Annette Bening News

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Conservatory Director Melissa Smithannounced today that the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program will present Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party, taking audiences back in time, capturing the edginess and excitement of the roaring '20s. With a book, music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, the production is directed by Mark Rucker and will play a limited four show engagement. Performances are: December 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m.; December 15 at 2 & 7:30 p.m. All performances take place at A.C.T.'s Costume Shop (1117 Market Street, San Francisco). Tickets are $15 and are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org.

The New Group has announced that Brooks Ashmanskas, Vincent D'Onofrio and Zoe Kazan have joined the cast of Clive, up next in the company's 2012-2013 season. Written by Jonathan Marc Sherman and directed by and featuring Ethan Hawke in the title role, Clive begins a limited Off-Broadway engagement on January 17, 2013. Official Opening Night is set for Thursday, February 7 at 7:00pm. This production is slated through March 9 at The New Group at Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street).

The Academy unveiled its vision for the first major U.S. museum dedicated exclusively to the history and ongoing development of motion pictures.

Annette Bening addressed the Los Angeles cast of The Book of Mormon prior to their benefit performance for The Actors Fund on Wednesday, October 13th. Check out photos of Bening with the cast and more below!

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Conservatory Director Melissa Smith announced today that the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program has been selected by Anatoly Smeliansky, dean of the Moscow Art Theatre School, to perform at Moscow Art Theatre School's 2012 Stanislavsky Festival, to be held in Moscow today, October 15-21, 2012. This year's festival, titled "Open Class: Stanislavsky Continues," honors the 150th birthday of Konstantin Stanislavsky, founder of the Moscow Art Theatre. The A.C.T. M.F.A. Program has the distinguished honor of being the only theater school selected to represent the United States.

The 2012 American Film Market (AFM), set for October 31-November 7 in Santa Monica will screen more than 420 motion pictures, including 77 world premieres and 306 market premieres, for thousands of film buyers and industry professionals from more than 70 countries. Jonathan Wolf, AFM Managing Director and Executive Vice President of the Independent Film & Television Alliance, made the announcement today.

The American Film Institute's annual festival announced the line up for its Centerpiece Galas today. Featured in the top spots will be Ang Lee's Life Of Pi, Walter Salles' On The Road, DreamWorks Animation's Rise Of The Guardians and Jacques Audiard's Rust And Bone starring Marion Cotillard. Also included will be the world premiere of HITCHCOCK, starring Anthony Hopkins in the title role.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Conservatory Director Melissa Smith announced today that the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program has been selected by Anatoly Smeliansky, dean of the Moscow Art Theatre School, to perform at Moscow Art Theatre School's 2012 Stanislavsky Festival, to be held in Moscow October 15-21, 2012. This year's festival, titled "Open Class: Stanislavsky Continues," honors the 150th birthday of Konstantin Stanislavsky, founder of the Moscow Art Theatre. The A.C.T. M.F.A. Program has the distinguished honor of being the only theater school selected to represent the United States.

Award-winning stage, film and television actor Jimmy Smits makes his Chicago stage debut this season at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro's second staging of The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Stephen Adly Guirgis's hit new play.

According to Deadline.com, distribution rights to Imogene, the dysfunctional comedy film starring Kirsten Wiig and Annette Bening and featuring GLEE and How to Succeed Broadway star Darren Criss, have been bought by Lionsgate. The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival last weekend.

SEARCHLIGHT announces two new releases to Blu-ray/DVD. Ruby Sparks arrives October 30, 2012, The Watch on November 13, 2012 and The Simpsons Season 15 on Blu-ray and DVD December 4, 2012.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) has selected Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham as the 2012 recipient of The William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre(Will Award). Abraham will be honored at the Harman Center for the Arts Annual Gala hosted by STC at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) on Monday, October 15, 2012. This year's Gala will be inspired by Shakespeare's great characters.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has announced the recipients of the 2012-13 Conservatory Awards, which annually recognizes and honors A.C.T.'s award-winning actor training program's outstanding alumni and pays tribute to donors and foundations who have provided significant support to the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)