It’s no surprise anymore when Broadway attempts to add some extra pizazz to the marquee by sprinkling some Hollywood stardust, whether through film star casting or name brand titles. But four recent news tidbits caught my eye as particularly covered in tinsel (town):

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  Emilia Clarke. Image via O+M.

  It’s official: two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks is coming to Broadway April 2013 in Lucky Guy, a play by the late, beloved Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle). A tale of New York journalism during the 1970′s, this play adds additional cache with its director George C. Wolfe (The Normal Heart). I imagine tickets are already sold out before they go on sale but…a boy can dream.

• If that’s not “old hollywood” enough for you, how about a new adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Truman Capote’s classic is getting a fresh (and supposedly more faithful than the Hepburn film) adaptation by Tony-winner Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out). Those who are more fantasy geek than Tiffany’s chic will also have reason to check it out; the February 2013 bow will star Game of Thrones‘ Emilia Clarke.

• Multiple Emmy-nominee Sarah Paulson (Game Change, American Horror Story) may not have above the title multiplex stardom, but to me she’s A-list. And now comes news that she is coming back to the stage to star in Roundabout’s revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Talley’s Folly. Paulson will be joined in the sweet love story by recent Broadway everyman Danny Burstein (Follies…perhaps he should do La Cage aux Folles next and continue the pattern?).

• Don’t count out true Broadway glitter, though. The bigger than life new musical Giant, based on the Liz Taylor – Rock Hudson – James Dean classic, is heading to the Public starring Blog favorites Brian d’Arcy James (Smash) and Kate Baldwin (Finian’s Rainbow). Watch the video from their recent promo shoot (after the jump below) and tell me the Great White Way can’t be just as glamorous.

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The cast of "February House". Photo by Joan Marcus.

FEBRUARY HOUSE

Gypsy Rose Lee is back in a musical, alongside Benjamin Britten, W. H. Auden and Carson McCullers, in a contemplative new work by Gabriel Kahane and Seth Bockley — based on the true story of a Brooklyn boarding house for artists.

“It’s the music that makes the magic…” New York Times

“Despite tackling sexual and political identity, emotional and creative turmoil, and even WWII, the show feels bloodless.” New York Post

“Its stronger elements — particularly a sometimes-intriguing score by newcomer Gabriel Kahane — don’t nearly add up to a satisfying evening.”Variety

“…the musical skips deftly from contrapuntal dissonance to an open-air folksiness that itself is a fascinating counterpoint to the cultured subject matter.” Entertainment Weekly

Mizer’s Two Cents:  A Dutch friend of mine gave me a salted licorice to try. Its burning bitterness tasted nothing like candy to me, but she grinned and ate them like they were gumdrops. This musical is salted licorice. For a very specific audience, its unusual, at times fascinating score (part Adam Guettel, part Williamsburg coffeehouse) and highly literate atmosphere will feel forward-thinking and carefully wrought. Many others will find it static, a dissertation made for footnotes, not footlights. See it if you know your LaTouche from your LaChuisa and like to be up on what will be discussed in serious musical theater circles.