The Great White Way goes a little green today as Shrek the Musical has its official opening at the Broadway Theatre. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated favorite and William Steig's original book, DreamWorks' first foray into legitimate theater stars Brian d'Arcy James as the title character (watch him get all ogre'd up with The Today Show's Meredith Vieira). Joining him as his fare Fiona is Tony Award winner Sutton Foster, as well as Tony nominees Daniel Breaker, Christopher Sieber and John Tartaglia as (respectively) Donkey, Lord Farquaad and Pinocchio. Avenue Q's Jason Moore directs, with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori.
And speaking of DreamWorks, their Catch Me If You Can is also getting the stage musical treatment, with songs courtesy of Hairspray Tony winners Marc Shaiman (who's been in the headlines of late with his Prop 8: The Musical) and Scott Wittman and a book by Terrence McNally. The show will have its world premiere next summer in Seattle, with Jack O'Brien directing. No casting has been confirmed as of yet, but past workshops have used the talents of Nathan Lane, Matthew Morrison and Tom Wopat in the roles created on film by (respectively) Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio and Christopher Walken.
And in more From Screen to Stage news: Graham Norton is donning the frock of Albin/Zaza in the London revival of La Cage aux Folles starting January 19; watch him in action here. Meanwhile, the drag queens of Priscilla Queen of the Desert will make their North American debut next fall in Toronto.
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