Thursday, December 12, 2024

UPDATE Audra McDonald May Star in Sexed up “Sub Sondheim” Light Opera Movie Musical

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UPDATE: I am advised that Audra is considering this project but that an announcement of her participation is extremely premature.

EARLIER: Why do people pick some projects? It’s always a mystery. But now multiple Tony Award winner Audra McDonald will move from her triumph on Broadway to an odd movie. McDonald wraps up “Lady Day at the Emerson Grill” soon playing Billie Holiday. She’ll star in a film version of a musical called “Hello Again” that’s basically about sexual trysts set over several generations.

“Hello Again” is written by Michael John LaChuisa, based on “La Ronde” by Arthur Schnitzler. It’s never been on Broadway, but as it’s been performed around New York, Ben Brantley has dubbed the music “sub-Sondheim.” The YouTube clips aren’t too promising. But one thing about “Hello Again” is that it’s often staged just with a bed, and the actors simulating various acts as they sing very light opera.

The director is Tom Gustafson, whose main credits are as background casting director on many big studio films including “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Batman Begins.” Screenplay is by Cory Krueckeberg, Gustafson’s partner on many projects.

Actors are being advised in some casting notices that the sex stuff will be pretty vivid. The movie is billed as Low Budget, but they want Big Names.

Here’s the breakdown of scenes from the musical:
Scenes and musical numbers

The Whore and The Soldier – Hello Again
The Soldier and The Nurse – Zei Gezent / I Gotta Little Time / We Kiss
The Nurse and The College Boy – In Some Other Life
The College Boy and The Young Wife – Story of My Life
The Young Wife and The Husband – At the Prom / Ah Maein Zeit / Tom
The Husband and The Young Thing – Listen to the Music
The Young Thing and The Writer – Montage / Safe / The One I Love
The Writer and The Actress – Silent Movie
The Actress and The Senator – Rock With Rock / Angel of Mercy / Mistress of the Senator
The Senator and The Whore – The Bed Was Not My Own / Hello Again (Reprise)

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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