Newbies propel Broadway box office rise

Broadway box office acquired some steam in Week 20 (March. 10-16) as four productions started previews and "Follies" came back towards the millionaires' club. "Other Desert Metropolitan areas" ($334,839 for six previews), "Chinglish" ($305,443 for eight), "Godspell" ($268,641 for six) and "Venus in Fur" ($157,454 for five) all became a member of the fray. "Follies" ($1,037,906), which reported a dip two days ago likely motivated with a flurry of soon-to-expire discount ducat prices, leaped support within the $a million mark. Meanwhile, any worries of the hit in the Occupy Wall Street demonstration, which decamped over the past weekend to Occasions Square, demonstrated unproven. "Priscilla Full of Desert" ($860,673), for example, rose by a lot more than $100,000, fueled by a look and feel on Rosie O'Donnell's yakker. Rialto cume hit $21,328,673 for that 26 shows around the boards. Attendance tally of 229,906 found 88% of overall capacity, well in front of last season at this time around, if this rang in at 81.9%.The 19 musicals made $17,916,594 for 84% from the Broadway total, with attendance of 185,995 at 87.6% capacity as well as an average compensated admission of $96.33.The seven plays made $3,412,079 for 16% from the Broadway total, with attendance of 43,911 at 91.9% capacity as well as an average compensated admission of $77.70. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Future Shorts launches global 'pop-up' fest

LONDON -- Future Shorts has released a worldwide "pop-up" video clip festival. The org, which in past years has run tests in 17 nations, has asked folk to arrange their very own tests worldwide in non-traditional venues, also known as "pop-up" theaters, to produce a global film festival. The festival, that will run from November. 1 to Jan. 31, includes tests from the Oscar champion "God of affection,Inch BAFTA champion "The Eagleman Stag," Berlinale champion "Incident with a Bank" and Sundance champion "Much deeper Than Yesterday." Fabien Riggall, the founder and director of Future Shorts, stated the event will "unite filmmakers and audiences, permitting anybody anywhere to host their very own screening and share ideas, creativeness and tales from all over the world.Inch Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Elizabeth Taylor Remembered at Private Memorial Service

Elizabeth Taylor's family and friends paid tribute to the late actress during a private memorial held Sunday on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank.our editor recommendsElizabeth Taylor Dies at 79Barbara Walters Recalls Last Hospital Conversation With Elizabeth TaylorDebbie Reynolds, Madonna Remember Elizabeth TaylorDebbie Reynolds Reveals How She Forgave Elizabeth TaylorRelated Topics•Elizabeth Taylor (1932-20... Nearly 400 people attended the memorial, which took place in the Steven J. Ross Theater, to pay their respects to the actress, who died March 23 of congestive heart failure at age 79. PHOTOS: Elizabeth Taylor's Life in Pictures Colin Farrell hosted the event, during which speakers including Michael Caine and Taylor's stepdaugher Kate Burton paid tribute to the late actress' life and career and shared stories about her humor, generosity and determination to do stand up for what she believed in. Mike Nichols, who directed the actress to an Oscar-winning performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, contributed a video message. Grandson Rhys Tivey played "Amazing Grace" on the trumpet, a song that his grandmother loved. Meanwhile, Elton John closed the program with a performance of "Blue Eyes" as a tribute to Taylor. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths The program also featured tributes to Taylor's career outside of Hollywood, including her successful Elizabeth Arden fragrances White Diamonds and Passion as well as her advocacy on behalf of people living with HIV/AIDS. "My mother was an extraordinary woman whose life touched so many, most of whom we will never know," son Michael Wilding said. "Our whole family is extremely proud of her accomplishments, and know what a unique and special experience it was to have her in our lives. Today it was especially meaningful for us to be with so many good friends to celebrate her spirit, which will be with us forever." Wilding was at her mom's side when she died along with her other children: Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton. REPORT: Elizabeth Taylor Worth Up to $1 Billion at Time of Death Organizers of Sunday's event are asking those who want to pay tribute to Taylor to contribute to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation at www.elizabethtayloraidsfoundation.org. Related Topics Colin Farrell Elton John Michael Caine Obituaries Elizabeth Taylor

Here's Why the Lady Suing 'Drive' Is not Completely Crazy

A couple of days ago I authored an item explaining why -- in line with the misleading trailers -- you most likely hated 'Drive.' Nevertheless, even I am surprised to determine Michigan resident Sarah Deming take this one stage further and file a suit against FilmDistrict for delivering a trailer "[marketing] the film 'Drive' as much like the 'Fast and Furious' or similar, number of movies." Will I feel FilmDistrict amped in the action within the trailer for 'Drive' in order to produce a better quality box-office tally? Yes. But 'The Fast and also the Furious'? What? Matt Singer at IFC does not think these trailers are in the same. I viewed both trailers again, too. I am not to imply this suit has any merit whatsoever (and from my zero many years of law school, I am stating that it does not), but, possibly, here's why Sarah Deming grew to become confused. [Note: you can most likely do that with any two trailers.] Within the trailer for 'The Fast and also the Furious,' a muscular guy wears the letter-shirt without any masturbator sleeves. Within the trailer for 'Drive,' a muscular guy wears the letter-shirt without any masturbator sleeves. Within the trailer for 'The Fast and also the Furious,' the film's hero makes by helping cover their a lady. Within the trailer for 'Drive,' the film's hero makes by helping cover their a lady. Within the trailer for 'The Fast and also the Furious,' a vehicle flicks. Within the trailer for 'Drive,' a vehicle flicks. Within the trailer for 'The Fast and also the Furious,' a flipping vehicle sometimes appears from the inside another vehicle. Within the trailer for 'Drive,' a flipping vehicle sometimes appears from the inside another vehicle. Within the trailer for 'The Fast and also the Furious,' there's American currency. Within the trailer for 'Drive,' there's American currency. Within the trailer for 'The Fast and also the Furious,' a window is shot out. Within the trailer for 'Drive,' a window is shot out. Within the trailer for 'The Fast and also the Furious,' a vehicle skids unmanageable. Within the trailer for 'Drive,' a vehicle skids unmanageable. Within the trailer for 'The Fast and also the Furious,' the film's hero fights. Within the trailer for 'Drive,' the film's hero fights. Within the trailer for 'The Fast and also the Furious,' a police vehicle is within pursuit. Within the trailer for 'The Fast and also the Furious,' a police vehicle is within pursuit. [Top photo: FilmDistrict] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook You are able to contact Mike Ryan on Twitter. RELATED

Hot Trailer: The Raven

This is actually the first trailer for Relativity’s period thriller The Raven. The James McTeigue-directed thriller stars John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe, who joins having a Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) to search lower a serial killer using Poe’s works because the grounds for a string of brutal killings — quite a awesome concept for any movie if performed right. The studio has set a March 9, 2012 release date. Alice Eve and Brendan Gleeson also star.

Kelman attracted onto evolve 'Ramayan 3392 AD'

Mandalay Pictures has attracted on emerging scribe Nic Kelman to evolve Liquid Comics' graphic novel "Ramayan 3392 AD." First launched in 2006, story is founded on popular Hindu poem in regards to the adventures of legendary blue-skinned warrior Prince Rama, who fights in order to save his wife within the demon king who kidnapped her. Mark Canton ("300") is creating with Mandalay prexy Trina Schulman, while Liquid Comics cake cake toppers Gotham Chopra and Sharad Devarajan will professional produce the pic with Atmosphere Entertainment. Former Mandalay professional Scarlett Lacey may even serve in the creating capacity. John Collee ("Master and Commander") was hired to evolve the comicbook in March. 2008, but Mandalay sparked to Kelman's new undertake the material. Kelman, who's best known to as author from the finest-selling novel "women," offered his sci-fi spec script "Genneris" to DreamWorks in March. He's repped by CAA and attorney Michael Gendler of Gendler & Kelly. Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com

Dolphin Tale Jumps over Lion King at Box Office

Dolphin Tale Dolphin Tale ousted The Lion King as the top-grossing film at the box office over the weekend, according to Box Office Mojo.The film starring Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman grossed an estimated $14.3 million, while Moneyball took second in its second weekend in theaters, hitting $12.5 million.The Lion King's 3-D re-release held strong at No. 3, pulling in $11 million. With a cumulative total of $79.7 million during this return to multiplexes, it is now 10th on the list of top-grossing films of all time, domestically. Its overall total now stands at $408.2 million.Fall Preview: Get scoop on your favorite returning showsThe cancer dramedy 50/50 grossed $8.9 million in its opening weekend -the most underwhelming debut for a Seth Rogen film to date. Courageous - with a religious theme but without any A-listers in the cast - was close behind at $8.8 million.Suspense thrillers Dream House and Abduction pulled in $8.2 and $5.7 million, respectively.Rounding out the top 10: What's Your Number? (No. 8, $5.6 million), Contagion (No. 9, $5 million), and Killer Elite (No. 10, $4.9 million).

Watch Transformers 3 Megavideo