Christopher Walken News

We are hearing HUGE rumblings that the Hollywood Bowl has chosen their summer musical... Drum roll please... HAIRSPRAY! The Hollywood Bowl has been knocking these musicals out of the ballpark these last three years with LES MISERABLES, GUYS & DOLLS and RENT.

James Franco, who was just announced as a 2011 Oscar co-host yesterday, is reportedly in talks to join Oscar winner Nicole Kidman in the upcoming Broadway revival of SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, according to Showbiz411.com. Franco would appear as Chance Wayne, in the Fall 2011 production.

The Guthrie Theater today announced that Artistic Director Joe Dowling will direct legendary stage actor Brian Dennehy in John B. Keane's The Field in a limited run at Dublin's Olympia Theatre beginning January 13. Dennehy plays the iconic role of ‘The Bull' McCabe in Keane's award-winning play. The Field returns to the Olympia Theatre where it premiered more than 45 years ago and will run from January 13 through to February 12, then transfer to the INEC, Killarney, from February 15 through 17, followed by a transfer to the Royal Theatre, Castlebar, from February 24 through 26.

Luis Bravo's sizzling Tony® Award nominated dance spectacular FOREVER TANGO dazzles Philadelphia audiences for seven performances, November 16-20, 2010. Performances of FOREVER TANGO are part of the 2010/11 Dance Celebration season presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center. For tickets or for more information, please visit AnnenbergCenter.org or call 215.898.3900. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Annenberg Center Box Office located at 3680 Walnut Street.

On October 2, Emily Skinner joined the Broadway company of Billy Elliot as the beloved Mrs. Wilkinson, a role she took nationwide on the first national tour of the show. BroadwayWorld recently caught up with the busy triple threat to talk about how it feels to bring the role home to Broadway.

Luis Bravo's sizzling Tony® Award nominated dance spectacular FOREVER TANGO dazzles Philadelphia audiences for seven performances, November 16-20, 2010. Performances of FOREVER TANGO are part of the 2010/11 Dance Celebration season presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center. For tickets or for more information, please visit AnnenbergCenter.org or call 215.898.3900. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Annenberg Center Box Office located at 3680 Walnut Street.

Radio Happy Hour's fall season has been a huge success. A special afternoon with Born Ruffians and Andrew Bujalski, followed by a SOLD OUT performance with Norah Jones and Gabe Liedman, a surprise apperaance and performance from indie-chamber-pop group Cloud Cult, and the debut of the new Radio Happy Hour video series The Fall of Keith, has all made this Radio Happy Hour's biggest season yet.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Tracy Aron, announced that two time Tony® Award-winner Donna Murphy will star in the new Broadway musical THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, directed by Leonard Foglia. THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE features book & lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart and music by Mike Stoller and Artie Butler.

The Tony Award Winning GOD OF CARNAGE by Yasmina Reza will kick off the Seattle Repertory Theatre's 2010-2011 season which they recently announced.

Producer Daryl Roth announced that Glenn Close will play the role of 'Dr. Emma Brookner' in the upcoming, Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart. She joins cast members Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that will benefit The Actors Fund and Friends In Deed. The historic reading will take place at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street) on Monday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Abingdon Theatre Company -- which has produced more than 60 new American plays in its 17-year history, including THE ENGLISH CHANNEL by Robert Brustein - is set to honor Mr. Brustein, the acclaimed playwright, producer and educator, during ABINGDON PLAYS TO WIN, its annual fundraising gala on Monday, October 18 at 7pm at Bridgewaters (11 Fulton Street, near South Street Seaport) in downtown Manhattan.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is delighted to announce the cast selected to lead the award-winning production and TUTS debut of the Broadway smash hit, Hairspray, scheduled to play October 5 - 17 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

According to an article from The Hollywood Reporter, actor Christopher Walken, Mia Farrow, Selma Blair and Jordan Gelber have signed onto star in the indie drama, 'Dark Horse,' directed by Todd Solondz.

Producer Daryl Roth announced today that Glenn Close will play the role of 'Dr. Emma Brookner' in the upcoming, Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart. She joins previously announced cast members Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that will benefit The Actors Fund and Friends in Deed. The historic reading will take place at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street) on Monday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m.

'You can't stop the beat', the laughs, nor the energy of Theatre Under the Stars' (TUTS) production of Hairspray now playing at the Houston Hobby Center. With one punch line after another, Hairspray is a show about big dreams, big hair and not being afraid to be yourself.

Anchor Bay Films will release an unrated version of Steven R. Monroe's new take on Meir Zarchi's controversial classic, I Spit On Your Grave, October 8, 2010 beginning with late-night sneaks on Thursday, October 7 in select locations.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) are pleased to announce full casting for the Manhattan Theatre Club world premiere production of Beau Willimon's SPIRIT CONTROL, directed by Henry Wishcamper (Graceland, Port Authority).

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is delighted to announce the cast selected to lead the award-winning production and TUTS debut of the Broadway smash hit, Hairspray, scheduled to play October 5 - 17 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

Tony® Award nominee Emily Skinner, currently starring as ‘Mrs. Wilkinson' in the first national touring production of Billy Elliot the Musical in Chicago, will join the Broadway company on October 2, 2010. Kate Hennig will play her final Broadway performance on October 1, 2010 and will return to her home town to launch the Toronto engagement of Billy Elliot, which begins performances at the Canon Theatre on January 28, 2011.

Anchor Bay Films will release an unrated version of Steven R. Monroe's new take on Meir Zarchi's controversial classic, I Spit On Your Grave, October 8, 2010 beginning with late-night sneaks on Thursday, October 7 in select locations.