Latest news with #SoniaFriedmanProductions
Times
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
How Paddington Bear got his paws on a musical in London's West End
His journey in life has taken him from a forest in darkest Peru to a fictional London townhouse at 32 Windsor Gardens — but now Paddington Bear is coming to the West End. A musical starring Michael Bond's famous creation will open at the Savoy Theatre in London in November, and promises to explore 'the politics of Paddington'. It is being produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, the company behind West End hits such as the Book of Mormon and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The story, which has been in production for five years, will be based on Bond's original novels and follows the three successful films which featured Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington. Jessica Swale, the British scriptwriter for the
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow' first photos, ‘Legend of Zelda' gets release date, Tom Hanks spoofs ‘Forrest Gump,' and more of today's top stories
Gold Derby's top news stories for March 28, 2025. Netflix's Emmy-winning Stranger Things will soon be eligible to win some Tony Awards. Sonia Friedman Productions has released first look images (see above and below) ahead of Friday's preview performance of Stranger Things: The First Shadow at The Marquis Theater on Broadway. Director Stephen Daldry claimed, "The challenge is to create a visceral experience for the audience, where they feel shock and awe, surprise and delight. You have to deliver that." Co-creator Ross Duffer added, "The first time we saw the play, we were blown away." His brother Matt Duffer chimed in, "They pulled everything off, and then some. It was one of the most thrilling experiences of our lives." If you can't make it to New York to see the Broadway show, don't worry — you can still get your Stranger Things fix later in 2025 when the fifth and final season arrives on Netflix. More from GoldDerby Seth Rogen explains how 'The Studio' pulled off its one-shot episode Jean Smart knew 'Hacks' would win the Emmy Award: 'I wasn't surprised - we deserved it' Noah Wyle signs board certification of doctor who went into medicine because of 'ER' Netflix/Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman At long last, fans of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda video game series will be able to see their favorite characters on the big screen. Start saving up your rupees now! While plot details and casting information are still unknown, Sony has scheduled the live-action adaptation for a theatrical release on March 26, 2027. Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, The Maze Runner) will direct the highly anticipated project. The fantasy game series takes place in the kingdom of Hyrule and focuses on Link, an elf-like Hylian, who, with the help of his trusty Master Sword, tries to save Princess Zelda from the evil Ganon. There have been approximately 21 original Zelda video games released between 1986 and 2024. Actor-musician Chet Hanks, whose famous father Tom Hanks won the Best Actor Oscar for Forrest Gump (1994), is now spoofing the iconic character. Chet and his longtime friend Drew Arthur's country duo Something Out West has a new music video titled "You Better Run" that's all about Forrest, the inspirational character who's famous for recounting his amazing life to strangers while sitting at a Georgia bus stop. In the video, Chet is seen offering up chocolates on the bench beside Tom, riding on a boat similar to Forrest's shrimp boat "Jenny" (inspired by Robin Wright's character), and partaking in a cross-country run. Oscar winner Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard, 1980) will be joining Season 2 of Netflix's hit comedy A Man on the Inside, alongside her husband, Ted Danson. Steenburgen will take on the role of Mona Margadoff, a former musician who knows something about that season's mystery. Danson returns as Charles Nieuwendyk, an aging father and widower who gains a new lease on life when he is hired to help out a private detective agency. Season 1 was named one of AFI's 2024 TV programs of the year and received nominations at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards for Danson. Paramount On April 18, the Museum of the Moving Image in New York will introduce a new exhibit that's all about Paramount Pictures' Mission: Impossible film franchise. The museum pieces will honor Tom Cruise, who plays the big screen version of the classic field agent Ethan Hunt, as well as tease the eighth feature film, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, due out in theaters May 23. The Museum of the Moving Image said, "The exhibition will spotlight star and producer Tom Cruise' exceptional commitment to practical stunt work, and explore how the series combines technical ingenuity, personal discipline, and artistic commitment, all in service of storytelling, character development, and performance." The Palm Springs International Film Festival has unveiled its dates for the 2026 calendar year. The 37th annual event will run from Jan. 2 to Jan. 12, with the awards gala scheduled for Friday, Jan. 2 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Movie screenings will officially kick off Jan. 3, with the opening night presentation taking place that evening. In addition, the Palm Springs ShortFest is still set for June 24-30, 2025. Long considered a major early step on the road to the Academy Awards, nearly all of Palm Springs' 2025 honorees went on to receive Oscar nominations, with four winning: Adrien Brody (Desert Palm Achievement Award for The Brutalist), Kieran Culkin (Breakthrough Performance Award for A Real Pain), Mikey Madison (Breakthrough Performance Award for Anora), and Zoe Saldaña (Vanguard Award for Emilia Pérez). SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby Alan Arkin movies: 15 greatest films ranked worst to best Warren Beatty movies: 12 greatest films ranked worst to best Mark Ruffalo movies: 14 greatest films ranked worst to best Click here to read the full article.
The Independent
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Hugh Jackman and Sonia Friedman launch new company for ‘affordable' theatre
Tony Award-winning producer Sonia Friedman and Tony winner Hugh Jackman have announced the launch of a new theatre company. Together is dedicated to offering audiences affordable live theatre in intimate spaces. Alongside director Ian Rickson, the company will stage short runs of full-length plays, plus readings, panel discussions, and similar events. 'With director Ian Rickson we wanted to create a company where actors, writers, and directors could experiment, explore, and take risks, away from the pressures that are often associated with the commercial theatre world,' Friedman and Jackman said in a joint statement. 'Together is about going back to basics, rediscovering the simple, thrilling essence of live performance. 'At the same time, this isn't about our stepping away from Broadway or the West End —it's about supporting and coexisting alongside them. We have always been drawn to theatre because of its raw energy—the excitement of a first reading, the joy of stepping into an unexpected role, that sense of a shared experience. With Ian, this company is our way of sharing those moments with audiences, making them part of our process. 'We also want to embrace flexibility—whether that's through varied performance schedules during the week or staging plays in repertoire, allowing productions and ideas to evolve in a spontaneous and organic way. By removing some of the usual constraints, we hope to create a space where the productions can feel fresh, alive, and ever-changing.' The trio previously collaborated on the 2014 Broadway mounting of The River. The Jez Butterworth drama was directed by Rickson, starred Jackman, and was lead produced by Friedman's company Sonia Friedman Productions. Friedman is producing three currently running Broadway shows, including the well-received West End transfer of Sunset Boulevard. She's also producing three upcoming musicals: Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Dead Outlaw, and The Queen of Versailles. Jackman is in the midst of his year-long residency at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. He was last seen on Broadway in the 2022 revival of The Music Man, for which he received a Tony nomination.
