Monster Mash: Taylor Swift eyes ‘Les Miz’; Aretha Franklin, opera

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Crossover appeal: Country singer Taylor Swift has been offered the role of Eponine in the film version of the stage musical ‘Les Miserables.’ Amanda Seyfried also has been offered a major part. (Twitchfilm)

What’s ‘respect’ in Italian?: Aretha Franklin is hosting a competition to find the next great opera singer. (NPR)

Hit: The once-mocked ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark’ took in more than $2.9 million last week at the box office, breaking Broadway records. (Associated Press)

Flop: The Broadway musical ‘Lysistrata Jones’ will close Jan. 8 after just 30 regular performances. (Broadway World)

Legal proceedings: The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra has submitted a request to join a suit against a collector who allegedly stole hundreds of valuable documents. (Haaretz)

Departure: The director of the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Wash., is stepping down. (Seattle Times)

Domestic dispute: Opera director Claudio Del Monaco is in critical but stable condition in an Italian hospital after he was stabbed multiple times, allegedly by his wife. (WQXR)

Fiscal woes: The Royal Theatre in Copenhagen is facing the prospect of mass layoffs. (Copenhagen Post)

Getting hitched: Audra McDonald is engaged to fellow Broadway actor Will Swenson. (E! Online)

Passing: Ricardo Legorreta, the noted Mexican architect, has died at age 80. (San Antonio Express News)

Also in the L.A. Times: A look at Chris Burden’s ‘Metropolis II’ installation at LACMA; San Francisco has stepped up efforts to restore the landmark Coit Tower and its Depression-era frescoes.

-- David Ng