Tuesday, November 2, 2010

THE QUEST FOR A FULL EGOT: Hugh Jackman has long been attached to a stage musical telling of the life of Harry Houdini, but it seemed to have fallen into limbo, despite that simple pitch. Earlier reports had the credits as book by Kurt Andersen (founder of Spy), music by Danny Elfman (who's EG in his EGOT--no Oscar win, despite 4 nods), lyrics from David Yazbek (Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown, and, of course, the theme from Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?), and direction from Jack O'Brien (Hairspray, Full Monty). Reports today suggest that while Elfman and O'Brien are still attached, Andersen's book (which was rumored as being rather troubled) is being replaced by one by Aaron Sorkin, and Glenn Slater (who's replaced the late Howard Ashman as Alan Mencken's lyricist, and who wrote the lyrics for Love Never Dies) is taking over the lyricist duty. Interested?
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10 comments:

  1. Joseph J. Finn5:24 PM

    Interested?  Naw.  More like EXCITED!

    "<span>and, of course, the theme from <span>Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?</span>)"</span>

    And now that's going to be in my head all day.  Time to listen to some Rockapella! (Yes, I have Rockapella on my iPod.  Shaddup.)

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  2. Emily5:24 PM

    Yes, please.

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  3. Maret5:29 PM

    *Sighs loudly knowing it will take two years from it's Broadway opening night to get to L.A.* Sigh. SIGH. SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGH.

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  4. Adam6:23 PM

    Sorkin already has an E, could pick up an O this year and this could theoretically be a T.  Tell me where the G comes from.

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  5. Matt6:37 PM

    Producer of a Grammy winning OCR gets a Grammy, as does a lyricist.  He could be listed as a producer.  Best Spoken Word Album is another potential, I suppose, when he writes a memoir.

    Arguably, authors should be graded on EPOT (with Pulitzer replacing Grammy), which might be trickier since screenplays have never won the Pulitzer.

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  6. Dan Suitor7:38 PM

    That Danny Elfman didn't win an Oscar for his now legendary Batman score is one of the worst Oscar snubs (non-acting/directing) ever.


    http://www.youtube.com/v/wgpmdqUEQRM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="170" height="140

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  7. bill.8:45 PM

    Wasn't even nominated for best original score. John Barry's Dances with Wolves won. Also nominated were Avalon (Randy Newman), Ghost (Maurice Jarre), Havana (Dave Grusin), Home Alone (John Williams).

    Dick Tracy (Stephen Sondheim) also was not nominated, though did win for best original song.

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  8. Tosy and Cosh10:15 AM

    Hugely excited. Nightmare Before Christmas has agreat musical theater score and I'd love to hear what Elfman has come up with for this. And as much as I love the Batman score, I might put Dances with Wolves a shade above. That piece (score, not movie which I haven't seen in ages) has aged nicely.

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  9. Marsha11:21 AM

    If having Rockapella on your iPod is wrong, I don't wanna be right. (And I wouldn't be right, 'cause I got a lot of it. surprising no one.)

    Do it, Rockapella!

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  10. Benner8:15 PM

    Jackman has a shot -- I count hosting the oscars as winning one.

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