Katie Holmes' play to close on Broadway
NEW YORK, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The stage play "Dead Accounts," starring Katie Holmes and Norbert Leo Butz, will end its Broadway run seven weeks early, producers announced.
The show will close Jan. 6.
"I am extremely proud of this production and the cast. Theresa Rebeck and Jack O'Brien have created an inspiring and hilarious new play and we are all sad to see 'Dead Accounts' end on Broadway," producer Jeffrey Finn said in a statement. "I look forward to working with this remarkably talented cast and creative team again very soon."
The play began previews Nov. 5 and opened Nov. 29 at the Music Box Theatre in New York. It was scheduled to run through Feb. 24.
The New York Times said the closure notice came after the play received lukewarm reviews and experienced sluggish ticket sales.
Broadway lights to dim for Klugman
NEW YORK, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The Broadway community says it will mourn the death of actor Jack Klugman by dimming the lights on its marquees for a minute Friday night.
Klugman died Monday at the age of 90.
"Jack Klugman was best known for his role as Oscar Madison in 'The Odd Couple' on television, a role he had previously played on Broadway," Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League, said in a statement. "In his many stage performances, as well as on film and TV, we all felt like we knew him personally; he had that kind of approachability. As with all fine actors, he made the work look effortless. Our thoughts are with his fans, friends, and family."
'Heaven' tops U.S. record chart
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Bruno Mars' "Locked Out of Heaven" is No. 1 on the U.S. record chart for a third week, Billboard.com reported.
Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 is Rihanna's "Diamonds," followed by the Lumineers' "Ho Hey" at No. 3, Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" at No. 4 and Justin Bieber's "Beauty and a Beat" featuring Nicki Minaj at No. 5.
Rounding out the top tier are Ke$ha's "Die Young" at No. 6, Maroon 5's "One More Night" at No. 7, Flo Rida's "I Cry" at No. 8, Phillip Phillips' "Home" at No. 9 and Macklemore and Lewis' "Thrift Shop" at No. 10.
Peter Parker killed in Spidey comic series
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The 50-year run of America's "Amazing Spider-Man" comic-book series ended with the death of character Peter Parker at the hands of his nemesis Doctor Octopus.
Peter was a New York high-school student who became the crime-fighting superhero Spider-Man after he was bitten by a radioactive spider.
His adventures concluded in Wednesday's "Amazing Spider-Man" No. 700 when he lost a battle with Doctor Octopus, who switches brains with Peter then kills his former body with Peter's mind trapped inside.
The issue ends on a hopeful note, however, as Peter passes on his memories to Doc Ock, inspiring the villain to continue the webslinger's good work.
"This is Moriarty in the head of Sherlock. This is Prince John inside of Robin Hood. This is the greatest villain inside the body of the greatest hero and trying to do good," Marvel writer Dan Slott told USA Today. "This is a guy who was a couple steps way from a bucket list, and now he's got a whole new lease on life. That's really going to change him."
"The Amazing Spider-Man" will be followed by a new darker comic-book series called "Superior Spider-Man," The Hollywood Reporter said.
Andrew Garfield played the dual role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in "The Amazing Spider-Man" blockbuster movie this year.
