Gwyneth Paltrow News

Boasting the big, bright and blazing return of Broadway baby Jonathan Groff as show-favorite featured guest star Jesse St. James and the very finest vocal song performance of Season Two so far, last night's 'Prom Queen' episode of GLEE was everything but CARRIE's bucket of pig's blood on top. Speaking of pigs, Karofsky certainly got his comeuppance - quite heartfelt in its denouement - at long, long last, on the dramatic side of the story, and the audience got to musically pig-out and irreverently indulge in the frothy pop confections of Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus & Stig Andersen - otherwise known as ABBA - with the rousing gleeked-out, tweaked-out rendering of the newly-crowned MAMMA MIA super-anthem 'Dancing Queen', as well as partake in the pop culture right-this-moment fun of the funky Black Kids' song 'I‘m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend To Dance With You' courtesy of fan favorite Darren Criss at his hipster height, and the YouTube sensation Rebecca Black‘s 'Friday', performed by the boys of New Directions riotously right. Kings, queens, hearts, diamond tiaras and even a few jokers were in the deck as the hand was played out in this brisk, brash and glossy entry in the spectacularly strong - if dramatically inert more often than not - second half of Season Two. So, today, we dust off our best blue tuxes and pop the cheapest pink champagne for a guilty pleasure edition of the weekly SOUND OFF reviews of GLEE that will be wrapping up - so very sorry to say - all too soon at the end of this month with the highly-awaited season finale on May 24 and our year-end rap up soon thereafter. But, with this column as well as with GLEE, certainly the very best is yet to come - and, even if not, this is good enough.

Julie Budd makes her Metropolitan Room debut in the world premiere of "A Tribute to Dorothy Fields," her salute to one of the female pillars of American songwriting in the 20th century.

One of America's most beautiful, intelligent and respected actors will do the honors as godmother to the intimate, all-suite Seabourn Quest when it is named at the port of Barcelona on June 20, 2011.

Walter Stearns, Executive Director of the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave., announced today that due to popular demand the acclaimed Route 66 Theatre Company's production of A TWIST OF WATER, which enjoyed a sold out run at Theater Wit, will extend through June 26 at the Mercury Theater.

Beginning Friday, May 21 at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas, 'Glee' stars Lea Michele (Rachel), Cory Monteith (Finn), Amber Riley (Mercedes), Chris Colfer (Kurt), Kevin McHale (Artie), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina), Mark Salling (Puck), Dianna Agron (Quinn), Naya Rivera (Santana), Heather Morris (Brittany), Harry Shum, Jr. (Mike), Chord Overstreet (Sam), Darren Criss (Blaine), Ashley Fink (Lauren) and members of 'The Warblers' will perform in an all-new singing and dancing celebration of the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning show. In a recnt interview with 'Something for the Weekend' Gwyneth Paltrow (who plays substitute teacher Holly Holiday in the show) revealed that she too will be making appearances on the concert tour. Paltrow commented: 'They've asked me to do a couple of little surprise things.'

Talk show listings for Friday, May 6

Talk show listings for Friday, May 6

Glee: The Music, Volume 6, the final official album release of Glee's second season, is available on Monday, May 23, 2011. With the return of fan favorites Kristin Chenoweth on Fleetwood Mac's 'Dreams,' Jonathan Groff on Adele's 'Rolling In The Deep' and Gwyneth Paltrow on Adele's 'Turning Tables,' Glee: The Music, Volume 6 has something for everyone. Among its 18 tracks, Glee: The Music, Volume 6 features 3 new and original tracks including 'As Long As You're There' (featuring Charice), 'Pretending,' and 'Light Up The World' a New Directions showcase co-written by Max Martin (see below for full track listing).

Matthew Morrison has added a duet with Sting to his self-titled debut CD lineup.

Last night GLEE took on the catalogue of Fleetwood Mac - namely, their 1977 Grammy-winning Album of the Year, RUMOURS - and proved that you can do justice to the originals - as inimitable as they may be - but still go your own way with them. And, have your own way. Also, Broadway baby Kristin Chenoweth made her long-awaited return as boozy April Rhodes just in time to duet with Matt Morrison on the Stevie Nicks-penned classic 'Dreams' and a few of the secondary leads - namely Santana, Artie and Quinn - got a chance to shine with these silvery takes on the solid gold classic rock tracks. While some of the tribute shows have been hit-or-miss in the past, Fleetwood Mac and the self-avowed queen gleek herself, Stevie Nicks - who was on set for Gwyneth Paltrow's taping of 'Landslide' earlier this year, cheering the cast on - surely won't be digging an early grave with her silver spoon after hearing and seeing these sensitive and respectful takes on her tunes - and Lindsey Buckingham‘s and Christine McVie‘s, as well. But, I guess if anyone in the group has an issue with any of these covers, they can always cast a spell using some white witches and black magic. Speaking of which - or witch - too bad they didn't do 'Gold Dust Woman' or 'Silver Springs'! And, no cover of 'The Chain'? But, I suppose they're saving them for 'Rumours: Part 2' or, perhaps, an all-Stevie Nicks episode - particularly if it happened to feature songs from her splendid new album, IN YOUR DREAMS, which is out this week (her first new album this decade). So, break out your feathers, rings, and shawls, we've got all the gypsy magic you can handle inside thanks to the ever-revolving door of the ever-evolving cast of GLEE paying due respect to the similarly designed/aligned folk/rock super-group of the 70s making their momentous musical marriage somehow oh-so-apropos to the times, no?

Talk show listings for Friday, May 6

Walter Stearns, Executive Director of the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave., announced today that the acclaimed Route 66 Theatre Company's production of A TWIST OF WATER, which has enjoyed a sold out run at Theater Wit, will transfer to the Mercury Theater previewing April 14, re-opening May 1 for a limited engagement through June 5th.

Walter Stearns, Executive Director of the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave., announced today that the acclaimed Route 66 Theatre Company's production of A TWIST OF WATER, which has enjoyed a sold out run at Theater Wit, will transfer to the Mercury Theater previewing April 14, re-opening May 1 for a limited engagement through June 5th.

Today we are taking an up-close and personal critical look at last night's super-sized episode of Fox's hit musical comedy series GLEE, titled after Lady Gaga's newest #1 song up until this last Easter weekend - of course 'Judas' sits atop the iTunes charts now - and featuring an especially rousing rendition of that German techno/'Express Yourself'-esque anthem, in addition to a mellifluous mash-up of TLC's 'Unpretty' and WEST SIDE STORY's 'I Feel Pretty' by Lea Michele and Dianna Agron, and, even, an Andrew Lloyd Webber diva moment made famous by Patti LuPone and, in concert, by Barbra Streisand - 'As If We Never Said Goodbye' from SUNSET BLVD, ably attended to by Golden Globe-winner Chris Colfer. We also take a look at the dramatic side of McKinley High in this episode and trace the journey we all have taken over the season so far as GLEE ramps up the excitement, emotion and energy for the final five episodes coming in the next number of weeks - and, also, a look ahead to next Tuesday's Fleetwood Mac-themed show with all songs from 1975's RUMOURS featuring the grand return of Tony-winner and Broadway baby Kristin Chenoweth as once-boozy bowling-alley barmaid/now-born-again gospel singer April Rhodes. Plus, 'Prom Queen' on May 10! Also, is that really the last we'll ever see of Season Two all-stars Darren Criss and Gwyneth Paltrow? GLEE is getting on the right track - and getting better - just in time (and right to the beat).

Roger Kumble, David Elzer and Molly O'Keefe are thrilled to announce that Eileen Galindo has joined the cast of the world premiere play, GIRLS TALK, written and directed by Roger Kumble (turnaround, d girl) and also starring Andréa Bendewald ('Suddenly Susan'), Leslie Bibb ('Talledega Nights'), Brooke Shields ('Lipstick Jungle'), and Constance Zimmer ('Entourage'). GIRLS TALK will close Sunday, April 24 at the Lee Strasberg Theatre, 7936 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood.

Talk show listings for Monday, April 25.

Last night on GLEE, the New Directions raised money for Nationals by holding a benefit concert. The April 19 return of the show also marked the return of Gwyneth Paltrow (who sang Adele's 'Turning Tables') Charice, and Broadway veteran Cheyenne Jackson as Vocal Adrenaline's new coach. Watch the full episode below!

Last night saw the highly-awaited return of FOX's hit musical comedy/drama series GLEE, featuring performances by this week's InDepth InterView participant tearing up 'All By Myself' - international recording superstar Charice - in addition to the return of Broadway baby Cheyenne Jackson as part of Sue Sylvester's Legion of Doom and Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow returning as Holly Holiday. While the focus was more on the drama and plot developments for once - expectedly enacted to reacquaint us all with what was up lo, two months ago when the last new episode pf Season Two aired - as opposed to the musical content, which dominates the proceedings more often than not. That being said, Charice and Gwyneth delivered in a big Broadway way - and there were more rabbits than a magician's hat in Harry Shum‘s slinky and stylish choreographic tour de force. And, it is clear that the screen chemistry when combining Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Morrison and Cheyenne Jackson is something to be seen.

In this week's all new episode of GLEE, the New Directions raise money for Nationals by holding a benefit concert. The April 19 return of the show also marks the return of Gwyneth Paltrow (who will sing Adele's 'Turning Tables') Charice, and Broadway veteran Cheyenne Jackson as Vocal Adrenaline's new coach. In the following video, the stars of the show reveal their own personal diva demands!

On the heels of amazing sellouts in major markets, Glee Live! In Concert! has added more dates to its blockbuster summer tour with a limited number of new tickets released. Twentieth Century Fox Television and 'Glee' co-creator Ryan Murphy are also pleased to announce that in addition to the thirteen cast members already scheduled to perform, Ashley Fink (Lauren Zizes) and members of the 'Dalton Academy Warblers' will also join the tour coming to North American concert stages this spring.