Actress Patricia Clarkson to Lead Carnival Parade

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Actress Patricia Clarkson will lead the Carnival parade of the Krewe of Muses in her hometown of New Orleans.The star of the 2010 thriller "Shutter Island" and the 2003 drama "Pieces of April" will step into a whimsical limelight by riding on a red fiber-optic-lit float shaped like a high-heeled shoe.The Krewe of Muses is an all-women's organization that parades through New Orleans on Feb. 16.The krewe traditionally selects an honorary rider who exemplifies a muse from Greek mythology, such as dance, poetry or music. For 2012, the club said it chose Clarkson as its honorary "EveryMuse" because she embodies the spirit of all muses.Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Stacey Plaisance December 30, 2011 NEW ORLEANS (AP) Actress Patricia Clarkson will lead the Carnival parade of the Krewe of Muses in her hometown of New Orleans.The star of the 2010 thriller "Shutter Island" and the 2003 drama "Pieces of April" will step into a whimsical limelight by riding on a red fiber-optic-lit float shaped like a high-heeled shoe.The Krewe of Muses is an all-women's organization that parades through New Orleans on Feb. 16.The krewe traditionally selects an honorary rider who exemplifies a muse from Greek mythology, such as dance, poetry or music. For 2012, the club said it chose Clarkson as its honorary "EveryMuse" because she embodies the spirit of all muses.Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

New worldwide ad banners for that Avengers

[brightcove]1213024251001[/brightcove]Some wise new ad banners for Marvel's super hero epic The Avengers have showed up online.The breathtaking promotions split the supervillain-fighting pressure into two groups, because, let us face the facts, there's a lot of heroes to cram onto one poster.Probably the most legendary people from the team (Iron Guy, Thor, Cappy) occupy one banner, while Nick Fury, Hawkeye, and Black Widow star within the other, using the large bad from the piece, Loki, skulking within the sidelines.The artwork may be the large, bold style we have come to anticipate from the Marvel supergroup, in stark contrast towards the dark, gritty one-sheets that many blockbusters appear to choose nowadays. Browse the ad banners now:The Avengers opens on 27 April 2012, starting off a legendary summer time for movies.

Haunted Child

Sophie Okonedo and Ben Daniels in "Haunted Child."A Royal Court Theater presentation from the play by 50 percent operates by Joe Penhall. Directed by Jeremy Herrin. Julie - Sophie Okenedo Douglas - Ben Daniels Thomas - Jack Boulter/Jude CampbellDread-filled worry created by helmer Jeremy Herrin's enchanting cast produces almost palpable static inside the mysterious first act of Joe Penhall's "Haunted Child," when formerly missing Douglas (Ben Daniels) returns home all of a sudden a seriously changed guy. Sadly, it's the other sense of "static" that rules the disappointing second act through which Douglas tries to persuade his wife and youthful boy from the advantages of his new values, which challenge everything regarding lives. The opening scenario from the boy (Jack Boulter within the performance examined) telling his mother Julie (Sophie Okenedo) in plaintive tones he thinks he's been sent a ghost inside their otherwise empty house is upsetting. Julie is placating but beneath her soothing tones it's horribly apparent that something in your house went seriously awry. The climate, perfectly caught, points to Penhall's typically effective economy of means. Then, much like audiences are puzzling out what might be happening, Penhall springs an unpredicted getting an abrupt reveal of Douglas, bare-footed, scrawny and set up-out. His startling reappearance as of this early on piles round the questions for his family as well as the audience. Penhall keeps tension by very progressively feeding particulars to the situation. Progressively exasperated Julie forces reluctant Douglas to exhibit the idealism underpinning the "Group" he's grew to become an associate of within the surprising spiritual mission. Can it be a collective of people dedicated to abnegating the present, materialistic self, or lots of deluded or completely dangerous obsessives? Problematically, Penhall chooses to stack his argument one of the ways only. The chance validity of Douglas's spiritual questioning is sabotaged by careful analysis have Douglas, its new disciple, fresh fresh paint the crowd as extreme charlatans. What's still more fatal in dramatic terms is the group only can be obtained via constantly expository description (in Douglas' fevered account) rather than joining developing stage action. Daniels' enchanting, frightening performance from the guy combating mental and physical breakdown wins enormous sympathy, but his plight does not. Part of that has associated with Penhall's refusal allowing audiences to find out why and the way Douglas found keeping it. You don't need to subscribe to any excuses for sentimental, over-written backstory to find out the dilemma with huge thematic weight installed on it has to result from somewhere identifiable. Herrin is, however, conscious of Penhall's talents. He directs as if getting a magnifier to search for as soon as calibrations of emotion beneath the top dialogue. Despite the fact that keeping a lid on any kind of overstatement from his cast, he guarantees the breadth of emotion inside the writing -- including surprising humor -- is honored with the stars. The title signifies the play's focus is about the results round the child in the parental war. Disturbing though Douglas' well-intentioned behavior unquestionably is, that concentrate on the boy is actually off-center if this involves the play's construction. It's a further indication that Penhall's writing is disappointingly jeopardized by underplotting. It seems sensible frustrating, because the acting throughout is actually fine.Sets, Bunny Christie costumes, Christie and Iona Kenrick lighting, Jean Kalman appear, Ian Dickinson production stage manager, David Youthful. Opened up up, examined 12 ,. 8, 2011. Running time: 2 Several hours. Contact David Benedict at benedictdavid@mac.com

Adam Pascal Returns to Broadway in 'Memphis'

NY (AP) Adam Pascal wanted to be in "Memphis" long before he ever saw "Memphis," which sounds a little crazy."It's only insane on the surface," the 41-year-old actor says, laughing. "The reality of it is that I'm a Broadway leading man and there are very few Broadway leading man roles. I knew that that was a show that I would be able to pull off."He was right: Pascal, a veteran of "Rent," ''Aida" and "Cabaret," has slipped into the role of Huey Calhoun in the Tony Award-winning musical, taking over from Chad Kimball."I'm built to do this. It's kind of what I'm best doing," he says. "I'm physically made to do it. I'm emotionally made to do it. For whatever reason, I have the right sets of skills to make doing musicals something that I really, really love to do."The musical, written by playwright Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, keyboardist with the band Bon Jovi, is set in 1950s Memphis and traces the burgeoning romance between Huey, an R&B-obsessed white DJ, and a black singer played by Montego Glover.Pascal approached the producers for "Memphis" two summers ago about coming in and finally got the role in late October when Kimball chose to leave. The day before his audition, he saw the show for the first time."What an incredibly pleasant surprise I had when I finally did see the show and loved it. Again, I didn't care if I liked it or not. I wanted this job. I knew it was right for me," he says. "But, having seen the show, it was a huge sigh of relief."Christopher Ashley, the artistic director of the La Jolla Playhouse in California who directed "Memphis," says Pascal was one of the first names he and the creative team considered when they learned of replacing Kimball."There's not that many people that I think their talents, their vocal chops and their adventurousness can fill this part all the way up. This is a really hard part," says Ashley. "He is on stage all the time for 2 1/2 hours. He has eight songs of his own it's really challenging, really dominating role."One of the toughest challenges is the power tune "Memphis Lives In Me" that Pascal calls "one of the best songs ever written for theater." The song demands a super-high note be hit at the very end and Pascal says he gets up there about half the time. "It doesn't necessarily serve any purpose other than my own ego," he says.Pascal came to fame alongside Anthony Rapp, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs in the original cast of "Rent." He originated the role of Roger, the AIDS-infected singer frightened of falling in love and earned a Tony Award nomination for his performance.He also originated the role of Radames in Disney's "Aida" by Elton John and Tim Rice, and was the last MC in the Sam Mendes-Rob Marshall production of "Cabaret." Blessed with a youthful face and a strong voice, Pascal says he's drawn to all kinds of musicals but is known for rock-inflected ones."I certainly don't want to be pigeonholed as 'the Broadway rock guy.' I kind of am, and that's OK. But it's really my job as an actor and a performer to make people see my abilities beyond that. And I actually think this is a role that helps do that," he says.Pascal reprised his role as Roger in the Chris Columbus-directed film of "Rent" and was cast alongside Jack Black as Theo, the lead singer of No Vacancy, in "School of Rock."Although he initially tried to distance himself from "Rent" in the years after appearing in the musical, Pascal has now come to terms with its role in his career. He's even gone to see the new off-Broadway production."To be connected with something that has inspired so many people, that has moved so many people, that has touched so many people there are worse things to be connected to," he says. "I owe my whole career to 'Rent,' to that incredible springboard that it gave to me."Pascal is a musician as well and has put out three solo records. He performs his music on tour, playing an upright bass and guitar with a piano player and a drummer. He has, of course, added songs from "Rent.""I would say the first few years, I wouldn't have touched anything from the show. Then I sort of came to the realization that I'm spiting at the audience. It's not for my own ego. The audience wants to hear it, so they should hear it."One thing he hopes an audience will hear one day is his stage adaptation of "Operation: Mindcrime," a concept album released in 1988 by the heavy metal band Queensryche, whom Pascal, a longtime fan, calls "the intellectual, thinking man's metal band."The album follows a disillusioned man as he becomes involved with a revolutionary group as an assassin and Pascal has gotten permission from the band to try to turn it into a musical. He wants to expand the book he says some of it may need to be "defanged" and create a story-driven musical."I think I'm smart enough to know who the audience is for this. And it's not Queensryche fans. That has to be clear," he says. "The audience has to be the people that are coming to 'Memphis' and to 'Wicked.'"Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Grey's Anatomy Reunites Derek and Addison in Another World

Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy First, Grey's Anatomy did a musical episode. Description of how the are diving into alternate galaxies. Inside an episode slated for February, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) will get a chance to determine what existence could have been like if her late mother, famous surgeon Ellis Grey (Kate Burton), did not have Alzheimer's, TVLine.com reviews. See the relaxation of current day news This alternate reality will not possess a less dark and twisty Meredith, however the return of numerous Grey's alums, namely Addison (Kate Walsh), who, in this particular reality, remains married to Derek (Patrick Dempsey). While we want to see it happen, we won't be holding our breath for your return of George (T.R. Dark evening) or Izzie (Katherine Heigl). Who would you like to see return?

New Line Searching To Shake Some Misunderstanding With San Andreas 3-D

EXCLUSIVE: While Hollywood’s preoccupation now remains high winds, New Line Cinema is planning with an earthquake. I’m told the studio would be to company company directors with San Andreas 3-D, a sizable-budget film hatched by scribes Jeremy Passmore & Andre Fabrizio just like a pitch. They’ve written the script and Allan Loeb is doing a polish for just about any north-of-$100 million film that’s ready to visit. Love Flynn is creating. It’s an entire-scale disaster picture turning around a massive earthquake which is devastating effect on California. That is a thing that hasn’t really been done since the 1974 film Earthquake, which starred Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner. That film boasted of the advantages of “Sensurround” to make a realistic feel, however the options of the 3d rendering holds promise. Passmore & Fabrizio are repped by Paradigm and Aperture Entertainment and Loeb by CAA. Passmore & Fabrizio are spinning Hellified and Passmore scripted the Red-colored-colored Beginning remake.

Charlize Theron vs. Julia Roberts as Evil Queens -- Who Wins?

Everyone's been buzzing about the two upcoming 'Snow White' flicks on the horizon, 'Snow White and the Huntsman' and 'Mirror, Mirror,' excitedly debating details like who will make the best heroine (Kristen Stewart or Lily Collins!) or the most dashing Prince Charming (Armie Hammer or Chris Hemsworth!) My favorite discussions, though, revolve around who will make the most deliciously evil queen: Julia Roberts or Charlize Theron. Both actresses bring distinctive qualities to the table. Charlize excels at being downright terrifying, as evidenced by her role as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 'Monster.' Julia, on the other hand, is a whole 'nother kind of frightening: her cutting remarks and disdainful glares could reduce any young girl to tears in the blink of an eye. Fairy Tale Villainess Hall of Fame Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who's the most evil of them all? Charlize Theron as The Queen in 'Snow White and the Huntsman'Julia Roberts as The Queen in 'Mirror, Mirror'Margaret Hamilton as The Wicked Witch of the West in 'The Wizard of Oz'Jean Marsh as Queen Bavmorda in 'Willow'Anjelica Huston as The Evil Stepmother in 'Ever After'Jane Lynch as the Evil Stepmother in 'Another Cinderella Story'Tilda Swinton as The White Witch in 'The Chronicles of Narnia'Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen in 'Alice in Wonderland' See All Moviefone Galleries » My money's on Charlize in 'Snow White and the Huntsman.' Based on the "first look" photos of each of the queens, Charlize comes across as much more bad-ass. Her face says 'I'll cut you, bi**h. I'll kill you in your sleep!' Julia's face in 'Mirror, Mirror,' on the other hand, skews more towards the judge-y mother side. Instead of murderous thoughts, she looks like she's thinking, 'Go ahead, fatty. Have another tiny cucumber sandwich with the crust cut off. Mwhahahahaha! You disgust me.' That said, I think both Julia and Charlize are excellent choices to play evil queens -- they'll each make their own distinctive marks in the evil fairy tale villainess hall of fame. [Photo: Universal Pictures] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-399677{display:none;}.cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-399677, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-399677{width:475px;height:357px;display:block;}