Emma Thompson News

According to the Daily Mail, stage and screen veteran and director of Disney's upcoming live-action CINDERELLA film, Kenneth Branagh has created his own theatre company and is currently ironing out its first season of plays in the West End.

Lincoln Center is expanding its Lincoln Center Local series, offering free screenings of world-class performances to library branches around New York City's five boroughs. The Lincoln Cente­­r Local: Free Screenings series, running from January to June 2015, is part of a pilot program run by Lincoln Center Education, and expands upon last year's Lincoln Center Local HD series.

John Goodman and Tom Sturridge will join Damian Lewis in the major new revival of David Mamet's gripping 1975 playAmerican Buffalo. Directed by Daniel Evans, American Buffalo will play at Wyndham's Theatre for a strictly limited run from16 April - 27 June 2015.

Since yesterday afternoon, when news of the death of Nashville theater stalwart Marianne Clark began making its way through the community, people have taken to social media to send their own farewells, to express heartfelt thoughts and to remember warmly the impact of Clark's stage career and the affects of the untimely demise of one of our own theatrical legends. You see, if Layne Sasser is Nashville's Betty White, as I maintain, and Nan Gurley is Meryl Streep, Denice Hicks is Emma Thompson and Vali Forrister is our answer to Susan Sarandon, then it would go that Marianne Clark was probably our version of Elaine Stritch.

“EFFIE GRAY,” Written by Emma Thompson and Starring Dakota Fanning, Emma Thompson, Tom Sturridge, Sir Derek Jacobi, Julie Walters and Claudia Cardinale, to have U.S. Theatrical Premiere April 3

Tenor Russell Thomas will replace Brandon Jovanovich, who has withdrawn due to illness, in the New York Philharmonic performances of the Verdi Requiem, conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert. The performances will also feature soprano Angela Meade (in her Philharmonic debut), mezzo-soprano Lilli Paasikivi, bass-baritone Eric Owens, and the New York Choral Artists, directed by Joseph Flummerfelt, this weekend, January 15, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, January 17 at 8:00 p.m.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the New York Philharmonic today announced plans for the two organizations to collaborate on a new, multi-year opera initiative to present fully-staged productions of significant modern operas not yet seen in New York.

Lincoln Center is expanding its Lincoln Center Local series, offering free screenings of world-class performances to library branches around New York City's five boroughs. The Lincoln Cente­­r Local: Free Screenings series, running from January to June 2015, is part of a pilot program run by Lincoln Center Education, and expands upon last year's Lincoln Center Local HD series.

Tenor Russell Thomas will replace Brandon Jovanovich, who has withdrawn due to illness, in the New York Philharmonic performances of the Verdi Requiem, conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert. The performances will also feature soprano Angela Meade (in her Philharmonic debut), mezzo-soprano Lilli Paasikivi, bass-baritone Eric Owens, and the New York Choral Artists, directed by Joseph Flummerfelt, Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, January 17 at 8:00 p.m.

Seth Rudetsky's Broadway Concert Series at the Parker Playhouse produced by Mark Cortale will welcome Audra McDonald -- the historic six-time Tony winner and star of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, Porgy and Bess, Ragtime, and Master Class as well as TV's Private Practice, tonight, January 8, 2015.

The Laguna Playhouse will present the beginning of 2015 in a most spectacular fashion with the return of superstar comedienne Rita Rudner who will be performing, RITA RUDNER: OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE RITA, to start the New Year right with joy and laughter. OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE RITA will perform tonight, December 31 at 7pm at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT - OUR ANNUAL YOUNG PEOPLE SHOW! on MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 - 7:00 PM.

The Laguna Playhouse will present the beginning of 2015 in a most spectacular fashion with the return of superstar comedienne Rita Rudner who will be performing, RITA RUDNER: OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE RITA, to start the New Year right with joy and laughter. OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE RITA will perform on Wednesday, December 31 at 7pm at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Sundance Institute today announced the addition of 10 films, events and New Frontier installations to the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, January 22 to February 1 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has today announced that Stephen Fry will return to host the EE British Academy Film Awards on 8 February 2015 at the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden. It will be the 10th time Fry has hosted the ceremony.

Following the internationally acclaimed production with sold-out engagements on Broadway and in London's West End, television legend, Oscar recipient and five-time Tony Award-winner Angela Lansbury returns to the stage in Noel Coward's smash-hit comedic play 'Blithe Spirit' in an exciting North American tour to be launched at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre.

The British Independent Film Awards took place this evening, and we have the full list of winners below!

The SAG Awards® Holiday Auction benefiting the Screen Actors Guild Foundation's Children's Literacy and Assistance programs is live at sagawards.org/auction.

The SAG Awards® Holiday Auction benefiting the Screen Actors Guild Foundation's Children's Literacy and Assistance programs begins online today at 6 p.m. (PST) at sagawards.org/auction. The SAG Awards® Holiday Auction features a VIP package to attend the SAG Awards® ceremony and gala on Saturday, January 25, 2015 and offers autographed film and television collectibles from Carol Burnett, Rita Moreno, Amy Poehler, Carl Reiner, and Emma Thompson as well as the casts of "Game of Thrones," "How to Get Away with Murder," "Sons of Anarchy," "True Blood," "The Walking Dead" and more. Also up for bid are unique gifts such as a Round of Golf for 4 at the Trump National Golf Club with a $1,000 Pro-shop gift certificate, a one week stay at a Timbers Resorts Escape Private Residence Club and a 'Hollyscoop' Red Carpet Makeover. Bidding begins online today, December 4, 2014 at 6 p.m. (PT) and concludes on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 6 p.m. (PT) at sagawards.org/auction.

Deadline writes that the ANNIE remake is among several of Sony's films to be leaked over the holiday weekend.