Carnegie Hall to welcome 'Springer' opera

NEW YORK, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- New York's Carnegie Hall will soon be the site of two performances of "Jerry Springer -- The Opera," thanks to the efforts of two Broadway producers.

Producers David Foster and Jared Geller said "Springer" was not intended to have a prolonged life on Broadway, just the two Carnegie Hall appearances this month, Variety reported Friday.

"We didn't set out to do it as a developmental event," Foster said. "It works as a stand-alone commercial venture."

The opera follows the fictional life and death of its real-life namesake and will feature actor Harvey Keitel in the title role.

The Jan. 29-30 performances will by directed by "Avenue Q" head Jason Moore and will feature music by Richard Thomas.

Having debuted at the 2002 Edinburgh Fringe Fest, "Springer" met with initial success in London before being brought across the ocean by Foster and Geller, Variety said.