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]

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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]

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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?

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(image: dave king)

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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]

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #170

KEITH OLBERMANN: His special comment on 9/11 and Bush's promotions for those who sell the lies.

JAKE SHEARS: The charming Scissor Sisters frontman has a chat with vlogger Curt.

BRITNEY BOMB: Carson Daly reacts to the VMA performance of "Gimme More".

THE CAFFERTY FILE: What does it mean if most Americans believe the Constitution establishes a Christian nation?

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears and Partner to Get Hitched

This spring will see a civil union between Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears and his partner of eight years — Chris, an art student at Yale who has thus far remained out of the spotlight. The two recently moved in together in an apartment in Tribeca in Manhattan. The Sunday Mirror reports that they will hold their ceremony in New Jersey in the spring followed by a lavish party in Manhattan:

"Kylie, Matt Lucas and Little Britain's David Walliams and Geri Halliwell have been ordered to clear their diaries for a 'glorious' day in Springtime in New York. The ceremony itself will be in nearby New Jersey where same sex marriage is legal. I hope the guests pack their sunglasses as Jake has been talking about making it technicolour, with brightly coloured daffodils and tulips, a striped wedding suit, a flock of white doves and confetti at the beginning and end. Jake, whose band sold out three nights at Greenwich's O2 arena last week, popped the question after splashing out on a love nest in New York with Chris."

A source told the paper: "They are both blissfully happy with their apartment and the wedding is the next thing. They're ready to show everyone they're together."

Scissor Misters [sunday mirror]
(photo: Kevin Tachman/WENN)

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Scissor Sisters Work Mud and Tartan for European Crowds

The music festivals across the pond are in high gear and the Scissor Sisters have been taking it all in. This weekend they played the Oxegen Festival in Dublin (below) where Jake Shears flaunted his piggish tendencies with a roll in the mud during "Filthy, Gorgeous".

The group then headed up to Scotland for T in the Park (Above) where they rocked a set of custom Tartan plaids designed by Zaldy. Love those shorts and knee socks on Del Marquis.

Photos by Kevin Tachman/WENN. Click to enlarge.

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British Presenter Has His Way with Jake Shears

British presenter Steve Jones of Transmission with T-Mobile wanted a little taste of Jake Shears much to Shears' surprise (and pleasure) during a show last Friday night. The Scissor Sisters appeared with The Gossip's Beth Ditto and Yoko Ono.

(screencap source

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Vienna Life Ball Brings out the Glitter to Fight AIDS

The 15th Annual Life Ball took place in Vienna on Saturday night, drawing 4,000 partygoers and more than 40,000 spectators to its opening ceremony. The Ball, which last year, according to the International Herald Tribune, raised $1.5 million to fight AIDS, featured a fashion show by Heatherette and musical performances by the Scissor Sisters.

Scissor Sisters photographer Kevin Tachman sent us these shots. Above, Lance Bass is kissed by Traver Rains, one half of Heatherette, as he ends his runway walk.

Scissor Sisters' Anamatronic and actor Alan Cumming. Amanda Lepore prepares for her walk-on.

Another Heatherette Life Ball model.

The Scissor Sisters perform. Porn star Jenna Jameson (left) takes the stage.

Jake Shears makes some adjustments.

Seth Kirby and Ana Matronic with musical group The Ones. Heatherette's Richie Rich, Mario Testino, Sharon Stone, Traver Rains. Stone told the crowd: "It's very important for us to remember that the AIDS and HIV situation is a situation that began from love, and it's a situation that will end with love...We have to constantly remind ourselves and others that there is no shame that love cannot cure; there is no hatred, no controversy and no walls that cannot come down when faced with the power of love and dignity."

Amanda Lepore walks the walk.

All photos: Kevin Tachman / WENN

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #119

"BUSH FATIGUE": George Bush Sr.'s understatement of the year. More...

SCISSOR SISTERS: Video for the new single "Kiss You Off". (source: socialite's life)

SANJAYA: Appears on the Ellen show.

OUCH: Four-year-old sacked during last weekend's CSU football game. (source: deadspin)

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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Scissor Sisters Play the Austrian Alps

Scissor Sisters photographer Kevin Tachman sent us these shots from the annual Top Of The Mountain show at the Silvretta Arena Ischgl-Samnaun in Ischgl, Austria this past weekend. Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, and Elton John have played the show before, which is meant to mark the end of the official ski season there.

Said Tachman, "The altitude had Jake reaching for the oxygen tank and Ana Matronic toasting to high altitude effects of alcohol." That's some venue!

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British bachelor gets dream date with Anderson Cooper — for $21,000.

In ironic hanging, Steve Irwin portrait replaces Germaine Greer's at Australia's National Portrait Gallery. At the time of Irwin's death, Greer had slammed the animal lover, saying "The animal world has finally taken its revenge on Irwin, but probably not before a whole generation of kids in shorts seven sizes too small has learned to shout in the ears of animals with hearing 10 times more acute than theirs, determined to become millionaire animal-loving zoo-owners in their turn."

Britney Spears' rat nest goes up for sale for a cool million. But she wastes no time replacing it.

Scientists: May be too late to save polar ice caps.

The Guardian reflects on gay "dating" site Gaydar and its founder Gary Frisch, who plunged eight floors to his death from his apartment balcony in south London last week: ""Some people are uncomfortable with Gaydar because it encourages a culture, almost through peer pressure, which kind of obliges users to reference themselves by their sexual preferences and the size of their equipment. You won't generally find that someone will call themselves, say, librarian3. It's going to be cocklover72 or something. You feel obliged to be that way because it's part of the culture. If you were to step outside that culture you would just look odd."

Gay Jamaican who appeared on TV anonymously has attempted suicide after residents in his community recognized his pendant and IDed him.

Damien Hirst offers up butterflies to Hollywood: "Indicative of how important his attack on Hollywood is for him, Hirst is flying more than 100 members of his staff into LA for the event and the Oscar parties. His first Hollywood show is not just about those tired old warhorses, money and celebrity. It’s also about credibility."

Love Comes Quickly for Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant and Jake Shears.

Shame: How the Bush administration honor's America's troops: "Behind the door of Army Spec. Jeremy Duncan's room, part of the wall is torn and hangs in the air, weighted down with black mold. When the wounded combat engineer stands in his shower and looks up, he can see the bathtub on the floor above through a rotted hole. The entire building, constructed between the world wars, often smells like greasy carry-out. Signs of neglect are everywhere: mouse droppings, belly-up cockroaches, stained carpets, cheap mattresses."

Judy Garland (aka Rufus Wainwright) brings Carnegie Hall to London.

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Ta-Dah! Scissor Sisters Appear on Passions — Part Two

Here's part two of the Scissor Sisters' appearance on the NBC soap Passions.

And part one if you missed it!

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(thanks alan)

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Jake Shears in Baby New Year diaper dance.

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Critics aren't digging Courtney Cox's Dirt. For the record, neither did I.

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Provincetown to create its own barter currency: Dune Doubloons. "The Unitarian Universalist Meeting House is behind the idea — slated to be rolled out on Jan. 15 — to create a local, legal barter currency that residents can use to exchange skills and services. UU Meeting House Rev. Alison Hyder said most people living in town have a skill, resource or interest that could be of use to someone else. By using the paper barter currency, called 'dune doubloons,' residents can pay for a pie or putting up storm windows or guitar lessons without using real cash. 'Affordability is obviously one of the most pressing problems people face here,' Hyder said. 'This will help them stay afloat while saving ‘real’ money for other bills.'

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Scissor Sisters Conjured Up on Passions

The Scissor Sisters will make their daytime TV debut in February, on two episodes of the soap Passions airing February 8 and 9.

Kevin Tachman, the group's photographer, sent in these shots and provided this synopsis of the storyline:

"In this two-episode arc, young witch Endora (Nicole Cox), a big fan of Scissor Sisters, conjures them up in Tabitha’s (Juliet Mills) living room. The band, extremely disoriented, plays their first song and then suddenly disappears into thin air, leaving Endora wanting more. After Endora is put to bed, she decides she wants an encore. This time she makes them appear at the hottest club in Harmony, The Blue Note, where she is dressed as a Scissor Sister groupie. Realizing they are no longer at their concert, the band is once again confused, but decide to keep on playing for the excited crowd."

A few more shots from the set after the jump...

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Scissor Sisters Wrap Up UK Tour

Scissor Sisters finished their UK tour (at which they've been setting attendance records) on the 26th at Wembley Arena in London. Kevin Tachman, the Sisters' tour photographer sent us a few shots from the festivities and the party afterwards, including this photo of Jake Shears getting cozy with a very happy Sir Ian McKellen.

Brit songstresses Sophie Ellis-Bextor (pictured here with Babydaddy) and Lily Allen also showed up at the post-concert soiree.

More shots of the concert after the jump...

Thanks to Kevin Tachman (website) for the great shots.

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It'll be a gay ol' New Years in Edinburgh when Robbie Williams joins the Pet Shop Boys in concert and they perform their collaborative homage to Madge, called "She's Madonna". The song is to be released as a single in January.

Actor sends out press release about Tom Cruise gay sex polaroids just in time for Rome wedding. Of course, timing had nothing to do with it: "Understandably, Mark is trying to completely avoid the media coverage of Mr. Cruise's Scientology wedding..."

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Ricky Martin abandoned his child when he was younger — his inner child.

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British Football Crush: Jake Shears Hearts Wayne Rooney

The Scissor Sisters played a gig in Trafalgar Square on Sunday, which, according to The Independent, gave London a rosy gay glow:

"It's hard to imagine, after all, a more extravagantly, entertainingly, even movingly gay band, a fact which has if anything helped their embrace by the British cross-section represented in the Square...While Babydaddy's bass spurts steam into the crowd, and a grey Lord Nelson dances behind him, Shears looks in the vague direction of the Mall, and decides 'the future King of England has a little bit of Queen in him'. As topless male fans dance in the full blast of the fountains, it's hard not to believe him. The Sisters' adopted hometown is gayer, in every sense, for their presence."

Kylie Minogue, the band's new BFF, showed up to introduce them.

But frontman Jake Shears was making his presence known in Britain in other ways. In an interview with tabloid The Sun, he revealed a crush on one of England's football stars:

"I think Wayne Rooney is totally hot — he’s so sexy. I don’t know anything about football. I know who David Beckham is but I think Wayne is really, really cute — totally my cup of tea. Those World Cup ads with the England flag where Wayne’s half naked I thought, ‘Gosh you’re so hot!’ I’d rather dance with him than his girlfriend anyway."

Shears' comments didn't go unnoticed by the Manchester United team, where Wayne Rooney experienced a bit of hetero locker room ribbing according to reports by the same publication:

"Ringleader Rio Ferdinand was dishing out the most stick, singing Scissor’s hit 'Filthy/Gorgeous' when his chum Roo arrived at the team’s Carrington training ground on Saturday morning. And when Roo walked into the dressing room he found a copy of The Sun open...with Jake’s confession. During preparations for yesterday’s big game with Arsenal other players chipped in with limp-wristed hand gestures and camp accents.

A source said: 'Wayne knew he was in for a torrid time before he came into training. Rio and the boys were cracking up when they read about his new admirer. There was no chance Wayne was going to be let off lightly. They were all singing Scissor Sisters songs in falsetto voices and shouting ‘Chase me, chase me’ on the pitch in camp voices. Wayne took it in good spirits and said he was ‘flattered’ because his fiancée Coleen McLoughlin loves the band — which made things worse.'

Wayne retaliated after training, shouting: 'How many of you have a gay following?' — at which point the players all turned and pointed at Portuguese winker Cristiano Ronaldo."

And we'll continue to follow these two rivals as they compete for that attention...

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Scissor Sisters Cutting It Up Again

The Scissor Sisters get a rave review for their new album Ta-Dah from the Times of London:

"In Britain we expect a certain amount of camp from our entertainers — and yet it’s hard to imagine that there might have been a British Scissor Sisters, a band who understood the straight-up disco potential in covering Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb for their debut single. Being out about your sexuality is one thing, but such is the lingering tribalism left by punk’s year-zero approach, that being out about the unholy triumvirate of 1970s genres — soft-rock, beard-rock and disco — is another thing entirely...If Scissor Sisters have felt any kind of pressure to extend the run of hits spawned by their first album, you wouldn’t know it by listening to this guileless, celebratory record. Might Tell You Tonight is a cry for a home where new love waits for the first time, allied to an industrially adhesive chorus."

Celebration was hardly part of the process in creating the album, however, according to a cover article by Tom Donaghy in this month's Out magazine. During the recording of Ta-Dah, Jake Shears slid into a depression which was compounded by the death of the namesake of one of their first album's hits, Shears' friend Mary.

Said Shears, who apparently met Mary on a phone chat line when he was 15 : "She looked out for me. I was somehow getting into gay bars, and she would drive an hour to wait in the parking lot until I was ready to go home. She’d struggled with obesity for a long time and didn’t understand why someone she thought was living 'a fabulous life' would want to be her friend. I wrote the song to reassure her."

"Mary" was probably my favorite song off their last album. Never knew the affirming story behind it.

Check out Out's Jake Shears cover after the jump...

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Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters says Kylie Minogue wouldn't be too happy if the group ever worked with Madonna: "I think Kylie would have my head on a plate if I worked with Madonna. Really, I'm not interested in collaborating with her, I love Kylie too much. We had a real ball and I have a massive crush on her. She is just a really amazing, funny person and really cool. I didn't meet her until we went in the studio, but we hit it off!"

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