Richard Levine News

Today we are talking to one of the biggest and youngest sensations of the season, Al Pacino's highly-lauded Portia to his Shylock in the sold-out MERCHANT OF VENICE, as well as a recurring star on THE GOOD WIFE and MEDIUM - following an unforgettable appearance on NIP/TUCK last year - this year's recipient of USA's CHARACTER APPROVED Award for Theatre, Lily Rabe. In this enlivened discussion, Rabe and I dissect her work on stages and screens large and small as well as what the future holds for her on Broadway, in Hollywood and beyond - including starring in a new independent film, LETTERS TO THE BIG MAN, and a revival of A DOLL'S HOUSE co-starring Hamish Linklater at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

I recently spoke to screenwriter/director Richard Levine about his new feature film EVERY DAY starring Liev Schreiber, Helen Hunt, Carla Gugino, Eddie Izzard and Brian Dennehy, as well as took a look back at his work on Ryan Murphy's groundbreaking dark drama series NIP/TUCK with him - NIP/TUCK also having recently been released as a complete series boxset. From casting some of the most accomplished thespians onstage or on screen - all five can frequently be seen on Broadway and off, as well as in film and television - to his favorite NIP/TUCK episodes and thoughts on GLEE, Levine offers forth his insight and experience. Given that EVERY DAY focuses on a writer on a sudsy medical drama that wallows in the shocking and prurient, perhaps art isn't too far from life after all. EVERY DAY is in selected cities now.

We are kicking off 2011 in true Hollywood style, by showcasing and reviewing a number of films coming out this Oscar season - in theaters and on DVD/Instant Watch - with a particular emphasis on the films featuring stage talents - such as Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Liev Schreiber and more - and what to watch out for on Oscar night. From black swans to boating to rabbit holes and just everyday life, there is sure to be something here to strike even the ficklest of fancies.

Earlier this week I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to discuss career past, present and future with highly-acclaimed stage and screen star - having appeared in films as diverse as WOLVERINE, SALT, DEFIANCE, TAKING WOODSTOCK, the SCREAM trilogy, RANSOM and the remake of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, and in stage roles ranging from Mamet to Miller to Shakespeare - Liev Schreiber, on the eve of the debut of his newest feature film EVERY DAY co-starring Helen Hunt, Carla Gugino, Eddie Izzard and Brian Dennehy, written/directed by Richard Levine. In this exclusive conversation, Schreiber and I discuss his first roles on stage and on screen, favorite characters, sharing life and the screen with partner Naomi Watts, comments on his VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE co-star Scarlett Johansson and that highly-lauded 2009 revival of the play, what we can expect from him onstage in the future - Shakespeare perhaps? - and all about EVERY DAY. Plus, we find out what sequels to his many blockbuster movies - WOLVERINE 2? SALT 2? SCREAM 4 - he may or may not be in and his first comments on the new film he co-stars in with Watts, MOVIE 43. Schreiber's acute thoughtfulness and razor-sharp perceptivity inform his superlative acting choices onstage and onscreen as much as they do his everyday conversation, as became quite clear to me in his quick-witted responses. EVERY DAY opens in NY and LA tomorrow with a wider release planned after that and be sure to stay tuned to BroadwayWorld for an upcoming interview with the writer and director of EVERY DAY, Richard Levine of FX's NIP/TUCK.

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.

In July sixth's New York Times, Helen Hunt spoke with Patrick Healy about joining the Barrow Street Theatre production of OUR TOWN as its first female 'Stage Manager.'

Producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter announced today that Academy Award-winning actress Helen Hunt will join the cast of David Cromer's acclaimed production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, for four weeks only (Tuesday, July 6th to Sunday, August 1st), at the Barrow Street Theatre, succeeding Michael McKean, who will give his final performance on Sunday evening, July 4. Ms. Hunt becomes the sixth actor to assume the iconic role in this record-breaking production.

The Cornelia Street Café (29 Cornelia St.) offers a variety of spoken word this weekend as well as the Composers Collaborative Inc.'s Serial Underground 2010. For more information, please call 212-989-9319 or visit www.corneliastreetcafe.com.

Liev Schreiber is this year's recipient of the Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Play.

ABC announces its summer schedule, with the return 'The Bachelorette' on Monday, May 24 (9:00-11:00 p.m.); 'True Beauty' on Monday, May 31 (10:02-11:00 p.m.); a special two-hour blind date-themed episode of 'Wipeout' on Tuesday, June 1 (8:00-10:00 p.m.), before the premiere on Tuesday, June 22 (8:00-10:00 p.m.); 'Dating in the Dark' on Monday, August 9 (10:00-11:00 p.m.), and 'Shaq VS' on Tuesday, August 10 (9:00-10:00 p.m.).

The 2010 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by American Express, the Founding Sponsor of the Festival, today announced its remaining out-of-competition feature film selections in the Encounters, Discovery, Cinemania and Spotlight sections. The Festival will take place from April 21 to May 2, 2010 in lower Manhattan, offering audiences film screenings, conversations and an array of free community events. As previously announced, the 2010 film selection encompasses feature films from 38 different countries, including 45 World Premieres, 7 International Premieres, 14 North American Premieres, 6 U.S. Premieres and 12 New York Premieres.

Tony® Award-winner Liev Schreiber and Golden Globe nominee Scarlett Johansson, in her Broadway debut, will star in Arthur Miller's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE directed by Gregory Mosher on Broadway at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street). Performances begin Monday, December 28, 2009 and the official opening is Sunday, January 24, 2010. The limited engagement will run for 14 weeks only.

Variety is reporting that Broadway veteran Carla Gugino will star with Liev Schreiber and Helen Hunt will star in the upcoming drama 'Every Day'. The film will be written and directed by Richard Levine.

Liev Schreiber and Helen Hunt will star in 'Every Day.'

Bette Midler, the winner of numerous Grammys, a Special Tony Award and the recipient of two Oscar nominations, held her annual Hulaween Gala on October 31st at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel