Sad, sad news in the musical theatre world.

It was announced on Sunday morning that famed composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Webber's spokeswoman has released a statement regarding Webber's condition, which is said to be "in its early stages."

She continued: "Andrew is now undergoing treatment and expects to be fully back at work before the end of the year."

Webber, known for composing such legendary musicals as Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar is in the process of creating a sequel to Phantom called Love Never Dies.

Rehearsals for Love Never Dies are expected to begin in 2010, with the show opening in London in March 2010 and on Broadway in November.

[Image via WENN.]

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And they're pretty dismal!

Sienna Miller debuted in Patrick Marber's revival of After Miss Julie on Broadway last night and for all purposes, it could have been worse.

The wacktress was painted as adequate, but just another unqualified film actress to take stage, falling short of embodying the character. Or they may have just forgotten to watch her acting and focused on her ass!

According to Ben Brantley of the New York Times, Sluttyienna's finest attributes were her "good diction, good posture and great legs. Commendable as these attributes are, they are of limited use in portraying a tautly wound, death-courting neurotic who is eaten alive by her own demons."

Unless Miss Julie effs her own demons, we didn't think it would work!

Michael Kuchwara of the the Associated Press wrote that she "looks sensational: blonde hair done up in a quintessential 1940s 'do, her trim figure wrapped in a pert floral print dress that shows off her great legs. The very model of a seducer awaiting to commence seduction … And there is a relentless quality to Sienna Miller's performance, not terribly subtle or vulnerable, but compelling in its obsessiveness."

Yes, hawt and relentless!!!

We bet there's a slew of New York men that would also describe her as such!

The only theatre she should be doing involves ping pong balls and a donkey!

[Image via WENN.]

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Good! Maybe Sutton Foster can go back to doing legitimate theater! (Quit selling out on us, Sutton! We expect that of movie actors, but not thespians like yourself!)

Having run just about a year was all it took to run Shrek The Musical back from whence it came. The $24 million show never really sat too well with critics and in these hard economic times, audience numbers have dwindled.

So, the show will close on January 3rd, hoping to suck dry the funds of visiting tourists in the holiday season.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks, the film studio behind the movie franchise, admits:

"We were hopeful that the show would have a longer run on Broadway. But we believe it will continue to create financial value for the company and deliver profits beyond our initial investment."

Oh, did we forget to mention? Now it's going on national tour. So if you thought you were safe from it, think again. It's coming to a major city near you!

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Sort of.

The New York Times ran an article about actress Sienna Miller dubbing her "Serial Miller" in reference to her many, MANY high-profile romances including Jude Law, Rhys Ifans and Balthazar Getty.

But they named two others that Sienna denies having more than a friendship with and they corrected the "mistake":

"An article…about Sienna Miller misstates the nature of the relationships that she had with Heath Ledger and Sean Combs. She was friends with both of them; she did not have romantic flings with either of them."

Sluttyiena is in New York starring alongside Jonny Lee Miller in After Miss Julie. She says of being in the show:

"I underestimated that a play like this requires incredible concentration, which is something that doesn’t come naturally to me. And I’m struggling with stamina and endurance. I’m not fit enough, and I’ve had to join a gym. I wake up every morning sounding like Marge Simpson and looking like something out of Gremlins."

WOOF, sounds awful! Miller also commented on her highly-documented missteps in the media:

"I’m more frivolous. I haven’t been as bright in some of the decisions I’ve made. Keira [Knightley] is just a more evolved person. I feel we live in the kind of culture now where you have to be very smart to navigate the right way, and I just don’t have those smarts. I think with age and time it will change, but I can’t obsess about it."

At least she admits to making stupid choices such as dating married people for example!

[Image via WENN.]

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Here's something different. Rap and music enthusiasts will soon get a chance to see the lives of Run-DMC as a musical.

Producer Paula Wagner, she's worked with Tom Cruise in the past on Mission: Impossible and other movies, has signed up to turn Run-DMC's story into a new and original musical.

According to reports, Wagner is meeting with Joseph Simmons, "Rev Run", and Darryl McDaniels, "DMC", this week in New York to check out some of the current musical shows on Broadway and steal observe the competition.

Wagner reveals, "I feel their story lends itself perfectly to the stage. This project has been a passion of mine for some time and I couldn't be more thrilled to be working with them."

The production will also include the life of Jam-Master Jay who was killed back in 2002.

As for Wagner, she feels Run-DMC was the first rap group to really influence music in America and with the help of her new production company she wants everyone to watch their "inspirational" story.

Somehow we just don't think this will be a hit. We could be wrong though.

But would U go see it?

[Image via WENN.]

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OMG, why?!

Former United Artists CEO and Tom Cruise's producing partner Paula Wagner has set her sights on a feature film adaptation of the Tony Award winning musical Miss Saigon!

The film, which tells the tragic love story between a Vietnamese bar girl and an American soldier before the fall of Saigon in 1975, will be directed by Lee Daniels, who is generating mayjah buzz for Precious.

No screenwriter has been hired or investors in place, but they are aiming for a 2011 release date.

Considering Wagner was behind such duds as Valkyrie and Lions for Lambs, the odds are not on her side.

Musical adaptations take a lot to get off the ground, but it's probably not the right time for such a downer!

P.S. And with Jonathan Pryce too old for the lead, you may just wanna shoot yourselves now!

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But the show must go on?

Apparently so as an insider said that the Julie Taymor-directed Spider-Man Broadway show is definitely happening despite being "a $45 million mess" because "it's too good not to."

Is it though?

Investors are supposedly swooping in to save the musical from its debt and now the show is just waiting for the money so they can get started.

You know, because they've already run out of money!

The show, featuring music from U2, is set to begin in 5 months so the investors better get crackin'!

We still think this sounds like a huge mistake. And if the financial woes don't convince you of that, just remember that Evan Rachel Whore is playing the lead female role!

BARF!

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One of the best shows on Broadway for AWHILE, Rock Of Ages, is making it's way to the big screen.

We normally wouldn't stand behind such a transition, except we've now learned that none other than Hairspray genius Adam Shankman will be at the helm of the film as the director and choreographer.

Can't ask for better than that!

New Line films is looking to start shooting next summer with a 2011 release with Warner Bros.

We're excited!

Are U excited?

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Now this is how you do it, ladies!

Divas of the stage and screen, Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews are the epitome of how to age with class and grace!

The musical legends were looking faboosh as they attended 16th Annual ELLE Women in Hollywood Tribute in Beverly Hills on Monday.

Fierce!

[Image via Getty Images.]

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