Espresso - Backstage - Actor Industry News

‘Shutter Island’ Tops Weekend Box Office

The most recent collaboration between director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio took the top spot at the box office this weekend. “Shutter Island,” which centers on a New England detective investigating a disappearance at an insane asylum, took a surprising $40.2 million at the box office. The film was pushed back from an October 2009 release to this past weekend, when it was the only new film to open nationwide. This marks the highest openings ever for both Scorsese and DiCaprio.

Read the story at The Los Angeles Times.

Pictured: Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio (Photo:Getty Images)

‘Locker,’ and ‘Up in the Air’ Win at WGA

The Writers Guild of America handed out their awards Saturday. Adding yet another award to their Golden Globe victory, Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner took home the award for best adapted screenplay for “Up in the Air.” For original work, Mark Boal nabbed the honor for “The Hurt Locker,” which recently won the DGA Award for director Kathryn Bigelow. On the television side, victories continued for “Mad Men,” winning its second in a row, while “30 Rock” landed its third straight win for Tina Fey. Other winners included “The Cove” for best documentary screenplay, “House,” and “Modern Family.”

Read the story at The Hollywood Reporter.

Pictured: Jason Reitman (Photo:Getty Images)

No Extension for 'A View from the Bridge'

The run of the current Broadway revival of Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge,” which stars Scarlett Johansson and Liev Schreiber and has received mostly positive reviews, will not be extended, according to Playbill. In the play, which opened Jan. 24, Schreiber plays Eddie Carbone, a longshoreman with confusingly amorous feelings for his 17-year old niece Catherine, played by Johansson. Produced by Stuart Thompson and the Araca Group as well as several others, the production will only play for the 14 week engagement at the Cort Theatre originally announced.

Read the story at Playbill.

Pictured: Liev Schreiber, Scarlett Johannson (Photo by Getty Images)

MGM Starlet Kathryn Grayson Dead at 88

Kathryn Grayson, who starred in such popular MGM musicals as ''Anchors Aweigh," "Show Boat," and "Kiss Me Kate," died Wednesday at her Los Angeles home, her secretary Sally Sherman told the Associated Press. She was 88. Grayson was born Zelma Kathryn Hedrick on Feb. 9, 1922, in Winston-Salem, N.C., but her family moved to Los Angeles so she could get professional training for her soprano voice. MGM studio boss Louis B. Mayer discovered her there at age 16 and put her to work during the golden era of movie musicals. Grayson is survived by her daughter and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sherman said no funeral service is planned.

Read the story in the New York Times.

Pictured: Kathryn Grayson (Photo by Getty Images)

Spike Greenlights Golf Pilot

Spike TV has ordered a single-camera, golf-themed show titled “Back Nine” starring John Schneider (“The Dukes of Hazzard.”) In the show, written by Mark Perez (“Accepted”) and Jason Filardi (“17 Again,”) Schneider plays Ronnie Barnes, a washed-up former U.S. Open champ competing in small-time tournaments in an effort to get back on the pro tour. Miguel Nunez is in negotiations to play Barnes’ long-time caddy Tiger, a sex addict. The role was in early scripts for the show, a year before all the Tiger Woods-related news of the past few months. Filardi and Perez are also set to direct.

Read the story at The Hollywood Reporter.

Pictured: John Schneider (Photo: Getty Images)

'The Pride' Extended through March 28

MCC Theater’s Off-Broadway production of “The Pride” will now run through March 28 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, according to Playbill. Starring Hugh Dancy (“Adam”) and Ben Whishaw (“Bright Star,”) this American premiere production is directed by Joe Mantello (“Glengarry Glen Ross”). Alexi Kaye Campbell’s play premiered at London’s Royal Court Theatre in 2008 and follows a love triangle from 1958 to the present and back. Eight-five percent of the run has already been sold.

Read the Story at Playbill.

Pictured: Hugh Dancy (Photo: Getty Images)

Meat Pies for Harris

Harriet Harris is set to play Mrs. Lovett in the Pittsfield, Mass., Barrington Stage Company’s new production Tony Award-winning musical “Sweeney Todd” this June. Currently playing in Broadway’s “Present Laughter,” Harris will act alongside Jeff McCarthy (“Urinetown”) in the macabre musical comedy by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler. Harris won a Tony Award for playing Mrs. Meers in the musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and has also starred on Broadway in “Cry-Baby.”

Read the full story at Playbill.

'Wishful Drinking' Looking Dismal

Carrie Fisher is caught in a legal dispute over the rights to her autobiographical one-woman show, “Wishful Drinking,” according to the New York Post. The “Star Wars” actress claims that her producer, Jonathan Reinis owes her more than $60,000 from the show’s Broadway run. “As you can imagine, Jonny seems to be a bit cranky, which I figure is why he still hasn’t paid me the remaining money he owes me,” Fisher told columnist Michael Riedel in an e-mail. Reinis’ lawyer counters that Fisher owes the producer “a substantial amount in lost profits.” The Post claims that the disagreement may end up in court.

Read the story at the New York Post.

Photo by Getty Images.

Redbox, Warner Agree to DVD Delay

A six-month legal battle tilted in favor of the studios after Redbox agreed yesterday not to offer Warner Bros. movies at the rental company’s $1-per-night kiosks until 28 days after the films have been released on DVD. According to the Los Angeles times, the deal could pave the way for Redbox to work out similar deals with Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox. The move comes one month after the rental service Netflix agreed to a similar deal with Warner Bros.

Read the story at the Los Angeles Times.

Photo by Getty Images.

Globe to Stage First Play by Female Scribe

Nell Leyshon will be the first woman in the more than 400-year history of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre to have her play performed at the London landmark. “Bedlam” takes places during the 18th century gin epidemic, during which peasants, downing gin by the pint, drank themselves into hospital beds. “I wanted to prove that women can write conflict, that they can write big structures, big stories because I’ve heard it too many times that women aren’t as good at that,” Leyshon told the Guardian. The play focuses on a torturous hospital where inmates are poked with sticks by the public. The Globe’s season is set to begin on April 23, Shakespeare’s birthday.

Read the full story at the Guardian (UK).

Photo by Getty Images.