Mamma Meryl and more!

So many interesting tidbits floating around the theater world this week.First off, they're actually going to make a movie of Mamma Mia!, which seems logical because the show has made a gazillion dollars around the world and shows no signs of slowing down. And who doesn't want to rock around the movie theater to groovy ABBA tunes. But has anyone considered that the show, enjoyable as it is, might be a tad, I don't know, slight?And Meryl Streep is set to star as the owner of an inn on a Greek island whose past -- in the form of her soon-to-be-wed daughter and three men who may be the daughter's father. Streep and slight don't mix.I'm not complaining. I'm a big fan of Ms. Streep's singing, so bring on Meryl Streep, dancing queen. One of her co-stars, by the way, is Pierce Brosnan.In other news, 17-year-old Daniel Radcliffe has apparently successfully broken out of his Harry Potter bondage. The enterprising actor, who has grown up as the lead in the Harry Potter movies, proved that he has more than a wand to offer the world when he took to the London stage in Peter Shaffer's Equus.Amid all the kerfuffle about Radcliffe's lengthy nude scene, news of his being a remarkably good actor has sort of gotten lost. But we may get to judge for ourselves. There's all sorts of buzz out there about the production, which also stars Richard Griffiths (muggle Uncle Vernon in the Potter movies) and Jenny Agutter (who was also in the 1977 Equus movie), coming to Broadway in 2008.Producer David Pugh told Playbill.com that he "hopes the show will reach Broadway next year."Musical sequels traditionally haven't fared too well: Bring Back Birdie and Annie Warbucks, both flops, spring to mind.Undaunted, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, writing on his blog (he has a blog? get out!), says: "I am considering writing a sequel to Phantom of the Opera based on an idea presented to me over a decade ago."Oh, joy. Let's start preparing ourselves for more music of the night.And finally, what would a theater news roundup be without mention of Xanadu: The Musical? Kerry Butler, the appealing actress who starred as Penny in Hairspray on Broadway and in the Magic Theatre's musical version of The Opposite of Sex in San Francisco (pictured at left, Butler with David Burtka), will play Kira (the role played by Olivia Newton-John in the 1980 movie).Xanadu begins previews in May and opens June 26.