Neil Patrick Harris News

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Wednesday, August 11, 2010.

Tom O'Neil, author of the LA Times Gold Derby column, has revealed that fan favorite, Neil Patrick Harris, has just been granted a third 2010 Primetime Emmy nomination for his performance as the 2009 Tony Awards host in the category of Special-Class Program. Why the delay, as nominees were announced on July 8? An oversight, according to O'Neil.

The next classes will begin on December 6, 2010! Taught by Liz Caplan, the first session will consist of six exclusive weekly 30-minute classes, available online on Monday nights only to registered students. Each session will also include a special celebrity guest interview discussing their proven vocal techniques!

TV Guide reports that Ben Vereen and Wayne Brady will be guest starring on CBS' How I Met Your Mother next season. Both men will appear in the second episode of the sitcom's sixth season, airing on Monday, September 27, 2010. (Season six premieres on Monday, September 20). Brady returns as James Stinson, Barney's black, gay brother. Brady premiered the character in a 2006 and reprised the role again in 2007. Vereen will play Brady's father. No word on wether or not the episode will include a musical production. With the musical talents of Brady, Vereen and Neil Patrick Harris (who plays Barney), however, a musical addition to the stint seems likely.

The Hollywood Bowl cast, featuring Vannesa Hudgens, Wayne Brady, Aaron Tveit, Skylar Astin, Tracie Thoms completed its successful weekend run on Sunday night.

On the weekend of August 6-8, the infamous 17,000-seat Hollywood Bowl plays host to a forcibly-scaled-up version of Jonathan Larson's Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT, directed by none other than Neil Patrick Harris. Harris' challenge-besides honoring a beloved show as well as living up to his stunt casting choices-was to take a relatively-intimate rock musical about financially-strapped bohemians living in the less-than-luxurious Lower East Side enclave of New York City and expand it on the massive stage entrenched in the Hollywood Hills. The results-a mixed bag of technical gaffes, surprisingly excellent performances, and a few disappointments-prove to be admirably and genuinely entertaining overall.

Approaching its October 10 (10-10-10) launch, the new children's and family network The Hub has announced acquisitions of popular series with appeal to the network's target audience of children and their families. Among the titles that will join the lineup: 'Doogie Howser, M.D.' and 'Wonder Years,' and the iconic series 'Transformers - Generation 1,' and 'G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.'

Amid concerts and events this summer at the Hollywood Bowl, a production of Jonathan Larson's Tony-winning RENT is set to run three performances at the Bowl from August 6 through August 8, 2010. The cast for this production will be announced at a later date.

The Menier Chocolate Factory announces its Autumn/Winter 2010 season beginning with the European premiere of Accomplice - part game, part theatre, part tour around the streets of SE1. Accomplice is followed by Jonathan Munby's production of Caryl Churchill's A Number starring Timothy and Samuel West, and Ken Hill's The Invisible Man directed by Ian Talbot.

BroadwayWorld TV's Los Angeles correspondent Michael Sterling, got up close and personal today with the cast of RENT at rehearsals for the Hollywood Bowl presentation of the groundbreaking musical August 6 through 8, 2010. Sterling spoke in detail with the show's star-studded cast and director about the upcoming performances at one of the world's most renowned venues.

GKIDS presents the New York Int'l Children's Film Festival. GKIDS is a distributor of award-winning filmed entertainment specializing in titles that cross over between art-house and family audiences. Recent theatrical releases include Michel Ocelot's acclaimed Azur & Asmar, in partnership with the Weinstein Company, and Nina Paley's animated multiple-festival-winning animated feature, Sita Sings the Blues. Upcoming GKIDS releases include Tomm Moore's animated Oscar® nominated The Secret of Kells, and European Film Award winner Mia and the Migoo, by Jacques-Remy Girerd. GKIDS is also longtime producer of the New York Int'l Children's Film Festival, North America's largest festival of film for children and teens. NYICFF jury members include Frances McDormand, Uma Thurman, John Turturro, Susan Sarandon, Gus van Sant, James Schamus, and Matthew Modine. The GKIDS.TV website is a place where children, teens, and adults can watch, rate, review, buy and share award-winning film and animation from around the world.

This brilliant collection includes the original Academy Award winning Creature Comforts, the NYICFF Grand Prize winning Humdrum and A Matter of Loaf and Death, plus Rex the Runt, Shaun the Sheep, and other mini masterpieces encompassing 25 years of creative output from Nick Park, Peter Lord, Richard 'Golly' Goleszowski, Peter Peake, Chris Sadler and the other claymation geniuses at Aardman Animations.

RENT, written by Jonathan Larson, will be performed at the Hollywood Bowl for three performances only, Friday and Saturday August 6 and 7 at 8:30pm, and Sunday August 8 at 7:30pm. Neil Patrick Harris will direct the production, with musical direction by Tim Weil and choreography by Jamal Sims. The cast includes Skylar Astin, Wayne Brady, Vanessa Hudgens, Telly Leung, Collins Pennie, Nicole Scherzinger, Tracie Thoms, and Aaron Tveit.

Neil Patrick Harris stopped by Craig Ferguson to discuss Rent at The Hollywood Bowl, Danny Bonaduce, Harold and Kumar 3, NPH's road trip with David and their dog Fred and more.

The full schedule for this year's Comic-Con, to be held at the San Diego Convention Center from July 22 to July 25, has been announced. The Comic-Con will feature special guests including GLEE stars Chris Colfer, Jenna Ushkowitz, Kevin McHale, Mark Salling, Heather Morris, and Naya Rivera, as well as GLEE executive producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The group will appear in Ballroom 20 from 1:30pm to 2:30pm on July 25 to answer questions and preview Season Two. In addition, the show's assistant costume designer, Jennifer Eve, will appear at a costume designers event on July 23.

GKIDS presents the New York Int'l Children's Film Festival. GKIDS is a distributor of award-winning filmed entertainment specializing in titles that cross over between art-house and family audiences. Recent theatrical releases include Michel Ocelot's acclaimed Azur & Asmar, in partnership with the Weinstein Company, and Nina Paley's animated multiple-festival-winning animated feature, Sita Sings the Blues. Upcoming GKIDS releases include Tomm Moore's animated Oscar® nominated The Secret of Kells, and European Film Award winner Mia and the Migoo, by Jacques-Remy Girerd. GKIDS is also longtime producer of the New York Int'l Children's Film Festival, North America's largest festival of film for children and teens. NYICFF jury members include Frances McDormand, Uma Thurman, John Turturro, Susan Sarandon, Gus van Sant, James Schamus, and Matthew Modine. The GKIDS.TV website is a place where children, teens, and adults can watch, rate, review, buy and share award-winning film and animation from around the world.

This brilliant collection includes the original Academy Award winning Creature Comforts, the NYICFF Grand Prize winning Humdrum and A Matter of Loaf and Death, plus Rex the Runt, Shaun the Sheep, and other mini masterpieces encompassing 25 years of creative output from Nick Park, Peter Lord, Richard 'Golly' Goleszowski, Peter Peake, Chris Sadler and the other claymation geniuses at Aardman Animations.

NYICFF presents the first East Coast screening of Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, in 3D, with live on-stage animal stars, demo and Q&A with Hollywood animal trainer, photo ops with the animal stars, plus prizes, cat and dog masks and activity books for all attendees!!!

According to reports, stage and screen actor Neil Patrick Harris will be lending his voice to the Amazing Spider-Man in Activision Publishing Inc.'s upcoming game, 'Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.' The game is currently being showcased in San Diego at Comic-Con and will be released on September 7.