A Dun deal: Faye goes to court over 'Sunset'

GOOD MORNING: No more Ms. Nice Guy -- Faye Dunaway inked tenacious trial attorney Pierce O'Donnell to represent her in a suit vs. Andrew Lloyd Webber over her dismissal from "Sunset Boulevard." O'Donnell, you recall, represents Art Buchwald and Alain Bernheim in their lengthy suit vs. Paramount. O'Donnell joins yours truly in an exclusive club -- Faye sang a "Sunset" tune for him, too ... Among offers Dunaway has received since "Sunset" was from "The Simpsons" in which she'd voice a sultry saloon singer who is asked to sing "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" and Dunaway's cartoon'd character then responds, "I don't sing Andrew Lloyd Webber." Faye turned it down. Now the musicalized B'way-bound "Camille" is paging Dunaway. The 1950s-N.Y. adaptation of the Dumas classic was co-authored by Ron Abel and Chuck Steffan with music (18 tunes) by Abel and lyrics by Steffan. A hoped-for fall '95 bow is plotted. The duo also have an Oct. L.A. date for another musical, "Is This Your Life?" at the Zephyr with Henry Polic and hopefully Nancy Dussault ... Add another musical note, this one from Nashville where Michele Lee goes before the cameras next week in CBS' "The Dottie West Story" with Lee singing 11 of West's hit tunes. How well does B'way-trained Michele sing country? Since I had previously asked Faye Dunaway to sing Andrew Lloyd Webber for me, I asked Michele to give me a country sample. She (also) was terrific -- on "(I was raised in) Country Sunshine." Ken Kragen, who exec produces the telefilm with Lee, told me, "It is absolutely eerie how much (Lee) sounds like Dottie West." Dottie's daughter Shelly has not only given the project her blessing -- but also loaned her (the tiny) Dottie's fabulous wardrobe, which will be adjusted for Michele by costumer Fay Sloane -- and then returned to its original dimensions after the telepic. Lee will wear six different wigs -- from beehive to flip -- in the film that covers 40 years. The cast will include Kate Jackson as Patsy Cline, Kenny Rogers and Larry Gatlin as themselves, plus cameos by Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Tammy Wynette, Chet Atkins, Loretta Lynn, etc.

CUBBY BROCCOLI UNDERWENT heart bypass surgery at Johns Hopkins medical center Thursday ... KABC radio's Michael Jackson will sit in for "Larry King Live" next Wednesday from D.C. where Jackson will also do two days of his radio shows -- hopefully with a Clinton guesting ... Meanwhile the other Michael Jackson hits the bookstalls in September via "Michael Jackson: The King of Pop's Darkest Hour" (Brandon Pub.) by Lisa Campbell who also wrote "M.J.: The King of Pop." And Adrian Grant's prepping "Michael Jackson: The Visual Documentary." Also, "Michael Jackson: The Collector Book" (Black and White Pub.) is released this month ... Boze Hadleigh follows his hysterically funny "Hollywood Babble On" (Birch Lane), quotes of celebs about fellow celebs, with the October release of his next book, "Hollywood Lesbians" (Barricade Books) ... Rebecca Witjas, wife of William Morris agent Jeff Witjas, was set by the L.A. Raiders as choreographer of the Raiderettes. She's a career dancer and choreographer -- and got the job on her own sans husband Jeff agenting for her ... ICM's Risa Shapiro and husband Oren Koules welcomed son Miles Andrew K. June 25 at Cedars-Sinai ... NBC press manager Curt King and Julie Myers of Rachel McCallister's praisery tie the knot Saturday in San Marino.

JANE FONDA MODERATES the Environmental Media Assn. briefing for writers, producers and development execs Monday ayem at the Hotel Nikko. Hosts include Sandy Grushow (Fox), Ted Harbert (ABC), Warren Littlefield (NBC) and Peter Tortorici (CBS). Topics include how America's habits impact the global environment ... Project Angel Food, benefiting homebound AIDS patients, holds its fifth anni and groundbreaking of a new kitchen facility Saturday at 7574 Sunset Blvd. ... Celebs are heading up to Big Bear Mountain resort this weekend for "The Passion of Puccini" series which benefits the Film Welfare League ... Add these celeb bartenders at Sunday's Rodeo Drive Concern for Cancer Block Party saluting World Cup Soccer: Sharon Lawrence, Michelle Phillips, Al Martino and Ken Wahl ... Rodeo Dr. also takes on a different look today as Swiss born Fred Hayman and Kurt Welte, Consul General of Switzerland toast the World Cup with Swiss events -- including a cattle drive (!) ending at Hayman's shop ... And Tuesday (12) at Tiffany on Rodeo, zebras, chimps, snakes and other African wildlife appear at "The Jewels of Africa" benefit for the Mikomazi Rhino Sanctuary in Tanzania. Ali MacGraw chairs the benefit ... The 100th anni of the late, great Jimmy McHugh's birth will be celebrated Sunday at the Jazz Bakery with songwriters and singers toasting McHugh.