Alan Rickman News

If you are alive and well in Houston, you know that audiences were able to pick from three different productions of Stephen Sondheim's infamous SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF STREET FLEET last weekend. Two of those productions even share the same opening and closing dates. Luckily for Houston audiences, each version of SWEENEY TODD being produced is distinctly different and unique, giving ample reason for local audiences to venture out and experience each one. Pasadena's Stage Door, Inc.'s SWEENY TODD adds the Steampunk aesthetic to the classic musical, giving the production an intriguing facelift that doesn't interfere in any way with the storytelling.

Following a sell-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre, Private Lives opened at the Gielgud theatre last night, July 3, with Toby Stephens and Anna Chancellor reprising their starring roles in Noel Coward's classic screwball comedy.

Gravity, the new, much-awaited film directed by Alfonso Cuarón (Y tu mamá también, Children of Men), starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, is the opening film (Out of Competition) of the 70th Venice International Film Festival

Stage and screen crossover star Alan Rickman - most recently seen on Broadway in Theresa Rebeck's SEMINAR - headlines a new short film titled DUST and the long-awaited trailer for the controversial, Kickstarter-financed indie project have now been released.

Dorset Theatre Festival will start off their 2013 Season with the biting hit comedy The Scene by Theresa Rebeck. Theresa Rebeck, a DTF Writer in Residence, is well known for her recent Broadway hits - Seminar starring Alan Rickman and Dead Accounts starring Katie Holmes - as well has her popular NBC Series Smash.

National Geographic Channel (@NatGeoChannel) today announced that up-and-coming actor Will Rothhaar (@Poetiqrothhaar) has been cast as the volatile former Marine and assassin Lee Harvey Oswald in the upcoming two-hour original factual drama Killing Kennedy by Scott Free Productions. Rothhaar is the final of the four major players in the film to be announced, joining Rob Lowe (John F. Kennedy), Ginnifer Goodwin (Jacqueline Kennedy) and Michelle Trachtenberg (Marina Oswald).

Hearts and Eyes Theatre Collective has forged its reputation with the brave staging of human stories: the real and the personal in pursuit of truth and understanding. MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE is such a work, and will continue to build the company's reputation for the award-winning staging of true stories.

Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) continued to dazzle its International distribution partners with its lineup of films for the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, achieving a Company record of more than $250 million in sales for nine titles that included MOCKINGJAY 1 and 2, the third and fourth installments of the global blockbuster HUNGER GAMES franchise, STEP UP 5 and upcoming Lionsgate and Summit titles such as DRAFT DAY, THE LAST WITCH HUNTER and Lionsgate UK's A LITTLE CHAOS.

According to The New York Times, the Brooklyn Academy of Music will announce its 2013 Next Wave Festival lineup tomorrow, May 21. The festival will feature 34 productions in dance, music theater and opera and runs September 17-December 22, 2013. Fiona Shaw will star in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, directed by Phyllida Shaw.

For nearly a decade, Andrew Benator has been one of Atlanta's most versatile actors. Having won a Suzi Award for playing a child-like Lord of the Underworld in Georgia Shakespeare and the Alliance's 'Eurydice', he is known by a wider audience as Dr. Jawfy on Tyler Perry sitcoms 'House of Payne' and 'Meet the Browns.' Since the Atlanta-native moved back home from New York in 2005, he has been a regular part of both the city's expanding stage and screen industries. Benator recently spoke with Broadway World Atlanta about his upcoming show 'Seminar,' which runs May 16th-June 16th at Actor's Express.

The trailer for Lee Daniels' historical drama, THE BUTLER has just been released. The film, staring Oscar winner Oprah Winfrey, gives an inside look at life inside the White House from a distinctly African-American point of view-before the Obama administration came to office. Get a first look below!

Loreen Arbus, Founder & Chair of Women Who Care and Edward R. Matthews, CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of New York City, today announced the honorees for the 12th Annual Women Who Care Luncheon.

To commemorate its sesquicentennial, BAM (Brooklyn Academy Of Music) commissioned BAM150, a feature length documentary conceived by award-winning director Michael Sladek that weaves together the institution's vibrant past, present, and future presenting a rich history that mirrors the evolution of performing arts in 20th century America. This landmark film premiered last year at the Tribeca Film Festival and will air tonight, April 19 at 10pm on THIRTEEN.

The Brick Theater, Inc. will present the World Premiere of Robert Honeywell's (Ich Liebe Jesus!; Greed: a Musical Love $tory) all-female rock musical, Mass, tonight, April 13-30 at The Brick (579 Metropolitan Ave at Lorimer Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn). The production will be directed by Leah Bonvissuto (Ye Elizabeths at Planet Connections 2012) with Music Direction by Maria Dessena (2012 MAC nominated Jessye Normous Show) and will feature Esther Crow, Rebecca GRay Davis, Melissa DeLancey, Kaitlan Emery, Amanda LaPergola, Tracy Shar, Pheobe Silva*, and Moira Stone*.

The Brick Theater, Inc. will present the World Premiere of Robert Honeywell's (Ich Liebe Jesus!; Greed: a Musical Love $tory) all-female rock musical, Mass, tonight, April 11-28 at The Brick (579 Metropolitan Ave at Lorimer Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn).

3rd Kulture Kids launches its In Transit reading series taking place on the 8th, 15th and 22nd of April at Somethin' Jazz, 212 E 52nd Street at 6:30pm (readings will start at 7).

Ron Eldard (Justified, ER), Freddy Rodriguez (Rico in Six Feet Under) and Bill Smitrovich (Drew Thatcher in Life Goes On) are set to appear in American Buffalo, a revival of David Mamet's American classic.

3rd Kulture Kids launches its In Transit reading series taking place on the 8th, 15th and 22nd of April at Somethin' Jazz, 212 E 52nd Street at 6:30pm (readings will start at 7).

The Flea has announced that Thirteen WNET will be filming the critically acclaimed production of THE VANDAL on March 29. A broadcast date has not been slated. Written by actor Hamish Linklater (School for Lies, Twelfth Night, Recent Tragic Events & The Busy World is Hushed, and TV's The New Adventures of Old Christine), The Vandal runs through March 31. It is directed by Flea Artistic Director Jim Simpson starring Zach Grenier, Deidre O'Connell, and Noah Robbins.

Stage and screen crossover star Alan Rickman headlines a new short film titled DUST and the poster, promo video and still images from the indie project have now been released.