Paul Schneider News

NBC unfurls its Spring sweeps with a banner full of special episodes along with the broadcast return of 'Friday Night Lights' (May 7, 8-9 p.m. ET) and the live finales of 'The Biggest Loser' (May 25, 8-10 p.m. ET) and 'The Celebrity Apprentice' (two-parter, May 16 and May 23, 9-11 p.m. ET both nights).

As previously reported, the National Society of Film Critics has selected the Iraq war drama 'The Hurt Locker' as its pick for Best Picture of the Year. The film also earned Kathryn Bigelow an award for best direction, as well as the award for best actor for Jeremy Renner.

To help celebrate our 20th season, BLUEBARN THEATRE will revive our 2001 award-winning play, Wit, which opens March 19 and runs through April 11, 2009. BLUEBARN founding member, Kevin Lawler, returns to direct the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, with Phyllis Doughman recreating the role that won her rave reviews, as well as a Theatre Arts Guild Award for Best Actress. The BLUEBARN's 2008 production will also feature local theatre veterans, Melissa Jarecke, Mary Kelly, Benjamin Beck, Paul Schneider, Jennifer McGill, Chris Elston, Eric Grant-Leanna, and Danielle Smith.

Production begins in Connecticut this week on an untitled contemporary comedy directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty) from an original screenplay by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida. The film is being produced and co-financed by Big Beach, with Focus Features co-financing and distributing worldwide.