According to ContactMusic.com, Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden and John Goodman have joined the star-studded cast of “Theater of the New Ear” (which will be also taped for later broadcast on satellite radio) – in New York City on 28-30 April (05). They will join the previous announced actors in a reading of “Sawbones” by filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen and “Hope leaves the Theater”, by Charlie Kaufman. Both Harden and Goodman starred with Meryl in “The Seagull”.

According to Variety, Jennifer Aniston and Meryl Streep are rumored star in Sheldon Turner’s upcoming adaptation of Kim Wozencraft’s novel “Wanted”, the story of a female cop (Aniston) in Texas who is framed for narcotics trafficking and sent to prison. Her cellmate is a war protester (Streep) who’s renounced violence, and the two plot an escape. No official statement on this project has been done yet.

According to ContactMusic.com, Meryl is in talks to join “Adaptation” screenwriter Charlie Kaufman in a production to be performed on London’s South Bank. The play, provisionally titled “Music to a New Ear”, is a double bill and is said to involve the considerable talents of the Coen Brothers. The “Fargo” producers have also chosen Hollywood actor Philip Seymor Hoffman to be part of the show. No official statement has been done yet.

Academy Award winners Meryl Streep and Marisa Tomei, and comedienne Sarah Jones, are featured in a public service announcement spot by Equality Now. Scheduled to premiere on Lifetime Television at the end of December 2004, the PSA will also air on other cable stations throughout 2005. Visit Equality Now for more info on the foundation and to see the spot.

Three weeks after Christopher Reeve’s death, his family and friends celebrated him Friday at a place that was central to his life: The Juilliard School, where he first honed his acting skills and later returned to receive an honorary doctorate. Actors Liam Neeson, Susan Sarandon, Meryl Streep and Kim Cattrall attended the Memorial.

The 2004 Venice Film Festival will show “The Manchurian Candidate”. Director Jonathan Demme and his cast, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep and John Voigt are expected to attend the festival and the film’s photocall on September 02, 2004. “The Manchurian Candidate” will run out of competition.

Various sources, including an interview with USA Today, has mentioned Meryl’s involvement with the next Robert Altman film, “Prairie Home Companion”. The article quoted her to “play half of a female country music duo. It used to be a trio and might have been a quartet. We keep losing members”. Shooting begins in January 2005. Yet, Meryl’s involvement hasn’t been officially announced.

With the release of “The Manchurian Candidate”, Entertainment Weekly reported about Angela Lansbury’s displeasure on Meryl Streep taking over the role she performed in the original film. Further it was written that Streep had based her character on senator Hilary Clinton and that Paramount had to cut additional scenes that were too much Clinton. In an interview with NBC, Streep stated that she was disturbed by these reports, adding that her performance was not based on Clinton, but “who says I haven’t modeled it on a man?”. And although Entertainment Weekly stands by its taped interview, Streep reveals that Lansbury called her and denied she made the statements. “She said, ‘I never said this. I love all the people making this. I don’t know who started the rumor.”

Meryl and her family attended the Shanghai Film Festival, as reported below. Presenting an award that night, Streep recalled to be a fan of the Chinese theatre.

“I love Chinese movies and don’t get enough of them in the United States and that’s why people hold film festivals to make others aware of films in other countries.”

Meryl Streep was announced to attend the 2004 Shanghai Film Festival’s closing ceremony on June 12, 2004. For more information on her appearance and the festival, visit their Official Website