He Got Annie

In last week's "From Screen to Stage", Seth Rudetsky interviewed Andrea McArdle on the Rosie Cruise. Well, it turns out McArdle wasn't just aboard for the seafood buffet.

In part two of Seth's story, he relates how his childhood dream of being an orphan in Annie was realized, with McArdle reprising her most famous role (at age 43, no less). Naturally, Miss O'Donnell herself got into the act as Miss Hannigan (that's her with McArdle - in the red dress, mind you - above).

And what about Seth, who spent hours listening to the "Red Album" as a child? He played Tessie, the "ohmygoodness" girl. (More pics available at Broadway.com.)

In other Broadway via Hollywood news:
- The Dolly Parton-scored 9 to 5 should punch the clock sometime in the 2008-09 season.

- A stage version of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, the classic movie that starred Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy and Sidney Poitier, is also being readied for that time.

- Dallas star Linda Gray returns to Texas (onstage, at least) in a stage adaptation of Terms of Endearment that will tour the United Kingdom.

- The movie version of Nine gets a screenwriter and some possible leading ladies. Rumor has it that Judi Dench, Anne Hathaway, Katie Holmes and Chicagoans Renee Zellwegger and Catherine Zeta-Jones are all in the running.

- Speaking of Chicago, real-life marrieds and Dancing With the Stars alumni Harry "Making Love" Hamlin and Lisa "Melrose Place" Rinna have extended their run as Billy Flynn and Roxie Hart.

- The Producers, no longer on Broadway but still in Vegas (for now), heads to Atlantic City.

- When in California, visit Universal Studios Hollywood ... especially for their "Wicked Wednesdays".

- The Kiss of the Spider-Woman musical returns to New York.

- Special mention must be made of a milestone achievement for my favorite Off-Broadway musical, Altar Boyz.

- Mash-ups are fun: Carrie White meets Harry Potter in Carrie Potter and the Half-Blood Prom.

- In other oddities: Hannibal the Cannibal sings in Silence!, the musical version of The Silence of the Lambs. Seriously.

In stars on stage news: Ian McKellan takes on King Lear, Kathleen Turner returns to the stage - to direct Crimes of the Heart, and Queer as Folk's Randy Harrison is Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

- And finally, read all about gay goddess Tallulah Bankhead's onstage mishaps at Playbill.com.

Links via RFamilyVacations.com, Playbill.com, Broadway.com, BroadwayWorld.com and Variety.com.