By Robert Simonson

DECEMBER 22, 2003 - The National Theatre’s praised hit production of Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers will begin previews on Broadway in April, just in time for Tony Award consideration.

A recent casting notice indicated that the play would officially open in the same month, with rehearsals beginning in March. Producing are Bob Boyett, Bill Haber of Oster Enterprises and Nederlander Productions, Inc. Boyett and Haber have a deal with the National Theatre, giving them first stab at Broadway transfers of their productions. A spokesperson in Boyett's office said the transfer was "definitely happening."

No theatre was mentioned in the casting notice, but the New York Post reported earlier that the show's home may be Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

The Post also said that the producers were in negotiations with Actors' Equity to bring over the entire 21-member British cast of the play, led by Simon Russell Beale. The showmen are asking to retain the original ensemble because Jumpers director David Leveaux, currently busy with the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof, would not have time to recast.

Jumpers will become the first NT show Boyett and Haber will bring to New York. They are also interested in Michael Frayn's Democracy and a new revival of Mourning Becomes Electra, the marathon O'Neill play starring Helen Mirren that recently opened to good reviews.

(Playbill.com)

By Andrew Gans

DECEMBER 19, 2003 - Stars from ABC's daytime line-up turned out Dec. 18 to catch one of their own — "One Life to Live" actress and new Hairspray star Kathy Brier — on Broadway.

Among those in the audience at the Neil Simon Theatre were "The View" co-host Joy Behar, "All My Children" Emmy Award winner Susan Lucci as well as several other soap actors: "One Life to Live"'s Ilene Kristen, Jessica Morris, Trevor St. John, Bree Williamson and Robert S. Woods and "All My Children"'s Terri Ivens, Amelia Heinle and Eden Riegel.

After a lengthy standing ovation at the show's conclusion, Hairspray Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein quieted the crowd to speak about his new leading lady. "This is the hardest working person in show business," Fierstein said. "Many of you know that Kathy works during the day at 'One Life to Live' and at night at Hairspray — and sometimes the reverse."

Fierstein then announced that two of Brier's hunky "One Life to Live" co stars were on hand to honor the actress. Tim Adams, who plays Brier's brother on the daytime serial, and Nathaniel Marston, who portrays her boyfriend, both bounded onto the stage from the audience with large bouquets of flowers. Before they left the stage, Fierstein quipped, "You take the boyfriend, I'll take the brother" and proceeded to walk off the stage with Adams' arms wrapped around his large Edna Turnblad waist. The festivities continued at a party at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

Kathy Brier danced into Broadway's Hairspray Aug. 12, playing Tracy Turnblad, the Baltimore teen who crusades for non-traditional relationships (the chubby girl and the football star) and non-traditional local TV (an integrated dance show).

Hairspray took home 2003 Tonys for Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Book, Best Score, Best Direction and Best Costume Design. The musical plays the Neil Simon Theatre, 250 West 52nd Street; for tickets, call (212) 307-4100.

(Playbill.com)

DECEMBER 3, 2003 - The estate of Elvis Presley is ready to proceed with 'All Shook Up', a musical based loosely on the rock n' roll legend's life, and featuring many of his hit songs.

The plot of the musical takes place in 1950's America and will involve a magical jukebox and a mysterious stranger who arrives in town, producer Jonathan Pollard said to Billboard.

The musical will initially be staged in Chester, Connecticut at the Goodspeed Musicals' Norma Terris Theatre from May - June next year, Pollard added, and then move onto Broadway sometime around Spring 2005: "We are going to Goodspeed Chester to get a sense of what we have. The show will then move to a larger city before heading to Broadway".

Elvis, who died in 1977, will not be featured on stage in the show, but 'All Shook Up' will feature around 20 of his songs. "It probably wouldn't succeed because it would be dismissed as a highly produced Elvis impersonator show," Jack Soden, head of Elvis Presley Enterprises said. Soden added that the idea came to him after the runaway success of the ABBA musical 'Mamma Mia!'.

(E! Online)