Friday, October 4, 2024

Broadway: Aaron Sorkin to Write New Book for Fall “Camelot,” Will “New Version” Replace Old?

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Uh oh.

“Camelot” is being revived by Lincoln Center for the fall on Broadway. Aaron Sorkin and Bartlett Sher ar reuniting from their hit version of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

When the duo took over “Mockingbird,” they killed off the existing version that has toured the US for years. Sorkin’s version was considered “new” and not a revival. Producer Scott Rudin made small theater companies cry.

Now they say this will be a “new version” of the classic tale by Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe. Does this mean King Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot will be played by children? Hand puppets? People plucked from the audience? Who knows?

The original famous 1960 version of “Camelot” was a follow up to Lerner & Loewe’s hit, “My Fair Lady.” The show starred Richard Burton as Arthur, Julie Andrews as Guenevere, and Robert Goulet as Lancelot. The production won four Tony Awards, including Best Actor for Burton. Goulet reprised the role in 1993 on Broadway. The musical became identified with the Kennedy presidency when Jackie O saw it and loved it.

The big hit song, of course, is “If Ever I Would Leave You.” Who will sing it next December? I’m kidding, but who knows? Perpetual Sorkin star Jeff Daniels? He has been known to sing, but let’s hope it’s Norm Lewis, who would do that song justice.

“Camelot” returns December 8th.

 

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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