Entertainment Today: Showbiz news

LOU REED

"POEtry" -- the latest production by legendary rocker Lou Reed and theater director and lighting designer Robert Wilson -- opens next Tuesday at BAM as part of the "Next Wave Festival."

"POEtry" is a journey into the mysterious shadow world of the 19th century American author Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849). It combines texts including "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Raven," "The Pit and the Pendulum," as well as other stories and poetry. Reed wrote 13 songs, an overture and libretto for the production.

The musical runs through Dec. 8.

"POEtry" is Wilson's second collaboration with Lou Reed. In 1996, Wilson, Reed and writer Darryl Pinckney presented a hard-rock time and space odyssey entitled "Time Rocker."

Reed is currently working on a record of the music from the play with for release later this year.

(Web site: wbr.com)

FRED TRAVALENA

Entertainer Fred Travalena has written and recorded "The Manhattan Christmas Suite," a series of 11 holiday songs that are both beautiful and appropriate in the wake of Sept. 11.

The titles include "Lady Manhattan," "Son of Santa," "Manhattan Love Affair at Christmas," "Last Minute Shopping," "Christmas on Broadway" and "When Snow Falls in Central Park."

The album cover includes New York's extraordinary skyline but without the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. "We re-did the art work and some of the lyrics of the songs with regard to peoples' feelings," he explained.

Travalena said he "wrote a new song after the attack, 'The Spirit of America,' which is a separate CD." He said he was inspired by the Statue of Liberty against the backdrop of the smoke rising from the rubble of the twin towers.

Lest anyone think Travalena is taking advantage of the tragedy with his new song, he said, "Any profits that accrue from 'The Spirit of America' go to the police and firemen of New York."

(Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Vernon Scott)

JON PETERS

Producer John Peters spent at least part of his Thanksgiving Day serving hot kosher turkey dinners to 400 of Los Angeles' homeless today. Peters was one of 40 volunteers from the Kabbalah Centre who spent the holiday preparing and serving food to those less fortunate.

For the last five years, the Kabbalah Centre and its volunteers have worked with the Rev. Harrison and his wife at People Helping People, a shelter that helps "homeless the hungry and the hurting."

Peters produced the movies "Batman," "Wild Wild West" and the soon-to-be-released "Ali."

(Web site: kabbalah.com)