Urinetown's Mark Hollmann and Robert Harling to Create Soapdish Musical

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News Urinetown's Mark Hollmann and Robert Harling to Create Soapdish Musical Mark Hollmann, the composer and co-lyricist of Urinetown, and Robert Harling, the author of Steel Magnolias, are collaborating on a musical based on the film comedy "Soapdish," Variety reported.

By Robert Simonson

March 07, 2005

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/e2d4f69b22bbd19760771cef90d69d6c-harling1.jpg — Robert Harling Photo by Aubrey Reuben

The project was initiated in spring 2002, according to the trade daily. Contracts were recently signed. "Soapdish" was a behind-the-scenes look at the daily creation of a daytime soap opera. The 1991 film starred Kevin Kline, Whoopi Goldberg and Robert Downey, Jr. Harling wrote the screenplay for the movie.

Harling 's Steel Magnolias—his best-known theatre credit—will open in a new production on Broadway on April 4. Jason Moore directs.

Hollmann won a Tony Award for Urinetown, which ran 965 performances and 25 previews on Broadway. He is currently working on several projects, including a prequel to Urinetown, and a movie version of The Man in the White Suit.