Lea Michele, star of Fox Television’s popular series Glee, has signed a deal with Harmony Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group at Random House, Inc., to write her first book. Titled BRUNETTE AMBITION, the book is scheduled for publication in spring 2014 and will be released simultaneously in the U.S. and Canada in print and digital formats. Tina Constable, Senior Vice President, Publisher, Harmony Books, acquired world, audio, electronic book, and first-serial rights from Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, Co-head of the Worldwide Literary Department and Board Member of William Morris Endeavor. Suzanne O’Neill, Executive Editor for Harmony Books, will edit the book. Michele is represented by William Morris Endeavor and Untitled.

Part memoir, part how-to, and part style-guide, BRUNETTE … Read the rest

Roger S. Baum’s further adventures of his great-grandfather’s beloved characters are given a new animated life in Summertime’s Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return.

In the world’s supply of film-worthy fairy tales, the attempts of American authors make up but a tiny fraction. Whether the United States’ relative youth or its shocking dearth of inspiring castles is to blame, we may never know. But one classic of American literature can firmly lay claim to the title of a globally loved fairy tale: The adventures of young Dorothy Gale in the magical world of Oz.

Dorothy’s original stories were penned by L. Frank Baum, whose first novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz became an instant classic upon its publication in 1900. Baum … Read the rest

Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park International (HPI) announced today that the company has picked-up international rights to directors Will Finn and Daniel St. Pierre’s 3D animated family adventure film LEGENDS OF OZ: DOROTHY’S RETURN starring Lea Michele, Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi and Kelsey Grammer. The film is from a script by Adam Balsam and Randi Barnes, based on the series of books by Roger Stanton Baum. Bonne Radford is producing alongside Ryan Carroll and Roland Carroll of Summertime Entertainment.

The film, scheduled for a May 2, 2014 domestic theatrical release by Clarius Entertainment on a minimum of 3,000 screens, will be introduced by HPI’s President Eric Christenson and will screen at the upcoming Marché du Film. Cannes screenings are … Read the rest

Björk. Cher. Madonna. Lea Michele?

Bad news for fans who enjoy a good fashion risk: As red-carpet coverage has gotten more popular – even replacing the awards shows as the main event for some fashion-hungry followers – many stars are playing it safe to avoid winding up on the worst dressed list.

“[These days] everybody is a critic,” hairstylist Mark Townsend, who has worked with Jennifer Lawrence, Michelle Williams, Lea Michele and many others, said. “The Internet has changed it. At some [point in] time, if you were on TV you had some kind of fashion background, but now all these shows like to employ comedians to be fashion experts [instead of actual fashion people].”

One star who Townsend says … Read the rest

Summertime Entertainment has inked a deal with Clarius Entertainment for a wide theatrical release, with significant prints & advertising support in the U.S. and Canada, for the 3-D animated musical film “Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return.” The release date will be slated for 1st quarter of 2014. As part of the pact, Home Entertainment will be provided by a major studio partner, with sub-distribution rights handled by others. The company is beginning discussions for international distribution for the film, which had a prior Working Title “Dorothy of Oz.”

LEGENDS OF OZ: DOROTHY’S RETURN is on schedule for completion in Summer 2013. The film features the voice talents of Lea Michele (Dorothy), Jim Belushi (Lion), Dan Aykroyd (Scarecrow), Kelsey Grammer (Tin … Read the rest