Lee Daniel News

Huntington Theatre Company completes its 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of Captors by Evan M. Wiener (Monogamy) and directed by Huntington Artistic Director Peter DuBois, and Noel Coward's stylish, savvy comedy Private Lives, directed by Tony Award nominee Maria Aitken (Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps).

Following smash hit productions in Australia, London and Toronto, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL began previews on Broadway on February 28 and opened on Sunday night, March 20, 2011. Here's part one of our photo coverage of the show's starry opening night red carpet arrivals!

Lee Daniels, who's most well known for directing PRECIOUS, has just signed on to develop and to direct ANNA IN THE TROPICS, a film adaptation of Nilo Cruz's Pulitzer and Steinberg Prize-winning play, reports the Hollywood Reporter. Cruz is on board to help develop the script as well.

Perhaps the Broadway musical would enjoy a complete and total renaissance of quality if only Thomas Meehan would agree to co-author the book of every new show that hits town.  The writer whose main stem debut was the perfectly crafted Annie has gone on to spend the bulk of his career co-authoring with the likes of Mel Brooks, Mark O'Donnell and Lee Adams.  And while I'm certainly not dismissing the contributions of his collaborators, the Thomas Meehan name in a Playbill seems to guarantee that no matter how the dialogue and the score turn out, the elements will be housed in a sturdy structure that firmly establishes its story arc, gives us reasons to care about the characters and steadily glides along to a satisfying conclusion.

Deadline.com reports today that Precious mastermind Lee Daniels has his eye on a screen adaptation of Kander & Ebb's SCOTTSBORO BOYS, playing out its final performances at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway. According to the report: 'While The Scottsboro Boys ends its Broadway run on December 12 at the Lyceum Theatre, there are flickers of hope that the last collaboration between songwriting legends John Kander and Fred Ebb will have a feature future. I'm told that Oscar-nominated Precious director Lee Daniels has seen the show several times and is in early conversations to develop it.'

On Wednesday, November 10, The 2010 Princess Grace Awards were held at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. The Awards ceremony included the presentation of 21 awards to emerging artists in theater, dance and film as well as the Prince Rainier III Award, presented to Denzel and Pauletta Washington, and the Princess Grace Statue Award to be presented to Anna D. Shapiro. The Award recipients hail from cities and states across America and traveled to New York City to receive their honor at the glamorous black tie ceremony. The 28th Annual Princess Grace Awards Gala took place in the presence of Her Royal Highness Caroline Princess of Hanover. The evening was co-chaired by Bonnie Pfeifer Evans. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, the exhilarating new Kander & Ebb musical, opened Sunday, October 31 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) and BroadwayWorld.com was there to caption the starry red carpet arrivals!

Tony-award winning actress Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables) and television and film icon George Takei (Star Trek, Heroes) will return to portray the roles of Gloria Suzuki and Old Sam Omura in a developmental reading of the new Broadway-bound musical, Allegiance, on October 25th at the Julia Miles Theatre in New York City. Telly Leung (Flower Drum Song, Pacific Overture, Wicked, Rent) and Allie Trimm (13, Bye Bye Birdie) also star. Allegiance is produced by Lorenzo Thione and Sing Out, Louise! Productions.

Sundance Channel and GREY GOOSE ENTERTAINMENT® are set to debut the fifth season of Iconoclasts on Sundance Channel on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Sundance Channel and GREY GOOSE ENTERTAINMENT® are set to debut the fifth season of Iconoclasts on Sundance Channel on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

According to Showbiz411.com, Mariah Carey has enlisted the assistance of Broadway composer Marc Shaiman (Hairspray) on her new studio album, which is being produced by Randy Jackson. A five-time Oscar nominee, Shaiman has a history of collaborating with some of the best recording artists, including Bette Midler, recently, on the single 'The Greatest Ears in Town,' inspired by the late producer Arif Mardin on the album All My Friends Are Here.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 135 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2010 to the Academy's roster of voting members. Included in this year's list are Tony Award nominees James Gandolfini (GOD OF CARNAGE) and Anna Kendrick (HIGH SOCIETY), Drama Desk nominee Carey Mulligan (THE SEAGULL), director Adam Shankman ('Hairspray'), and musicians Bono & The Edge (SPIDERMAN: TURN OFF THE DARK).

FATHER OF THE BRIDE is the timeless comedic, yet poignant story of the Banks family's preparations for their daughter Kay's wedding. Most everyone is familiar with the modern version starring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton. The original movie stars Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor and takes place in the 1950s, as does Pull-Tight's production.

FATHER OF THE BRIDE is the timeless comedic, yet poignant story of the Banks family's preparations for their daughter Kay's wedding. Most everyone is familiar with the modern version starring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton. The original movie stars Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor and takes place in the 1950s, as does Pull-Tight's production.

FATHER OF THE BRIDE is the timeless comedic, yet poignant story of the Banks family's preparations for their daughter Kay's wedding. Most everyone is familiar with the modern version starring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton. The original movie stars Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor and takes place in the 1950s, as does Pull-Tight's production.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, will honor those committed to promoting equality and tolerance at the 21st Annual GLAAD media awards in ceremonies taking place in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. By recognizing and honoring media for outstanding images of the LGBT community, the GLAAD Media Awards serve as a benchmark for the media industry and complement GLAAD's work to bring LGBT images and stories to Americans.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, will honor those committed to promoting equality and tolerance at the 21st Annual GLAAD media awards in ceremonies taking place in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. By recognizing and honoring media for outstanding images of the LGBT community, the GLAAD Media Awards serve as a benchmark for the media industry and complement GLAAD's work to bring LGBT images and stories to Americans.

Singer/songwriter Dan Manjovi talks about his song from Oscar nominated film Precious and his new show I Am I Will I Do!

According to numerous published reports, Mariah Carey may be immortalized in a new musical about her life and, allegedly, the famous singer is hoping to be portrayed on Broadway by Leona Lewis. A spokesperson for Carey reveals: 'Mariah is in talks for a Broadway musical to be made about her life in 2009.'