Auditions Introduced for Shakespeare around the block Productions

Casting company directors Jordan Thaler and Heidi Griffiths are holding auditions for that approaching 50th anniversary from the Public Theater's Shakespeare around the block series. This year's productions in the Delacorte Theater in Central Park are "As You Desire It" and "In to the Forest." Equity principal auditions for shows is going to be locked in Feb.Shakespeare's "As You Desire It" is going to be directed by Daniel Sullivan, with performances scheduled for June. Lily Rabe, who formerly worked with with Sullivan on her Tony-nominated role in "The Merchant of Venice" around the block as well as on Broadway this year, will star as Rosalind. Other roles can be found. Equity principal auditions is going to be held Monday, Feb 13 in NY City.Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel will direct "In to the Forest," that will premiere in This summer. This version of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Broadway musical is dependant on the directors' Olivier Award-winning Regent's Park Outside Theatre London production from 2010. All roles within the show can be found, including some familiar figures for example Cinderella, Little Red-colored Riding Hood, Rapunzel, the Witch, yet others. Equity principal auditions is going to be held Thursday, Feb 2 in NY City."I am delighted that people are adding Stephen Sondheim towards the Delacorte's roster," Oskar Eustis, artistic director from the Public Theater, stated inside a statement. "Our finest artist of musical theater will sit very easily alongside Shakespeare. Sondheim around the block includes a good ring into it.InchEach shows is going to be carried out free of charge this summer time in Central Park. These auditions are mainly for Actors' Equity people, however the casting company directors could also see nonunion stars, if time permits. To learn more about these projects and audition particulars, see the full casting notices on BackStage.com. (Subscription needed.)Thaler and Griffiths have worked with in the Public Theater/NY Shakespeare Festival for pretty much 2 decades, casting a lot more than 200 productions Off-Broadway and also at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Broadway credits include "Chinglish," "The Tempest," "The Wild Party," "Take Me Out," "Caroline, or Change," "Passing Strange," "Hair," "The Merchant of Venice," and "The Motherf**ker using the Hat."

Anna Faris signs with CAA

Anna Faris has signed with CAA. "The House Bunny" actress had last year including "What's Your Number" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Shipwrecked." Best known for her work in the "Scary Movie" franchise, Faris recently landed the female lead in Paramount's "The Dictator" and has several pics in development including "TMI" at Universal. Faris was most recently repped by Gersh. She continues to be repped by Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

How Did 30 Rocks Alec Baldwin Drop 30 Pounds In Four Months?

First Published: January 21, 2012 2:58 PM EST Credit: WireImage LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Alec Baldwin attends the 2011 National Board of Review Awards gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in NYC on January 10, 2012 Alec Baldwin has appeared noticeably trimmer during appearances of late and the 30 Rock star says the key to dropping the excess pounds is a bit bittersweet. I gave up sugar. I lost 30 pounds in four months, he told Access Hollywood correspondent Jill Martin during an interview in NY City on Friday. Its amazing. In addition to cutting out sweets, Alec who is currently dating yoga instructor Hilaria Thomas infused his daily routine with a variety of exercises. Pilates, spin, not as much yoga as Id like, the 53-year-old told Jill of his fitness methods. When were shooting [30 Rock] its tough When were shooting and I cant work out, I just have to eat less. So, Im very conscious of that. But sugar was the real killer for me that was the problem, he added. As for 30 Rock, despite persistent rumors claiming Alec may soon hang up Jack Donaghys designer suits for good, the actor said he fully plans to return for yet another season of the NBC hit. I think were going to do some kind of season next year theyre not sure whether were going to do a full season or maybe a piece of a season, [but] theres going to be something next year, I believe, he told Jill. See Alec in action alongside Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski on 30 Rock, airing Thursdays at 8 PM on NBC. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Biz: Person of great interest Lara Logan

Lara Logan Request CBS News chief foreign matters correspondent Lara Logan how she's doing and her one-word response is "Busy." She's finishing an account of Aerosmith for an hour. She's focusing on a tale about drug-money washing in Colombia and also the Off-shore Rim. She's an approaching piece on the Botswana couple residing in the African Rose bush during the last 3 decades. She has been to Afghanistan. Go ahead and take list as an expression that they has cured in the brutal sexual assault with a mob after nov the Mubarak regime in Egypt last Feb. Logan, who thinks the attack was started by secret police set on discrediting the revolution, thought she would die in Tahrir Square that evening. However the outpouring of support she received upon her go back home compelled her to return to work under three several weeks later. "I've very large duties to meet,Inch she states. "That could seem as an odd factor, however when you are sitting in your own home after something similar to Egypt and everybody's supporting you - it had been this type of large a part of putting me together again. I did not expect such kindness and generosity from a lot of people. That not to mention the romance of family and buddies." Logan is particularly grateful to CBS News chairman Shaun Fager, who supported her decision to instantly go public by what happened. "The critical factor is the fact that Shaun and CBS stated inside a statement which i was strongly sexually attacked," she states. "When they just stated I had been assaulted, it might have hidden the reality and managed to get my dirty secret to hold in shame." The storyline reveal the problem of sexual violence and harassment of journalists all over the world. It grew to become an underlying cause for that Committee to Safeguard Journalists. Quite a few the 1000's of letters Logan has gotten originated from sufferers outdoors of her profession. "One lady stated in my experience that they was raped two decades ago and she or he never told anybody," Logan states. "And after my story arrived on the scene, she informed her mother first after which her husband." On Feb 8, Logan will join Charlie Rose as cohost of Individual to individual, a revival of the classic CBS News program that profiled newsmakers within their houses. Like a globe-trotting correspondent, Logan has frequently forecasted an action-hero image on the watch's screen. After her harrowing experience, she thinks interview subjects will see her like a more understanding figure. "They've seen me lower during my cheapest moment, and they're going to get their own feeling of the way i worked with this,Inch she states. "Hopefully that provides people a much better feeling of who they are seated with. Because I believe you are always much more comfortable whenever you feel you realize someone. Hopefully helps. I truly want this [show] to not be superficial, because I personally don't like superficial. I truly do hate it." Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

Skechers Replaces Kim Kardashian With a Dog for Super Bowl Commercial

French bulldog in new Skechers ad; Kim Kardashian Kim Kardashian's reign as the face of Skechers has come to an end - and she's being replaced by a dog.The 30-year-old reality TV star was featured in a sexy ad for the sneaker manufacturer during last year's Super Bowl (you can check out the spot here), but now the company has decided to go another way.Check out photos of Kim KardashianThis year, a French bulldog will be wearing a pair (actually, two pairs) of Skechers' new running shoes while racing against a pack of greyhounds, USA Today reports."Kim got us more attention than we ever dreamed. We have to establish Skechers as more than a lifestyle company," Skechers Fitness President Leonard Armato says.The company says the decision was by no means a snub - and has nothing to do with her infamously short-lived marriage to Kris Humphries. Armato said Kardashian helped the company raise its profile considerably, quadrupling the number of its Facebook from 100,000 to 400,000

Ashton Kutcher, Jimmy Fallon To Present at Golden Globes

Jimmy Fallon, Ashton Kutcher Ashton Kutcher, Jimmy Fallon and Michelle Pfeiffer and are among a second set of presenters announced Wednesday by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the upcoming Golden Globe Awards.The organization additionally revealed that Robert Downey Jr., Jessica Biel and Mile Kunis will also present at the ceremony.Homeland, New Girl and new shows lead Golden Globe NominationsPreviously announced presenters include Jake Gyllenhaal, Nicole Kidman and Natalie Portman.The 69th Golden Globes ceremony, hosted by Ricky Gervais,will air live Sunday at 8/7c on NBC.

Cougar Town Co-Creator Talks Grass Roots Campaign & Raising Awareness For Season 3

First Published: January 10, 2012 9:56 AM EST Credit: ABC Caption Bill Lawrence with Christa Miller and Courteney Cox on the set of Cougar TownLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The cast and creators of Cougar Town want the world to know their show is still alive and coming back for Season 3 on ABC, even if they dont have an airdate or time slot just yet. Continuing their self-financed publicity campaign, the shows creators Bill Lawrence and Kevin Biegel and cast members, including Courteney Cox, Busy Philipps and Christa Miller, took over a hotel bar in Pasadena, Calif. on Monday night, as they met with journalists in town for the Television Critics Association Press Tour to promote the comedy. To find out what spoilers Courteney and Christa shared about the show, CLICK HERE. Were just doing it because, part of the fun its not philanthropic, because you guys know as well as I do that news stories generate out of Courteney over there talking about whatever the hell Courteney talks about, co-creator Bill said in response to a question from AccessHollywood.com at the event. A small cult show this is how you hopefully raise awareness that youre gonna be back on. With 12 episodes of Season 3 already in the can (out of 15), Cougar Town is ready to come back to ABC, but as yet, the show about a group of eccentric friends living in sunny Florida, has no set return date. While they wait for word on a premiere date, to promote the upcoming Season 3, and aim to get more fans on board, Lawrence and members of the cast have been traveling across the U.S., hosting screening parties in locales including Chicago, Atlanta, and San Diego, offering a first look at some of the new episodes. Lawrence said he hopes their grass roots effort at creating a buzz will help lead to a bump up in viewers. They also hope the faithful Cougar Town fans convince the yet-unconverted to watch the quirky comedy centering around family, love and friendship. I dont think a network can turn out a number for you anymore, Lawrence told reporters. I think the days of them running commercials that say, Hey, make sure you check out this show next Wednesday. I dont think that works So Im actually trying to do some of this grass roots stuff and see if it works. Cougar Towns Season 2 finale which was set in Hawaii, and saw Courteneys Jules chasing after her son Travis (Dan Byrd) aired in May 2011 and Lawrence said all the months that have passed are a hurdle to retaining viewers and bringing in new ones. The biggest mountain to climb is the sheer amount of time that its been off of television, Lawrence said. The only way to beat that system at all, because I dont think networks can turn out [an] audience the same way, is to have fan and public awareness when the show does come back on that it still exists and the only way to do that is to still talk to and give access to the people that have championed us and been really nice to us. On Tuesday, ABC, Cougar Towns network will be rolling out TCA panels for its upcoming shows, and some of its current roster like the exiting Desperate Housewives but Lawrence and Co.s pop up session was to allow the co-creator to stay true to himself. Im respectful and I think if I was on an ABC panel, I would feel disingenuous when I was pretending about how happy I was, he said. I didnt want to sit up there clapping and handshaking like Im a fun part of the family, because Im not, he added later. During the event, Lawrence also revealed that despite renewed banter, there will not be a Cougar Town name change. I cant. We screwed up, he told reporters. We had it changed the second year. It was gonna be titled Sunshine State. They picked up a show called Mr. Sunshine and we backtracked, and by now, you know, if Im gonna go down, Im going down in flames. I make one giant mistake on every show One of the cool things about this process, is you realize your mistakes and they never stop. Its like parenting. Its like now I got it. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Piracy bill low priority in Iowa

As today's Iowa caucus stands to clarify the contours of the 2012 presidential race, one issue of utmost concern to the Hollywood lobby has earned only passing mention on the trail: pending anti-piracy legislation before Congress.Hollywood studios and most showbiz guilds are gung-ho on passage of the House's Stop Online Piracy Act and a companion bill in the Senate. However, opponents are determined that these bills become nothing short of a litmus test.As with much copyright legislation (which is often technical and complicated), the issue hasn't raised enough concern to be brought up in any meaningful way at candidate townhall meetups, if it has been asked about at all.But the partisans, both from the right and left, are passionate. A chorus of digital-rights groups and bloggers are working to stall the legislation. Conservative blogger Erick Erickson of Red State has vowed to "do everything in my power" to defeat Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), a co-sponsor of the legislation."This battle is so important -- and is one of those rare fights where the left and right are united against Congress -- that I suggest the left and right unite and pledge to defeat in primaries every person named as a sponsor on H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act," Erickson wrote.Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has said she has "serious concerns" about the Senate legislation, and in Des Moines last Wednesday, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) blasted the bill as another example of Washington run amok, or, as he put it, "government taking over the Internet."Mitt Romney, the front-runner, has issued only general statements that as president he would "take aggressive action to confront nations that do not protect American ideas and creations," a campaign spokeswoman said recently.Lawmakers who will cast votes are being singled out via online campaigns. Users of social news website Reddit targeted Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for his support, but it his office quickly denied that he was a co-sponsor, although they said he was watching the debate "carefully."The Stop Online Piracy Act has 31 co-sponsors in the House, and a much more significant 40 co-sponsors in the Senate, spanning the ideological and geographic spectrum.From a pure numbers point of view, immediate prospects actually look good for the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has scheduled a cloture vote on the Senate's Protect IP Act on Jan. 24, in the face of a vow by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) to filibuster. The House Judiciary Committee is expected to resume deliberations on the bill when Congress returns, but votes on a series of amendments make it clear that there's probably enough support for passage out of committee.Studios, labor and no less than the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are casting the legislation as a jobs issue, as a way of ensuring support. However, they face the ever-growing strength of the Internet lobby in mounting its own campaign. The chieftains of Google, Facebook and Yahoo, among many others, are opposed to the legislation, and Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales is weighing whether to stage a "blackout" of the online encyclopedia as a kind of boycott to a measure he views as a threat to free speech.That is proving to be a potent way to get the word out about legislation that many may otherwise not even be aware is pending."I don't think anyone in the entertainment business was thinking that this (legislation) would be facing this much opposition," said Robert Levine, author of the recently published "Free Ride: How Digital Parasites Are Destroying the Culture Business, and How the Culture Business Can Fight Back." "I think they underestimated the extent to which technology companies could get people upset about a bill that, whether or not you think it is a good idea, is changing pretty quickly."He was referring to recent amendments to the legislation -- with the expectation of more -- to address free speech and other concerns over SOPA. Levine added, "Even though the bill is getting hammered into shape, the rhetoric really isn't getting toned down."Supporters complain that the legislation has been unfairly demonized, driven by tech firms with a distinct advantage, particularly with users who have a much more personal connection to say, Twitter, than they may have a movie or TV show. As much as Hollywood has tried to campaign for the legislation with commercials featuring average workers hit by piracy, it doesn't seem to have the same emotional pull as the way that the issue has been cast from the array of bloggers and commentators who see it as a threat.In a recent appearance at the Center for American Progress, MPAA chairman Chris Dodd has compared the debate over the legislation to that of health-care and Wall Street reform, which he said fell prey to "misinformation -- spread both knowingly by those who have a financial interest in the status quo and by those who are well-intentioned but misled."Just how significant an impact the opposition will have remains to be seen. Last week, a planned boycott of domain name registrar GoDaddy fizzled, but the company had said several days before that it was withdrawing its support for the legislation.Typically, when it comes to public attention, such legislation has little resonance beyond industries. As one studio anti-piracy official recently explained it, the more noise that is made around it, and the more controversial it seems, the more apt that lawmakers are to perceive their vote as a risk with little upside if it is viewed as a "Hollywood" bill.House Judiciary Committee chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) told The Hill recently that he expects Obama to sign the bill. But opponents are trying their best to stop it, even to make it an election year liability for a president challenged to boost enthusiasm from the Netroots in 2012. More than 45,000 names have been gathered on a petition posted at the White House's We the People site, urging a veto -- surpassing the 25,000 needed for the administration to post an official response. As of yet, none has been posted. Contact Ted Johnson at ted.johnson@variety.com

Fox Axes Which Means You Think You Are Able To Dance Results Show

Which Means You Think You Are Able To Dance Fox has drawn the plug on Which Means You Think You Are Able To Dance's results show after eight seasons, based on executive producer and select Nigel Lythgoe. "Fox have cancelled the outcomes show and so i will need to alter the format of [Which Means You Think You Are Able To Dance]," Lythgoe, 62, tweeted Sunday. "A minimum of we've another season in the finish of May." Fox renews Which Means You Think You Are Able To Dance and MasterChef The move would apparently condense Dance from two new episodes per week to simply one. It's unclear what motivated the modification this far in to the show's run. A set repetition couldn't be immediately arrived at for comment. "Don't be concerned [Which Means You Think You Are Able To Dance] fans. I am thrilled you will find there's new series," Lythgoe added. "We'll do good to locate some good talent beginning in a few days in Atlanta." Which Means You Think You Are Able To Dance, which gained its first Emmy nomination for the best reality competition this past year, was restored for any ninth season in October. Last summer time, 6.two million audiences updated directly into see Melanie Moore be named the champion of Season 8. How can you think the show should adjust its format?