Bette-Related: A New Bette On The Horizon? Never!

Arts Daily
March 26, 2010, 4:15 PM
”˜Everyday Rapture’ May Replace ”˜Lips Together, Teeth Apart’
By PATRICK HEALY

“Everyday Rapture,” a critically acclaimed musical built around the actress Sherie Rene Scott’s experiences with religion, theater and fame, is a leading contender to replace the postponed Broadway revival of “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” in Roundabout Theater Company’s spring season, according to two people with knowledge of Roundabout’s planning.

Roundabout announced on Thursday that “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” would be postponed after the actress Megan Mullally quit the play two weeks into rehearsal. According to people familiar with her departure, Ms. Mullally left after she became frustrated with the inexperience of a co-star, the comedian Patton Oswalt, and tried to convince director Joe Mantello to replace him with a veteran Broadway actor.

The two people briefed on Roundabout’s plans said that the deal to produce “Everyday Rapture” is not done, and may depend in part on the availability and input of its original director, Michael Mayer, and music orchestrator, Tom Kitt, who are both now working on the Broadway musical “American Idiot.”

Asked about “Everyday Rapture” as a replacement for “Lips Together, Teeth Apart,” a spokesman for the theater company said on Friday: “Roundabout is exploring a number of options for this season’s final production that will reflect the quality that defines their mission. ”˜Everyday Rapture’ is one of those being considered.”

Second Stage Theater produced “Everyday Rapture” Off Broadway last spring, and the show drew raves; in his New York Times review, Ben Brantley called it “one of the year’s most extravagantly entertainment new musicals” and compared Ms. Scott with Bette Midler as a “sensation diva-as-trash-goddess.” With a relatively simple (if elegant) set and minimal technical effects, and a handful of small roles to back up Ms. Scott, the musical could be fairly easily mounted in little time.

The Second Stage production was directed by Mr. Mayer (“Spring Awakening”) with orchestrations by Mr. Kitt (“Next to Normal”).

Ms. Scott was nominated for a Tony Award for best actress in a musical in 2005 for her performance in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” and was the original Ursula the sea witch in Disney’s production of “The Little Mermaid” on Broadway.