Drama Club

THEATER: The Hedwig Sequel, An Andrew Lloyd Webber Video Game, And Other Broadway Oddities

ANOTHER INCH

John Cameron Mitchell is reportedly writing a sequel to his transsexual pop-rock hit musical, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Mitchell has already outlined the story to Part 2, which will feature music by original Hedwig composer Stephen Trask.

While we’d love to learn what happened to our favorite singing German trans gal over the years, the words of Broadway historian Ken Mandelbaum resonate in our ears: “Don’t do sequels.” Fingers crossed Mitchell succeeds where Bring Back Birdie and Annie 2: Miss Hannigan’s Revenge failed. [Towleroad]

RUSSIAN FRONT

It’s lovely that the 1997 animated film Anastasia is being made into a Broadway musical. Although the film never became a big Hit, it boasts a delightful score by Broadway songwriting vets Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Terrance McNally joins as bookwriter, reuniting the creative triumvirate that wrote the triumphant musical Ragtime. An Anastasia reading is currently in rehearsals, with Kelli Barrett in the title role—as well as Patrick Page (Spider-Man‘s Green Goblin), Angela Lansbury (reprising her movie role of Empress Maria), and Broadway heartthrob Aaron Tveit, who plays Dimitri. [BroadwayWorld]

MIZ THING

Speaking of Aaron Tveit, here he is on the left as student upriser Enjorlras in the upcoming film-musical version of Les Miserables. Even though Eddie Redmayne (right) plays crooning romantic lead Marius, our love songs are sung squarely to Tveit and his long, flowing golden tresses. We’re ready for Aaron’s close-up when Les Miz opens December 14. [Broadway.com]

FRIENDS OF DOROTHY

It’s the end of the rainbow for End of the Rainbow. The Broadway show about Judy Garland‘s last days closes August 13, despite the fact that Tracie Bennett earned a Tony nom for her portrayal of the gayest of icons. (Reaction to the material has been split between ardent fans and dismissive Garland loyalists.) Bennett will climb the rainbow again at L.A.’s Ahmanson Theater in March 2013. A film version is also in the works. [Variety]

LIGHTS OUT

August 3 at 8pm, Broadway’s marquees will be dimmed for one minute in honor of Gore Vidal, who passed away on Tuesday. The legacy of his stage work endures in the current all-star Broadway revival of The Best Man. [Playbill]


LLOYD WEBBER NEVER DIES

On September 14, Nintendo releases its new video game Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals: Sing & Dance. (Get it?! Like Song and Dance!) You read right: Players warble and kick up their heels to classic Webber ditties like “Any Dream Will Do,” “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina,” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” It’s like having Marie’s Crisis in your living room! One game mode is called “Career,” which probably won’t include years waiting virtual tables and eating virtual Top Ramen on a virtual futon. There’s also an option to duet with Webber superstars Elaine Paige, Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. (Please, we’ve already been doing that with the cast albums for years!)

The concept sounds terribly camp—but we’re first in line to play! Fingers crossed there’s a dance challenge for Evita‘s “Buenos Aires.” Go go go, Nintendo! [Playbill]

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