Melanie Schaberg, Avondale, Ariz.
The 21-year-old was at home whether starring in the Harry Potter films or singing and dancing eight times a week in the Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He sees a big difference between Hollywood and the Great White Way, though. “Broadway is harder work,” he told us, “so the people who do it are the people who grew up wanting to work harder. The standards are so high with how good you have to be.” The actor is returning to the big screen in January in the horror film The Woman in Black.
Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt
She has graced catwalks and magazine covers, and now, at 57, Christie Brinkley makes her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago. The gig, scheduled at the Ambassador Theater through June 19, is her “dream come true.” Ex-husband Billy Joel was among the first to congratulate her. “Billy used to encourage me; he’d say, ‘You can carry a tune.’ ”
Rob Estes, 47, stars Saturday in Hallmark Channel’s Edge of the Garden (9 p.m. ET/PT) as a workaholic whose life changes when he shares his garden bench with a beautiful ghost from the ’60s. As for life in 1960 vs. today, Seattle-based Estes says: “In this day of digital media, everything is so fast. Part of that is great. But if you can slow down and see what’s in front of you, a lot of that speed and craziness can go away.”
Who’s News Column Contributors: Lorena Blas, Elysa Gardner, Andrea Mandell, Nancy Mills, Ann Oldenburg
Finally. Spider-Man has an opening date on Broadway. Lead producer Michael Cohl announced today that Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark will begin preview performances on Broadway at the Foxwoods Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 3 p.m., with opening night set for Tuesday evening, Dec. 21. Directed by Julie Taymor and with new music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark stars Reeve Carney as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Jennifer Damiano as Mary Jane Watson and Patrick Page as Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin. American Express cardholders will be able to purchase tickets during an exclusive pre-sale offer beginning Aug. 14, via Ticketmaster.com. Everyone else will be able to buy tickets, which will be priced from $67.50 – $140, in mid-September through Ticketmaster. – Ann Oldenburg
Think Michael Jackson. Think Cirque du Soleil. Now imagine the two together. Just announced: The Estate of Michael Jackson, represented by Executors John Branca and John McLain, and Cirque du Soleil are joining together for the creation, development, production and promotion of Michael Jackson projects, featuring touring and permanent shows, based on MJ’s music and songs. “Special lifestyle projects,” the release says, will include a nightclub to open with the Las Vegas production. The Las Vegas permanent show, in partnership with MGM Mirage, is expected to open in late 2012. Before that, the first project will be an arena-touring show in which fans will experience a Michael Jackson concert, expected to debut in late fall 2011. – Ann Oldenburg
Meet the new Matthew Broderick. It’s just been announced that Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe will make his Broadway musical debut as J. Pierrepont Finch in a new production of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in spring 2011. Among the producers on the show are Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the team behind the current Broadway revival of Promises, Promises starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth. How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying will follow Radcliffe’s completion of filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final film of the largest grossing franchise in movie history that has been split into two parts. – Ann Oldenburg