ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.
THEATER
Tony-Winning ‘Proof’ on Broadway/L.A. Slate
A touring version of David Auburn’s “Proof,†winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize for drama and the Tony Award for best Broadway play, will be at the Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills, June 4-16, 2002.
It’s part of the next Broadway/L.A. season, which also includes engagements of “The Who’s Tommy†at the Shubert Theatre (Dec. 18-30, 2001) and three other 2002 productions at the Wilshire: Theodore Bikel in “Fiddler on the Roof†(Jan. 15-27); Maurice Hines in a multiracial “Guys and Dolls†(April 17-28) that originated at Arena Stage in Washington; and “South Pacific†with Michael Nouri and Erin Dilly (July 9-21).
Broadway/L.A. subscribers will receive priority seating options for three additional Wilshire engagements: “Copenhagen†(Nov. 20-Jan. 6), Penn and Teller (May 28-June 2) and “Cats†(June 18-23).
THE ARTS
Works by Goya Stolen From Madrid Residence
Thieves made off with more than 20 works of art from the Madrid home of Esther Koplowitz, deputy chairwoman of Spain’s largest building and services company. Among the missing paintings, she said, are “The Donkey’s Fall†and “The Swing†by Spanish master Francisco de Goya, and works by Impressionist Camille Pissarro, Joaquin Sorolla, Dutch master Pieter Bruegel and Juan Gris. The value of the collection was not specified.
Judge Says Graham School Can Keep Name
The corporation and school dedicated to Martha Graham’s modern dance technique can continue to use her name, a federal judge in New York has ruled, dealing a blow to Ronald A. Protas, the choreographer’s sole heir, who had tried to prevent them from operating without his permission and oversight.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman leaves intact the names of the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance and the Graham school.
Protas, who was a close companion of Graham for more than 20 years, was dismissed by the Graham Center board as artistic director of her now-defunct dance company more than a year ago. The judge concluded that Protas had provided misleading information, possibly unknowingly, when he registered the names of the school and center in his own name at the federal Patent and Trademark Office.
The judge has yet to rule whether Protas can stop the Graham company from performing her dances.
POP MUSIC
‘O Brother’ Singer Leads Bluegrass Nominations
A member of Alison Krauss’ band who did the singing for George Clooney in the film “O Brother, Where Art Thou?†got a leading 10 nominations Thursday for awards from the International Bluegrass Music Assn.
Dan Tyminski, a sideman in Krauss’ band, Union Station, was nominated for best male vocalist and guitarist, and the Dan Tyminski Band was nominated for emerging artist. Tyminski’s other nominations included three for best song, including one for “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow†from “O Brother, Where Art Thou?â€
The nominations in 16 categories were announced at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville by singers Steve Wariner and Rhonda Vincent. Vincent and her band, the Rage, got five nominations, for best entertainer, vocal group, female vocalist, song (“Lonesome Wind Bluesâ€), and recorded event for her part in the album “Follow Me Back to the Fold: A Tribute to Women in Bluegrass.â€
The winners will be announced Oct. 4.
Farm Aid Concert Headed for Indiana
John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson and Neil Young will bring Farm Aid back to Indiana on Sept. 29. The concert at the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, near Indianapolis, will be telecast on cable’s Country Music Television channel and will include a solo appearance by Dave Matthews.
Nelson, Mellencamp and Young founded Farm Aid in 1985 to raise public awareness about the plight of the American family farmer. In the last 16 years, the organization says it has granted nearly $16 million to more than 100 farm organizations, churches and service agencies in 44 states.
TELEVISION
CNN Joins the Pack With New York Studio
CNN officially unveiled plans Thursday for a street-level studio in New York, the last of the major TV news operations to join the trend so successfully started by NBC’s “Today†show. The space, in the midtown Time & Life building, will be used primarily for the network’s New York-based prime-time shows, including Jeff Greenfield’s “Greenfield at Large†and a new nightly newscast hosted by Aaron Brown. It is expected to be ready by mid-2002.
MOVIES
Cameron to Explore Titanic in 3-D Format
Jim Cameron is going back to the Titanic. The Oscar-winning director of “Titanic,†the highest-grossing film in movie history, is joining forces with Walden Media to produce a three-dimensional, large-screen-format feature centering on the sinkings of the Titanic and the Bismarck.
“Ghosts of the Abyss†will be filmed during a six-week expedition that will explore the wreckages. Cameron has developed several new camera systems, including a digital 3-D camera, that will be used for the production. The film is scheduled to be released next year.
Oscar Gets a New Boss: Writer Frank Pierson
Oscar-winning screenwriter Frank R. Pierson has been elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He succeeds “Clear and Present Danger†producer Robert Rehme, who had served the maximum four consecutive one-year terms.
A past president of the Writers Guild, Pierson has been nominated three times for an Academy Award and won in 1975 for his original screenplay of “Dog Day Afternoon.â€
‘Shrek’ DVD Will Run More than 11 Hours
Can’t get enough of “Shrek� Let’s see if you still feel that way after the DVD comes out. DreamWorks said Thursday that the digital edition--due for release Nov. 2, along with the VHS version--will feature more than 11 hours of material, including what it describes as an extended ending and a feature that will enable viewers to record lines of dialogue from the movie and then watch scenes with their voice instead of, say Mike Myers’ or Eddie Murphy’s.
QUICK TAKES
A memorial service for Jack Lemmon will be held Monday at 7 p.m. in the main theater at Paramount Studios. Information and reservations: (310) 278-7750....Hal Holbrook and Rick Stear will play the older and younger actors, respectively, in David Mamet’s “A Life in the Theatre†at the Pasadena Playhouse, Sept. 16-Oct. 21.
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