Leonardo DiCaprio News

Fresh off his lauded New York production of Farragut North, director Doug Hughes reunites much of his ensemble cast, including Juno's Olivia Thirlby, The Wire's Isiah Whitlock, Jr, Mia Barron, Dan Bittner and Justin Huen, at the Geffen Playhouse to join the previously announced Chris Noth and Chris Pine. Noth, best known for his longtime stint as Detective Mike Logan on Law & Order and as the (in)famous Mr.Big on Sex and the City, is a fellow cast member from the Atlantic Theater Company's NY production, while Pine, who is starring as the young Captain Kirk in the new film Star Trek and was recently seen in the Geffen's production of Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, is new to the LA production. Written by Beau Willimon, Farragut North was recently nominated for two Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play.

Academy Award nominated and Emmy winning actress Patricia Clarkson will receive the ShoWest Independent Award for Excellence in Acting, it was announced today by Mitch Neuhauser, co-managing director of the event, which will be held March 30-April 2, 2009, in Las Vegas. Clarkson will be presented with the ShoWest Independent Award for Excellence in Acting at a special luncheon 'Celebrating the Importance of Independent and Specialty Film' on Thursday, April 2, at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.

Academy Award nominated and Emmy winning actress Patricia Clarkson will receive the ShoWest Independent Award for Excellence in Acting, it was announced today by Mitch Neuhauser, co-managing director of the event, which will be held March 30-April 2, 2009, in Las Vegas. Clarkson will be presented with the ShoWest Independent Award for Excellence in Acting at a special luncheon 'Celebrating the Importance of Independent and Specialty Film' on Thursday, April 2, at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.

The Geffen Playhouse is postponing the previously announced production of Nightmare Alley, set to occupy the final slot in the theater's 08/09 season, and replacing it with Beau Willimon's acclaimed new political play Farragut North.

Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz and Aaron Tveit announced at last night's MISCAST benefit that they indeed will be playing the leading roles in the upcoming Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. Tveit will portray young con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr. while Butz will play FBI agent Carl Hanratty, his tireless pursuer.

Tony Nominee Kerry Butler has been cast in the the upcoming musical adaptation of 'Catch Me if You Can,' by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the team behind 'Hairspray.'

The New York Times has reported that Tony winner Rob Ashford will lend his talents to director Baz Luhrmann's staging for Hugh Jackman's opening number for the 81st Annual Academy Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on December 12th, 2008, that Hugh Jackman will host this year's Oscar telecast. Previous hosts have usually been TV or film comedians including Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, John Stewart, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres and others

The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards took place Sunday, January 11 2009 at The Beverly Hilton with a live telecast that aired on NBC at 8 PM (EST) and produced by Dick Clark Productions in association with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards took place Sunday, January 11 2009 at The Beverly Hilton with a live telecast that aired on NBC at 8 PM (EST) and produced by Dick Clark Productions in association with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards will take place Sunday, January 11, 2009 at The Beverly Hilton with a live telecast airing on NBC at 8 PM (EST) and produced by Dick Clark Productions in association with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Variety has an informative little interview that sheds new light on the upcoming musical adaptation of 'Catch Me if You Can,' by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the team behind 'Hairspray.'

The 2009 Arts & Leisure Weekend will take place January 8 to 11. The Times's signature event is a four-day international celebration of the arts with a wide range of activities, from interviews between Times journalists and celebrated guests from the arts, film, music, media and politics, to special offers at cultural institutions around the world.

Sam Mendes directs a transatlantic company of actors in a double-bill of classic works for The Bridge Project's inaugural 2009 season, which pairs a new version of The Cherry Orchard by Tom Stoppard with The Winter's Tale. A formidable transatlantic company and creative team will mount these two new productions for seven internationally renowned theaters. Simon Russell Beale leads the British/American cast, playing Lopakhin in The Cherry Orchard and Leontes in The Winter's Tale. He is joined by Sin?ad Cusack as Madame Ranevskaya and Paulina, Richard Easton as Firs and Old Shepherd, Rebecca Hall as Varya and Hermione, Josh Hamilton as Yasha and Polixenes, Ethan Hawke as Trofimov and Autolycus, and Paul Jesson as Gaev and Camilo.

The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards will take place Sunday, January 11, 2009 at The Beverly Hilton with a live telecast airing on NBC at 8 PM (EST) and produced by Dick Clark Productions in association with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

As David Frost moved the role to film, however, he grew even more comfortable in Frost's skin. 'I've lived with this character for over a year, and the basics of the way I see him didn't really change from stage to film,' he notes.

Three-time Tony Award Winner Glenn Close, Tony Award winner Whoopie Goldberg, Tony nominee Kathy Bates, Galt Macdermot, Oskar Eustis, and cast members from Hair are among the TimesTalk participants scheduled to appear at the New York Times Ninth Annual Arts & Leisure Weekend, January 8 - 11 at the Times Center.

The 2009 Arts & Leisure Weekend will take place January 8 to 11. The Times's signature event is a four-day international celebration of the arts with a wide range of activities, from interviews between Times journalists and celebrated guests from the arts, film, music, media and politics, to special offers at cultural institutions around the world.

The International Press Academy has announced the nominees for the 13th Annual Satellite Awards. The Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards. The awards, given by the Intl. Press Academy, will take place Dec. 14 at Century City's InterContinental Hotel.

IMDB.com is reporting that direct Baz Luhrmann has been sized to direct the feature film adaption of the Broadway hit WICKED. Winnie Holzman, who wrote the book for the musical is said to write the screenplay as well. Variety recently reported that the film was in its early development stages, and clearly the next step has been reached. No schedule for filming or production has been officially announced.

Shakespeare Festival/LA, an arts education organization that builds communities around the appreciation and production of Shakespeare, will present Baz Luhrmann, Mark Gordon and Steven Seidel with Crystal Quill Awards, acknowledging their enduring contribution to arts education.