Fresh off a Golden Globe win for best comedy or musical TV series, “Glee” mastermind Ryan Murphy is serving up lots of juicy tidbits about the show, including that rumored live tour.
It turns out “Glee” isn’t just popular with the viewing public: The quirky Fox series has attracted a growing list of big-name celebrity fans and they’re lining up in droves for a chance to play a part on the show.
Entertainment Weekly reports stars eager to follow in the footsteps of Kristin Chenoweth, Eve and Josh Groban include Julia Roberts, Julianne Moore and “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and “How I Met Your Mother” star Neil Patrick Harris, who is working on a deal to be onboard when “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” creator Josh Whedon takes the reins for a May sweeps episode of the show.
Also meeting with “Glee” creators about a possible appearance is Jennifer Lopez. Murphy told Zap2It.com’s Rick Porter he would like the singer to be “a really great cafeteria lady that Kurt [actor Chris Colfer] makes over into like a Susan Boyle sensation or something.”
While it’s unclear whether the Material Mom will drop by for a cameo in a highly-anticipated Madonna-themed episode the cast is currently shooting, Murphy told EW another pop icon will soon join evil cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester in song.
“We are doing a great number with Jane Lynch and Olivia Newton-John,” the “Popular” and “Nip/Tuck” creator explained. “They are going to do ‘Physical.’”
“Rent” and “Wicked” star Idina Menzel is also set to appear later this year.
The immense popularity of a pair of “Glee” cast albums, which have been hovering in the Top 40 since their release, has already begun to open up other opportunities for the fresh-faced cast of the show.
Most notably, it looks like fans who’ve been clamoring for a chance to see the talented kids from Lima, Ohio’s fictional William McKinley High School perform live since Murphy first mentioned a tour last fall will soon get their chance.
Cory Monteith, who plays conflicted heartthrob Finn Hudson on “Glee,” twittered to his fans today, “There is going to be a live #glee concert tour! in select cities; limited appearances. Announcement and details soon. So excited!”
Although exact dates for the run are still up in the air, the show wraps production for the year in April and Murphy told Zap2it.com he expects the “Glee” gang to be on the road by June.
Other "Glee"-related projects on deck include an upcoming album from Golden Globe-nominee and lead Matthew Morrison [glee club director Will Schuester].
The actor and singer, who originated the role of “Hairspray” hunk Link Larkin on Broadway, told EW he agreed it seems like rushing things to release a solo album so soon, but he doesn’t want it to be “a crap CD” about “money or handbags,” so he’ll be taking a page from some of his inspirations “like Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra [and] Sammy Davis, Jr.”