Meryl Streep to star in Master Class Maria Callas Film

Meryl Streep is to star as opera legend Maria Callas in a film adaptation of Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning play Master Class.  Director Mike Nichols will helm the project which will begin filming in January.

Nichols and Streep have worked together in the past on projects including Silkwood, Heartburn, Postcards From the Edge,and Angels in America.

Set at the Juilliard School in 1971 Master Class follows renowned opera diva Maria Callas as she teaches her admiring students while simultaneously recalling moments from her own career.  

Master Class debuted on Broadway in 1995 starring Zoe Caldwell in the leading role. A Broadway revival was mounted in 2011 with Tyne Daly in the leading role and Sierra Boggess as Sharon.

Dianne Pilkington & Gerard Carey join Tyne Daly in Masterclass

Tyne Daly will make her West End debut in Terrence McNally’s 1995 drama Master Class at the Vaudeville Theatre for a 14 week run from January 21st to 28th April, with press night on 7th February 2012. Daly is best known in the UK for the TV police drama Cagney and Lacey, and is highly regarded in the States for her powerful theatre performances.

The show is an extraordinary insight into the life and loves of Maria Callas, the iconic opera singer whose turbulent private life and fiery temperament were as astonishing as her formidable talents.Inspired by her operatic master classes of the early 70s, this is a riveting, hilarious and intensely moving portrayal of the sacrifice and heartache behind the artist, the diva and the legend..

Other cast members joining Daly include Gerard Carey, Jeremy Cohen, Naomi O’Connell, Dianne Pilkington and Garrett Sorenson  

You can see a trailer for Master Class here.

Tyne Daly's Master Class heading for West End minus Sierra Boggess

Tyne Daly will make her West End debut in Terrence McNally’s 1995 drama Master Class.  The show is an extraordinary insight into the life and loves of Maria Callas, the iconic opera singer whose turbulent private life and fiery temperament were as astonishing as her formidable talents.

Inspired by her operatic master classes of the early 70s, this is a riveting, hilarious and intensely moving portrayal of the sacrifice and heartache behind the artist, the diva and the legend..  It will open at the Vaudeville Theatre for a 14 week run from January 21st to 28th April, with press night on 7th February 2012

Daly is best known in the UK for the TV police drama Cagney and Lacey, and is highly regarded in the States for her powerful theatre performances.

You can see a trailer for Master Class here.

She has already played the role at the Manhattan Theatre Club with Sierra Boggess. The show was originally scheduled to play a limited engagement but was extended twice playing through to 4th September. Sadly Boggess will not be able to reprise the role in London as she is due to play the leading role of “I” in the new musical adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca which previews at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York from March 27th.

Sierra Boggess' run in Master Class extended

Sierra Boggess is due to return to London in October to star in the Phantom of the Opera’s 25th Anniversary Celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall, but she is currently appearing in the Broadway revival of Terrence McNally's Master Class with Tyne Daly.

The show was originally scheduled to play a limited engagement ending on 14th August, but it has just announced its second extension and will now play through to 4th September.

Terrence McNally’s award-winning play about Maria Callas is about one of her famous Master Classes where she challenges the next generation to make the same sacrifices and dare to rise to the same heights she did.

Directed by Stephen Wadsworth, Master Class stars Tony and Emmy Award winner Tyne Daly as 'Maria Callas' and Olivier Award nominee Sierra Boggess (Sharon). The cast also features Clinton Brandhagen (Stagehand), Jeremy Cohen (Manny), Alexandra Silber (Sophie) and Garrett Sorenson (Tony).