Lee Daniel News

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL began performances on March 11 and will open on Broadway on April 14, 2013 at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street). Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL features a book by Berry Gordy and music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue. The show celebrated 'Family Night' last night, and BroadwayWorld brings you pictures from the festivities!

Rose Byrne, Bryan Cranston, James Marsden, Alfred Molina, Dev Patel, Amy Poehler and Noah Wyle will be presenters at the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, Executive Producer Jeff Margolis announced today.

USA will air marathons from NCIS and LAW & ORDER: SVU to welcome 2013.

Academy Award winner CUBA GOODING, JR, (Jerry Maguire, Red Tails), Emmy Award nominee and recording star VANESSA WILLIAMS (Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives), and Tony Award nominee CONDOLA RASHAD (Lifetime's Steel Magnolias, Broadway's Stick Fly) will star along with the previously announced CICELY TYSON in the upcoming Broadway revival of HORTON FOOTE'S beloved classic, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, directed by MICHAEL WILSON. Produced by NELLE NUGENT and KENNETH TEATON, this 14-week limited engagement will begin previews on Easter Sunday, March 31st at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 W 43rd St). Opening night is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23rd. For ticket information please visit www.TheTripToBountifulBroadway.com.

Today we are talking to a tremendously talented triple-threat star all about her many recent and upcoming endeavors, including the forthcoming feature films ADDICTED, 1982 and THE LAST LETTER, as well as the pilot for a new TV series, GUILTY, and, of course, her debut solo album project - the magnetic and beautiful Sharon Leal. In addition to discussing many aspects of her films to date and her starry assortment of co-stars and collaborators on them - Jennifer Hudson, Bill Condon, Bernie Mac, Samuel L. Jackson, Pam Grier, Chris Brown, McG and Cuba Gooding, Jr. included - Leal and I also discuss her theatrically-attuned work thus far in her career, having appeared on Broadway in RENT, as well as in starring in BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY, regional work and in a prominent featured role as part of the big screen film adaptation of DREAMGIRLS. Plus, Leal recounts her fruitful artistic and romantic relationship with recent fellow InDepth InterView participant, choreographer/director Paul Becker, and also outlines her plans for the future, near and far, as she anticipates continuing work on her solo album project and promoting her many current projects while taking a temporary holiday break - all of that and much, much more awaits!

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHoAce) announces that the world premiere play, ONE NOVEMBER YANKEE, written and directed by Joshua Ravetch and starring two-time Emmy winner Loretta Swit and four-time Golden Globe nominee Harry Hamlin will be adapted into a feature film, written by Joshua Ravetch for Pam Williams Productions. The play, which is now extended thru Saturday, January 12, 2013 at the NoHo Arts Center, stars veteran actors Lorreta Swit and Harry Hamlin as siblings who discover the wreckage of a single engine plane crash years after the accident has occurred.

Breaking Glass Pictures/QC Cinema and Tall Skinny Black Boy Productions have closed the deal to release THE SKINNY, the latest film from Patrik-Ian Polk, director of Sundance favorite Punks and creator of Logo's popular series 'Noah's Arc' and the award-winning film Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom.

The Public Theater's acclaimed production of Wild With Happy, written by Colman Domingo and directed by Robert O'Hara, closes today, Sunday, November 18.

The Public Theater announced today that the acclaimed production of Wild With Happy, written by Colman Domingo and directed by Robert O'Hara, will extend an additional week to Sunday, November 18.

Breaking Glass Pictures/QC Cinema and Tall Skinny Black Boy Productions have closed the deal to release THE SKINNY, the latest film from Patrik-Ian Polk, director of Sundance favorite Punks and creator of Logo's popular series 'Noah's Arc' and the award-winning film Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom.

Joshua Henry will join Amber Riley ("Glee"), Jared Grimes and Adriane Lenox in New York City Center's acclaimed production of Cotton Club Parade, returning for seven performances from November 14-18, 2012. (Mr. Henry replaces the previously announced Brandon Victor Dixon. Mr. Dixon is no longer available due to scheduling conflicts.) Conceived by Jack Viertel and presented under the auspices of City Center's Tony Award-winning Encores! series, Cotton Club Parade will once again be directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, with music direction by Jazz at Lincoln Center Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis. The show will feature the Jazz at Lincoln Center All Stars under the direction of Daryl Waters.

Highlights will include a conversation about the making of LIFE OF PI with Tom Rothman, as well as talks with NYFF filmmakers Lee Daniels (THE PAPERBOY), Barry Levinson (THE BAY), Cristian Mungiu (BEYOND THE HILLS), Sally Potter (GINGER AND ROSA), actors Gael Garcia Bernal (NO) and Greta Gerwig (FRANCES HA).

The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that they have acquired U.S. rights from Butler Films to distribute THE BUTLER, directed by Academy Award nominated Lee Daniels (PRECIOUS).

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today that Nicole Kidman and Richard Peña will be the subject of gala tributes to be presented by the festival for the first time during the historic 50th edition of NYFF.

Today, the spotlight falls upon Angela Gimlin, who is appearing this weekend in the debut work from Nashville's Kirk-Burgess Productions: Prince Gomolvilas' play Mysterious Skin, based on the Scott Heim novel of the same name, that weaves together the interconnected stories of two young men, each struggling to overcome his horrific past. Angela, whose versatility is obvious in the production, plays the distant mother of one of the boys' and a surly Little League functionary who simply doesn't want to be bothered.

The Toronto International Film Festival® announces the addition of 3 Galas and 18 Special Presentations, including 8 World Premieres, to its slate. The Festival will close with Paul Andrew Williams' A SONG FOR MARION, starring Vanessa Redgrave and Terence Stamp.

According to the LA Times and ComingSoon.net, director Lee Daniels and Hugh Jackman are joining forces for an adaptation of William F. Pepper's book Orders to Kill.

Amber Riley ("Glee") joins original cast members Brandon Victor Dixon, Jared Grimes and Adriane Lenox in New York City Center's acclaimed production of Duke Ellington's Cotton Club Parade, returning to City Center for seven performances from November 14-18, 2012. Conceived by Jack Viertel and presented under the auspices of City Center's Tony Award-winning Encores! series, Cotton Club Parade will once again be directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, with music direction by Jazz at Lincoln Center Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis. The show will feature the Jazz at Lincoln Center All Stars under the direction of Daryl Waters.

According to Deadline.com, stage veteran Liev Schreiber has joined the cast of the upcoming Lee Daniels film The Butler, as Lyndon B Johnson. Danny Strong wrote the script with Daniels.

Yesterday, July 7, ANYTHING GOES' Robert Petkoff Tweeted a series of Polaroid portraits he took of the show's cast and crew backstage. Take a look at the collection below!