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Report on Latest Workshop/Reading

posted 8 years ago by baj2
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www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Cynthia-Erivo-Keala-Settle-More-Join-Hugh-Jackman-for-THE-GREATEST-SHOWMAN-ON-EARTH-Reading-20160211

Cynthia Erivo, Keala Settle & More Join Hugh Jackman for THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH Reading

February 11, 2016

by Sally Henry

FOX's musical movie THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH is making progress, having just presented a reading to executives prior to filming. Starring the previously announced Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum and directed by Michael Gracey in his directorial debut, the reading also starred Cynthia Erivo, Keala Settle, Carrie Manolakos, Marcus Paul James, Adam Halpin, Natalie Weiss, Loren Allred, Tamika Lawrence, Alison Luff, and Ben Thompson.

Check out a photo from the reading as tweeted by Pasek & Paul below!

http://newimages.bwwstatic.com/upload11/1244640/files/600x375xScreen,P20Shot,P202016-02-11,P20at,P209_06_30,P20AM.jpg.pagespeed.ic.1Qd4dIZ5KI.jpg

The plan is for filming to begin in Australia late Summer through September. Release is currently set for Christmas Day 2017.

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH has a screenplay by SEX & THE CITY scribe Jenny Bicks and BIG HERO 6's Jordan Roberts, with a subsequent draft written by DREAMGIRLS's Bill Condon and the final draft by THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU's Jonathan Tropper. Tony nominated songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul have written the score, with musical contributions by Brian Lapin, Bonnie McKee and Jake Shears.

Of course, the LIFE STORY of P.T. Barnum has been presented in musical form before, with Jim Dale and Glenn Close starring in the Cy Coleman/Michael Stewart Broadway musical BARNUM in the early 1980s. It was later presented on video via the West End mounting with Michael Crawford in the title role. P.T. Barnum's story has made its way to celluloid over the decades, as well, with the title of this new film project alluding most notably to 1952's Oscar-winning circus-set THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH.

Zac Efron was also seen with Hugh Jackman at the same studio during the previous week. Maybe his casting is already set ?

[–] JustusAnkka 8 years ago

I hope that that cast won't be joining mr. Jackman in the main cast but more of in the minor/supporting roles or then they are just readers/singers and the roles will be filled later, because this film needs more star power and Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron can't be the only two big names in this one.

- Where are Aaron Tveit and Michael Stuhlbarg from the previous table read btw, did they go for other projects? (Wasn't Aaron up for Zac's role?)

It seems too big budgeted for them two to handle "all by themselves".

Just saying...

As the title says.

[–] baj2 8 years ago

They still have to cast the two key female leads -- the roles of Charity, his wife, and that of singer Jenny Lind, who starred in one of Barnum's most successful entertainment tours ( and who, as rumors said, he was infatuated with).

So, it will likely be a strong cast when they have completed the casting. The Broadway stars mentioned above were those who sang the roles in the workshop presented to Fox execs.