HOTTER IN HOLLYWOOD

AN ALL-STAR CAST GATHERS FOR THE L.A. PREMIERE OF DUSTIN LANCE BLACK'S '8'

Last month, as you may remember, we announced some casting developments surrounding the staged reading of 8, the highly anticipated play written by Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black (Milk).

On Saturday, March 3, some of the biggest names from film and TV (just look at that roster above) will gather together at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in L.A. for a one-night-only event that will surely draw the attention of Hollywood, Washington, and the rest of the world.

The story of 8 -- which chronicles the historic trial in the federal legal challenge of California's Proposition 8 -- is framed by the trial's historic closing arguments in June 2010, but features the best arguments and witness testimony presented by both legal teams.

Scenes include reenactments of many of the well-documented jaw-dropping moments of trial, such as the admission by the Prop. 8 supporters' star witness David Blankenhorn that "we would be more American on the day we permitted same-sex marriage than we were on the day before."

What we're curious to know is: Who are Jane Lynch and Jamie Lee Curtis playing? And George Clooney, who may or may not be coming off the high of winning an Oscar the week before, will surely have our undivided attention.

For more information on how you can support the American Foundation for Equal Rights and get tickets to this amazing event, visit afer.org. 

MATTHEW MORRISON & MATT BOMER JOIN GEORGE CLOONEY IN 8

It appears Glee leading man and Broadway veteran Matthew Morrison and White Collar star Matt Bomer have joined the cast of the Los Angeles reading of Dustin Lance Black's Prop 8 play, "8." Morrison will star as Jeff Zarillo and Bomer as Paul Katami in the reading, which will play the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on March 3. They join previously announced George Clooney.

The show premiered last September on Broadway with an all-star cast including Bob Balaban, Ellen Barkin, Matt Bomer, Anthony Edwards, Morgan Freeman, Cheyenne Jackson, Larry Kramer, Christine Lahti, and a slew of others at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

Rob Reiner, who directed the New York installment, will also direct the LA engagement. Proceeds from the LA reading will be granted to the American Foundation for Equal Rights. Proceeds from the New York reading similarly went directly to the fight for full federal marriage equality and to support educational efforts on the freedom to marry nationwide.

"8," a new play chronicling the historic trial in the federal legal challenge to California's Proposition 8 will have its World Premiere on Broadway in a one night-only staged reading to benefit the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER). The play is written by AFER Founding Board Member and Academy Award-winning writer Dustin Lance Black and directed by two-time Tony Award-winning actor and director Joe Mantello. Black, who penned the Academy Award-winning feature film Milk, based "8" on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families.

Following the New York debut on September 19th, AFER and Broadway Impact have been licensing "8" to schools and community organizations nationwide in order to spur action, dialogue and understanding. AFER and Broadway Impact will coordinate these staged readings across the country, so that "8" will live on beyond its September premiere.

The story for "8" is framed by the trial's historic closing arguments in June 2010, but features the best arguments and witness testimony presented by both legal teams. Scenes include reenactments of many of the well-documented jaw-dropping moments of trial, such as the admission by the Prop. 8 supporters' star witness David Blankenhorn that "we would be more American on the day we permitted same-sex marriage than we were on the day before."

Source

The Weekly Wonder Hot Horoscopes by Wonder Bright

Volume V, issue no. 8 of The Weekly Wonder
May 5 – May 11, 2008

Well, my little chickadees, the week starts out all shiny and fresh and new under the New Moon in Taurus, and with Venus there as well it looks as though we get off to a pretty smooth start. After all the stressful aspects between Saturn and Mercury last week it’s a good thing, too! We’re all ready to turn over a new leaf and make the most of Saturn turning direct last week! Time to get serious about whatever projects we’ve got going on. By the end of the week we get a bit of a boost from the Sun sextiling Uranus in Pisces, so for you water and earth signs, whatever you’re working on this is a good week to maintain the status quo whilst bringing whatever it is that makes you special into the mix. However, at weeks end on Sunday Mercury enters his retrograde period at 13 degrees Gemini, so consider yourselves forewarned, my little chicken dumplings! It’s time to start paying close attention to the things you say and don’t say, ‘cause come May 26th Mercury enters retrograde, so everything you say now could come back to haunt you! You air signs especially need to be on guard, ‘cause with Neptune conjunct the North Node in Aquarius you’ll be especially prone to seeing what you want instead of what is actually so. Those most affected by the New Moon on Monday are Taureans and Scorpios born in the first week of May and November, like Taurus George Clooney, born May 6, 1961, and Scorpio Matthew McConaughey, born November 4, 1969.


The Stars that You Are
Weekly Horoscopes: Remember to read for the sign on your ascendant too!

+ Stars of Wonder

Killer Tomatoes Strike Again Hot "In Development" by Hiko Mitsuzuka

M. Dal Walton III, the man responsible for remaking Day of the Dead and Terror Train (yawn), has bought the rights to produce the remake of the 1978 cult classic, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (gasp!). On board to write and direct the redo are Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine, the guys behind Ask A Ninja, the mega-successful Web phenomenon that won the 2006 YouTube Video Award for best series.

No word yet on whether or not Oscar-winner George Clooney will make a cameo and reprise his role from the 20-year-old sequel (wait, didn't he die in that?). Anyway, we highly doubt it, but we can't help but wonder how awesome it would be to see Michael Clayton battle some vicious veggies (or fruit, whatever your stance is on the matter).

+ The First Echo

Deus Ex Roadster Hot & Green by Leslie and Baylen Thomas

We have seen the future and its name is the Tesla Roadster (Begin dramatic music now). Actually, we haven't seen it yet (Stop dramatic music). But you can this coming week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, November 16th to 25th. If you have any interest in the future of humanity on Earth and you happen to be loaded, you must buy one of these incredible 100% electric cars (and they come in such great colors too)!
Zero to 60 in less than 4 seconds. A top speed of 125 miles an hour. A 245 mile range (expectedly), and only a 3.5 hour full recharge time.

George Clooney and Matt Damon apparently have their down payments in, and according to www.ecorazzi.com, Red Hot Chili Pepper's Michael 'Flea' Balzary was able to snag a test drive. "The thing is awesome!" he says. "It drove like nothing I have ever been in before, made my Porsche feel like a golf cart!"

Oh, how we wish we were a Flea.

+Check out the Mahalo Daily clip and watch Veronica Belmont's test drive!

Time is TickingHot & Green by Leslie and Baylen Thomas

Swatch chairman, Nicolas G. Hayek, recently announced George Clooney will become an executive board member for a yet-to-be-named company formed by his Swatch Group and the Swiss power company, Group E. Hayek (the inspiration behind Smart Car) aims to use environmentally friendly techniques to develop renewable energy technologies. Based in Switzerland and with no oil or auto lobby to contend with he feels the chances are great to fulfill the promise of these new initiatives: "as a result we can do research and development in renewable energies without car manufacturers or oil companies making an immediate threat of job cuts."

"I've always been aware that we live on a spaceship," says the 79-year-old Swiss billionaire. "That is our minute Earth which circles a small solar system in an immense universe... It's time that we entrepreneurs act. Politicians talk all the time and do very little... and [when they act] they don't do it very efficiently."

Words we hope will live long and prosper.