Blanchett searching for N.Y. 'Vanya'

Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh in Uncle Vanya Thesps Cate Blanchett, Richard Roxburgh and Hugo Weaving look at NY's Lincoln subsequently subsequently Center Festival inside the Sydney Theater Company's output of Anton Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" out of this summer time 19-28. NY theatergoers have welcomed productions within the Sydney Theatre Company two occasions in the last five years, having its productions of Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" and Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" playing within the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2006 and 2009, correspondingly. The STC staging of "Vanya," which carried out Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center in August, remains well recognized considerably: Variety's Paul Harris referred to as development "sublime" the Washington Post's Peter Marks mentioned the expansion was his favorite little bit of theater this year and NY Occasions critic Ben Brantley declared the show's three several hours "probably the most pleased of my theatergoing existence."

J.C. Penney Takes 16.6% Stake in Martha Stewart Living in Strategic Alliance

Model and fashion blogger Lauren Scruggs, who served as an intern for the CW's Gossip Girl, is making progress after losing her hand in a tragic accident.our editor recommendsFashion Model, Blogger Has Hand Amputated After Being Hit by Plane Propeller The 23-year-old sustained serious injuries to the left side of her body after accidentally walking into a moving plane propeller on Saturday. Lauren underwent facial and shoulder reconstruction and had her hand amputated following the incident. PHOTOS: 20 Hollywood Stunts Gone Wrong "Yesterday was a good day, there was a lot of really positive progress," Lauren's father, Jeff Scruggs, said on Good Morning America Tuesday. "They took out her tube in the afternoon. She didn't speak right away... I said Lauren, will you say 'hi' to Daddy, and she goes, 'hi.' Later she told one of Cheryl's [Lauren's mother] sisters that she loves her. It's so encouraging to us. She's really uncomfortable as you can imagine." "They're telling us it's going to be a long recovery," he continued. "Obviously she's had a lot of trauma to her head, and she lost her left hand and her left eye is questionable. We're praying that she'll regain her sight." STORY: Fashion Model, Blogger Has Hand Amputated After Being Hit By Plane Propeller The Plano, Texas native is currently in stable condition at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Her parents speculate that Lauren, who was riding the prop plane to get an aerial view of the city's Christmas lights, had turned around to thank the pilot after exiting the aircraft. "I was inside, and someone came in and told me she had gotten hit," Lauren's mother tearfully recalled. "I was there until the care flight got there. I was just able to hold her and... that's the toughest part of it all, just seeing her waiting there and waiting for the help. All I could do was tell her that I love her." The FAA is currently investigating the accident, which occurred at a private airport in McKinney, Texas. In addition to her previous duties in the Gossip Girl wardrobe department, Lauren founded the Lolo fashion blog and served as in intern for the Michael Kors showroom. video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player Related Topics Gossip Girl

'Follies' heads west

The Broadway production of "Follies" has booked a six-week spring run at Center Theater Group's Ahmanson Theater in L.A. The West Coast transfer, for which casting has not yet been set, will help fill the scheduling gap in the Ahmanson season left by the abrupt postponement of the Rialto-bound revival of "Funny Girl." The tour of "Fela!," initially set for an Ahmanson run in April and May, shifted dates to fill the "Funny Girl" hole, skedding a stint that begins Dec. 13. "Follies" steps into the spring slot left vacant by "Fela!" Helmed by Eric Schaeffer and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, the Kennedy Center staging of 1971 Stephen Sondheim-James Goldman tuner "Follies" overcame a mixed reception in D.C. to win over a number of notable Gotham critics. Production has sold unusually well for a tuner by Sondheim, whose works are often seemingly too cerebral and serious-minded to attract major crowds. Current production has grossed about $14 million during its 18 weeks on the boards, with weekly numbers topping the $1 million mark in the frames immediately following its Sept. 12 opening. Bernadette Peters, Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein and Ron Raines lead the cast on the Main Stem. CTG hopes to bring members of the Gotham ensemble to L.A., with exact casting still to be locked in. "Follies" ends its limited run at Broadway's Marquis Theater Jan. 22 and moves to the Ahmanson for a stint that runs May 3-June 9. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com