the cruise line will debut with the launch of Oasis of the Seas and is another addition to its diverse entertainment offerings.

The show is licensed to Royal Caribbean International for three years aboard Oasis of the Seas with an option for a fourth year. Under the agreement, which was struck with the aid of New York City-based Music Theater International and Broadway Theatrical, the show will be available exclusively to the cruise line, ensuring the ‘feel good’ performance will be the only of its kind at sea.

While the show has been trimmed just slightly to fit within the average 90-minute run time, consistent with Royal Caribbean’s theater productions, guests and Hairspray fans will be pleased to find that the hottest, high-energy numbers will remain on the playbill. The show will be offered three or four times on each seven-night cruise itinerary, ensuring that guests have the opportunity to see the show at their leisure during their vacation.

Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will be the largest and most revolutionary cruise ships in the world when launched in December 2009 and December 2010, respectively. Architectural marvels at sea, both ships will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tons, carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms. Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will tout the cruise line’s new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which include Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, and Entertainment Place. The two ships will sail from their homeport of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

(Source) Press

Robin Williams is headed to Broadway this spring where he will perform his standup tour of his solo show “Weapons of Self-Destruction” at the Neil Simon Theater.

The Broadway performances are part of an 80-city tour which started earlier February in Santa Barbara.

“Weapons” runs April 28-May 3 at the Neil Simon.

Line Cinema is producing a modern version of the musical Damn Yankees with Jim Carrey and Jake Gyllenhaa attach to star. Carrey will play the devil and Gyllenhaa to play Boyd.  It’s their first musical.

“Damn Yankees” won seven Tony Awards when it bowed on Broadway in 1955. The story follows Joe Boyd, a happily married middle-aged man whose devotion to a hapless pro baseball team prompts him to make a Faustian bargain with the devil to help the team. He’s transformed into slugger Joe Hardy, in exchange for Boyd’s soul. Boyd can break the deal, but the deadline occurs during the World Series. Adding to the plot, the devil engages Lola, a gorgeous lost soul, to seduce the slugger and seal his fate.

Damn Yankees classic tunes include “You Gotta Have Heart” and “Whatever Lola Wants.”

Damn Yankees was produced by Warner Bros in 1958. The film was directed by Abbott and Stanley Donen, with Ray Walston and Gwen Verdon re-creating their stage performances, and Tab Hunter playing the slugger.

Making a drastic change from all previous hosts of the Oscars, the new host for next year’s award ceremony will be Hugh Jackman. Rather than rely on a comedian/ comic actor/ chat show host, which has been the norm for decades, this decision seems to be an attempt to reboot the award ceremony, which saw lagging ratings last year.

Jackman has agreed to host the ceremony on the grounds that it will be “different”, which probably means less joke monologues (and not even the great Jon Stewart could make them work). While this may seem like an odd decision, as most know the actor as Wolverine (the prequel telling the origin of that very character is out next summer). Jackman’s talent go beyond blockbusters, though, as he has performed in many acclaimed musicals. Will this ensure that the Oscars will now be a song-and-dance show, with Jackman doing a big number at the end? We’ll see on February 22nd, with the nominations coming out in January.