Jessica Lewis - Page 108

The Associated Press has released a detail of the celebrity farewell to Oprah, which will air on May 23 and May 24, just before the last Oprah Winfrey Show airs on May 25. On hand to pay tribute to the queen of daytime talk was the segment's host, Tom Hanks, Jerry Seinfeld who performed a routine, Madonna, Tom Cruise, Halle Berry, Beyonce, John Legend, Patti LaBelle and mroe. Aretha Franklin sang Amazing Grace and stage and small screen favorite Kristin Chenoweth led a performance of Wicked's For Good. As she performed, nearly 300 Morehouse College scholarship students, endorced by Oprah in one of her many charity endeavors, walked the aisles of the United Center where the event was being filmed. Simon Cowell was also on hand and Rosie O'Donnell additionally performed a Broadway-inspired number.

In his column this morning, Michael Riedel suggests that Hugh Jackman, who just completed a two week run of his solo variety show at the Curran Theater in San Francisco is considering the starring role in an upcoming stage adaptation of Tim Burton's Big Fish. The new musical is being composed by Andrew Lippa. Jackman recently participated in a reading of the show with Laura Benanti.

In need of new headshots? New York City photographer Peter James Zielinski will be shooting in Chicago May 21st through June 4th. Student, group, and returning client rates are available.

Producers Julian Schlossberg and Letty Aronson are proud to announce that the world premiere production of RELATIVELY SPEAKING, three one-act comedies by the prolific writing trio of Ethan Coen, Elaine May and Woody Allen, directed by John Turturro, will arrive on Broadway this fall.

Born and raised in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, actress/songstress Kristin Chenoweth goes back to her country music roots with her new album Some Lessons Learned, to be released on SONY MASTERWORKS on Tuesday, September 13.

The St. Louis Muny has announced that Patti Murin, Paul Vogt and John Riddle will lead the theater's production of The Little Mermaid as Ariel, Ursula and Prince Eric, respectively. They will be joined by Lara Teeter (Scuttle), Elizabeth Teeter (Flounder), Francis Jue (Sebastian), Lee Roy Reams (Chef Louis), Gary Glasgow (Grimsby), and Ken Page (King Triton).

The Broadway League has released its seventh edition of the demographics report, The Audience for Touring Broadway 2009-2010. Updated on a biennial basis, it tracks profiles of audiences throughout the country, analyzes changes over time, and denotes the unique characteristics and theatergoing habits that distinguish 'road' audiences from Broadway theatergoers in New York.

As Broadway has previously reported, new ABC series for the 2011-12 season are 'Apartment 23,' 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Good Christian Belles,' 'Last Man Standing,' 'Man Up,' 'Missing,' 'Once Upon a Time,' 'Pan Am,' 'Revenge,' 'The River,' 'Scandal,' 'Suburgatory' and 'Work It.'

Whatsonstage.com reports today that Caroline O'Connor will lead a UK production of GYPSY at the Leicester Curve Theatre in from March 13 to April 14, 2012. Opening night is set for March 15, 2012. Curve Theatre Artistic Director Paul Kerryson directs.

ABC kicked off its 2011-12 season pickups with five comedies - 'Apartment 23,' 'Last Man Standing' (formerly 'Tim'), 'Man Up,' 'Suburgatory,' 'Work It' - and seven dramas - 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Good Christian Belles,' 'Pan Am,' 'Revenge,' 'Once Upon a Time,' 'The River,' 'Scandal' - receiving series commitments.

Last night, May 12, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark unveiled the new version of the mega musical. The official opening night of the new SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark is set for Tuesday, June 14th at the Foxwoods Theatre (213 West 42nd Street). Tickets are now on sale through October 2, 2011, with group tickets on sale through January 8, 2012. Click below to hear about the new and improved production from the men who have updated it: writers Glen Berger (who also collaborated with Julie Taymor on the original production) and newcomer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.

Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced today additional casting for the Nikos Stage productions for the 2011 Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF), the company's 57th season and the first under Ms. Gersten's leadership.

Deadline.com reports that the 'is he in or is he out' chatter surrounding Alec Baldwin's participation in the Rock of Ages film can be put to rest, as the actor is back on track to fulful the role of nightclub owner Dennis Dupree. Earlier this week, The star had been said to have withdrawn for unspecified personal reasons, however announcements from New Line Cinema and his appearance on set at the read through yesterday seemed to indicate otherwise. He is set to begin shooting on May 23.

Cameron Mackintosh's new 25th anniversary production of Les Misérables welcomes J. Mark McVey to the role of Jean Valjean beginning in Tempe, AZ, at ASU Gammage June 7-12, 2011. The all new production of Les Misérables features glorious new staging and spectacular reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.

Music-Theatre Group has announced 'Hey, Mary': An Interview with Mary Rodgers (Griffin and the Minor Canon, Once Upon A Mattress, Hey, Love) moderated by her colleague and friend Thomas Schumacher (Producer and President, Disney Theatrical Group) about her music, her muses, and the fascinating world of musical theatre that she was born into and has helped shape. The not to be missed one-night only talk will take place on Monday, May 16th at 10 Jay Street, 9th Floor in DUMBO at 6:00 p.m.

The first ever Tony Award Documentary Film Series launched this week, May 9, as part of the 2011 Tony Awards Showcase at the Times Square Visitors Center and Mini-Museum. The Tony Award Documentary Films Series features three films that examine what it's like to be behind-the-scenes on a Tony-eligible Broadway musical. The first film to be screened was Finding Billy, taking viewers on the journey in the search for the young male leads in Billy Elliot the Musical. The screening was immediately followed by a panel discussion comprised of moderator Nora Brennan (Children's Casting Director for Billy Elliot), and Broadway cast members Tade Biesinger (Billy), Jacob Clemente (Billy), Stephen Hanna (Older Billy), and Joel Hatch (George). BroadwayWorld was on hand for the special event and brings you the panel disussion below.

The first ever Tony Award Documentary Film Series, part of the 2011 Tony Awards Showcase at the Times Square Visitor Center and Mini-Museum The Tony Award Documentary Films Series is featuring three films that examine what it's like to be behind-the-scenes on a Broadway musical. The Tony Awards Showcase, featuring historic Tony memorabilia, is open until the end of June and free to the public.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces Polly Carl will join the company in a new position as Director of the American Voices New Play Institute (AVNPI) beginning July 1, 2011. As director, Carl will develop and direct all existing staff and activities of the Institute, as well as support the artistic planning, production, development and study of new work by Arena Stage. This position reports to Arena Stage Associate Artistic Director David Dower.

New York City Center's final 'Musical Theater: From the Page to the Stage,' program on Monday, May 16 will be curated and hosted by Tony Award-winning actress Victoria Clark. Pulitzer Prize-winning director James Lapine will moderate 'All About Collaboration,' a dialogue with Alex Timbers and Michael Friedman, the creative team behind Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. The program will be held at City Center, 130 W. 56th Street, (between 6th and 7th avenues.) beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Yesterday, May 12, the new film, Sleeping Beauty, premiered in Cannes, France. Stars Rachael Blake, Emily Browning and director/writer Julia Leight were on hand to celebrate at the photocall. Sleeping Beauty is an Australian drama film. The script made the 2008 Black List of unproduced screenplays grabbing attention in Hollywood. In September 2009, the project was approved for funding from Screen Australia. The film is the first competition entry to be screened.