theater (12 posts)

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We're thinking fondly of Andrew Lloyd Webber today as the Phantom of the Opera composer returned to the hospital last night.

A statement on his official website confirms the multiple Tony winner developed an infection following surgery relating to his battle with prostate cancer.

"He has been advised that while the operation was entirely successful, he has developed a postoperative 'chronic infection' which needs immediate treatment," it says. "He still hopes to be back at work in the New Year.

We're hoping he takes it slowly, gently and easy as he recuperates so he can be 100 percent when he goes back to work on the Phantom sequel, Love Never Dies. The curtains are set to rise in London on March 9, 2010, and in New York City on Nov. 11, 2010.

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If musicals are your thing, have you seen the trailer for Nine yet?

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Times Square may not be the most romantic place on earth, but the apex of New York City is ripe for reunions.

When it was announced that Sienna Miller and Jude Law would be taking the title roles of After Miss Julie and Hamlet on Broadway at the same time, gossip lovers (and haters) gasped. Who can forget all the drama the exes caused during their tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship from 2004 to 2006?

Well, as should come as no surprise to anyone, rumors have begun that the blond beauty is over Balty, the baby-daddy is over babies and the two of them have become romantically entangled yet again.

"Sienna and Jude have met up a few times and got on really well," a source tells the U.K.'s OK! magazine, which even says a spokesperson confirmed the face time to them.

Hmmm...

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Some things are simply too good to mess with.

Like, cookies 'n' cream ice cream (no need for chocolate sauce) or Ryan Reynolds (no need for a shirt). Or Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones.

While the actress is confirmed to take on the part for a third time, word is that she won't be packing on the pounds to embody the character from head to toe with a little jiggle in between.

Which is why this report is so disturbing. It would take Harry Potter-level CGI to even come close to making the waify actress look fleshy.

"Renee will be wearing a fat suit in the third film as it took her a while to lose the weight last time," a source tells Britain's Reveal magazine. "She's also thinking about the effect quickly putting on and then losing 30 pounds has on her body."

Terrifying. Would the films have been as awesome had she done this for the first two? We doubt it.

In other let's-ruin-fun-girlie-stuff news...

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The fish story is off the hook, but apparently no one's throwing it back into the ocean. Stories about Jeremy Piven and his mercury poisoning dramz seem to have no end.

Yesterday, Joe's Pub in New York City, which is run by the renowned Public Theater, put on The Piven Monologues, a special, comedic reading of the "s--tstorm," as the website describes it, or comments said about the actor following his sudden departure from Broadway's Speed-the-Plow. An additional performance of the show is scheduled for next month.

Needless to say, the Piv isn't too pleased about this.

According to the New York Post, the Entourage star has sent the Public Theater a cease-and-desist letter.

"We didn't say you cannot do the play, we said you can't make defamatory statements about our client," the star's attorney, Marty Singer, told the newspaper.

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Look at things we imagine smell much better in our 10 Guys We Crave gallery!

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There won't be a chance for Parker Posey to be best in show this time.

Instead, the indie-film fave was forced to drop out of her starring role in an upcoming Off-Broadway play after being diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Posey, 40, had been planning to play a single-mom poet dealing with life and love in Melissa James Gibson's This at the Mainstage Theater. Previews start Nov. 6 and, according to the production's artistic director, they will kick off as scheduled with a replacement to be announced later.

Lyme disease, caused by the bite of a tick carrying a particular bacteria, is more often than not picked up in woodsy areas. It's totally treatable but can lead to severe problems in the brain, heart, nerves, joints and other spots if left unattended to.

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Parker Posey is guest-starring this fall on HBO's new sitcom, Bored to Death—find out right here when that and all your returning faves premiere in WWK's fall TV premiere calendar!

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It's hard not to love Anne Hathaway…especially when she buys you pizza.

On Sunday, the Oscar nominee finished off her NYC stage debut in Twelfth Night at Central Park's Delacorte Theatre, produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Public Theater.

Believe it or not, the performances were completely free on a first-come, first-served basis—which, in the city that never sleeps, means just that: People get in line for tickets late in the evening and wait literally all night.

So, at 3 a.m. Sunday morning, the sweetie-pie starlet brought the night owls a snack! Anne handed slices of pizza to the entire line.

If that's not awesome, we don't know what is.

Apparently, the late hour didn't affect her performance. Alec Baldwin caught the show and blogged that Hathaway "seems to do nearly everything right, whether it be on screen and now on the stage."

We couldn't agree more.

• Bret Michaels performed with Poison and the cast of Rock of Ages at the Tony Awards last night, but the real story is his nasty kaboom! with a set piece. Host Neil Patrick Harris said the star was fine, but what we really want to know is if Rock of Love Bus winner Taya was there to tend to his wounds.

• Britney Spears has silly topless photos from the "Gimme More" meltdown days. Are we really all that surprised?

• Goldie Hawn is putting her foot down on daughter Kate Hudson's rubber-bouncy-ball dating habits and wishing she'd just enjoy the single life for a while.

• Ouch! Looks like Robert Pattinson may be having a hard time getting in to some swanky NYC lounges.

• Terrence Howard stops traffic to save a baby bird, reminding us that it's hard out there for a pimp.

• Lindsay Lohan puts a ring on her own hand and suddenly that's news.

• Dear Kate Winslet: Next time you cook for John Krasinski, please consider inviting us, too. Love, Rise 'n' Shine

Respect(acle) the spectacles and check out our Gorgeous in Glasses gallery.

We were at the Tonys. You were there with us if you were following us on Twitter @eonline!

The stars came out in droves to this year's Tony Awards, but it was the Broadway babies who took home most of the statuettes.

A trio of teenagers from Billy Elliot bested American Idol runner-up Constantine Maroulis and several Great White Way regulars for Best Lead Actor in a Musical.

In fact, their show nearly swept the entire ceremony, winning 10 awards.

Neil Patrick Harris hosted the swiftly moving event. And what he didn't bring to the bombshell of an opening number, he made up for with his jaw-dropping closer in which he recapped the winners, busted their chops and slipped in some wonderfully lewd jokes for good measure.

But that wasn't the only razzle dazzle at the song-and-dance awards...

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If you thought all the stars singing and dancing at the Oscars was impressive, wait until you see the star power in tonight's Tony opener.

Pretty much all we can tell you is that Anne Hathaway, who opened the movie awards show with Hugh Jackman in February, will be sitting up close and personal at Radio City Music Hall as she's shown how it's done.

We know. We saw the dress rehearsal.

Here's what else we know...

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Courtesy: Joan Marcus

This year's Tony Awards are undergoing a major personality transplant.

With Neil Patrick Harris hosting and names like Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman, Kevin Spacey, Will Ferrell, Susan Sarandon, James Gandolfini, Dolly Parton, Elton John and Allison Janney participating, jazz hands will be in short supply.

Even Poison is getting in on the action.

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And they say it's the neon lights that are bright on Broadway!

Celebs, fans, press and critics (of more than just theater) were out in force Thursday to herald Katie Holmes' official debut on the Great White Way, which, in any other universe, would have just been opening night of a brand-new revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons starring the great Dianne Wiest and John Lithgow.

In this world, however, Mrs. Tom Cruise is playing a supporting role.

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