Good news for Broadway: Neil LaBute’s new play “reasons to be pretty,” which was well-received when it had a limited Off-Broadway run earlier this year, begins previews at the Lyceum Theater on March 12. Terry Kinney, who helmed the previous production is set to direct; the cast has yet to be announced, but we’d bet good money that LaBute pet Alison Pill signs back on. [Arts Beat]
Even better news for Broadway: Bono’s upcoming Spiderman musical — “reportedly the most expensive show of all time with a budget of €25m” — cannot be stopped by a crappy economy. Insiders expect the punk rock opera to open as early as next spring, once they’ve got all the technical stuff nailed down. Evan Rachel Wood is allegedly taking on the role of Mary Jane Watson, with her Across the Universe co-star Jim Sturgess rumored to be playing Peter Parker. [Times]
The best news for Broadway: Mark our words, John Goodman is going to save the Great White Way. He’ll be joining the cast of the Roundabout Theater Company’s upcoming revival of Waiting for Godot; Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin and David Strathairn will also star in Anthony Page’s version of the Beckett classic. Obviously somebody was paying attention to what kind of shows seem to be working even in this economy. [New York Times]