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Photos: James Gandolfini, 1961-2013 
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EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros has closed a deal for an untitled musical comedy that will be developed as a potential star vehicle for Robert Downey Jr. The script and lyrics will be written by Brian Yorkey and the music will be composed by Tom Kitt. That’s the duo best known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock opera Next To Normal, which won 3 Tony Awards, including Best Score. The musical opened last Sunday in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre.
I’m told that Yorkey and Kitt developed the idea with Anonymous Content’s Joy Gorman, with Downey and his Team Downey partner Susan Downey aboard to produce with Anonymous Content.
The hope is for Downey–a gifted singer–to play one of two Broadway songwriters who find themselves creatively and financially bankrupt when their big-break musical is a huge flop. Searching for some inspiration for their comeback, they take jobs as counselors, teaching singing and dancing at the theater camp they attended as kids. Yorkey and Kitt were repped in the deal by WME, Downey by CAA.
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Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt are BRILLIANT. NEXT TO NORMAL at The Ahmanson is amazing. Emma Hunton and Curt Hansen are incredible in the show.
In a SPX driven market, it’s nice to see Team Downey vying for character driven material and human stories. And a Musical, cool…
yes, hooray for Brian and Joy and hooray for warners developing original ideas!!
I saw “Next to Normal” in New York, it’s fantastic!
This sounds brilliant. Only thing better would be the addition of Curt Hansen- that boy stole the show when we saw “Next To Normal” last night.
I really hope this project will happen. This movie will be amazing.
This is cool. I don’t know Mr. Downey, but I can see he has changed and everything he’s played since has been outstanding. Talented people, known or unknown, with ongoing problems are being attracted to change and finding out what they’re really made of. I am on of them.
Next to Normal was AMAZING, this movie should be great.
“Next to Normal” and “Hair” are the best musicals that I have seen on Broadway in years. This story definitely peaked my interest. With Robert Downey Jr.’s “Chaplin” and his CD , he proved his skills as a wonderful singer/dancer/performer . I would have preferred Robert ( or Justin Timberlake) hosting the Academy Awards with Anne Hathaway- not James Franco.
You know, I THINK they offered RDJ the Oscar gig last year and he turned it down, probably due to his schedule. That might have been the case again this year. I do agree, though, that he’d do a great job.
This is a very cool pairing. Next To Normal is one of the best shows currently running. Good to see the Downey’s have great taste. Please save Hollywood, RDJ!
Thank you, thank you for setting up an original idea! There is hope after all. And this is a great pairing. Looks like the Downey’s have good taste.
i love RDJ to no end really, he could do no wrong for me, this thrills me that we might get some more singing…Robert Sing…hope this stays together!