Bring On the Divas

The above three characters have more in common then fabulous outfits and world-class portrayers. Googie Gomez, Ursula and Angela Arden all want stardom (on the stage, on the throne, on film). So that makes them more "wannabe divas" then actual divas, but I wouldn't tell them that. Another thing in common they all share is they're all featured in this week's From Screen to Stage:

- The Ritz is now open for business! Check out all the opening night party pix and video, plus some more backstage shots of all the actors in towels (Ryan Idol rocks a pair of cowboy boots with his). Over at Playbill.com, they chat with Googie herself, Rosie Perez, and Seth Rudetsky tells you all about his prop mishaps, plus playwright Terrence McNally takes a look back at the original 1975 production. And while AfterElton.com gave the revival a positive review, the notices from the trades are decidedly mixed.

- Playbill offers a couple new pictures of The Little Mermaid, including Sherie Rene Scott in full Ursula drag. Head over to the show's official site for more of the cast in costume (King Triton is ripped!). In related news, Disney Theatrical's Thomas Schumacher has written a new book, aimed at kids, on how to put on a Broadway show. Also: the Waldorf-Astoria is now hosting a Mary Poppins "Practically Perfect" afternoon tea.

- Charles Busch assays the tour de force role of Angela Arden in his Die Mommie Die!, now playing Off-Broadway. My pal Dean's Charles Busch Page has some great pix from the show, as well as everything you could ever need on all things Busch.

- Young Frankenstein has started previews, but apparently the gay techies working on the show are not happy with it. On a lighter note, Broadway.com has video interviews with stars Sutton Foster and Shuler Hensley. Meanwhile, Sutton's brother Hunter opened the other Frankenstein musical Off-Broadway.

- As Hairspray opens in London, the Broadway Blog ruminates on the hit movie version. Also from London, Chicago's youngest Mama Morton, Kelly Osbourne, meets the press. Speaking of the matron, the Big Apple production will be getting a new one: Aida Turturro. Her Sopranos co-star Vincent "Big Pussy" Pastore also joins the cast as Amos Hart, a.k.a. Mr. Cellophane.

- Julie Taymor's Across the Universe stars Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood played Peter Parker and Mary Jane in a recent reading of her in-the-works Spider-Man musical. The Tony Award-winning director also plans to turn her partner Elliot Goldenthal's opera Grendel into a major motion picture.

- In movie star news: George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio are eyeing a movie version of Farragut North, which will hit Broadway with Jake Gyllenhaal next season. The Cyrano de Bergerac revival, with Kevin Kline, Jennifer Garner and humpy Daniel Sunjata, has opened on the Great White Way. And what's this? Javier Bardem says news reports of his starring in the Nine movie are premature.

- On the TV faves front: The Grumpy Old Men musical has a star-studded reading, including Taxi alum Christopher Lloyd and Carol Kane. Barry "Greg Brady" Williams will headline the new disco era review, Growing Up 70s and Peter "Emmett Honeycutt" Paige joins The History Boys in L.A. And Garry Marshall talks up his Happy Days musical and hints at a ... Pretty Woman musical?

- A stage version of Snow Falling on Cedars has fallen on Seattle.

- The eagerly awaited Sweeney Todd movie has been rated R by the MPAA. Slitting people's throats and then cooking their remains in meat pies will do that to you.

- If you missed the don't miss television debut of Legally Blonde - The Musical, MTV will re-air the three-hour event this Sunday night. Broadway World has some more video clips to tide you over until then.

- And finally: congratulations to Harvey Fierstein, Jack O'Brien, John Cullum, Dana Ivey, Lois Smith, Peter Shaffer and Joseph Stein. They are the latest inductees into the Theater Hall of Fame.

Links via Playbill.com, Broadway.com, Advocate.com, AfterElton.com, GoldDerby.LATimes.com, Disney.go.com, CharlesBusch.blogspot.com, BroadwayWorld.com, NewYorkPost.com, BroadwayMouth.blogspot.com, HollywoodReporter.com, MTV.com and SGN.org.