Anita Morris News

Today, BroadwayWorld kicks off a brand new interview series titled HOW I GOT THE JOB shining a special solo spotlight on a performer in which they share candid recollections and revisit the point at which they became involved with a particular project on their resume, whether it be stage piece, film or TV project... To kick off the series, we are talking to an internationally recognized stage and screen star CELEBRATED for her iconic originating role in the popular stage musical and subsequent feature film adaptation of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, the fiercely idiosyncratic Ellen Greene. Opening up about her experiences in landing that unforgettable part, Greene also previews what audiences can expect from her return to the stage as art of the hotly anticipated Encores! Off-Center mounting of the musical co-starring Jake Gyllenhaal at City Center later this week. Additionally, Greene reflects on some of her other standout appearances over the years, such as the acclaimed 1976 New York Shakespeare Festival production of THE THREEPENNY OPERA and David Rabe's IN THE BOOM BOOM ROOM at the Public Theater, not to mention the legendary cult musical RACHAEL LILY ROSENBLOOM (AND DON'T YOU EVER FORGET IT), plus her notable ongoing collaboration with TV mastermind Bryan Fuller on HEROES, PUSHING DAISIES and HANNIBAL and much more.

Today we are kickin' up our heels for the just announced 2015 Broadway return of THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS.

Blanchett takes on the role of 'Janet,' who returns for the funeral of her grandfather, a film visual effects artist who secretly worked as a U.S. special ops agent. As her grandfather's secret life becomes a threat to her, she is forced to uncover the truth about his mysterious background. Dale will play a 'military major' related to Blanchett.

An evening with Tony Award-Winner McKechnie performs SAME PLACE, ANOTHER TIME

MCC THEATER today announced that James Badge Dale (World War Z, HBO's The Pacific), James Ransone (HBO's 'The Wire') will replace Jon Bernthal and Christopher Fitzgerald in the New York Premiere of John Pollono's celebrated Small Engine Repair. Keegan Allen ('Pretty Little Liars') has also joined the cast. Small Engine Repair is the comic thriller that premiered to rave reviews and sold-out audiences at L.A.'s Rogue Machine Theatre, where it won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Playwriting, among many other honors. The New York production of Small Engine Repair will be directed by longtime MCC collaborator Jo Bonney (MCC's The Break of Noon, Some Girl(s), Fat Pig) and begins at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on October 30, 2013. An official opening night is set for November 18, 2013.

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's 2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown with a special spotlight focused on one of the most Tony Award-winning artists in history, actor/choreographer/director Tommy Tune!

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's 2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown with a special spotlight focused on two of the most memorable musicals of the 1980s, DREAMGIRLS & NINE!

According to published reports, playwright Larry L. King passed away yesterday in his Washington retirement home after a long battle with emphysema. He was 83 years old.

Today we are continuing our 30-day Tony Awards countdown - ending, of course, on the 2012 Tony Awards, June 10 - with a salute to a Tony-winning Best Musical directed and choreographed by the one and only Tommy Tune and composed by Maury Yeston - NINE. Based on Federico Fellini's 8 ½, NINE is a surrealistic concept musical that concerns itself with the mid-life crisis of a glamorous Italian film director and the many, many women in his life - his wife, his mother, his mistress, his muse, his agent and many, many more.

Today, in honor of the DVD release of Rob Marshall's film version of the 1982 Tony-winning Best Musical NINE, Maury Yeston was gracious and generous enough to grant me a few hours in which I could ask him intimate questions about his life, career and the future of theatre itself. Not one to mince words, Yeston is a veritable font of knowledge and it became clear during the interview that he may be as gifted and talented in his educational and mentorship skills as he is as a two-time Tony-winning composer and lyricist. His stage musicals include two Tony-winning Best Musicals, NINE and TITANIC, as well as: IN THE BEGINNING, GRAND HOTEL, PHANTOM, and the forthcoming DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY, as well as a full-length ballet of TOM SAWYER premiering later this year. From the handwritten letter sent by Katharine Hepburn to Frederico Fellini after seeing the workshop of NINE thirty years ago to this very day when NINE hits DVD, we will take a look at this magnanimous maestro's starry career in this inaugural InDepth InterView. Enjoy!

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release Rob Marshall's film musical NINE on Blue-ray and DVD on May 4, according to Blue-ray.com. It is reported that bonus features will accompany the discs, including an exclusive interview with Sophia Loren, commentary by Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca as well as three music vidoes.

Tommy Tune, in an interview with Variety, praised film director Rob Marshall for his delivery in the movie musical NINE. Tune directed the original Broadway installment of NINE, which had a successful run from 1982 - 1984 at the 46th Street Theatre.

Kate Hudson sings Cinema Italiano from the film NINE. The big screen adaptation of Nine the Musical stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman.

Rob Marshall, the director of Nine, stopped by the Today Show to chat a little bit about the film.

The big screen adaptation of Nine the Musical stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman. The all-star cast is directed by Rob Marshall, who also helmed critically-acclaimed 2002 musical Chicago - which garnered six Academy Awards, including a Best Supporting Actress nod for Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The upcoming film adapation of Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit's 'Nine' is now available for pre-order and will be released on December 22nd. The soundtrack, to be released by Geffen Records, will include the full score with the addition of three new songs written specifically for the film, entitled 'Guarda la Luna', 'Cinema Italiano' and 'Take It All'.

The upcoming film adapation of Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit's 'Nine' will be available for purchase beginning December 22nd. The soundtrack, to be released by Geffen Records, will include the full score with the addition of three new songs written specifically for the film, entitled 'Guarda la Luna', 'Cinema Italiano' and 'Take It All'.

Marion Cottilard appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon where she the late show host proposed a toast, accompanied by French Champagne, to celebrate her recent Golden Globe nomination in the category of Best Actress: Comedy or Musical. In total, NINE received 5 nominations including Best Picture: Comedy or Musical, Best Performance by an Action (Daniel Day-Lewis), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Peneleope Cruz), Best Original Song for 'Cinema Italiano', as well as Cotillar's nod for Best Actress.

Dame Judi Dench stopped by the 'Today' show on Wednesday, December 16, to discuss NINE with Today's hosts Kathie Lee and Hoda.

NINE will have a limited release on December 18th in New York and Los Angeles and will then go on wide release on December 25th. The film had its official New York premiere at the Ziegefeld Theatre in New York City on December 15, 2009.