The Public Theater, Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori will produce “Courage in Concert”, a one-night-only benefit concert reuniting Kevin Kline, Jenifer Lewis, Austin Pendleton, Meryl Streep and Frederick Weller for an evening of songs from the Public Theater’s 2006 Shakespeare in the Park production of Brecht’s masterpiece, Mother Courage and Her Children. Translated by Tony Kushner with music by Jeanine Tesori and originally directed by George C. Wolfe, “Courage in Concert” will be performed at the Public Theater on Monday, October 19 at 8:00 PM with all proceeds benefiting American Jewish World Service and Partners In Health. The cast of HAIR along with special guests will complete the evening. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, September 17.

I am delighted to reunite with my friends from Mother Courage to benefit two extraordinary organizations … Both American Jewish World Service and Partners In Heath are deeply inspiring in their profound efforts to alleviate poverty and disease around the world.
Meryl Streep

 
“When you work on or watch or read the plays of Bertolt Brecht you’re compelled to ask yourself questions about the relationship between art and the troubled world outside. These questions are complicated, have no easy answers,” said Tony Kushner. “Three summers ago, we presented Mother Courage and Her Children directed by George C. Wolfe and I think I can speak for everyone involved that the experience was thrilling, moving, and left many of us wanting to extend our encounter with this immense play and its provocations. Jeanine Tesori, Meryl Streep and I have been discussing putting together a concert version of the score as a benefit. Together we chose two groups whose work we admire enormously: American Jewish World Services and Partners In Health. Both AJWS and PIH insistently call attention not only to the needs of the poor but to the underlying causes of their poverty. The connection they forge between understanding and action is the connection at the heart of Brecht’s play.”

The complete schedule for the International Rome Film Festival has been announced, and they will not only award Meryl with the Golden Marc’aurelio Acting Award, as previously reported, they will be also showing a retrospective of her past and present work, including “Plent”, “Out of Africa”, “A Cry in the Dark”, “Adaptation”, among others, and “Julie & Julia” as the festival’s closing film. Additionally, the documentary “I Knew It Was You: Remembering John Cazale” will be shown. A list of all screening dates can be found after the cut with many thanks to Illara for the heads-up!

Meryl Streep and Nora Ephron were recently presented with honorary diplomas from the famed Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris, France. Streep was honored for her outstanding interpretation of the legendary Julia Child and Nora Ephron for the film adaptation of the book Julie & Julia. The ceremony took place at the United States Embassy in Paris during an advance screening of the film hosted by US Ambassador Charles Rivkin; newly appointed to France by President Obama. Mr Andre Cointreau, president of Le Cordon Bleu International presented Ms. Ephron and Ms. Streep with the distinctions.  Visit Le Cordon Bleu at at www.cordonbleu.edu/julieandjulia for inspiring recipes and the latest Le Cordon Bleu events and classes worldwide.

According to the New York Times, Meryl Streep will reprise the role of Mother Courage in a one-night benefit performance of “Courage in Concert” at the Public Theater on Oct. 19. On Wednesday, the Public said in a news release that Ms. Streep, who played the title role in its 2006 Shakespeare in the Park production of Bertolt Brecht’s “Mother Courage and Her Children,” would be rejoined by her costars from that production, including Kevin Kline, Jenifer Lewis, Austin Pendleton and Frederick Weller. The concert, which is a benefit for the American Jewish World Service and Partners in Health, will feature songs from “Mother Courage and Her Children” (translated by Tony Kushner with music by Jeanine Tesori) as well as appearances from the cast of the Broadway “Hair” revival and other special guests. The Public’s 2006 production was directed by George C. Wolfe. Tickets for the benefit will go on sale Thursday. Thanks to everybody for the heads-up!

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) will bask in the glamour of Hollywood on Wednesday, October 7, in an evening with two-time Academy Award® winning actress Meryl Streep. During this special event, titled An Evening with Meryl Streep, sponsored by Infiniti, Ms. Streep will engage in an onstage conversation with Globe and Mail journalist Johanna Schneller. Drawing on her own experiences as a celebrated actress, Ms. Streep will discuss aspects of her working life. Tickets to An Evening with Meryl Streep will be available for purchase online at www.rom.on.ca/streep from Saturday, September 12. General admission tickets cost $50.00, or $45.00 for ROM Members, and are expected to sell out quickly.

According to AFP, Hollywood stars Harrison Ford, Meryl Streep and Robin Wright Penn descend on the famed French seaside resort of Deauville from Friday for the town’s annual festival of American films. Streep and Wright Penn will be on hand, respectively, for the French premieres of “Julie & Julia” and “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee”, among 16 US movies showing out of competition at the festival, which closes with its awards ceremony September 13. The festival opens tomorrow – and “Julie & Julia” is announced to premiere this Saturday, September 05. A complete schedule can be found at the festival’s official website.

Also, Meryl and Amy Adams have been announced to attend “Le Grand Journal”, tomorrow, although I’m not sure if this is a new appearance or a re-run of their interview earlier this year for “Doubt”. Thanks to everybody for the heads-up!

According to a recent interview with MTV, Meryl is not involved in Alexander Payne’s upcoming “Downsizing”, or any new project for that matter. Instead, she’s going to take a break.

Do you know what you’re off to shoot next?
I’m not. I’m gonna take a break. I’ve shot seven movies in two and a half years or something and that is more than I did when I was young and happening. So, no way. I’m taking a boat, far far away, with my family until we all kill each other and then I’m gonna come back and look for work.

Right after her visit to Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show, Meryl attended the Los Angeles premiere of “Julie & Julia”, alongside director Nora Ephron as well as co-stars Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Jane Lynch and Chris Messina. Over 200 pictures from the premiere have been added to the Image Library.

London Film Festival organizers say this year’s event will open with the world premiere of Wes Anderson’s animated feature “Fantastic Mr. Fox.”  The stop-motion animated film is based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book about a community of burrowing animals who battle a trio of evil farmers. It features the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray and Michael Gambon. Anderson said Monday he was happy the movie was making its debut in Britain. It was shot at London’s Three Mills Studios and features several British actors. The 53rd London Film Festival runs Oct. 14-29. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” opens in Britain on Oct. 23 and in the U.S. on Nov. 13.

Premieres of this year’s Deauville Film Festival include Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams; Sandra Bullock vehicle The Proposal; Sundance favourite (500) Days Of Summerwith Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel; Raymond de Felitta’s City Island with Andy Garcia. Julia Migenes’ Concert will be the opening night film. This year’s edition runs September 4-13.