JERRY SPRINGER - ANNA NICOLE SMITH OPERA SET FOR U.K.

The creators of hit musical JERRY SPRINGER: THE OPERA have started work on a new opera based on the life of tragic star ANNA NICOLE SMITH. The production is being written by Richard Thomas and Mark-Anthony Turnage, and will be staged at London's Royal Opera House, accompanied by a 90-piece orchestra. The story will focus on Smith's life story and end with her tragic death from a drugs overdose in 2007. And Thomas insists the late glamour model is the perfect subject as she is a modern pop culture icon. He says, "It's an incredible story. It's very operatic and sad. She was quite a smart lady with the tragic flaw that she could not seem to get through life without a vat of prescription drugs. "For me, (the story) ends when she does. It's an American story. I love American culture. Especially for the opera, the stories seem to work on a grander more epic scale." Jerry Springer: The Opera, based on Springer's TV talk show, ran in London from 2003 to 2005. The musical made its Broadway debut earlier this year (08) with Harvey Keitel in the title role.