Times Square Gossip

**** THE GLORIOUS CORNER Story By: G. H. HARDING ****  The Wrecking Crew Trailer STING’S SHIP --- I’ll fess up and say that I was among the first to be somewhat dubious about Sting’s foray into Broadway, his The Last Ship, but, I caught last night’s performance and was literally blown away. It’s not perfect, but with stunning songs, staging and terrific acting from an excellent cast, and, a packed Neil Simon Theatre, it was pretty damn impressive. The show closes tomorrow, so I'm quite sure many of the attendees were people who had wanted to see the show and just didn’t make it in the beginning. The show tells the story of Sting’s childhood upbringing, in Newcastle; a town where ship building was the usual employment. The ship building stops; misery sets in and finally, one last ship is built, aided on by the town’s Father O’Brien (essayed by an incredibly strong and funny Fred Applegate). Concurrent to this plot of the story of Gideo...

Chris Hemsworth Chris Hemsworth and Naomi Watts appeared on stage in Macau, China to accept top honors in person in front of a live audience at the 15th Annual Huading Awards. The Huading Awards are China’s premier awards show where the honorees are determined by fan votes, and the winners are recognized as the best from various genres of entertainment, including film, television, dance, theater and music. Internationally renowned actor Chris Hemsworth took the stage in Macau to receive the Huading Award for Best Global Actor in Motion Pictures. Best known for his portrayal of Thor in the Marvel franchise, Hemsworth will reprise the role in the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron, slated for release in May 2015. This year, he also stars in Michael Mann’s Blackhat and in Ron Howard’s In the Heart of the Sea. Naomi Watts graced the Huading Awards stage to be recognized as Best Global Actress in Motion Pictures. The Oscar nominated actress has recently received ...

**** THE GREAT WHITE WAY **** Vanessa Hudgens Tickets go on sale today at 10:00 AM at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (877) 250-2929 for the new Broadway production of Gigi, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s beloved Oscar and Tony Award-winning film and stage musical. Gigi will open on Broadway on Wednesday, April 8 at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). Previews will begin on Thursday, March 19. Gigi stars Vanessa Hudgens, who will make her Broadway debut in the title role, Tony Award-winner Victoria Clark (The Light in the Piazza, Sister Act, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella) as Mamita, Corey Cott (Newsies) as Gaston Lachaille, three-time Tony Award-nominee Dee Hoty (The Will Rogers Follies, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public, Footloose) as Aunt Alicia, two-time Tony Award-nominee Howard McGillin (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Anything Goes) as Honoré Lachaille and Steffanie Leigh (Mary Poppins) as Liane d’Exelmans.  Phot...

Chiwetel Ejiofor Celebrating its 6th year bringing live theatre to cinema audiences around the world, NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE is pleased to announce an international broadcast of Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) in the title role of Everyman, adapted by Carol Ann Duffy and directed by Rufus Norris, live from The National Theatre of Great Britain’s Olivier Theatre on Thursday, July 16, 2015. Dates will vary at venues internationally and encore screenings will follow. Tickets on sale beginning February 9, 2015. For more information, please visit www.NTLive.com . Everyman is successful, popular and riding high when Death comes calling. He is forced to abandon the life he has built and embark on a last, frantic search to recruit a friend, anyone, to speak in his defence. But Death is close behind, and time is running out. One of the great primal, spiritual myths, Everyman asks whether it is only in death that we can understand our lives. A ...

**** T-BAR STEAKHOUSE OLD WORLD GLAMOR **** T-Bar Steak & Lounge T-Bar Steak & Lounge, the Upper East Side Restaurant known for its superbly-cooked cuts of meat and delicious array of appetizers, is now offering what is likely to become one of New York’s favorite brunch menus. Every Saturday and Sunday, from 11:30a.m. through to 2:30p.m., T-Bar offers an exciting morning twist to its classic steakhouse offerings. Tuna Tartare The new brunch menu serves as yet another excuse to visit T-Bar, which has become a neighborhood go-to since restaurateur Tony Fortuna, previously of the Lenox Room, established it in October 2007. T-Bar draws in a consistent crowd of loyal followers, who enjoy discovering new dishes on the extensive and intelligent menu every visit. With its fun and vibrant atmosphere, T-Bar serves as an updated take on the classic American steakhouse. Casual yet elegant; understated, yet boasting old-world glamor. The weekend brunch menu, e...

**** THE ART OF NEW YORK CITY DINING **** Swifty's Restaurant New York City Swifty’s Restaurant on the Upper East Side celebrated the New Year with an Art Show, titled Excerpts at Swifty’s, featuring renowned, still life photographer Barry Seidman. Guests joined owners Robert Caravaggi and Chef Stephen Attoe for cocktails, tasty hors d’oeuvres, and a look at Seidman’s latest photographic series, Feast for the Eyes, as well as pieces from his series, Drinks, which will be on exhibition at Swifty’s restaurant through to March 2, 2015. Patrons at Swifty’s are always delighted to see the exquisite selection of paintings and photos displayed on the walls of the restaurant, which are rotated regularly by Caravaggi and Attoe. Chef Attoe’s wife, Patricia Attoe, draws on her extensive art background in curating the art at the restaurant. New York artist Mary Lou Schempf’s stunning work is exhibited in the front room on an ongoing basis. Her work complement...

**** NYTB At New York Live Arts To Host Benefit **** The Alice-in-Wonderland Follies New York Theatre Ballet will perform at New York Live Arts from February 18-21, 2015. New York Live Arts is located at 219 W. 19th Street, NYC. Performances: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30pm; and Saturday at 2pm and 7:30pm. Tickets are $25 ($15 for students), and are available by calling the Live Arts box office at 212.691.6500, or by visiting the box office, Monday-Saturday 1pm - 9pm and Sunday 1pm - 8pm. NYTB at New York Live Arts will host a Benefit Celebration to honor Elena Zahlmann (NYTB member for 15 years), Steven Melendez (NYTB member for 15 years) and Keith Michael (NYTB choreographer for 35 years). The benefit will take place at I Trulli restaurant (122 East 27th Street) from 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm on February 21st, 2015. Benefit tickets are $200 (includes reception and one ticket to an NYTB at NYLA performance of your choice). RSVP for benefit tickets by Februa...

**** CITYMEALS-ON-WHEELS **** Jean Shafiroff Daniel Boulud And Herb Karlitz Karlitz & Company CEO Herb Karlitz hosted a special chef-filled evening to toast Citymeals-on-Wheels and his culinary marketing agency’s 25th Anniversary at Ginny’s Supper Club on Tuesday. Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff along with Marcus Samuelsson, Francois Payard, Elizabeth Falkner, Scott Conant, Frank Pellegrino, Dino Gatto, Alex Guarnaschelli, and Daniel Boulud were among the stars in attendance. The evening featured a bar filled with 25-year-old vintage wines and champagne from Karlitz’s personal cellar, a selection of signature cocktails, buffet dinne, meatballs from Rao’s and Red Rooster and éclairs from Francois Payard. Karlitz presented a check to Citymeals Board Co-President Daniel Boulud and Director of Partnership & Events Robyn Stein. Karlitz also announced that the upcoming Harlem EatUp! Festival, which he co-founded with Marcus Samuelsson, will help benefit ...

**** THE GLORIOUS CORNER Story By: G. H. HARDING **** Len Berman And Todd Schnitt BERMAN BACK --- News-Talker in Manhattan, WOR has finally settled on a new morning show –and, it’s a winner- with veteran sportscaster Len Berman paired with syndicated talker Todd Schnitt, for a new local program, starting January 26th. Len Berman and Todd Schnitt In the Morning will air 6:00 AM -10:00 AM (ET) weekdays. Berman, known for his many years anchoring sports on WNBC’s WNBC-TV, said, "I've been fortunate to broadcast for some historic stations and am thrilled to add the iconic WOR to that list. Todd Schnitt has made his mark as a fresh creative voice in many markets and I'm confident he'll do the same in New York." Berman left WNBC when his contract wasn’t renewed. Sources said at the time that his was one of the last big contracts of the day. He did show up occasionally on The Today Show and even returned to WNBC, but not full-ti...

Kristolyn Lloyd NEW YORK BROADWAY-- Signature Theatre (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) is pleased to announce casting is confirmed and tickets are now on sale for the New York Premiere of The Liquid Plain by Naomi Wallace, directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah. All tickets for the initial run of the production are $25 as part of the Signature Ticket Initiative: A Generation of Access. The production runs February 17 through March 29, 2015 with a March 8 opening night in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). The cast includes Ito Aghayere (The Tempest at Classic Stage) as Dembi, LisaGay Hamilton (ABC’s “The Practice”) as Bristol, Robert Hogan (ABC’s One Life to Live) as James De Wolfe, Michael Izquierdo (The Wolf of Wall Street) as Cranston, Kristolyn Lloyd (Heathers: The Musical) as Adjua, Karl Miller (Completeness at Playwrights Horizons) ...

Jennifer Lopez Ryan Guzman Ryan Guzman and Jennifer Lopez were snapped arriving at to a special fan screening of Universal Pictures "The Boy Next Door" at the Crosby Hotel last night in New York City. Photos By: Diego Corredor/MediaPunch

Mario Lopez MIAMI BEACH --   Emmy Award winning host of the popular nationally syndicated entertainment program Extra, Mario Lopez will preside over the 2015 Miami Beach Gay Pride parade and festival as Grand Marshal, announced Mark Fernandes, chair of the Pride Board. As Grand Marshal, Lopez will lead the enthusiastic and colorful parade that is expected to draw more than 100,000 spectators on Sunday, April 12. The Miami Beach Gay Pride parade kicks off at noon along famed Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th Streets and will be followed by the Pride Festival with live performances from four stages, community booths and refreshments. An ardent proponent of LGBTQ issues, Lopez is a long-time supporter of GLAAD (the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). His association with the organization includes participation in the GLAAD “Amplify Your Voice” anti-gay bullying PSA campaign, which ran in conjunction with Spirit Day, a national day set aside to remember...

**** THE GLORIOUS CORNER Story By: G.H. Harding **** Bob Weir SWEET CAKE --- I’ve always loved Jennifer Aniston. I mean, her Rachel on Friends was so wacky, so flighty, but oh so cute. Her movie career post-Friends has been somewhat spotty; Horrible Bosses 1 was great, 2 not so great. Her much talked about new movie Cake, which opens this Friday, is a complete turn-around. Playing a victim of a horrific car accident, wherein she lost her daughter and is now addicted to pain medication, is certainly something to behold. Safe to say you never saw her like this before. The movie is solid, although there are a few continuity errors, like her husband (Chris Messina) who shows up for one brilliant scene then mysteriously disappears and William H. Macy as the driver of the other car who shows up to apologize and mayhem ensues. It’s a bold, strong performance and the awards she’s been nominated for are well deserved. Anna Kendrick is spot on as an...

Selena Gomez NUVOtv presents new series Selena Gomez: Living the Dream on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 9pm ET. Follow Selena’s journey from child phenomenon to international sensation, with interviews from experts and Selena herself. Selena Gomez: Living the Dream Series Synopsis From facing adversity to embracing success, Texas native Selena Gomez has led her life in the spotlight with dedication and resilience. Follow her growth from child star to mature celebrity, with interviews from showbiz experts and Gomez herself.

Liam Neeson Liam Neeson In Cigar Aficionado Liam Neeson takes the weekend box office by storm – literally, Taken 3 took The Hobbit out of the top spot, drawing in $40.4 million in domestic theaters and $41 million abroad. But Neeson takes a break from kicking some serious ass on the big screen to chat with Cigar Aficionado for their February 2015 issue, discussing everything from the evolution of his career to his upstate getaway where he enjoys fly-fishing and more. Liam Neeson is truly the thinking man’s movie star. With a filmography ranging from the critically-acclaimed drama Schindler’s List to the blockbuster trilogy Taken, he’s proven himself a box-office magnet and action hero–and he’s not done yet. At age 62, Neeson is experiencing the renaissance of his career, boasting seven different movies in theaters in 2014 and four movies up for release this year. The movie audiences love to watch him kick serious ass, but Neeson also has a softer side and longs for hi...