Emma Thompson News

Winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 and the Oscar for Best Picture in 1989, "Driving Miss Daisy" is opening at the Alhambra Theatre on February 5. Appropriate for a play of such esteem, the Alhambra has brought in not one, as has been its custom of late, but two stars to carry the show: four-time Emmy Award Winner, Michael Learned will star as Daisy Werthan and Lance Nichols, star of the HBO series TREME, as her chauffeur, Hoke Coleburn. This will be the fourth time Learned and Nichols will star together in "Driving Miss Daisy." Rounding out the three-person cast is Michael Edward Hodge, a New York actor who plays Daisy's son, Boolie Werthan.

The Santa Barbara Film Festival has announced its 2013 lineup. The 28th edition features films from 49 countries and runs January 24-February 3. The festival will open with DISCONNECT, a drama starring Jason Bateman and will conclude with Rowan Athale's Wasteland.

Five of the entertainment world's leading ladies will perform in New Orleans in 2013 as Seth Rudetsky's popular Broadway Concert Series makes the leap to NOCCA's Lupin Hall from its summer home at The Art House in Provincetown, MA. Patti LuPone, two-time Tony winner for Gypsy and as the legendary original Evita, will appear for two shows only on January 7th at 6:30 and 8:30. Sutton Foster, two-time Tony-winner for this year's Anything Goes and previously for Thoroughly Modern Millie and star of the ABC Family series Bunheads arrives for one show only on March 2nd at 7:30. Megan Mullally, two-time Emmy-winning star of TV's Will and Grace and star of Broadway's Young Frankenstein performs two shows only on April 6th at 7:30 and 9:30. Audra McDonald, a five-time Tony Award winner and recent star of Porgy and Bess on Broadway and TV's Private Practice will make her New Orleans debut with two shows only on May 18 at 7:30 and 9:30. Betty Buckley, the Tony winning legendary star of Cats and Sunset Boulevard will close the series on June 1 with two shows only at 7:30 and 9:30. The visiting Broadway artists will also be giving master classes for the NOCCA Institute's high school-aged musical theatre students. All five concerts are produced by Mark Cortale, long time producer/manager of Jeffery Roberson aka Varla Jean Merman, and will be hosted by Sirius/XM radio star Seth Rudetsky at the piano. The series is sponsored exclusively by the New Orleans Hotel Collection and Gambit. Tickets can be purchased at www.broadwaynola.com or by calling 800-838-3006.

Emmy Rossum is a double threat. The Award-winning actress will be releasing her first album with Warner Bros. Records on January 29th. The album, titled Sentimental Journey, will feature a collection of covers done of classic songs spanning the 1920's to the 1960's.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that acclaimed film and television actor Christopher Lloyd, will star as Azdak in the company's upcoming spring production of Bertolt Brecht's THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE, to be directed by Brian Kulick (who directed Brecht's Galileo last season), and featuring new music by Tony Award-winning singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik, featuring translation by James and Tania Stern with lyrics by W.H. Auden. THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE will begin performances Thursday, May 2 at CSC (136 East 13th Street) for a limited engagement. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, April 2.

Five of the entertainment world's leading ladies will perform in New Orleans in 2013 as Seth Rudetsky's popular Broadway Concert Series makes the leap to NOCCA's Lupin Hall from its summer home at The Art House in Provincetown, MA. Patti LuPone, two-time Tony winner for Gypsy and as the legendary original Evita, will appear for two shows only on January 7th at 6:30 and 8:30. Sutton Foster, two-time Tony-winner for this year's Anything Goes and previously for Thoroughly Modern Millie and star of the ABC Family series Bunheads arrives for one show only on March 2nd at 7:30. Megan Mullally, two-time Emmy-winning star of TV's Will and Grace and star of Broadway's Young Frankenstein performs two shows only on April 6th at 7:30 and 9:30. Audra McDonald, a five-time Tony Award winner and recent star of Porgy and Bess on Broadway and TV's Private Practice will make her New Orleans debut with two shows only on May 18 at 7:30 and 9:30. Betty Buckley, the Tony winning legendary star of Cats and Sunset Boulevard will close the series on June 1 with two shows only at 7:30 and 9:30. The visiting Broadway artists will also be giving master classes for the NOCCA Institute's high school-aged musical theatre students. All five concerts are produced by Mark Cortale, long time producer/manager of Jeffery Roberson aka Varla Jean Merman, and will be hosted by Sirius/XM radio star Seth Rudetsky at the piano. The series is sponsored exclusively by the New Orleans Hotel Collection and Gambit. Tickets can be purchased at www.broadwaynola.com or by calling 800-838-3006.

Stars of the film Jackman, Hathaway, Barks, Redmayne, and Seyfried chatted with the press about their experience, and in this edition they cover getting through the crying scenes, their real life inspirations, and more! Check out the interview below:

Warner Bros. Records has announced that it has signed vocalist and award-winning actress Emmy Rossum to its roster. The New York City native will release her first album for the label, a collection of covers of classic songs that span the '20s to the '60s entitled Sentimental Journey, on January 29th, 2013.

Get ready for a groovy, out-of-this-world 3D adventure when Sony Pictures Home Entertainment releases MEN IN BLACK™ 3 as a Blu-ray 3D™ Combo Pack, Blu-ray™/DVD Combo Pack and DVD -- all with UltraViolet™ -- today, November 30th.

Warner Bros. Records is pleased to announce that it has signed vocalist and award-winning actress Emmy Rossum to its roster. The New York City native will release her first album for the label, a collection of covers of classic songs that span the '20s to the '60s entitled SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, on January 29th, 2013.

ABC Family gives thanks with new holiday programming during the "Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas" from today, November 18 - 30, 2012.

Nominees for PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2013 were announced this morning at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills by country superstar Jason Aldean, Anthony Anderson ('Guys with Kids'), Sophia Bush (PARTNERS), Jason O'Mara (VEGAS), Monica Potter ('Parenthood') and Casey Wilson ('Happy Endings'), along with PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2013 host Kaley Cuoco

Nominees for PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2013 were announced this morning at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills by country superstar Jason Aldean, Anthony Anderson ("Guys with Kids"), Sophia Bush (PARTNERS), Jason O'Mara (VEGAS), Monica Potter ("Parenthood") and Casey Wilson ("Happy Endings"), along with PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2013 host Kaley Cuoco

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) is pleased to announce that Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, co-chairmen of Working Title Films, will receive the 2013 David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures. The award recognizes a producer's, or a producing team's, outstanding body of work and is the PGA's highest honor for motion picture producers.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS™ - PARTS 1 AND 2: ULTIMATE EDITION arrives today, November 13 from Warner Home Video.

Disney Pixar announces the Blu-ray™ hi-def debut of BRAVE, the year's No. 1 animated movie and Pixar Animation Studio's 13th consecutive hit, today, November 13, 2012.

Now, a cable network insider tells us exclusively that the film will instead be an HBO television production, with a budget in the neighborhood of $15 million dollars. There is no word yet on a timeline for the project, or if the announced starry cast are staying aboard the project.

According to The Huffington Post, Kenneth Branagh was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II yesterday, November 8th at Buckingham Palace for his services to drama and the community of Northern Ireland.

According to the Daily Mail, Sir Kenneth Branagh will play MacBeth in Shakespeare's tragedy at the Manchester International Festival next summer, which runs July 4-21, 2013. Rob Ashford is set to direct.