Pitre is Goodspeed's 'Mame'

PitreLouise Pitre, original star of the Broadway incarnation of "Mamma Mia!," will topline an upcoming revival of "Mame" at Connecticut's Goodspeed Musicals this spring.The 1966 Jerry Herman tuner "Mame" is one of those titles that Broadway producers often talk about reviving, especially when there's a production happening at a nearby regional such as Goodspeed. At this point, however, the Goodspeed run of "Mame" is a self-contained production with no outside commercial attachments. Herman's "Mack and Mabel" has been previously revived at the Connecticut theater as well as his "Dear World" on Goodspeed's second stage.Pitre will play the title role in "Mame," skedded to play the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam April 20-July 1.Ray Roderick (Goodspeed's "Hello! My Baby," "My One and Only," "Singin' in the Rain" and "42nd Street") will helm the tuner with choreography by Vince Pesce (associate choreographer of Broadway's "Anything Goes," "The Pajama Game," "Wonderful Town" and "Little Shop of Horrors.")Show has a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee and is based on the novel "Auntie Mame" by Patrick Dennis and the play by Lawrence and Lee.No other casting has been announced. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Raising 'Kane'

It required 71 years, but "Citizen Kane" is finally visiting Hearst Castle. The San Luis Obispo film fest has skedded a Hollywood to Hearst Castle event for March 9 including two tests of Orson Welles' landmark pic inspired through the erstwhile who owns San Simeon. Harrison Ford and photog Timothy Whitened will begin from the festivities by flying into Hearst Ranch's private airfield, just like William Randolph Hearst's Hollywood buddies used to. Wendy Eidson, fest professional director, stated: "We'd been attempting to do a celebration together for a long time so when I recommended showing 'Citizen Kane' as type of a tale, they did not laugh. Only then do we arrived at to Harrison Ford, while he flies their own plane, and that he think it is a terrific way to recognition Timothy Whitened." Great-grand son Steve Hearst, a veep of Hearst Corp., states the tests can help place "Kane" in the proper context. " 'Citizen Kane' is really a classic American film but is definitely a in the past accurate depiction of William Randolph Hearst or his favorite place on the planet, his ranch." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

5 Reasons Why American Idol Will Stay on Top in Season 11

American Idol As American Idol kicks off its 11th season with auditions Wednesday and Thursday at 8/7c on Fox, can it continue to reign over its rival singing competitions on TV (and all other shows, for that matter)? Although Simon Cowell's The X Factor crowns its winner in the fall, NBC's The Voice will be nipping at Idol's heels when it premieres its second season on Feb. 5 after the Super Bowl. Charismatic banter among the coaches and those cool, swiveling chairs may bring in some viewers, but the Idol crew isn't sweating it, judging from a recent interview. American Idol slams its music show competition, reveals new performance challenges Frankly, we're thinking they have nothing to worry about, either. Behold, five reasons why Idol - the nation's most-watched prime-time program for the last eight years - will still be tops in Season 11: 1. A Season 10 comeback. Although Idol numbers have been slipping a bit in recent years, and original judges Cowell and Paula Abdul left for The X Factor, the rejiggered judges table and format somehow worked its magic. The Season 10 finale drew in a hefty 29 million viewers - far ahead of The Voice's 11 million and The X Factor's 12.6 million. 2. Sticking with a good thing. Following last year's upheaval and success, Season 11 won't be messing with the format. There will be minor differences -- '50s-style group singing instead of a Beatles round, for example -- but nothing significant. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez will still be battling for best-dressed (or best-tressed), while Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest will enjoy senior status. 3. Those notorious audition rounds. As annoying and time-consuming as the audition rounds can be to watch, they're nevertheless a draw because they demonstrate that almost anyone, and we mean anyone, can try out. "We try and make the American dream come true," executive producer Ken Warwick told critics at Fox's winter previews earlier this month. "Our show is open to everybody. It's much better for our audience if they know that this kid was cleaning windows two months ago and this week they're No. 1 in the downloads. That's a show. That's something to get hooked into." Meet The Voice's eight new advisers 4. A proven track record. Beginning with Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson - whose "Stronger" cannot be avoided nowadays - Idol has seen numerous contestants forge successful careers, if not superstardom. Last season's champ, Scotty McCreery, is basking in the glow of his debut album hitting platinum, while Carrie Underwood is hosting every country awards show that can be devised. Jennifer Hudson has an Oscar (and new body - thanks, in part, to Weight Watchers) and Katharine McPhee co-stars in NBC's upcoming musical drama Smash. (And that's just to name a few.) 5. A girl will win! Four male winners in the past four seasons? C'mon, America. It's about time, isn't it? Will you tune into American Idol this season? Do you like it better than The Voice or The X Factor?

Nick Cannon Released from Hospital

Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey Nick Cannon has been released from the hospital after suffering "mild kidney failure" last week, People reports."Nick Cannon was released over the weekend to be with his family. He is resting and recovering at home and would like to thank everyone who has expressed concern, well wishes and prayers," his rep said in a statement.Nick Cannon hospitalized with kidney problemThe 31-year-old America's Got Talent host is expected to return to his morning radio show, Rollin' With Nick Cannon, on Tuesday, Jan. 17.Cannon was hospitalized last week during his and wife Mariah Carey's annual holiday trip to Aspen, Colo. He was transferred Friday to Los Angeles, where he underwent surgery."Recovering ... about to be stronger than ever!" he tweeted Saturday.

Jeremy Sisto and Wife Expecting Second Child

Jeremy Sisto Suburgatory star Jeremy Sisto and wife Addie Lane expect their second child.Sisto, 37, came out round the Talk Tuesday, where he confirmed he and Lane are becoming a boy in March. The happy couple also provides a few-year-old daughter, Charlie-Ballerina.Not aware reunion! Alicia Silverstone moving (while using homies) to SuburgatoryThe actor addressed his daughter's unconventional title round the daytime talk show. "My partner experienced the dictionary, page by page, trying to find words which were not normally names... I never really pictured myself obtaining a household so that it felt strange to title my child after others alive," he mentioned."Ballerina, we loved it. But we handled in order to save her a little, we handled to obtain a hyphenated title ... so she'll pass Charlie ... Chuck B."

George Clooney & Stacy Keibler Return To Cabo

First Launched: December 21, 2011 2:47 PM EST Credit: Fame Pictures Caption George Clooney and Stacy Kiebler are spotted in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on December 20, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- George Clooney and Stacy Keibler are missing a white-colored Christmas, unless of course obviously you count the white-colored sands of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The Golden Globe nominee, 50, as well as the former WWE star, 32, were taken photos of inside the resort town on Tuesday, marking the next time the pair has visited Cabo in the last two several days. The Descendants star looked cozy in the T-shirt and board shorts, while Stacy was all smiles in the tie-dyed top, pink shorts together with a fedora. The paired was spotted stopping their golfcart inside a local outdoors bar where they clicked up a glass or two. The happy couple also spent Thanksgiving in Cabo and celebrated Stacys 32nd birthday there in October. Have a look at more hot shots of Georges ladylove, HERE! Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

New poster for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

20th Century Fox have released a new poster for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and it's one of those nifty lenticular jobs that changes depending on the angle from which you look at it.One half of the image shows old Abe sat in the Oval Office, whilst the other transposes him into the back of beyond, clutching an axe and illuminated by the light of a full moon.Directed by Timur Bekmambetov and adapted from Seth Grahame-Smith's book, the film sees Benjamin Walker star as an alternate version of the sixteenth president of the USA, who takes up a secret life of demon-slaying after his mother is killed by a supernatural creature.The supporting cast contains the likes of Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Dominic Cooper and Rufus Sewell, whilst Tim Burton has added his Gothic influence in a production capacity.Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter opens in the UK on 2 August 2012. Check out the new poster in all its double-sided glory, below.