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Exclusive: Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, the upcoming Broadway revue of the great composer’s classics starring the previously announced Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga, will also feature cast members Jasmine Forsberg (Six), Kate Jennings Grant (Noises Off), David Harris (Moulin Rouge!), Bonnie Langford (London’s Old Friends), Beth Leavel, Gavin Lee, Ryan McCartan, Jason Pennycooke (Hamilton), Joanna Riding (Carousel), Jeremy Secomb (London’s Old Friends), Maria Wirries (Dear Evan Hansen), and Daniel Yearwood (Sweeney Todd).

The company will also include Kevin Earley, Paige Faure, Alexa Lopez, and Peter Neureuther. The final co-star will be announced soon.

Previews begin Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, with opening night set for April 8.

Producer Manhattan Theatre Club announced the cast additions today. Old Friends is a Cameron Mackintosh’s production presented by Mtc in association with Mackintosh and Daryl Roth.

Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga will be returning to Broadway in 2025.

The Tony Award-winning actresses previously starred in the West End production of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends in London in late 2023 and now they’re bringing the show to the U.S.

Old Friends is a revue of the late Sondheim‘s greatest hits with a star-studded cast.

The show will have its North American premiere at Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre in February 2025 before heading to Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in March 2025.

Producer Cameron Mackintosh said, “Old Friends was Steve‘s idea, born during lockdown, when he suggested it was time (and we had plenty of it!) we put together a third review of his work, to follow from the worldwide hit Side by Side By Sondheim in 1976 (my first!) and Putting It Together (which Julia McKenzie directed at the Manhattan Theatre Club...

Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga will star in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends at Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles before landing on Broadway next March.

The musical revue of Sondheim’s songs, devised by Cameron Mackintosh, comes to North America after a 16-week run starting last September at London’s Gielgud Theatre. Peters and Salonga also starred in that run.

The show, with musical staging and choreography Matthew Bourne and Julia McKenzie, begins previews on Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on March 25, 2025. Exact dates for performances at the Center Theatre Group have yet to be announced.

Sondheim came up with the idea of doing a third revue during lockdown, according to Mackintosh. Work began on the show, but Sondheim died in November 2021. Mackintosh and McKenzie continued work on the revue in order to make it a “farewell show” to celebrate Sondheim’s work.

“It...

The Broadway premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga will begin previews March 25, 2025, in a Manhattan Theatre Club production at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

Devised by Cameron Mackintosh, with musical staging and choreography Matthew Bourne and Julia McKenzie, the revue – the third devoted to the work of Sondheim – will make its North American premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in advance of the Broadway premiere.

Choreography will be by Stephen Mear, with additional casting, creative team, and other details for Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends to be announced at a later date.

The news was included in the Manhattan Theatre Club’s 2024-25 season announcement today. Also on the Mtc’s roster is the Broadway premiere of Eureka Day, written by Jonathan Spector and directed by Anna D. Shapiro and the world premiere Off Broadway production of Vladimir, written by Erika Sheffer...

The BBC is celebrating the art of the literary adaptation by screening a variety of classics on BBC Four. More details here.

The BBC is quite rightly celebrated for its rich history of book to screen adaptations, such as the iconic 1995 version of Jane Austen’a Pride And Prejudice to Cbbc’s hugely successful adaptation of Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s Tracy Beaker series.

It has now put together a season of 14 adaptations from the BBC archive, some of which have rarely been seen since their original broadcast.

The dramas are:

The Great Gatsby

Toby Stephens, Mira Sorvino and Paul Rudd lead the cast in this 2000 BBC adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel on the American dream in the jazz age.

Small Island

Naomie Harris, Ruth Wilson, David Oyelowo, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ashley Walters star in this 2009 TV version of Andrea Levy’s novel focusing on the lives and...

Contains spoilers for Murder is Easy including the identity of the murderer.

A Christmas Christie is a treat and Murder is Easy scratches that itch very nicely. Telling the story of a rural village of two halves where people keep getting murdered while the police seemingly do nothing, this latest adap written by Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre makes some meaty changes to Christie’s original story. Most noticeably our hero, Luke Fitzwilliam (David Jonsson) is no longer a white policeman but a young Nigerian diplomat. After encountering a lady on a train (Penelope Wilton) who tells him about the deaths in the village and that they were carried out by a respectable person with a point to make, and who is subsequently killed herself, Fitzwilliam feels it’s his duty to find out what’s going on.

In the village of Wychwood Fitzwilliam meets a racist doctor (played by Mathew Bayton...

BBC Radio 4 has today launched Jokes, a new comedy podcast feed that brings together top picks from the station’s original comedy in one place. Available to subscribe on BBC Sounds and RSS, Jokes will combine brand new series with highlights from the archive, providing comedy fans with an easy way to find the latest content from their favourite comedians.

First up in the feed will be Nora Meadows’ Week of Wellness, a new sitcom starring Katy Wix as a therapist trying to help her clients (and herself) find wellness. This series is a joint commission between BBC Comedy and Radio 4 following a non-broadcast pilot last year.

Jokes is set to include further TV co-commissions too, including Icklewick FM, written by and starring Amy Gledhill and Chris Cantrill of The Delightful Sausage. Set in a fictional Yorkshire radio station, the show follows the residents of Icklewick as they discuss...

This fresh take on the satirical comedy slot will feature new programmes from the likes of Rachel Parris, who will kick off the series with a range of comic characters including digital stars Rosie Holt and Michael Spicer; Dom Joly, who will take a mischievous approach to investigating the week’s biggest stories; Ria Lina, bringing a global perspective to the news with comedians from around the world sharing news from their countries; Catherine Bohart, who will take a deep dive into the roots of a news story; Rhys James, bringing his trademark quick wit to interrogate the news; and Andrew Hunter Murray hosts the latest creation from The Skewer’s Jon Holmes, which takes aim at the way the news is packaged and presented.

The specials will be broadcast in Radio 4’s popular Friday Night Comedy slot this summer, between series of Dead Ringers and The News Quiz. Friday...

To mark the release of Allelujah arriving for Premium Digital Ownership and Premium Digital Rental from 17th April and will also be available on Blu-Ray and DVD from 29th May, we have 3 Blu-Rays to give away!

Allelujah is directed by Richard Eyre from a screenplay by Heidi Thomas (Call the Midwife, Cranford), and based on the stage play by Alan Bennett (The Madness of King George, The Lady in The Van). It is a warm, humorous and deeply moving story about surviving old age:

When the geriatric ward in a small Yorkshire hospital is threatened with closure, the hospital decides to fight back by galvanizing the local community: they invite a news crew to film their preparations for a concert in honour of the hospital’s most distinguished nurse. Allelujah celebrates the spirit of the elderly patients whilst paying tribute to the deep humanity of the medical staff battling with limited resources and ever-growing demand.

Comedy is what we need right now, says Nicholas Hytner, who ran London’s National Theatre for a decade.

It’s fine to have heavy-lifting dramas by Ibsen or Schiller, but boy-oh-boy laughter is an increasingly uplifting necessity.

Which is where Guys & Dolls and James Corden, post his life on The Late Late Show, come in.

Hytner, partnered with longtime executive Nick Starr, now own and control London’s Bridge Theatre and is overseeing a fully immersive revival of the classic Broadway musical Guys & Dolls, choreographed by Dame Arlene Phillips (Strictly Come Dancing) and now in early previews.

It stars Daniel Mays as Nathan Detroit, Andrew Richardson (A Call to Spy) as Sky Masterson, Celinde Schoenmaker (Rocketman) as Sarah Brown and Marisha Wallace (Aladdin) as long-suffering Miss Adelaide. Cedric Neal plays Nicely-Nicely Johnson. Also in the cast are Jordan Castle,...

Pathé has today launched its trailer for ‘Allelujah’ which is set to open in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 17 March 2023.

When the geriatric ward in a small Yorkshire hospital is threatened with closure, the hospital decides to fight back by galvanizing the local community: they invite a news crew to film their preparations for a concert in honour of the hospital’s most distinguished nurse. The story celebrates the spirit of the elderly patients whilst paying tribute to the deep humanity of the medical staff battling with limited resources and ever-growing demand.

Based on the stage play by Alan Bennett and directed by Richard Eyre, the film stars Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous) and newcomer Bally Gill, supported by Judi Dench (Notes on A Scandal, Iris), Derek Jacobi, David Bradley (Harry Potter, Game of Thrones), Russell Tovey (The History Boys) and Julia McKenzie.

Also in trailers – “Nothing works now that you have gone…...

“I have always loved the old” are some of the first voiceover words we hear from idealistic young Dr. Valentine (Bally Gill) as he heads off to work in “Allelujah,” Richard Eyre’s film (premiering at the Toronto Film Festival) about a hospital in Britain’s state-run health system facing the closure of its geriatric ward. The old are, Valentine tells us, “my work, my joy, my purpose.”

That sentiment could also stand in, though, for the wry yet sincere feelings of its source author, the brilliantly witty English writer Alan Bennett — a channeling master of unvarnished everyday folk, often of the vintage sort, but also a deft chronicler of timeless ways we deal with life’s surface nicks and deeper cuts.

Caring for the aged is at the core of Bennett’s 2018 play “Allelujah!,” adapted by “Call the Midwife” creator Heidi Thomas (who first removed that exclamation point) and,...

Abacus Media Rights Parent Amcomri Entertaiment Buys Flame Media Program Assets For 2.4M

Amcomri Entertainment has paid C3M (2.4M) for the assets of UK-Australian factual TV distributor Flame Media’s assets. The library comprises around 2,200 hours and more than 500 titles. Flame will be integrated into Amcomri’s TV sales arm Abacus Media Rights, with its staff reporting to Abacus Managing Director Jonathan Ford. The deal comes 15 months after Flam founder John Caldon passed away. Flame’s key titles include Outback Truckers and Outback Opal Hunters from Prospero Productions, The Moors Murders from Map TV, and Life in Colour with David Attenborough from Humble Bee Films and SeaLight Pictures. Upcoming titles including New Zealand from a Train from Making Movies and Ningaloo with novelist Tim Winton from Artemis Productions. “We have the utmost admiration for the high-quality business and senior management team that Mr. Caldon assembled over the previous 12 years,...

Pathé has released the first images from its new feature film, ‘Allelujah,’ a darkly comic tale about surviving old age.

Based on the stage play by Alan Bennett (The Madness of King George, The Lady in The Van), Richard Eyre (Notes on A Scandal, Iris) directs from a screenplay by Heidi Thomas.

The synopsis reads; When the geriatric ward of a small Yorkshire hospital is threatened with closure, the hospital decides to fight back by galvanizing the local community. They invite a news crew to film their preparations for a concert in honour of the hospital’s most distinguished nurse. What could go wrong? The story celebrates the spirit of the elderly patients whilst paying tribute to the deep humanity of the medical staff battling with limited resources and ever-growing demand. But in the midst of the tears and the laughter, we slowly realise that there is something threatening the...

Cameron Mackintosh, the London theatre owner and impresario, nixed the idea of having a host introduce artists performing at Tuesday’s one-night-only Old Friends tribute show honoring the legacy of musical theatre genius Stephen Sondheim, who died in November at age 91.

“All you need are Steve’s words and music, and our cast. They speak, or rather sing, for themselves,“ Mackintosh explained to Deadline before the star-studded event began at London’s Stephen Sondheim Theatre.

Worked like a treat. Thirty minutes saved, because Old Friends wasn’t lumbered with a host.

In any case, no one needed to introduce actress Julia McKenzie when she walked onto the stage, for it was she who, with Mackintosh producing, was part of an ensemble that super-spread Sondheim in the West End over four decades ago with a revue entitled Side By Side by Sondheim.

She’s one of the composer and lyricist’s foremost interpreters.

All eyes were on Judi Dench.

The legendary actress was seated stage right, performing one of Stephen Sondheim’s greatest hits. The sound of her voice, accompanied by a 25-piece orchestra led by Alfonso Casado Trigo, held a hushed audience in awe.

There was spontaneous applause. The great dame was led off stage. She reappeared moments later to perform the number again.

“Goosebumps,” said Cameron Mackintosh, echoing the thoughts of those lucky enough to be gathered in the stalls of London’s Stephen Sondheim Theatre for several hours Monday, for a long day and night of technical technical rehearsal for Tuesday night’s celebration of Sondheim, a giant of theatre, who died last November at age 91.

Tuesday’s one-night-only show is called Old Friends, named after a number in the composer’s 1981 musical comedy Merrily We Roll Along. Mackintosh has been putting Old Friends together with Matthew Bourne and Maria Friedman staging,...

Staying close to their family members, while also expanding their cultural experiences with new friends, is one of the best ways that people can truly enjoy life. The married title protagonists on the British sitcom, ‘French Fields,’ are doing just that after they move from London to Calais, France. The television series serves as a […]

The post Anton Rodgers and Julia McKenzie Disagree Over the Family Holiday on French Fields appeared first on Shockya.com.

Staying close to their family members, while also expanding their cultural experiences with new friends, is one of the best ways that people can truly enjoy life. The married title protagonists on the British sitcom, ‘French Fields,’ are doing just that after they move from London to Calais, France. The television series serves as a […]

The post Anton Rodgers and Julia McKenzie Wonder Who Will Help Them Eat Their Extra Christmas Food on Fresh Fields appeared first on Shockya.com.

Staying close to their family members, while also expanding their cultural experiences with new friends, is one of the best ways that people can truly enjoy life. The married title protagonists on the British sitcom, ‘French Fields,’ are doing just that after they move from London to Calais, France. The television series serves as a […]

The post Anton Rodgers and Julia McKenzie Prepare to Meet Their New In-laws on Fresh Fields appeared first on Shockya.com.

Staying close to their family members, while also expanding their cultural experiences with new friends, is one of the best ways that people can truly enjoy life. The married title protagonists on the British sitcom, ‘French Fields,’ are doing just that after they move from London to Calais, France. The television series serves as a […]

The post Julia McKenzie and Anton Rodgers Treat their New Friends to an English Christmas on French Fields appeared first on Shockya.com.

Looking to scratch your itch for the Brits? IndieWire has called BritBox the Hulu alternative for all things that come from the UK, and now their already impressive slate has announced something even grander.

The BBC and ITV streaming service has acquired the rights to several new Agatha Christie films, TV shows, and audio plays. The collection will include Seasons 9 through 12 of David Suchet’s “Poirot,” including the special “Poirot: A Mysterious Affair at Styles” which celebrates its 100th anniversary.

As the summer progresses, BritBox will also put out the 1980 John Gielgud-starring adaptation of “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?” and 1981’s “The Seven Dials Mystery.” They’re also committed to bringing Margaret Rutherford, Joan Hickson, Geraldine McEwan, and Julia McKenzie’s takes on Miss Marple to the streaming service.

BritBox is also working with the Christie estate to create a full HD restoration of the 1983 Christie miniseries “Partners in Crime...

The Crown’s Alex Jennings, Lost in Austen’s Jemima Rooper and Poldark’s Sebastian Armesto have joined BBC One drama Gold Digger.

The series stars Legends of the Fall and Temple Grandin actress Julia Ormond as Julia Day, an older woman who falls in love with Benjamin, a younger man, played by The Chronicles of Narnia and Westworld star Ben Barnes.

Armesto plays Ormond’s high achieving eldest son Patrick, who is always trying to be a good man, Rooper plays as Della, the middle child whose finger is permanently on the self-destruct button and newcomer Archie Renaux as Leo, the baby of the family who still lives with his mother and idolises his father.

Jennings, who played the Duke of Windsor in The Crown stars as Julia’s ex-husband Ted, Hard Sun’s Nikki Amuka-Bird plays Julia’s former best friend Marsha and Julia McKenzie (Agatha Christie’s...

Actors, producer and former Pact head of diversity among those honoured.

Source: Paul Grover

Nik Powell

Game Of Thrones actor James Cosmo and former producer and Nfts director Nik Powell were among screen industry professionals awarded titles in the Queen’s 2018 New Year’s Honours list.

Veteran Scottish actor Cosmo, known for playing Jeor Mormont in Game of Thrones and films including Braveheart, Trainspotting and Highlander, was honoured with an MBE.

Powell, who received an OBE, stepped down from his position as director of the National Film and Television School in 2017 after 14 years in the role. In the early 1970s he set up Virgin Records with Richard Branson and in 1982 he partnered with fellow-producer Stephen Woolley to form the Palace companies, where he served as executive producer on titles including Company Of Wolves, Mona Lisa, Scandal and The Crying Game. He went on to produce films such as Backbeat, The Neon Bible,...

Actors, producer and former Pact head of diversity among those honoured.

Source: Paul Grover

Nik Powell

Game Of Thrones actor James Cosmo and former producer and Nfts director Nik Powell were among screen industry professionals awarded titles in the Queen’s 2018 New Year’s Honours list.

Veteran Scottish actor Cosmo, known for playing Jeor Mormont in Game of Thrones and films including Braveheart, Trainspotting and Highlander, was honoured with an MBE.

Powell, who received an OBE, stepped down from his position as director of the National Film and Television School in 2017 after 14 years in the role. In the early 1970s he set up Virgin Records with Richard Branson and in 1982 he partnered with fellow-producer Stephen Woolley to form the Palace companies, where he served as executive producer on titles including Company Of Wolves, Mona Lisa, Scandal and The Crying Game. He went on to produce films such as Backbeat, The Neon Bible, Last Orders and [link=tt...

DramaFever is getting an infusion of classic British entertainment. The New York-based streaming platform, popular for its focus on international TV and movies, has closed a licensing deal with BBC Worldwide North America for the U.S. streaming rights to 18 BBC titles.

DramaFever added five BBC titles to its streaming platform on July 1, 2015, and will add the remaining 13 shows over the next few months. The online video service’s premium subscribers now have access to the first five titles: Tess of the D’Urbervilles (starring Eddie Redmayne), Pride and Prejudice (Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth), Upstairs, Downstairs (Keeley Hawes), Little Dorrit (Claire Foy), and Miss Austen Regrets (Olivia Williams).

Here’s a list of the remaining BBC titles DramaFever will start streaming in the upcoming months:

Sense and Sensibility (Premieres July 31) – Sense and Sensibility is a story of two young sisters on a voyage of burgeoning sexual and romantic discovery.

HBO has released a new trailer for Jk Rowling's miniseries The Casual Vacancy.

BBC One premiered the adaptation of Rowling's 2012 novel in the UK earlier this year, and now it is coming to the Us.

The Casual Vacancy chronicles the tension that is boiling beneath the surface in the seemingly-idyllic English village of Pagford.

An all-star cast includes BAFTA winner Sir Michael Gambon, Bond franchise star Rory Kinnear, Line of Duty's Keeley Hawes and West End veteran Julia McKenzie.

Rowling has praised the adaptation of her novel to the small screen, revealing that she cried while watching the BBC series.

EastEnders and The Crimson Field writer Sarah Phelps adapted The Casual Vacancy for the BBC and HBO.

The Casual Vacancy premieres on HBO on Sunday, April 29.

HBO’s miniseries/BBC adaptation of J.K. Rowling's bestseller The Casual Vacancy unfolds in a deceptively cozy British village thrown into an uproar by the sudden death of the Parish Councillor. Michael Gambon stars with Keeley Hawes, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan and Julia McKenzie and Abigail Lawrie. Jonny Campbell directed from a script by Sarah Phelps. The adaptation of the Harry Potter author’s first novel for adults was produced by Rowling and Neil Blair’s Bronte Film…...

Read More: Watch: J.K. Rowling Comes to TV in Dramatic 'The Casual Vacancy' Trailer HBO has released a new trailer for the BBC adaptation of J.K. Rowling's international bestseller "The Casual Vacancy." The first adult novel from the "Harry Potter" author centers on the town of Pagford, a seemingly perfect English village that is torn apart following the death of its beloved Parish Councillor. Michael Gambon heads a talented ensemble that also includes Keeley Hawes, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan, Julia McKenzie and Abigail Lawrie. Directed by Johnny Campbell and adapted by Sarah Phelps, the three-part miniseries looks to keep the intriguing mysteries and spiky humor of the original text in tact based on the trailer above.  Parts one and two of "The Casual Vacancy" will debut back-to-back Wednesday, April 29 from 8:00-10:00pm, followed by the premiere of part three Thursday, April 30 at 8pm.  Read More: J.K. Rowling's First Grown-Up.

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy is her first book for adults, and the first trailer for an upcoming HBO adaptation of it makes that abundantly clear. “Look at my tits,” one character crows as others drop F-bombs, drink, smoke, fight each other and generally get up to other Nsfw shenanigans. Whether that’s an accurate representation of the plot or a sneak peek meant to be exceptionally shocking remains to be seen.

The three-part miniseries has certainly assembled enough strong performers to put it on any self-respecting TV snob’s radar. With Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan and Julia McKenzie, not to mention unproven actress Abigail Lawrie, in the cast, and Jonny Campbell sitting behind the camera, it could stand a chance of awards attention in the coming Emmy season – provided that screenwriter Sarah Phelps has captured the jet-black humor of Rowling’s novel.

HBO has unveiled a new trailer for its upcoming "The Casual Vacancy" mini-series, which is based on Jk Rowling's best-seller and stars Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan, Julia McKenzie, and Abigail Lawrie. Check it out below. Plot: The story centers on Pagford, a seemingly idyllic English village with a cobbled market square and ancient abbey. Behind the pretty facade, however, is a town at war: rich vs. poor, teenagers vs. parents, wives vs. husbands, teachers vs. pupils. The first and second parts of the mini-series will air on April 29th (8-10pm Est). The third part will air the following night (8-9pm Est). Trailer:...

"The Casual Vacancy," the mini-series based on J.K. Rowling's adult mystery, will land Stateside on HBO in April. The three-part show will premiere on BBC One on February 15.

In the meantime, there's a little teaser trailer to introduce us to the quaint British town of Pagford. It all looks veddy proper and jolly indeed, but naturally there are all sorts of grown-up, non-wizard-y secrets lurking just below the surface. However, it probably doesn't help that Dumbledore is part of the ensemble cast. Just saying. It also stars Rory Kinnear, Emily Bevan, Julia McKenzie, Keeley Hawes, Monica Dolan, and Abigail Lawrie. The adaptation was written by Sarah Phelps, who also penned scripts for "Great Expectations," "Camelot," and "EastEnders."

"The Casual Vacancy" was J.K. Rowling's first novel outside of the "Harry Potter" series. Her second, "The Cuckoo's Calling," was released under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, although soon enough the author's real identity was revealed.

HBO will premiere the television version of Jk Rowling's The Casual Vacancy this spring.

EastEnders writer Sarah Phelps's adaptation of the novel will come to the Us in a two-night premiere on April 29 and April 30 at 8pm Et.

The Casual Vacancy tells the story of the deep divisions that exist just below the surface of the seemingly idyllic village of Pagford.

Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes, Rory Kinnear and Julia McKenzie all portray residents of Pagford in Phelps's television version of the novel.

The series will precede its Us premiere by airing in the UK beginning on February 15 on BBC One.

Phelps has revealed that author Rowling stepped back from being directly involved with The Casual Vacancy in order to make its screen adaptation.

The novel topped the Amazon Book Chart when it was released in 2012, marking Rowling's return to the form after ending the Harry Potter series.

Watch...

Yesterday, the first trailer for the upcoming miniseries, The Casual Vacancy, arrived to deliver a brief glimpse into the seedy underbelly of a small English village. A dark, moody teaser that began with the faces of its cast dappled with glorious summertime sunshine, things soon soured in the final few seconds. For those expecting an adult retread of Harry Potter be warned; this looks set to stray far from creator J.K. Rowling’s magical roots.

Along with the delivery of the teaser came word of the show’s UK release, which is now extended to include details of its U.S. release. The three-part adaptation will be made available to American audiences via HBO in April. Parts one and two are scheduled to debut back-to-back on Wednesday April 29th, followed by part three the next night, Thursday April 30th.

Based on the 2012 novel by Rowling, the show stars Michael Gambon,...

It’s time to mark your calendars, because HBO has finally set the date in stone that The Casual Vacancy will make an appearance.

The much-discussed adaptation of J.K. Rowling‘s non-Potter work of the same name has been the subject of rumor, but April 29th is the date to look for.

The book release may have caused its own stir, but even for those who haven’t read it (or aren’t even Rowling fans), the premise itself is a pretty interesting one, and something that the cast should be able to spin into a very interesting miniseries. Of course, I’d watch Michael Gambon in just about anything, so I’m rather biased.

One of the best potential positives of the miniseries is that many of the problems critics have had with the book could easily be adjusted in the adaptation. Of course, that makes for a serious decision in itself,...

Queen Sugar

Oprah Winfrey is teaming with "Selma" director Ava DuVernay for a TV series adaptation of Natalie Baszile's novel "Queen Sugar" for Winfrey's Own network. Winfrey will executive produce and appear in a recurring role.

The story follows a "spirited woman" who leaves an upscale Los Angeles life behind to claim an inheritance from her recently deceased dad: an 800-acre sugar cane farm in Louisiana. DuVernay is set to write, direct and executive produce the series with production commencing later this year. [Source: E! Online]

The Casual Vacancy

The BBC has released the first trailer for "The Casual Vacancy," the upcoming mini-series adaptation of J.K. Rowling's first non-"Harry Potter" novel. The three-part tale commences airing on February 15th.

The story is set in a seemingly idyllic English village where the townspeople fight for the spot on the parish council after one member dies. In the process, nasty secrets come to light.

A new trailer for BBC One's The Casual Vacancy has been revealed.

The clip shows early signs that not everything is as idyllic as it seems in the West Country town of Pagford.

Keeley Hawes, Michael Gambon, Julia McKenzie, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan and Rufus Jones star in the adaptation of Jk Rowling's 2012 novel.

Sarah Phelps - the writer behind the BBC version - has insisted that Rowling did not interfere with her work.

In a statement, Rowling said: "Having met Sarah, and discussed the television adaptation of The Casual Vacancy, I was happy and confident to hand over the job of crafting my novel for the small screen.

"Sarah has done a great job and I am delighted with how it has turned out."

Jonny Campbell (In the Flesh) is on board to direct the show, which is being co-produced by BBC One and HBO.

The Casual Vacancy...

Geraldine McEwan has died at the age of 82.

The BAFTA-award winning actress - famed for her starring role as Agatha Christie's detective Miss Marple in the ITV drama Marple - passed away at Charing Cross Hospital in London.

"Following a stroke at the end of October and a period in hospital, Geraldine McEwan passed away peacefully on January 30," read a statement from the late actress's family.

"Her family would like to thank the staff at Charing Cross Hospital who cared for her incredibly well."

McEwan was born in 1932, attending school in her home town of Windsor. She was appointed as an assistant stage manager at the Theatre Royal in the town at the age of just 14, making her stage debut there in October 1946.

Her West End debut followed in 1951, and she spent several seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1950s and 1960s.

McEwan played Miss Marple between 2004 and 2008 on ITV,...

BBC One has released new pictures from its upcoming drama The Casual Vacancy.

The television adaptation of Jk Rowling's best-selling 2012 novel is being co-produced by BBC One and HBO.

Last month, the BBC released the first picture from the drama, featuring Julia McKenzie (Marple) and Keeley Hawes (Line of Duty) as Shirley and Samantha Mollison.

Michael Gambon, Keeley Forsyth, Rufus Jones, Rory Kinnear and Monica Dolan also star in the adaptation.

The Casual Vacancy is set in the traditional English village of Pagford, which is hiding problems behind its pretty façade.

Sarah Phelps (The Crimson Field) has adapted the novel for television, with Jonny Campbell (In the Flesh) on board as director.

The Casual Vacancy will air on BBC One in 2015.

The first images have arrived from the highly-anticipated upcoming three-part adaptation of the Jk Rowling novel The Casual Vacancy,

Newcomer Abigail Lawrie stars as the troubled Krystal Weedon.

14 year old Sonny Serkis, son of actors Andy Serkis and Lorraine Ashbourne plays Paul Price with Joe Hurst as his older brother Arf.

As previously revealed on Screenterrier, the other young cast members include Simona (Chontelle) Brown as Gaia Bawden, Ria Choony as Sukhvinder Jawanda, and Brian Vernel as Stuart "Fats" Wall.

The all star adult cast includes Michael Gambon and Julia McKenzie as Howard and Shirley Mollison, Keeley Hawes as Samantha Mollison, Michelle Austin as Kay Bawden, Lolita Chakrabati as Parminder Jawanda, Monica Dolan as Tess Wall, and Rufus Jones as Miles Mollison.

The Casual Vacancy centres on Pagford, a seemingly idyllic English village with a cobbled market square and ancient abbey. Behind the pretty façade, however, is a town at...

"Spooks," "Ashes to Ashes" and former Lara Croft voice actress Keeley Hawes along with the most recent onscreen Miss Marple incarnation Julia McKenzie are the focus of the very first image from the upcoming mini-series "The Casual Vacancy".

The BBC & HBO co-production is based on "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling's first adult novel. Rowling is serving as an executive producer on the TV adaptation of her social satire set in a small town. Hawes plays a small business owner in a loveless marriage, McKenzie is her mother-in-law, and Gambon is McKenzie's philandering husband.

Set in a suburban West Country town, the story begins with the death of a beloved councillor and the conflict that ensues for his vacant seat. At the same time, children of some of the councillors and potential candidates decide to make some damaging posts on the Parish Council online forum.

Source: THR...

The BBC and HBO have been working on bringing Harry Potter writer J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy to TV screens. Now the BBC has released a peek. The author's first adult novel will air as a three-hour miniseries. The photo shows Keeley Hawes and Julia McKenzie as Samantha Mollison and her mother-in-law, Shirley Mollison, at a social event. The image teases the tension between the characters. Read more J.K. Rowling Admits to Some Similarities Between 'The Casual Vacancy' and 'Harry Potter' Harry Potter actor Michael Gambon plays Shirley's husband in the series. Rowling is serving

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The first picture from BBC One's The Casual Vacancy has been released.

The television adaptation of Jk Rowling's best-selling 2012 novel will hit screens next year.

The first picture features Julia McKenzie (Marple) and Keeley Hawes (Line of Duty) as Shirley and Samantha Mollison.

Michael Gambon, Keeley Forsyth, Rufus Jones, Rory Kinnear and Monica Dolan also star in the drama.

The Casual Vacancy takes place in the seemingly idyllic English village of Pagford, which behind its pretty façade is actually a town at war.

Sarah Phelps (The Crimson Field) has adapted the novel for television, with Jonny Campbell (In the Flesh) on board as director.

The Casual Vacancy is being co-produced by BBC One and HBO.

The Field of Blood Acorn Media/Rlj Entertainment

New Doctor Who Peter Capaldi and “the other Doctor” David Morrissey lead an all-star cast in Acorn Media’s 30 September release of The Field of Blood, Set 1. Written and directed by David Kane, The Field of Blood is based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by Denise Mina. The central character — Paddy Meehan (Jayd Johnson) — is a copy writer at a Glaswegian newspaper. She dreams of forging a career as an investigative journalist but opportunities are at a premium for young women in 1980s Glasgow. Paddy gets an unexpected break when a toddler is murdered — seemingly by her young cousin. Allegations concerning the suspect soon appear in the local papers. Her relatives, wrongly blame Paddy for the negative headlines surrounding the family and the supposed killer. Paddy sees an opportunity to raise her own profile while uncovering the truth about the murder.

Michael Gambon and Keeley Forsyth were pictured on the set of Jk Rowling's The Casual Vacancy TV adaptation over the weekend.

The Cotswold town of Northleach was transformed into the fictional and seemingly idyllic English village of Pagford for the upcoming mini-series, based on Rowling's best-selling 2012 novel.

Gambon, who starred as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film franchise, was seen looking dishevelled in a suit with a yellow tie half-way around his neck. He plays Howard Mollison, the owner of the Pagford delicatessen, in the movie.

Julia McKenzie also stars as Howard's wife Shirley Mollison, and was photographed taking a stroll on set alongside Hetty Banes, who plays Mo.

Former Coronation Street star Forsyth plays Terri Weedon, who was pictured caught up in a scuffle by a fruit and veg stall with on-screen daughter Krystal Weedon (newcomer Abigail Lawrie).

The Casual Vacancy centres on the apparently perfect location of Pagford,...

Miss_Marple Acorn Media Rlj Entertainment

To coincide with the final installments of Poirot on Acorn TV, Acorn media are releasing two Agatha Christie boxsets on 5 August. These boxsets include previously released episodes that have been pieced together in best-of-the-best collections that will be a must-have for die-hard fans of the author and her two most famous creations: Poirot and Marple.

Agatha Christie’s Poirot Fan Favorites Collection features David Suchet in six episodes produced across a 25 year time span. Murder on the Orient Express (Series 12, 2010); Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (Series 6, 1995); The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Series 3, 1990); The ABC Murders (Series 4, 1992); The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb (Series 5, 1993); and Four and Twenty Blackbirds (Series 1, 1989). As a story, Murder on the Orient Express ranks as one of my favorites and this particular adaptation is very good. It’s somewhat surprising that ITV waited until 2010 to produce a Suchet version of the...

Filming is underway in Stroud, Gloucestershire and surrounding villages, on The Casual Vacancy, the BBC One/HBO adaptation of Jk Rowling’s global bestseller.

The confirmed ensemble cast includes Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan, Rufus Jones, Michele Austin, Julia McKenzie, Keeley Forsyth, Lolita Chakrabarti, and Richard Glover, alongside whom casting director Lucy Bevan has assembled a cast of newcomers for the younger stars.

Abigail Lawrie (represented by Gordon & French) stars as Krystal Weedon. 18 year old Abigail, was a pupil at Harrodian School, the same school as Ee BAFTA Rising Star nominee George Mackay.

Simona Brown (represented by Iag) plays Gaia Bawden. Simona appeared as Kim in acclaimed BBC Three docudrama Murdered By My Boyfriend, played Jazz in Cbbc series Wizards vs Aliens, and earlier this year filmed on Big Talk feature film Man Up.

15 year old Welsh actor Joe Hurst (represented by On It Artists) plays Andrew 'Arf' Price.

After announcing her new miniseries “The Casual Vacancy,” Jk Rowling revealed members of the impressive cast.

The HBO and BBC One series stars Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan, Julia McKenzie and Abigail Lawrie, "Harry Potter" fans are ecstatic about the return of a familiar face.

Starting with “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” Gambon replaced Richard Harris in the role of Dumbledore after the actor's tragic passing.

Gambon created his own take on the Hogwarts headmaster and now fans are excited to see him working with Rowling once again. "The Casual Vacancy” consists of three one-hour segments. Production begins in July in England!

"Harry Potter" creator J.K. Rowling is joining the real world with the upcoming BBC adaptation of her book "The Casual Vacancy." The cast has been revealed for the BBC One mini-series, which is being produced in association with HBO, and there's at least one "Harry Potter" vet involved. Michael Gambon -- who played Dumbledore in the "Potter" pictures -- leads a cast including Keeley Hawes ("Line Of Duty"), Rory Kinnear ("Penny Dreadful"), Monica Dolan ("Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa"), Julia McKenzie ("Notes On A Scandal"), and newcomer Abigail Lawrie. Based on Rowling's bestselling book, "Vacancy" takes place in the seemingly quite village of Pagford, England, where the death of Parish Councillor Barry Fairbrother sets off a chain of events exposing the town's dark underbelly. "Casual Vacancy" is being produced by Rowling and Neil Blair's production company Bronte Film and Television. Paul Trijbits ("Saving Mr. Banks") and Rick Senat will exec produce.

Michael Gambon ("The Singing Detective"), Keeley Hawes ("Ashes to Ashes"), Rory Kinnear ("Skyfall"), Monica Dolan ("Sightseers"), Julia McKenzie ("Agatha Christie's Marple") and newcomer Abigail Lawrie have all signed up for BBC One & HBO's three hour miniseries adaptation of "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling's "The Casual Vacancy".

The story centers on a seemingly idyllic English village with a cobbled market square and ancient abbey. Behind the pretty facade is a town at war: Rich vs. poor, teens vs. parents, wives vs. husbands and teachers vs. pupils.

Gambon plays delicatessen owner Howard Mollison with McKenzie playing his wife. Rufus Jones plays his son Miles, while Hawes plays Miles' wife. Simon McBurney ("Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy"), Richard Glover ("A Field in England") and Michelle Austin ("Secrets & Lies") also star.

Sarah Phelps penned the script which is scheduled to begin shooting on July 7th in South West England. Six million copies of the...

Dumbledore was always a supporting character in the Harry Potter movies, but the guy who played him will get to take center stage in the next J.K. Rowling adaptation. Michael Gambon is set to lead HBO/BBC’s The Casual Vacancy, a miniseries adaptation of Rowling’s first “adult” novel. Starring alongside him will be Julia McKenzie (Notes on […]

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