‘Shrek the Musical’ to tour

‘Shrek the Musical’ to tour

NEW YORK — “Shrek the Musical” is set to trek.

Producer Bill Damaschke says the show based on the hit DreamWorks animated film will launch its national tour in June 2010 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre in Chicago. No casting was announced.

The musical features book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori. The Broadway production stars Brian d’Arcy James as the cantankerous green ogre. It is on view at the Broadway Theatre.

‘Project Runway’ back Aug. 20 on Lifetime

LOS ANGELES — “Project Runway” finally has a date to reunite with fans after sewing up its legal battle: The show’s sixth season will start Aug. 20.

Lifetime, the new cable TV home for the designer-competition series, announced the season premiere along with a new companion series, “Models of the Runway.”

“Project Runway,” hosted by model Heidi Klum and once part of the Bravo channel lineup, had been trapped in lawsuit limbo. It was the subject of a dispute involving NBC Universal, which owns Bravo, the Weinstein Co. and the Lifetime channel.

The dispute began last April when NBC Universal sued Weinstein after the production company made a reported $150 million deal with Lifetime for “Runway.” In a settlement announced this month, NBC Universal said it would be paid by Weinstein for the right to move it to Lifetime.

Today’s birthdays

Actress-comedian Carol Burnett is 76. Guitarist-songwriter Duane Eddy is 71. Singer Bobby Rydell is 67. Drummer Roger Taylor of Duran Duran is 49. Actress Joan Chen is 48. Actor-singer Michael Damian is 47. Actor Jet Li is 46. Actor-comedian Kevin James is 44. Singer T-Boz of TLC is 39. Actor Tom Welling is 32. Actress Marnette Patterson is 29.