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The Knight Before--Posted by editor_usa
Elton Was Among Those Attending Pre-Oscar Benefit
Wednesday 10 March 2010 @ 17:21 - GMT

As Tinsel Town got ready for its biggest night of the year, Academy Award nominees and presenters joined a bevy of showbiz figures for the eighth annual Night Before party to benefit the Motion Picture & Television Fund. Money raised supports the extensive programs and services MPTF provides to more than 60,000 members of the entertainment industry every year.

The event has been held annually the night before the Academy Awards since 2003 when it instantly became one of the most coveted invitations in town. 

This year's presenting sponsors were HP, Target and L'Oréal Paris. The event was once again held at the Beverly Hills Hotel,  and attracted the likes of Elton, Robert Downey Jr., Penelope Cruz, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and Jeff Bridges.

Michael Mina, of the restaurant XIV, was the featured chef at this year's sold-out gala.

"The generosity of the film and television community never ceases to amaze and none more so than Hollywood's great legacy of 'caring for our own' through support of the MPTF," said Ken Scherer, CEO of the MPTF Foundation. "Through the leadership of Jeffrey Katzenberg, the great success of the Night Before guarantees that MPTF will be able to provide financial assistance and community social services to thousands of industry workers and their families, often at their most critical time of need."

"Over the last seven years I believe the Night Before, built around the Oscar celebration, reminds us all that ours is a collaborative community, and for more than 60,000 industry members, MPTF is where they turn to for personal support, their health care and other services," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation and Chairman of the MPTF Foundation. "And all this is made possible by the support of our corporate sponsors, the companies and hundreds of individuals who give so generously to make the Night Before one of the most successful fundraisers each year in Hollywood."

The Night Before was produced for the eighth consecutive year by Robyn Leuthe Norris, with Silver Birches creating the décor for the party.

Silver Birches, with clients including ABC TV and Sir Elton, began in 1976 as a floral shop.

Bromley Beat--Posted by editor_usa
Elton's Old Collaborator is Subject of a Musical
Wednesday 10 March 2010 @ 16:31 - GMT

A new musical about a man who has recorded with Elton has opened at Bromley's Churchill Theatre.

The show is based on the rise, fall and rise again of Neil Sedaka, and features many of his memorable hits, including Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Calendar Girl, and the song, which inspired the production's title, Laughter in the Rain. 

The lead role is played by Wayne Smith, who has previously appeared at the Churchill in Dreamboats and Petticoats.

The world premiere of Laughter In The Rain runs through March 13.

New York, London and Toronto ''Billy Elliot'' Developments--Posted by editor_usa

Wednesday 10 March 2010 @ 16:04 - GMT

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment have announced that Jacob Clemente will join the cast of the Tony Award-winning Billy Elliot, in the title role.

Clemente, who previously performed the role of ‘Tall Boy' in the musical, will be the 9th boy to perform the role on Broadway. His first performance date will be revealed soon.

Across the pond on Monday, March 8, four actors playing the main part in the London production -- Dean-Charles Chapman, Tom Holland, Ollie Gardner, and Fox Jackson-Keen -- accepted an invitation to Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.

The boys were taken on a tour of Downing Street where they met with Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Culture and Tourism, before going to chat with Brown in the Cabinet Room.

Meanwhile, open auditions in Toronto are being held on Saturday, March 13, to find boys ages nine through twelve to play the roles of ‘Billy' and ‘Michael' in the North American companies of Billy Elliot the Musical. The auditions will take place at 509 DANCE (509 Parliament Street at Carlton Street) in Toronto. Sign-up will begin at 12:30 p.m.

For a list of requirements, visit

www.bebilly.com.

Ebony And Ivory--Posted by editor_usa
Mraz Hopes Elton Will Join Him on Duet
Wednesday 10 March 2010 @ 15:57 - GMT

Jason Mraz was touring the San Diego LGBT Community Center when he had an epiphany.

The singer is hoping to collaborate with Elton on what he described as an “Ebony and Ivory of the times, for equality.” The song, originally recorded in the 1980s, was about racial harmony and equality.

Mraz’s idea would bring the heterosexual community together with the gay and lesbian community in support of the rights of gays to legally marry. He is a vocal supporter of marriage equality for gays, even speaking about the issue at one of his 2008 concerts in Los Angeles when he urged people to vote “NO” on Proposition 8.

Abby Schwartz, a coordinator at the San Diego LGBT Community Center, said , “Jason realizes he has a platform that many do not and wants to use it to share a message of love, acceptance and equality for all.”

Jason, who has performed Rocket Man in concert, saw the composer recently, when he attended the EJAF's Oscar bash.

Another ''Greatest Hits'' Date Has Been Set--Posted by editor_usa

Wednesday 10 March 2010 @ 15:19 - GMT

Elton is scheduled to appear at the Sovereign Center on Friday, April 30. He was previously at the Reading, PA, venue in April 2004.

Along with his group, the icon will perform his Rocket Man - the Greatest Hits Live concert, featuring chart hits and classic album tracks.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at the Sovereign Center Box Office, Ticketmaster.com or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

There is a six-ticket limit per customer, with the price scale rangin g from $39-$139.

A Woman's Needs--Posted by editor_usa
Exhibit About Late Country Artist to Include Note From Elton
Tuesday 9 March 2010 @ 16:51 - GMT

The entire collection of professional memorabilia documenting the stellar career of Tammy Wynette has arrived at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Items include stage costumes and a crate of awards.

Among the framed letters and notes are messages from some U.S. presidents. There's also a lyric sheet for A Woman's Needs, a song Tammy  recorded with Elton. The autograph reads: "The Queen of Country Meets the Queen of England.  Love you, Elton John."

Museum Director Kyle Young observed:

  "Like many of her peers in the Country Music Hall of Fame, she overcame the limitations of an impoverished rural childhood to become one of America's defining cultural icons. 

 "These relics and accoutrements of her career are important touchstones worthy of study and interpretation, and that's why we are so grateful to see them arrive here. We expect to have many of them on exhibit before the end of this year."

''The First Lady of country music'' was 55 when she died in April 1998.

She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later that year.

Stone Cold Sober As a Matter of Fact--Posted by editor_usa
Elton is Among Ron Wood's Supporters
Tuesday 9 March 2010 @ 16:31 - GMT

Celebrity friends, including Elton, Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger and Kate Moss, are helping Ron Wood stay alcohol-free.

They have been giving him regular pep talks to help him overcome his addiction, which has seen him enter rehab numerous times, most recently in January this year.

The 62-year-old is said to be determined to stay sober for his new girlfriend, Ana Araujo, and has so far been clean for two months.

There have been rumours that the couple hopes to marry later this year.

At any rate, people in the Rolling Stone's circle say she has been a positive influence in keeping him from drinking.

Bonding With Betty--Posted by editor_usa
Two Showbiz Legends Have Become Pals
Tuesday 9 March 2010 @ 15:45 - GMT

Above is a photograph of Elton with one of the former stars of TV's Golden Girls sitcom.

''Betty White is my guest of honour,” Elton told Access Hollywood before the EJAF Oscar gala in West Hollywood. “I want to meet a legend and she is a legend!”

He even had a special place at his party for the actress.

“She’s sitting on my right hand side,” he said. “I’m so thrilled that she’s coming.”

Elton explained the two had already developed a friendship pre-party, via phone, over their shared love of canines.

Another photo appears below--of David Furnish, Elton, Betty and Morris Animal Foundation executive president Paul Raybould.

Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images North America

White is a Morris Animal Foundation trustee who is raising money to help improve the lives of animals. She agreed to match up to $25,000 to fund research into leptospirosis, a potentially fatal and contagious disease that affects a growing number of dogs. Sir Elton and his foundation recently matched Betty’s donation.

BREAKING NEWS: Concert Announcements Concerning South Africa And Monaco--Posted by editor_usa

Monday 8 March 2010 @ 16:21 - GMT

Fans with tickets for Elton and Ray Cooper at Val De Vie need to exchange their tickets for Kirstenbosch.

Due to popular demand, a second show has been added on March 25th at Kirstenbosch. Those with tickets for the Val de Vie concert now have an option to attend either the March 24th or 25th concert at Kirstenbosch.

The reason for the exchange is so the venue can control how many people attend the concert each night, now that there are two shows.

The deadline to exchange tickets is March 15.

Folks will not be allowed access to the venue with Val De Vie tickets.

Meanwhile, in other John/Cooper developments, the men are slated to entertain on August 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 at the Monte Carlo Sporting Summer Festival. Visit www.sportingmontecarlo.com  for details.

BREAKING NOW: Midwest Locales Are on Elton's Spring Itinerary--Posted by editor_usa

Monday 8 March 2010 @ 15:55 - GMT

Although Billy Joel has nixed the idea of a Face to Face concert at Wrigley Field, his cohort still plans to play the Chicago area.

Elton and his band are coming to Hoffman Estates as part of their Rocket Man: The Greatest Hits Live tour.

Tickets for the Sears Centre Arena gig, taking place on April 15, are $39.50-$169 (plus service charges) and go on sale at 10 a.m. March 13 at Ticketmaster (outlets or online) and at the venue's box office. Or phone 1-800-745-3000.

On April 16, the Rocket Man: Greatest Hits Live tour will arrives in Des Moines, Iowa.

Tickets for the Wells Fargo Arena event cost $95, $65 or $35 and will be sold starting 10 a.m. March 12 online at the Arena Box Office, Dahl’s Food locations or charge by phone at (866) 55-DAHLS.

A service charge is added to each ticket except at the venue box office. There is a six-ticket limit per customer.

The very next day, the Greatest Hits Live concert is to be staged  in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area.

Tickets for the April 17 show at Resch Center go on sale March 13 at 10 a.m. Prices are $139, $79 and $39. Options include visiting an Oneida Casion Ticket Star outlet,  the Resch Center box office and dialing at 1-800-895-0071. There is a six-ticket limit per customer.

Later in April, on the 24th, Elton will be returning to Michigan's Van Andel--his first appearance at the Grand Rapids arena in 11 years.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on March 15.

They'll be available at the arena and DeVos Place box offices, and through Ticketmaster. Tickets are $139, $89 and $39. There is a six-ticket limit for each person.

A day after Grand Rapids, on April 25, Elton is headed for Toledo, Ohio.

He will be at the Lucas County Arena, and tickets go on sale at ten in the morning on Saturday through the box office and Ticketmaster.

Approximately 8,100 tickets for the show, at $139, $89, and $39, will be available.

Another Ohio date is to take place on May 1 at Youngstown's Covelli Centre.

Tickets go on sale on Friday and are priced at $139, $89 and $39.

They are available through Ticketmaster or at the Covelli Centre box office.

Eric Ryan, general manager of the Centre, admitted he is excited.

"He is an international icon that has played the largest and most prestigious venues in the world and this show will be a history-making event for our community," Ryan stated.

The EJAF's 18th Oscar Benefit--Posted by editor_usa

Monday 8 March 2010 @ 15:43 - GMT

Above is a photo of Miley Cyrus with Elton after last night's Academy Awards.

The young performer was one of the many stars who attended the EJAF fund-raiser. Others included Serena Williams, Simon Cowell, Slash, Tim Allen, Gina Gershon, Alan Cumming, Josh Groban and Joaquin Phoenix.

$3.7 million was raised for the AIDS charity, thanks in large part to the auction. The items included the costume that the host wore during his performance with Lady Gaga at the latest Grammy Awards. Guests also had the chance to bid on a watch from the Elton John Watch Collection, designed by Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele. The dazzling limited timepiece was sold for $90K.

Other popular lots included a photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe of the evening's guest performer--called Grace Jones, 1984. This sold for $85K, while the chance for ten people to spend a week at Elton's Nice or Windsor home and enjoy dishes prepared by the singer's chef attracted $140K.

Elton, who found time to stop in at Vanity Fair's bash, spoke about how important his guests' comfort is. He also admitted having to turn away quite a few people, which he hates to do, but ''there's not enough room.''

Catch a video clip of his event at

www.etonline.com.

More ''Billy Elliot'' Productions Are in the Works --Posted by editor_usa

Monday 8 March 2010 @ 15:15 - GMT

As recently announced, a Korean-language version of Billy Elliot is to play in Seoul starting in August.

In a telephone interview last week with the New York Times, Eric Fellner, a co-chairman of Working Title Films, which produced the Billy Elliot movie and produces its stage incarnations, said that the company was first approached about foreign versions of the musical about five years ago, just as the original West End show was starting up.

Mr. Fellner said that producers from Japan, South Korea, Germany and the Netherlands — countries where English-language musicals most often travel — all expressed interest before Broadway took notice of the show. The earliest foreign deals for Billy Elliot, he said, were struck in 2007 and 2008, including one for the production in South Korea.

Despite the details of Billy Elliot that are specific to British culture, Fellner said, “There’s been less resistance, with the few people that have seen it from those countries, to the themes of what it’s all about, than there was initially from Americans.”

He continued: “They somehow totally and utterly engage in the notion of community broken by government, economic depression, recession, unions. It’s kind of extraordinary how much they identified with all of the themes that the show plays on.”

Local actors have been hired for the South Korean cast, including a team of four young Billys, and some dialogue or other minor elements may be changed to suit the hometown crowd. But for the most part, it will remain intact, and the show’s American design and construction team has built the sets for the Seoul production.

Fellner said that a Japanese version of the Billy Elliot musical was being prepared for the summer of 2011, and talks were continuing with German and Dutch producers but nothing had been set yet.

A Singer Championed by Elton Has Died--Posted by editor_usa

Friday 5 March 2010 @ 18:23 - GMT

This Web site recently had an update on a former Rocket Records artist.

Sadly, Fred Wedlock has passed away.

The 67-year-old had pneumonia.

Fred emerged from the English folk scene to enjoy unlikely chart success with the novelty hit single, The Oldest Swinger in Town. His abilities as an all-round entertainer and raconteur in later years led to employment as a television presenter, an in-demand after- dinner speaker and an actor, although it was his proud boast that he had not had a “proper job” in 40 years.

He claimed to have given his first performance at the age of four, singing to pub customers, and to have received sixpence for his troubles.

He landed a Channel 4 television showcase, Wholly Wedlock, a BBC radio series with fellow West Countryman Acker Bilk and presented numerous programmes on Westcountry Television. He also acted at the Bristol Old Vic and with the city’s Ministry of Entertainment theatre company, most recently in December 2009.

His is survived by Sue, his wife of more than 40 years, and two daughters.

Elton Puts On a Pre-Oscar Bash--Posted by editor_usa

Friday 5 March 2010 @ 17:56 - GMT

Elton and his partner have already hosted a party before the EJAF's big one this weekend.

It was held at the newly-opened Soho House, which Sir Elton explained to the Daily Mail, had hastily been completed that morning.

He pointed to his apartment building through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls that wrapped around the penthouse floor.

''Mind you, if I could see what they were doing through my windows I hope they couldn't see what I was doing in my apartment,'' he joked.

The gathering, which attracted the likes of Dustin Hoffman and Madonna, was sponsored by Grey Goose and Recording Artists Against Drunk Driving.

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