Blog Stage - Acting in Film, TV, Theatre - Backstage

Is Dustin Hoffman Done with the 'Fockers'?

EW's "Hollywood Insider" blog thinks so. Hoffman and Barbra Streisand were a hilarious pairing as Ben Stiller's parents in Meet the Fockers, but it looks like Hoffman might not return for Little Fockers (the second sequel to the hit comedy Meet the Parents). Even though "Hoffman had tentatively agreed to appear in what was to be a very funny cameo at the end of the film," according to EW, that's now looking unlikely.

From Hollywood Insider:

Sources tell EW.com that there has been strife between Hoffman and the studio over the size of the part, the scheduling of the days on set and other difficulties.

Streisand reportedly still has a prominent role as Roz Focker in Little Fockers. Hoffman's performance as Bernie Focker was easily the best part of the otherwise excruciating Meet the Fockers, though, so does it even matter anymore? Or can new cast members Jessica Alba, Lara Dern, and Harvey Keitel somehow save this three-quel?

-- Daniel Lehman

New York Auditions at a Glance – Nov. 19-27

The following "Auditions at a Glance" calendar conveniently organizes projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans.

Click on any of the following links to see the casting and job notices related to the dates and project titles highlighted below.

California Auditions at a Glance – Nov. 19-27

The following "Auditions at a Glance" calendar conveniently organizes projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans.

Click on any of the following links to see the casting and job notices related to the dates and project titles highlighted below.

Regional Auditions at a Glance – Nov. 19-27

The following "Auditions at a Glance" calendar conveniently organizes projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans.

Click on any of the following links to see the casting and job notices related to the dates and project titles highlighted below.

West Coast Casting Highlights - 11/19/09

Every week Back Stage publishes hundreds of notices -- casting notices, entertainment-industry job notices, and calls for submissions to talent contests and film festivals. Back Stage is the premier resource for actors, dancers, singers, comedians, and all performing artists -- plus those talented individuals working behind-the-scenes, including writers and crew -- looking for quality opportunities.  BackStage.com's casting database includes all of the notices from  the  popular weekly Back Stage publications, plus hundreds of additional items.

WEST COAST:

Below are a few highlights from this week's West Coast notices, compiled by West Coast Casting Editor Cassie Carpenter:

East Coast Casting Highlights - 11/19/09

Every week Back Stage publishes hundreds of notices -- casting notices, entertainment-industry job notices, and calls for submissions to talent contests and film festivals. Back Stage is the premier resource for actors, dancers, singers, comedians, and all performing artists -- plus those talented individuals working behind-the-scenes, including writers and crew -- looking for quality opportunities.  BackStage.com's casting database includes all of the notices from  the  popular weekly Back Stage publications, plus hundreds of additional items.

EAST COAST:

Below are a few highlights from this week's East Coast notices, compiled by East Coast Assistant Casting Editor (ACE) Sri Gordon:

Entertainment Industry Opportunities - 11/19/09

Check out these 24 new notices from the BackStage.com Casting/Jobs Database -- film festivals calling for entries, staff/tech/crew jobs, casting workshops, and additional entertainment-industry opportunities:

1. Hellion Pictures: 'WEST'

'Hellion Pictures is seeking cast and crew for West, by Steven Berkoff. "Set in 1960s London, West depicts the hard, gritty working class milieu of its Stamford Hill District. Protagonist Mike is a member of a local gang... More

2. MCC Theater: MCC THEATER, DIR. OF DEVELOPMENT

MCC Theater is seeking staff to join its executive team. MCC Theater is a 24-year-old non-profit Off-Broadway theater that has produced Reasons to be Pretty, Grace, Frozen, Fat Pig, and Wit, am... More

Anne Hathaway Approached for 'Spider-Man 4' Role?

Following last week's rumors that Rachel McAdams had met with producers to discuss a starring role as comic book villain The Black Cat in Spider-Man 4 (a claim the actress denied earlier this week), Nikki Finke reports that Anne Hathaway is now being considered for a role in the blockbuster series.

From Deadline Hollywood:

I'm aware that the Internet has been afloat with Spider-Man 4 casting rumors in recent days. While Sony Pictures insists no decisions have been made, sources tell me that the producers have approached Anne Hathaway to star in the film.

Finke reports that Hathaway would not replace Kirsten Dunst, who stars as Mary Jane Watson in the superhero franchise; no other details of her potential role are known. Online commenters tend to assume that the role in question must still be The Black Cat.

Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo Take Another (Short) Vacation

Clark and Ellen Griswold are going back on the road this winter for another vacation. Us Weekly reports that Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo will reprise their Vacation roles in a new ad campaign for HomeAway vacation rentals. The ads will pay homage to the 1983 comedy about a madcap American family road trip and its sequels, and will also feature an exact replica of the film's iconic "Wagon Queen Family Truckster."

"To this day, people ask me, 'When is the next Vacation movie?" Chase (currently starring on NBC's Community) told Us. "So I'm sure everyone will get a kick out of seeing the Griswolds and their misadventures once again."

"The Griswolds have always been America's first family of travel, and the broad popularity of the Vacation movie series still continues today," Brian Sharples, founder and chief executive officer of HomeAway, said in a statement. "We intend to have a lot of fun with the ad campaign, highlighting the travel mishaps that always seem to follow the Griswold family, while also promoting the value and benefits of vacation rentals as an alternative to hotels."

High-Rent District

Musical Theatre West, one of the finest and longest-standing musical theater companies in Southern California, has thrived for decades by catering to the traditional civic-light-opera audience, which has meant offering primarily old-fashioned Broadway fare--usually shows with surefire boxoffice muscle.

Other local suburban CLO companies have told me horror stories of audience reactions when the groups dared to offer fare such as The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and La Cage Aux Folles (which oddly enough, is still  viewed as subservise or shocking by some). In recent years, MTW has taken more chances--not only in including slightly bawdy fare such as The Full Monty, but in sampling new (Silk Stockings) or little-known (The Andrews Brothers) works. Coming up in January for MTW is Sondheim's challenging and demanding Sweeney Todd, hardly a CLO staple, but what will put MTW's audiences to the ultimate test is the first LA-produced staging of Jonathan Larson's counter-culture rock musical Rent, which opens December 12, starring Emmy-winning actor-singer Jai Rodriguez (Zanna, Don't!, The Producers; pictured here).

'Glee' Captures Hearts and Minds of Musical Theater Actors

The New York Times' Patricia Cohen went to a pajama party to watch last week's episode of Glee with the high-school aged cast of Broadway's Bye Bye Birdie, and has written a cute story about the experience.

Surprise! Musical theater actors love Glee! Watching the the new hit Fox series about a high school glee club has quickly become a weekly tradition for the young Birdie cast, as well as other NYC actors such as those performing in Jersey Boys and Altar Boyz.

Some of the show's success in this demographic can be attributed to the stage pedigree of Glee stars Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, and Jane Lynch, as well as guest stars like Broadway favorites Kristin Chenoweth and Jonathan Groff. But Glee also connects with actors because of the experience many young theater enthusiasts may have shared in high school: loving musicals and being an outcast because of it.

50 Worst Videogame Voice-Overs Ever

Someone with way too much free time has put together a YouTube video collecting the 50 worst examples of voice acting in videogames. While we're sure this is an incomplete list, in no way should it be considered incorrect.

Thanks to Comix blog "Life's Tough. Laugh More" for bringing this to our attention. #41 will definitely make you giggle, and all 50 are examples of truly bad voice acting -- but the clear winner (as "Life's Tough. Laugh More" notes as well) is #3. Enjoy.

For more terrible videogame voice-overs, visit www.audioatrocities.com.

'Glory Days' Are Here Again

  After the abrupt closing of the Broadway musical Glory Days in May of 2008, after 17 previews and just one official performance, the cast will be reuniting November 23 at Joe's Pub to (finally) celebrate the release of the Broadway cast recording.

The pop musical, featuring Steven Booth, Andrew C. Hall, Adam Halpin, and Jesse JP Johnson, centered around four young men coming back together one year after high school. As producers John O’Boyle and Ricky Stevens said in a statement after the shows closing, “We adore Glory Days and everyone connected with this production. Sadly given the over-night reviews and our low-advance sales, we believe it is prudent to close the show on Broadway immediately.” This adoration continues today, as the cast excitedly gears up for the reunion concert nearly a year and a half later.

All of the original cast and writers, as well as some special guests including Kacie Sheik (Hair), Brian Spitulnik (Chicago), and Paul Colaizzo (High School Musical), will be coming together on Monday, Nov. 23 at 11:30 p.m to revive the Glory Days music at Joe’s Pub in NYC. For more info and to reserve your tickets, visit www.joespub.com

Watch the promo for the reunion concert below:

Photo: Andrew C. Call, Jesse JP Johnson, Adam Halpin & Steven Booth in Glory Days

-Alexa Trummer

Hollywood History Repeats Itself as 'Big Name' Importance Fades

As The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, and other media-centric publications have all reported recently, Hollywood has been dealing with major cutbacks on premieres, drops in screenwriter salaries, studio losses, and maybe most shockingly the fact that a “big name” no longer needs to be attached to a project to score a big opening weekend.

But this is not the first time Hollywood has been in panic mode, the L.A. Times noted recently. In 1969, Paramount laid off 150 employees, while Warner Bros. suffered $59 million in losses, MGM $53 million, and Fox $67 million. The major studios were all being run by the old Hollywood moguls, who no longer had a feel for youth culture and were losing money by producing knockoffs of past successes instead of doing something new and creative. Fast forward 40 years, and the conversation hasn’t changed much.

Rachel McAdams Denies 'Spider-Man 4' Casting Rumors

Last week, we passed along a rumor from Mania.com that actress Rachel McAdams (Sherlock Holmes, Wedding Crashers) was meeting with producers for the role of villain The Black Cat in the upcoming Spider-Man 4. Apparently not.

McAdams told Entertainment Weekly:

“That’s a total rumor, I have to say. I was hanging out in Toronto the other day and someone came up to me and said, ‘I just heard you’re doing Spider-Man 4.‘ And I said, ‘Really? No one told me!’ It’s not true.”

A rep for Sony Pictures added: “It’s an Internet rumor, as so many things are these days.”

Well, that's no fun.

-- Daniel Lehman