Elizabeth Banks News

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, held its annual honors yesterday, February 25, in Santa Monica. Hosted by Seth Rogan, the awards ceremony premiered later that night at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on IFC. Winners included Christopher Plummer, Michelle Williams, the company of The Artist and more! CLICK HERE for a full winners list. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you onto the starry red carpet.

Today we are talking to a stand-up comedienne celebrated for her caustic wit, erudite political humor and illuminating social observations who has also made a name for herself over the last two decades as an actress by appearing in over 100 feature films and television shows, including recurring roles on the TV series SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, THE BEN STILLER SHOW, THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW and 24, as well as her film resume, ranging from roles in ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION to WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER to REALITY BITES, COP LAND, THE CABLE GUY, NOW AND THEN and many more - the one and only Janeane Garofalo. In addition to a twenty-year career retrospective, touching upon many of her most notable big screen and small screen appearances - sharing comments on many of her favorite colleagues and co-stars along the way - Garofalo also opens up about the theatrically attuned work she has previously done - such as HBO's THE LARAMIE PROJECT - and, most importantly, fills us in on the new play she is starring in for The New Group, RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, directed by Scott Elliott. Besides all about RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, her character in it and the political and social issues the new original play bravely tackles, Garofalo shares her enthusiasm for her newfound experiences in the theatre world and her intention of pursuing a theatre career further. Also, she clues us in on her upcoming film projects, BAD PARENTS and GENERAL EDUCATION, and offers her classic views on current politics as only she can, in her own delightfully droll and ingratiatingly idiosyncratic fashion - plus, much, much more!

The complete list for the soundtrack to Lionsgate's upcoming film adaptation of THE HUNGER GAMES has just been released. Taylor Swift, Arcade Fire, Miranda Lambert and Kid Cudi are among the artists featured on the album.

Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars have just released their new cut, ‘Safe and Sound', from the upcoming HUNGER GAMES soundtrack.

The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program, which has trained such celebrated actors as Elizabeth Banks, Annette Bening, Anna Deavere Smith, and Denzel Washington, presents the sharp-witted, raunchy satire The Mandrake by Niccolò Machiavelli.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has announced its inaugural Conservatory Awards, which will annually recognize and honor A.C.T.'s award-winning actor training program's outstanding alumni and pay tribute to donors who have provided significant support to the M.F.A. Scholarship Fund.

MAN ON A LEDGE is coming to theaters nationwide on January 27, 2012 from Summit Entertainment. The suspense thriller is directed by Asger Leth and stars Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie, Ed Harris, Edward Burns, Titus Welliver, Genesis Rodriguez and Kyra Sedgwick.

The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program, which has trained such celebrated actors as Elizabeth Banks, Annette Bening, Anna Deavere Smith, and Denzel Washington, presents the sharp-witted, raunchy satire The Mandrake by Niccolò Machiavelli.

Actors of all ages and experience levels are welcome at the award-winning American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Conservatory for world-class training, and the New Year brings many opportunities to take part.

Two comedians best known for Late-Night will join the morning shift, and an entertainment host will showcase his talk show savvy the week of January 16-20, 2012, all part of the latest guest co-host line-up for 'LIVE! with Kelly.'

According to the Hollywoodreporter.com, the upcoming release of THE HUNGER GAMES album will include recordings by country star Taylor Swift, The Decembrists and Arcade Fire. The album will be produced by T. Bone Burnett.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING is coming to theaters on May 11, 2012 from Lionsgate Films. The comedy is directed by Kirk Jones and stars Anna Kendrick, Elizabeth Banks, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Brooklyn Decker, Chace Crawford, Dennis Quaid, Rodrigo Santoro and Chris Rock.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has announced its inaugural Conservatory Awards, which will annually recognize and honor A.C.T.'s award-winning actor training program's outstanding alumni and pay tribute to donors who have provided significant support to the M.F.A. Scholarship Fund.

Lionsgate will be releasing the highly anticipated film THE HUNGER GAMES on March 23rd 2012. The Sci-fi action film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Willow Shields, Toby Jones, Amandla Stenberg, Alexander Ludwig, Donald Sutherland, Isabelle Fuhrman, Lenny Kravitz, Jacqueline Emerson and Wes Bentley.

Lionsgate has announced that the highly anticipated trailer for its upcoming film THE HUNGER GAMES, is set to premiere on ABC's GOOD MORNING AMERICA on Monday, November 14th.

MAN ON A LEDGE is coming to theaters nationwide on January 27, 2012 from Summit Entertainment. The suspense thriller is directed by Asger Leth and stars Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie, Ed Harris, Edward Burns, Titus Welliver, Genesis Rodriguez and Kyra Sedgwick.

Entertainment Weekly reports that actress Mary Steenburgen is set to guest star on an upcoming episode of NBC's 30 ROCK when the show returns to NBC's midseason lineup.

The role of Gerado, the husband of Paulina Salas (Thandie Newton), will be played by Tom Goodman-Hill, and Doctor Roberto Miranda will be played by Anthony Calf in Ariel Dorfman's Olivier award-winning thriller Death and the Maiden.

ANIMATION DOMINATION kicks off this fall with a star-studded lineup of guest voices on returning favorite animated series THE SIMPSONS, THE CLEVELAND SHOW, FAMILY GUY and AMERICAN DAD premiering Sunday, Sept. 25 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. New kid on the block, ALLEN GREGORY, sets out on his first day of school Sunday, Oct. 30 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT).