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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > June > 23
Friday, June 23, 2006
Alliance actress will play Celestine Sibley
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This month, Theatre in the Square’s Palmer Wells conceded to Buzz that casting the role of our late AJC colleague Celestine Sibley for the Marietta venue’s world premiere of “Turned Funny” was becoming akin to finding Scarlett O’Hara.
After a national search, Wells and artistic associate Jessica Phelps West have hired a pair of talents with strong connections to Atlanta.
Former Alliance Theatre artistic director Fred Chappell is taking a brief break from his position as the head of the master of fine arts directing program at Florida State University to direct “Turned Funny” here this summer.
His former Alliance partner in crime, Milwaukee actress Linda Stephens, meanwhile, has been cast as the much-beloved AJC columnist and reporter.
“People tend to overuse the word ‘gift,’ ” Stephens told us by phone Thursday. “But that’s truly what this is. I don’t know when I’ve been this excited about a theater project.”
We’re going to climb out on a limb here and speculate that Celestine would approve of the selection of Stephens. After all, Celestine adored “Gone With the Wind” and knew its author.
And among Stephens’ impressive theatrical credits? She was the sole voice talent hired to tackle the 50-hour “GWTW” audio book, the only version of which was approved by the Margaret Mitchell estate.
Stephens also appeared on Broadway in both “Damn Yankees” with Jerry Lewis and “The Man Who Came to Dinner” with Nathan Lane. In the 1970s and 1980s at the Alliance, she and Chappell collaborated on a handful of Tennessee Williams plays. “Turned Funny” will kick off Theatre in the Square’s 25th anniversary on Aug. 9.
Wedding watch: Day 4
Actress Nicole Kidman visited a children’s hospital ward with her son and daughter shortly after they arrived in Sydney, Australia, for her widely anticipated wedding to Keith Urban.
Isabella, 13, and Connor, 11, flew by private jet from Tokyo where they were accompanying their father, Tom Cruise, on a publicity trip, Australian media reported.
The children were driven to the mansion on Sydney Harbor that Kidman and Cruise once shared, accompanied by their grandmother Janelle, and left soon after with Kidman on Thursday to visit Sydney Children’s Hospital.
They spent about two hours visiting the oncology, hematology and neurology wards, chatting with patients and officials.
An international conglomeration of photographers, camera crews and fans jostled for position as they left the hospital, blocking one of the exits at one point. “If everyone can just not get too dangerous,” requested the 39-year-old actress.
Kidman has reportedly asked guests to make donations to charity instead of buying wedding gifts. She and Urban, a 38-year-old country music star based in Nashville, are expected to wed in a lavish ceremony Sunday night.
Work continued Thursday on erecting a marquee at a Gothic-style sandstone Catholic church in the beachside suburb of Manly — the presumed location of the wedding.
Celebrity docket
Rapper Eminem continued divorce proceedings with his wife, Kimberley Mathers, in a private hearing Thursday in Michigan. Details of the meeting in Macomb County Circuit Court were not disclosed.
The once and future former Mrs. Mathers, who is seeking financial support, attorney fees and joint custody of the couple’s 10-year-old daughter, Hailie Jade Scott, was seen being escorted out of the building by a sheriff’s deputy.
Her lawyer, Michael J. Smith, declined to comment. A message seeking comment was left Thursday with Eminem’s attorney, Harvey Hauer.
Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, was not seen by reporters at the courthouse, but he was present for the hourlong meeting before Court Referee David Elias, court officer Mark Mileski said.
The 33-year-old Grammy-winning rapper filed for divorce April 5.
Eminem and Mathers remarried on Jan. 14, a month after the couple announced they were getting back together. Round 1, also known as their first marriage, was from 1999 to 2001.
Macomb County Circuit Judge Antonio Viviano has set a deadline of Aug. 25 for completion of depositions, interrogatories, pension evaluations and other matters.
A settlement conference is scheduled for Sept. 19.
Celebrity birthdays
Actor Ted Shackelford (“Knots Landing”) is 60. “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson is 50. Actress Frances McDormand is 49. Drummer Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth is 44. Actress Selma Blair is 34. Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz is 29.
Contributing: news services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. 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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