Jill Paice will be the first-person lead known as "I," and Ryan Silverman will play her husband, Maxim de Winter, in Rebecca, the new Broadway musical that conjures the mysterious and haunted English estate called Manderley.

General-public tickets are now available for Broadway's Rebecca, the musical based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier, about mysterious doings in an English estate called Manderley. Previews begin Oct. 30 at the Broadhurst Theatre. Opening night is Nov. 18.

Rebecca, the musical based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier, about mysterious doings in an English estate called Manderley, will begin Broadway previews on Oct. 20 at the Broadhurst Theatre, the producers announced on May 3. Opening night will be Nov. 18.

Hugh Jackman, who won a Tony Award for his performance in The Boy From Oz, hosts the 81st Annual Academy Awards, which will be broadcast live on ABC-TV from the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center beginning at 8 PM ET; check local listings.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Sid Ganis and Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker announced the nominees for the 81st Academy Awards Jan. 22 at 8:30 AM ET in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Hello, diva lovers. Because of a few special projects I’m working on, “Diva Talk” will run every other Friday through the Tony Awards. Now, to the divas . . .

Hello, diva lovers. Because of a few special projects I’m working on, “Diva Talk” will run every other Friday through the Tony Awards. Now, to the divas . . .

BETTY BUCKLEY
Betty Buckley will return to the Cafe Carlyle this Tuesday, Feb. 15, for a five-week run and will preview songs from her newest CD, Heart to Heart, a collection of love songs that embrace contemporary, traditional and popular tunes. The CD features Buckley and pianist Kenny Werner who offer spare and elegant renditions of "Just the Way You Look Tonight," "How Deep Is the Ocean," "Ruby," "Fire and Rain," Mary Chapin Carpenter's "I Am a Town" plus two compositions penned by the actress herself, "If I Remember You Right" and "Violets." The disc also includes two songs from the recent production of Tennessee Williams' Camino Real in which Buckley starred for the Hartford Stage Company. In the liner notes for the new album, which will be available nationwide on March 28 on the newly formed KO (Knock Out) Productions label, Buckley explains, "The dimension of Heart to Heart is that of oneness. It is the state of longing and love that all of us have in common. It is the place of truth that resides in the heart of every being. It is very sweet and very powerful and to reach this realm one has but to remember that it always exists."

BETTY BUCKLEY
Betty Buckley will return to the Cafe Carlyle this Tuesday, Feb. 15, for a five-week run and will preview songs from her newest CD, Heart to Heart, a collection of love songs that embrace contemporary, traditional and popular tunes. The CD features Buckley and pianist Kenny Werner who offer spare and elegant renditions of "Just the Way You Look Tonight," "How Deep Is the Ocean," "Ruby," "Fire and Rain," Mary Chapin Carpenter's "I Am a Town" plus two compositions penned by the actress herself, "If I Remember You Right" and "Violets." The disc also includes two songs from the recent production of Tennessee Williams' Camino Real in which Buckley starred for the Hartford Stage Company. In the liner notes for the new album, which will be available nationwide on March 28 on the newly formed KO (Knock Out) Productions label, Buckley explains, "The dimension of Heart to Heart is that of oneness. It is the state of longing and love that all of us have in common. It is the place of truth that resides in the heart of every being. It is very sweet and very powerful and to reach this realm one has but to remember that it always exists."

DIVAS SALUTE DAVID ZIPPEL
Randy Graff is the epitome of the maxim "less is more." Graff is not a showy performer. She doesn't strut around the stage or gesticulate wildly. She simply stands, sings and beguiles. In fact, two of the highlights of All Girl Band: The Songs of David Zippel, which I caught this past Monday evening at the Public Theater's Joe's Pub, were Graff's renditions of "How Can I Win" and "You Can Always Count On Me." It's not surprising that her version of City of Angels' "You Can Always Count On Me" was flawlessly delivered with measured doses of comic sarcasm (okay, she flubbed a lyric, but it hardly mattered), for she did win a Tony for her role in that musical. However, what was unexpected was her simple, yet affecting version of The Goodbye Girl's "How Can I Win." I've always enjoyed the Hamlisch/Zippel score for that ill fated musical (it was the book that needed work), and Graff managed to bring that sweet song to life, adding a few vocal inflections and slides that worked wonderfully. I'd love her to record that song; in fact, it would be great if the entire evening of Zippel tunes were recorded.

DIVAS SALUTE DAVID ZIPPEL
Randy Graff is the epitome of the maxim "less is more." Graff is not a showy performer. She doesn't strut around the stage or gesticulate wildly. She simply stands, sings and beguiles. In fact, two of the highlights of All Girl Band: The Songs of David Zippel, which I caught this past Monday evening at the Public Theater's Joe's Pub, were Graff's renditions of "How Can I Win" and "You Can Always Count On Me." It's not surprising that her version of City of Angels' "You Can Always Count On Me" was flawlessly delivered with measured doses of comic sarcasm (okay, she flubbed a lyric, but it hardly mattered), for she did win a Tony for her role in that musical. However, what was unexpected was her simple, yet affecting version of The Goodbye Girl's "How Can I Win." I've always enjoyed the Hamlisch/Zippel score for that ill fated musical (it was the book that needed work), and Graff managed to bring that sweet song to life, adding a few vocal inflections and slides that worked wonderfully. I'd love her to record that song; in fact, it would be great if the entire evening of Zippel tunes were recorded.

BETTY BUCKLEY
It's always a treat to speak with Betty Buckley, the woman New York Magazine recently dubbed "the voice of Broadway," and I'm happy to report that there's much happening on the BB front. In fact, the award-winning actress will release two solo albums in the next few months: The first is an all-new recording titled "Heart to Heart," a concert act she debuted this past June at a PAWS/LA benefit at U.C.L.A.'s Freud Playhouse Theatre. (PAWS is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life of those living with HIV/AIDS by empowering them to care for their beloved pets.) The studio recording will feature all songs previously unrecorded by Buckley, and it looks likely that the two tunes Ms. B sings in Camino Real will also be featured on the CD, which will be the first disk released on Buckley's new label, KO Records. You may not know that Buckley (with music director Lynn Shankel and composer John Gromada) composed the music for the second tune she sings in Camino Real, which is entitled "The Violets in the Mountain"; the first tune is titled "Bide A While," and both feature lyrics by Tennessee Williams. Boasting lyrics by Williams, "Heart to Heart" should be quite an arty and beautiful album . . . The second KO Records release is one that will excite Buckley fans who have been desperately trying to obtain a copy of her first solo recording, which was simply titled "Betty Buckley" and released on the now-defunct Rizzoli Records label. This recording -- featuring several tunes penned by Buckley herself -- may also feature bonus tracks, songs from BB's live concert at St. Bartholomew's Church in 1984 previously unreleased. So, those who already own the recording (featuring thrilling vocal work) may want to purchase it again. Stay tuned for more information on that front . . . And, there's still another recording in the works. Buckley will fly to Los Angeles to record a duet with the Grammy-winning Johnny Mathis for his forthcoming Broadway CD. Produced by Jay Landers (whose latest credit is Barbra Streisand's new release) and Broadway's Richard Jay Alexander, the recording will boast a Buckley/Mathis duet of Ragtime's "Our Children." It's another dream come true for Buckley, who while growing up adored the suave crooner's work . . . If all that weren't enough, Buckley has several concert dates lined up this month: She'll perform at the South Street Theater in Morristown, New Jersey, this weekend. Then, on October 9, Buckley will be backed by a full symphony orchestra when she tells stories through song at the Tilles Center in Greenvale, New York. That evening will feature the former Cats star dressed to the nines in an ESCADA dress for this special evening. Buckley will also be headed to Hawaii for a concert on October 12 and then a bit of a well-deserved rest. Champaign/Urbana, Illinois is the next stop on the concert tour on October 22 and 23: for a master class at the Foellinger Great Hall and a concert at the Krannert Center. The Sangamon Auditorium at the University of Illinois in Springfield, Illinois, follows on October 24, and then on the 27th Buckley will perform at an Alzheimer's Benefit at the Waldorf Astoria . . . And, of course, the multi-talented actress continues to star in the Hartford Stage Company's production of Camino Real through October 10 (a November highlight: the BRAVO documentary profiling Buckley's stellar career will air on November 1) . . . That's one busy diva!

BETTY BUCKLEY
It's always a treat to speak with Betty Buckley, the woman New York Magazine recently dubbed "the voice of Broadway," and I'm happy to report that there's much happening on the BB front. In fact, the award-winning actress will release two solo albums in the next few months: The first is an all-new recording titled "Heart to Heart," a concert act she debuted this past June at a PAWS/LA benefit at U.C.L.A.'s Freud Playhouse Theatre. (PAWS is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life of those living with HIV/AIDS by empowering them to care for their beloved pets.) The studio recording will feature all songs previously unrecorded by Buckley, and it looks likely that the two tunes Ms. B sings in Camino Real will also be featured on the CD, which will be the first disk released on Buckley's new label, KO Records. You may not know that Buckley (with music director Lynn Shankel and composer John Gromada) composed the music for the second tune she sings in Camino Real, which is entitled "The Violets in the Mountain"; the first tune is titled "Bide A While," and both feature lyrics by Tennessee Williams. Boasting lyrics by Williams, "Heart to Heart" should be quite an arty and beautiful album . . . The second KO Records release is one that will excite Buckley fans who have been desperately trying to obtain a copy of her first solo recording, which was simply titled "Betty Buckley" and released on the now-defunct Rizzoli Records label. This recording -- featuring several tunes penned by Buckley herself -- may also feature bonus tracks, songs from BB's live concert at St. Bartholomew's Church in 1984 previously unreleased. So, those who already own the recording (featuring thrilling vocal work) may want to purchase it again. Stay tuned for more information on that front . . . And, there's still another recording in the works. Buckley will fly to Los Angeles to record a duet with the Grammy-winning Johnny Mathis for his forthcoming Broadway CD. Produced by Jay Landers (whose latest credit is Barbra Streisand's new release) and Broadway's Richard Jay Alexander, the recording will boast a Buckley/Mathis duet of Ragtime's "Our Children." It's another dream come true for Buckley, who while growing up adored the suave crooner's work . . . If all that weren't enough, Buckley has several concert dates lined up this month: She'll perform at the South Street Theater in Morristown, New Jersey, this weekend. Then, on October 9, Buckley will be backed by a full symphony orchestra when she tells stories through song at the Tilles Center in Greenvale, New York. That evening will feature the former Cats star dressed to the nines in an ESCADA dress for this special evening. Buckley will also be headed to Hawaii for a concert on October 12 and then a bit of a well-deserved rest. Champaign/Urbana, Illinois is the next stop on the concert tour on October 22 and 23: for a master class at the Foellinger Great Hall and a concert at the Krannert Center. The Sangamon Auditorium at the University of Illinois in Springfield, Illinois, follows on October 24, and then on the 27th Buckley will perform at an Alzheimer's Benefit at the Waldorf Astoria . . . And, of course, the multi-talented actress continues to star in the Hartford Stage Company's production of Camino Real through October 10 (a November highlight: the BRAVO documentary profiling Buckley's stellar career will air on November 1) . . . That's one busy diva!

ETHEL MERMAN TRIBUTE
A host of divas from the stage, screen and television were on hand this past Sunday evening to pay tribute to the one-and-only Ethel Merman. A fundraiser for the Gay Men's Health Crisis, "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly!" was a sold-out, thrilling 90 minutes of songs that were either introduced or made famous by the legendary stage star. Those stellar divas on hand to salute The Merm were Madeline Kahn, Lainie Kazan, Patti LuPone, Andrea Martin, Bette Midler, Debra Monk and Elaine Stritch.

The evening began from one of the theatre's boxes with two short welcomes: one from GMHC and the other from TV host Phil Donahue, one of the co-chairs of the event. A throng of dancers then appeared onstage to perform to a recording of Merman singing "Something for the Boys." John Epperson, aka Lypsinka, joined the dancers and proceeded to lip synch a wonderfully hilarious combination of Merman words, both spoken and sung. An orchestral suite of Merman hits followed, and then a chorus of singers -including Bryan Batt, Kristen Behrendt, Paul Binotto, Brigid Brady, Roy Chias, Donna Lee Marshall, Roxie Lucas, Christopher Monteleone, Guy Stroman, Dave Theys, Clif Thorn and Jeff Williams--sang "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake" and "I Got the Sun in the Morning."

ETHEL MERMAN TRIBUTE
A host of divas from the stage, screen and television were on hand this past Sunday evening to pay tribute to the one-and-only Ethel Merman. A fundraiser for the Gay Men's Health Crisis, "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly!" was a sold-out, thrilling 90 minutes of songs that were either introduced or made famous by the legendary stage star. Those stellar divas on hand to salute The Merm were Madeline Kahn, Lainie Kazan, Patti LuPone, Andrea Martin, Bette Midler, Debra Monk and Elaine Stritch.

The evening began from one of the theatre's boxes with two short welcomes: one from GMHC and the other from TV host Phil Donahue, one of the co-chairs of the event. A throng of dancers then appeared onstage to perform to a recording of Merman singing "Something for the Boys." John Epperson, aka Lypsinka, joined the dancers and proceeded to lip synch a wonderfully hilarious combination of Merman words, both spoken and sung. An orchestral suite of Merman hits followed, and then a chorus of singers -including Bryan Batt, Kristen Behrendt, Paul Binotto, Brigid Brady, Roy Chias, Donna Lee Marshall, Roxie Lucas, Christopher Monteleone, Guy Stroman, Dave Theys, Clif Thorn and Jeff Williams--sang "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake" and "I Got the Sun in the Morning."

PATTI LuPONE
Well, it certainly is a busy time for our Tony-winning Evita gal, Patti LuPone. The actress started the week off with a visit to the set of the "Rosie O'Donnell Show," which I hope you caught or videotaped this past Tuesday. We should all give a big thank you to Rosie O'Donnell for being the grand champion of our theatre divas on television. No other TV star supports the theatre like Rosie, and I particularly love the fact that she is also a fan of LuPone, Betty Buckley, Bernadette Peters and other Broadway supertalents. La LuPone was in rare form, and it was fascinating to learn about the jewelry (items that Ethel Merman wore in Call Me Madam) she acquired during her run in Evita, which she incorporated into the Charity Concert scene where Eva advises Peron, "I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You."

During the interview, LuPone--who is currently starring on Broadway in David Mamet's The Old Neighborhood--let it slip that she would star in a one-night-only benefit concert of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun. I have recently learned that the performance, which will benefit Lincoln Center's Musical Theatre Program, will be held on March 8 at 6:45 pm at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, home of another LuPone triumph, Anything Goes. Peter Gallagher, who co-starred with the Olivier Award winner in the Encores! presentation of Pal Joey two seasons back, will again play opposite LuPone at this benefit performance. The company also boasts Eli Wallach, who will portray Chief Sitting Bull, and Lonny Price, who will direct this concert presentation of Annie. It will be a real treat to hear LuPone sing Berlin's grand score--"They Say It's Wonderful," "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun," "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Moonshine Lullaby," "I Got Lost in His Arms" and others--backed by a 30 piece orchestra. A very limited amount of tickets are on sale to the general public, and those seats will be priced at $100. Tickets are available at the Vivian Beaumont box office or by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200.

It's interesting to note that both Anything Goes and Annie Get Your Gun were star vehicles for that belter of belters, Ethel Merman, and the Merman tie-in continues this Sunday, Feb. 1, when LuPone will join Bette Midler, Andrea Martin, Elaine Stritch and Lainie Kazan in a tribute to the legendary stage star. Titled "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly," the divafest will benefit Gay Men's Health Crisis, and LuPone is scheduled to wrap her golden voice around "Ridin' High" and "I've Still Got My Health." Tickets, which range from $75-$1,500, can be purchased by calling GMHC at (212) 367-1111; it should be a thrilling event.

If all this weren't enough, LuPone will be a guest on the "Charlie Rose Show" on PBS on Feb. 4 and will discuss her current role in The Old Neighborhood as well as her past theatrical triumphs on Broadway and in London. On Feb. 14 she will sing at the Kravitz Center in West Palm Beach, Florida (tickets available by calling 561-833-8300), and from Feb. 26 through March 1, LuPone will perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony at the Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh. Tickets for the those concerts, starting at $30, are now on sale by calling 412-392-4900.

It's evident that LuPone is, indeed, "Ridin' High"!

PATTI LuPONE
Well, it certainly is a busy time for our Tony-winning Evita gal, Patti LuPone. The actress started the week off with a visit to the set of the "Rosie O'Donnell Show," which I hope you caught or videotaped this past Tuesday. We should all give a big thank you to Rosie O'Donnell for being the grand champion of our theatre divas on television. No other TV star supports the theatre like Rosie, and I particularly love the fact that she is also a fan of LuPone, Betty Buckley, Bernadette Peters and other Broadway supertalents. La LuPone was in rare form, and it was fascinating to learn about the jewelry (items that Ethel Merman wore in Call Me Madam) she acquired during her run in Evita, which she incorporated into the Charity Concert scene where Eva advises Peron, "I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You."

During the interview, LuPone--who is currently starring on Broadway in David Mamet's The Old Neighborhood--let it slip that she would star in a one-night-only benefit concert of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun. I have recently learned that the performance, which will benefit Lincoln Center's Musical Theatre Program, will be held on March 8 at 6:45 pm at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, home of another LuPone triumph, Anything Goes. Peter Gallagher, who co-starred with the Olivier Award winner in the Encores! presentation of Pal Joey two seasons back, will again play opposite LuPone at this benefit performance. The company also boasts Eli Wallach, who will portray Chief Sitting Bull, and Lonny Price, who will direct this concert presentation of Annie. It will be a real treat to hear LuPone sing Berlin's grand score--"They Say It's Wonderful," "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun," "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Moonshine Lullaby," "I Got Lost in His Arms" and others--backed by a 30 piece orchestra. A very limited amount of tickets are on sale to the general public, and those seats will be priced at $100. Tickets are available at the Vivian Beaumont box office or by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200.

It's interesting to note that both Anything Goes and Annie Get Your Gun were star vehicles for that belter of belters, Ethel Merman, and the Merman tie-in continues this Sunday, Feb. 1, when LuPone will join Bette Midler, Andrea Martin, Elaine Stritch and Lainie Kazan in a tribute to the legendary stage star. Titled "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly," the divafest will benefit Gay Men's Health Crisis, and LuPone is scheduled to wrap her golden voice around "Ridin' High" and "I've Still Got My Health." Tickets, which range from $75-$1,500, can be purchased by calling GMHC at (212) 367-1111; it should be a thrilling event.

If all this weren't enough, LuPone will be a guest on the "Charlie Rose Show" on PBS on Feb. 4 and will discuss her current role in The Old Neighborhood as well as her past theatrical triumphs on Broadway and in London. On Feb. 14 she will sing at the Kravitz Center in West Palm Beach, Florida (tickets available by calling 561-833-8300), and from Feb. 26 through March 1, LuPone will perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony at the Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh. Tickets for the those concerts, starting at $30, are now on sale by calling 412-392-4900.

It's evident that LuPone is, indeed, "Ridin' High"!

BETTY BUCKLEY
In addition to her upcoming concerts at the Bottom Line in Greenwich Village on Feb. 13, 14 and 15, Betty Buckley will take part in two upcoming benefit performances. The first is a salute to playwright Terrence (Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, Ragtime) McNally that is being presented by The Drama League during its annual winter benefit this Monday, Jan. 26. The event will be held in the Pierre Hotel's Grand Ballroom, and the $375 ticket will include dinner as well as appearances by Buckley, Rita Moreno and others. Call 212-302-2100 for more information. . . BB will also be one of the many stars performing in the third annual Nothing Like a Dame extravaganza (see item below) on Feb. 23. Buckley dazzled in the two previous Dame events, bringing down the house with her rendition of "Over You" at the first and last year with "Since I Fell for You."