SPIDER-MAN WILL FINALLY SWING OUT

Reeve Carney

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark will open on Broadway after all. Reeve Carney who plays "Peter Parker" and his superhero alter-ego, began choreography work and flying lessons this week. Rehearsals with the full cast will begin on August 16.

Directed by Julie Taymor, Spider-man features music from U2 band members Bono and The Edge. The musical was initially announced to open in February but was postponed due to "financial issues." Rachel Evan Wood and Alan Cumming had been annouced to star but have since dropped out. Next to Normal Tony Award-nominee Jennifer Damino is rumored to be the female lead but no official announcement has been made.

WICKED'S KENDRA KASSEBAUM TAKES A LEAP OF FAITH

Kendra Kassebaum

Complete casting has been announced for the Broadway-bound musical, Leap of Faith, with direction and choreography by Rob Ashford. Kendra Kassebaum who San Francisco audiences adored as "Glinda" in Wicked joins Raul Esparza and Brooke Shields when the show begins performances on September 11 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. 

Based on the film of the same name starring Steve Martin, Leap of Faith has a score by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Janus Cercone with Glenn Slater. It's the story of Jonas Nightengale (Esparza), a part-time reverend and full-time con artist whose cynical view of the world is rocked when he meets Marva (Shields).

WOMEN ON THE VERGE AT LINCOLN CENTER

Patti LuPone and Brian Stokes Mitchell

Patti LuPone and Brian Stokes Mitchell are set for Lincoln Center Theater's world premiere production of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown that begins previews at Broadway's Belasco Theatre on October 2 with an official opening on November 4.

This musical adaptation of the 1988 film by Pedro Almodóvar is set in late 20th-century Madrid and tells the story of a group of women whose relationships with men lead to a chaotic and confusing passion-fueled 48 hours.

The show will be directed by Bartlett Sher (South Pacific) and has music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Jeffrey Lane, who previously collaborated on Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

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