Espresso - Backstage - Actor Industry News

Bucks Country to Re-Open; 'Glee' Casts Gay Dads

• Bucks County Playhouse is back for a summer season this year. The 72-year old venue, which at one time presented regularly  Broadway-bound shows, will re-open this year and is on its way to receiving Equity status again. Read the story at Playbill.

• Jeff Goldblum and Broadway veteran Brian Stokes Mitchell have been cast to play the gay fathers of "Glee" character Rachel Berry,  reported TV Line.

• Some audiences are not enjoying the fact that "The Artist" is a silent film and are asking for a refund after viewing it, according to The Telegraph. Apparently, lack of dialogue in the trailer wasn't a clue.

• George Lucas told "New York Times Magazine" that he will not make anymore "Star Wars" movies, largely because of the responses of angry fanboys to his latest additions to the series.

'Clear Day' Closing; Paramount's Insurge Success

• The Broadway revival of “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" will close at the end of the month, reported The New York Times. The new musical “Leap of Faith” will take its place at the St.James Theater and begin performances on April 3.

• Los Angeles Times takes a look at Insurge, Paramount Pictures' experimental label behind 'The Devil Inside.' Paramount is looking for films that use social networks to promote themselves into must-see experiences.

• Starz has greenlit a series about the 13th century explorer Marco Polo. Given its track record of violence and nudity in its "historical" TV shows, like "Spartacus," I'm guessing this series won't be ones to watch with your kids. Read the story at Deadline.

• YouTube executive Robert Kyncl told Los Angeles Times that he thinks about 75 percent of channels will be transmitted by the Internet by 2020. So I suppose I should start saving up for a faster computer.

Jordan in 'Newsies' Again; Hammerstein's 3D Shows

• Jeremy Jordan will play the lead character of Jack Kelly in the upcoming Broadway musical "Newsies." Jordan recently starred in "Bonnie & Clyde" on the Great White Way, but the show just closed, allowing him to join "Newsies" in the role he originated last fall at Paper Mill Playhouse. Read the story at Playbill.

• The Hammerstein Ballroom will stage this year a series of multimedia  dance-music concerts, one of which will feature costumed actors create historical environments and interact with the audience. Check it out at The New York Times.

• The New York Times also takes a look at Eddie Brill, a comedian who books comics  for “Late Show With David Letterman.” He looks for "honesty and vulnerability" in stand-up comedians. Good luck with that.

'Jersey Boys' Movie; Shatner Voyaging to Broadway

• John Logan, Tony-winning playwright, will adapt the Tony-winning Broadway musical "Jersey Boys" for the big screen. Has anyone even heard of this show? It's not like there are productions in New York, London, Las Vegas, Sydney, and two national tours. Read the story at Playbill.

• Emmy-winning actor and singer William Shatner will boldy go where he's gone before, albeit about 50 years ago. Next month, the star of "Star Trek" and "Boston Legal" will begin performing his two-hour one-man show on Broadway. Check it out at The New York Times. Someone please go dressed as a "Star Wars" Stormtrooper.

•TiVo's research unit has reported that watching TV shows on the Internet or through DVR has exceeded live viewership. The research unit is headed by Captain Obvious. Take a look at The Hollywood Reporter.

Live Q & A with 'The Artist' Cast

Watch the LIVE Q & A for the Golden Globe nominated film for Best Picture, "The Artist" with Director Michel Hazanavicius, and the cast: Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller, and Missi Pyle! It will take place at 9:00 pm PST. View it on Facebook. 

Trailers for Theater Productions; David Wheeler Dies

• Theater companies are trying to use trailers, like feature films do, to advertise upcoming productions. Read the story at The New York Times.

• David Wheeler, director and influential figure in Boston theater, passed away at age 86. Read his obituary at Playbill.

•The New York Times discusses how this year's acclaimed actresses transformed into and stayed in character.

• For all the geeks out there, this one is for you. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is being remastered into high definition, reported Entertainment Weekly.

Jackman to be Houdini; Facebook to Stream 'Ghost'

• Hugh Jackman will return to Broadway in the 2013-14 season to star as the magician and escape artist Harry Houdini in the musical “Houdini,” reported The New York Times. With a score by "Wicked" composer Stephen Schwartz, a book by Oscar-winner Aaron Sorkin, and direction by Tony-winner Jack O'Brien, this show shouldn't have too much interest. It's not like Jackman is a big money-maker on stage and screen.

• On the Facebook page of the Broadway musical "Ghost," videos of cast performances will be available on January 24. They will only be available to view on that day. Check it ou at Playbill.

• According to FilmLA, Los Angeles lost TV productions in 2011 to the Big Apple. The City of Angeles, however, experienced a bit of an increase of feature film activity. Read the story at Los Angeles Times.

Pictured: Hugh Jackman (Photo: Getty Images)

Mara's Audition Challenges; Webber's Reality Show?

• Before Rooney Mara auditioned for the role of Lisbeth Salander in the "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," she was provided with a list of challenging requirements she would have to agree to do if she was hired. According to the Irish Echo, Mara was told she would have to become a smoker, be naked, do rape scenes, isolate herself for a year, and ride a motorcycle. Mara is up for a Golden Globe, so it appears to have been worth all that.

• Andrew Lloyd Webber may be making a new reality show that will find an actor to play Jesus in a stadium tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar," reported Whatsonstage.com.

• "Bambi," Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid," and Robert Rodriguez's "El Mariachi" are among the 25 films that have been chosen to be preserved the National Registry. Check out out Los Angeles Times for the full list.

• Cheetah, a chimpanzee who was one of the most famous animal stars of the 1930s and was featured alongside Tarzan in that era's franchise films, died. He was estimated to be 80 years old. Read the story at The New York Times.

Pictured: Rooney Mara (Photo: Getty Images)

Christmas Special for Visually Impaired, and More

• On Christmas Eve, the 17th annual “The Eyes of Christmas” television special for the visually impaired will start with an airing of the 1946 movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The holiday classic will be broadcast in TheatreVision on NBC at 8 pm and be narrated by former President George H.W. Bush. Following “It’s a Wonderful Life” will be special holiday programming beginning at 6 a.m. (ET) Christmas morning on ION Television. The block of Christmas morning programs will be hosted by Vin Scully with stars, such as Sandra Bullock, Bob Costas, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, and Reba McIntyre, sharing holiday wishes. For more details, please click over to RP International.

• Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken will write new songs for the Broadway production of "Newsies." Read the story at Playbill.

• A 19-year old British man was imprisoned because he missed the last day of jury services by pretending to be ill and instead attended the West End production of "Chicago." The young gent, and apparently passionate theater-lover, served a sentence of fourteen days, which some consider too harsh. Check it out at The Guardian.

• Film director Don Sharp passed away at 89. He was known for his Gothic horror films. Read his obituary at The New York Times.

Audition Online for Dance Theatre of Harlem

Dance Theatre of Harlem is holding online auditions for a new troupe, reported The New York Times. Theatre's professional dance company shut down in 2004, but thanks to foundations and donors contributing about $2.5 million, it is being revived as a troupe of 18 dancers. Company hopefuls can post audition videos to dancetheatreofharlem.org.

If you don't want to use the Web, in-person auditions will be available at various locations and dates listed on the company's website. Live auditions will be held for finalists overall. A portion of the revived troupe's dancers will also come from Dance Theatre of Harlem II, which is a training group comprised of students from Theatre's school.

Rehearsals for the new company are scheduled to commence in August and touring in October. The company reportedly hopes to be back in April 2013 on a New York stage.