Johansson, Schreiber to star in Miller’s ‘View’

November 1, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

NEW YORK — Scarlett Johansson will star opposite Liev Schreiber early next year in a Broadway revival of Arthur Miller’s “A View From the Bridge.”

Producer Stuart Thompson says the production will open Jan. 24 at the Cort Theater. Previews begin Dec. 28.

Schreiber will portray a Brooklyn longshoreman who is obsessed with his 17-year-old niece, played by Johansson. The revival will be Johansson’s Broadway debut.

Schreiber won a Tony Award for his performance in the 2005 revival of David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross.”

‘Little Miss Sunshine’ star will portray Helen Keller

NEW YORK — From spunky “Little Miss Sunshine” to an even more heroic young girl.

Abigail Breslin will play Helen Keller in the first Broadway revival of William Gibson’s “The Miracle Worker,” scheduled to open March 3, producer David Richenthal announced last week. Previews begin Feb. 12 at Circle in the Square Theatre.

Alison Pill will portray Annie Sullivan, the determined instructor who teaches the deaf and blind Helen how to communicate.

“I am so honored,” the 13-year-old Breslin said in an interview. “It’s like the biggest thing in the world. ... I have read the biography of Helen Keller. So I’ve always known the story, and it’s always been something I wanted to play.

“Helen is a hero of mine — for so many reasons. She never gave up on herself and she had so many people who believed in her, like her teacher Annie Sullivan.”

The production will be directed by Kate Whoriskey, who has extensive regional theater credits and recently was named artistic director of the Intiman Theatre in Seattle.

Lord Byron letters, writings sell for almost $460,000

LONDON — A British auction house says a set of 15 letters and other writings by the rakish Romantic poet Lord Byron sold for nearly $460,00.

Sotheby’s in London says that the letters, addressed to his close friend Francis Hodgson, detail the troubled poet’s private life and many have never been published.

The pair went to the University of Cambridge together and Byron writes to his friend, telling him of his life, his opinions, his dog and his many infamous loves.

In one letter from Portugal, Byron boasts of sharpening his knowledge of the country’s obscenities. In another, he details his affair with serving girl Susan Vaughan.

Sotheby’s said Thursday that the letters were bought by an anonymous bidder.

Today’s birthdays

Country singer Bill Anderson is 72. Actress Barbara Bosson (“Murder One,” “Hill Street Blues”) is 70. Actor Robert Foxworth (“Falcon Crest”) is 68. “Hustler” publisher Larry Flynt is 67. Actress Marcia Wallace is 67. Country singer Kinky Friedman is 65. Music producer David Foster is 60. Singer-guitarist Dan Peek (America) is 59. Saxophonist Ronald Khalis Bell of Kool and the Gang is 58. Country singer-songwriter-producer Keith Stegall is 55. Singer Lyle Lovett is 52. Actress Rachel Ticotin is 51. Bassist Eddie MacDonald of The Alarm is 50. Singer Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers is 47. Singer-keyboardist Mags Furuholmen of a-ha is 47. Drummer Rick Allen of Def Leppard is 46. Country singer Big Kenny of Big and Rich is 46. Singer Sophie B. Hawkins is 45. Rapper Willie D of the Geto Boys is 43. Actress Toni Collette (“The Hours,” “Muriel’s Wedding”) is 37. Actress Jenny McCarthy is 37. “American Idol” runner-up Bo Bice is 34. Actor Penn Badgely (“Gossip Girl”) is 23. Actor-drummer Alex Wolff (“The Naked Brothers Band”) is 12.