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Katie Holmes Files in New York, Uses Non-Hollywood Lawyer for Divorce

Roger Friedman
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Katie Holmes Files in New York, Uses Non-Hollywood Lawyer for Divorce

In Hollywood there is a small circle of lawyers who handle the superstar divorces. The last time Tom Cruise got unhitched he used Dennis Wasser, a mega divorce lawyer who filed first and managed the whole deal. Nicole Kidman was blindsided, she said. But lawyering up in Hollywood for divorce is common. So Katie Holmes’s choice of New Jersey lawyer Jonathan Wolfe is very interesting. For one thing, Wolfe filed in New York. So there won’t be a typical Hollywood situation. Katie has managed to go way outside that small circle where Cruise has power, influence and friends. In New York, he’s not a player and there’s no community for him to play in. It was very smart.

Katie’s father and brother, attorneys in Toledo, Ohio, no doubt had a hand in this strategy. Wolfe has an impressive background. His career started at the very heavy Manhattan firm of Milbank Tweed. He’s not a lightweight. His bio reads: “Mr. Wolfe utilizes his background in financial disputes to represent leaders or the spouses of leaders from the business, professional and entertainment/sports communities in complex matrimonial matters.  A significant portion of his practice is devoted to business valuation, the treatment of trust assets in divorce and the protection of non-marital assets.  He also assists clients in all other aspects of matrimonial and family law, including custody, parenting time, and the negotiation and preparation of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.”

It’s not clear whether Wasser will represent Tom again, or if he’s a license to practice in New York. Cruise may have to call in a Manhattan heavyweight to deal with this. I’ve no doubt his regular attorney, Bert Fields, is all over it.

Exclusive: Katie Holmes Fires Publicist, Returns to Pre- Tom Cruise Agency

Roger Friedman
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10
Exclusive: Katie Holmes Fires Publicist, Returns to Pre- Tom Cruise Agency

Exclusive: I’m told Katie Holmes has fired her publicist, the very good Ina Trecoikas, and has returned to Nancy Ryder, Leslie Sloane and BWR after seven years. Amazing stuff! This is a clear signal that Holmes is repudiating her last seven years. More to come…Radaronline.com is reporting that Katie will retain primary custody of Suri. But my emails to Cruise’s publicist regarding the subject have gone unanswered…also whether Scientology was cause of the rift…

Rewind: I met Katie Holmes on April 4, 2005 on the opening night of “Steel Magnolias” on Broadway. She was there to support her friend, Rebecca Gayheart. At the intermission, Katie and I discussed the fact that she’d moved to New York, was excited to do theater and indie films. The world was her oyster. Two weeks later, she turned up in Rome, in love with Tom Cruise.

According to her reps, she’d gone to Los Angeles to interview for “Mission: Impossible 3.” “We never heard from her again,” the rep said. In short order, Holmes fired publicist Leslie Sloane. No one she knew could explain what had happened. Between April 11 and the 27th, there was no record of what happened to her. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160192,00.html. Once she was with Cruise, she was never out of his sight.

Two years later, after she’d married Cruise, had Suri, and was mostly off the radar, Holmes materialized at a Giorgio Armani fashion show held at Ron Burkle’s estate in Hollywood. She looked dazed when I approached her and said, “Do you remember me? You disappeared.” She replied, “I fell in love.” Immediately, Tom’s sister and mother came between us physically, and Katie’s Scientology minders appeared as well. She was being watched closely. For most of the first year, she was followed everywhere by Jessica Feschbach. Her family had given millions to Scientology. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,162082,00.html

The best example of all this was a frightening interview with Holmes the August 2005 W Magazine by Rob Haskell. Feshbach answered Holmes’s questions for her, and said to the actress of Cruise–in front of Haskell–” you adore him.” Not any more. http://www.wmagazine.com/celebrities/archive/katie_holmes?currentPage=2

Katie Holmes Breaks Free, Is Divorcing Tom Cruise

Roger Friedman
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0
Katie Holmes Breaks Free, Is Divorcing Tom Cruise

People magazine is reporting–and apparently it’s confirmed–that Katie Holmes is divorcing Tom Cruise. This is like earth shaking news out of Hollywood. The pair met in April 2005, fell in love instantly, and Holmes left her family and friends for him. And I mean, left them high and dry. Holmes dumped her agent, manager, publicist, returned no calls from friends and basically became a Scientology inductee. She was shadowed by a Scientology monitor, Jessica Feshbach. whose family gives millions to Scientology. Holmes went from a promising career post – “Dawson’s Creek” and a hit indie film called “Pieces of April” to a series of disasters, small, bad films that no one took seriously. She married Cruise in 2006 and had baby Suri. Cruise’s last divorce divided his family. When he and Nicole Kidman split, he retained custody of their children Isabella and Connor. So now all eyes will be on this situation, as Cruise surely wants Suri raised as a Scientologist. At the time he met Holmes, she was a devout Catholic from a serious Catholic family. In the end, one of the things that divided him and Kidman was the Scientology-Catholic rift. This may have been the same thing. More to come…

Whitney Houston Nick Ashford, Donna Summer Getting Tributes at BET Awards

Roger Friedman
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Whitney Houston Nick Ashford, Donna Summer Getting Tributes at BET Awards

Valerie Simpson gets a minute and thirty five seconds Sunday to remember her husband on the BET Awards. She’ll sing and play piano on their hit, “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” at the BET Awards. Apparently there will be short tributes to Donna Summer and Whitney Houston as well. Simpson was still at her Sugar Bar restaurant at 1am on Friday morning, even though she had a 9:30am flight to Los Angeles. At the Sugar Bar she’s been dealing with her grief by carrying on her vision with Nick, the Thursday night open mic, where strangers and regulars get up and sing, sing, sing. The most recent winner of “The Voice.” Jermaine Paul, started out at the Sugar Bar.

Last night, Simpson and pal Felicia Collins, of the David Letterman band, went to the Apollo to see the Jacksons– Marlon, Tito, Jackie and Jermaine–do their reunion show. They loved it. Collins told me she hit it off with Tito. “Man he can play that guitar.” Then they headed to West 72nd St. and the narrow, talent-filled Sugar Bar. Both of Ashford and Simpson’s daughters were hanging out there, as was A&S’s  trusty long time aide Tee Austin. The place was packed; there were three birthday parties going on.

Various performers came and went from the stage, including regulars who wowed the crowd. The strangers had some pleasant surprises, too including a young white guy from London who sang like an R&B star. Another white guy named Shane who looked like he was out of the James Taylor Singer Songwriter catalog of 1972 took out his guitar and serenaded the audience with a very cozy pop tune. Every one is welcome at the Sugar Bar, which does tend to be heavy on the R&B, soul, jazz, funk. There’s a lot of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and of course, Ashford and Simpson.

An eighteen year old black kid was waiting for his chance to sing. He sat up front. He didn’t really know why Valerie Simpson was famous. Felicia Collins tried to explain it to him. She and Nick Ashford wrote dozens of classic songs, and Motown’s many hits like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” His name was Usen, he said he was Nigerian. “Does anyone know Fantasia’s “I Believe” on the piano?” he asked from the stage. No one did, so he belted it out a cappella and got a standing ovation. A few voice lessons, some training, and Usen will be off to LA for one of the singing competitions. By then, maybe, he’ll know who Ashford and Simpson are.

Meantime, Valerie pointed out one of the last performers of the night–another winner, named China. “She’s our bartender,” Valerie said, beaming.  Then the whole gang sang a rocking R&B version of “We Can Work it Out”–and Valerie Simpson headed home to pack for the plane.

PS Also to be honored Sunday (The BET Awards air on July 3rd) is one of my favorite people, Vy Higginsen. Vy, sister of R&B llegend Doris Troy (“Just One Look”) is a legend herself–as a writer of the musical play “Mama I Want to Sing” and the creator of the Mama Foundation in Harlem. Vy is a dynamo. She’s getting the special Shine a Light Award. It’s her record label that just released Cissy Houston’s new four song gospel EP, too. Bravo, Vy!

Some of the Sugar Bar will be seen soon on Oprah’s OWN show. She just filmed a bunch of segments with Valerie and her girls.

Justin Bieber Poops Out At Number 1 After One Week

Roger Friedman
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Justin Bieber Poops Out At Number 1 After One Week

Justin Bieber’s reign at number 1 lasted one week. His “Believe” album had no legs as it turned out. Just a hair cut. Hitsdailydouble.com is predicting that “Believe” will drop from number 1 to number 3 by the time the sales week ends on Sunday. Bieber sold 373,000 copies in his debut week. But in the second week, the number will fall to between 125,000 to 150,000–at least 50% off. But readers of this column could have guessed that cosnidering our close examination of Bieber’s sales, especially through amazon.com. So what’s the new number 1? Linkin Park should come in with 230K to 250K. And second is Maroon 5, which has a hit single already in “Payphone.” They’ll do between 200K and 220K. Maroon 5 is a real success story im reinventing itself. Band leader Adam Levine is on “The Voice,” acting. and growing into a mainstream personality. Plus, the band scored a major hit last year with “Moves Like Jagger.” Congrats to Octone Records’ James Diener, who’s been with them from the start. As for Bieber, lack of substance is a major obstacle. My guess is he goes the Donny and Marie route, and hosts a variety show.

“Spider Man” Review: “Amazing” Yes, 3D, Effects, and Strong Acting

Roger Friedman
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“Spider Man” Review: “Amazing” Yes, 3D, Effects, and Strong Acting

If you don’t know the basic story of “Spider Man” by now, I can’t help you. Besides the comic and TV shows, there were three Tobey Maguire movies. And a $75 million musical on Broadway. Peter Parker’s saga is better known to school kids than any serious literature. It’s right up there with Superman coming to Earth from Krypton and Bruce Wayne’s parents being killed in front of him.

“The Amazing Spider Man” is intended to reboot Sony and Marvel’s “Spider Man” franchise. They made three movies with Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire, and Kirsten Dunst. Then when a fourth one seemed too expensive, they pulled the plug and decided to start over. And quickly. It’s not so long that the Raimi trilogy was lauded. But you figure, a new generation wants its own actors and sensibilities. For example, Spider Man now uses a cell phone as a matter of course.

This time, with Marc Webb directing and Andrew Garfield starring, there’s no Mary Jane. She’s been replaced by another Spidey girlfriend, Gwen, played by Garfield’s now girlfriend, Emma Stone. Some say they are on the verge of marriage. But in pretend life, they are at odds. Her father is the police captain of New York, hunting Spider Man. They make a great couple on screen with lots of chemistry. There’s also a new villian: Rhys Ifans sort of becomes Patrick Page’s Green Goblin from Broadway. (There are a few unconscious nods to Julie Taymor in this movie.)

However:  “The Amazing Spider Man” will do a lot to help Sony’s bottom line. While the script is nowhere near as jivey or hip as the second Sam Raimi episode, the new movie relies heavily on Amazing special effects, excellent 3D, and the charisma of the cast. Sequences involving moving cranes, and an underwater tunnel, are really spectacular. “The Amazing Spider Man” works as an epic super hero movie. And there’s even a long cameo from 80s teen actor C Thomas Howell as a tossed in Easter egg. Sony may not have a hit phone or tablet, but it’s got a hit summer movie. And get this: sit through the credits and you’ll see the sequel being set up. Every Marvel movie has this now–a glimpse into the near-economic future.

Bruce Springsteen Named MusiCares Person of the Year

Roger Friedman
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Bruce Springsteen Named MusiCares Person of the Year

Bruce Springsteen is the new Person of the Year from MusiCares. Springsteen will be honored on February 8, 2013, two nights before the Grammy Awards. A bunch of artists he selects will perform his songs, and then Bruce and the E Street Band will put on a nine hour show to demonstrate their appreciation. (Just kidding! Only seven hours!) Springsteen follows Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Aretha Franklin, Sting, Don Henley and many other big names in this endeavor. Hopefully, he’ll choose Patti Smith, the Pointer Sisters, Manfred Mann, and others who’ve had hits with his songs. That would be a riot. And of course that country singer who has a hit called “Springsteen” would be funny, too. Some other Bruce faves may turn up as well, like Sam Moore, Darlene Love, and Garland Jeffries. It will be quite a night. MusiCares raises money to help indigent musicians and those who need health and regular bills paid. With Obamacare, things should be a little better, but the vast majority of musicians don’t have health insurance and aren’t prepared for a crisis. MusiCares is ready to help them.

Trailer: Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence in a Potential Oscar Film

Roger Friedman
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0

I had some misgivings, but David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” looks great in this trailer. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence co-star with Robert DeNiro and Jackie Weaver. It’s from The Weinstein Company, one of probably four films they’ll try to navigate into awards season. Originally Mark Wahlberg was going to play the lead. But he and Russell had some some kind of falling out after “The Fighter.” And so it goes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hZuoRniCdtE

Cyndi Lauper’s Broadway Musical Gets “American Idiot” Star

Roger Friedman
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0
Cyndi Lauper’s Broadway Musical Gets “American Idiot” Star

Cyndi Lauper’s Broadway musical–the movie “Kinky Boots” on stage–has gotten a cast. Stark Sands, of “American Idiot,” will co-star with Billy Porter. The whole release follows. Performances begin in Chicago this October.This show has a lot of promise. And Cyndi’s score sounds terrific.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7jcuI_0-v0

New York, NY (6/28/2012) – Producers Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig have announced the full cast and creative team for the World Premiere of Kinky Boots, the new musical that brings together four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book) and Grammy® Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Music & Lyrics).   Directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots will play the Bank of America Theatre (18 West Monroe Street, Chicago, IL) beginning October 2 through November 4, 2012, in advance of a Broadway opening.

Tony® Award nominee Stark Sands (Journey’s End; American Idiot) and Billy Porter (Angels in America; Smokey Joe’s Café) lead a cast of thirty-two that also includes Annaleigh Ashford (Rent; Legally Blonde), Celina Carvajal (Spiegelworld’s Empire), Daniel Sherman (Desire Under the Elms), Marcus Neville (The Full Monty), Paul Canaan (Legally Blonde), Kevin Smith Kirkwood (How to Save the World…), Kyle Taylor Parker (In the Heights National Tour), Kyle Post (Rent), Charlie Sutton (How To Succeed…), Joey Taranto (Rock of Ages), Andy Kelso (Mamma Mia), Tory Ross (Cry-Baby), Jen Perry (Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark), Josh Caggiano (Les Miserables at the Ahmanson Theatre), Aaron Bantum (Finian’s Rainbow), Adinah Alexander (The Wedding Singer), Eric Anderson (South Pacific), Eugene Barry-Hill (The Lion King), Stephen Berger (The Pajama Game), Caroline Bowman (Wicked), Sandra DeNise (Shrek the Musical National Tour), Eric Leviton (Seussical National Tour), Ellyn Marie Marsh (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), John Jeffrey Martin (Hairspray), Nathan Peck (La Cage aux Folles), Robert Pendilla (Wicked), Lucia Spina (South Pacific), Sebastian Hedges Thomas (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Marquise Neal and Clifton Oliver (In the Heights).

The design team for Kinky Boots will include Tony Award nominee David Rockwell (Scenic Design), Tony Award-winner Gregg Barnes (Costume Design), Tony Award-winner Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design), Drama Desk Award nominee John Shivers (Sound Design), Josh Marquette (Hair Design), Randy Houston Mercer (Make-up Design), Telsey + Company (Casting), with Musical Supervision, Arrangements and Orchestrations by Tony Award-winner Stephen Oremus (The Book of Mormon; Wicked).

In Kinky Boots, Charlie Price (Sands) is forced to step in and save his family’s shoe factory in Northern England following the sudden death of his father. Help comes from the unlikeliest angel, a fabulous drag performer named Lola (Porter). Together, this improbable duo revitalizes the failing business, while stepping out from their fathers’ shadows and transforming an entire community through the power of acceptance.

Inspired by a true story and based on the film, Kinky Boots features a warm and witty book by Mr. Fierstein (La Cage, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies) and a richly diverse musical score from Ms. Lauper, in her stunning theatrical debut.   Mr. Mitchell (Hairspray, La Cage, Broadway Bares) has crafted a production bound to move, inspire and set audience’s feet dancing.

Exclusive: Sigourney Weaver Doing Durang Play This Fall Before “Avatar” Sequels

Roger Friedman
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0
Exclusive: Sigourney Weaver Doing Durang Play This Fall Before “Avatar” Sequels

Exclusive: Add Sigourney Weaver’s name to the list of movie stars heading to off or or on Broadway shortly (Alec Baldwin and Jake Gyllenhaal have been in recent announcements). I sort of reported this last week, but here it is: Weaver will star in a new play by Christopher Durang, her old collaborator. It’s called “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.” It’s obviously a comedy riff on “Uncle Vanya.” and will play first at the McCarter Theater in New Jersey and then at Lincoln Center. One other actor, Billy Magnussen, from “As the World Turns” and the Whit Stillman movie “Damsels in Distress,” has been hired to play Sigourney’s much younger boyfriend.

Weaver, meanwhile, as I reported, has her USA Networks show, “Political Animals,” starting July 15th. And after “Vanya”‘s limited run, she goes off to make three “Avatar” sequels.”

Here’s the description from Durang’s website: “The play is set in the present day in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in a farm house Vanya and his step-sister Sonia have lived in all their lives.  They jointly took care of their ailing, doddering parents for many years while their movie star sister Masha was gallivanting around the world, having a life.  The play takes place on a weekend when Masha shows up with a new twenty something boy toy named Spike.

“Vanya, Masha and Sonia were named after Chekhov characters by their college professor parents.  And the play, which is a mix of comedy and drama, takes Chekhovian characters and themes, mixes them up and puts them in a blender.

“The play will be directed by Nicholas Martin, who also directed two other Durang plays, Betty’s Summer Vacation  at Playwrights Horizons Theatre, winning him a directing Obie award, and the critically acclaimed Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them  at the Public Theatre.”

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