James Gray News

FC Films announced today the company is acquiring all U.S. rights to director Eran Creevy's action thriller WELCOME TO THE PUNCH from Worldview Entertainment.

Today we are talking to a terrifically talented triple-threat who has graced the silver screen in CHICAGO, as well as in the TV productions of THE MUSIC MAN, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS and in many stunt and dance double roles in his career thus far who has since become the protegee of dance extraordinaire Kenny Ortega and broken out on his own with a string of striking and memorable sequences in entities as diverse as TV's HELLCATS and the recent feature films THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, SUCKER PUNCH, MIRROR, MIRROR and TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 - gifted dancer/choreographer/director Paul Becker. Talking about many of his most memorable past projects and filling us in on his many current and future ones - TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN PART 2, a Ben Vereen documentary, an original movie musical titled STAGE FRIGHT, a James Gray film featuring Jeremy Renner and Marion Cotillard, a Lifetime movie musical with Karen Olivo and even more - Becker brings us into his unique and idiosyncratic world and gives us a glimpse into how he achieves consistent excellence in all of his many endeavors as he attempts to define his anomalous career for us. Additionally, Becker takes a look back at acting onscreen in the Oscar-winning Best Picture CHICAGO, choreographing the ultimate vampire wedding, judging SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE? Canada, producing CANADA'S GOT TALENT, giving two hundred dancers movement for a Michael Buble music video and he also shares some hopes and wishes for what he would like to take on in his blindingly bright future in show business - directing a feature film, perhaps? What about a Broadway show when time permits? The possibilities are multitude and seemingly endless and Becker is one of the most brightly shining behind-the-scenes talents on the rise, as is clear to qualify by all of the exquisitely exciting entities he is involved with on the horizon, both near and far. Plus, Becker shares his experiences choreographing various THE MUPPETS movies, working with Ortega on the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus concert tours, directing the first YouTube feature film, dancing with death in MASTERS OF HORROR, giving moves to monsters in THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, staging the spectacular finale of MIRROR, MIRROR showcasing Julia Roberts, choreographing the fairy tale characters of ONCE UPON A TIME, and he also offers opinions on GLEE and SMASH, reveals his early influences, favorite stars, formative films - and much, much more!

The Film Society of Lincoln Center honored Catherine Deneuve with its 39th Chaplin Award on April 2 in New York City. The annual gala is the Film Society's largest annual fundraiser, benefiting the ongoing programs of the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

Parts & Labor's Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy - the producing duo behind Mike Mills' Oscar-winning film Beginners which won Christopher Plummer his first Academy Award last month - announced today that they are partnering with Todd Hagopian at Ocean Size Pictures, to produce DIRTY WHITE BOY.

The humor of Mel Brook's "Young Frankenstein: The Musical" follows that of the original 1974 film, but adds just enough new punch lines to make the show fresh for the younger generations unfamiliar with the movie. The comedy of show even sometimes exceeds that of the film, which follows the grandson of Victor von Frankenstein and his adventures in Transylvania after he arrives in town to settle his dead grandfather's estate. The temptation to recreate his grandfather's experiments on dead bodies proves too strong, and Frederick Frankenstein finds himself with his own monster and an angry town mob at his door.

On Wednesday, December 14, A Christmas Story, The Musical! celebrated its opening night at Chicago's legendary Chicago Theatre with producer Peter Billingsley, who starred as Ralphie in the original 1983 film, there to cheer the company on. Check out photos from opening night below!

Nighttime is generally the right time for going to the movies. With the new series After Hours, Museum of the Moving Image expands its schedule with an exciting slate of special screenings and events on weeknights, after the galleries have closed.

The World Premiere of Peg O' My Heart the Musical is being presented at the 12th annual Midtown International Theater Festival and produced by Gwen Arment, producer and artistic director of Hell's Kitchen Musicals.

James Gray and his merry band of cuckoos led by Momma are back for a whole week this year in Firecracker Follies, the campy and irreverent salute to our nation's history. Eric Seppala - does some great meatless recipes, Kendall Rose, and Dena Drotar are joined by special guest tap dancer Rusty Frank @ the Cavern Club of Casita del Campo in Silverlake through Sunday July 3. There are sendups of Betsy Ross, Uncle Sam, Daniel Boone, Rosa Parks (guess who plays her?), Mrs. Lincoln, Wonder Woman (and no, Momma does NOT play her; you'll have to go and see the show to find out), Ben Franklin, Shirley Temple Black (well, she was an ambassador!), George Washington and his dancing cherries (see photo below), and a great Jackie O(nassis) with 60s fashion guru Oleg Cassini in tow, Davy Crockett, Marilyn Monroe (well, via the Kennedy boys she was almost patriotic), the Wright Brothers, FDR with Annie Warbucks, Amelia Earhart & Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan - SINGING! Momma does a patriotic sing-a-long, bakes cookies-and you'll get a chance to see the new classic 4th of July picnic fiasco (now on youtube) from last year. On opening night, there were tech problems that made the show even funnier, as Gray mimed all of Momma's crazed eating habits from the dvd. Dena Drotar does her great MM with 'Heatwave', Momma announces her candidacy for office with 'Motherhood' and there's even a fireworks display as the grand finale.

The Tony Award-winning stars Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane were joined by a host of special guests when they served as Masters of Ceremonies for the Vineyard Theatre Gala honoring the five-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman at the company's annual benefit last night, February 28 at 6:00pm at the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the evening!

The Tony Award-winning stars Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane were joined by a host of special guests when they served as Masters of Ceremonies for the Vineyard Theatre Gala honoring the five-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman at the company's annual benefit last night, February 28 at 6:00pm at the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the evening!

The Tony Award-winning stars Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane were joined by a host of special guests when they served as Masters of Ceremonies for the Vineyard Theatre Gala honoring the five-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman at the company's annual benefit last night, February 28 at 6:00pm at the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel. Broadwayworld was on hand for the evening and brings you photo coverage of the starry arrivals below.

It's hard to believe, but the fiercely fruity hit Fruitcake Follies is celebrating its 12th birthday, having originated in Hollywood at the Cinegrill, and now in its permanent residence in the basement of a Mexican restaurant in Silver Lake. About as original as you'll find anywhere, the show's genius is James Gray, who serves as host, and costars the one and only Momma ... and this year Eric Seppala and Sandy Fox. Guest stars are Leslie Carrara and puppet pet Lolly and Melanie Hutsell as chef Paula Deen.

The New Mel Brooks Musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, the new musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award® winning smash The Producers, will celebrate its Los Angeles premiere at the Pantages Theatre with a limited two week engagement from July 27 - August 8, 2010.

There is no denying that Mel Brooks is a comedy legend. Brooks' oeuvre--particularly his hilarious film work--harkens back to a time when getting laughs meant less cynical snark but, rather, more outlandish farce and the endless use of double-entendres and wordplay. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Brooks' stage musical iteration of his cult hit film--now performing at the Pantages Theatre through August 8--features plenty of Brooks' signature silliness, now paired with several relatively amusing songs, all penned by Brooks. However, the show somehow just stops short of becoming the universally beloved musical that Brooks' earlier show (The Producers) managed to be so much more effortlessly. But rest assured, this show will still coax a lot of smiles and many loud bursts of laughter out of you.

The New Mel Brooks Musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, the new musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award® winning smash The Producers, will celebrate its Los Angeles premiere at the Pantages Theatre with a limited two week engagement from July 27 - August 8, 2010.

The hilarious, new musical comedy, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, based on the Oscar-nominated smash hit 1974 film, is the wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic from the comic genius of Mel Brooks. Tony Award winners Roger Bart and Shuler Hensley reprise the roles of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein and The Monster in this hilarious new monster musical playing the Golden Gate Theatre June 30 - July 25, 2010.

The New Mel Brooks Musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, the new musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award® winning smash The Producers, will celebrate its Los Angeles premiere at the Pantages Theatre with a limited two week engagement from July 27 - August 8, 2010.

That irrepressibly zany team that brings you the annual Fruitcake Follies in December presented for the very first time - hopefully, it will be an annual event - Firecracker Follies @ the Cavern Club Theater @ Casita del Campo in Silverlake. Believe me, folks, this democratically liberal revue turned American history upside down and rightside up and gave brand new meaning to the anthem 'This Land Is My Land'. With devilishly creative James Gray and the one and only drag impresario Momma at the helm, how could it be anything less than a total camp, an irreverant sendup a la National Lampoon and Monty Python of our great heroes and heroines and all we hold sacred as Americans?! So much PR is put out there to make us feel guilty about the war, the recession, the environment and taking advantage of our freedom, it's about time we just laid back, blamed everyone else for what's happening and had some sheer fun with it all!