Brad Pitt, George Clooney buddy up for '8' in Los Angeles

Good news, Brad Pitt and George Clooney fans -- the band's back together. Or at least it was on Saturday evening in Los Angeles, where the two stars reunited onstage for the play "8."

Penned by Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black, the YouTube-streamed reading at the Wilshire Ebell Theater charted the proceedings in the federal appeals court hearing that deemed Proposition 8, a state ban on gay marriage, unconstitutional.

"How come no one knew their lines?" joked an adorable Darren Criss, referring to the actors' being "on book," thus qualifying the production as a staged reading. Criss admitted that the performances got him a bit choked up.

Like those of Jamie Lee Curtis and Christine Lahti, playing two married women -- two of the plaintiffs -- whose union was considered void once the proposition passed. Matt Bomer and Matthew Morrison played a male couple who were also plaintiffs.

Pitt loomed large as the judge, hearing arguments from lawyer characters played by Clooney, Martin Sheen and Kevin Bacon, and their witnesses and experts portrayed by the likes of John C. Reilly, Chris Colfer, Yeardley Smith, George Takei and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. 

An after-party in the theater's charming courtyard brought out Ferguson's "Modern Family" family, including Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet and Ty Burrell. Kyra Sedgwick came through for Mr. Bacon, and Brad and George stuck close by each other.

Just how we like them. 

(Watch the play in its entirety, below.)

 

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Photo: Brad Pitt and George Clooney at the after-party for "8" in Los Angeles, benefiting the American Foundation for Equal Rights. Credit: Associated Press

Cynthia Nixon: Bald and gay by choice, bisexual by birth

Cynthia Nixon would like to clarify: She might be choosing to partner currently with a woman rather than a man, but she had no choice in the matter when it came to being bisexual in the first place.

Nixon, who is currently rocking a bald head as the lead in "Wit" at New York City's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, has found herself at the center of controversy recently after saying that, for her, homosexuality is a choice. Now she has parsed her words more carefully to be clear about exactly what she meant.

Initially, in a Jan. 19 interview with the New York Times Magazine, she defended her statements, explaining, "I gave a speech recently, an empowerment speech to a gay audience, and it included the line ‘I’ve been straight and I’ve been gay, and gay is better.' And they tried to get me to change it, because they said it implies that homosexuality can be a choice. And for me, it is a choice. I understand that for many people it’s not, but for me it’s a choice, and you don't get to define my gayness for me."

"I am very annoyed about this issue," Nixon told The Times. "Why can't it be a choice? Why is that any less legitimate?"

A few days afterward, she explained further. "I don't pull out the 'bisexual' word because nobody likes the bisexuals," she told the Daily Beast in a Jan. 24 article. "Everybody likes to dump on the bisexuals. ... We get no respect."

Did we mention she's shaved her head for "Wit," in which her character deals with ovarian cancer? And that the hairstyle is a shocking transformation from her red-haired Miranda days on "Sex and the City"?

Buzz about her current work notwithstanding, Nixon finally on Monday issued a statement exclusively to the Advocate, putting her beliefs in black and white in case anyone wanted to interpret them, she said,  "in a strictly legal context." Her statement, which can be read in full at the Advocate, includes this explanation:

"While I don't often use the word, the technically precise term for my orientation is bisexual. I believe bisexuality is not a choice, it is a fact. What I have 'chosen' is to be in a gay relationship.

"As I said in the [New York] Times and will say again here, I do, however, believe that most members of our community — as well as the majority of heterosexuals — cannot and do not choose the gender of the persons with whom they seek to have intimate relationships because, unlike me, they are only attracted to one sex."

So yeah, back to Nixon's hairstyle, or lack-of-hair style -- was the shaved head, instead of wearing a bald cap, a good choice?

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Photo: Cynthia Nixon at the curtain call for the opening night of "Wit" at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in New York City on Thursday. Credit: Craig Barritt / Getty Images

'Superior Donuts' and young celebs sweeten 'Gifted Day at the Geffen'

With the seamy side of celebrity news sending a message that it's smart to act stupid, actors from "That's So Raven," "Wizards of Waverly Place," "Greek" and "The Troop" went against the grain at the Geffen Playhouse last week to show that being bright had its own rewards.

Among those rewards? Gift bags, gourmet pizza for lunch and a special performance of "Superior Donuts" on the Geffen stage -- plus no school for the day. (Sounds a little like Hollywood's awards season, right?)

Orlando Brown of "Raven," Jennifer Stone of "Wizards," "Greek" stars Jacob Zachar and Gregory Michael, and John Marshall Jones of "The Troop" were but one draw for "Gifted Day at the Geffen," an inaugural, invitation-only day of theater education enjoyed by 250 L.A. middle-school students.

"Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the theater, and I wanted to introduce students to a world they may not know much about," said host Cynthia Stafford, a philanthropist and liaison to the Geffen's education department.

The program, in conjunction with the mayor's Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, "honored L.A. students for their hard work in school and, hopefully, added to their already existing drive," she said.

Ahead of time, each student (they came from Hollenbeck, Carver, Markham, Stevenson and Gompers middle schools) workshopped a one-page autobiographical story about an event that changed how they saw the world, themselves or their community -- knowing that their story might be read from the stage during the June 15 event. After a performance of "Superior Donuts," lead actor Edi Gathegi did the honors, reading the chosen piece, and the TV actors each shared an inspirational story of their own as part of a panel discussion. (Offstage, Stafford and the Geffen Playhouse’s education department had read and written responses to all stories submitted.) 

And hey, did we mention the snacks and the gift bags? Yes we did!

"Wizards" actress Stone, for one, appeared to have given it all at the Geffen. "I am so tired, I feel like someone slipped me a whole bottle of Nyquil," she tweeted a little after 10 p.m.

Hey, Jennifer -- culture is hard work!

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Photos: At top, Cynthia Stafford, standing, and Jennifer Stone, left, Jacob Zachar, Gregory Michael, John Marshall Jones, Orlando Brown, Geffen education director Debra Pasquerette and Stafford associate Lanre Idewu  participate in Gifted Day at the Geffen. Credit: Geffen Playhouse. Bottom, middle school students go for the good stuff. Credit: Geffen Playhouse

 

Tony Awards 2011: Pictures from the Beacon Theatre red carpet arrivals

Neil Patrick Harris, ever the punctual host, hit the 2011 Tony Awards red carpet early at New York's Beacon Theater on Sunday, escorted by partner David Burtka and surrounded by faces familiar from the stage and big and small screens alike.

Nominees Edie Falco and Ellen Barkin made the scene, and David Hyde Pierce of "Frasier" TV fame was spotted, with former costar Kelsey Grammer and Ministry of Gossip favorite also expected. A 2010 Tony nominee for "La Cage aux Folles," Grammer married Kayte Walsh in February at that show's Broadway venue, the Longacre Theatre.

 

Joel Grey, father of "Dancing With the Stars" favorite Jennifer Grey and a directing nominee with George C. Wolfe, walked the carpet with "The Normal Heart" team, including acting nominee Joe Mantello.

Also spotted on the red carpet: "The Book of Mormon" acting nominee Andrew Rannells, Samuel L. Jackson and wife LaTanya Richardson, Annabella Sciorra,
James Earl Jones, Marg Helgenberger, Don Cheadle and Judith Light.

"The Book of Mormon," from "South Park" team Matt Stone and Trey Parker, is up for 14 awards, leading the pack for number of nominations. Other celeb names nominated for Broadway honors include  Bobby Cannavale, Billy Crudup,  Al Pacino and Vanessa Redgrave.

The Tonys were heavy on celebrity influence last year as well.

Click the pics to see more glamour from the red carpet — and check back as we continue to add to the gallery.

Live blogging of the award ceremony will start around 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Awards Tracker. Starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, Times arts and entertainment editor Lisa Fung and New York arts correspondents Patrick Pacheco and James C. Taylor will be providing commentary on the evening's event on The Envelope.

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Left photo: Andrew Rannells of "The Book of Mormon." Credit: Lucas Jackson / Reuters.

Right photo: David Burtka, left, and 2011 Tony Awards host Neil Patrick Harris. Credit: Lucas Jackson / Reuters.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt catch 'God of Carnage' opening

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt took in a night of theater Wednesday, attending the opening of "God of Carnage" at the Ahmanson Theatre.

Hollywood's hottest couple slipped in a back entrance, avoiding the paparazzi on the red carpet, professional autograph-seekers and throngs of mere mortals milling outside the downtown L.A. theater.

Seated in the center orchestra, Pitt and Jolie kept their eyes squarely focused on each other, seemingly oblivious to the double takes and spinning heads around them (even actress Frances Conroy was spotted sneaking a peek). Jolie and Pitt offered polite acknowledgments when Center Theatre Group artistic director Michael Ritchie and his wife, actress Kate Burton, took their seats next to the pair.

The couple were guests of James Gandolfini, who stars in "Carnage" along with Hope Davis, Jeff Daniels and Marcia Gay Harden. The comedy revolves around two couples meeting for the first time after their children get into a playground fight. Pitt kept a hand casually draped on Jolie's knee for much of the show, letting loose an especially hearty laugh when Gandolfini's character, Michael, uttered the line: "Children consume our lives and then destroy them." They joined in the standing ovation at the end, then were quickly ushered out of the theater to meet with cast members backstage.

Also in the audience were Will Ferrell (taking a night off from his new job in "The Office"), Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet from "Modern Family," Martin Sheen; Simon Helberg of "The Big Bang Theory," Aubrey Plaza of "Parks and Recreation," Troian Bellisario of "Pretty Little Liars," Andrea Bowen of "Desperate Housewives, and Sara Gilbert of "HawthoRNe." Others included Ron Livingston and wife Rosemarie DeWitt, Mira Furlan, Tony Shalhoub, Bradley Whitford, Annie Potts and Jason Alexander. Click the pic above for more photos from opening night.

Spotted at the after-party at Chaya Downtown: Sandra Oh of "Grey's Anatomy,"  Anjelica Huston, Stacy Keach, Julian Sands, Jon Polito, Gina Gershon, Eric Idle, playwright and screenwriter Christopher Hampton and Camryn Manheim.

"God of Carnage" runs through May 29.

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Photo: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt backstage at the Ahmanson Theatre after the opening of "God of Carnage." Credit: Ryan Miller / CaptureImaging

 

Sean Hayes to play Larry in Farrelly Bros.' 'The Three Stooges' film

Sean Hayes is heading to the big screen to play Larry in the Farrelly Brothers' upcoming film "The Three Stooges."

Hayes, 40, who made his way into the heart of television audiences as "Will & Grace's" flamboyant neighbor Jack McFarland, is starring on Broadway in the musical comedy "Promises, Promises."

"Thanks, everyone. I've been honored with the chance to play an iconic member of The Three Stooges. I will make it as funny as I can," the Emmy winner tweeted.

Hayes beat out Sean Penn for the role, Us Magazine reports. But the search is still on for Moe to complete the trio.

Hayes last appeared in movie theaters with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in 2007 in "The Bucket List." He'll be joining "MADtv's" Will Sasso, who will play Curly, in the slapstick comedy based on the 1930s vaudeville act.

Peter and Bobby Farrelly of "Dumb and Dumber" and "There's Something About Mary" fame recently released the Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis comedy "Hall Pass." The brotherly duo will be working with Twentieth Century Fox to produce "The Three Stooges," set to hit theaters in 2012.

What do you think of Hayes playing Larry? Are you excited to seem him back on the big screen? Let us know in comments.

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Photo: Sean Hayes in New York in April 2010. Credit: Richard Drew / Associated Press.

Charlie Sheen delivers violent torpedoes, audience boos the truth

Charlie Sheen debuted his one-man show, "My Violent Torpedo of Truth / Defeat Is Not an Option," in Detroit and Chicago over the weekend, which sold out several shows within hours of tickets being made available weeks ago.

The former "Two and a Half Men" star promised fans "the real story" during the monthlong 20-city tour. But on opening night at the Fox Theatre in the Motor City, the warlock couldn't deliver and was booed by an exceedingly tough audience.

Even pithy catchphrases and tiger blood couldn't save him. Times reviewer Charles McNulty wrote:

He didn't bring the goods, and no amount of pandering to the spectators with his you-and-me against-the-trolls malarkey could convince them otherwise. The Malibu messiah's stab at demagoguery died a quick and not entirely painless death.... But the aging Hollywood pretty boy was not only defeated by the uncontrollable nature of theater — he was running scared.

So much for that.

However, the laundry list of rants continued in Chicago, though the Windy City crowd wasn't nearly as hostile. Sheen then announced that he'd be willing to take back his sitcom job if the "Men" bosses he so overtly maligned asked him to return.

"If they say, 'Here's your job back, I'll go back to work,' " Sheen said onstage in Chicago. "I think it's a great ... show," he added. But "they didn't give a ... that I was hammered for eight years: money, ratings, money, ratings."

Um, bad idea to talk about the benders, Charlie Bender. But Sheen said he would deliver the truth, as violent or torpedo-like as it may seem.

What do you think of the reviews? Did Sheen deserve to get booed? Tell us in comments.

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Photos: Top, actor Charlie Sheen is introduced to the audience during his performance at the Fox Theatre in Detroit on Saturday. Right, Sheen onstage. Credits: Carlos Osorio / Associated Press.

Britney Spears and sons take in 'The Lion King' in Las Vegas

Britney Spears took a break from promoting her seventh album, "Femme Fatale," to take in a performance of Disney's "The Lion King" with her two sons in Las Vegas.

Spears, a former Mouseketeer, and Sean Preston, 5, and Jayden James, 4, watched the musical at Mandalay Bay on Sunday and then tucked backstage to snap photos with the cast, including stars Kissy Simmons (Nala), Niles Rivers (Simba), Derrick Williams (Mufasa) and Ntsepa Pitjeng (Rafiki), pictured here.

Spears was in Sin City the same night the Academy of Country Music Awards honored its winners at the MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay arenas, where live performances from Taylor Swift, Sugarland and Carrie Underwood were taking place.

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Photo: Britney Spears and her sons with the cast members. Credit: Angela Weiss / Getty Images

'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' premiere: Daniel Radcliffe works a little more magic

The stars came out to witness Daniel Radcliffe's sorcery go corporate Sunday at the opening night of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in New York.

In the revival of the musical comedy, "Harry Potter's" Radcliffe stars as J. Pierrepont Finch, a window washer who works his way up the corporate ladder through a series of schemes and a self-help manual. 

He is joined by Emmy winner and "Night Court" attorney John Larroquette, who plays Finch's boss, the president of the World Wide Wicket Company, in the play, which originally debuted on Broadway in 1961.

Tammy Blanchard plays Hedy LaRue, a secretary and the boss' mistress. She last appeared on Broadway in the 2003 revival of "Gypsy." Making her Broadway debut (like Larroquette) in Rob Ashford's production, Rose Hemingway plays Rosemary, an over-the-moon-over-Finch employee.

Tony Award-winning royalty at opening night included Sara Ramirez of TV's "Gray's Anatomy," Bernadette Peters ("Annie Get Your Gun," "A Little Night Music") and David Hyde Pierce ("Curtains," "La Bete"). Film, television and Broadway star Victor Garber also joined the festivities. Click the pics for more photos from the red carpet.

Playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon and "Valentine's Day" and "New Year's Eve" director Garry Marshall walked the red carpet along with 1965 "How to Succeed" cast member Michele Lee.

Others on hand for the festivities were actress Anjelica Huston, Candy Spelling and John Stamos. Stamos last appeared on Broadway in the 2009 revival of "Bye Bye Birdie."

Singer Katharine McPhee and Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz also attended the opening.

One word of warning to ticket-buying Muggles: Radcliffe will be taking a break from the show this summer to promote the last installment of the boy-wizard films.

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Upper photo: John Larroquette and Daniel Radcliffe arrive at the opening night after-party for "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" in New York. Credit: Charles Sykes / Associated Press

Lower photo: John Stamos at opening night. Credit: Joe Corrigan / Getty Images

'The Book of Mormon' premiere: 'South Park,' 'Avenue Q' masterminds collide

The divine forces of comedy united at the premiere of the Broadway musical "The Book of Mormon" in New York on Thursday.

"South Park" masterminds Trey Parker and Matt Stone teamed up with Robert Lopez -- one of the men behind "Avenue Q" -- to create the show, which opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

Broadway actor Andrew Rannells ("Jersey Boys," "Hairspray") plays Elder Price in "The Book of Mormon" and Josh Gad ("Love & Other Drugs," "21") plays Elder Cunningham, two young men charged with rescuing the Mormon mission in Uganda. Click on the pics for more photos.

Michael Potts and Nikki M. James play a Ugandan father-daughter pair in the Casey Nicholaw-directed show.

On hand for the opening night festivities were Edie Falco, David Hyde Pierce and Jennifer Jason Leigh who have each appeared in Broadway shows themselves.

Academy Award winners Ron Howard and "The Social Network" scribe Aaron Sorkin also showed their support for the zany musical comedy.

"Saturday Night Live" funny people Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig showed their support. Wiig (a costar of "Paul," currently in movie theaters) will soon star in a comedy film she co-wrote, "Bridesmaids," which is being produced by Judd Apatow.

Paul Rudd, who will appear in an Apatow spin-off of "Knocked Up," attended along with "Outsourced" actor Ben Rappaport.

Jeff Daniels, Marcia Gay Harden and Hope Davis, who all attended the "Mormon" premiere, will join "The Sopranos'" James Gandolfini in reprising their roles in a Los Angeles production of "God of Carnage" this April.

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Top photo: Writer/lyricist Robert Lopez, left, writer Trey Parker, writer Matt Stone and director  Casey Nicholaw attend the opening night of "The Book of Mormon" on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York on March 24, 2011. Credit: Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images

Left photo: Actor Paul Rudd attends the opening night of "The Book of Mormon." Credit: Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images