Broadway Friday

– Valerie Harper will star as Tallulah Bankhead in Looped, a new comedy by Matthew Lombardo. Previews at the Lyceum begin Feb. 19th.

“Looped tells the story of Tallulah Bankhead, the internationally celebrated actress, being called into a sound studio in 1965 to re-record (or ‘loop’) one line of dialogue for what would be her last film — the dreadful ‘Die, Die My Darling.’

– Enron, a show about the financial collapse of the ultilities giant, begins previews at the Broadhurst on April 8th.

“Using music, dance and video, Enron explores one of the most infamous scandals in financial history, reviewing the tumultuous 1990s and casting a new light on the financial turmoil in which the world currently finds itself.”

– Gene Barry, who earned a Tony nomination for originating the role of Georges in La Cage Aux Folles, has died at the age of 90.

– Tony winner Idina Menzel (Wicked) will become the latest Broadway star to join the cast of GLEE. Menzel will appear in nine episodes as the coach of McKinley High’s archrivals Vocal Adrenaline.

– After suffering savage reviews, the revival of Bye Bye Birdie will close on January 24th.

– Broadway Carols For A Cure: Volume 11, a collection of holiday tunes from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is on sale now. Tracks from the casts of Finian’s Rainbow, Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Hair, West Side Story, others.