People – DeGeneres, De Rossi – DA Matrimonial Plans
Ellen DeGeneres is putting the California Supreme Court ruling in favor of gay marriage into action – she and Portia de Rossi plan to wed, DeGeneres announced during a taping of her talk show.
DeGeneres was taping the episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Thursday, the day the state’s high court struck down California laws against gay marriage, and it aired Friday .
Citing the court’s ruling, DeGeneres said she and girlfriend de Rossi (“Ally McBeal,”"Nip/Tuck”) would be getting married.
De Rossi, 35, who was in the studio, and DeGeneres, 50, were applauded by audience members .
The court ruling means same-sex couples could tie the knot in as little as a month. However, religious and social conservatives are seeking to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would undo the Supreme Court ruling and ban gay marriage.
Taylor Hicks takes on Broadway
Taylor Hicks is going from “Idol” to “Angel.”
The “American Idol” alum will join the Broadway cast of “Grease” on June 6, playing Teen Angel in the revival of the popular musical.
The gray-haired singer – whose “Idol” fan base was called “The Soul Patrol” – said he plans to add “soulful flavor” to his performance of “Beauty School Dropout.” The flashy role, he said, is “a classic fit for a classic performer.”
“It’s a big number, and, you know, I’ve made some pretty grand entrances before,” Hicks told The Associated Press this week .
Hicks, 31, took home the title in the fifth season of the top- rated Fox show – the biggest stage on television.
He later lost his record deal with J Records, a label within Sony- BMG, which signs the show’s singers, and had been looking for the perfect part to make his debut on The Great White Way.
The Alabama-born crooner’s run ends Sept. 7. He’ll be the latest “Idol” to hit Broadway, following runs by season-three winner Fantasia Barrino (“The Color Purple”) and a host of also-rans including Clay Aiken (“Spamalot”), Diana DeGarmo (“Hairspray”) and Constantine Maroulis (“The Wedding Singer”).
From drama to dramedy
Looks like Daniel Day-Lewis , who won the best actor Oscar for “There Will Be Blood,” is following up with a lighter project. Variety reports that the Brit is in negotiations to replace Javier Bardem in the Rob Marshall-directed musical, “Nine.”
The flick, which is an adaptation of the stage musical that itself was inspired by Fellini’s famous dramedy, “8 1/2 ,” is about a film director who is having a personal and creative crisis, not least of which is to find a way to juggle all the women in his life. Penelope Cruz , Marion Cotillard , Sophia Loren , Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench will costar.
– From Our Press Services
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Today’s birthdays
Actor Dennis Hopper , 72; singer Pervis Jackson , The Spinners, 70; singer Taj Mahal , 66; actor Bill Paxton , 53; comedian Bob Saget , 52; keyboardist Page McConnell (Phish), 45; musician Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), 43; singer Jordan Knight (New Kids on the Block), 38.
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Originally published by From Our Press Services .
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