Natalie Portman News

The Public Theater has announced additional casting today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. David Furr (Orlando) and Stephen Spinella (Jaques) join the previously announced MacIntyre Dixon (Adam), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia), Omar Metwally (Oliver), and Lily Rabe (Rosalind) in Shakespeare's comedy AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan.

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the renowned Long Island summer arts camp whose alumni include Natalie Portman and Mariah Carey, announces that its currently running "First Class," the inaugural show of works by students of Usdan's 2011 Portfolio Preparation Track being presented at the Atrium at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, has been extended through March 27. It was originally supposed to close March 22.

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts (www.usdan.com) today announced its final two free Open Houses for its 45th season.

Producer Stephen Byrd of the upcoming revival of A Streetcar Named Desire, and the only African American producer to ever win the coveted British Olivier Award (for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) has just been announced as an addition to the next panel of Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU). This monthly networking panel, Coloring the Great White Way: Bringing Diversity to Commercial Theater, will offer a discussion focused on how to bring more diverse productions and audiences to the traditionally great 'white' way. The panel will take place on March 21 at 7:30pm at the Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street, NYC.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents its next monthly networking panel, Coloring the Great White Way: Bringing Diversity to Commercial Theater, a discussion focused on how to bring more diverse offerings and audiences to New York City.

A scholarship in the name of Isaac Stern, the violinist, educator, humanitarian, and savior of Carnegie Hall, will soon be presented to a violin student at Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts. The scholarship has been funded by a generous grant from the Linda and Isaac Stern Charitable Foundation. Usdan's faculty will hold auditions throughout the spring in order to identify the winning student.

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the renowned Long Island summer arts camp whose alumni include Natalie Portman and Mariah Carey, announces that its currently running "First Class," the inaugural show of works by students of Usdan's 2011 Portfolio Preparation Track being presented at the Atrium at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, has been extended through March 27. It was originally supposed to close March 22.

Deadline.com reports that actress Mimi Rogers has joined the cast of ABC's upcoming drama pilot SCRUPLES based on the 1978 novel by Judith Krantz.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents its next monthly networking panel, Coloring the Great White Way: Bringing Diversity to Commercial Theater, a discussion focused on how to bring more diverse offerings and audiences to New York City.

Award-winning, 16-year-old Bay Area soprano Julia Belanoff will perform songs from her debut classical-pop album, "Winner In Your Heart," on Saturday, March 10 at the Coastal Repertory Theatre in Half Moon Bay, California. The album, comprised of 13 original songs, five of which Belanoff co-wrote, was released on January 26.

New York City Ballet announced today that its 2012 Spring Gala on Thursday, May 10 will feature a one-time-only salute to France titled À La Francaise, and will feature two World Premiere ballets, one by NYCB's Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins to a score by the French composer Marc-Andre Dalbavie; and one by French-born choreographer and former NYCB Principal Dancer Benjamin Millepied to a commissioned score by Nico Muhly. The evening will also include a major revival of George Balanchine's Symphony in C, which was created for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1947 to a score by the French composer Georges Bizet.

The Public Theater announced the dates today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan, will begin previews on Tuesday, June 5 and continue for four weeks through Saturday, June 30. Joining the previously announced Lily Rabe (Rosalind) will be Macintyre Dixon (Adam); Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia); and Omar Metwally (Oliver).

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the Long Island summer arts camp whose alumni include Natalie Portman and Mariah Carey, announces the Long Island opening of its free public art exhibit: First Class, the inaugural show of works by students of Usdan's 2011 Portfolio Preparation Track, presented at the Atrium at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts from March 8 to 22, 2012.

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the renowned New York-area summer arts day camp whose alumni include Natalie Portman and Mariah Carey, announces two free public art exhibits, in NYC and then the exhibit moves to Long Island: First Class, the inaugural exhibit of works by students of Usdan's 2011 Portfolio Preparation Track, from January to March 2012. Both exhibits are free and open to the public (detailed location information below). Previous exhibits by students in the program (formerly titled the Usdan Honors Art Intensive) have been presented at major public venues in New York City and on Long Island.

TOPHER GRACE and OLIVIA THIRLBY will co-star in Second Stage Theatre's production of Paul Weitz's world premiere comedy, LONELY, I'M NOT, directed by Trip Cullman. Preview performances are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, April 10 at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street). The production will officially open on Monday, May 7. For tickets or more information, please visit www.2ST.com. Additional casting will be announced shortly.

The 84th Annual Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011, hosted by Billy Crystal were presented on February 26, 2012 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation was televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide. Check out photos below of the red carpet - glitz, glamour and fashion!

The 84th Annual Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011, hosted by Billy Crystal were presented on February 26, 2012 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation was televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide. Check out photos below of the red carpet - glitz, glamour and fashion!

The 84th Annual Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011, hosted by Billy Crystal were presented on February 26, 2012 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation was televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide. Check out photos below of the winners in the press room!

Today we are talking to a stand-up comedienne celebrated for her caustic wit, erudite political humor and illuminating social observations who has also made a name for herself over the last two decades as an actress by appearing in over 100 feature films and television shows, including recurring roles on the TV series SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, THE BEN STILLER SHOW, THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW and 24, as well as her film resume, ranging from roles in ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION to WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER to REALITY BITES, COP LAND, THE CABLE GUY, NOW AND THEN and many more - the one and only Janeane Garofalo. In addition to a twenty-year career retrospective, touching upon many of her most notable big screen and small screen appearances - sharing comments on many of her favorite colleagues and co-stars along the way - Garofalo also opens up about the theatrically attuned work she has previously done - such as HBO's THE LARAMIE PROJECT - and, most importantly, fills us in on the new play she is starring in for The New Group, RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, directed by Scott Elliott. Besides all about RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, her character in it and the political and social issues the new original play bravely tackles, Garofalo shares her enthusiasm for her newfound experiences in the theatre world and her intention of pursuing a theatre career further. Also, she clues us in on her upcoming film projects, BAD PARENTS and GENERAL EDUCATION, and offers her classic views on current politics as only she can, in her own delightfully droll and ingratiatingly idiosyncratic fashion - plus, much, much more!