Jessica Lewis - Page 207

John Leguizamo will get up close and personal in his new, uncensored, uninhibited tour-de-force one-man show, John Leguizamo Diary of a Madman, playing in workshop at the La Jolla Playhouse from March 4 - March 14, 2010. The workshop is part of the theater's Page to Stage series that allows audiences to watch productions in their development process.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will present the 21st Annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION on Monday, December 7 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, December 8 (2 PM) at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway). The proceeds from the event will benefit BC/EFA.

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) has announced the winner of a new award celebrating musical theatre talent: The York Theatre Company Noël Coward Prize. This year's recipient is Douglas J. Cohen, author of The Gig, which is based on a screenplay by Frank D. Gilroy.

Chicago thespian Lee Pelty, known for his numerous portrayals of Tevye the Milkman in 'Fiddler on the Roof,' died on Sunday of lung cancer. He was 74. Pelty was last seen in Fiddler in February 2007 at Theatre at the Center in Munster.

The New Group's world premiere of Kenneth Lonergan's play The Starry Messenger, at Theatre Row has extended one week. The production to now close on Saturday, December 19. The New Group is presenting the world premiere of The Starry Messenger as the first production in its 2009-2010 season. This production is playing a limited Off-Broadway engagement, that began previews on October 26 with an official opening night on November 23. The production was initially slated to close on December 12.

The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, announced nominations today for its 37th Annual Annie Awards recognizing the year's best animated features, television productions, commercials, short subjects and outstanding individual achievements in the field of animation. Walt Disney Animation Studios' 'The Princess and the Frog' received eight nominations, including Best Animated Feature and individual nominations for animated effects, character animation, production design and voice acting, while its 'Prep and Landing' received nine nominations including Best Animated Television Production and individual nominations for character animation, character design, music, production design, storyboarding and writing.

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced nominations this morning for the 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards. Nominees for Best Feature include (500) Days Of Summer, Amreeka, Precious, Sin Nombre and The Last Station. Taraji P. Henson and Matt Dillon also announced finalists for the Acura Someone to Watch Award, the Truer Than Fiction Award, and the Piaget Producers Award. A Serious Man was selected for the Robert Altman Award, which is given to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast.

Comedian and celebrated performer/producer/director Tyler Perry is taking his famed character, Madea, on the road. In a message to fans on his official website, Perry announced that his new play, Madea's Big Happy Family will begin a national tour on January 4, 2010 at the Pepsi Arena in Denver, Colorado. Perry will, of course, perform the title role. Announcements regarding casting and a creative team are forthcoming.

Columbia Records and Twentieth Century Fox Television today released select songs on iTunes featured in this week's episode of GLEE, including cast versions of Van Halen's 'Jump,' Lily Allen's 'Smile' and Charlie Chaplin's 'Smile.'

Sandi Toksvig and Ronnie Corbett have announced the starry line-up from the worlds of comedy, music and magic, who will be joining them on stage for SANDI TOKSVIG'S CHRISTMAS CRACKER - a variety family show in the Royal Festival Hall for 10 days only this Christmas.

Weekend Movie Box Office Update: November 27 - November 29, 2009

The Producer's Guild of America announced the nominees for the 2009 PGA Awards in the categories of Television Series and Non-fiction Television. The 21st annual awards ceremony will take place on January 24th at the Hollywood Palladium.

The Broadway smash WICKED has become the only Broadway show in history to gross over $2 million for one week of performances. For the week ending Sunday, November 29, the musical, now in its 7th year, grossed $2,086,135, surpassing its own record of $1,839,950 as the highest grossing week in Broadway history (for the week ending December 30, 2007), and setting a new house record at the Gershwin Theatre.

Acclaimed writer/directors Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck's new film It's Kind of a Funny Story begins production in New York City this week. Focus Features holds worldwide rights to the project, which it is co-financing with Wayfare Entertainment.

Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) limited engagement of After Miss Julie will play its final performance on Sunday, December 6th at 2:00 PM. Sienna Miller, Jonny Lee Miller and Marin Ireland star in this American premiere directed by Mark Brokaw, at the American Airlines Theatre.

Disney's landmark musical event, THE LION KING, has set a new box office record at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre by grossing $1,692,957 during the eight-performance Thanksgiving holiday week of November 23-29, 2009. The previous Minskoff record was held by THE LION KING, with a gross of $1,691,705 (set week ending 12/30/2007).

It has been quite a year for Diane Paulus. Already an internationally acclaimed freelance director for nearly 10 years, Paulus began 2008 in London directing the opera LOST HIGHWAY at the Young Vic. HAIR was on the docket for Shakespeare in the Park summer season. And then came the phone call asking if this soon-to-explode director was interested in throwing her hat in the ring for the job of Artistic Director at the famed A.R.T. Theatre in Boston.

The Highline Ballroom has cancelled Lea DeLaria's Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho-Down! on Wednesday, December 9. Tickets are bing refunded at the Highline box office. The venue will now be closed for a private event on this date. No rescheduling announcements have been made.

The producers of Broadway's dance sensation, BURN THE FLOOR, announced today that Dancing with the Stars' pro Kym Johnson will close out her banner Thanksgiving week by making her Broadway debut in BURN THE FLOOR, at The Longacre Theatre. Earlier this week, she took home the mirror ball trophy with Donny Osmond on the hit dance competition series. Her first performance will be Friday November 27 at 2 PM. She will be partnered with DWTS' Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who made his Broadway debut in the show this summer.

'American Idol' finalists Michael Sarver (Season 8), Alexis Grace (Season 8) David Hernandez (Season 7) and Gina Glocksen (Season 6) will be entertaining the masses once again as they embark on a Holiday Tour, which launches December 2, 2009 in Lakeland, FL and will make stops in 12 cities across the U.S.