Natalie Portman News

The Forum Theatre Presents 'They Changed Broadway: From Berlin to Bernstein and Beyond' a benefit performance June 13 at 4pm. 'They Changed Broadway' will benefit Congregation Neve Shalom of Metuchen New Jersey.

Five-time Emmy Award-winner John Larroquette will make a stage appearance this spring, joining Johanna Day, Monica Raymund, and Michael Zegen in the cast of Elizabeth Meriwether's new play OLIVER PARKER!, in its world-premiere by the Off-Broadway theatre company the stageFARM, with previews starting May 9 prior to its official opening night May 17 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Manhattan.

Five-time Emmy Award-winner John Larroquette will make a stage appearance this spring, joining Johanna Day, Monica Raymund, and Michael Zegen in the cast of Elizabeth Meriwether's new play OLIVER!, in its world-premiere by the Off-Broadway theatre company the stageFARM, with previews starting May 9 prior to its official opening night May 17 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Manhattan.

Before there was GLEE or 'American Idol,' there was Stagedoor Manor, a theater camp in the Catskills where big-time Hollywood casting directors came to find the next generation of stars. It's where Natalie Portman, Robert Downey, Jr., Zach Braff, Mandy Moore, Lea Michele, and many others got their start. The famed theater camp continues to be a breeding ground for Broadway and Hollywood. And at age 31, Mickey Rapkin, a senior editor at GQ, was lucky enough to go, too.

Directed by Evan Cabnet, OLIVER PARKER! is a jet black comedy about hurting the ones you love, and loving the ones that hurt: Oliver (Michael Zegen) is 17 and Jasper (John Laroquette) is 60. They are best friends. Oliver wants to get laid, and Jasper wants to help. Jasper wants to drink himself to death, and Oliver wants to save him. And they share a secret that could ruin them both... if it hasn't already.

Five-time Emmy Award-winner John Larroquette will make a stage appearance this spring, joining Johanna Day, Monica Raymund, and Michael Zegen in the cast of Elizabeth Meriwether's new play OLIVER PARKER!, in its world-premiere by the Off-Broadway theatre company the stageFARM, with previews starting May 9 prior to its official opening night May 17 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Manhattan.

Five-time Emmy Award-winner John Larroquette will make a stage appearance this spring, joining Johanna Day, Monica Raymund, and Michael Zegen in the cast of Elizabeth Meriwether's new play OLIVER!, in its world-premiere by the Off-Broadway theatre company the stageFARM, with previews starting May 9 prior to its official opening night May 17 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Manhattan.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU), Audience Extras and Back Stage present the industry panel Equity 2.0: Upgrades to the Basic Codes and Contracts on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 7:30pm at The Players Theatre Mainstage, 115 MacDougal Street (below W. 3rd Street), NYC.

The American Film Institute and TV Land announced today that American film's finest performers Cher, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep are among the many in the arts and entertainment community who are scheduled to appear when AFI honors beloved film, television and stage director Mike Nichols with the AFI Life Achievement Award. The gala will take place on Thursday, June 10th in the historic Stage 15 on the Sony Studios lot in Culver City, CA. 'TV Land Presents: The AFI Life Achievement Awards Honoring Mike Nichols' premieres on TV Land in June.

Top artists from the entertainment community will come together on June 10, 2010 as AFI presents the 38th AFI Life Achievement Award - the highest honor for a career in film -- to acclaimed director Mike Nichols. The 25 artists from film, television and the stage who have confirmed their participation on the AFI Benefit Committee in support of the event are: Amy Adams, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Candice Bergen, Cher, Nora Ephron, Harrison Ford, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Shirley MacLaine, Steve Martin, Elaine May, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Mary-Louise Parker, Natalie Portman, Robert Redford, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Elizabeth Taylor, Emma Thompson, Sigourney Weaver and Robin Williams. 'TV Land Presents: The AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Mike Nichols' will air on TV Land on Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Top artists from the entertainment community will come together on June 10, 2010 as AFI presents the 38th AFI Life Achievement Award -- the highest honor for a career in film -- to acclaimed director Mike Nichols.

Emmy(R) Award-winning actress Lisa Kudrow joins the growing list of celebrated stars in the SHOWTIME line-up with the pick-up of her original online comedy series WEB THERAPY, it was announced today by SHOWTIME Networks' President of Entertainment Robert Greenblatt. SHOWTIME will air a minimum of 10 half-hour episodes that will include additional new material to be shot.

Usdan Center For the Performing Arts, the nationally renowned summer arts day camp which has introduced the arts to more than 50,000 young people, announces that Maurice Brandon Curry, a director/choreographer/educator, and former Director of the Joffrey Ballet School, will become Chairperson of the Usdan Center Dance Department beginning in the summer of 2010.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) and Page 73 Productions has announced casting for Samuel D. Hunter's JACK'S PRECIOUS MOMENT, which receives its World Premiere at Americas Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters from May 21 - June 13. Opening Night is scheduled for Wednesday, May 26 at 7:30 PM.

Five-time Emmy Award-winner John Larroquette will make a stage appearance this spring, joining Johanna Day, Monica Raymund, and Michael Zegen in the cast of Elizabeth Meriwether's new play OLIVER PARKER!, in its world-premiere by the Off-Broadway theatre company the stageFARM, with previews starting May 9 prior to its official opening night May 17 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Manhattan.

Five-time Emmy Award-winner John Larroquette will make a stage appearance this spring, joining Johanna Day, Monica Raymund, and Michael Zegen in the cast of Elizabeth Meriwether's new play OLIVER!, in its world-premiere by the Off-Broadway theatre company the stageFARM, with previews starting May 9 prior to its official opening night May 17 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Manhattan.

Usdan Center For the Creative and Performing Arts, the renowned summer arts day camp whose alumni include Natalie Portman, Mariah Carey, Seth Rudetsky, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Jordan Leeds and jazz singer Jane Monheit, announces three new members of its Board of Directors: Playwright Michele Lowe, whose Smell Of the Kill and String Of Pearls were produced on Broadway, and whose newest work, the Iraq-set Inana just opened at the Denver Center Theatre (her Map Of Heaven will premiere there during the 2010-2011 season); Lesley Friedman Rosenthal, Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Lincoln Center For the Performing Arts; and James R. Wacht, President of Sierra Realty Corporation.

According to a report by BBC Radio 5 Live, Carey Mulligan is set to play Eliza Doolittle in the upcoming remake of My Fair Lady, written by Emma Thompson. Previous rumors suggested that Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman were interested in the coveted role of Doolittle, however Thompson revealed that Mulligan has been cast.

Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher will both star in an upcoming romantic comedy to be directed by Ivan Reitman, according to reports by 'Variety.' The film, which has a working title of 'Friends With Benefits' features a screenplay written by Elizabeth Meriwether.

The New York Philharmonic will present SONDHEIM: The Birthday Concert on March 15 and Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. This celebration of the 80th birthday of the great Broadway and film composer/lyricist will include his most enduring orchestral music and songs - performed, in some cases, by the stars of the original Broadway cast productions - in addition to rarely-heard material. Joining the celebration will be (in alphabetical order) Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, Jason Danieley, Nathan Gunn, George Hearn, Patti LuPone, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, and others to be announced, including surprise guests. Paul Gemignani, Mr. Sondheim's longtime collaborator, will conduct the New York Philharmonic; Lonny Price is the director; and Mr. Price and Matt Cowart are the producers.