Latest news with #TheBookofMormon
Daily Mirror
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Anton du Beke charity hits £250k despite Who Wants to be a Millionaire? gaffe
EXCLUSIVE: Strictly Come Dancing star Anton du Beke generously made up the £15k he lost on ITV's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? from his own pocket Anton du Beke has thanked the public for their generosity after his fundraising for The Sick Children's Trust hit £250,000. The efforts from the Strictly Come Dancing judge include £15,000 of his own money, donated after he lost the same amount on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? after getting a question about musicals wrong. In a video for social media, he said he wanted to thank everyone for 'giving so generously' to the charity, which allows parents to stay in a 'home from home' while their seriously ill child receives treatment in a hospital nearby. Over the past two years, Anton, 58, has hosted sell-out golf days and glitzy afternoon tea events in order to raise cash for the cause. He said: 'We've raised over the last couple of years with my golf days and my afternoon teas and my slightly embarrassing moment on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, we've reached a quarter of a million pounds. So I wanted to say a huge thank you. All that money's going to such a great cause, and I know everyone involved is eternally grateful. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.' Appearing on the ITV quiz show in February, Anton was asked by host Jeremy Clarkson: 'Which Tony-Award winning musical features a mash-up called Elephant Love Medley?' The options were A) Hairspray, B) Moulin Rouge, C) The Book of Mormon and D) Si,x and despite using his 50/50 lifeline, Anton still got the answer wrong, picking The Book of Mormon over Moulin Rouge. Prior to losing, he pledged that if he'd picked the wrong option and lost the money, he'd make up the £15,000 himself. Anton, who became an ambassador for the charity in 2023, reached the milestone last month when his golf fundraiser at Burhill Golf Club brought in more than £35,000. His efforts have directly funded 6,250 nights of free stays for families going through tough times with a sick child. He added: 'The Sick Children's Trust is an incredible charity doing vital work to support families at the most difficult time in their lives. I've seen firsthand just how much it means to parents to have somewhere safe and supportive to stay when their child is in the hospital. I'm honoured to play a small part in making that possible, and I'll keep dancing, golfing and fundraising for as long as I can.' The charity has ten 'Homes from Home' across the country, supporting more than 3,200 families each year. It costs £40 to support a family for one night. Chief Executive Jane Featherstone said: 'Anton's energy, compassion and unwavering support have blown us away. From his incredible events to his personal donations, he has gone above and beyond to help keep families together during their child's hospital treatment. The difference he has made is truly
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Josh Gad partners with Amazon Kindle Kids to encourage summer reading.
Josh Gad with his wife and two daughters Amazon Kindle Kids and actor Josh Gad (Frozen, The Book of Mormon) have officially joined forces to encourage children to read more over summer vacation with the 'Backseat Book Crew' initiative. 'If there's one thing that I love my kids doing more than anything else, it's reading,' Gad tells me over Zoom. 'It's something that has been so important to me, being a published author now, that happens because of an appreciation for literature. My passion for literature probably started around my kids' age. So around 14 is when I actually started falling in love with reading, as opposed to dreading it, because it was mostly an assignment. To their credit, my kids [actually] found delight in reading at a far younger age. I used to read them the Harry Potter books. We would do it as a family, I would do all the voices, and I think they just found that so joyful." While open to everyone, the virtual book club (which you can learn more about here) should appeal greatly to families planning to travel over break, especially if those families have kids making their way through several titles at once. "My girls like to read five to six books at a time. I don't know how they do it,' the actor says. 'But that can be a pain in the butt when you're traveling, because you want to limit the amount of luggage you're taking. The fact that my kids have their own version of a Kindle, a Kindle Kids, [means] Gad, who has several excursions planned for the summer — including a journey overseas and trips to national parks across Canada and the United States — knows his kids are just as grateful for their e-readers as he is. '[They] get really annoyed being in a car with me for long periods of time. I'm like Clark Griswold when I travel,' he adds with a smile, comparing himself to Chevy Chase's iconic character from the National Lampoon's Vacation film series. 'I love to annoy them. I love to point out sites. I love to just go early and go hard. And so, having a device like this [as well as] headphones allows them to tune me out, which I'm sure gives them a lot of joy and pleasure." In addition to packing efficiently, embracing the unexpected, and assigning snack duty, one of Gad's golden travel rules is 'make the back seat fun for kids," he reveals. "In this case, giving them a Kindle is really fun for them. It also gives them an education. "And then my type of travel, unfortunately, when we're done with the vacation, I want everyone to feel like they need a vacation. That's how much we do, that's how hard we work. I love museums. I love history. We're going to Malta next week and I plan on taking them to all sorts of different old buildings that they're going to dread. But I hope that one day they come to appreciate the experience and knowledge that comes with those kinds of trips." Over the last year, Gad has openly explored a great deal of his own personal history with In Gad We Trust (a memoir-adjacent collection of essays) and Dark Horse's limited comic series, The Writer (all issues are now available in trade paperback form). Created alongside the Berkowitz Brothers, Ben and Max, the latter — an effervescent cocktail of an adventure that incorporates and remixes Jewish tradition, mysticism, and folklore — served as an ode to Gad's background as the grandson of a Holocaust survivor. 'It's amazing how many myths and how much mythology has had its day — not only in literature writ large, but specifically in the annals of comic books and graphic novels,' he says. "And yet somehow, outside of a very few exceptions (I think Raiders of Lost Ark is probably the the best example) Jewish and, in particular, Old Testament mythology, is something that hasn't really been tapped into. When the Berkowitz Brothers presented me with that opportunity, I immediately said yes. So many of the great, influential writers in this industry were Jewish. And so, not only getting to create an homage to them, but also tackle a subject matter that allows it to be front and center has been really exciting. It's been incredibly thrilling to watch people not only consume this as entertainment, but also appreciate the knowledge element of it and be like, 'How have I never heard these stories? Why do I not know about this?'" Josh Gad's daughters When it comes to his own reading preferences, 'there isn't a genre that I won't tap into as long as it's interesting in some way, shape or form,' Gad shares. One of his recent favorites was Percival Everett's James, an acclaimed retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim. 'I'm actually having my kids read some books by Mark Twain on their Kindle Kids this summer, because I shockingly realized that it was a glaring omission from their lexicon of books. I was like, 'Oh no, you guys need to Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer!' I'll probably revisit those books again.' Given that one of his daughters 'is obsessed with Greek mythology,' Gad is also revisiting Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles and Circe — 'two of my favorite books ever' — to see if they're appropriate for younger readers. 'We may actually pop open The Odyssey before the Nolan movie comes out,' he adds. Then comes the mea culpa. 'This is going to appall a lot of people that I've never read this before,' he says before admitting that he only just got through Stephen King's 11/22/63, a richly-detailed thriller about an English teacher who goes back in time to try and prevent the JFK assassination from taking place. 'I love a good time travel book and I don't know how I missed this," finishes Gad. 'I've read a lot of early Stephen King and there are some glaring things on the later end that I haven't read.' Those who sign up for the Kindle Kids Backseat Book Crew will receive a number of reading-themed stickers, a 'Kindle Kid On Board' bumper sticker, a sew-on patch, a number of reading recommendations for the summer, and a a 10% off promo code for their next Kindle Kids or Kindle Paperwhite Kids purchase through Amazon.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SCAD presents 'The Drowsy Chaperone'
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Get ready to laugh, sing, and tap your feet as the Savannah College of Art and Design's (SCAD) School of Film and Acting presents The Drowsy Chaperone, a musical-within-a-musical that brings the glitz and glamour of 1920s Broadway to life. The show runs from May 22 through 25 at Savannah's historic Lucas Theatre for the Arts. Get your tickets here. This Tony Award-winning comedy follows a lonely theater enthusiast—known only as 'Man in Chair'—who escapes into the world of his favorite forgotten musical. As he plays the original cast recording, the show bursts into life in his apartment, complete with mistaken identities, tap-dancing groomsmen, and a delightfully tipsy chaperone. The production brings together the work of more than 60 students across top-ranked degree programs including acting, production design, costume design, lighting design, music and sound design. 'This show has everything for everyone of all ages,' said director and SCAD acting director Christian Delcroix. 'There's comedy, entertainment, lots of surprise elements, and one show-stopping song and dance number after another. These student actors are incredibly talented and they will blow audiences away with their spectacular performances.' Delcroix performed on Broadway for over a decade before coming to teach at SCAD, appearing in shows like South Pacific, Follies, and The Book of Mormon. He is joined by other Broadway veterans who are mentoring The Drowsy Chaperon student cast. The musical is choreographed by Broadway actress/SCAD acting professor Margot de La Barre, and music directed by Broadway music director Jasper Grant. Originally written by Bob 'This is SCAD's latest act of bringing Broadway to Broughton Street!' said Andra Reeve-Rabb, the dean of the School of Film and Acting. 'With our team of creatives made up of talented students and Broadway veterans, we are thrilled to bring this musical favorite to the historic Lucas Theatre.' See SCAD's production of The Drowsy Chaperone through May 25. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Who Won 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' Tonight, May 20?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Season 5 Episode 5 of 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' is here with more incredible celebrities playing the classic game show. This marks the final season Pat Sajak will host 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.' Currently, the regular show is hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Vanna White remains a co-host. Pat Sajak, Host of "Wheel of Fortune", Vanna White, Co-Host of "Wheel of Fortune" and Alex Trebek, Host of "Jeopardy!" Pat Sajak, Host of "Wheel of Fortune", Vanna White, Co-Host of "Wheel of Fortune" and Alex Trebek, Host of "Jeopardy!" M. Phillips/WireImage/Getty Images How to Watch 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' airs on ABC every Tuesday and Wednesday at 8/7c or stream it on Hulu the next day. The rest of the episodes will air on May 21, May 27, May 28, June 3, and June 4. Who Competed on 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' Tonight? These stars will trade their singing skills for their spinning skills! Watch a new episode of #CelebrityWheelOfFortune this Tuesday on ABC at 8/7c and Stream on Hulu. — Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (@celebritywof) May 18, 2025 This episode features three talented musical guests: Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells, and Katharine McPhee. Josh Gad is doing his part to make a difference! — Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (@celebritywof) May 19, 2025 Gad is an actor most well-known for playing Olaf the snowman in Disney's 'Frozen' series. He received a Tony Award nomination for 'The Book of Mormon.' He is playing for the Environmental Defense Fund. Andrew Rannells wants to continue to make an impact! — Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (@celebritywof) May 19, 2025 Andrew Rannells is an actor known for his role and television and movies like 'Girls,' 'The New Normal,' 'Big Mouth,' and 'Invincible.' He also received Tony Award nominations for his performances in 'The Book of Mormon' and 'Falsettos.' He is playing for The Trevor Project. Katharine McPhee is ready to give back! — Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (@celebritywof) May 19, 2025 Katharine McPhee is a singer and actor who had her breakthrough when she was the runner-up for 'American Idol' behind Taylor Hicks. She has released multiple albums and starred in shows like 'Smash' and 'Scorpion.' McPhee also played the role of Jenna in 'Waitress' on Broadway and the West End. McPhee is playing for The David Foster Foundation. Who Won 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' Tonight? Andrew Rannells wound up winning the first game, scoring $84.5 thousand for The Trevor Project. However, Josh Gad won the second game, earning $93.4 thousand for the Environmental Defense Fund. How to Win the 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune's $10,000 Giveaway It's easy to take part in the 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' $10,000 giveaway. All you have to do is follow three easy steps: 1. Watch 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' on ABC or stream the episode on Hulu the next day and write down the name of the celebrity who solves the Prize Puzzle Round puzzle. For the May 20 episode, it was 2. Sign up for the Wheel Watchers Club or log in if you are already a member. 3. Enter the name of the celebrity who solved the Prize Puzzle Round puzzles after each show airs. So far, the celebrities who have solved the puzzles are: April 30: Joe Manganiello May 7: Ben Schwartz May 14: Rainn Wilson There are still five more episodes, meaning Wheel of Fortune fans can still win a trip to Walt Disney World Resort or even $10,000 cash.
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial updates: Ventura admits jealousy over Combs' other relationships
The hip-hop mogul is charged with sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. 3:47 This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing. Thursday is day four in the trial of Sean Combs after the jury was seated. Key Headlines 24 minutes ago Cassie Ventura recounts moments of jealousy as defense digs into relationship with Combs 1 hour and 41 minutes ago Cassie Ventura testifies about Combs' fashion advice, alleged drug use 3 hours and 55 minutes ago Ventura questioned about loving, explicit messages exchanged with Combs 10:08 AM EDT Defense begins cross-examination of Cassie Ventura May 14, 2025, 2:47 PM EDT Jurors are shown still images from videos of 'freak offs' Here's how the news is developing. Opening arguments got underway Monday in the highly anticipated trial of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, who has been accused of sex trafficking by force, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy as part of a blockbuster federal indictment originally filed in September 2024. He later faced two additional superseding indictments. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. Combs is accused of being the ringleader of an alleged enterprise that "abused, threatened and coerced women" into prolonged, drug-fueled sexual orgies with male prostitutes, which he called "freak offs," and then threatened them into silence. Combs has said that all of the sex was consensual and that while his relationships sometimes involved domestic violence, he wasn't engaged in trafficking. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said Combs was simply part of the swinger lifestyle and that he "vehemently denies the accusations made by the SDNY" and "looks forward to his day in court." 24 minutes ago Cassie Ventura recounts moments of jealousy as defense digs into relationship with Combs Cassie Ventura admitted under cross-examination she 'had some jealousy' of Kim Porter, mother of four of Sean Combs' children. She also conceded that she became upset when she learned Combs had not broken off a relationship with a woman he had previously dated. 'Spending time with other women prompted arguments?' defense attorney Anna Estevao asked. 'Yeah,' Ventura responded. 'And Mr. Combs had suspicions you were not faithful to him, correct?' Estevao followed up. 'Yeah,' Ventura responded, adding that it could be 'a little scary' when Combs suspected she had been unfaithful. The defense has previously asserted that Ventura and Combs' relationship was plagued by infidelity, jealousy and violence on both sides. The text exchanges the defense introduced Thursday included sexually explicit messages and talk of arranging "freak offs" commingled with more mundane subjects, like a discussion of going to see the Broadway show "The Book of Mormon." The defense attempted to assert that Combs and Ventura enjoyed moments of what Ventura previously testified were 'romantic vibes,' while also showing that she was a willing and eager participant in the "freak offs." Before the jury returned from lunch, Judge Arun Subramanian made it clear that he expected the defense to finish its cross-examination of Cassie Ventura by the middle of the day Friday. 'You have a day and a half. We should be done by the lunch break' Friday, the judge said. Subramanian said that Ventura is 'not the kind of witness that is fighting' the defense's questions and suggested that the defense 'streamline' its cross-examination. The cross-examination so far has come in fits and starts, with defense attorney Anna Estevao seeming to have difficulty establishing a consistent rhythm. She has sometimes failed to properly introduce exhibits. The defense strategy so far today has been to present to the court examples of messages exchanged between Ventura and Combs in an attempt to highlight what the defense contends is Ventura's willingness, eagerness and agency to participate in "freak off" sex sessions, seeking to bolster Combs' assertion that he did not commit sex trafficking. Estevao continued that strategy after the break, showing more messages. In one, from March 18, 2017, Ventura told Combs, 'I love our f.o.'s when we both want it," referring to the "freak offs." 'I would say loving f.o.'s were just words at that point,' Ventura testified in response. 'Those were words you said to Mr. Combs, correct?' Estevao asked. Ventura affirmed that they were. In another message to Combs, sent ahead of a "freak off," Ventura said she was at a sex shop 'trying to find something to impress you.' Seeking to counter Ventura's previous testimony in which she denied being a willing participant in "freak offs" and their being video recorded, the defense showed another message from 2017. 'S---, I left the iPad. Should I go get?' Ventura's message to Combs read. 'He would want it for a freak off?' Estevao asked Ventura. 'Yes,' Ventura replied. 'And you told him you would go get it?' Estevao asked. 'Yeah,' Ventura answered. Cassie Ventura has previously testified that one way Sean Combs controlled her was to mandate aspects of her appearance, from her manicure color to her clothing, her hairdo and piercings. The defense today elicited testimony from her on cross-examination that sought to establish that Combs, who launched his successful Sean John men's fashion brand in 1998, is someone whose thoughts on fashion are in demand. 'Do you believe Mr. Combs has good taste?' defense attorney Anna Estevao asked. 'I think he does,' Ventura testified. 'Is he known for his impact on fashion?' Estevao asked. 'Yup,' Ventura answered. 'I would say he's had a big impact on fashion over many decades.' She added, 'Sometimes I got information without asking for it.' The defense also asked Ventura about Combs' alleged drug use. In previous testimony, Ventura said that she witnessed a lot of drug use by Combs during their relationship and that there were times when both of them were heavily dependent on opiates. She testified that withdrawal from them made Combs "irritated." The defense has attributed some of Combs' violence, about which Ventura has previously testified, to his drug use. 'You would say he was an addict?' Estevao asked. 'I would say he was an addict,' Ventura replied. 'What was he addicted to?' 'Success,' Ventura responded, earning a chuckle from the courtroom. She then testified that Combs was addicted to various substances over the years. The court then took a break for lunch. Cassie Ventura testified on cross-examination that she fell in love with Sean Combs soon after they met. 'We've only really had one week of each other just together and I can say that it's been the best and worst,' Ventura wrote in a 2007 message to Combs, which was shown to the court. 'I'm sad, mad, frustrated and hurt that you just don't feel like I'm the right one.' Ventura testified that the message made her 'giggle' because it is nearly 20 years old. 'I'm reading it like a journal entry,' she said. Defense attorney Anna Estevao asked Ventura whether the message reflected her 'dreaming up a beautiful future together' with Combs. Ventura replied, 'Mm hm.' 'When your lawsuit was publicized in 2023 you understood his career was ruined?' Estevao asked. 'I could understand that,' Ventura replied. The defense highlighted messages exchanged between Ventura and Combs in July 2012, in which Combs appeared to be interested in Ventura's desires, which, she previously testified, did not matter to him. 'One of my favorite times was when we f.o.'d and then made love after,' Combs messaged her, referring to the so-called "freak off" sex sessions. 'I love when we make love after," Ventura responded in part, followed by an explicit sexual reference. The defense appeared to be highlighting occasions in which they argue Ventura had more agency in her relationship with Combs than she previously testified. 'Often after a session of a 'freak off' you would make love?' Estevao asked. 'Afterwards, yeah,' Ventura replied. 'And you're telling him that you love it?' Estevao asked. 'With him, yeah,' Ventura replied. 'He also told you that he loved it when you made love after?' the defense attorney asked. 'That's what it says," testified Ventura.
