Chris Butler News

Focus Features' animated comedy thriller ParaNorman gets its nationwide release by Focus today, Friday, August 17th, 2012. Following LAIKA and Focus' groundbreaking Academy Award-nominated animated feature Coraline, ParaNorman is only the second stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3D. Jon Brion created the score for the film.

RUBICON THEATRE continues the company's 14th season tonight, May 24 with August Wilson's powerful and poignant drama GEM OF THE OCEAN.

RUBICON THEATRE continues the company's 14th season May 24 with August Wilson's powerful and poignant drama GEM OF THE OCEAN (first preview tonight, May 16).

RUBICON THEATRE continues the company's 14th season May 24 with August Wilson's powerful and poignant drama GEM OF THE OCEAN (first preview May 16).

Focus Features has announced their 2012 Release Schedule, including upcoming films BEING FLYNN and PARANORMAN.

Over the past three years, the members of Brooklyn's ageless Life in a Blender have been skidding to their deaths-off a cliff-plunging into the deepest parts of their souls.

Over the past three years, the members of Brooklyn's ageless Life in a Blender have been skidding to their deaths-off a cliff-plunging into the deepest parts of their souls.

PARANORMAN, the new stop-motion comedy thriller made in 3D from animation company LAIKA, following 'Coraline,' is opening nationwide on August 17th, 2012.

In every case there are two fictions, two sides, each trying to tell the better story, each trying to triumph. Law isn't about justice. It's about winning. The truth is elusive. As personal prejudices come into play, the truth sneaks further and further into the background, especially in cases involving race and sex. Pulitzer Prize winner, David Mamet's play RACE explores the various prejudices and positions in racial arguments. Refreshingly, Mamet does not take sides. Instead, he focuses on getting the audience to think and to speak for themselves.

The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) 2011-12 season continues with David Mamet's newest play, Race, directed by former CENTERSTAGE Artistic Director Irene Lewis. Fresh from a triumphant run on Broadway, Mamet's wicked and scathing courtroom comedy makes its West Coast premiere at A.C.T. With his trademark verbal pyrotechnics, Mamet unleashes two attorneys and the firm's young associate as they scramble to decide if they want to represent a wealthy white man accused of assaulting a black woman.

The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) 2011-12 season continues with David Mamet's newest play, Race, directed by former CENTERSTAGE Artistic Director Irene Lewis. Fresh from a triumphant run on Broadway, Mamet's wicked and scathing courtroom comedy makes its West Coast premiere at A.C.T. With his trademark verbal pyrotechnics, Mamet unleashes two attorneys and the firm's young associate as they scramble to decide if they want to represent a wealthy white man accused of assaulting a black woman.

Working Title Films has commenced production on Joe Wright's epic love story Anna Karenina, adapted from Leo Tolstoy's classic novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love). The film will shoot in the U.K. and Russia. Focus Features will distribute the movie domestically, and Universal Pictures International (UPI) will distribute the movie internationally.

The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) 2011-12 season continues with David Mamet's newest play, Race, directed by former CENTERSTAGE Artistic Director Irene Lewis. Fresh from a triumphant run on Broadway, Mamet's wicked and scathing courtroom comedy makes its West Coast premiere at A.C.T. With his trademark verbal pyrotechnics, Mamet unleashes two attorneys and the firm's young associate as they scramble to decide if they want to represent a wealthy white man accused of assaulting a black woman.

Focus Features and LAIKA, the two companies behind the Academy Award-nominated animated feature Coraline are reteaming for LAIKA's next two projects.

Production begins this week on Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, written and directed by Lorene Scafaria. The pre-apocalyptic comedy stars Golden Globe Award winner Steve Carell and Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley.

Laura Bell Bundy, the singer/actress last seen on Broadway in 2008's Legally Blonde before embarking on a successful country music career, has landed a new TBS pilot. 'Hound Dogs' centers on a fictional Nashville team whose players and general manager have plenty of personal issues to contend with off the field. It features a bartender (Bundy) who is seeking a singing career. Rob Mayes ('Cold Case') takes on the role of a rookie pitcher and her love interest, Variety reports.

The cast for "A Pretty Filthy Evening," to be held February 5 at 9 p.m., at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, will feature (in alphabetical order) Mia Barron ("The Venture Bros.," "The Coast of Utopia"), Chris Butler ("The Good Wife," "Criminal Minds"), Kathryn Hahn ("Hung," "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"), Rashida Jones ("Parks and Recreation," "The Social Network"), Paul Provenza ("Northern Exposure," "The West Wing"), Emily Swallow ("Southland," "The Lucky Ones"), Sam Trammell ("True Blood," "Alien vs. Predator: Requiem"), Steven Weber ("Wings," "Brothers & Sisters"), Rutina Wesley ("True Blood," "How She Move") and Bess Wohl (who is writing the book for the upcoming musical "Pretty Filthy").

Since 1985, The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles has been a vibrant hub of unique programs and events designed to make Shakespeare accessible and engaging in Los Angeles.

Since 1985, The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles has been a vibrant hub of unique programs and events designed to make Shakespeare accessible and engaging in Los Angeles. At last April's annual 'Simply Shakespeare' fundraiser, Helen Hunt read the role of Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing.'

Since 1985, The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles has been a vibrant hub of unique programs and events designed to make Shakespeare accessible and engaging in Los Angeles. At last April's annual "Simply Shakespeare" fundraiser, Helen Hunt read the role of Beatrice in "Much Ado About Nothing."