Tonys 2008: Sorkin back to B'way with 'The Farnsworth Invention'
Aaron Sorkin, the Emmy winning creator of "The West Wing," is to return to his Broadway roots this fall with a new play "The Farnsworth Invention." After the recent failure of "Studio 60," his seriocomic TV series about the workings of a sketch comedy show, Sorkin is hoping for better luck with this drama about the intrigue surrounding the invention of television itself. The play follows the real-life fight between young idealist Philo T. Farnsworth and RCA chairman David Sarnoff over invaluable patent rights. Mhmm... could Sorkin have been inspired by his own battles with the suits at NBC, once the crown jewel of the RCA empire?
Steven Spielberg is rumored to be interested in co-funding the production with Broadway veterans Dodger Theatrical. Back in 1949, the filmmaker's father, Arnold, got his first job out of college with RCA but was assigned to work on the even newer field of computers rather than television.
"Farnsworth" is Sorkin's first work for the stage since 1989 and "A Few Good Men" . . . .
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Photo: Will Broadway critics be more tuned in to "The Farnsworth Invention" than their TV counterparts were to "Studio 60?". (La Jolla Playhouse)
. . . . That smash hit pitted Tony nominee Tom Hulce against Stephen Lang as military adversaries, roles later played by Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson in the Rob Reiner directed film version. Lang appeared as Sarnoff in the recent well-received run of "Farnsworth" at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego but there is no word if he will be recreating the role when the play opens on Broadway November 18.
And Sorkin will need to keep his tux handy for the December premiere of Oscar hopeful "Charlie Wilson's War." He adapted George Crile's book about a renegade Congressman's actions in 80s Afghanistan for director Mike Nichols. The much anticipated film stars a trio of Oscar winners - Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
