Hugh Jackman, hot on the heels of his smash one-man show, has tied himself to another Broadway production. Come the 2013-14 season he says he'll be starring on Broadway in a musical about Harry Houdini—which really shouldn't be a problem for The Prestige star. And if Wolverine in chains weren't enough to get a theater geek's panties in a twist, the fact that Aaron "The West Wing" Sorkin is going to write the "contemporary look at the life and death" of the illusionist should do the trick (oh, and Steven "Wicked" Schwartz will be doing the music and Jack "Hairspray" O'Brien will direct).
Houdini! Wolverine And West Wing Scribe To Bring Magic Back To Bway
Les Misérables: The Movie Marches Into Theaters
Are you still mourning the loss of Les Misérables, which closed on Broadway in May 2003 following an impressive 16-year run (and was subsequently revived just three years later)? Here's some good news: a film adaptation starring Hugh Jackman is scheduled to begin filming next March with a projected December 2012 release.
Videos, Photos: Book Of Mormon, War Horse Win Big At Not-Just-For-Gays-Anymore Tonys
The Tonys were held last night, with The Book of Mormon and War Horse the big winners. But also America wins, because theater is not just for gays anymore!
Video: Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman Cell Phone Outrage
Since it's impossible to attend a theatrical performance these days without some bonehead's cell phone shattering the mood, this incident during a recent performance of A Steady Rain isn't exactly news. But what's surprising is how intense actor dudes Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman restrain themselves from leaping into the audience and thrashing the culprit to within an inch of his or her inconsiderate life. Also surprising is how long the friggin' cell phone rings—even after the frustrated stars stop the performance to beg the owner to shut it off. It's just so painfully awkward to watch, you have to wonder: How many celebrities have to be interrupted before we get those cell phone jammers like theatergoers in civilized Russia enjoy?!
Protest Outside Waverly Inn Spotlights Alleged "Slumlords"
Permanent residents of the The Jane Hotel in the West Village say conditions at the shabby-chic reinvention of the old Hotel Riverview are so horrid that they've no choice but to picket outside the landlords' other establishments, which include celebrity favorite The Waverly Inn. On Wednesday night they made quite a scene outside the restaurant, and apparently won the sympathy of Hugh Jackman. The Post reports that as they chanted "Slumlords!" and "Rats!" outside, Jackman approached them to talk. Looking at photos depicting the dilapidated conditions at The Jane, he reportedly gasped, "Oh, my God." Diane von Furstenberg also showed some pity, asking, "Who are the slumlords?" That would be Eric Goode and Sean McPherson, who also run the Bowery Hotel, where the group protested last night over what publicist Ronn Torossian, their representative, calls "appalling conditions. Rats run [around] daily, asbestos lingers and 99 complaints have been filed in recent months with city housing authorities."
Yuletide Week TV: Heavy on the Regifting
A look at some noteworthy (and mainly regifted) programs this week:
The Cinecultist's Weekly Movie Picks: Eternal Life edition
Doesn't it seem like you no sooner put down the fork at the Thanksgiving table and the Christmas themed movies have flooded the theaters? If you're ready to start ho ho hoing your way to the cineplex, the new slapstick family comedy , or it could be that Jerry Bruckheimer and Tony Scott have just run out of new movie ideas.
The Cinecultist's Weekly Movie Picks: Kazakhstan tourist edition
but a very reliable source on comedy assures us that "it's the funniest movie ever." While the officials from Kazakhstan may not be happy about how their people are being satirized, it's just the kind of humor that appeals to us young urban professionals. So get your tickets for this weekend early, it's sure to be hugely popular at the cineplex.
Why Wasn't This Premiere in Flushing?
Yesterday, we were walking by the Loews Lincoln Square theater and noticed a huge inflatable toilet with slide on West 68th. Seriously - it was for the afternoon premiere of Flushed Away, the animated film about mice and toads and slugs and more in the London sewers. Children who were attending the premiere got to climb up and slide down the front. No one yelled "Turd!" or "Courtesy flush!" to them and they seemed thrilled.
The Cinecultist's Weekly Movie Picks: Wolverine edition
This week the box office juggernaut that is the new , there's still tons of repertory to take in instead this weekend.
Broadway's Big Night
The Reverend Al Sharpton is not much of a speller. He joined the cast of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee during the Tony Awards telecast yesterday and participated in the bee. He was given the word "dengue," which pretty much means diarrhea to the hundredth degree, though the CDC doesn't really expound that part at length. Now, we're not sure if Sharpton was playing a poor speller or just badly spelling, but he spelled "D-E-N-K-E" or something very far off. (Gothamist guessed "D-E-N-G-H-E".)
Tony Awards Tonight
The Times Public Editor Doesn't Like The Tonys
Van Helsing
Some of the werewolf effects reminded us of Beckinsale's recent movie, Underworld, which was underwhelming. She's got that glinty, "I'm a vampire" look in her eyes during the trailer, which should be good for a third act twist in Van Helsing.
The New Musical Theater Season
The bitchiest NY theater critic in town, Michael Riedel at the Post, asks a panel of "four cranky New York drama critics" (no word if Riedel is one of them) what they are dreading this new theater season. Some priceless excerpts:
Down With Love
Daily News speaks with Peyton Reed, director of the upcoming Down With Love, a throwback to the "sex" comedies of the late 50s and early 60s, like Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back, and That Touch of Mink.
X2 and a Little Lizzie
X2...blah blah...X-Men United...blah blah...X2...need to see it...better than the first, but the first is different...blah blah... Critics pretty much love the sequel to X2, from A.O. Scott rhapsodizing about Anna Paquin's kissability, Kenneth Turan giving Brian Cox props and Stephanie Zacharek's admission that X2 is good though less lyrical than the first. Gothamist is debating whether to see X2 this weekend, as it will be hella crowded, even at the stadium seating multiplexes.
The Underworld of Cops
Robert Leuci, the undercover cop who exposed the corruption in police ranks and was the basis of the book, Prince of the City, is mentioned in the Times. The film, Prince of the City, was based on the Richard Daley book, and stars Treat Williams as the Leuci-type cop, but more importantly, it stars Jerry Orbach, Gothamist's favorite actor this side of Hugh Jackman. And J.K. Simmons. According to Amazon, Prince and the City is for Law & Order and Homicide addicts, which Gothamist definitely is.


