Ringo Starr and Dave Stewart working on film musical Abigail By Abigail Prendergast (DIGITAL JOURNAL)

Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart are currently working on a musical film called Hole in the Fence, which is based on an original concept by the two musicians. Richard Starkey, better known as Ringo Starr, drummer for the legendary band, The Beatles, is currently collaborating with former Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart, on an upcoming musical feature.

According to Rolling Stone, the 71-year-old Starr and 59-year-old Stewart have officially signed on for a film entitled, Hole in the Fence. The musical drama will be a coming-of-age tale about crew of young people from a "depressing mining town," reports Deadline Hollywood; in order to escape, the kids form a musical group.

 Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/324068

PHOTO CALL: A First Look at Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean (Playbill)

By Matthew Blank
 28 Mar 2012

Les Misérables producer Cameron Mackintosh previously confirmed that the film version of the epic Victor Hugo-inspired musical, with songs by Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Herbert Kretzmer, will feature a new song for hero Jean Valjean.

Written by the stage hit's original songwriting team, the new number is called "Suddenly," and looks at Valjean's relationship with his surrogate daughter Cosette following her rescue from the Thenardiers. The movie version of the international-hit pop musical Les Misérables will be in theatres Dec. 7, 2012.

William Nicholson ("Gladiator," "Nell," "Shadowlands") penned the screenplay. Among the international-hit show's famous musical numbers are "I Dreamed a Dream," "A Heart Full of Love," "Do You Hear the People Sing?," "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," "Bring Him Home," "Stars" and "Master of the House." Filming has begun for the movie musical "Les Misérables." Star Hugh Jackman shared a first photo of himself as Valjean via Twitter.




(my favorite song from Les Mis)


READ MORE:  http://www.playbill.com/news/article/161211-PHOTO-CALL-A-First-Look-at-Hugh-Jackman-as-Jean-Valjean

Ringo Starr And Dave Stewart Developing New Musical (RTT News)

1/5/2012 3:21 PM ET

RTTNews

Ringo Starr has revealed that he's currently working with former Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart on a new musical.

While speaking with Mojo, the former Beatle says that the show could end up either on Broadway or on the silver screen:

"Me and Dave wrote a musical, a complete thing - characters, story, a lot of songs. We wrote it for Broadway, but it will more likely end up [as] a movie . . . and I'm not telling you anything else. It's about other people."

Starr recently connected with the Stewart on his new album Ringo 2012.

The collaboration comes at a busy time for Stewart, who has been active as a producer in recent years. His most popular project of late was for super group Super Heavy, featuring Mick Jagger, Damian Marley and Joss Stone.


http://www.rttnews.com/Content/EntertainmentNews.aspx?Section=2&Id=1792327&SM=1

Wind in the Willows: when it comes to romantic heroes, my heart belongs to Ratty-Julian Fellowes to write the musical: The Telegraph

A gentlemanly rat can be a literary lust object, too.

Ratty and Mole: a Wind in the Willows musical is planned Photo: VIN MAG ARCHIVE LTD

By Jojo Moyes

7:30AM GMT 15 Dec 2011

It’s no real surprise that in Country Life’s list of “lusty literary heroes”, pole position goes to Mellors, the glowering, priapic gamekeeper of D H Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover. He’s a horny-handed son of toil. He knows what to do with a pheasant. He’s a great fan of the bracing outdoor – er – country life.

But a glance at the magazine’s runner-up lust object stopped me in my tracks. Here’s the description: “Dependable and thoroughly decent, with a fondness for impromptu picnics and impeccable taste in clothes, this twinkly-eyed country gentleman would take you out for a glorious day on the river before asking you, as the sun began to set and he draped his jacket over your shoulders, whether you’d care to have dinner with him next week.”

Jilly Cooper’s Rupert Campbell-Black? No, too naughty and, besides, he came in at No 6. Richard Hannay of The 39 Steps? No – he’s No 12; he’d disappear halfway through your date, chased by dastardly thugs. Inspector Morse? Nice car, but a bit mournful, frankly (No 8).

Apparently, when a girl gets “tired of loud men who drive too fast and flirt with her friends, her mind turns to Ratty”.

Ratty. Yes, that Ratty – the small, furry water vole of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows.

Before reaching for the warfarin, let’s consider this carefully. Perhaps Ratty as romantic hero is terribly on-trend; after all, it was announced earlier this week that Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey, is to pen a musical based on The Wind in the Willows – and look what he did for Dan Stevens…

Ratty is fundamentally decent and loyal, while just stubborn and mischievous enough to stop him from being a sap. He would be unlikely to hog the remote control. And his laundry requirements would be minimal – always a plus in a man.

But, as heart-throbs go, I struggle to get past the nomenclature. When I hear the word “Ratty”, I think less “David Niven with whiskers”, as Country Life instructs, than “man in tie-dye busking outside Camden Tube station”. And then there’s the tail. Honestly? I know few women who could love a partner with a scaly tail. I know a few who’ve tried, though.

For me, there is only one character that stands out in The Wind in the Willows and that is Mr Toad. He’s a far more compelling prospect. What girl hasn’t been driven too fast around country roads, squealing with joy and terror? How much fun is a man filled with boyish enthusiasms, let alone one who is “always good-tempered, always glad to see you, always sorry when you go”. And there is, as lovers of Mr Darcy (No 7, in case you’re still counting) know only too well, something terribly compelling about ownership of a grand hall, even if it is – rather tackily – named after the owner.

Without sounding like the kind of person who ends up in a magistrates’ court charged with indecent relations with a bicycle, I am fully supportive of unorthodox literary crushes.

My first – and I’m conscious of the need to mention this carefully – was the black stallion from the novel series of that name by Walter Farley. Immense, terrifying, and yet loyal to his young owner, it doesn’t take Freud to see how that particular equine hero might score his place on a girl’s heart, especially if you could place the odd bet on him in the 3.15 at Lingfield. I have a friend who adores Hagrid in Harry Potter (your own giant – imagine the shelf-dusting possibilities), although she admits that actual lust is tempered by the suspicion that he would probably smell like a bag of compost.

A quick, unscientific survey of other unexpected literary crushes turns up Aslan from C S Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Bagheera from Kipling’s The Jungle Book, J M Barrie’s eternal boy Peter Pan, and Roger Hargreaves’ Mr Tickle (best not to ask).

So perhaps a rat – and a rather gentlemanly one – is not such a push. The whole point of literature, after all, is the suspension of disbelief. In an age when we can elevate the “stars” of The Only Way Is Essex to idol status, or treat the views of Big Brother participants as if they dripped from Oscar Wilde’s own pen, then, frankly, I’m going for the rat. Poop-poop!


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/8956452/Wind-in-the-Willows-when-it-comes-to-romantic-heroes-my-heart-belongs-to-Ratty.html  The Telegraph

Julian Fellowes to write Wind in the Willows musical (how lovely is this? One of my all time favorite books)

 

George Stiles, Julian Fellowes and Anthony Drewe first collaborated on Mary Poppins

 

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Julian Fellowes is to write a new musical adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's novel The Wind in the Willows.

The Downton Abbey creator will reunite with composer and lyricist duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe for the project.

The trio previously collaborated on Cameron Mackintosh's West End and Broadway production of Mary Poppins.The new show will be created for the West End, although dates and a theatre venue have yet to be announced.Fellowes said: "The Wind in the Willows is one of our greatest classics and as true and entertaining now as it has ever been.

"I am delighted and tremendously flattered to have been asked to write the book [narrative] for the new musical.

"In fact, I suspect this is something I've been wanting to do subconsciously for many years."
Stiles added: "We all celebrate our English roots as writers and the musical possibilities of Kenneth Grahame's classic chime very strongly with me.

"The book itself is packed with music and songs so I can't wait to find the sounds to score Ratty, Mole, Badger, Toad and their adventures." The musical will be produced by Jamie Hendry Productions, whose recent shows include Legally Blonde the Musical, Birdsong, Spring Awakening and La Cage Aux Folles.


BBC

Liam Neeson joins War of the Worlds musical as hologram replacing Richard Burton

By Tim Masters Entertainment and arts correspondent, BBC News

Liam Neeson was a fan of the original album when it came out in 1978

Liam Neeson is to appear as a 3D hologram in a new version of Jeff Wayne's long-running The War of the Worlds musical.

The actor takes over the narrator role from Richard Burton, whose holographic head has appeared in the show since it began touring in 2006.

The Northern Irish star said he was "very flattered" to take on the part.

Burton's narration had been taken from Jeff Wayne's original 1978 double album, which has sold some 15m copies.

The cast on the original recording included David Essex, Justin Hayward, Phil Lynott and Julie Covington.

In a new element to the production, Neeson's holographic character will appear interacting with the live performers on stage.

The show, based on HG Wells' classic science fiction novel, tells the story of a Martian invasion of Victorian England.

At the launch of the 2012 "New Generation" show and album in London on Friday, Wayne said he had decided to "re-explore" HG Wells' storyline and characters for the new tour.

This, he said, included the main character of George Herbert, The Journalist, as voiced by late actor Burton.

"While it may have been the greatest opportunity, it was also the hardest decision to make because I knew that with a re-developed storyline, a new Journalist would need to be sought, as Richard Burton's original performance was finite," Wayne said.

"And whoever that person might turn out to be, he would have to be of no less stature and quality of voice than that of Richard - an incredibly tough act to follow."
'Head and shoulders'

Jeff Wayne is taking a new approach to the story and the music for the 2012 tour

Burton appeared in 74 sequences in the old show, while Neeson's character features in 90.

He will take three separate forms: As a full-length hologram, as a holographic "head and shoulders" and also in filmed CGI sequences on a giant screen.

Neeson said he had been a fan of the original album, having bought it on cassette tape in 1978.

He also recalled working with Burton on a 1984 US TV mini-series, Ellis Island, shortly before the Welsh actor died.

"I remember coming out of my trailer and he was listening to this lady with his arms behind his back, and he looked incredibly fit," he told the BBC.

"I thought 'wow - that's Richard Burton'. I didn't want to go over, I wished I had, but two weeks after that he passed away. He had this 'halo' round him."

The new War of the Worlds tour takes place in the UK in December 2012

BBC News

Bend it like Beckham, the film that turned Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra into stars, is to become a musical in London and New York.

Bend it like Beckham to be turned into West End musical

 

Keira Knightley in Bend It Like Beckham

By Richard Eden

7:26AM BST 09 Oct 2011

Bend It Like Beckham, the film which made a star of Keira Knightley, is to be turned into a West End musical.

“The script is ready to go,” the director Gurinder Chadha tells Mandrake at the London premiere of The Help. “It’s going to be on both the West End and Broadway. We are currently deciding who is the right person to write the score, so it’s at a really exciting stage.”

Sadly, the show, which will be produced by Sonia Friedman, will not see Knightley make her musical debut. “There are no plans for Keira to reprise the role, lovely though it sounds,” says her spokesman.

The actress took singing lessons after Sir Cameron Mackintosh approached her about playing Eliza Doolittle in his planned film remake of My Fair Lady. The role, however, went to Carey Mulligan.