Vanessa Redgrave News

PBS will unwrap a special treat for viewers this holiday season with the CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL. Premiering Sunday, December 29, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. ET, the special will pave the way for a third season of the hit drama CALL THE MIDWIFE, which returns to PBS in spring 2014.

The Public Theater announced that Academy Award winner Holly Hunter has joined the first Public Forum Drama Club, Life By Asphyxiation by Kia Corthron, on Sunday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Joe's Pub, kicking off the fourth season of PUBLIC FORUM.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents The Winslow Boy, starring Tony nominee Michael Cumpsty as 'Desmond Curry', Academy & Tony Award nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as 'Grace Winslow', Alessandro Nivola as 'Sir Robert Morton' and Tony Award winner Roger Rees as 'Arthur Winslow'.

Broadway press agent Susan L. Schulman will discuss her memoir, BACKSTAGE PASS TO BROADWAY True Tales of A Theatre Press Agent, at Barnes & Noble's Upper West Side store, 2289 Broadway at 82nd Street, on Monday, October 28th at 7 PM. Ms. Schulman has worked with some of Broadway's most talented and creative people -sometimes behaving badly and often with astonishing grace - as they struggled to create theatre magic. In this entertaining, dishy book, she shines the spotlight behind the show curtain, sharing true tales of her life in the theatre. Admission is free and her talk will be followed by a Q&A and book signing.

The New York Times has confirmed earlier reports that Hilary mantel's novels WOLF HALL and BRING UP THE BODIES are being adapted as a six-part television drama for PBS' 'Masterpiece' and will star Tony and Olivier-winner Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell.

Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons (Reversal of Fortune), has been added to the previously announced honorees at the 16th Annual Savannah Film Festival, October 26-November 2.

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) celebrates the 200th anniversary of composer Richard Wagner's birth (May 22, 1813) with an unprecedented series of events this month. Beginning on Friday, Oct. 11, and running through Thursday, Oct. 24, CCM explores Wagner's iconic work and enduring legacy with a series of guest lectures, film screenings and a concert performance by the CCM Philharmonia. Aside from the Oct. 12 Philharmonia performance, these events are free and open to the general public.

Stalwart stage and screen icons James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave have teamed up for an intriguingly-cast new production of William Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING in the UK and the very first shots of the acclaimed actors in action onstage in the current West End revival that opened last month are now available to view.

Following her recent stage run in DRIVING MISS DAISY and upcoming starring role in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at London's The Old Vic, Redgrave will headline ABC's limited series THE BLACK BOX, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Mark Rylance's Much Ado About Nothing starring James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave opened at the Old Vic on 19 September 2013 and runs through 30 November.

Laurence Fox, Jack Huston, Christian McKay, Miranda Raison, Imogen Stubbs and MyAnna Buring will star in Strangers on a Train by Craig Warner, which will be presented at the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End by Barbara Broccoli, Colleen Camp, Michael G Wilson, Lucky VIII/Lou Spisto, Frederick Zollo and Michael Rose Limited for Strangers (UK) Limited. The production, directed by Robert Allan Ackerman, will preview from Saturday 2 November. This gripping thriller is based on Patricia Highsmith's acclaimed novel, which was the inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock's legendary movie.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents The Winslow Boy, starring Tony nominee Michael Cumpsty as 'Desmond Curry', Academy & Tony Award nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as 'Grace Winslow', Alessandro Nivola as 'Sir Robert Morton' and Tony Award winner Roger Rees as 'Arthur Winslow'.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will kick off the fourth season ofPUBLIC FORUM with the new series Drama Club, a book club for plays that will feature one-night-only readings and discussions of works by Kia Corthron, Tony Kushner, and Thornton Wilder at Joe's Pub. Curated by Jeremy McCarter, the popular PUBLIC FORUM series presents the theater of ideas: conversations and performances with leading voices in politics, media, and the arts.

Arts Centre Melbourne has announced it will present a free exhibit featuring the Academy Awards won by John Truscott for Camelot. Celebrating John Truscott celebrates the life of the esteemed designer at Arts Centre Melbourne's Smorgon Family Plaza from 5 September to 6 November 2013.

The Savannah Film Festival, which runs from October 26 to November 2, is pleased to announce Alexander Payne's NEBRASKA as its official Opening Night selection. Academy Award-winner Payne will be presented with an “Outstanding Achievement in Cinema” award by the film's star, Academy Award-nominee—and 2006 Savannah Film Festival honoree—Bruce Dern.

Heliotrope Books will publish Susan L. Schulman's memoir, BACKSTAGE PASS TO BROADWAY True Tales of A Theatre Press Agent, on September 16th, 2013. At 5 pm that day, Ms Schulman will be joined by theatre journalist Peter Filichia for a Q&A and book signing at the Drama Book Shop, 250 West 40th Street, NYC. Theatre press agent Susan L. Schulman has worked with some of Broadway's most talented and creative people - sometimes behaving badly and often with astonishing grace - as they struggled to create theatre magic. In this entertaining, dishy book, she shines the spotlight behind the show curtain, sharing true tales of her life in the theatre.

The producers of Tennessee Williams' The Two-Character Play starring Tony Award winner Amanda Plummer (Agnes of God, Pulp Fiction,Hunger Games: Catching Fire) and Academy Award nominee Brad Dourif (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Deadwood), now playing throughSeptember 29th at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), are pleased to welcome Rob Sedgwick and Elize (Lisi) Russell to the company. The pair will perform the roles usually played by Mr. Dourif and Ms. Plummer at the Monday, September 9 and Wednesday, September 11 (matinee & evening) performances, while Mr. Dourif is out of town attending a funeral of a close relative who recently passed away.

The North American Premiere Gala of Disney's SAVING MR. BANKS will open the festival on Thursday, November 7.

Legendary stage and screen superstar Jessica Lange confirms her Broadway return as part of a new production of Eugene O'Neill's classic LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT in a new interview conducted in promotion of the upcoming season of her FX horror hit AMERICAN HORROR STORY.

Iconic stage and screen stars Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones take on Shakespeare together in the West End with a new Mark Rylance-directed production of the comedy MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and an endearing new poster has been revealed for the upcoming Old Vic production.