Stephen Daldry News

South Coast Repertory has announced the lineup of actors and directors who will participate in the 12th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF). Since its creation in 1998, PPF has grown into one of the most important festivals of new scripts in the United States. This year?s Festival will take place during the May 1 through May 3 weekend and will feature five staged readings and two fully-produced World Premieres on South Coast Repertory?s Segerstrom and Julianne Argryos Stages. Tickets to PPF may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

Elton John (Billy Elliot: The Musical) will receive the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award, Arthur Laurents (West Side Story) will be honored with the Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing, and Angela Lansbury (Blithe Spirit) will receive the Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award. In addition, Broadway producer Herb Blodgett will receive The 75th Anniversary Leadership Award.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will present, BERLIN/WALL, two contrasting solo monologues written and performed by David Hare, for five performances only, May 14-17.

Fidelity FutureStage®, the producers of Billy Elliot the Musical and Elton John today announced the first ever Fidelity FutureStage® Playwriting Contest ? a unique opportunity for area high school students to become Broadway?s youngest playwrights.

Fidelity FutureStage®, the producers of Billy Elliot the Musical and Elton John today announced the first ever Fidelity FutureStage® Playwriting Contest - a unique opportunity for area high school students to become Broadway's youngest playwrights.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that Tommy Batchelor has joined the rotation in the role of 'Billy Elliot.' Tommy joins Broadway's original Billys David Alvarez,Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulishon stage at the Imperial Theatre.

There have been many celebrations around the theatre lately. On 7 March, the Billy Elliot company marked their 500th performance in Australia. 12 March also saw another milestone passed: the company's 100th performance at Her Majesty's Theatre.

'All My Children' actor Cameron Mathison and the stars of BILLY ELLIOT, David Alvarez, Kiril Kulish and Trent Kowalik visited Good Morning America on ABC Friday, February 27th. Mathison enlisted the help of the Broadway 'Billys' to get over his fear of...ballet!

Kate Winslet gives her Oscar Night Acceptance Speech.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 are being presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center?, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide. Winners are updated below as they're announced in bold red.

The New York Post's gossip legend Cindy Adams talks Oscar in her current column in advance of this Sunday's Academy Awards telecast. She chats with a few Oscar contenders including, director Stephen Daldry, who is nominated for the The Reader, Frozen River Best Actress nominee Melissa Leo and WALL-E producer Jim Morris.

The full list of winners for the British Academy of Film and Television arts were given out in London on February 8, 2009.

Variety is reporting that Ralph Fiennes will make his directorial debut with a feature adaptation of William Shakespeare's Roman tragedy 'Coriolanus.' Fiennes, is currently starring in Stephen Daldry's 'The Reader' alongside Oscar-nominated Kate Winslet.

Fifteen of the 20 nominees in the acting categories will be among the almost 120 Academy Award nominees who will gather at noon on Monday (February 2) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honors this year's Oscar contenders at its annual Nominees Luncheon. Additional confirmations are expected to come in over the weekend.

Fifteen of the 20 nominees in the acting categories will be among the almost 120 Academy Award nominees who will gather at noon on Monday (February 2) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honors this year's Oscar contenders at its annual Nominees Luncheon. Additional confirmations are expected to come in over the weekend.

Legendary rock icon (and Broadway composer) Elton John has given an interview to the UK Sun in which he slams the internet and demands it be 'shut off'. John claims it is destroying good music, saying: 'The internet has stopped people from going out and being with each other, creating stuff.... Let's get out in the streets and march and protest instead of sitting at home and blogging.'

A hit in London and one of the most highly anticipated shows of the season, Billy Elliot officially opened at Broadway's Imperial Theatre on Thursday, November 13th. The show will play a special Actor's Fund performance on Sunday, January 25th at 8pm. For tickets call 212-221-7300 ext. 133, email at 'tickets@actorsfund.com.

The Cedar Lake Theater in West Chelsea will come to life on Friday, January 23 with a thrilling evening of dance to benefit Dancers Responding To AIDS (DRA), a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA). Hosted by Tony Award winning choreographer Rob Ashford, this gala event guarantees to be a soul-stirring showcase of the best and brightest from today's varied dance landscape with performances by American Ballet Theatre, Battleworks, Broadway's 'Billy Elliott,' Camille A. Brown, Dresden Ballet, Les Ballet Grandiva, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The program will also feature the world premiere of TITLE by choreographer Chase Brock performed by NYCB principal Tiler Peck.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center?, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

The Actors Fund will host a Special Performance of Billy Elliot which is this Sunday, January 25th at 8 pm at The Imperial Theatre. People can purchase tickets through the box office and telecharge at 212-239-6200. They can purchase premium tickets through The Actors Fund at 212-221-7300 ext. 133. A hit in London and one of the most highly anticipated shows of the season, Billy Elliot officially opened at Broadway's Imperial Theatre last night, Thursday, November 13th. The show will play a special Actor's Fund performance on Sunday, January 25th at 8pm. For tickets call 212-221-7300 ext. 133, email at 'tickets@actorsfund.com. With music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry, this joyful musical lit up Broadway as Elton John joined the cast for the Opening Night bows. BroadwayWorld's cameras caught the exciting moments as the curtain came down on a triumphant evening. Directed by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot has played over 1,300 performances and recently celebrated its 3rd anniversary in London. Billy Elliot the Musical opened at London's Victoria Palace in May 2005 to unanimous critical acclaim. The production went on to sweep London's nine awards for Best Musical, including the Olivier, Evening Standard and Critics' Circle Theatre Awards. In London, Billy Elliot has now been seen by over 1.5 million people and has grossed over ?65 million. The musical opened to equal acclaim at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia in December 2007. The two current productions have played to over 2.3 million people.