Feinstein and Dame Edna to Co-Star

It was announced today that Michael Feinstein and Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna Everage) would be starring together in a show after all. Back in July, Michael Reidel of the New York Post reported these two disaprate entertainers would be appearing together in a Broadway venture. Then each issued a statement denying the rumor and they would be doing separate solo shows with similar names. Feinstein's was to be labelled "All About Me" when Dame Edna's would be called "It's All About Me." Both were to open at a Shubert theatre sometime in the spring. It looked as if Reidel was wrong.

Feinstein and Edna started issuing duelling press releases, wishing each other well, but refusing to change the name of their resdpective shows. Now it appears the whole thing was a publicity stunt and Reidel was right. "All About Me" with both stars will begin previews on March 6 at a Shubert house to be announced with a March 23 opening. Jerry Zaks will direct and Christopher Durang ("Why Torture Is Wrong and the People Who Love Them") will pen the script--though I suspect Humphries will have more than a hand in it. 

This sort of stunt used to happen all the time--in 1960s sitcoms like "The Monkees" or cartoon shows where the main characters were talking animals in rock bands. There was one about a pair of dogs who formed a rock duo and their manager--a Scottish terrier--would have them do some goofy stunt every week to publicize their latest song. It's hokey, but it worked. Now we'll all be curious about the show. 

(Photo of Dame Edna: Getty Images)

--David Sheward