High School Drama Teacher Creates Musical Theatre Sensation in "Hamlet 2"

By Kenneth Jones

22 Aug 2008

"Hamlet 2," director-writer Andrew Fleming's new film comedy about a zealous high school drama teacher who cooks up a sequel to Shakespeare's tragedy — spiking the plot with time travel, rock songs and Jesus Christ as a main character — opens in limited release Aug. 22 prior to nationwide release Aug. 27.

The R-rated Focus Features picture was much talked about at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, and preview audiences howled with laughter at such songs as "Rock Me Sexy Jesus."

Fleming, director of the films "Threesome" and "Dick," co-wrote the original screenplay with Pam Brady ("South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut," "Team America: World Police"). It stars British actor Steve Coogan ("Night at the Museum," "Tropic Thunder"), Catherine Keener ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin"), David Arquette (the "Scream" movies), Amy Poehler ("Saturday Night Live"), and Academy Award nominee Elisabeth Shue as herself.

High School Drama Teacher Creates Musical Theatre Sensation in ...
Playbill.com, NY