Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News

'High' with Kathleen Turner to close ... James Frey to return to 'Oprah' ... 'S&M' is No.1 on the U.S. record chart ... Weird Al: Gaga loves 'Born' parody ... News from United Press International.
|
|
 
  
Published: April 21, 2011 at 2:00 PM

'High' with Kathleen Turner to close

NEW YORK, April 21 (UPI) -- "High," starring Kathleen Turner, is to close this Sunday, the Broadway play's producers announced.

As of that date, it will have played 28 previews and eight regular performances at Manhattan's Booth Theatre.

The producers did not say in Wednesday's release why the show is closing, but Playbill.com said ticket sales have been slow for the play, which has drawn largely negative reviews despite its leading lady's strong performance.

Turner, a two-time Golden Globe winner, plays Sister Jamison Connelly in the new play written by Matthew Lombardo and directed by Rob Ruggiero.

The show officially opened this past Tuesday. It also features Stephen Kunken as Father Michael Delpapp and Evan Jonigkeit as Cody Randall.

It "explores the universal themes of truth, forgiveness, redemption and human fallibility. When Sister Jamison Connelly agrees to sponsor a 19-year-old drug user in an effort to help him combat his addiction, her own faith is ultimately tested. Struggling between the knowledge she possesses as a rehabilitation counselor and a woman of religious conviction, she begins to question her belief in miracles and whether people can find the courage to change," a synopsis of the play said.

Turner has starred in the recent stage productions of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "The Graduate."

Her films include "Body Heat," "Romancing the Stone," "Prizzi's Honor" and "Peggy Sue Got Married."


James Frey to return to 'Oprah'

NEW YORK, April 21 (UPI) -- U.S. author James Frey is to appear on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" five years after she blasted him for fabricating details of his book, "A Million Little Pieces."

Frey came under fire after The Smoking Gun Web site published evidence suggesting much of his drug memoir had been made up.

After initially defending him, Winfrey invited Frey on her show and accused him of lying to her and the public regarding the truth of what he had written.

The author maintained the essence of his experience as an addict was true, but admitted changing some facts for literary effect.

He subsequently was dropped by his literary agent and a note was included in copies of the book explaining the discrepancies. Readers who felt cheated were also given their money back.

The New York Post said Frey is to be a guest on "Oprah" next month as the talk show is wrapping up its 25th and final season.

Frey is now on the publicity trail for his novel, "The Final Testament of the Holy Bible."

"Oprah apologized to James a couple of years ago, and he appreciated it. So he agreed to go back on her show and talk about everything that's happened over the last five years," a source told the Post.


'S&M' is No.1 on the U.S. record chart

LOS ANGELES, April 21 (UPI) -- Rihanna's "S&M" is No. 1 on the U.S. record chart, Billboard.com reported Thursday.

Coming in at No. 2 on the Hot 100 is Katy Perry's "E.T." featuring Kanye West, followed by the Black Eyed Peas's "Just Can't Get Enough" at No. 3, Jeremih's "Down on Me" featuring 50 Cent at No. 4 and Cee Lo Green's "F**k You [Forget You]" at No. 5.

Rounding out the top tier are Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" at No. 6, Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now" featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes at No. 7, Jennifer Lopez's "On the Floor" featuring Pitbull at No. 8, Britney Spears's "Till the World Ends" at No. 9 and Lady Gaga's "Judas" is No. 10.


Weird Al: Gaga loves 'Born' parody

LOS ANGELES, April 21 (UPI) -- Comedian Weird Al Yankovic says U.S. pop star Lady Gaga loves his parody of her song "Born this Way," despite reports she tried to torpedo it.

"Well, this was a strange day," Yankovic said in a Web posting Wednesday.

"After putting my Lady Gaga parody ['I Perform This Way'] on YouTube this morning -- and announcing that it wouldn't be on my next album because Gaga didn't approve it -- there was a huge outpouring of disappointment from the Internet," the satirist said.

"Apparently the fact that she didn't approve it was news to Lady Gaga herself! Gaga's manager has now admitted that he never forwarded my parody to Gaga -- she had no idea at all. Even though we assumed that Gaga herself was the one making the decision [because, well, that's what we were told,] he apparently made the decision completely on his own. He's sorry. And Gaga loves the song."

Yankovic went on to say he's glad to hear she's a fan because he admires her work and didn't want to believe she had "less than a great sense of humor."

He also said "I Perform This Way" will appear on his next album and all the proceeds from the song will go to the Human Rights Campaign.

© 2011 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Protesters, police clash at NATO summit Notable deaths of 2012 2012 Billboard Music Awards
The 137th Preakness Stakes Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S. Chen Guangcheng arrives in the U.S.
Additional Entertainment News Stories
1 of 29
Members of the Army's Old Guard place flags at Arlington National Ceremtery
View Caption
U.S. flags are seen in the rucksack of a soldier with the Army's 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, as he places flags at gravesites in Arlington National Cemetery as part of the Flags-In Memorial Day ceremony on May 24, 2012 in Arlington, Virginia. American flags were placed at each of the more than 220,000 grave markers in honor of those who served and Memorial Day. UPI/Kevin Dietshc
fark
All whiskey tastes the same, just get the $5 bottle. There, THAT'S how you troll a whiskey thread....
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *...
Brazilians seek to lay NYC bare. Giggity
You're welcome, Class of 2012: Top 10 things no one tells high school graduates
Photoshop this corpulent crimefighter
"One dolla bid, now two, now two, will ya' give me two? Two dolla bid, now three, now three, will...