Despite Retiring From Touring, Elton John Isn’t Slowing Down: Recording New Music, Opening Two Stage Musicals and Performing at His Annual Oscar Party

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Gala in Los Angeles hit a snafu on Saturday when protestors of the Israel-Hamas war interrupted Jill Biden’s keynote address at the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel in Los Angeles. Just as the first lady started speaking, about five people rose from their seats and began shouting, “Free Palestine.” One held a sign that said, “Queer Jews Say Ceasefire Now.” The evening serves as a major fundraiser for HRC, one of the country’s leading LGBTQ advocacy organizations. They protestors continued yelling as security ushered them out of the room.

Katcy Stephan Actor and comedian Zach Woods has signed with the Gersh Agency for representation in all areas. Woods is best known for his work on critically acclaimed series “Silicon Valley” and “The Office.” He played Donald “Jared” Dunn for six seasons on “Silicon Valley” and joined “The Office” as Gabe Lewis starting in Season 6.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events Former ID-PR brands boss Michael Smith has launched a new communications firm, Midnight Dawn. Smith departed ID-PR in January. “Midnight Dawn has been 25 years in the making and I’m honored to have the privilege of representing a world class group of talent and brands,” Smith said in an exclusive statement to Variety on Tuesday.

Elton John is currently working on two musicals, and is already open to ideas regarding a third.The update was shared by the musician’s husband David Furnish, who opened up about Sir Elton’s current creative projects during a new interview.Speaking to The Sun at the 32nd annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscars viewing party last weekend (March 10), Furnish revealed that the renowned singer, songwriter and pianist currently has his hands full with two musicals.The first of which is The Devil Wears Prada – which premiered in the UK back in July – and Tammy Faye, which recently relocated to a Nederlander Theatre on Broadway.However, although Furnish said that they were “quite busy as it is” with the two projects, they haven’t closed themselves off to the idea of taking on a third (via The International News).“[As for] a catalogue musical? We’re always looking at it,” he revealed. “I haven’t found anything yet that really covers… I think if we wanted to do it, we would want to do it in a way that was really innovative and really exciting and different.“We’re open to any great ideas and it’s a wonderful catalogue,” he added.Elsewhere on the night, Furnish also shared an insight into his partner’s health ahead of him going into surgery.The procedure is set to be a knee operation and, according to his partner, should leave the ‘Rocketman’ singer feeling like “a new man”.“He’s doing amazing,” he told the outlet during the viewing party.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Johnny Wujek is used to styling some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Best known for his longtime collaboration with Katy Perry, he’s also worked with Ariana Grande and Kim Kardashian.

Rance Collins Sir Elton John retired from touring last July, but the legendary singer got back behind the piano in front of a star-studded audience at his annual Academy Awards viewing party, benefitting the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The crowd, which included Patricia Arquette, Donatella Versace, Sharon Stone, Zooey Deschanel, Brandi Carlile, Danny DeVito, Rhea Pearlman, Tim Allen, Elizabeth Hurley, Alexis Bledel, Eric McCormack, Avril Lavigne, Heidi Klum and Melanie Lynskey, was regaled with a rousing rendition of “Are You Ready for Love,” assisted by the night’s musical headliners, the trio Gabriels.

Sir Elton John's husband David Furnish has given a health update on the superstar after he was "unable to walk" down the red carpet during his own event.The couple attended the 32nd Elton John AIDS Foundation's 32nd Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party, not long after the Rocketman singer had a knee replacement in January. Elton, 76, is due to have another operation on his knee next month but his husband David, 61, said he could be "breakdancing" in no time.

Turn it up to 11, the sequel to the sequel to the 1984 cult classic “This Is Spinal Tap,” recently began production in New Orleans, Louisiana. Rob Reiner is behind the director’s chair again, and Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer are all reprising their iconic roles as the legendary heavy metal band Spinal Tap.

Producer Castle Rock Entertainment announced today that the sequel to the 1984 cult classic This Is Spinal Tap recently began production in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Elton John and Prince Harry used to be great pals, but now the prince is reportedly 'blacklisted' from Elton's star-studded Oscars party. Harry, 38, was always a welcome guest at the annual Hollywood event, thanks to his close friendship with the 76-year-old Rocket Man singer.

Elton John always brings together so many celebs during the Academy Awards every year and he hosted yet another star-studded party!

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka are teaming up with Tiffany Haddish on Oscars night!

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly not invited to Sir Elton John's annual Oscars party in 2023, according to royal expert Tom Bower. The author suggested the snub shows the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are "nobodies in Hollywood".

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events Talk about loyalty. Betty Buckley has been staying at the Chateau Marmont for about 50 years.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events Talk about a fashion emergency. Donatella Versace got stuck in an elevator at the Los Angeles LGBT Center on Friday night on her way to co-host an event for the organization with Dwyane Wade. Staffers at the center immediately called the fire department, but sources say the fashion designer’s security took care of things.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events Martin Scorsese can do a lot of things — just don’t ask him to dance. The 81-year-old filmmaker’s daughter Francesca says her dad has been open to do most anything in their wildly popular TikToks, but he’s not so keen on busting a move. “He refuses to do dances,” Francesca told me Wednesday at Vanity Fair and Instagram’s Young Hollywood pre-Oscars party at Bar Marmont.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events As “Scream 7” continues to be reworked after a series of setbacks that saw cast members and the director leaving the project, star Mason Gooding is confident the movie will still get made. “If it could make money, I guarantee you, they’ll make it,” the actor told Variety at Vanity Fair and Instagram’s pre-Oscars Vanities party on Wednesday night at Bar Marmont in West Hollywood. But Gooding, who played Chad Meeks-Martin in the last two “Scream” movies, insists he’s not in the loop on where things stand today.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events The cast and crew of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” are still waiting to hear what their creative team has in store for Seasons 2 and 3. “We have no idea,” Dallas Liu, who stars as Prince Zuko in Netflix‘s live-action adaptation of the Nickelodeon animated series of the same name, told me Wednesday night at Vanity Fair and Instagram’s pre-Oscars party, Vanities: A Night for Young Hollywood, at Bar Marmont. “We have literally zero details.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events From Ryan Gosling’s rainbow assortment of custom Gucci suiting to Colman Domingo’s brightly hued attire, real men wear pink — or any other color, for that matter. “Everyone is feeling freer to wear what makes them feel beautiful and authentic,” Gosling’s stylist Mark Avery tells Variety. “May December” star Charles Melton has landed on countless best-dressed lists for the head-turning looks he has served since the Todd Haynes film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events Kal Penn admits he didn’t know much about Anna Nicole Smith’s physician, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, before he was approached to star as the doctor in the indie adaptation of his memoir, “Trust Me, I’m a Doctor.” “But then I read the doctor’s autobiography and found it interesting and compelling,” Penn told me Monday night at the South Asians at the Oscars party on the Paramount lot. Variety’s Tatiana Siegel exclusively reported Feb.