Douglas Carter Beane, Tony-Nominated Writer of ‘The Little Dog Laughed,’ Signs With Verve (EXCLUSIVE)

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaBrian Gersh has been named president of Network Entertainment USA. He brings three decades of experience in the entertainment industry, having worked as an executive, agent, manager, and producer, where he has greenlit scores of film and television projects around the world.

Tony Awards.On Sunday night, almost nobody at Radio City Music Hall bothered to stand up for the late Stephen Sondheim.After a far too modest tribute to the legendary composer/lyricist of “West Side Story” “Gypsy,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Into The Woods,” “A Little Night Music” and many others, who died in November at age 91, sung by Bernadette Peters, only a handful of show people begrudgingly got to their feet.For one of the greatest musical theater composers of all time. Who gave his entire life to Broadway.

2022 Tony Awards on Sunday but did not accept the award in person, which sparked concerns from her fans.The 96-year-old actress, who starred in several shows such as “Sweeney Todd,” “Gypsy” and “Mame,” was not present at the 75th Tony Awards that were held Sunday at Radio City Music Hall.The award aired during the pre-show, with her former “Sweeny Todd” costar, Len Cariou, introducing her.Fans immediately voiced concern about the Broadway icon’s absence from the award show.“Angela Lansbury’s absence, even by video, is concerning. And perhaps helps explain why this wasn’t on the main broadcast,” tweeted one user.“They couldn’t even have Angela Lansbury record an acceptance speech for her lifetime achievement award? How awkward.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and Media“A Strange Loop,” “Paradise Square,” “The Lehman Trilogy” and “MJ” are among the major productions competing at the 75th Tony Awards on Sunday. The telecast, which is being hosted by “West Side Story” star Ariana DeBose, is taking place as Broadway is trying to come back from two years of COVID-related closures.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaIt’s that time of year again. That post-July 4th period when media barons and billionaires break out the Brooks Brothers casual and don their sweater vests to hit an idyllic Idaho resort town of Sun Valley for another edition of “lets make a deal.”Many of the names expected to rub elbows next month are familiar ones. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Liberty Media’s John Malone, Comcast chairman Brian Roberts, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Apple pasha Tim Cook and Berkshire Hathaway guru Warren Buffett are among those who have once again made the cut for Allen & Co.’s annual media conference.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaPaul Yanover is stepping down as president of Fandango after nearly a decade atop the country’s leading movie ticketing service. He will be replaced by Will McIntosh, who currently serves as executive VP of NBC Sports Next.His new role will be slightly different, as he will serve as president of both NBC Sports Next and Fandango.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaProducer and entrepreneur Alex Lieberman has launched Bright West Entertainment, a new film finance and production company with a special focus on backing documentary content.The company is making a big splash this month. Three of its next feature documentaries — “On the Line: The Richard Williams Story,” “Subject” and “Rudy! A Documusical” — are set to world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, which kicks off on Wednesday.“I’m focused on financing interesting stories and trying to serve as a catalyst to help projects get made,” Lieberman tells Variety.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaElmo, Cookie Monster, Grover and more are New York City bound.Rockefeller Productions and Sesame Workshop are teaming for “Sesame Street: The Musical,” a new Off-Broadway stage production adapted from the beloved children’s TV program, Variety has learned exclusively. Previews will start on Sept. 8, 2022, with opening night set for Sept.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaHappyNest has closed an equity investment into GoKidGo, an audio company geared towards making content for kids. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The pact gives HappyNest proprietary development rights to adapt short-form and long-form animated series from GoKidGo original characters, including a new original R.L.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAs viewers gear up for the final seasons of “Stranger Things,” “Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical” is launching new productions this fall in London and Australia. It will also mount an Off-Broadway revival, where the show was a hit during its initial 2021 run.The London production gets points for atmosphere — it will set “Stranger Sings!” within a maze of disused railway arches underneath Waterloo Station.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaDocumentary studio XTR and Crooked Highways are teaming up on “Merch!”The upcoming documentary will look at the origin and impact of music merchandise through the stories of pivotal musicians, designers, fans, and entrepreneurs who helped commodify artists. The non-fiction feature will trace the history of these products, starting with the first Elvis Presley concert t-shirt.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaMichelle Salcedo will direct “The Body,” a new thriller from Catalyst Studios. The film boasts a script from “Inside Man” and “Righteous Kill” writer Russel Gewirtz. Salcedo previously directed “Woman of the House.”Catalyst is the new banner from social entrepreneur Holly Levow, Mark Pennell and Paul Kampf.

Broadway’s legendary Angela Lansbury will receive the 2022 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, the Tony Awards Administration Committee announced today.

to her iconic performances in ‘Deuce’ and ‘Sweeney Todd,’and most recently, in the revival of ‘A Little Night Music,’ Ms. Lansbury has given us a lifetime of unforgettable performances, and it is a great honor to present her with the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award.”Lansbury made her Broadway debut in 1957, when she starred in “Hotel Paradiso.” She won her first Tony less than a decade later for her 1966 performance in “Mame.” She also won Tonys for “Dear World” in 1969, “Gypsy” in 1974, and “Sweeney Todd” in 1979.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAngela Lansbury will receive the Tony Award for lifetime achievement at the 2022 ceremony. In a career that spans over 75 years, Lansbury has already won five competitive Tonys. After first breaking into movies, Lansbury made her Broadway debut in 1957 in “Hotel Paradiso.” Over the decades, she’d go on to star in “Anyone Can Whistle,” “Mame,” “Dear World,”, “Gypsy” and Sweeney Todd.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaScoot McNairy, Kit Harington and Josh Lucas are set to star in “Blood for Dust,” an upcoming action thriller that will be directed by Rod Blackhurst.Former friends Cliff (McNairy), a traveling salesman struggling to make a living, and Ricky (Harington), an illegal-weapons dealer making serious money, reconnect one fateful day. Hoping to make some quick cash, Cliff agrees to partner with the violent Ricky, who is expanding his business to include cross-state drug and gun deliveries for John, a mid-level American cartel boss (Lucas).

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaBlue Fox Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to “Unexpected,” an offbeat comedy starring Anna Camp, Joseph Mazzello, Neil Flynn and Ryann Shane. The movie is currently in post-production.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaArclight Films and MEP Capital Management are teaming up to acquire and license all available media rights to the library of The Lotus Entertainment. That library consists of a mix of worldwide and foreign sales rights to 58 films released between 2005 to 2019, which earned more than $500 million at the global box office.