Patricia Neway dies at 92

Patricia Neway, who played the Mother Abbess in the original Broadway production of "The Sound of Music," winning a Tony for featured actress during a career of appearances on Broadway and especially the NY City Opera, died of natural causes on Jan. 24 in East Corinth, Vt. She was 92. She starred most notably in the 1950 Broadway production of Gian-Carlo Menotti's "The Consul," one of the few operas composed for the Rialto and later a standard part of the opera repertory. She also performed the role of Magda Sorel, the wife of a rebel in a totalitarian state, in London, Paris and on tour in Europe. Neway first appeared on Broadway in 1942 in Offenbach's "La Vie Parisienne" and then in 1949 in Benjamin Britten's "The Rape of Lucretia." In 1958 she returned to the Rialto in another Menotti work, "Maria Golvin." She appeared the next year in "The Sound of Music" -- and though Neway played the Mother Superior, she was six years younger than Mary Martin, the actress who starred as Maria von Trapp. Also in 1959, Neway starred in a revival of "The Consul" at the City Center; a video of the performance was released on DVD decades later. "The Sound of Music" turned out to be her last effort on Broadway; she also forayed into Rodgers and Hammerstein with a performance as Lady Thiang in "The King and I" at Lincoln Center in 1964 and in a 1967 production of "Carousel" for ABC. Neway performed in many productions at NY City Opera, continuing her opera career until the mid-1970s. Born in Brooklyn, Neway studied voice at the Mannes College of Music. She is survived by a number of nieces and nephews. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Oscar noms challenge small distribs

'Albert Nobbs'NY -- While year-finish film honours are an recognition along with a valuable advertising tool, for independent marketers they're also challenging. Additionally to selling their film to some audience, indie distribs should also woo kudos voters, which requires some kind of special finessing -- and they have to do all of this on the limited budget.Earlier this week, "Albert Nobbs" and "Margin Call" were one of the indie films receiving Oscar nominations. The noms were a payback for careful and thrifty release plans. Within the situation of "Albert," provided by LD Entertaiment and Kerbside Points of interest, that meant a 1-week being approved engagement, that was considerably less expensive than a 4th-quarter theatrical release.The process for Roadside's other entry, Lionsgate co-acquisition "Margin Call," ended up being to build buzz, and also to have a specific method of media buys. Reviews that are positive because of its timely Wall Street subject material, in addition to person to person, were important. The film also acquired attention when its VOD availability did not seem to hurt its box office throughout the movie's fall day-and-date strategy."Among the challenges for movies that do not have massive marketing budgets is distributing the term, however in order for your word to occur, you need to obtain a critical mass of individuals to determine it," states Kerbside co-prexy Eric D'Arbeloff. "The Academy is not that not the same as everybody else -- others is only going to see movies in theaters, others watch screeners yet others learn about the film using their buddies and also require seen it on VOD. We felt such as these were distinct audiences, (which) gave us much more person to person."Honours season comes in a busy season, with family some time and holiday holidays. Experts see many, many films, but many of Academy of movement Picture Arts & Sciences people will work people, and so do short time to determine a sizable variety of films before they complete a ballot."Albert Nobbs" saw Oscar noms for actress (Glenn Close), supporting actress (Jesse McTeer) and makeup. "Margin Call" was drawn on for original script.Kerbside transmits out screeners and holds official AMPAS and guild tests, though not as often as the galleries do, states Kerbside co-leader Howard Cohen. The distrib centered on drumming up media interest. This past year, Kerbside saw 2010 Sundance pickup "Winter's Bone" nab four top Oscar noms, including one for the best picture.David Dinerstein, who assisted recommend the "Nobbs" plan and today heads LD Distribution, states pulling out "Nobbs" from theaters for any month after its one-week Oscar being approved run at the end of December assisted put a restricted budget to the best use."Instead of needing to compete in the consumer level in those days, we felt we ought to target people inside the Academy and also the guilds," he states. "With the nominations, it provides for us an chance to chop through a little simpler of computer could have been otherwise." The limited countrywide rollout that started Jan. 27 uses last week's noms and enables a couple of specific TV advertisements to achieve potential Academy and guild voters.Dinerstein states Close's Career Achievement Award at January's Palm Springs Film Festival gave the pic a vital boost too.So far as the price to the organization for Oscar attention, Dinerstein, just like others questioned with this article, demurs. But he states that, just like the launch associated with a of LD's films, your budget is under the majority of his rivals. "Without having deep pockets, you have to be wiser, be it around the publicity side or perhaps in selecting the kinds of screens you've,Inch he states.Four-year-old Oscilloscope saw its sixth Oscar nom when "If your Tree Falls: A Tale of the world Liberation Front," a historic take a look at political activism, was drawn on within the feature documentary category.Oscilloscope prexy David Fenkel states the small group of people within the doc and foreign-language feature nominating committees is really a boon to indies, which makes it simpler to focus on the right people. Fenkel intends to have director Marshall Curry discuss the film at new reservations in main marketplaces round the country, emphasizing its relevance.More recent to the overall game is Drafthouse Films founder Tim League, whose sophomore release "Bullhead" gained an overseas-language film nom. League cites the film's AFI Fest and Palm Springs honours (and helmer Michael R. Roskam's mention among Variety's 10 Company directors to look at) as enhancing the violent thriller enter Oscar's top 5, together with reaching to foreign-language committee voters.For his publish-nomination strategy, League intends to slowly move the tentative April 27 release date to Feb, and additionally to DVD screeners, he's finalizing streaming close ties now to obtain the film into Academy members' houses, a method certain to be well-liked by cost-conscious distribs."I understand there exists a tough road in front of us," League states. "We are small businesses -- an employee of three -- but we are likely to be scrappy." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Cirque Du Soleil Casting Dancers for Las Vegas Shows

Back Stage is now running a casting notice for dancers for Cirque Du Soleils's live and upcoming show creations in Las Vegas. Here is the notice available through Back Stage Casting. (Subscription required.)CIRQUEDU SOLEIL, LAS VEGAS CirqueDu Soleil is casting dancers for its live performances in current and upcoming show creations. Line Giasson, senior dir.CirqueDu Soleil casting team. Performances are ongoing in Las Vegas, Nevada and at locations throughout the U.S.SeekingDancers: males and females, 18-39, any ethnicity, contemporary/ballet, jazz, exotic dance, hip-hop and street dance. Note: All dancers must be 18+.To audition, prepare a two-minute dance combination, bring music. A series of challenging combinations will be taught. Bring pix & rsums. Wear appropriate dance attire. For more info, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

When Will The Way In Which I Met Your Mother Finish? Plus: Ted's Soul-Searching, Marshall and Lily's Large Move

The Way In Which I Met Your Mother When will The Way In Which I Met Your Mother finish? There's one big issue that should be clarified first: "We should discover when the Mayans were right first," Jason Segel joked to reporters Wednesday at CBS' winter TV preview. Asked for once the extended-running comedy - presently within the seventh season and restored with an eighth - posseses an finish date, co-creator and executive producer Carter Bays mentioned, "it is not a greater priority" for your series. "I'd imagine beginning the best season, we'd [alert] people to that particular... Beyond that, In my opinion it's tough for people to convey on [confirmed date] we'll formally be from ideas." Watch full instances of how I Met Your Mother When tomorrow comes, however, producers have a very request how a show will wrap. "The meeting [in the mother] will participate the conclusion game," Bays mentioned. For simply how much audiences will dsicover beyond that initial meet-cute, producers rejected to convey. Bays and co-creator and executive producer Craig Thomas are actually thinking about casting the pivotal role, and appear to become leaning towards a mysterious, pointing towards the wealth of casting then-unknown Cobie Smulders as Ted's first love, Robin. "She should have been mother,Inch Thomas mentioned. "We screwed up!Inch No matter how extended it takes for Ted (Josh Radnor) to fulfill the primary one, Segel mentioned he was available these days to seeing the story by way of the conclusion he formerly mentioned the show should wrap after Season 8. "Allow me to start to see the story showed up at its natural finish, whether it is eight years or nine years," he mentioned. "I used to be so relieved once i discovered there's a genuine plan." Have a look at photos in the Way I Met Your Mother Inside the interim, producers taunted what they've got planned for February sweeps. There's "large, soul-searching stuff" ahead for Ted while he evaluates his readiness to marry and questions why he continues to have not found the primary one. "He'll develop what he thinks might be the solution after which it we'll explore whether that fact is right." Marshall and Lily may even have trouble with their next large existence step simply because they prepare to experience a baby. "It's a real identity crisis each time a baby is along the way and that we will probably explore that," Bays mentioned. Next week's episode will dsicover the happy couple formally go to the and surrounding and surrounding suburbs and deal with escaping their pals. But Thomas mentioned the 'burbs are "not necessarily an enduring stop." The Way In Which I Met Your Mother airs Mondays at 8/7c on CBS.

Offlot shoots hiked up at Griffith Park this year

Griffith Park, lengthy a popular backdrop for film and television shows, has brought the way in which as always because the top place for offlot shooting in L.A. this year, then Venice Beach, L.A. Center Galleries, Disney Ranch and Elysian Park.The town-possessed park was the place to find 346 allowed days this past year because of its primary address, which does not range from the course and observatory, statistically supplied by enabling agency FilmL.A. Projects shot around the block this past year incorporated CBS' "Criminal Minds" and TNT's "The Closer.""You'll find virtually any look you'll need around the block,Inch stated FilmL.A. spokesperson Todd Lindgren.Venice Beach would be a distant second with 184, then the L.A. Center Galleries downtown at 173 days -- though that figure does not count activity around the licensed soundstages but allowed filming within the tower building, filming on Boylston Street along with other areas of all in which a permit is needed.Disney Ranch, a warehouse on Terminal Street, Elysian Park, Linda Vista Hospital in Boyle Levels, Dockweiler Beach, the Club Erectile dysfunction movie ranch in Lancaster and can Rogers Condition Beach complete the very best 10 locations for 2011.For that first week of 2012, overall offlot production slid 5% to some soft 321 days with feature activity nearly non-existent at 23 days in comparison with 44 days within the first week of 2011. TV activity involved even at 226 days, lower 72 hours from 2011, while spots acquired nine days to 72."Seven Psychopaths" was probably the most active feature with 13 days. "Episodes" was probably the most within the TV sitcom category with 16 days. Most active place was for Buick with ten days. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Haywired for success

Gina Carano with Ewan McGregor Steven Soderbergh and Antonio Banderas "Haywire" thesps Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas and Bill Paxton are big stars in their own right but it was MMA veteran Gina Carano who had to fight off a crowd of well-wishers at Relativity Media's premiere of Steven Soderbergh's female-powered actioner at the DGA on Thursday night.Soderbergh introduced the film by noting that "Years ago, I saw Gina Carano beat up a woman in a cage and thought, The only thing that would make that more exciting is if that was a male movie star.""Steven asked me, 'Why is Angelina Jolie the only female action star in the world?,'" said Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh. "I told him, 'I don't know,' and he said, 'Because someone made her that way, and I'm going to make Gina into one of the biggest action stars in the world.'"While Carano had the fight scenes down pat, some had expressed concern about her acting chops, especially considering she's surrounded by a cast of veteran thesps. Carano, however, wasn't worried. "I came from the fight world, so that's kind of as extreme as it gets, and I'm an open person, so I had no problem jumping into something like this." Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Brooke Mueller Wont Have Court Appearance Filmed

First Published: January 7, 2012 5:46 PM EST Credit: Getty Premium ASPEN, Colo. -- Caption Brooke Mueller attends the On The Go Beauty Event at the Gavert Atelier on May 9, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California.Attorneys for Charlie Sheens ex-wife have prevailed in keeping a celebrity-news website from airing her appearance in a Colorado courtroom on drug and assault charges. The Aspen Times reports that a Pitkin County judge has denied a request from TMZ to air the Jan. 23 proceeding for Brooke Mueller. District Judge Gail Nichols said the live courtroom feed would unduly detract from the solemnity, decorum and dignity of the court. TMZ petitioned the court last month to access Muellers first court appearance, where she is to answer to a felony charge of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and a misdemeanor assault offense. Aspen police arrested the 34-year-old on Dec. 3 after a woman reported being assaulted at a nightclub. Sheen and Mueller divorced last year. Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Uma Thurman Brings Smiles and Bears to Ill Children

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Jessica Chastain heads to Broadway

ChastainJessica Chastain will range from bigscreens to Broadway later this season, toplining an approaching revival of "The Heiress." Paula Wagner, who's been developing legit work for some time now included in her shingle Chestnut Ridge Prods., will produce with Primary Stem regulars Roy Furman and Stephanie P. McClelland. Moises Kaufman directs Ruth and Augustus Goetz's 1947 play, modified from Henry James novel "Washington Square." Chastain -- whose avalanche of latest film operate in "The Assistance,Inch "Tree of Existence" and "Take Shelter" has gained her honours-season attention -- makes her Broadway debut in "The Heiress." The Juilliard grad's stage credits include "Othello" opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman, Playwrights Horizons' Off Broadway staging of "Rodney's Wife" and also the L.A. version from the Al Pacino-toplined "Salome." Just before "Heiress," Kaufman ("Bengal Tiger in the Baghdad Zoo," "I'm My Very Own Wife") will helm the Roundabout's Off Broadway revival of "The Most Popular Pursuit" early in the year. "The Heiress" was last seen around the Rialto in Lincoln subsequently Center Theater's well-received 1995 staging, which obtained four Tonys including play revival and lead actress for star Cherry Johnson. The play also offered because the foundation for the 1949 film version that won Olivia p Havilland the Oscar for the best actress. Story focuses on a shy heiress and also the conflict that arises between her and her father when she falls deeply in love with a suitor with questionable motives. Exact particulars regarding dates, theater and the size of the run still be kept in. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com