Harvey Keitel stars as Jerry Springer

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The words “Adam Sandler” and “Broadway” aren’t often associated with each other, but in 2006 Sandler’s ‘80s-fetishizing comedy “The Wedding Singer” was reborn as a musical starring Stephen Lynch. (Joan Marcus / AP)

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Tim Burton’s tragic 1990 fable “Edward Scissorhands” got the musical treatment in a 2006 production at the Ahmanson in Los Angeles. (Lori Shepler / LAT)

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From its roots as a dance-heavy Kevin Bacon vehicle, “Footloose” stepped out of the ‘80s and onto Broadway in 1998. The show ran for two years. (Alexander Gallardo / LAT)

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The Disney classic “Mary Poppins” finally made it to the West End stage in 2004, a project that been in the works ever since 1993, when British musical mogul Cameron Mackintosh acquired the rights to the series of Poppins novels from author Pamela Travers. The production moved to Broadway in 2006, and went on to receive numerous Tony nominations and a Tony Award for best scenic design of a musical. Here, Scarlett Strallen is pictured in the title role. (Alistair Muir / Associated Press)

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Dreamworks’ attempt to wrestle away some of Disney’s Broadway dominance has not gone so well, judging by the slumping returns for “Shrek: The Musical.” Despite being nominated for eight Tony Awards, and winning one for best costume design, the show is scheduled to close Jan. 3. (Joan Marcus / Associated Press)

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In 2004, Emile Ardolino’s box office smash “Dirty Dancing” was transformed into a musical, a project that cost over $6 million. Despite premiering in Australia to mixed reviews, the show has been been a hit with audiences, and is currently playing in the U.S., Britain and Germany.

Pictured: Kym Valentine and Josef Brown in the Australian production. (Patrick Riviere / Getty Images)

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Since its San Francisco debut in 2004, this stage version of the holiday classic has completed numerous national tours (here and in the United Kingdom) and received two Tony nominations for best choreography and best orchestration. But some critics were not so impressed, especially Ben Brantley of the New York Times, who called the show “about as fresh and appealing as a roll of Necco wafers found in a mothballed Christmas stocking.” (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

By the Associated Press

Oct. 25, 2007 12 AM PT

NEW YORK —

Harvey Keitel as Jerry Springer.

Keitel will portray the talk-show host in “Jerry Springer -- the Opera in Concert” for two performances, Jan. 29-30, at Carnegie Hall.

The musical production, which at one time had been announced for Broadway, will be directed by Jason Moore, the director of “Avenue Q.” The show, written by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee, was a hit in London for the National Theatre in 2003 and later moved to the West End.

Keitel is best known for his performances in such movies as “Mean Streets,” “Taxi Driver,” “Bugsy,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “The Piano” and “Pulp Fiction.” He has appeared on and off-Broadway in David Rabe’s “Hurlyburly” and in the off-Broadway production of Sam Shepard’s “A Lie of the Mind.”

Harvey Keitel stars as Jerry Springer

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