Showbiz411

Exclusive: throw another film title into the Broadway mix. I’m told that Focus Features is dabbling in its first Broadway musical. They’re turning “Miss Pettigrew Lives for A Day” into a tune fest for the Great White Way. “Miss Pettigrew,” which didn’t totally work as a movie– it made $12 million– starred Frances McDormand and Amy Adams, and was directed by Bharat Nalluri (he’s since been sent back to series TV).

The stage version will be written and possibly directed by Robert Harling, of “Steel Magnolias” fame. Songs are being written by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, the duo from the very witty  “The Drowsy Chaperone.” John Lyons, still with Focus after making several classy movies there, is said to be in charge of the production.

Will it work? Who knows? As long as everyone’s met the financial backers in the flesh (see the “Rebecca” scandal), and gotten cashier’s checks up front, “Miss Pettigrew” might live for more than a day this time!

Roger Friedman

Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News. Friedman previously wrote the Intelligencer column at New York Magazine, He writes for Parade magazine and has written for Details, Vogue, the New York Times, Post, and Daily News and many other publications. He is the writer and co-producer of a film about R&B Music called “Only the Strong Survive,” which was released by Miramax in 2003 and was a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals.