Jessica Lewis - Page 216

As previously announced, Jennifer Hudson, the multitalented actress-singer whose accolades include an Academy Award for the movie 'Dreamgirls' and a Grammy for 'Best R&B Album,' heads back to her hometown of Chicago to share childhood memories of the music, people and places that set the stage for her success in her first television special, 'Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas.' Today, ABC has announced that the air date will be Monday, December 14 from 8:00-9:00 p.m., EST on the ABC Television Network.

Stage star and former Mr. Von Trapp, Christopher Plummer, will topline the new Indie film, Beginners, alsongside Ewan McGregor, Melanie Laurent (Inglorious Basterds), and Goran Visnjic (ER). Production has already begin in Los Angeles.

According to a report in Variety, screen star and London stage vet Jake Gyllenhaal is in talks to star in Source Code, a new sci-fi thriller for Vendome Pictures and the Mark Gordon Company.

Drama at the Wedding! According to a report in the New York Times this morning, Local 802 - the union representing professional musicians - has filed charges against the producers of the long-running Tony N' Tina's Wedding with the National Labor Relations Board for replacing contracted musicians with a recorded music track.

John Tartaglia's IMAGINOCEAN!, a new family musical set in the depths of the ocean, will debut November 20, 2009 on Royal Caribbean's newest and most revolutionary cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas. Created and written specifically for the new vessel by Tony nominated actor, singer and puppeteer, John Tartaglia, IMAGINOCEAN! follows the adventure of a group of fish friends, who uncover a map which leads them to ultimately uncover the treasure of each other's friendship. John Tartaglia, Philip Katz of Broadway Theatrical and veteran musical theatre performer, Michael Shawn Lewis have teamed up to bring this innovative black light musical production to life on the high seas.

Legendary Broadway producer and director Hal Prince has joined the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW - www.ifaw.org), one of the world's leading international animal welfare organizations, as an Honorary Board Member.

Alfred Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS, Broadway's longest running comedy, continues its popular 'Hitchcock Meets Hilarious' Talkback Tuesday series Tuesday, November 10 with Humorist and Author Kate Clinton.

The 55th Annual Evening Standard Theatre Awards, honouring outstanding achievements in London Theatre, has released their shortlist of 2009 nominees. The award ceremony will take place on November 23 at the Royal Opera House, with nominees selected by a panel of London theatre critics.

As previously reported, former Angels in America producer and President of Jujamcyn Theatres, and newly appointed Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Rocco Landesman, kicked off a six month national tour on November 6 to cities and towns throughout America to learn and highlight the ways that art can create jobs, stimulate the economy and revitalize communities. This educational experiment is only one part of larger, philosophical plans to makeover the organization, he revealed to the Wall Street Journal in a recent interview. Among the surprising changes are the endorsement of graffiti and hip-hop artists of all varieties, in addition to supporting those that espouse more perverse topics historically frowned upon by the institution.

More stars have been added to The Sixth Annual Broadway Unplugged concert at The Town Hall on Monday, November 16th at 8 PM. In addition to the previously announced Marc Kudisch, Emily Skinner, Daniel Reichard, Manu Narayan, Jill Paice, Jeffry Denman, William Michals, Lisa Howard, Bill Daugherty, and Sarah Jane McMahon, the cast of this unique concert that features the entire cast singing without microphones (the way it used to be done on Broadway) now also includes opera star John Easterlin, who won two Grammy Awards this year, as well as Nightlife Award winner David Colbert, and Broadway stars Tony Yazbeck and Janet Metz. The show's producer/writer/host, Scott Siegel has revealed that more star announcements are forthcoming.

'CHICAGO' will celebrate its 5000th performance in London on Wednesday 18 November and, due to its ongoing success, the show has now extended its booking period until 30 October 2010. 'CHICAGO' has repeatedly won critical acclaim and wowed audiences for its sheer panache and sexiness.

Estimated Weekend Movie Box Office: November 6 - November 8, 2009

Today, Curator Michael Green announced the 2010 line up for the 24th annual High Performance Rodeo, Calgary's International Festival of the Arts. The popular festival runs January 7 to 31, 2010 at various venues throughout Calgary and will feature a collection of the boldest and the brightest artists from the realms of theatre, dance, comedy and music. Green was also pleased to announce the return of His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond as the Patron of the High Performance Rodeo.

Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS has announced the exciting news that Broadway star, Tony, Grammy and Golden Globe Award winner, and long-time BC/EFA friend and Trustee Bernadette Peters will perform a special one night only concert 'Bernadette Peters: A Special Concert for Broadway Barks Because Broadway Cares' on Monday, November 9 at 8 PM at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre (1515 Broadway). This event is produced by BC/EFA with proceeds benefiting Broadway Barks and BC/EFA.

Tony Award winner Victoria Clark (the Light in the Piazza), will team up with Broadway vets John Hillner (La Cage) and Andy Karl (9 to 5) for a staged reading of the 1983 Maltby and Shire musical Baby on November 16 at The Shop at CAP 21. The reading is part of CAP 21's regular Monday night Classic Concert Series.

Art D'Lugoff, former owner of the legendary Village Gate (now Le Poisson Rouge) and off-Broadway producer died at the Allen Hospital of New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, where he had been taken on Wednesday due to shortness of breath. He was 85. The cause of death has not been determined.

Broadway star and former Friends' Mr. Geller has reportedly signed on to guest star in a one-off stint on NBC's Law & Order. In the episode, set to air on Friday, November 20 at 8pm, Gould will portray an angry Harlem-based business owner who goes rogue after a crime spree occurs in his New York City neighborhood.

The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, has announced that it will honor Emmy Award-nominated actor Neil Patrick Harris and premier communications company AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) at Cracked Xmas 12. The event will be held at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on December 6.

Cirque du Soleil executives have revealed the name of its highly anticipated new production tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley: Viva ELVIS. The show will be directed by choreographer Vincent Paterson, and will run at the new ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter in Las Vegas. Performances begin on December 18.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party has announced that Stephanie J. Block will be returning to her musical home, Birdland, to kick off the holiday season with two concerts on Sunday and Monday, November 29 and 30. These concerts are part of the Broadway at Birdland concert series, highlighting performers and composers from the Great White Way.