Larry Hart

The year had something old ("Show Boat"), something new ("Sisterella"), something borrowed (Stephen Wadsworth and Julie Taymor both made hip new works out of the commedia dell'arte) and something blue (male nudity galore, from the closing of "Party" to the opening of "Love! Valour! Compassion!"). Finally, the year ended on a drumroll from Toronto concerning next year: the announcement of a major U.S. debut for L.A. theater. Read on and find out. 1.

There was a touch of irony in the news last week that Musical Theatre Works of New York is responsible for suggesting the Pasadena Playhouse as the site of the world premiere of "Sisterella," the new musical that pop singer Michael Jackson plans to executive produce.

We'll be hearing a lot more from Johnny Mercer in the next several days. The music of the fabled composer-lyricist, who died in 1976, figures prominently in the movie adaptation of John Berendt's 1994 book, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," which is set in Mercer's birthplace of Savannah, Ga. Directed by Clint Eastwood and scheduled for release Friday, the murder-mystery boasts a soundtrack with Tony Bennett, k.d.

In a 1996 speech, playwright August Wilson raised eyebrows throughout the theater world by condemning nontraditional casting. He also advocated strengthening black theaters. His casting stance created a lot of talk--but little action. Nontraditional casting is still popular. Witness the cast of many colors in "Our Town" at South Coast Repertory, or--on a wider canvas--the TV production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella," starring Brandy, last fall.

Michael Jackson will serve as executive producer for a new musical, "Sisterella," which is scheduled to have its world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse in March. This is the first entry into musical theater for the self-proclaimed King of Pop. There appear to be ultimate designs for a Broadway production of the work, an original musical based on the fairy tale "Cinderella."

The Broadway season has not been kind to David Mamet. The playwright has seen his new drama "The Anarchist" close after less than a month, and a highly touted revival of "Glengarry Glen Ross," starring Al Pacino, has earned unenthusiastic reviews. Finally, there was some good news for Mamet on Wednesday. The producers of "Glengarry" announced that the revival has recouped its reported initial investment of $3.3 million. It is the first Broadway production of the 2011-12 season to do so, they said.

Up stepped Richard Petty, the King of them all. "Richard, do you remember Frank Deiny?" the man said by way of introduction. "Frank Deiny? Why, sure I do," Petty said. "Well, this is Frank Jr.," he said. "Frank Jr .? How are you?" Petty said with renewed enthusiasm. The blond 17-year-old, slightly built at 5-foot-10 and 135 pounds, extended his hand. Frank Deiny Jr. eyed Petty with admiration but not awe. After all, one day this man could be his competitor.

The Legislature's notice was stark: 1,100 people in almost a dozen century-old logging and farming communities in the Adirondack Mountains had to abandon the only homes their families knew. Their hamlets and villages and crossroads were to be sacrificed to the $12-million Sacandaga River project, a massive dam that would back up a vast lake over 42 square miles in three counties 50 miles northwest of Albany.

Consider the fax of life, a tale of two cities. While Washington, D.C., this week paused from its scandals, crises and politics to work itself into a lightning strike against high-tech "junk mail," in Los Angeles, a smoggier but saner clime, the effort drew a different reaction. In brief, Angelenos say they're unfazed by junk fax. They get them, plenty of them. They don't like them. They don't read them.