'My Fair Lady' Returning to Broadway for First Time in 25 Years

Eliza Doolitle is set to storm Broadway once again in a revival of “My Fair Lady,” marking the first time the classic’s been performed on the Great White Way in 25 years.

The new production, to be directed by Bartlett Sher (2008 Tony award winner for “South Pacific” revival), will begin previews on March 22, followed by its official opening on April 19. Lincoln Center Theater, in association Nederlander Presenationx Inc. are mounting the production and made the announcement Monday.

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It’s been over 60 years since “My Fair Lady” debuted on Broadway in 1956 and ran for more than 2,700 performances. The show once held the record as Broadway’s longest-running musical and won six Tonys, including Best Musical. The original production, directed by Moss Hart, starred Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews.

Harrison starred in the Best Picture-winning 1964 film adaptation, reprising his role as the snobbish Professor Henry Higgins. Andrey Hepburn took over from Andrews to play Doolittle. Notably Hepburn wasn’t nominated for an Oscar, despite Harrison winning Best Actor.

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Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play “Pygmallion,” “My Fair Lady” follows Higgins’ efforts to mold a Doolitle, a cockney flower girl, into a high society woman. The show’s known for such classic songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Get Me to the Church on Time” and “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” written by Alan Jay Lerner with music by Frederick Loewe.

Casting for any of the roles has yet to be announced.

Emma Watson, Dan Stevens Ooze British Charm at 'Beauty and the Beast' Gala Screening (Photos)

It was all beauty and no beast when Emma Watson and Dan Stevens posed together Thursday for the U.K. launch of Disney's latest live-action remake.
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The "Beauty and the Beast" stars epitomized English elegance with a splash of Hollywood glamour at a gala screening in London, England, ahead of the fantasy musical film's March 17 opening.
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Best known for her long-running role as Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" film series, Watson dazzled like a true princess in a silver eco-friendly Emilia Wickstead gown, which draped down the grassy-like green carpet.
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Watson slips into the role of Belle with ease, opening the film by singing an updated version of the Alan Menken and Howard Ashman classic, "Belle."
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Meanwhile, "Legion" star Stevens, who is completely unrecognizable under The Beast's monstrous visage, was a dashing date in a black suit. Stevens revealed that The Beast's face was created by CGI, while he staggered around set on stilts in a muscle suit.
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"Beauty and the Beast" also stars Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Emma Thompson, Ian McKellen, Stanley Tucci and Audra McDonald.
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"Dracula Untold" and "The Hobbit" actor Luke Evans plays the villainous Gaston, a hunter on the loose to take Belle for himself.
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Golden Globe, Tony, SAG and countless other awards winner Sir Ian McKellen portrays Cogsworth the Beast's tightly wound and extremely loyal Majordomo.
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Beloved British actress Emma Thompson is perfectly cast as Mrs. Potts, the castle's head of the kitchen, who brings a loving, motherly feel to its cold corridors. She is equally as comforting to Belle and Maurice even after she's transformed into a teapot by the Enchantress.
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Stanley Tucci (left, with Evans), who received an Oscar Best Supporting Actor for 2009's "The Lovely Bones," plays Cadenza the grand piano, a new character who is described as a neurotic maestro.
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Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters," "Chicago," "Kinsey," "Dreamgirls") directs the latest adaptation of Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont's fairy tale, which was written by Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos.
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Child star Nathan Mack, appearing as Chip in the Disney fantasy flick, was interviewed by an equally-young reporter on the red carpet at the U.K. screening.
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Estimated to enjoy a huge opening of $120 million-plus, the musical follows in the footsteps of Disney's other live-action fantasy films such as "Alice in Wonderland," "Maleficent," "Cinderella" and "The Jungle Book."
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The “Harry Potter” actress and the “Legion” star join the rest of the cast at the launch of Disney’s live-action musical, which dances into theaters March 17

It was all beauty and no beast when Emma Watson and Dan Stevens posed together Thursday for the U.K. launch of Disney's latest live-action remake.

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Emma Watson, Dan Stevens Ooze British Charm at 'Beauty and the Beast' Gala Screening (Photos)

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