Oliver Platt News

Check out this sneak peek of Lea Michele as 'Dorothy of Oz' in an Entertainment Tonight clip. In the film, the title and beloved role of Dorothy Gale will be played by Golden-Globe nominated actress Lea Michele, star of television's hit series 'Glee'. Also known for her acclaimed Broadway roles in Spring Awakening and Les Misérables, Lea makes her feature film and animation voice-over debut with 'Oz' and will also be providing vocals on several original musical numbers.

On Monday, November 15, 2010, the Writer's Guild of America, East Foundation will host a benefit performance of Jules Feiffer: Funny Side Up.

Werc Werk Works, the independent production and finance company helmed by CEO Elizabeth Redleaf, and Likely Story, the New York based production company headed by Anthony Bregman, jointly announced today that they will produce DARLING COMPANION, written by Meg Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan and to be directed by Lawrence Kasdan.

According to a report by Deadlinecom, both Weeds and The Big C have been renewed by Showtime. Both shows have been picked up by David Nevins for atleast 13 episodes.

Participants for the InsideMedia Series Include: Alec Baldwin, Robert Drew, Mark Burnett, Oliver Platt, Danny Glover, Bridget Moynihan, Will Estes, Jane Alexander, Mike Henry, Bob Newhart, Laura Linney, Baz Luhrmann, Tony Orlando, Gabourey Sidibe, Len Cariou, Barbara Cook, Albert Maysles, Kevin Conroy, Shirin Abadi, Jody Williams, D.A. Pennebaker, Vanessa Redgrave, Tammy Grimes, Tom Selleck, Donald Trump, and Frankie Valli

Burning Coal's 2010/2011 season will include: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Christopher Sergel from the novel by Harper Lee directed by Randolph Curtis Rand (September 9 - 26, 2010), ST. NICHOLAS by Conor McPherson, directed by Randolph Curtis Rand (November 4 - 21, 2010), CROWNS by Regina Taylor, directed by Rebecca Holderness (December 2 - 19, 2010), BLUE by Kelly Doyle, directed by Mark Sutch (January 13 - 30, 2011) and THE SHAPE OF THE TABLE by David Edgar, directed by Jerome Davis (April 7 - 24, 2011).

Jonathan Ames has a 'day job' as a writer but there's plenty to keep him busy on other fronts. His work as an unlicensed private detective is flourishing, he's moonlighting as a teacher of fiction writing, and he's getting in and out of trouble with his best friends George and Ray.

Deadline.com reports that stage and screen vet Oliver Platt is the latest star to join the newest X-Men film, X-Men: First Class. He will be appearing alongside a growing list of stars including Kevin Bacon, who will play a villain who fights Charles Xavier, played by James McAvoy and Magneto, played by Michael Fassbender.

Burning Coal's 2010/2011 season will include: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Christopher Sergel from the novel by Harper Lee directed by Randolph Curtis Rand (September 9 - 26, 2010), ST. NICHOLAS by Conor McPherson, directed by Randolph Curtis Rand (November 4 - 21, 2010), CROWNS by Regina Taylor, directed by Rebecca Holderness (December 2 - 19, 2010), BLUE by Kelly Doyle, directed by Mark Sutch (January 13 - 30, 2011) and THE SHAPE OF THE TABLE by David Edgar, directed by Jerome Davis (April 7 - 24, 2011).

As BroadwayWorld has perviously reported, Tony nominee Laura Linney leads the cast of the new Showtime drama, The Big C, premiering on the network on August 16. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the full pilot episode, directed by Academy Award-winning film maker Bill Condon!

Anthony Bregman of Likely Story and Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub of Big Beach announced today that Hugh Dancy ('Confessions of a Shopaholic,' 'Adam'), Kathryn Hahn ('Revolutionary Road,' 'Step Brothers'), Academy Award-nominated actress Shirley Knight, and Janet Montgomery ('Black Swan'), have joined the cast of the Jesse Peretz directed, 'My Idiot Brother,' a comedy about family and the sacrifices it takes to deal with them.

Logo announced today that it has acquired the off-cable syndication rights to the groundbreaking dramatic series 'Nip/Tuck' in a four-year licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. This deal marks the premiere for the series in syndication. The agreement includes all 100 episodes spanning the complete seven seasons of the Golden Globe(R) Award-winning and multiple Emmy(R) Award-nominated drama.

Burning Coal Theatre Company's annual adult acting class, taught by Artistic Director Jerome Davis, is enrolling now.

Deadline.com reports that Tony-, Emmy-, and Grammy-winner Cynthia Nixon ('Sex and the City,' RABBIT HOLE) has joined the cast of Showtime's 'The Big C' in a recurring role. There is no word on whether or not this will affect her chances of starring in a West End production of AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN, as was rumored and reported by BroadwayWorld earlier this month.

According to published reports, Guys and Dolls alumna Lauren Graham may be joing the cast of Scream 4, which begins production on June 28 in Ann Arbor Michigan. No official statement on her participation has been released.

'Dorothy of Oz' stars Lea Michele, Hugh Dancy, Megan Hilty, Jim Belushi, Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd, Kelsey Grammer, Oliver Platt and Patrick Stewart.

SHOWTIME has announced some key talent castings for some of its acclaimed returning and new original series. For DEXTER, noted actors Shawn Hatosy and Maria Doyle Kennedy are signing on as 5th season guest stars and Julie Benz, whose character Rita was found dead in the 4th season finale, will make a guest appearance in one episode of the acclaimed drama series, premiering this fall. Additionally, award-winning actor Brian Cox will also appear in one episode of THE BIG C, which debuts August 16th at 10:30p PT/ET.

Noted film and television actor Idris Elba has signed on as a guest star in four episodes of the new SHOWTIME dark comedy series THE BIG C, premiering August 16TH at 10:30p PT/ET. Elba will play 'Lenny,' a painter who forms a relationship with headliner Laura Linney. The 13-episode series is currently shooting in Stamford, Connecticut.

Tufts University will honor Oliver Platt at the 6th Annual P.T. Barnum Awards For Excellence in Entertainment June 7. The event has been entitled 'From Ballou to Broadway' and will take place at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center.