‘Slumdog’ director to do ‘Frankenstein’ onstage

‘Slumdog’ director to do ‘Frankenstein’ onstage

LONDON — “Slumdog Millionaire” director Danny Boyle is lined up to mount a stage adaptation of “Frankenstein” at Britain’s National Theatre.

The theater announced the production Thursday as part of its 2010-11 schedule.

Boyle got his start in theater in Scotland before making films including “Trainspotting” and “28 Days Later.” He won a best- director Academy Award for “Slumdog,” one of the movie’s eight Oscars.

The play, adapted from Mary Shelly’s Gothic horror story, will be staged late this year or early in 2011.

Other new productions announced by the National include a production of “Twelfth Night” with Peter Hall directing his daughter Rebecca Hall, and a series of events next year to mark the 400th anniversary of the King James version of the Bible.

Girl power! New musical to focus on the Spice Girls

NEW YORK — If it worked for ABBA, why not the Spice Girls?

Producer Judy Craymer says her company will create and produce a new stage musical based on the songs of the girl-power group whose recordings have sold more than 75 million copies. The show is tentatively titled, “Viva Forever.” No production timetable was announced Thursday.

Craymer will produce “Viva Forever” with “American Idol” creator Simon Fuller, who has managed Kelly Clarkson, Annie Lennox, Carrie Underwood and the Spice Girls.

Craymer produced both the stage and screen versions of “Mamma Mia!” The musical featuring ABBA songs has been a mega-success, seen by more than 42 million people worldwide and grossing more than $2 billion since opening in London in 1999.

‘Oprah: A Biography’ to be released April 13

NEW YORK — An Oprah tell-all is coming in April, but Winfrey isn’t the teller.

Crown Publishers announced Thursday that Kitty Kelley’s 544-page, unauthorized “Oprah: A Biography” will be released April 13. The first printing will be at least 500,000 copies.

Kelley is known for gossipy, unflattering, but best-selling celebrity books. She has also written about Frank Sinatra, Nancy Reagan and the Bush family.

Kelley says she has high regard for Winfrey, but also felt committed to writing the truth. Kelley says she devoted the past three years to examining Winfrey’s life. She says she came away “full of admiration for her accomplishments and fascinated by her complexity.”

Crown says Kelley conducted 850 interviews for the book.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Ernest Borgnine is 93. Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw is 74. Singer Ray Stevens is 71. Singer Aaron Neville is 69. Singer Neil Diamond is 69. Actor Michael Ontkean (“Twin Peaks”) is 64. Country singer-songwriter Becky Hobbs is 60. Comedian Yakov Smirnoff is 59. Keyboardist Jools Holland (Squeeze) is 52. Actress Nastassja Kinski is 51. Drummer Keech Rainwater of Lonestar is 47. Singer Sleepy Brown of Society of Soul is 40. Actress Matthew Lillard (“Scooby Doo,” “She’s All That”) is 40. Actor Ed Helms (“The Office”) is 35. Actress Tatyana Ali (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) is 31. Actress Mischa Barton (“The O.C.”) is 24.