Alan Cumming: Shakespeare CD, 'Macbeth' ticket offer, awards ceremony hosting

• Shakespeare

Alan Cumming performs Shakespeare's "Greatest Hits" on new CD, The Head That Wears a Crown
"To be or not to be" and "Now is the winter of our discontent" are included on this 22-track CD of Shakespeare's most famous speeches.

 

Cover art for The Head That Wears a Crown, courtesy of GPR Records

Combine your favorite audio book with your favorite NOW CD, add a dash of Alan Cumming, and you've got the most sophisticated thing ever to happen to long car trips. Tony and Emmy Award winner Alan Cumming (Cabaret), the Shakespearean man-of-the-hour who is currently preparing to open his one-man rendition of Macbeth at the Ethel Barrymore Theater this month, is also preparing to release a 22-track CD of Shakespeare's most famous speeches entitled The Head That Wears a Crown. Produced by GPR Records, the CD contains selections from As You Like It, Coriolanus, Hamlet, Henry V, Henry VIII, King Lear, Macbeth, Richard II, The Tempest, Titus Andronicus, and Twelfth Night, chosen by Cumming personally. The digital release is set for April 3, with a full release scheduled for April 26.
Read more at TheaterMania

• Macbeth

Rush Ticket policy announced for Alan Cumming's Macbeth on Broadway

 

photo courtesy of Playbill

Producers have announced a "$30 Under 30" rush ticket policy for the new one-man Broadway production of Macbeth starring Tony Award winner Alan Cumming, which begins Broadway previews April 7 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
Individuals under 30 years of age with a valid ID indicating their birth date will be able to purchase one ticket at the Barrymore box office for day-of performances to the production that will officially open April 21.
Read more at Playbill

Alan Cumming guest stars in the season finale of "The Outs"
The Outs, a critically-acclaimed and crowd-funded web series about friends, lovers and exes in Brooklyn, is wrapping up with Alan Cumming guest starring in the finale episode. Adam Goldman, the show's creator, spoke to BuzzFeed via email about the finale and how The Outs got started.
Read more at BuzzFeed

• Drama League Awards

David Hyde Pierce to Host Drama League Awards; Honorary Co-Chairs Include Alan Cumming, Nathan Lane & More
Read more at Broadway

Alan Cumming: new concert date, fashion video appearance, Richard III audio

Extra show added for Liza and Alan Cumming!

 

From The Village Voice:

Last year in Cherry Grove, Daniel Nardicio presented Alan Cumming and special guest Liza Minnelli in concert, and it became the buzzy event of the whole gay summer.
Those two were pretty delectable together. (And there was that Cabaret connection, so seeing them do a cabaret act made "duh" kind of sense.)
Well, they're coming back as a duo, this time to Town Hall on March 13--a day after Liza's 67th birthday.
And Liza's added a full band, and she and Alan are working on new material so it's not going to be a replica of the Fire Island shows.
The formula totally clicks.
In fact, Nardicio tells me that tickets flew so quickly that he's added a second show for the next night!
And suddenly the sound you hear from certain neighborhoods is "Maybe this time, I'll get tickets. Maybe this time, I'll win...."

Source (including images): The Village Voice



STAGE TUBE: Alan Cumming makes appearance in HAPPY TEARS film
These so called "Happy Tears" shoot through our veins like free flowing dopamine and leave us comfortably cringing. The prints, cuts and materials from this collection are reminiscent of the feeling of coming home and at the same time letting go. This intimately familiar laugh echoes through our memories and seizes us suddenly and unexpectedly - whether we want it to or not. This power is reflected in Zigerli's collection. The harmonic assortment surprises with its practicality, details and colors that make ones pulse race.
Since his first collection, Julian Zigerli has produced new collection videos for every season. In collaboration with new directors for each video, the idea is to use the video as a creative output to translate the concept and idea of a collection on a visual and more experimental level.

The concept behind the collection video was to develop a true cross-border collaboration between not only different artists, but also between different film genres. While staying true to the fashion video essence of creating an intense aesthetic experience, the aim was to be as narrative and cinematic as possible. Testament to this ambition is the stunning cameo of actor Alan Cumming who agreed to back this project and bring his own twist to the look and feel of this beautifully shot short film.

Shot on location and with the kind support of The Empire Hotel New York.
Read more at BroadwayWorld 


Alan Cumming puts meat on the bones of Richard III in upcoming audio release Acclaimed actor delivers the King’s speeches and other Royal Men from Shakespeare.
Close on the heels of the stunning archaeological find of King Richard III’s bones in Leicester, England, the infamous monarch’s speeches from Shakespeare will be released on CD and as a digital download performed by acclaimed stage, screen and television actor Alan Cumming. The recording entitled The Head that Wears a Crown: Speeches for Royal Men was recorded last month in New York City and features Cumming (“The Good Wife”) in the roles of several of Shakespeare’s most famous monarchs and is set for release this Spring 2013 it was announced this week by the producers, GPRrecords.
An accomplished actor, Cumming is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critic’s Choice and NY Drama Critics award for his work and has been nominated for Screen Actors’ Guild and Emmy Awards for his supporting role in the acclaimed CBS drama, The Good Wife.
Cumming’s command of Shakespeare was spectacularly demonstrated by the 2012 recording of Macbeth, for which the actor won a 2012 Audiophile Best Voice of the Year award.
The newest audio recording, a compilation of several of the bard’s royal speeches will be released worldwide by GPRrecords through NAXOS. An audio clip of Cumming as Richard III is posted on GPRecords Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GpRrecords?ref=hl.
Source: PRWeb

David Tennant: project updates and news

Project Motor Mouth
Alongside Peter Davison, Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker and Paul McGann, David Tennant attended the Project Motor Mouth fan convention in Slough on 19th January.
A funny video of David Tennant auctioning a TARDIS at Project Motor Mouth on Saturday.
Read all about the convention here
Janet Fielding tweeted that £7,700 was raised in total by the auction on Saturday at Project Motor Mouth.
Source (including photo above): David Tennant on Twitter

Every Seventh Wave
On Tuesday 15th January, David Tennant and Emilia Fox recorded Every Seventh Wave which is the sequel to Love Virtually.
It will premiere on BBC radio Four on Valentine's Day (Thursday 14th February).
Read more here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

BBC Audio Drama Awards
On Sunday 27th January, David Tennant will host the BBC Audio Drama Awards ceremony in Central London.
More information here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Shakespeare Uncovered
David Tennant can currently be seen in adverts on PBS in the US for Shakespeare Uncovered. His episode about Hamlet airs on Friday 8th February. A screenshot is here.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

50th Anniversary Tenth Doctor 1:6 Scale Collector Figure
Big Chief Studios are issuing a 50th Anniversary Tenth Doctor 1:6 Scale Collector Figure which is limited to only 750 pieces worldwide and the 50th Anniversary Signature Edition is limited to only 250 pieces worldwide. Register for Priority Pre-order Notification at this link before 24th January.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Diary Dates
Mon 21 Jan - Spies Of Warsaw DVD is released in the UK and Europe.
Sun 27 Jan - David Tennant hosts BBC Audio Drama Awards 2013 ceremony. Two David Tennant radio dramas have been short-listed.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter


BAFTA screening: Broadchurch
BAFTA are holding a preview screening of Broadchurch on Tuesday 19th February. It will be followed by a Q&A. Writer Chris Chibnall and director of some of the episodes James Strong are confirmed. Some of the cast will attend but it has not been announced which ones yet. (David Tennant is expecting to be filming The Escape Artist at that time).
All the public tickets for the Broadchurch BAFTA preview screening on 19th February are now sold out, although there are some available for BAFTA members. Also producer Richard Stokes has tweeted that he will also attend that evening.

The ITV showreel of upcoming programmes has been posted to BlogtorWho, and includes Broadchurch.

Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Virgin adverts
Virgin have added the second of David Tennant's 2013 Virgin Media collection videos online. In this one there are three 'David Tennants' fighting plus the real David Tennant talking to the camera.
Fans are reporting that there are currently large cardboard cut outs of David Tennant in Virgin Media stores.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Doctor Who
BlogtorWho has posted his list of 11 Heart-Melting Doctor Who Moments which includes 5 from David Tennant's era.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

The Escape Artist
Although not officially announced yet, David Tennant's co-star in The Escape Artist will be Ashley Jensen. Filming is scheduled for February and March for this BBC One production.
TV Wise reports that Tony Gardner has also been cast in The Escape Artist.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter 

David Tennant helps a terminally ill child’s dream come true
Read all about it here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter 

David Tennant

Richard II
Rumours are circulating following a post this week on the What’s On Stage forum that David Tennant will appear in Richard II for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2013, in a production directed by Gregory Doran. The rumour was posted to the forum by the same person (PaulTheatre) who was first to post that David and Catherine Tate would be appearing in Much Ado About Nothing last year. Paul has also been the first to post other theatre news, so this seems quite likely to be true.
More information here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Star Wars: The Clone Wars
David Tennant voices a droid called Huyang in Star Wars: The Clone Wars starting in the episode which premièred on Saturday 10th November in the US on the Cartoon Network. The episode was called A Test Of Strength. David's character will appear in three episodes on consecutive weeks.
More information (including videos) about David's appearance in Star Wars: The Clone Wars here

Nativity 2 
Cineworld held charity screenings today of Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger in various cinemas around the country to raise money for Children In Need.
More info here
The première will be held in London on Tuesday 13 November. David Tennant is expected to attend.

Heinz Soup
David Tennant and Tom Baker are currently voicing radio ads for Heinz soup.
Find out more here

The Decoy Bride
The Decoy Bride started being shown by Sky movie channels again from Friday 9 Nov in the UK
More details here
The Decoy Bride DVD is available currently from ASDA for only £3 including postage.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service
There is currently a special offer from AudioGO on the 007 Reloaded titles including On Her Majesty's Secret Service read by David Tennant. The download is £6.99 (usual price £15) and the CD is £7.05 (usually £15).

Diary dates
Tues 13 Nov - première of Nativity 2: Danger In The Manger at Empire, Leicester Square cinema in London.
Sat 17 Nov - David Tennant voices Huyang in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The episode is called Bound For Rescue and premières on the Cartoon Network at 9.30am in the US.


Source of all David Tennant news, unless otherwise stated: David Tennant on Twitter

David Tennant: news, project updates, public appearances, interview, radio drama

• Project Motormouth 

David Tennant will attend a charity event in Slough, Berkshire on Saturday 19th January 2013. There will be five actors there who have played The Doctor and they are calling the event Project Motor Mouth.

Former Doctor Who actress Janet Fielding has been diagnosed with cancer so Peter Davison has enlisted the help of other actors who played The Doctor (including David Tennant) to launch Project MotorMouth. "It will not only raise money for a good cause but also keep Janet's spirits up."

The event is from 10am to 5pm at the Copthorne Hotel in Cippenham Lane, Slough, Berkshire SL1 2YE.

Tickets are £100 each which includes:

- A group photograph with you and all the Doctors appearing on the day

- An autograph from each of our guests

- An on stage interview

- A souvenir show booklet

During the day there will be an auction and a merchandise room with some exclusive items.

Tickets are limited to 300 and more guests are expected to be announced soon. TenthPlanetEvents are hosting the event.

Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann are already confirmed for the event so there will five actors who have played The Doctor!

This link has more details about the event.

More information here
Source: David Tennant On Twitter

• Celebrating Diversity Carnival

Although he will not be present at the event, David Tennant has given his support to a anti-gay bullying event called the Celebrating Diversity Carnival. It will be held on 25th October at the Paramount Bar in Oxford Street, London. The quote that GayStarNews credits to David Tennant is -

"‘I am delighted to be supporting the Diversity Role Models Carnival at Paramount. It is essential that young people have the opportunity to meet role models from the LGBT community, to help break down stereotypes and prejudice that lead to bullying."

Source: David Tennant On Twitter

• Comedy World Cup

Links to watch David Tennant hosting episode 2 of Comedy World Cup are now up on David Tennant On Twitter

Channel Four announced on Thursday that episode 3 of Comedy World Cup (hosted by David Tennant) will air at 8pm on Saturday 29th September so it will overlap Doctor Who by 5 minutes. 

Source: David Tennant On Twitter
 

• Broadchurch

Several on set photos have been shared online this week.
- A new photo of David Tennant filming Broadchurch in West Bay a couple of weeks ago has been added to the internet by supporting actor Rosie Spring, here.
- Some photos of David Tennant, Arthur Darvill and Olivia Colman filming Broadchurch at St Andrews Church, Clevedon today have been added to Tumblr.
- More photos of David Tennant filming Broadchurch on Tuesday are here.
- Hamsterfur has found a new HD photo on the internet of David Tennant (with Pauline Quirke) filming Broadchurch in West Bay the week before last. View it here
Source: David Tennant On Twitter
 

• RSC board

David Tennant is now listed on the Royal Shakespeare Company's website on the Board Of Directors
Source: David Tennant on Twitter (blog)
Also reported by The Daily Record

• Stephen Fry, David Tennant, Patrick Stewart, and more read Shakespeare on your iPad

There are tens of thousands of apps out there putting themselves in the educational category, but few are actually delivering quality content that makes the most of the intimate digital experience that the iPad offers people.

Touch Press has had some great success in the science space with its apps like The Waste Land, Solar System and Periodic Table, and now continues to bring quality video to the iPad in the form of Shakepeare’s Sonnets. It offers an experience of over 150 of Shakespeare’s Sonnets read by the likes of Stephen Fry, David Tennant, Patrick Stewart and many performers from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company. It has taken literature on the iPad up a notch. 

Read more at Wired

• Digital Theatre and Samsung launch app for streamed performances

Digital Theatre, which films British theatre productions and screens them online, has launched an app in partnership with Samsung that allows the shows to be viewed on demand via a TV.
The free Digital Theatre App, which is compatible with Samsung Smart Televisions that have an internet connection, streams the performances, which are available to buy online.

Digital Theatre’s website currently has 14 shows available, including Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, which stars David Suchet, and Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, featuring David Tennant.

Standard or high definition recordings can be downloaded for unlimited viewings via laptops, computers or standard TVs at the price of £8.99 and £10.99 respectively.

After purchasing the download, users receive a redemption code to be used with the Digital Theatre App on Samsung Smart TVs. The production will then be stored via the app library for 30 days, with 48 hours to complete viewing.

More than 20 million apps have already been downloaded worldwide from the Samsung Apps store for TV.

Digital Theatre is also offering an online rental service, which is not compatible with the app, where productions are available to view for a limited period of time.

Co-founder and chief executive of Digital Theatre, Robert Delamere, a former theatre director, said that the app would create a new experience for consumers: “Viewing performances online by using a laptop is a singular experience. There’s something about viewing it on a larger TV screen that enables more of a community experience. Being a director that is very important for me.”

He added: “We wanted to work with Samsung because they are a global brand and a powerhouse. They responded to our content and said they would like to champion it.”

Source: The Stage

• David Tennant talks about his romantic comedy The Decoy Bride

   
Source (probably an extra from the DVD): YouTube

• David Tennant - Museum (2002 - Radio Play)

Published on Sep 5, 2012 by Maria McArthur

A Scottish student falls for a Sudanese girl, but not everything goes smoothly. With David Tennant as Brian.
Source: YouTube

• Diary Dates

Mon 24 Sep - Q&A with Paula Milne including clips of The Politician's Husband at BFI in London.
Wed 26 Sep - Screening of David Tennant's production of Look Back In Anger in Hawick, Scotland.
Thurs 27 Sep - Doctor Who book published with contributions from fans and celebrities to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Sat 29 Sep - Episode 3 of Comedy World Cup is broadcast on Channel Four at 8pm.
Source: David Tennant On Twitter

Angus Macfadyn: Henry IV rumour

 

In a recent interview, actor Harry Lennix revealed that:

“Right now I’m doing what I think is the first black Shakespeare film ever done, which is called “H4”. It’s a reconfiguration using Shakespeare’s language of “Henry IV Part I and Part II”. I play Henry IV in it along with an estimable cast including Keith David, Angus Macfadyen from “Braveheart”, we have a number of young and talented actors.”

Harry Lennix also said that he's producing the film.

On IMDb, Michael Dorn is listed as playing the part of Henry IV, but Shakespeare fansite Bardfilm clarifies:

“Michael Dorn will not be playing Henry IV in the finished version of the film. Scheduling conflicts prevent him from being available for the reshoots. But Harry Lennix, who played Aaron (and played him brilliantly) in Julie Taymor’s Titus, will take over the role.”

 

The cast of H4 also includes The Walking Dead's Jeryl Prescott Sales and Equilibrium's Angus Macfadyen as Sir John Falstaff.

Update: IMDb also says that Harry Lennix is playing the part of Macduff in Macbett: The Caribbean Macbeth, alongside the likes of Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Blair Underwood, and, according to rumours, Danny Glover.

Read more at Shadowlocked 

Update by Scottish Actors:

Angus MacFadyen is listed as playing Sir John Falstaff in H4 on IMDB

David Tennant: radio & audio projects (Shakespeare, comedy) and The Minor Character review

Review of The Minor Character  
Ian D Hall of Liverpool Student Media gives The Minor Character 5 stars.
Read the full review here

BBC Radio Three Shakespeare Season
Starts Sunday

David Tennant will be one of the actors involved in the BBC Radio Three Shakespeare Season as part of The Cultural Olympiad. Part of this project is where a company of actors perform two different plays - Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night. David Tennant will be playing Prince Escalus in Romeo and Juliet and Malvolio in Twelfth Night.

Twelfth Night will be broadcast on Sunday 22nd April and Romeo and Juliet on Sunday 29th April. Both transmissions wil be at 8.30pm on BBC Radio Three.
Read more here 

Believe It!
Based on glimmers of truth, Believe It is the hilarious, bizarre, revealing and, most importantly, untrue celebrity radiography of Richard Wilson.

Celebrity autobiographies are everywhere. Richard Wilson has always said he'd never write one. Richard, however, narrates the series, weaving in and out of dramatised scenes from his fictional life story. He plays a heavily exaggerated version of himself: a Scots actor and national treasure, unmarried, private, passionate about politics, theatre and Manchester United - all true.

He’s a confidant of the powerful and has survived childhood poverty, a drunken father, years of fruitless grind, too much success, monstrosity, addiction, charity work, secret work for governments and fierce rivalry with Sean Connery - all not true.

All the melodramatic staples of celebrity-autobiography are wonderfully undercut by Richard's deadpan delivery.

Throughout the series, Richard is supported by a small core cast including David Tennant, John Sessions, Lewis Macleod, Arabella Weir and Jane Slavin.


Ep 1/4
Wednesday 9 May
11.30-12.00pm
BBC RADIO 4
Source: BBC Media Centre 

Faber launches Shakespeare app
Faber is in the final stages of producing a "spectacular" digital edition of Shakespeare's Sonnets, in which a broad swathe of high-profile actors including David Tennant, Sir Patrick Stewart and Fiona Shaw will read each of the 154 poems to camera.

The Apple iPad app will be published within the next month, with a price likely to be on a par with Faber's previous app, T S Eliot's The Waste Land (£9.99).

Shakespeare's Sonnets has been created in a partnership with three other parties: digital publisher Touch Press, which Faber also collaborated with for The Waste Land; TV company Illuminations, which filmed the 154 sonnet readings by the act; and the authoritative Arden Shakespeare series, which has contributed its complete Arden notes on the sonnets to the edition.

Scholars including the editor of the Arden edition of Shakespeare’s Sonnets, Katherine Duncan-Jones, also offer filmed commentary as part of the digital edition and a facsimile of the 1609 Quarto edition of the sonnets is also included.

Faber c.e.o. Stephen Page said: "The book is changing and the opportunity to claim new turf is enormous," adding that head of digital publishing Henry Volans had taken a role akin to that of a producer in brokering the partnerships.

The app has cost a "low six-figures" to create, with Faber's contribution a five-figure sum.


Source: The Bookseller

For all the latest David Tennant news, check out DavidTennant on Twitter 

 

 

David Tennant: TV appearances, interviews, adverts etc

TV appearances
The Minor Character on the Sky Arts channel at 9pm, Thursday 12 April.
More information here

Discovering Hamlet at 9.40pm on Sky Arts 2 HD, Sunday 15 April.
More information here

As part of it's Shakespeare Season the BBC have announced that Twelfth Night (with David Tennant as Malvolio) will broadcast on Sunday 22 April at 8.30pm, and Romeo and Juliet (with David as Prince Escalus) will have its first transmission on Sunday 29th April also at 8.30pm. 
Both plays will be broadcast on BBC Radio Three. Also there are some great new pages for all the BBC Shakespeare programmes in the upcoming months including a new photo of David Tennant recording the radio plays. 
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

SFX interview: David Tennant on The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists

David Tennant is the voice of Charles Darwin in Aardman Animation’s latest stop motion movie The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists which was released  on 28 March. See more pics at SFX


XFM interview 
David was interviewed by Danny Alexander on the XFM Breakfast Show. You can listen to the interview here


Virgin TV adverts
Virgin Media Collection have added an extra advert for online only. Find out more at David Tennant on Twitter


Review of Silver: Return To Treasure Island

The Book Café on BBC Radio Scotland at 1.15pm reviewed Silver: Return To Treasure Island with an audiobook extract read by David Tennant. 



The item included an audiobook extract read by David Tennant. Click here to listen to the eight minute review (David Tennant's brief part starts at 4 minutes 40 seconds). 

Stonemouth review 
Laurence Raw reviews Stonemouth, read by David Tennant