Broadway Friday

---Barack Obama, the musical. Yup. Via Playbill:

"Celebrating the election and inauguration of America's first black president, Obama On My Mind takes a humorous look at the weird and wonderful world behind the scenes of a small Obama campaign office and the larger than life characters who make the wheels turn, the cogs whirr and bring in the votes. Pop, gospel, jazz and soft rock come together in a politically inspired romp featuring over 11 loyal, obsessive and downright peculiar personalities, striving to get their man into the White House."

Obama On My Mind opens in the UK in March.

---Continuing the singing politico theme: "Rod Blagojevich Super Star!, a new musical spoof incorporating themes from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar and Stephen Schwartz's Godspell, will premiere Feb. 3 in the Windy City. A press opening has been set for Feb. 10."

---Liza With A Z will be signing copies of the CD of her recent Broadway run, Liza At The Palace, at the Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble on February 3rd at 6pm. She'll also perform, so get there early.

---Sienna Miller makes her Broadway debut in After Miss Julie at the Roundabout Theater this fall. Mark Brokaw will direct.

---After a raft of post-holiday closings, Broadway will rebound this spring with 20 shows set to open between this Sunday and April. First up is Hedda Gabler with Mary-Louise Parker, followed by Will Ferrell's one man show, You're Welcome America, A Final Night With George W. Bush on Feb. 5th. P.J. Harvey did the Hedda Gabler score!

---Current American Idol contestant Joanna Pacitti is under attack because she appeared on Broadway in Annie at age 11 and has already recorded an album for Geffen Records. She'll have to go because she's actually good, apparently. Fans of the show complain that she's a semi-pro with the unfair advantage of an existing fan base.