The Muppets News

The Intrepid Summer Movie Series, presented by Dr. Pepper, returns this summer with a selection of entertaining and family-friendly films. Members of the public are invited to bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets and blankets to the Intrepid Museum to view a popular movie outdoors, free of charge, on a huge inflatable screen on the Flight Deck of the aircraft carrier.

Anthony Freud, Lyric Opera of Chicago's general director, today announced two performance events that exemplify different facets of the ambitious new Lyric Unlimited* program being launched this year: Popcorn & Pasquale on December 2 and The Second City Guide to the Opera on January 5.

The Intrepid Summer Movie Series, presented by Dr. Pepper, returns this summer with a selection of entertaining and family-friendly films. Members of the public are invited to bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets and blankets to the Intrepid Museum to view a popular movie outdoors, free of charge, on a huge inflatable screen on the Flight Deck of the aircraft carrier.

According to IndieWire, Chris Cooper has been cast in the film adaptation of Tracy Letts' August: Osage County, alongside Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. Cooper also joins the recently cast Andrea Riseborough.

Today we are talking to a terrifically talented triple-threat who has graced the silver screen in CHICAGO, as well as in the TV productions of THE MUSIC MAN, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS and in many stunt and dance double roles in his career thus far who has since become the protegee of dance extraordinaire Kenny Ortega and broken out on his own with a string of striking and memorable sequences in entities as diverse as TV's HELLCATS and the recent feature films THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, SUCKER PUNCH, MIRROR, MIRROR and TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 - gifted dancer/choreographer/director Paul Becker. Talking about many of his most memorable past projects and filling us in on his many current and future ones - TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN PART 2, a Ben Vereen documentary, an original movie musical titled STAGE FRIGHT, a James Gray film featuring Jeremy Renner and Marion Cotillard, a Lifetime movie musical with Karen Olivo and even more - Becker brings us into his unique and idiosyncratic world and gives us a glimpse into how he achieves consistent excellence in all of his many endeavors as he attempts to define his anomalous career for us. Additionally, Becker takes a look back at acting onscreen in the Oscar-winning Best Picture CHICAGO, choreographing the ultimate vampire wedding, judging SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE? Canada, producing CANADA'S GOT TALENT, giving two hundred dancers movement for a Michael Buble music video and he also shares some hopes and wishes for what he would like to take on in his blindingly bright future in show business - directing a feature film, perhaps? What about a Broadway show when time permits? The possibilities are multitude and seemingly endless and Becker is one of the most brightly shining behind-the-scenes talents on the rise, as is clear to qualify by all of the exquisitely exciting entities he is involved with on the horizon, both near and far. Plus, Becker shares his experiences choreographing various THE MUPPETS movies, working with Ortega on the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus concert tours, directing the first YouTube feature film, dancing with death in MASTERS OF HORROR, giving moves to monsters in THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, staging the spectacular finale of MIRROR, MIRROR showcasing Julia Roberts, choreographing the fairy tale characters of ONCE UPON A TIME, and he also offers opinions on GLEE and SMASH, reveals his early influences, favorite stars, formative films - and much, much more!

Slipping and sliding back into Fathom-equipped movie theaters nationwide for one night only on July 12 in honor of its sixtieth anniversary, the iconic and legendary 1952 movie musical masterpiece SINGIN' IN THE RAIN makes its grand return to the silver screen in a brand new HD remastering that any movie musical fan, film fanatic or Broadway baby will definitely want to see first hand. A special event presented by Turner Classic Movies - also featuring an exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary hosted by Robert Osborne and featuring original film star Debbie Reynolds - the July 12 showing of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is one more enduring entry in a continuing series of classic releases shown in HD for the first time in Fathom-equipped movie theaters across the country prior to their release on Blu-ray - past highlighted films have included SCARFACE, WEST SIDE STORY, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, CASABLANCA and many more. So, in celebration of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN splashing its way back to cinemas next week, today we are going to take a look back at some of the most well-known and best-loved scenes from the film - boasting a star-studded cast led by Gene Kelly, Donald O'Conner and Debbie Reynolds; directed by Kelly and Stanley Donen, with songs by Nacio Herb Brown and movie musical magnate Arthur Freed - as well as partake in the many famous and infamous homages paying tribute to the rightly well-regarded movie musical gem over the years. Gene Kelly to Gwyneth Paltrow to Kurt Browning to Usher; GLEE to THE MUPPET SHOW to FAMILY GUY; A CLOCKWORK ORANGE to FAME to SPAMALOT and far, far beyond; this retrospective look at one of the most important and influential - and just plain fun - American movie musicals ever produced certainly has it all; and then some! Ain't it great to stay up late?

Some great shows are coming up next week including a special free screening of GHOSTBUSTERS on Monday on the beach on Coney Island; a dedication to the diversity, daring, and charm of our country with short films on Independence Day

Some great shows are coming up next week including a special free screening of GHOSTBUSTERS on Monday on the beach on Coney Island; a dedication to the diversity, daring, and charm of our country with short films on Independence Day

BWW had a chance to chat with all four members of 'The Craze' and find out how they transform themselves each night from four immensely talented American musicians of the 21st century to four young lads from 1950's Brighton, England.

Stern Grove Festival, the longest running admission-free outdoor music festival in the country, celebrates its 75th anniversary season today, June 24 - August 26, 2012.

Paul Williams STILL ALIVE, directed by Stephen Kessler, will be released theatrically in Los Angeles today, June 22nd at the Nuart with a national rollout to follow.

Omaha Performing Arts presents Cox Music & Movies, featuring The Karate Kid and the retro pop ukulele sounds of Omaha band All Young Girls Are Machine Guns. This summer's first free Cox Music & Movies event will be held on Friday, June 22 in the Courtyard of the Holland Performing Arts Center. Music begins at 7:45 p.m. followed by the movie at dusk, or approximately 8:45 p.m.

Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford recently visited Linda Lavin, who is nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role as Rita Lyons in Nicky Silver's new Broadway comedy, THE LYONS. See the three together below!

The Jim Henson Company may be commonly known for its children's programming such as Sesame Street - but the brand of pioneers of puppetry isn't afraid to show off the subversive underbellies of its fuzzy, legless characters, and the actors that control them. STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG, an improvisational puppet show billed as 'adults only,' created by Brian Henson, the son of Jim Henson, and actor/improv wonder Patrick Bristow (SEINFELD, ELLEN), is set to play the Bank of America Theater in Chicago from June 12-17. The show is performed centerstage, where the actors/puppeteers are completely visible, and the stage is flanked by two monitors, in which the puppets are shown from the waste up - what Brian Henson calls 'the Henson technique.' BroadwayWorld was fortunate enough to sit down with creators Brian Henson and Patrick Bristow (who serve as a puppeteer, and director/host, respectively,) as well as puppeteers Peggy Etra and Victor Yerrid.

The Public Theater announced today that Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare has been cast as The Baker in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. INTO THE WOODS will be O'Hare's Shakespeare in the Park debut. Previews begin on Monday, July 23 at the Delacorte Theater and continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25, with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9.

John Tartaglia, who earned a Tony Award nomination for his performance in Avenue Q (where he currently serves as Resident Director), Emmy Award nomination for Playhouse Disney's Johnny and the Sprites, Drama Desk nomination for John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean, and has twelve seasons of experience on Sesame Street (where he continues to guest star), today announced that he'll be holding an all new master class intensive in theatre and television-style puppetry.

The Intrepid Summer Movie Series, presented by Dr. Pepper, returns this summer with a selection of entertaining and family-friendly films. Members of the public are invited to bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets and blankets to the Intrepid Museum to view a popular movie outdoors, free of charge, on a huge inflatable screen on the Flight Deck of the aircraft carrier.

TEEN CHOICE 2012 will once again celebrate the hottest teen icons in television, music, film, sports, fashion, comedy and the web in the choicest, star-studded two-hour event airing live Sunday, July 22 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. Among the nominees are GLEE star Lea Michele and 'How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris.

TEEN CHOICE 2012 will once again celebrate the hottest teen icons in television, music, film, sports, fashion, comedy and the web in the choicest, star-studded two-hour event airing live Sunday, July 22 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. 'The Vampire Diaries' leads the TEEN CHOICE 2012 nominees with six nominations, while AMERICAN IDOL and Justin Bieber each garnered five nominations. In addition, new categories added this year include Choice Book and Choice Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Artist.

13 bachelors take to the stage and join Emily and the beloved Muppets for a live performance benefitting The Ricky Hendrick Centers for Intensive Care at The Levine Children's Hospital.