Helen Mirren News

Joining Helen Mirren as The Queen in this world premiere are Michael Elwyn as Anthony Eden, Haydn Gwynne as Margaret Thatcher, Robert Hardy as Winston Churchill, Richard McCabe as Harold Wilson, Nathaniel Parker as Gordon Brown, Paul Ritter as John Major and Rufus Wright as David Cameron. The Equerry is Geoffrey Beevers and the role of Young Elizabeth will be played by Bebe Cave, Maya Gerber and Nell Williams.

Those who have kept up with the press surrounding one of the holiday season's biggest movies, Les Miserables, know how much emphasis was put on the fact that it was the first time that a movie musical had used live singing. In a recent interview with Charlie Rose, however, Julie Taymor claims that the cast of Across the Universe did the very same thing back in 2007.

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company will present the newly revised version of A.R. Gurney's 1991 play, The Old Boy, beginning Tuesday February 12th and continuing through March 24th only. Opening Night is set for Tuesday, March 5th.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts were held today in the UK, and once again, ARGO took home the top two prizes: 'Best Film,' and 'Best Director' for Ben Affleck.

It's the BAFTAs tonight, held at the Royal Opera House - and here are some of the stars from a very wet red carpet in London!

At BroadwayWorld we pride ourselves in showcasing theater content submitted by our regional contributors from all corners of the globe. Get all your theater news at a glance each Friday with 'Around BWW: Regional Highlights of the Week'! Check out the most-read stories below for the week of February 4!

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company today announced that Tom Riis Farrell will join the cast of their production of the newly revised version of A.R. Gurney's 1991 play, The Old Boy, replacing Hal Robinson. Performances of this Off-Broadway Limited Engagement begin February 12th and continue through March 24th only. Mr. Robinson withdrew for personal reasons.

Once in a generation, if we are lucky, an extraordinary talent like no other arises - one who can ceaselessly, effortlessly caress the loftiest heights of comedy and drama onstage (and sometimes onscreen), while, simultaneously, imbuing musical theatre roles with the same skill set, plus a powerhouse, quintessentially unique and resplendent vocal instrument; and, of course, that indescribable 'it' factor, too - such is the tale of Broadway's grand dame, Patti LuPone. Ms. LuPone is a part of that great pantheon of leading ladies of lore led by Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Angela Lansbury, Elaine Stritch and Bernadette Peters - that is, musical theatre royalty. Taking a look back at many moments in her long and varied career thus far, LuPone candidly opines about a vast array of topics and opens up about many of the remarkable figures who have played roles in her astounding time spent on Broadway, in Hollywood and on TV - among them: Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, Steven Spielberg, David Mamet, Ryan Murphy and many more. Most importantly, LuPone discusses various aspects of her ever-expanding new solo show upon which her sensational live album, FAR AWAY PLACES, is based - the songs, the stories, the themes, the collaborators and her future plans for the piece (such as her series of 54 Below shows coming up in February). Additionally, LuPone addresses appearing on GLEE, reflects on working with Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham on PARKER, shares her thoughts on her favorite films of the year, expounds upon what roles she would like to pursue and teases about her concert with David Yazbek and the debut of her new Carnegie Hall concert as well as a return to London where she made her mark with her Olivier-winning original Fantine in LES MISERABLES - all of that and much, much more!

The first trailer for David Mamet's upcoming HBO film PHIL SPECTOR, featuring Al Pacino and Helen Mirren, has just bee released. Check it out below!

HBO will present the premiere of the new original biopic PHIL SPECTOR on Sunday, March 24th at 9/8c. The cable network has just released the first official trailer for the film. Check it out below!

The Audience will preview at the Gielgud Theatre from 15 February 2013, with press night on 5 March 2013 and is currently booking to 15 June 2013. Designs are by Bob Crowley with lighting by Rick Fisher, sound by Paul Arditti, music by Paul Englishby and video by Ian William Galloway. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at rehearsals below.

According to the Daily Mail, Helen Mirren has begun rehearsals for Peter Morgan's The Audience, about Elizabeth II. The play has already drawn a box office advance of £2 million, but regardless of popularity, The Audience must end its engagement on June 15 due to the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Private Lives, set to begin at the Gielgud Theatre on June 22.

Brimming with magic and romance, William Shakespeare's The Tempest, plays in the intimate Severson Theatre February 21 through March 20, 2013. The play sweeps us through stormy seas to an island where airy and earthly spirits captivate or free us. Come, be swept ashore and feel the fluttering of every winged word in this lyrical romance.

Dada Films has officially acquired the comedy MENTAL, which will reunite Toni Collette with MURIEL'S WEDDING director PJ Hogan.

Julie Taymor, Oscar-winning director widely renowned for her innovative Broadway production of "The Lion King" and as the driving force behind "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," will appear at Pace University's "The Masters Series" at Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts today at 6:00p.m. Other celebrity participants scheduled to appear in the series include Academy award-winning performer Liza Minnelli.

The McCallum Theatre, in partnership with Break-Away Tours, has announced its 2013 Springtime Theatre Tours to New York and London. The New York trip will include three Broadway productions -- Lucky Guy, Orphans and Matilda the Musical --- while London theatregoers will enjoy four productions including The Audience, Peter & Alice, Once and a fourth show yet to be announced.

Multiple Tony Award-winner JULIE TAYMOR will direct and ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL will compose original music for William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the inaugural production in Theatre for a New Audience's first home in the Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District, 262 Ashland Place between Lafayette Avenue and Fulton Streets. Previews begin October 19, 2013 for an opening November 2.

Julie Taymor, Oscar-winning director widely renowned for her innovative Broadway production of "The Lion King" and as the driving force behind "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," will appear at Pace University's "The Masters Series" at Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts on Monday at 6:00p.m. Other celebrity participants scheduled to appear in the series include Academy award-winning performer Liza Minnelli.