James Mason News

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is bringing more classics to DVD in May through the unique 'manufacturing on demand' ('MOD'). The newest selection of available films is a part of MGM's Limited Edition Collection and available through major online retailers. The sixth installment of releases ranges from 1938's Mr. Wong, Detective starring Boris Karloff to 1992's Laws of Gravity with Edie Falco.

Today we lost one of the greats: the gentle giant of directors, Sidney Lumet. What a resume! Just to pick seven of perhaps the best known of the bunch, the bunch in question being over 100 titles strong: 12 ANGRY MEN, LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, SERPICO, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, NETWORK and BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD - the films spanning fifty years from MEN in 1957 and DEVIL in 2007 - it is clear to see why Lumet was one of the most cherished and celebrated directors in Hollywood, especially known for his tough, gritty New York stories and his pristine stage-to-screen transfers. For an excellent example of the latter (in addition to LONG DAY'S JOURNEY and the others) check out DEATHTRAP - based on Ira Levin's play, the longest-running thriller in Broadway history - featuring Michael Caine in one of his best roles and Christopher Reeve and Dyan Cannon in their finest performances on film. For an example of the former genre, look no further than NETWORK, containing one of the strongest screenplays ever penned, from the fiery and ferocious pen of Paddy Cheyefsky, and Faye Dunaway in her Oscar-winning performance for all the ages. As far as theatrical screenplays on screen, Lumet would be hard-pressed to even come close to the power, prescience and transformative brilliance at the core of the conceit of that film - yet he did just that; with his final, 2007 film no less. I am speaking, of course, of the underrated and riveting BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, with Albert Finney and Rosemary Harris. Taking an original screenplay that could just as well have been written for the stage - shades of 12 ANGRY MEN, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, NETWORK and SERPICO, certainly - Lumet made a bristling, biting brilliant work of staggering craft and ingenuity - all with verve, energy and drive of a man a quarter of his age at the time (80). His films were classics in his own time and, now, in his passing, they are just as timeless - if not more so. With each passing year, new layers of truth, beauty, sadness and soulfulness can be found in the countless frames in the innumerable unforgettable scenes in his many masterpieces.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents William Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET, directed by Shana Cooper, at the University Theatre (222 York Street) March 11-April 2, 2011.

According to Deadline.com, Clint Eastwood is set to direct and produce an upcoming remake of A STAR IS BORN. Will Fetters will pen the screen play, while Billy Gerber and Jon Peters will produce the film. A fourth version of the classic film has been talked about for quite a while. names that have been associated with the project in the past include Beyoncé and Will Smith.

The Incubator Arts Project presents Other Forces, an annual festival of work from some of independent theater's most innovative artists. More information: http://www.incubatorarts.org/otherforces.html

The Incubator Arts Project presents Other Forces, an annual festival of work from some of independent theater's most innovative artists. More information: http://www.incubatorarts.org/otherforces.html

The Incubator Arts Project presents Other Forces, an annual festival of work from some of independent theater's most innovative artists.

Today, perhaps the greatest gift a Broadway baby could receive was benevolently bestowed upon me in the form of an indepth and revealing discussion with the foremost composer and lyricist of his generation, one of the greatest writers in American history in any medium - the unmatched musical and lyrical genius himself, Stephen Sondheim. In this portion of our complete discussion we discuss his new book, FINISHING THE HAT, as well as take a look back at his legendary career both in Hollywood and on Broadway. Merman to Madonna, Brecht to Barbra Streisand, COMPANY to GROUNDHOG DAY (or not) - we cover it all. See here just a glimpse of the reason why the name Stephen Sondheim means more to musical theatre than any other name in the last fifty years. Plus, his promise to - in his own immortal words from SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE - 'give us more to see' in the very near future. That moment cannot come soon enough, as any fan of theatre - or art in America, for that matter - can assuredly attest.

FLOWER POWER PRODUCTIONS is pleased to announce the return of OPA! The Musical to Queens after a critically acclaimed, sold-out run at Queens Theatre in the Park in 2009.

FLOWER POWER PRODUCTIONS is pleased to announce the return of OPA! The Musical to Queens after a critically acclaimed, sold-out run at Queens Theatre in the Park in 2009.

Michael Gambon will return to the West End stage to star in 'KRAPP'S LAST TAPE' by Samuel Beckett, which will open at the Duchess Theatre on 15 September for a limited season, finishing on 20 November.

On Thursday, August 19, the 32nd annual Seaside Summer Concert Series at Asser Levy/Seaside Park, hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, will welcome new wave legends the B-52s, with a special appearance by founding Go-Go's singer Belinda Carlisle.

On Thursday, August 19, the 32nd annual Seaside Summer Concert Series at Asser Levy/Seaside Park, hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, will welcome new wave legends the B-52s, with a special appearance by founding Go-Go's singer Belinda Carlisle.

Michael Gambon will return to the West End stage to star in 'KRAPP'S LAST TAPE' by Samuel Beckett, which will open at the Duchess Theatre on 15 September for a limited season, finishing on 20 November.

Wildcat Theatricals will present a staged reading of Leonard Gershe's 1962 comedy Miss Pell is Missing at the June Havoc Theatre (312 W. 36 St.) on Thursday, July 29 at 12:30 and Friday, July 30 at 3:30, as part of the 11th Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival's (MITF) Reading Series.

The Barn Players presents A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, KIDS for 3 PERFORMANCES ONLY!

The Barn Players presents A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, KIDS for 3 PERFORMANCES ONLY!

Wildcat Theatricals will present a staged reading of Leonard Gershe's 1962 comedy Miss Pell is Missing at the June Havoc Theatre (312 W. 36 St.) on Thursday, July 29 at 12:30 and Friday, July 30 at 3:30, as part of the 11th Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival's (MITF) Reading Series.