Jack Black News

Hockadoo! The 2010 Tony winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced today that Broadway veteran Adam Pascal will join the cast of MEMPHIS as 'Huey Calhoun.' Pascal will begin performances on Tuesday, October 25th. Chad Kimball will play his final performance on Sunday, October 23rd. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Kimball recently suffered nerve damage in his neck as a result of performing the demading role he created on Broadway nearly two years ago and has had to miss several performances of late.

The Baltimore Playwrights Festival (www.baltplayfest.com) will present the final performance of Zulu Fits, by Alonzo D. LaMont, Jr., on 9/4 to be produced by Heralds of Hope Theater Company (www.heraldsofhopetheater.com) at Load of Fun Theater, 120 North Ave., Baltimore, MD 21201.

The ladies ruled the kingdom at the '2011 MTV Video Music Awards,' broadcast live this evening from Nokia Theater L.A. Live, as Katy Perry and Adele each took home three VMA Moonmen and Lady Gaga two. Katy Perry won the biggest prize of the night, 'Video of the Year,' with her pop anthem, 'Fireworks,' as well as honors for 'Best Collaboration' and 'Best Special Effects' for 'E.T.' featuring Kanye West. Adding to her reign atop the album charts, Adele won VMAs for 'Best Art Direction,' 'Best Cinematography,' and 'Best Editing.' Genre and gender-defying Lady Gaga kicked off the night as her alter ego Joe Calderone with a show-stopping performance of 'You and I,' and later walked away with two VMAs for 'Best Female' and this year's new category, 'Best Video with a Message.'

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles® (BAFTA Los Angeles) will honor Ben Stiller with the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy at the 2011 BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards on Wednesday, November 30 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Kia Motors presents Yo Gabba Gabba Live! It's Time to Dance! at the Fabulous Fox Theatre for two performances on Saturday, September 17th at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and are $39.50, $34.50, and $29.50. A limited number of VIP packages are also available. All prices are subject to change.

The Baltimore Playwrights Festival (www.baltplayfest.com) announces the August 18th opening of Zulu Fits, by Alonzo D. LaMont, Jr., to be produced by Heralds of Hope Theater Company (www.heraldsofhopetheater.com) at Load of Fun Theater, 120 North Ave., Baltimore, MD 21201. Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm, through September 4th. Ticket information can be obtained by contacting the theater at 410-997-3997.

The Black Eyed Peas front man/entrepreneur/tech wizard, will.i.am pairs up with inventor/FIRST founder Dean Kamen for 'i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll,' a groundbreaking, one-hour special promoting education, science and technology.

truTV is putting the key in the ignition for California DMV: Field Offices (working title), the network's first project with Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg's Katalyst, creator of the hit series Punk'd. The project takes viewers into the world of the California Department of Motor Vehicles. With unprecedented access to several offices and locations, California DMV: Field Offices will provide an eye-opening, behind-the-scenes look at hard-working personnel who deal with everything from issuing licenses and registering vehicles to maintaining accident records and investigating complaints.

The Baltimore Playwrights Festival (www.baltplayfest.com) announces the August 18th opening of Zulu Fits, by Alonzo D. LaMont, Jr., to be produced by Heralds of Hope Theater Company (www.heraldsofhopetheater.com) at Load of Fun Theater, 120 North Ave., Baltimore, MD 21201. Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm, through September 4th. Ticket information can be obtained by contacting the theater at 410-997-3997.

The Black Eyed Peas front man/entrepreneur/tech wizard, will.i.am pairs up with inventor/FIRST founder Dean Kamen for 'i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll,' a groundbreaking, one-hour special promoting education, science and technology.

Rider's Westminster College of the Arts, which includes the renowned Westminster Choir College in Princeton, is placing Musical Theater at the forefront of strategic investment in the arts at its Lawrenceville campus. Lewis joins Broadway musician Nathan Hurwitz and Broadway touring veteran Mariann Cook

Penny Pollak exposes a flashing razor blade, heaven, hell, musical dance numbers, a bucket and a body count of nine.

TEEN CHOICE 2011 will celebrate the hottest teen icons in film, television, music, sports and fashion in the choicest, star-studded two-hour event airing live Sunday, Aug. 7 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' leads the TEEN CHOICE 2011 nominees with 12 nominations, and GLEE has nine nominations. In addition, 'The Vampire Diaries' has seven nominations, while 'The Hangover Part II,' Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez each earned six nominations.

Penny Pollak exposes a flashing razor blade, heaven, hell, musical dance numbers, a bucket and a body count of nine.

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 65th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced May 3, 2011 by Tony Award winning actor Matthew Broderick and Tony Award winning actress Anika Noni Rose, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM.

The Best Bets for Kids and Family Theatre this Summer Is it just me, or is everyone a bit on edge? School is ending, schedules are changing, nannies are quitting and those of us who aren't spending the summer on the beach are wondering what in the world we are going to do with the kids and if it will be air-conditioned. Here are a few suggestions to keep everyone cool and entertained.

It's a very-adult 'Ransom of Red Chief'...it's an indictment on the power of the media in shaping our ideas...it's a send-up of the Church...it's a madcap Italian farce...but will it play in Bawlmer, hon? It's 'Abducting Diana' now at the Vagabond Players on South Broadway.