Radio, Television, Live Stage, Plays and Musical Theatre
Gina Wilhelm Actress – Penelope Cruz to Change her Look
Penélope Cruz’s next project will be Pedro Almodovar’s “Los Abrazos Rotos.”
Almodovar wants to be careful not to repeat any of Cruz’s earlier hairstyles. He says he really enjoys “reinventing her.”
To that end, he’s having the Spanish actress go blonde.
However, she won’t dye her hair. Instead, she’ll wear a wig.
Gina Wilhelm Actress – Julianna Margulies Can’t Count on This Emmy
In her first season on “ER,” Julianna Margulies received a best supporting actress Emmy.
Although she (and, at some point during the season, all other actors from the first season of the show) was in this week’s episode, she won’t be eligible for a guest star Emmy.
The rules for the Emmys state that guest stars must be credited as such. Margulies (as well as Noah Wylie, George Clooney, and Eriq LaSalle) were credited along with the rest of the cast regulars.
By contrast, Susan Sarandon was credited as making a “special appearance,” while Ernest Borgnine was listed as a “special guest star.”
Margulies is the only series regular ever to have won a performance Emmy, though the series itself has won a number of awards.
Gina Wilhelm Actress – Singing Badly On Purpose
Neva Rae Powers is an excellent singer with a terrific resume: Anna in “The King and I,” Dorothy Brock in “42nd Street,” Aunt March in “Little Women.”
You won’t know that, however, from her performance in “Souvenir,” which opened Friday in the Studio Theatre at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
In that play, she portrays Florence Foster Jenkins, a socialite who believed she had a beautiful singing voice. Jenkins was sadly mistaken.
The wealthy woman was her own producer, booking agent, and costume designer.
Powers finds the role a challenge. She has to take her extensive training and “warp” it, distorting vowels and intentionally singing above or below pitch.
She also draws inspiration from memories of her late husband’s worst voice students.
Powers enjoys the irony of having spent an entire career training just so she can sing poorly now.
Gina Wilhelm Actress – Acting is a Family Affair
Rosa Nevin put acting on the back burner several years ago to raise her children. Now she’s back, and her daughter is in tow.
Rosa, who was a star in “All My Children” for five years, is about to open Neil Simon’s “Rumors” in Deerfield, IL.
Her husband, Jerry, will be in “Enter Laughing” in April.
Their daughter Samantha, for whom Rosa left full-time acting, is about to play the lead in “The Elves and the Shoemaker” at Glenview Children’s Theatre.
Rosa says she has Samantha help her with her lines, and then Samantha has Rosa return the favor.
Rosa says she and Jerry tried to keep their daughters away from acting, but then a friend of Samantha’s got interested in theatre, and then the daughter got “hooked.”
It’s an interesting transition for Rosa. Some days several people recognize her from the soap opera, and some days, she’s “just” the mom to her daughters.
Gina Wilhelm Actress – Jane Fonda Could Add a Tony to Her Collection
Jane Fonda has made a triumphant return to acting, but this time, she’s on stage.
Fonda has made a big hit in Moises Kaufman’s “33 Variations.” The play opened Monday with raves for her performance.
The LA Times is predicting that she could win a Tony for this show. This would be particularly notable, as she already has Oscar awards for “Klute” and “Coming Home” and an Emmy for “The Dollmaker.”
The play is about a woman trying to unlock the mystery of Beethoven’s composition by the same name.
This show marks Fonda’s return to the stage after a 46-year absence. She was nominated for a Tony for that performance, a two-week run in “There Was a Little Girl.”
