Frances McDormand News

Though Ann Arbor's professional theatre is still in the thick of its record-breaking 30th anniversary season, Performance Network has lined up seven exceptional plays and musicals for its 31st, to begin in the fall.

This week's topics: Significance of the title of ONCE, Rank the Tony performances, Frances McDormand Award, Vincent TRASHES Jesus Christ Superstar, Hits of the Season, Longest Running Show without a Tony, What IS The Most Boring Play

REELZCHANNEL-TV About Movies® today announced its Fourth of July Week Marathons, highlighted by the return of the Emmy Award®-winning mini-series that started it all-THE KENNEDYS . All eight episodes of The Kennedys will air back-to-back two times on Thursday, July 5th.

Last night, Julia Jordan, Theresa Rebeck, Marsha Norman, Tim Sanford, Gary Garrison, The Dramatists Guild, and The Committee for Recognizing Women in Theatre presented the 3rd Annual Lilly Awards at Playwrights Horizons. Named for playwright Lillian Hellman, The Lilly Awards were created to recognize the extraordinary contributions made by women to the American Theater. Producers, playwrights, actors, designers, and directors were honored last night for their continued excellence in the theater community. Check out phtoos from the event below!

Tonight, June 4, 2012 Julia Jordan, Theresa Rebeck, Marsha Norman, Tim Sanford, Gary Garrison and The Committee for Recognizing Women in Theatre will present the 3rd Annual Lilly Awards at Playwrights Horizons. Named for playwright Lillian Hellman, The Lilly Awards were created to recognize the extraordinary contributions made by women to the American Theater. Producers, playwrights, actors, designers, and directors will be honored for their continued excellence in the theater community.

On June 4, 2012 Julia Jordan, Theresa Rebeck, Marsha Norman, Tim Sanford, Gary Garrison and The Committee for Recognizing Women in Theatre will present the 3rd Annual Lilly Awards at Playwrights Horizons. Named for playwright Lillian Hellman, The Lilly Awards were created to recognize the extraordinary contributions made by women to the American Theater. Producers, playwrights, actors, designers, and directors will be honored for their continued excellence in the theater community.

American director Wes Anderson has built colorful, beautifully realized worlds in his seven feature films, from his stunning debut Bottle Rocket to his latest Cannes Film Festival opening feature, Moonrise Kingdom. From today, May 18 through 27, 2012, Museum of the Moving Image will present a Wes Anderson retrospective including all of his features and the short Hotel Chevalier, as well as a special screening of Orson Welles's The Magnificent Ambersons-a film that inspired Anderson. Each screening in the series will open with a personal video introduction by Wes Anderson.

Deadline.com reports that NBC has officially picked up INFAMOUS, previously titled NOTORIOUS from Universal TV and BermanBraun. The project is penned by Liz Heldens. Broadway veterans Victor Garber and Tate Donovan will star.

In 1976, Coal Miner's Daughter, country star Loretta Lynn's autobiography (written with journalist George Vecsey) became a New York Times Bestseller; in 1980 the book was made into an Academy Award-winning film starring Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones. Now, it's headed for Broadway, with actress Zooey Deschanel playing Loretta Lynn.

Variety reports that actor Tommy Lee Jones is set to direct, write, produce and star in the upcoming period piece THE HOMESMAN.

This week the 2012 Tony Awards Nominations were announced! I always get up early to watch the nominations on NY1; but my favorite part of the noms is the day after, when the nominees meet the press. Here are excerpts from my favorite nominee reactions in recent years.

Like Clockwork: The 52nd Street Project's Party Time Benefit is set for this Monday, May 7, hosted by Tony Award nominee Bobby Cannavale at Ars Nova. The benefit will feature songs with lyrics by Project kids, set to music and performed by professional artists.

MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED will open in theaters on June 8th from Dreamworks Pictures. The animated adventure film is directed by Eric Darnell, with music by Hans Zimmer.

Deadline.com reports that actor Tate Donovan has joined the cast of the upcoming NBC drama pilot NOTORIOUS from Universal TV and BermanBraun. The project is penned by Liz Heldens.

Focus Features has announced their 2012 Release Schedule, including upcoming films BEING FLYNN and PARANORMAN.

The 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been awarded to U.S. playwright and Texas native Jennifer Haley for her play The Nether. At a private reception in London on February 28, the transatlantic theatre community gathered to honor the playwright and finalists of the annual prize.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will honor Jennifer Aniston with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 22, 2012 in front of the W Hollywood Hotel at the famous corner of Hollywood and Vine.

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced full casting for the upcoming world premiere of REGRETS by Matt Charman, directed by Carolyn Cantor.

Variety reports today that the upcoming revival of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE will open April 22, with previews beginning April 3. The show, which has been hunting for a theatre since this past summer, will take Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre (which had been booked by the delayed revival of REBECCA).

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, now celebrating its thirty-fourth year. The ten Finalists for the 2011-2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, chosen from over 100 submitted plays, are: