ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

THE ARTS

Tharp-Joel Project Sets Its Sights on Broadway

An unlikely dance musical is in the works, containing choreography by Twyla Tharp set to songs by pop artist Billy Joel. It was given a workshop in New York over the weekend by the Nederlander Organization.

Joel has given his OK to a full-scale production that may tour before heading for Broadway.

Like “Contact,” this show has no dialogue. Unlike “Contact,” it has a live band. Songs will be performed by Michael Cavanaugh, a Las Vegas singer whose voice bears an uncanny resemblance to Joel’s. Many of Joel’s standards--and music from his new classical album--will be incorporated into the show, in which Tharp deals in ballet, modern dance--even disco.

The story line revolves around three men growing up in the 1960s who go off to Vietnam. When one of them is killed, one friend blames the other. The duo gets caught up in 1970s drug scene, managing to pull themselves together in the following decade.

POP/ROCK

Brooks: Here, There and Everywhere (He Hopes)

Garth Brooks will release an album Nov. 13, his first recording of new country songs in four years. That’s good news for the genre, whose sales have been declining.

“Scarecrow”--named for the character with “heart” in “The Wizard of Oz”--includes duets with George Jones and Trisha Yearwood.

Brooks, 39, announced his retirement from touring last year and has scaled back his career to spend more time with his daughters.

While he won’t go on the road to support this album, he said, other projects are in the works. There’s a possible set of TV specials as well as a commercial endorsement deal: TV spots for Dr Pepper that will air in November. He’s also involved in a number of AOL tie-ins.

“You know me,” said Brooks, who is known for his innovative marketing efforts. “I’m going to try my best to get in everybody’s living room.”

HOME VIDEO

‘Mummy’ Scares Up a DVD Record

Universal Studios Home Video reports that “The Mummy Returns” had the biggest first week in the history of DVD with more than 2 million units sold. Walt Disney Co. was equally upbeat about its “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” DVD, which, according to the studio, sold 1 million units on its first day out, Tuesday.

QUICK TAKES

Johnny Cash has been hospitalized with bronchitis in Nashville since Sunday. Though he suffers from autonomic neuropathy, a disease of the nervous system that makes him susceptible to pneumonia, his condition was listed Wednesday as stable.... ABC’s Jason Alexander sitcom, “Bob Patterson,” tumbled in its second week to just 6.9 million viewers, a 30% drop from its premiere and less than half the audience Tuesday for time-period rival “Frasier”.... “The Larry Sanders Show,” Garry Shandling’s darkly comedic HBO series about a fictional talk-show host, is set to get a syndicated run on KABC-TV Channel 7 beginning in the fall of 2002. The show will also run on cable’s Bravo network.... “Hirschfeld’s Hollywood,” an exhibit of film-related artwork by Al Hirschfeld, will be on display beginning Oct. 26 at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. The 98-year-old artist will be on hand opening night.... Mariah Carey, who canceled an appearance on ABC last month, will be interviewed on “Extra” at 7 tonight on KNBC-TV.