Helen Mirren News

On Tuesday, August 9, at Seattle Opera's Annual Meeting at McCaw Hall, the company announced that it achieved a balanced budget (unaudited) for the 2010/11 season, which included productions of Tristan und Isolde, Lucia di Lammermoor, The Barber of Seville, Don Quichotte, and The Magic Flute. The original budget for the season totaled more than $23 million; the total expense budget for the season, unaudited, is projected to be just less than $21.5 million.

According to Collider.com, a film adaptation of Irvine Welsh's novel 'Filth' is in the works, and boasts the talents of James McAvoy, Jamie Bell, and Alan Cumming thus far.

As previously reported by BroadwayWorld, Bette Midler has pulled out of the cast of the untitled film centered around Phil Spector. Midler suffered from a herniated disc and left the film on doctor's orders. HBO today announced her replacement: Helen Mirren.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles® (BAFTA Los Angeles) will honor Academy Award® winning writer/director John Lasseter with the Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Filmed Entertainment, and BAFTA winning director David Yates with the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing at the 2011 BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards on Wednesday, November 30 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

According to published reports, stage and screen star Margaret Tyzack died in her home earlier this week, on June 25. She was 79 years old.

American film's finest have confirmed their participation on the American Film Institute (AFI) Gala Benefit Committee honoring 39th Life Achievement Award recipient, Morgan Freeman. Members of this year's benefit committee are Ben Affleck, Jim Carrey, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Ashley Judd, Helen Mirren, Mike Nichols, Jack Nicholson, Brad Pitt, Sidney Poitier, Robert Redford, Tim Robbins, Steven Spielberg, Hilary Swank, Denzel Washington and Alfre Woodard. AFI will present the 39th AFI Life Achievement Award - America's highest honor for a career in film - to Freeman on June 9th. 'TV Land Presents: The AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Morgan Freeman' will air on TV Land on Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren hosted Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl, kicking off the Bowl's 90th season and featuring the 12th annual Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony, Friday, June 17, at 8:30 p.m. The evening offered the induction of Grammy and Emmy-winning singer/musician/actor Harry Connick, Jr., and seven-time Grammy-winning pop music superstar Gloria Estefan into the Hall of Fame. Additional evening highlights included an exclusive sneak preview of Cirque du Soleil's first resident production in Los Angeles, IRIS - A Journey Through the World of Cinema, two-time Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank presenting the Hall of Fame award to Connick Jr., and a performance by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra led by Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins.

Oscar-, Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren hosted Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl, kicking off the Bowl's 90th season and featuring the 12th annual Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony, Friday, June 17, at 8:30 p.m. The evening inducted seven-time Grammy-winning pop music superstar Gloria Estefan, into the Hall of Fame.

Oscar-, Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren will host Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl, kicking off the Bowl's 90th season and featuring the 12th annual Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony, Friday, June 17, at 8:30 p.m. The evening offers the induction of Grammy- and Emmy-winning singer/musician/actor Harry Connick, Jr., and seven-time Grammy-winning pop music superstar Gloria Estefan, into the Hall of Fame; an exclusive sneak preview of Cirque du Soleil's first resident production in Los Angeles, IRIS - A Journey Through the World of Cinema; two-time Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank, presenting the Hall of Fame award to Connick; and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, led by Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins. Additional presenters and other special guests are to be announced. Proceeds from the evening benefit the LA Phil and its music education programs, which reach more than 120,000 children, teachers and adults every year. Established in 2000, the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame identifies and pays tribute to artists whose unique achievements embody the spirit of the world-renowned Hollywood Bowl. The Hall of Fame is now part of an exhibit on the main floor of the Hollywood Bowl Museum that includes photos and film of inductees over the years. The Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame was conceived on behalf of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association by Wayne Baruch and Charles F. Gayton, who have created and produced all 12 Hall of Fame opening concerts. WHO: HOLLYWOOD BOWL ORCHESTRA THOMAS WILKINS, conductor HARRY CONNICK, JR., inductee GLORIA ESTEFAN, inductee HILARY SWANK, presenter CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, special performance DAME HELEN MIRREN, host WHEN: FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2011, 8:30 WHERE: HOLLYWOOD BOWL 2301 N. Highland Avenue in Hollywood HOW TO PURCHASE: Patron packages for this annual benefit concert include a VIP pre-concert reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a gourmet dinner prepared by Patina and served in guest boxes prior to the concert. Proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its education programs. Opening Night Concert packages ($2,200 to $15,000) may be purchased through the LA Phil's Special Events office. Please call 213.972.3051 for details and reservations. Tickets for the concert only ($11 - $110), which begins at 8:30 p.m., are on sale online at HollywoodBowl.com, at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office, through Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000, and by credit card phone order at 323.850.2000.

Last night, the American Film Institute awarded Morgan Freeman with their 39th Life Achievement Award in Culver City, Los Angeles. During the evening, clips of Freeman's films were presented by stars such as Clint Eastwood, Tim Robbins, Forest Whitaker, Garth Brooks and Betty White.

AFI and TV Land announced today that Clint Eastwood, Helen Mirren, Sidney Poitier, Mike Nichols, Matthew Broderick and Rita Moreno are among the luminaries in film who will pay tribute to Morgan Freeman, the 39th AFI Life Achievement Award recipient.

Award-winning actor Andy Garcia will induct Grammy-winning pop music superstar Gloria Estefan into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame at this year's Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl, Friday, June 17, at 8:30 p.m.

Oscar-, Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren will host Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl, kicking off the Bowl's 90th season and featuring the 12th annual Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony, Friday, June 17, at 8:30 p.m. The evening offers the induction of Grammy- and Emmy-winning singer/musician/actor Harry Connick, Jr., and seven-time Grammy-winning pop music superstar Gloria Estefan, into the Hall of Fame; an exclusive sneak preview of Cirque du Soleil's first resident production in Los Angeles, IRIS - A Journey Through the World of Cinema; two-time Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank, presenting the Hall of Fame award to Connick; and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, led by Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins. Additional presenters and other special guests are to be announced. Proceeds from the evening benefit the LA Phil and its music education programs, which reach more than 120,000 children, teachers and adults every year. Established in 2000, the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame identifies and pays tribute to artists whose unique achievements embody the spirit of the world-renowned Hollywood Bowl. The Hall of Fame is now part of an exhibit on the main floor of the Hollywood Bowl Museum that includes photos and film of inductees over the years. The Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame was conceived on behalf of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association by Wayne Baruch and Charles F. Gayton, who have created and produced all 12 Hall of Fame opening concerts. WHO: HOLLYWOOD BOWL ORCHESTRA THOMAS WILKINS, conductor HARRY CONNICK, JR., inductee GLORIA ESTEFAN, inductee HILARY SWANK, presenter CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, special performance DAME HELEN MIRREN, host WHEN: FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2011, 8:30 WHERE: HOLLYWOOD BOWL 2301 N. Highland Avenue in Hollywood HOW TO PURCHASE: Patron packages for this annual benefit concert include a VIP pre-concert reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a gourmet dinner prepared by Patina and served in guest boxes prior to the concert. Proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its education programs. Opening Night Concert packages ($2,200 to $15,000) may be purchased through the LA Phil's Special Events office. Please call 213.972.3051 for details and reservations. Tickets for the concert only ($11 - $110), which begins at 8:30 p.m., are on sale online at HollywoodBowl.com, at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office, through Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000, and by credit card phone order at 323.850.2000.

Production begins this week on Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, written and directed by Lorene Scafaria. The pre-apocalyptic comedy stars Golden Globe Award winner Steve Carell and Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley.

Focus Features will accept entries for its Africa First Program - entering its fourth year - beginning Monday, May 16th and continuing through Monday, August 22nd. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Star of the CBS hit series The Good Wife and Tony award-winner Alan Cumming brings his hit one-man cabaret show, I Bought a Blue Car Today, to the Harris Theater for its Midwest premiere on Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 7:30 pm.

Tony Award winner and Academy Award nominee Julie Taymor rounds out the renowned host of keynote speakers at the Theatre Communications Group (TCG) annual National Conference in Los Angeles, June 16-18, 2011. Speaking to the largest forum for the national theatre community, Taymor will address the central question of the conference and TCG's year-long 50th anniversary celebration: 'What if...?' 'What if...?' is the guiding question behind the imaginative impulse to create, to improve and to ultimately make change.

In celebration of the Royal Wedding between His Royal Highness Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton, TV Guide Network honors the historical event by offering wedding-themed programming to viewers. Comedian Kathy Griffin will host 'Kathy Griffin's Insightful and Hilarious Take on the Royal Wedding,' a one hour special that will take a light-hearted, humorous look at the ultra-formal nuptials premiering on Friday, April 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

American film's finest have confirmed their participation on the American Film Institute (AFI) Gala Benefit Committee honoring 39th Life Achievement Award recipient, Morgan Freeman.

Anne-Marie Duff will star in Terence Rattigan's final play, Cause Celebre, opening for previews on 17 March 2011 with a press night on 29 March 2011.