Tag: Nora Ephron (1-10 of 10)

May 2 2013 04:16 PM ET

Nora Ephron's 'Lucky Guy', starring Tom Hanks, recoups investment on Broadway

by
Tags: , , , , , , ,

lucky-guy-tom-hanks_612x612.jpg

Image Credit: Joan Marcus

Lucky Guy, the late Nora Ephron’s valentine to the 1980s heyday of New York journalism, has more good news this week on top of its impressive six Tony nominations (including nods for Ephron for Best Play and first-time Great White Way star Tom Hanks). It has become the latest Broadway production to recoup its investment, after only eight weeks on the boards — a fast feat for any show, play or musical.

Since opening on April 1, the play — chronicling the controversial career of late Pulitzer-winning newspaper columnist Mike McAlary — was met with some mixed reviews but audiences have been arriving in droves, as the production has consistently grossed over $1 million per week. (Also, Hanks is greeted with a Hollywood red carpet-size fan base on 44th Street after each and every performance.)

The capitalization is reported to be $3.6 million, and given that the show still has nine weeks left in the run (it closes July 3), that means there is plenty more Lucky-ness to be had. And that’s no small feat this season, given how some high-profile shows have already shuttered (Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Hands on a Hardbody) or announced as much. As its protagonist journo McAlary might exclaim

: f—!

Read more:
Read the full list of 2013 Tony Nominations
2013 Tony Nominees: Who Got Snubbed?

Tom Hanks, Bette Midler and Steve Martin among 2013 Drama Desk nominees

Apr 6 2013 10:00 AM ET

This Week On Stage: Tom Hanks and Cyndi Lauper take on Broadway

by
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Movies
lucky-guy.jpg

Image Credit: Joan Marcus

It was a notable week on the boards, one that included the Broadway debut of a most-beloved film star, a reboot of a musical two-hander with quite a vocal fanbase, and the Main Stem composing debut of an ’80s pop icon. (Click on the links below to read our full reviews.)

Lucky Guy A smoky, New York-flavored ode to Mike McAlary, the respected and feared tabloid journo who exposed corruption in the NYC police ranks, Lucky Guy brings two-time Academy Award-winner Tom Hanks to the Great White Way, courtesy of a script by the late, adored Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle). But despite good notices for Hanks in most circles, critic Lisa Schwarzbaum was duly unimpressed, citing that “two hours of Lucky Guy and a theater-goer with no previous knowledge of McAlary and his tabloid cronies will still have no idea why Ephron was so enamored of this blowhard” and that the production “feels so inconsequential and dramatically inert.” EW grade: C+ READ FULL STORY »

Mar 11 2013 04:50 PM ET

Broadway box office: Tom Hanks boosts one very 'Lucky Guy'

by
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Lucky-Guy-cast_510x340.jpg

Image Credit: Joan Marcus

There are a small handful of proven box office draws on Broadway: Hugh Jackman, Al Pacino, green-faced witches. Now we can add a new name: Tom Hanks. The two-time Oscar winner’s Broadway debut, Lucky Guy, raked in an astonishing $1.1 million for its first full week of previews ending March 10, according to figures from the Broadway League. It’s rare for a nonmusical to top $1 million in weekly grosses, but the late Nora Ephron’s play (starring Hanks as another departed New York legend, tabloid columnist Mike McAlary) managed to earn 112 percent of the potential gross for the Broadhurst Theatre. Thanks to demand-driven premium pricing, the average ticket climbed to $134.41 — second only to Broadway’s priciest get, The Book of Mormon (average price: $188.57). Lucky Guy, which may become an even hotter ticket after its official opening April 1, is currently selling tickets for performances through June 16. READ FULL STORY »

Jan 25 2013 02:53 PM ET

'Sleepless in Seattle -- The Musical' set to premiere May 24 with new director

by
Tags: , , , , ,
sleepless-in-seattle-musical

Turning a classic Nora Ephron film into a musical theater production has proven to be a difficult task, but Sleepless in Seattle — The Musical has finally set a date!

After recently acquiring a new composer and lyricist, Sleepless has also found a new director. The Pasadena Playhouse’s Artistic Director Sheldon Epps is replacing previous director Lonny Price. According to a press release, Price had to leave due to other commitments.

READ FULL STORY »

Dec 13 2012 01:57 PM ET

Tom Hanks to reunite with 'Bosom Buddies' co-star Peter Scolari in 'Lucky Guy'

by
Tags: , , , ,

Image Credit: Vince Bucci/Invision/AP

You may know Tom Hanks as Forrest or Woody, but what about Kip?

Back in 1980 – long before he was the most successful actor in Hollywood – Hanks starred as Kip Wilson in a cross-dressing sitcom called Bosom Buddies. The series only last two seasons, and aside from intermittent collaborations, Hanks and his co-star Peter Scolari haven’t really worked together since.

But that’s about to change. Producers announced yesterday that Hanks and Scolari are reuniting on the upcoming Broadway production of Lucky Guy, the Associated Press reports.

Written by the late Nora Ephron, Lucky Guy chronicles Pulitzer Prize-winning tabloid journalist Mike McAlary’s exploits and adventures in 1980′s New York. Hanks will play McAlary and Scolari will play columnist Michael Daly. The production marks Hanks’ Broadway debut; Scolari performed on Broadway in Sly Fox and Hairspray from 2003-04.

Read More
Broadway faces potential labor strike
‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’: Scarlett Johansson and Benjamin Walker talk upcoming Broadway show – EXCLUSIVE VIDEO
Shia LaBeouf to make Broadway debut opposite Alec Baldwin
 

Oct 11 2012 01:44 PM ET

Tom Hanks officially set to make his Broadway debut in Nora Ephron's 'Lucky Guy'

by
Tags: , , , , , , Movies

Tom Hanks will headline a new play from the late Nora Ephron.

Lucky Guy tells the story of the charismatic New York columnist Mike McAlary. The play will chronicle his rise to fame and his subsequent ruin from a libel suit that nearly ended his career, culminating with his coverage of the Abner Louima case, for which he earned the Pulitzer Prize shortly before dying in 1998.

Hanks will star as McAlary, and George C. Wolfe, whose theater credits include The Normal Heart and Angels in America, will direct. “It’s heartbreaking to consider [Nora's] absence, but we will continue on be guided by people who have no small desire to maintain her voice,” Hanks told EW. READ FULL STORY »

Jul 26 2012 04:33 PM ET

'Sleepless in Seattle' stage musical hires new composer, lyricist

by
Tags: , , ,
Sleepless-seattle

Image Credit: Everett Collection

The long-gestating stage musical adaptation of the classic Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks rom-com Sleepless in Seattle looks like it’s nearly ready for its first curtain raise — assuming it doesn’t change its songwriting team for a third time.

The show’s producer, David Shor, announced today that they’ve hired composer Ben Toth and lyricist Sam Forman for the production, expected to open in Pasadena, Calif. in June 2013. Toth wrote the score for one of this year’s Sundance hits, Liberal Arts. Among Forman’s credits is the lyrics for 1999 musical I Sing!

They replace former songwriting team Michelle Citrin, Michael Garin and Josh Nelson, who in turn took over the job in spring 2010 for veteran musical writers Ian Fraser (Scrooge) and Leslie Bricusse (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory). READ FULL STORY »

Jun 28 2012 04:55 PM ET

Producer remains 'committed' to bringing Nora Ephron's 'Lucky Guy' to Broadway

by
Tags: , , ,
Nora-Ephron

Image Credit: Gino Domenico/AP

A producer of Nora Ephron’s new play, Lucky Guy, says he is “committed” to getting her biography of a newspaper columnist on a Broadway stage despite the death this week of the playwright. Colin Callender said Thursday that his team “can think of no more fitting tribute to her extraordinary writing and remarkable body of work” than to proceed with plans to produce Ephron’s play. “We are honored to be part of her legacy and remain committed to seeing her magnificent work Lucky Guy shine on Broadway,” Callender said in a statement.

Lucky Guy follows the story of tabloid reporter Mike McAlary, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1998 for his coverage on the New York City police brutalization of Abner Louima. McAlary died that same year of colon cancer at age 41. READ FULL STORY »

Jun 27 2012 07:09 PM ET

What 'When Harry Met Sally...' was really about, according to Nora Ephron

by
Tags: , , , , , , Movies
when-harry-met-sally_320.jpg

Image Credit: Everett Collection

In 1990, the year after When Harry Met Sally… hit theaters, Nora Ephron’s script was released as a paperback book with an 11-page introduction written by Ephron detailing how the film came about. The beauty of the Internet: You can read that intro when you “search inside this book” on Amazon. She details how director Rob Reiner told her he wanted to do a movie about two people who become friends and decide not to have sex because it would ruin the friendship, and, of course, it inevitably does. She describes in great detail the things Reiner and his producing partner Andrew Scheinman shared with her as they spent days discussing men (the way they wanted to go home as soon as sex was over, the excuses they would make up to leave). She explains how she realized Reiner — who was divorced at the time and reveling in his depression as much as Harry ultimately would — was the character she should write about. Because Harry had that “dark side,” Sally had to be light — more like Ephron (who, yes, just liked food the way she liked it).  READ FULL STORY »

Jun 27 2012 11:00 AM ET

Nora Ephron: Our favorite film moments -- VIDEO

by
Tags: , , , , , , , Movies
NORA-EPHRON-BOOKS

Image Credit: Charles Sykes/AP

Everyone has a favorite Nora Ephron moment. The writer, director, and all-around super woman passed away last night at age 71, and EW decided to look back over her collection of beloved movies to savor our favorite Ephron-penned scenes from When Harry Met Sally…, You’ve Got Mail, and more.

You can also check out a gallery of some of our favorite Ephron lines.

Start with Tom Hanks declaring his love for Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail: READ FULL STORY »

Advertisement

TV Recaps

Powered by WordPress.com VIP
'Star Trek': I'd rather be...