Update: Looks Like "Karen: The Musical" May Not Be Happening

[JamesG]

Mullally will also soon bring her iconic TV alter ego to theater stages. "Karen: The Musical" is currently in development.



Where is "Karen: The Musical" at this point? Is it definitely still happening?

Yeah, it is! It's in development. We have a producer, we have a composer, we have a director.

The only thing is, we're just trying to finalize who the book writers are going to be, and that's getting really close now, and as soon as that's done, then we can start writing. So that's getting really exciting.

And it's going to be a touring show. We're going to start in Los Angeles, and then we're just going to do it wherever "Will & Grace" is popular, which is kind of cool, because we can do it all over the States, but then we can also go to other countries, because "Will & Grace" is very popular in the U.K., Australia, South America ...






And do you have any specifics in mind, plot-wise?
Is Leslie Jordan, as Karen's frenemy Beverley Leslie, still involved?

It's a traditional book musical ... and it's going to involve a fight to the death between Karen Walker and Beverley Leslie.

While we're singing. Leslie was kind of the obvious choice [to co-star], because he's got so much theater experience. He's done a lot of theater, but he's also done about five really hilarious one-man shows. And so he knows the stage. He's a stage guy, and he's so fun to work with. His timing is amazing, and he's super-funny.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/04/22/megan-mullally-interview-party-down-parks-and-recreation/

[Will and Grace Fanatic]

I heard megan mention this briefly when she was on "the view" a little while back. Can't wait for it....

[JamesG]

EXCLUSIVE: Megan Mullally Says "Karen: The Musical" On Hold
by Maggie Furlong
posted May 14th 2010


Fans of Megan Mullally and her boozy "Will & Grace" alter-ego better pour themselves a big Karen Walker-sized glass of vodka before reading this.


In an exclusive interview with AOL TV, Mullally broke the news that her much talked about "Karen: The Musical" is on hold ... indefinitely.

"We had written permission to do the show, and that permission has now been called into question by some powers that be," Mullally explained. "So we may not be able to do it, because we may not have the rights ... which is really sad."






In the midst of a very busy day -- in Oklahoma City, picking up her mom to take her to the eye doctor -- Mullally even took the time to call back to discuss it in more detail, realizing that it's a "sensitive topic."

We've held off reporting it so she could let her producing partner and costar in the project, Broadway legend Leslie Jordan (a.k.a. "W&G" Beverly Leslie), know.

Mullally explained: "I haven't talked to anyone in the press yet because it just happened."






Here are all the details, in Mullally's words:

It's an idea that I had that I think is a great idea ... and it's been received extremely enthusiastically by everybody that I've mentioned it to. I went to the necessary parties and asked them if I could have the rights, and they said that I could.

And then I instantly got great people on board. For business reasons, that have to do with the brand and making sure that nothing affects their brand, there's been a decision that it has to all go on hold for now.



I understand that and there's nothing that happened. There was no kind of misunderstanding or anything. It's just that, at a certain point, people thought it would be fine.

And now, in terms of the business landscape, things have changed in a way that they feel like maybe we should put that on hold. Maybe down the road, it'll all be back on.

I think it's something that fans were really looking forward to -- and it was something that I was looking forward to -- but I also understand business.




I have a great relationship with all things "Will & Grace". I think there's a slight wait-and-see ... so we'll hold out hope. It is a character that me and a lot of other people hold dear, so we'll try to get her out there singing and dancing. We'll do something else if we can't.







Something else, huh? Personally, I vote for "Megan: The Musical"!

"Oh yes! That one is much juicier than the 'Karen' musical," Mullally joked, by this time actually sitting in the eye doctor's office having what she told him was a "Hollywood moment" on the phone with me.

"It's very cutting edge, yes. [Laughs] A lot of action."

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/14/exclusive-megan-mullally-says-karen-the-musical-on-hold/

[Smartboy]

I find it sad that something like this had to happen for some new life to be breathed into this site in general and this page in particular!

[HuntingtonM15]

That's too bad. Though, Megan is someone who could pull off a touring one-woman show, whether it be the Karen character or not.