get_class.py

def get_class(class_to_get, *args, **kwargs):
    """Will get the class regardless of whether it's a module or not:
    >>> get_class('module.MyClassName')
    MyClassName()
    """
    try:
        dot = class.rindex('.')
    except ValueError:
        pass
    else:
        module, class_name = class[:dot], class[dot+1:]
        try:
            mod = __import__(module, {}, {}, [''])
        except ImportError, error:
            # this should fail regardless
            raise ImportError, error
        else:
            class_to_get = getattr(mod, class_name)
    return class_to_get(*args[1:], **kwargs)