Tom Hanks News

This article is the first in a new series by Sarah Jae Leiber exploring a?oemusic moviesa?? and all the beauty and frustration that comes with them!

Variety reports that newcomer child actor Helena Zengel will star opposite Tom Hanks in Paul Greengrass' upcoming “News of the World.'

This summer, Disney and Pixar's “Toy Story 4” took audiences on a hilarious and heartwarming road trip with Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the whole gang, earning a 98 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and more than $1 billion at the global box office. Packed with old friends and new faces, the fourth film in the beloved Toy Story series, which leads Woody to an unexpected fork in the road, arrives home on Digital in 4K Ultra HD, HD, and Movies Anywhere Oct. 1, and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD Oct. 8.

Martin P. Robinson Productions and Little Shadow Productions presents All Hallows Eve, a wild, horror musical journey across the grey veil on a Halloween night, testing a sister's and brother's love against the forces of true evil, with book, lyrics and puppet design by Martin P. Robinson (Little Shop of Horrors; a?oeSesame Streeta??) and music by Paul Rudolph (Emmy Award-winning composer, a?oeSesame Streeta??, a?oeGLANKa??).  

On Friday evening, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, in a display of pure bravura, opened their 40th Anniversary Season with the regional premiere of the musical War Paint, a new tuner with a book by Doug Wright, music by Scott Frankel, and lyrics by Michael Korie that tells the story of the rise and fall of two of the cosmetics industry's most notable trailblazers, Helena Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden.  The musical opened on Broadway in 2017 to lackluster reviews and played only 269 performances before shuttering, even with two of Broadway's biggest divas, Christine Ebersole and Patti Lupone, at the helm.   There's a reason for this.  War Paint has what I like to call Sleepless-in-Seattle Syndrome when I'm talking to a group of juiced-up creative writing students.  That's a story that, like the Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan film, has this problem:  the characters don't share enough time together in scenes to generate the type of tension needed to sustain interest over the course of the story.  The musical places too many limitations on itself by remaining true to the real-life story which includes the fact that Helena Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden didn't actually know each other in real life and ends up painting a stage where the two principal characters are separated by an imaginary wall that can't ever be scaled, not even emotionally, and not even by the most talented actors.  But Atlanta Lyric, with their artistic director, Mary Nye Bennett, an absolute mega-talent in the role of Helena Rubenstein, and gorgeous scenic by Stephanie Polhemus, manage to offer up an excellent evening at the theater under the direction of a capable Susan G. Reid. 

 Comedy Central today ordered a new unscripted, interview-based series from Phoebe Robinson, the multi-talented stand-up comedian, New York Times best-selling writer and actress. In this half-hour, 10-episode untitled series, Robinson will create experiences with her guests that take us into their world and out of her comfort zone. This is Robinson's first project from her recently formed production company, Tiny Reparations.

Award-winning New London Barn Playhouse presents Catch Me If You Can running August 7th thru August 18th and information available at www.nlbarn.org or 603-526-6710.

It was announced today that the new musical Swept Away, featuring the music of The Avett Brothers, will have its world premiere at Berkeley Rep as part of their 2019-20 season, beginning performances in June 2020. Swept Away is produced by Berkeley Rep by special arrangement with Matthew Masten and Sean Hudock.

Warner Bros. has announced that the upcoming untitled Elvis biopic will open Oct. 1, 2021, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The California premiere of Nick Dear's adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel, FRANKENSTEIN, launches A Noise Within's 2019-2020 season August 11, 2019. Much in-demand director Michael Michetti helms Michael Manuel as The Creature and Kasey Mahaffy as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, presenting Shelley's tale from the atypical perspective of The Creature. Having seen Kasey in ANW's stunning MAN OF LA MANCHA and the hysterical NOISES OFF, I jumped at the chance to interview this talented actor/performer.

SMTC has announced its cast for Man of La Mancha, led by guest star Peter Scolari who takes on the role of Don Quixote in Man of LaMancha.

Get ready for celebrities to get cerebral! National Geographic announced today its star-studded lineup of celebrity guests, spanning actors and musicians to entrepreneurs and athletes, for the reboot of its Emmy-nominated series, BRAIN GAMES. The eight-episode season, produced by Magical Elves, with Alfred Street Industries, adds a Hollywood twist to its classic mind-bending format by challenging the world's biggest celebrities to realize their exceptional brain power through fun and highly entertaining interactive games, illusions and social experiments.

Sony Pictures has released the trailer for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Susan Kelechi Watson and Chris Cooper.

Powerhouse vocalist/actress Emma Hunton (onstage for many a UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL PARODY OF...  show) switches gears, exhibiting her directing prowess in her inaugural directorial UMPO production of A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN. Hunton keeps the punchlines, the pop songs, the sweet moves coming at you in a machine gun-pace with just enough time to react with laughter or applause. As expected of a project from UMPO executive producer/writer Kate Pazakis, UMPO: A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN consists of her very clever selection of pop songs to further the narrative, combined with some of the wittiest lines to parody the already existing funny moments of the Penny Marshall-directed A League of Their Own.

"She loves me/And to my amazement/I love it knowing that she loves me/She loves me/True, she doesn't show it/How could she when she doesn't know it?" If those well-known lyrics strike up a tune in your head, then you're no doubt familiar with She Loves Me, this season's big, Broadway-style musical on stage at the Peterborough Players from July 31st- August 11th.

Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that, after an extensive search, Baz Luhrmann has cast Austin Butler as Elvis Aaron Presley in the director's upcoming film about the seminal legend. The announcement was made today by Toby Emmerich, Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.

The Barn is bringing this classic 1987 motion picture fantasy to the stage! With laughter, music, and heartfelt moments, Josh learns to be careful what you wish for because being big isn't child's play.

Kristen Schaal and Holland Taylor have joined the cast of Bill & Ted Face The Music. Schaal will play Kelly, a messenger from the future. Taylor is set to take on the role of The Great Leader, the most powerful person in the universe - the center of which is San Dimas, California, 700 years in the future. They join previously announced cast including Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves, William Sadler, Samara Weaving, Brigette Lundy-Paine, ("Kid Cudi"), Anthony Carrigan, Beck Bennett, Erinn Hayes, Jayma Mays, Amy Stoch, Hal Landon Jr. and Jillian Bell.

A group of young actors are being tested for the role of Elvis Presley in an upcoming Warner Bros. film, according to Deadline.

Joining the previously announced Jay McGuiness, Wendi Peters, Kimberley Walsh and Matthew Kelly as Josh Baskin, Mrs Baskin, Susan Lawrence and George MacMillan respectively in BIG The Musical, will be Lori Haley Fox as Mrs KopeckiMiss Watson and Edward Handoll as Paul Seymour, with Harrison Dadswell, Jamie O'Connor and Jake Simon sharing the role of Young Josh and Jobe Hart, Austen Phelan and Theo Wilkinson sharing the role of Billy.