Judi Dench News

NewFest (www.newfest.org), New York's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Film Festival will soon roll out the rainbow carpet for its 24th season, from tonight, July 27th through Tuesday, July 31st. The stellar lineup includes fourteen narrative features, four documentaries and many anticipated short films. New this year, all screenings and panels will take place at Manhattan's film mecca, The Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater, marking a continued relationship between the two pioneering film organizations.

Leading British specialist Acorn Media announces upcoming DVDs/Blu-rays including several must-see, brand new series as well as the first complete collection of Masterpiece Theatre favorite and addictive costume drama THE FORSYTE SAGA starring Damian Lewis (Homeland).

According to a report from whatsonstage.com, Daniel Lapaine and Darrel D'Silva will join previously cast Sheridan Smith in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler at the Old Vic. Previews begin September 5, with an opening set on September 12, 2012.

Theatre Royal Brighton Productions presents the second show in their debut season, Joe Penhall's multi award winning play, BLUE/ORANGE, directed by Artistic Director Christopher Luscombe (The Madness of George III, Spamalot in the West End) with Robert Bathurst (Cold Feet, Wild at Heart, Downton Abbey) in the role of Robert.

Joining the already announced Anthony Andrews as Professor Higgins, and Annalene Beechey as Eliza, acclaimed British actors Alun Armstrong, James Fleet and Siân Phillips are to join glittering stars of the stage Jenny Galloway and Julian Ovenden at the BBC Proms performance of Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady on 14 July 2012.

According to the Daily Mail, director Matthew Warchus has left the in-the-works West End adaptation of the Oscar-winning film Shakespeare in Love. The production now begins the search for a new director.

According to the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, Anita Dobson will make her Royal Shakespeare Company debut in The Merry Wives of Windsor, beginning Oct. 25 in Stratford-upon-Avon.

According to the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, Michael Grandage is bringing together UK's cream of the crop for his fledgling West End theatre company's new season at Noel Coward Theatre, beginning Dec. 1.

Sheridan Smith will star in the Old Vic's production of HEDDA GABLER by Henrik Ibsen, in a version by Brian Friel directed by Anna Mackmin. The show begins previews on the 5th of September and opens on the 12th for a run until the 10th of Novemeber.

Es ist ein schöner sonniger Tag in Berlin. Ich bin mit Daniela Ziegler in einem kleinen Café in Charlottenburg verabredet. Sie kommt mit dem Fahrrad - ganz schön sportlich. Daniela Ziegler ist charmant, sieht blendend aus und plaudert mit mir offen und herzlich über ihre lange Karriere. Sie ist eine Frau mit vielen Facetten und hat eine lange, erfolgreiche Vita an TV, Film und Theaterprojekten vorzuweisen, ist Schauspielerin und Musicaldarstellerin mit Leidenschaft. Wir konzentrieren uns im Gespräch 'nur' auf ihre Musicalrollen und reden beinahe zwei Stunden. Es gibt viel zu erzählen, verkörperte die Ziegler doch so illustre und unterschiedliche Charaktere wie Eva Peron, Velma Kelly, Norma Desmond und ab September die Erzherzogin Sophie in 'Elisabeth', Harry Kupfers Jubiläumsinszenierung zum 20. Geburtstag des Musicals. Daniela Ziegler spricht über ihre Rollen, Glücksmomente im Theater, Pannen auf der Bühne und warum sie keine Auditions mehr macht.

Earlier this week, the UK's top celebrities gathered for the Queen's Jubilee Arts Party. BroadwayWorld brings you 'red carpet' coverage below, featuring Michael Crawford, Dame Judi Dench, Clive Anderson, Timothy Spall, Arlene Phillips, Nettie and Nick Mason, Dionne Bromfield, Joan Collins, Petula Clarke, Shirley Bassey, Lily Cole, Mariella Frostrup, Patricia Hodge, Joanna Lumley, Fay Ripley and more!

The Daily Mail reports that director Rufus Norris, fresh off the debut of his film Broken at Cannes, has cast Michelle Ryan as Sally in the upcoming West End revival of Cabaret.

In a recent interview with BBC, Dame Judi Dench chatted about the importance of teaching Shakespeare in schools. Dench commented: ' I would like to be doing a Shakespeare play every single night, and I do try to say a sonnet every day... Either it gives you goosebumps or it doesn't, and I heard this morning that some schools have stopped doing Shakespeare on the school curriculum.'

The first official trailer for James Bond SKYFALL, starring Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem & Helen McRory premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this weekend. Get a first look at the highly-anticipated film below!

According to a report by The Daily Mail, Pop Idol star Will Young has been cast in the West End revival of Cabaret, directed by Rufus Norris.

Actress/singer Elaine Paige, having originated Evita, Chess, Piaf and Anything Goes in London, is unquestionably the queen of the West End, and with a Drama Desk nomination securely in place for her Broadway performance in the new Kennedy Center production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies, which opened at the Ahmanson May 9, Paige is fast becoming a theatrical sensation in the US as well. In our chat, she says what she thinks about Stephen Sondheim, Follies, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Barbara Cook, her favorite career highlights including her leading men, as well as her popular radio talk show for the BBC entitled Elaine Paige on Sunday.

In her first return to television since 'Sex in the City,' Emmy Award-winning actress and fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker will guest star in the fourth season of GLEE.

Deadline.com reports that NBC has officially picked up INFAMOUS, previously titled NOTORIOUS from Universal TV and BermanBraun. The project is penned by Liz Heldens. Broadway veterans Victor Garber and Tate Donovan will star.

Rumours that The Public Theatre's production of INTO THE WOODS will transfer to Broadway have been fueled once more by The New York Post, which reports that extentions to Donna Murphy, Amy Adams and the rest of the cast's contracts are being negotiated.

Dame Judi Dench has signed up to act in the West End once more this fall in a new play by John Logan. British actor Ben Whishaw is also slated for the cast, while Michael Grandage will direct. The show will move to Broadway if it is successful enough in London, according to today's New York Post.