Tales of the City Musical to Debut at CT's O'Neill Center in July

The musical adaptation of Armistead Maupin's Tales in the City we first heard about back in January 2008 is moving along nicely, according to reports.

Variety reports: "The tuner adaptation of 'Tales of the City' and the latest play by Pulitzer-winner Nilo Cruz are among the new works to be developed this year during the O'Neill Theater Center's annual summer sessions. 'Tales,' with book by Jeff Whitty ('Avenue Q') and songs by Scissor Sisters musicians Jason Sellards (aka Jake Shears) and John Garden, will run as part of the O'Neill's 32nd annual National Music Theater Conference..'Tales,' which hopes to tap the Broadway potential of Armistead Maupin's series of books (and subsequent tube adaptations), will be seen at the O'Neill July 4-11."

The show's synopsis, as published by Playbill: "Based on the beloved series of novels by Armistead Maupin, Tales of the City follows a community of friends, lovers, and others who reside at the mythical address of 28 Barbary Lane in 1976 San Francisco. Mary Ann Singleton, a fresh arrival from Ohio, falls into a diverse band of Bohemians and blue-bloods, as families are created and rediscovered under the watchful eye of mystical landlady Anna Madrigal."

Avenue Q and Shrek the Musical director Jason Moore, while not mentioned here, has been attached to direct in previous reports.

Scissor Sister Jake Shears to Cover New Issue of Butt

The next issue of Butt (which I've posted about here before), the quarterly gay journal which is equal parts raunch and literary interviews, will feature Jake Shears hanging out with designer/photographer Hedi Slimane.

One more shot AFTER THE JUMP...

Tales of the City Musical Looks Broadway-Bound

Back in January I posted that a Tales of the City musical was in the works, driven by Avenue Q scribe Jeff Whitty and Scissor Sister Jake Shears. It appears the project is moving along swiftly:

"Jason Moore ('Avenue Q," "Shrek') will helm the show, which follows the idiosyncratic characters encountered by a young Midwestern woman in 1970s San Francisco. Produced by 'Avenue Q' producers Jeffrey Seller, Robyn Goodman and Kevin McCollum, 'Tales of the City' hopes to hit Broadway during the 2009-10 season. Budget for the developing show has not yet been determined, although creatives and producers expect a large-scale musical that, like the original book, follows the storylines of nearly a dozen major characters. Seller estimated capitalization would cost no less than $10 million. Plot of the musical will focus on the 1978 novel 'Tales of the City,' the first of seven 'Tales' books, with elements from the second novel likely included as well."

Said Whitty: "Even now, it still feels like the future to me. I want the world to get to the place that we were in San Francisco in the 1970s."

previously
Jake Shears Penning Musical Version of Tales of the City [tr]

Jake Shears Penning Musical Version of Tales of the City

Spinner reports that Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears has been hard at work on a set of tunes for a musical version of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City.

Spinner reports: "Since his pal, Jeff Whitty, sent him a note asking him what he thought of the books a year ago, Shears has been coming up with ideas and melodies. 'Over a year ago, I got a note from him saying, 'What do you think of 'Tales of the City?' I'm crazy about 'Tales!' I grew up on the books,' Shears enthuses. 'They were a big part of my teenager-hood. They're just great, great books with amazing characters and I love the era. My heart just started racing. I got very excited about it.' He's spent almost a year working on the project already, amassing 15 numbers. 'It's poppy and since there's no arrangement yet, all of our writing is just piano and my voice,' he explains. 'As it take shape, it's gonna even take on more of a style.''

Whitty wrote the book for Avenue Q.

According to Spinner, Scissor Sisters have also just begun working in the studio again on their third album:

"The flashy New York City five-piece are currently forcing themselves to hit the studio on a daily basis, to pen a host of new tunes. So far, Shears said they've come up with a handful of new 'really dancy' pop numbers and at least one sparkling rendition of someone else's song. 'We've started out with a really cool cover, which I'm not even gonna say what it is,' Shears says coyly. 'I mean, no one would know anyway. It's a pretty obscure song.'"

Previously
Jake Shears Interviews Dolly Parton in UK Special [tr]
Jake Shears Would "Take That" if Asked [tr]
Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears and Partner to Get Hitched [tr]

Jake Shears Interviews Dolly Parton in UK Special

On December 26th, Channel 4 in the UK will air a special called Jake's Adventure in Dollywood, in which the Scissor Sisters' frontman interviews Parton as she arrives in London for her 2008 Backwoods Barbie Tour, and to launch the UK arm of her children's charity project Imagination. Here are a couple clips from the half-hour program.

Who doesn't love Dolly?

You may have missed...
Video Director Discusses Dolly Parton / Amy Sedaris Collaboration [tr]
Dolly Parton: Better Get to Livin' [tr]
Jake Shears Would "Take That" if Asked [tr]

(image: dave king)

Jake Shears Would "Take That" if Asked

Blessed with a bit off downtime between albums and tours, the Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears and Babydaddy reached out to recently re-formed boyband Take That and said they'd offer up Jake's services as an understudy. Take That recently canceled tour dates after band member Howard Donald ruptured his lung at a concert.

Said Shears to the UK's Daily Star: "I absolutely love Take That and would drop everything to join them on stage. It sucked that Howard got injured. I would have been him for a while if they’d asked. Right now I have time in my schedule and it means I’d get to dance again – though I’d probably pass on the backflips.”

Babydaddy chimed in: "I love the way Jake says he would drop writing our album to join Take That, but I adore them too so I’d tell him to go for it. Jake hasn’t danced for the past couple of months because we haven’t been on stage and I think he needs a little pick-me-up. He needs to get his dancing shoes back on. I don’t need to hear a word Gary says – I just love him. I know I’m not in the majority here, but I think he’s the sexiest creature ever."

And for a reminder of Take That at their campy peak, check out this gem:

(image above: kevin tachman/WENN)

Jake Shears And Babydaddy Scissor Gary Barlow [chart rigger]
JAKE THAT! [daily star]