Kenneth Branagh steps into the shoes of acting directing icon Laurence Olivier for the new film "My Week With Marilyn." He talks to Playbill.com about the challenge.

Kenneth Branagh steps into the shoes of acting directing icon Laurence Olivier for the new film "My Week With Marilyn." He talks to Playbill.com about the challenge.

Twitter sensation and acclaimed author Annoying Actor Friend (@Actor_Friend), one of this year's nominees for a Shorty Award honoring the best of social media, fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire of random facts, backstage trivia and pop-culture tidbits.

Plus: Christopher Jackson and James Monroe Iglehart will headline a holiday-themed radio play with fellow Hamilton alums.

A host of stars of stage and screen will perform Disney classics on the ABC broadcast.

A week in the life of actor, radio and TV host, music director and writer Seth Rudetsky.

A week in the life of actor, radio and TV host, music director and writer Seth Rudetsky.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

A "tale as old as time" reached the end of the line July 29 when Beauty and the Beast gave its 5,464th — and final — Broadway performance and at last took its leave of the Lunt-Fontanne, secure in its slot as the sixth longest-running show in Main Stem history.

A "tale as old as time" reached the end of the line July 29 when Beauty and the Beast gave its 5,464th — and final — Broadway performance and at last took its leave of the Lunt-Fontanne, secure in its slot as the sixth longest-running show in Main Stem history.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

David Mirvish, the Toronto producer who helped introduce such London and Broadway mega-hits as Miss Saigon and The Lion King to Canadian audiences, will spend $10 million (Canadian) to produce the London musical, Bombay Dreams, on Broadway in 2004.

Producer Andrew Lloyd Webber announced Sept. 30 that his production of the London musical, Bombay Dreams, a fantasia that incorporates lavish musical sequences worthy of India's so-called Bollywood films, will open on Broadway in the spring of 2004.

BETTY BUCKLEY
Hope you set your VCRs this morning, Friday, December 5, to catch Betty Buckley on NBC's "Today Show," where she was scheduled for an interview and a song from Triumph of Love. Speaking of Triumph, unanimous praise continues for Buckley's portrayal of Hesione in the new musical comedy at the Royale Theatre. In Liz Smith's column last Sunday, the gossip columnist had this to say about Ms. B: "[F. Murray Abraham] and the mightily gifted Betty Buckley are the anti-emotion, put-upon brother and sister who learn that though love isn't fair, it's better than no love at all. Betty Buckley, deservedly, has become a beloved Broadway icon and is never to be missed. Her presence and vocal velocity and dexterity are always a singular sensation. If you are smart, you won't miss this dazzling 'Triumph of Love.'" And, in the December 5 issue of Entertainment Weekly, writer Jess Cagle has this to say about BB in his article about current Broadway fare: ". . .[Triumph of Love] triumphs only when Betty Buckley--right now the finest voice on Broadway--gets to sing."

PATTI LuPONE
Raves also continue to pour in for Patti LuPone's performance in the new David Mamet play The Old Neighborhood at the Booth Theatre. In the Village Voice Michael Feingold writes, ". . .Patti LuPone, in contrast, cunningly masks the anger in "Jolly," covering it alternately with baby plaintiveness and chin-out defiance, till it explodes to shatter them both." Also, a reminder that La LuPone will be out of the show from January 6-14 (matinee) due to prior commitments (including an appearance on NBC-TV's "Frasier"). She will return to The Old Neighborhood for the evening performance on January 14.

The producers of the Broadway revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum reportedly are planning to announce in the next few weeks who will replace Nathan Lane in the starring role when his contract ends in March 1997.