Latest news with #Victorious
Elle
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Elizabeth Gillies Will Never Sing ‘Suddenly Seymour' Again
Places, please for ELLE's column Showstoppers, where theater's biggest stars reflect upon the moment in their careers when the famous phrase 'the show must go on' became a little too real. When things don't go according to plan onstage, here's how the pros react—and what they take away from it. Elizabeth 'Liz' Gillies is perhaps best known for two iconic television roles: Fallon Carrington on Dynasty and Jade West on Victorious. In both roles, Gillies had notable belt-your-brains-out moments. (Her 'Give It Up' duet with Ariana Grande on Victorious is gay history.) Now, the actress is returning to her theatrical roots. Gillies, who made her Broadway debut in 13 with Grande in 2008, is about to wrap her five-month run as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre. She's been the Audrey to both Milo Manheim and Graham Phillips's Seymours, and for the actress, it has been a welcome return home. Below, Gillies discusses the challenges of the song 'Suddenly Seymour,' her favorite shows, and if she'd ever return for the Victorious reboot. I did the show with the flu a few times, which was just sort of trippy and disorienting. The beautiful thing about this show is [that it's] very self-aware, and obviously, it's funny. Although there are moments of total sincerity and gravitas, it can be very irreverent. It's fun to see where my handicaps that day take me. I've made the choice to do the show instead of calling out [sick]. When I've [gone onstage] with no voice, other parts of my performance have been stronger. It's forced me to make different choices and not rely on a pretty vocal. One time, I went to sing high notes, and I had to talk it. It got a laugh. I've had fun messing around and seeing what I can get out of myself when I'm at my weakest. 'Suddenly Seymour' was my audition and karaoke song for years. After this, I won't touch it with a 10-foot pole. It's not that I don't love it, it's a gorgeous song, there's just something about it. I'm more relaxed once it's over. For a long time, I was completely unable to hit the high note on 'condescend.' I was making a choice in the beginning to sing in head voice and get choked up over it, and now I sing it how it's supposed to be sung—sort of—but I made a sign in the girls' dressing room that says, 'What I lack in condescend, I make up for in vibes.' It's on our wall. So, once I'm gone, they can always remember that. Of course, if I must call out, I totally do. We have such an incredible team of understudies. The show is never in danger. Anytime I've been having a really horrible day or something bad happens, I think [the show] is a lovely escape. Unlike TV, where you really have too much time to sit and think about it in green rooms, the luxury of having two hours of catharsis is unmatched. I love theater. I love it when it's good. I love it when it's messy. I think it's all great, as long as the performance comes through. It's not an opera. As long as the audience feels what they're meant to feel, as long as they feel connected, it's OK. It's been my dream since I saw the show in 2003. I have other Broadway shows that I love very much, but there's really no role for me in them. It's always been Audrey. I was nervous to reenter this space, but also I would be doing myself such a major disservice if I said no. It's really changed my life, not in a corny way. This reminded me of how much I love theater. Going back to my roots kind of reaffirmed my passion for this business. I've been a serial monogamist in TV world. I would have these really tiny gaps of not working, and then it would be two to six years on a TV show. But, my roots are honestly exclusively in musical theater and improv. I'm thankful [coming back to the theater] was kind of was like riding a bike. It's very, very different from TV, in many ways. Wonderful. It's certainly my preference. TV and film both have their charms, but to me, the immediate response of live theater and live performing is unmatched. I love knowing if I succeeded or failed in real time. I love knowing if I moved the audience or if I fell short. I'm a glutton for punishment. My run with Milo was incredible. He had his devout Disney fans. I had my fan base, which is primarily Nickelodeon-lore. I think the combination of the two fandoms sort of blew the roof off the Westside Theatre. Our stage doors were insane. Now, with Graham [who previously co-starred with Gillies in 13], our stage doors are as passionate as ever. They bring their 13 playbills, which is so special. So many 13 fans have been waiting to get our final two signatures for 15 years. They've found everyone else. It's been so rewarding to me, and I really can't even put it to work into words. That's why I wasn't ready to leave just yet. I had actually never heard of Milo [before this]. He had also never watched Victorious, which was surprising to me. Milo was so wonderful, and I think the youngest person I have ever played opposite against romantically, and probably the youngest friend I now have in my life. I was very surprised and impressed by him. He is so professional and talented. He's such a star, and he played the role without any preconceived notions or any comparisons, because he wasn't that familiar with Little Shop. I think that served him really well. He created his own iconic take on the character, he and really made his own stamp. I built my Audrey around his Seymour, because Seymour's the lead. Graham has been my friend for 16 years. I've known him since I was a child. The biggest hurdle with Graham has been that we avoided the romance and kissing of it all until the very last possible minute, because it was just too weird. Imagine having a friend for 16 years non-romantic, and then all of a sudden you have to be dying in his arms, falling in love, and kissing. Now we're fine because we're professionals. It feels like we've been working with each other consistently for the last 15 years, when really the last thing we did together was an episode of White Collar [in 2012]. We've had Ari, Eamon Foley is a good friend of mine, Aaron Simon Gross. I don't know if I'm missing anybody, but we've had we've had people come in and out. One day, I'm going to track everyone down. We're going to have some kind of 13 family reunion. We'll have a barbecue. I know. I think we should do a reunion concert, in a much smaller scale than what they did for Spring Awakening. We don't need to get that fancy, but I do think something like that would be special. I'd love to play Hedwig [in Hedwig and the Angry Itch]. That is one of my all-time favorite shows. I'm probably not going to play Hedwig, but I would, if asked, if that was ever okay. Hair is one of my favorite musicals. I would totally play Sheila, if I can hit it all, because I am an alto. I love Sweet Charity, but I'm not a dancer. I love Ragtime, but I don't want to be Mother. You know what I mean? In Hairspray, I'd love to be Velma von Tussle. That's a dream role. [Annie's] Miss Hannigan is a dream role. And I really, really, really, really, want to play Velma in Chicago. I'm not diminishing how difficult the dancing is, but that type of dancing, I think I can do it. Then, all the 60-and-over roles, which I have to wait a little longer for. If they let me in Death Becomes Her, I'd play Helen Sharp. Yes, I definitely want to do more. I have to do more. I was reminded by doing this show that this is really who I am and what I love. This is probably the most important job I've ever had, just because of where I am in my life. I come from a musical family. My uncles, my hands, my dad, my grandma, everyone sings. I was always around music. I sang in church growing up. I would cantor and do the arm movements. I would wear dresses that made no sense for church. That was my first little taste of it, and I was like, 'Oh, I love it.' Then, I forced my parents to help me get an agent when I was about 10, because we lived so close to the city. Why can't we try? I would find open calls and make them drive me. I was my own little stage mom, and I knew that I had enough to give it a shot. If it made sense, and I was going back with all my friends and 'classmates,' I would totally consider it. I mean, Daniela [Monet] is at the helm of it, and she's wonderful. She's the perfect person to keep this whole legacy alive. Hopefully it's everything our fans, and we alumni of Hollywood Arts, dream of and stand by. If I talk to the team, meaning my Victorious cast mate team, and they say so, we're going on the show. It's trippy. I think I processed it early when Milo left, because that was sort of the end of that era, and I didn't. I don't think I knew at that point that I was coming back. I'll feel it most on my first Tuesday off. This has been eight shows a week since February 25, and it's not a long time, but it is for me. I haven't had theater in a long time, and this has been my whole life. I made such good friends here. The people here are just incredible. I'm going to miss the girls so much, our dressing room, our gutter. We all kill cockroaches together and do TikToks. This show made me young again. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Elizabeth Gillies currently stars in Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre. Tickets can be purchased here.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'It's always sunny in Philadelphia' Rob McElhenney legally changes name; cites mispronunciation as reason - deets inside!
Rob McElhenney , known for his role in the popular sitcom 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia', has recently shared that he is all set to legally change his name. Citing that people cannot stop mispronouncing it even after being explained how to, the actor has moved to have his name changed. Rob McElhenney to change his name officially McElhenny, 48, has now revealed that he has applied for his name to be changed to Rob Mac. Citing that people cannot pronounce his name, he shared that he will be changing it to the simpler variation. In an interview with Variety, the star revealed that 'As our business and our storytelling is expanding into other regions of the world and other languages in which my name is even harder to pronounce, I'm just going by Rob Mac. ' While he has only applied for his name to be legally changed, 'Rob Mac' is already being adopted officially. His name has officially been changed on his show's network to Rob Mac. It was also revealed by reports from TMZ that the star signed the official documents on June 26. He also delved into how the 'tradition' of changing names is common within his family, as many people have faced the same issue time and time again. He started that at first, the 'Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead' actor was worried about disrespecting his ancestors, but after finding out that it was a common occurrence, he moved forward with filing legal documents for the same. He shared that while his family members were looking forward to the change, his wife and children were still dealing with the shift at their own pace. The star is known to work as an actor, producer, and director, and is known for various projects like 'Women with Balls', and 'Victorious'.
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
Ariana Grande's grandmother Marjorie 'Nonna' Grande dies at 99: See her moving tribute
Ariana Grande's beloved grandmother Marjorie "Nonna" Grande has died. She was 99. The Oscar-nominated actress revealed the news on her Instagram story, which featured a photo of her grandmother and a message from her family. "We are devastated to share that the beloved matriarch of our family has passed away," the statement began. "Marjorie (Nonna) Grande passed peacefully in her home and was surrounded by her family and loved ones for every moment of her last few weeks." Ariana Grande shares sweet photo of her Nonna after Billboard Hot 100 achievement "We thank you for your love, support and for respecting our privacy as we grieve and celebrate her beautiful, extraordinary life," the statement continued. "Love, The Grandes." Ariana Grande also shared a black and white image of her Nonna and grandfather, Frank Grande, on their wedding day. "Forever," she captioned the post. The singer's brother, Frankie Grande, shared a moving tribute to their Nonna on Instagram with a series of photos and a heartfelt letter. He began, "Dearest Nonna, How can I ever thank you enough for the countless lessons you wove into my heart over the years?" Of the many lessons he says his grandmother taught him were "how to dominate a three-card poker table," "how to give the warmest, safest hugs" and "how to stand in my truth unapologetically." He continued, "You always called me the apple of your eye, Nonna and you have always been mine. A best friend. My safe place." "I love you endlessly, my sweet Nonna," he added. "I miss you more than words can hold. My heart is shattered, but I feel you watching over me, already so proud of everything I've done and all that is about to come." Over the years, many of Ariana Grande's fans came to know Marjorie Grande. In March, Marjorie Grande, who was featured on her granddaughter's song, "ordinary things," became the oldest living person to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart since the chart's inception in August 1958. The song was the closing track on Ariana Grande's "eternal sunshine" album. Nonna's feature on "ordinary things" sees her reflecting on her relationship with Grande's grandfather and imparting some relationship advice, saying, "Never go to bed without kissin' goodnight." Marjorie Grande's husband and Ariana Grande's grandfather, Frank Grande, died in 2014. After Ariana Grande shared her tribute to her grandmother, many of her close friends, including her "Victorious" co-star Elizabeth Gillies and Victoria Monét offered their condolences in the comments.
Buzz Feed
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
17 Former Child Actors And What They're Doing Now
Some child stars, you immediately recognize from their roles in some of the biggest movies over the last 40–50 years, and then one day, they just vanished from our TV screens. For a lot of them, they completely walked away from the entertainment industry, and for others, they found new ways to entertain outside of acting. These are some of the former child stars who walked away from the industry and now have different careers. Hallie Kate Eisenberg, aka "The Pepsi Girl," had the late '90s and early 2000s on lock with her commercials alongside A-list celebrities, and starring in movies like Paulie (1998), Beautiful (2000), and How to Eat Fried Worms (2006). In 2010, Hallie left the industry to study at the American University School of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., graduated with a degree in International Studies in 2014, and she has remained out of the spotlight since. Jennette McCurdy was a Nickelodeon superstar portraying Sam Puckett in iCarly (2007—2012) and the Victorious/iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat (2013—2014) alongside Ariana Grande. In 2018, Jennette quit acting and explained on a now-deleted Feb. 2021 episode of her Empty Inside podcast that she "quit a few years ago to try [her] hand at writing and directing. I I initially didn't want to do it." Ashley Olsen, along with her twin sister Mary-Kate, were the ultimate child actors starring in Full House (1987—1995) since they were babies, and building an entertainment empire well into adulthood that included a production company, TV shows, movies, and other media. When Ashley turned 18, she quit acting and moved to New York City with her sister, starting the luxury fashion label, The Row. Today, the sisters serve as members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Peter Ostrum played Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) and was set to portray the character in two subsequent films based on Roald Dahl's children's novel. Peter didn't sign on for the following movies, quit acting, and eventually earned a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. For years, he worked primarily with cows and horses until his retirement in 2023. Ilan Mitchell-Smith was mostly known for his role as Wyatt Donnelly in John Hughes' 1985 film, Weird Science, a handful of nostalgic '80s films, and the TV series Superboy (1988—1992). Aside from 1-2 small roles in the last thirty years, Ilan ultimately left Hollywood, earning a degree in Medieval Studies and became a professor at California State University Long Beach. Jeff Cohen is most known for playing Lawrence "Chunk" in the 1985 Richard Donner adventure movie The Goonies. After a few roles in TV shows and movies, he stepped away from acting as he aged. He went on to earn a law degree and became an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles, founding the Cohen & Gardner firm in Beverly Hills. Mara Wilson was a very recognizable face in the '90s, starring in movies like Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Miracle on 34th Street (1994), Matilda (1996), and A Simple Wish (1997). Mara began to leave acting behind after being placed in an uncomfortable position on the set of Thomas and the Magic Railroad after puberty. Now, she's an author, journalist, and playwright. Kay Panabaker acted in several movies, including Disney Channel Original movie Read It and Weep (2006), Fame (2009), and the TV show Summerland. Kay retired from acting after she lost her love for the craft, went on to study zoology at UCLA, and became a zookeeper. Ross Bagley was a child actor known for his roles as Nicky Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1994—1996), Buckwheat in The Little Rascals (1994), and Independence Day (1996). Ross hasn't appeared in anything since 2015, but according to his Instagram, he works as an L.A.-based realtor and DJ. Charlie Korsmo is mainly known for his role as Jack Banning in Hook (1991), but some might remember him also as the Kid in Dick Tracy (1990). After starring in Can't Hardly Wait, Charlie left acting, earned a physics degree from MIT, and a law degree from Yale Law, and he's now a corporate law and corporate finance professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Everybody knows Omri Katz as Max Dennison from Hocus Pocus (1993), Marshall Teller in Eerie, Indiana (1991—1993), and John Ross Ewing III in Dallas (1983—1991), if you go further back. After Hocus Pocus, Omri began to take a step back from acting, save a few appearances, and as of 2024, he was working with a cannabis company called The Mary Danksters. Barret Oliver was riding on back Falcor as Bastian in 1984's The NeverEnding Story, talking like a robot in D.A.R.Y.L., and reprising his role as David in the Cocoon movies. Right before the '90s hit, Barret stopped acting. As of today, he's a professional photographer, specializing in 19th-century processes like Woodburytype. Liesel Matthews only had three roles, including President James Marshall's (Harrison Ford) daughter in Air Force One (1997) and the lead role as Sara Crewe in A Little Princess (1995). Liesel left acting behind and is an impact investor following in the footsteps of her wealthy family, the Pritzkers, who collectively founded the Hyatt Hotel chain, control the TransUnion Credit Bureau, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and more. Angus T. Jones first made appearances in movies like The Rookie (2002) and Bringing Down the House (2003) before he was known as Jake Harper in Two and a Half Men (2003—2013; 2015) for an entire decade of his life. Angus left the sitcom in the second-to-last season and went on to the University of Colorado at Boulder and has remained relatively out of the spotlight, save a cameo in the Max comedy series Bookie in 2023. Jeremy Suarez is mainly known for his role in The Bernie Mac Show (2001—2006) and the voice of Koda in Disney's Brother Bear (2003). Jeremy struggled to find more roles as he grew up and eventually began working gigs like construction, retail, and "regular jobs" instead of acting. Taylor Momsen made her feature debut as Cindy Lou Who in the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas before becoming Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Girl (2007—2012). Taylor's role as Jenny was put on hiatus when she switched focus to being the frontwoman for her band The Pretty Reckless, eventually leaving acting behind altogether. Like her brother, Jaden, Willow Smith made her acting debut alongside her dad, Will Smith in I Am Legend (2007). But after starring in I Am Legend, she passed up on the opportunity to star in the 2014 remake of Annie, and Willow opted out of acting to continue pursuing music.
Miami Herald
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Map Shows US ‘Special Mission' Ship in Waters Near China
A specialized United States naval vessel capable of collecting critical underwater data was recently tracked operating in the contested South China Sea, according to a Newsweek map. The U.S. Seventh Fleet, which maintains America's naval presence in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, confirmed to Newsweek that USNS Victorious, an ocean surveillance ship, was operating in the South China Sea as part of what it called "routine operations." Newsweek has also contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Territorial disputes in the energy-rich South China Sea remain unresolved, with overlapping sovereignty claims by several countries-including China and the Philippines-frequently leading to confrontations and clashes at sea between maritime forces of rival claimants. Strategically, the South China Sea serves as a vital gateway for naval deployments between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Both the U.S. and China maintain a persistent naval presence in the region-including the deployment of aircraft carriers-as they jostle for dominance. Using open-source ship-tracking data, a Newsweek map shows that the Victorious has been operating in the South China Sea since at least May 22, when it was spotted in the Luzon Strait-a waterway connecting the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea-heading south. The map shows the ocean surveillance ship, equipped with a Surveillance Towed-Array Sensor System (SURTASS) for collecting undersea acoustic data in support of anti-submarine warfare, was last tracked underway in the central South China Sea on Tuesday. A Chinese think tank, the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, claimed that the Victorious operated "intensively" near the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal. China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei have all laid claim to the Spratly Islands, while Scarborough Shoal-a fishing ground located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone-has been under Chinese control since 2012 after a standoff. The Victorious' mission remains unclear. The ship was spotted transiting southward through the Uraga Channel-located south of Tokyo, Japan-in early May. It is also one of the so-called "Special Mission" ships that support U.S. military and other government operations. The presence of a U.S. ocean surveillance ship, tasked with detecting and tracking undersea threats, coincides with China's stationing of its nuclear-powered submarines at a base facing the South China Sea, which includes an underground facility designed to protect them. The U.S. Seventh Fleet said in a statement to Newsweek: "Every day the U.S. [Seventh] Fleet operates to protect security, freedom, and prosperity for the U.S. and our allies and partners." An unnamed spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on June 1: "On the South China Sea, there has never been any problem with regard to freedom of navigation and overflight there … It is the U.S. who is the primary factor that is hurting the peace and stability in the South China Sea." China continues to enhance its presence in the South China Sea by deploying naval and Coast Guard vessels, asserting its sovereignty claims in the disputed waters. Related Articles Satellite Photo Shows US Fighters and Bombers at Key Air BaseIran Threatens Israel's Nuclear Sites as Trump Blocks Strike PlanChina Releases Photos of Aircraft Carriers Beyond First Island ChainHow to Watch United States vs Switzerland: Live Stream Men's International Friendly, TV Channel 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
