Pop Culture

Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds surprised a 13-year-old boy with a video message after the teenager had open-heart surgery. Seb Hollingsworth’s dad sent a message on Twitter on Tuesday evening, asking: “How do we get a @MarvelStudios Superhero to send a message to our Heart Hero Seb?” Reynolds replied: “Can you open your DMs?” and arranged

Actors’ Equity says it will place Broadway producer Garth Drabinsky on its “Do Not Work” list just as soon as his financially troubled musical Paradise Square ends its run with a matinee on Sunday at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Once he’s on the list, Equity members won’t be allowed to work on Drabinsky’s stage productions

Comedian Rhod Gilbert has announced he is receiving treatment at a cancer hospital he has supported for more than 10 years. The 53-year-old Welsh star shared the news on Facebook a week after postponing the final shows of his current tour. Gilbert, who has appeared on comedy TV series including Mock The Week, 8 Out

Contrary to internet rumors and some published reports, producers of Broadway’s Funny Girl say they were not “blindsided” by star Beanie Feldstein’s Sunday night Instagram post announcing her early departure. Using wording similar to that in Feldstein’s post, producers and Feldstein’s representative have released a joint statement saying that producers had “decided to take the

Britney Spears’ father has been ordered to appear in court to face questions over alleged surveillance of his superstar daughter. Jamie Spears, 70, will be deposed to testify within the next 30 days and has been told he must also produce all documents requested by the singer’s lawyers. A judge made the orders during a

A woman has alleged Tim Westwood had sex with her when she was 14 – and is one of several women who have now come forward with claims of sexual misconduct against the DJ. Westwood, now 64, was in his 30s when he had sex with the then teenager for the first time, she told

Beanie Feldstein announced tonight that she’ll depart the starring role of Broadway’s Funny Girl even earlier than previously announced: Her last performance in the show will be July 31. “Playing Fanny Brice on Broadway has been a lifelong dream of mine,” Feldstein posted on Instagram tonight, “and doing so for the last few months has

Spotify has bought the musical guessing game Heardle – but some fans are not happy about the takeover. The streaming giant has not disclosed what it paid, but its inspiration, a five-letter guessing game called Wordle, was sold to the New York Times for a seven-figure sum earlier this year. Heardle challenges players to identify

EXCLUSIVE: Cheyenne Jackson will step into the roles of Cinderella’s Prince and Red Riding Hood’s Wolf for a weeklong stint in Broadway’s hit revival Into the Woods, taking over for Gavin Creel during a previously scheduled absence. Jackson will play the roles from July 24-August 2 while Creel fulfills prior commitments. The latter will return

Squid Game has become the first non-English language Emmy nominee. The South Korean hit about a brutal survival contest has been nominated in the prestigious category of outstanding drama series as well as earning a nod for its lead star Lee Jung-jae. The Netflix show’s nomination underlines the power of the streamers in a set-piece awards

News of Lea Michele’s upcoming arrival in Broadway’s Funny Girl will certainly hand the musical a revival in advance ticket sales, welcome news for producers who saw last week’s box office continue its recent downward pivot. The musical, currently starring Beanie Feldstein (who has missed some recent performances) played to houses only 65% full during

Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan can be seen back together as Scott and Charlene for the first time in new images revealed from the final episodes of Neighbours. The stars are among many returning for the end of the long-running Australian soap, which will air for the last time at the end of July. In

Paradise Square, the musical that marked producer Garth H. Drabinsky’s Broadway return and won its lead actress a Tony but failed to catch on at the box office, will conclude its run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre with the July 17 Sunday matinee. The closing notice was announced today, with the caveat “barring a dramatic

The composer who wrote the theme for the James Bond films has died at the age of 94. A statement on his official website said: “It is with sadness we share the news that Monty Norman died on 11th July 2022 after a short illness.” He began his career singing in big bands before forging

As expected, or at least widely rumored, Lea Michele is Broadway’s new Funny Girl, taking over the coveted role of Fanny Brice from the departing Beanie Feldstein. Tovah Feldshuh will take the role of Mrs. Brice after Jane Lynch leaves the production. Michele, best known as a star of TV’s Glee and Broadway’s Spring Awakening,

Lauren Goodger has announced the death of her baby girl Lorena, just two days after giving birth. The former TOWIE star shared a black and white image on Instagram, showing her holding the tiny baby’s hand, along with a message to express her pain at losing her child. Goodger said she had had no pregnancy

Even in a second- or third-rate production, Into the Woods is delightful, big and lovable and accessible and loaded with some of Stephen Sondheim’s most gorgeous and endearing songs. In a top-flight production, the 1986 musical is transcendent. And make no mistake: Whatever else this summer will be remembered for, we can say this: New

British rapper Little Simz has taken home the best pop act prize at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards. She was recognised for her fourth studio album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, which also earned her a BRIT Award and received critical acclaim across the board. Other winners on the night included the cast of

How to tell the story of the complex figure that was George Michael? The singer, who by 1988 had become the biggest-selling artist in the world thanks to his debut solo album Faith and earlier huge success with Wham!, will always be remembered for his music. He was a songwriter with a gift for creating

Sopranos actor Tony Sirico has died at the age of 79, his family said. Sirico played the role of Paulie ‘Walnuts’ Gualtieri in the popular HBO show, appearing in all six seasons. He died on Friday morning, according to a Facebook post by his brother Robert. Image: Steve Van Zandt, James Gandolfini and Tony Sirico