2008 Broadway Attractions: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Cry-Baby and Equus

The next six months promise lots of exciting openings on Broadway, but if you are a geeky fan like me, you must have noticed that there are a few shows that are standing out in the news stories, on the theater websites and message boards. What are all the fans talking about, even before tickets go on sale? These three shows are shaping up to be some of the hottest tickets in Times Square. What's even more interesting is that they have very little in common. One is a musical adaptation of a movie and the other two are revivals. One is a transplant from London's West End and one is previewing in California before it makes its way to NYC. One is making theater history and another, theater controversy. Find out all the details, right here.

Cry-Baby

After the success of the musical adaptation of Hairspray, it makes sense that Cry-Baby, the 1988 John Waters film would inspire another musical adaptation to make its way to the Broadway stage. Tony-award winning Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, who wrote the book for Hairspray, also wrote the book for this exciting new musical which is currently previewing at the La Jolla playhouse in California. Grammy award winner songwriter Adam Schlesinger (also of the band Fountains of Wayne), and David Javerbaum, executive producer of The Daily Show are co-writers of the music.Its bound to be another fun musical comedy success. Its run is scheduled for late this Spring.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Directed by legendary director, choreographer and dancer, Debbie Allen, this exciting production of the classic Tennesee Williams play doesn't open until March, but critics and fans alike can hardly wait for the February previews. Even though there have been four other revivals of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, this is making history the first African-American production. It boasts a dynamic star-studded cast of renowned stage and screen actors including Terrence Howard (Films Crash, Hustle and Flow), Phylicia Rashad (Raisin in the Sun and TV's The Cosby Show), Anika Noni Rose (Caroline and Change, film Dreamgirls), and James Earl Jones (numerous stage, screen and television awards in a long list of amazing performances). For more information, you can see official website: http://www.cat2008onbroadway.com/

Equus

Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe and renowned British actor Richard Griffiths are planning on reprising their roles in the revival of Equus that took London's West End by storm, last Spring. Set to open in September, American theater fans and Potter fans who couldn't make it abroad to see the production are lucky that they will get another chance to see the show that everyone was talking about. Whether Americans will be buzzing about the critically lauded performances or for the controversy surrounding the very adult themes and nudity of the young star is yet to be seen. Either way, it will be difficult to get tickets, so stay tuned!