Kevin Kline News

BEAUTY & THE BEAST is coming to the big screen again in a whole new way, with brand new songs!

On Twitter Watch, Josh Gad wrote ' that stage veteran and film star Ian McKellen has joined Disney's upcoming live-action adaptation of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST as 'Cogsworth'. Set for a release on March 17, 2017, the beloved tale will be retold for the big screen with a modern live-action lens and the help of transformative CG magic. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Emma Watson and Dan Stevens will star as Belle and the Beast/Prince respectively, and Luke Evans will play the role of Gaston. Emma Thompson has joined the cast as Mrs. Potts and Kevin Kline as Belle's father, Maurice. As BWW announced previously, Josh Gad will reportedly take on the role of Le Fou, with six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald playing Garderobe. Eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken, who won two Academy Awards for the 1991 animated classic, will score the new BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, which will feature new recordings of the original songs in addition to several new songs written by Menken and Sir Tim Rice. Bill Condon will direct from a script by Stephen Chbosky, and the film will be produced by Mandeville Films' David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman. Production begins in May at Shepperton Studios in London. Disney also recently announced it will be creating live-action versions of MULAN and PINOCCHIO, joining reboots of THE JUNGLE BOOK, PETE'S DRAGON and WINNIE THE POOH. The live-action adaptation of CINDERELLA, starring Lily James, just hit the big screen this winter. McKellen was last seen on the big screen as 'Gandalf' in THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES (a role he originated in THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) and will soon appear in MR. HOLMES and THE DRESSER. He is also well known for his role as 'Magneto' in the X-MEN movies. The Olivier-winning, classically trained actor last starred on Broadway in NO MAN'S LAND and WAITING FOR GODOT opposite Patrick Stewart. Before that, he appeared in DANCE OF DEATH, IAN MCKELLEN: A KNIGHT OUT AT THE LYCEUM, WILD HONEY, IAN MCKELLEN: ACTING SHAKESPEARE, AMADEUS -- which earned him a Tony Award in 1981 -- and THE PROMISE. McKellen was a member of the Old Vic and has performed at the Chichester Festival, in the West End, and with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre and more. 1991's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was an animated musical romantic fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Based on the traditional French fairy tale of the same name by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont,Beauty and the Beast is the 30th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. Additionally, it is third in the Disney Renaissance period. Starring Paige O'Hara and Robby Benson, Beauty and the Beast focuses on the relationship between the Beast (Benson), a prince who is magically transformed into a monster as punishment for his arrogance, and Belle (O'Hara), a young woman who he imprisons in his castle. The film also features the voices of Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, and Angela Lansbury, who occupy supporting roles. The film was a box office success, and has since garnered over $424 million worldwide. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was nominated for several awards, winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. Beauty and the Beast became the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture; it also received five additional Academy Award nominations, including Best Original Score, Best Sound, and three separate nominations for Best Original Song. Ultimately, the film won Best Original Score, while Best Original Song was awarded to its title song. In 2002, Beauty and the Beast was deemed 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant' by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. In April 1994, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST became Disney's first animated film to be adapted into a Broadway musical. '

Sixteen New York Stage and Television regulars join Patti LuPone and Bobby Cannavale to complete the cast of The Rose Tattoo-Monday, April 27at 7pm-directed by Doug Hughes at Broadway's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. A benefit performance for The Acting Company, The Rose Tattoo is one of Tennessee Williams' greatest works winning multiple Tony Awards, including Best Play.

Cleveland Play House's 99th season will draw to a close with an equal dose of hilarity and heart with the world premiere production of Fairfield.

Kevin Kline returns to his Acting Company roots to talk about Shakespeare following the Company's performance of MACBETH today, April 8th at 8pm at the Pearl Theatre, 555 West 42nd Street.

Curtain Call Podcast, an audio podcast featuring hour-long interviews with diverse theater professionals, announces the release of Episode Eight (8) with special guest Miles Anderson available for free download starting April 1, 2015.

Margot Harley, producer of The Acting Company, has announced the Company's New York Season in conjunction with its 42nd National Tour.

Kevin Kline returns to his Acting Company roots to talk about Shakespeare following the Company's April 8th, 8pm performance of Macbeth at the Pearl Theatre, 555 West 42nd Street. One of America's finest classical actors, Kevin Kline is a founding member of The Acting Company, having spent four years touring with the Company right out of Juilliard. The talkback is in conjunction with The Acting Company's 42nd national tour of Macbeth and Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. The New York run is April 1 - 12. Tickets are available by phone: 212-563-9261 or online:www.pearltheatre.org.

Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, Executive Director Patrick Willingham, and Chair of the Board Arielle Tepper Madover proudly announce the addition of five new members to The Public's Board of Trustees since December 2013. The newly elected trustees of diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and interests are Ashley Leeds, Julio Peterson, Lisa Garcia Quiroz, Teresa Tsai, and Timothy A. Wilkins. The new trustees were elected to the board following Arielle Tepper Madover's election to the office of Chair of the Board of Trustees in December 2013.

There is still some casting that is yet to be announced, but much of the cast has now signed on to take part in the much-anticipated film. Below, get to know the company and the roles that they will be playing!

This just in! According to the Hollywood Reporter, Audra McDonald is in final talks to join the cast of Disney's upcoming remake of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. The six-time Tony winner will take on the role of 'Garderobe,' the wardrobe.

Continuing in a tradition of storytelling and music, Hershey Felder announces the star cast for the Chicago stage premiere of Academy Award winning director Taylor Hackford's LOUIS AND KEELY, 'LIVE' AT THE SAHARA.

Award winning Broadway director Steve Zuckerman and noted playwright, screen and television writer John Bunzel are tapped by The New American Theatre Artistic Director Jack Stehlin to offer Los Angeles a 'first look' at the new comedy 63 TRILLION, opening at the Odyssey Theatre on April 25, 2015.

Walking up to this warehouse building in the downtown area I was excited. Was I in the East Village seeing a production at La MaMa, or I was in the Bayou City seeing The Stark Naked Theatre Company's production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM? From the rugged factory exterior of the venue to the perfectly designed industrial theatre space I was in artistic heaven.

The Public Theater announced additional casting today for the 2015 Free Shakespeare in the Park season, beginning Wednesday, May 27 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. This summer will feature Shakespeare's late romances with THE TEMPEST, directed by Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, and CYMBELINE, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan. Jesse Tyler Ferguson will return to the Park this summer as Trinculo in THE TEMPEST, along with Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe teaming up again with Daniel Sullivan on CYMBELINE to play Posthumus Leonatus/Cloten and Imogen, respectively.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'The Sound Of Music,' 'Empire' and 'Glee' stir up this week's TVs, 'First Wives Club,' 'Beauty And The Beast,' 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'First Date' claim their respective audiences,' Kokandy has more than 'The Full Monty,' Columbia's 'Oklahoma!,' lots at the Skokie Theatre and my upcoming busy weekend!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Happy St. Patrick's Day! IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU begins performances and more!

A mediocre production of a great musical is highlighted by Kristin Chenoweth's superlative turn.

The Articulate Theater Company stages The Skin of Our Teeth for a 21st Century Audience.

Margot Harley, producer of The Acting Company, has announced the Company's New York Season in conjunction with its 42nd National Tour.