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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > February > 27
Monday, February 27, 2006
It’ll soon be summer: Chastain’s lineup set
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s a warm thought to take your mind off that four-figure heating bill — the Chastain Park Amphitheatre summer concert series is slated to begin April 15 with the Black Eyed Peas and the Pussycat Dolls.
The first series of shows, set to be officially announced Wednesday, also includes: rockers Train May 6; disco act K.C. and the Sunshine Band with Gloria “I Will Survive” Gaynor on May 20; songstress/poet Jewel May 28; Matchbox 20 vocalist Rob Thomas May 29; 1970s and ’80s band Blondie on a double bill with “a very special rock band reunion” June 17; Simon Cowell-manufactured operatic boy band Il Divo June 18; blues guitarist and singer Bonnie Raitt with Keb Mo June 20; ’60s sex symbol Tom Jones with Tower of Power June 22; British piano phenom Jamie Cullum July 9; ’80s hair bands Journey and Def Leppard July 13.
Alas, last season’s fave, “A Prairie Home Companion” host Garrison Keillor, hasn’t announced a 2006 Chastain date as yet… .
Series/mini series tickets go on sale Sunday at 10 a.m. For info: www.livenation.com or 404-233-2227.
Up at Lanierland in Cumming, the area’s premier outdoor country concert venue kicks off its 36th season with Blake Shelton and Andy Griggs on May 6; Jeff Bates and the Bellamy Brothers June 3; country legend Don Williams in what is being touted as a “farewell show” with Gene Watson on June 24; Decatur native “Whisperin’ Bill” Anderson and Connie Smith July 29; Tanya Tucker and Exile Aug. 26; Ronnie Milsap and veteran comic James Gregory Sept. 16; and Banks & Shane and Forsyth County’s own the Estes Brothers Sept. 23. The season closes out with country legend George Jones and Confederate Railroad on Oct. 21.
Lanierland season tickets are already on sale while individual tickets go on sale March 18 at 9 a.m. For info: www.lanierland.com or 770-887-7464.
Elton John musical cleans up
As he puts the finishing touches on his annual fund-raising Oscars party this week, Elton John has something to celebrate. His U.K. musical “Billy Elliot” scored a small armload of awards at the Laurence Olivier Awards, Britain’s equivalent of the Tonys, over the weekend.
James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower, the three young actors who alternate in the musical’s title role, eclipsed “Star Wars” star Ewan McGregor to win best actor in a musical Sunday.
McGregor was nominated for his turn as New York gambler Sky Masterson in an acclaimed revival of “Guys and Dolls.”
The gritty story line and energetic tunes of “Billy Elliot” have made it a critical and popular hit, and it took awards in three other categories at the London ceremony. John’s music and the book and lyrics by Lee Hall won “Billy Elliot” the best new musical category, and it also scooped best theater choreographer and best sound design.
Metro resident on ‘Jeopardy’
Look for Tucker resident Amit Bose as a contestant on “Jeopardy!” this week. While Buzz tried its best on Monday to determine exactly how far Bose goes in the competition, the info, for now, is under wraps. However, we can enthusiastically report that Bose is smiling on the clip being offered on the TV game show’s Web site. …
Quote of the day
“I’ve never had one in real life. … Everyone thinks I’m this giant alcoholic, but I’ve actually never even had a martini. Are we gonna get drunk?” — “Will & Grace”actress Megan Mullally on the differences between her and her boozehound Karen Walker character while preparing blood orange martinis with Martha Stewart on “Martha” Monday.
Celebrity docket
Ex-Wham! man George Michael said Monday that his arrest over the weekend for suspected drug possession in London was “my own stupid fault, as usual.”
The 42-year-old pop singer was arrested Saturday after he was found slumped at the wheel of his car at Hyde Park Corner in central London. He was bailed out and is to return to a police station next month.
“I was in possession of Class C drugs, which is an offense, and I have no complaints about the police, who were professional throughout,” Michael said Monday in a statement.
On the off chance that you’re not Pete Doherty and don’t have a good working knowledge of English drug laws, Class C drugs are the lowest category of illegal drugs, include marijuana, anabolic steroids and some amphetamines.
Celebrity birthdays
Actor Charles Durning is 83. Actor Gavin MacLeod (“The Love Boat,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”) is 75. Actress Kelly Bishop (“Gilmore Girls”) is 62. Actress Bernadette Peters is 58. Singer and Atlantan Cindy Wilson of the B-52’s is 49.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Smyrna mom, daughter in latest ‘Amazing Race’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Phil Keoghan lost the “Survivor” host job to Jeff Probst six years ago. But he got a heckuva consolation prize: “The Amazing Race.”
“This show is more challenging logistically” than “Survivor,” he told Buzz in a phone news conference last week promoting the latest edition, which starts at 9 p.m. Tuesday on CBS with a two-hour special. It then goes to 10 p.m. Tuesdays.
Despite logging 400,000 miles on the program, Keoghan still loves to travel: “With the beauty of hindsight, I ended up getting the gig most suited to my skills.”
Keoghan, who Americanizes his New Zealand accent for our consumption, acknowledged that last fall’s “Family Edition” fell flat with four-person teams.
There is a local player in the new series: Wanda Lopez-Rochford, a corporate trainer from Smyrna, and her daughter, Desiree Cifre, a 24-year-old writer from New York.
“The daughter is the more conservative, levelheaded one,” Keoghan said. “The mom is just out to have a great time.”
Opera auditions
Atlanta’s Ryan Smith was one of the crowd favorites Sunday afternoon at the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions at Spivey Hall. But Smith, 29, wasn’t among the three winners who will be advancing to the national finals in New York City. Smith, a Morehouse graduate, received enthusiastic applause and shouts of “bravo” for his first aria, “E la solita storia del pastore” from Cilea’s “L’Arlesiana.”
After the auditions, judge Brad Woolbright, artistic administrator for the highly regarded Santa Fe Opera, said the group of young singers was one of the best he’d ever seen. In fact, the judges were so impressed with the contestants that they bent the rules and named three winners rather than the usual one. They were: Zulimar Lopez-Hernandez, 26, a soprano from Puerto Rico; Donovan Singletary, a 22-year-old bass-baritone from Florida; and Jonathan Beyer, 24, a baritone from Chicago who competed in the district finals in Puerto Rico.
Sick bay
Sheryl Crow underwent surgery for breast cancer last week and the prognosis for a full recovery is excellent, her publicist reported Friday. In a statement on her Web site, Crow said she would postpone a North American concert tour that was scheduled to begin in March, including an appearance at the Fox Theatre on March 9.
Batters up!
Mets fans still fuming over John Rocker’s many slights will get a chance to take a swing at the former Braves reliever. Nine lucky New Yorkers will have the opportunity to hit three pitches off Rocker when Spike TV brings the surly one to town for a promotional stunt to coincide with the premiere of “Pros vs. Joes” (airing at 10 p.m. March 6), in which regular guys get to compete with professional athletes. Rocker, with copious security in tow, will be at Bryant Park from 7 to 11 a.m. March 6. (Buzz, coincidentally, may be there to torture Rocker with questions.)
A fun TLC show
Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins of TLC and Paper City held a fund-raiser for the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia this weekend, with a heavy emphasis on fun. The singer’s daughter, Chase, was among many well-dressed little ones running around the Mercedes-Benz Buckhead dealership Friday night, as Mommy oversaw the trunk show of wares from her children’s clothing boutique, Chase’s Closet.
In between impromptu dances, Shaniah delivered a plate of catered goods from Nine Restaurant and Bar to her dad, music mogul Jermaine Dupri. Teen rapper-actor Bow Wow’s mom, Teresa Caldwell, a retailer in her own right, thumbed through onesies with statements printed on them like, “My grandpa’s a stud.” Meanwhile Dupri, fellow newly minted Grammy winner Johnta Austin, singer-songwriter Kandi Burruss, former Atlanta Falcon Ray Buchanan and others took looong glances at the luxury automobiles in the showroom.
“This is a lot of fun for me,” Watkins said. “[Chase’s Closet] was voted the best baby store in Houston the third month I was open, by H magazine. So I’m blessed. … Next I want to bring a store here called Grunge Girl. It’ll be for older kids. My daughter’s getting older, so pretty soon she’ll be growing out of Chase’s Closet. So I’m going to keep that in Houston and bring [Grunge Girl] to the A, where I really wanted to be in the first place.”
Celeb birthdays
Actress Joanne Woodward is 76. Actress Elizabeth Taylor is 74. Atlanta singer Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas of TLC is 35.
Contributing: news services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-5688 or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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