Jennifer Hudson’s ‘so excited’ to help produce ‘Dreamgirls’ on Broadway
A graphic for the upcoming ‘Dreamgirls’ Broadway production. (Sonia Friedman Productions)
Jennifer Hudson’s got another job.
During her daytime talk show Wednesday, the EGOT winner announced she’ll be helping to produce a revival of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Jennifer starred in the award-winning movie based on the 1981 musical, which she said “changed my life.”
“Twenty years ago, my life changed forever because of a film called Dreamgirls,” Hudson said in a press release. “I am beyond honored to join the extraordinary producing team behind this special, newly reimagined Broadway revival, and to help bring Dreamgirls back to the stage through the visionary direction and choreography of Camille A. Brown. This fall cannot come soon enough.”
Brown, a five-time Tony Award nominee, will direct and choreograph the Broadwayrevival alongside producers Sonia Friedman Productions, Sue Wagner and John Johnson.
“There’s going to be so much more to share, in time,” Jennifer said to her audience. “But I’ve been having so much fun working with this amazing team and I cannot wait to share the incredible production this fall.”
While no ticket information has been released about the show, fans can subscribe to an email list for future announcements.
Martin Short and Katherine Elizabeth Short arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Feb. 27, 2011, at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood, California. (Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
Katherine Short, the daughter of actor Martin Short, has died, ABC News has confirmed. She was 42.
A representative for Martin Short confirmed the news in a statement, saying, “It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short.”
The statement continued, “The Short family is devastated by this loss, and asks for privacy at this time. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”
The Los Angeles Police Department told ABC News that a call came into Katherine Short’s address at 6:43 p.m. PT Monday for a possible suicide. When LAPD and medics arrived, they found a deceased female and an investigation was opened.
The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that they responded to reports of a shooting at Katherine Short’s home. When they arrived, they found a woman deceased.
Katherine Short was one of three children the actor shared with his late wife, Nancy Dolman.
Dolman died on Aug. 21, 2010, from ovarian cancer. She and Martin Short were married for 30 years.
They also have two sons, Oliver Patrick Short, 39, and Henry Hayter Short, 36.
Martin Short has previously spoken about how his children were close, telling CNN in a 2013 interview that he was inspired by his own childhood to make sure his children were always close.
“When you have kids you have to just set down this bottom line of what can’t happen,” Martin Short said. “I’ve done it in my house and my parents did it in their house which was: Everyone has to like each other and get along. And if you don’t, you’ll get the wrath of the parents.”
According to People, Katherine Short earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender sexuality studies from New York University in 2006.
She then earned her master’s in social work from the University of Southern California in 2010.
Following an internship at the pro bono law firm Public Counsel, training at the West L.A. Veterans Administration and a role at UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, she worked in private practice as a licensed clinical social worker and also worked part time at the clinic Amae Health.
Katherine Short was also a mental health advocate and was involved with the charity Bring Change 2 Mind.
Over the years, Martin Short brought his daughter with him to several events. She appeared with him and Dolman at the afterparty for The Producers in 2003 and also attended the Vanity Fair Oscar Party with her dad in February 2011.
If you are in crisis or know someone in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. You can reach Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 (U.S.) or 877-330-6366 (Canada) and The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386.
Halle Berry stars as Sharon in ‘Crime 101.’ (Merrick Morton)
Halle Berry is a successful insurance broker who doesn’t get the respect she deserves in the new film Crime 101.
Her character, Sharon, finally has enough of the poor treatment. Late in the film she stands up for herself to her boss, telling him exactly how she feels before quitting. Berry opened up to ABC Audio about the many ways she resonated with Sharon and this particular moment in the film.
“I am a woman of a certain age down the path of life, and I have felt very much what Sharon has felt probably since I turned 40, 45,” Berry said. “I started to feel like my industry, that I love so much, was kinda lowkey kinda telling me, ‘We don’t really have a place for you. There are no parts. You’re not young. You’re not quite old enough to be grandma. So there’s no place for you.'”
The Oscar winner said that she “worked so hard to arrive to that place” of success in the industry.
“To feel that I would now be discarded was a painful realization,” Berry said.
Despite this, Berry said she made a conscious choice to not allow that to happen to her.
“There was some point in that period where I said, ‘No, screw this. I will not allow this to happen.’ And I pushed through, and I managed to not allow that to be my story,” Berry said. “I really related to Sharon deciding to stand up for herself.”
Berry feels other women who see the film will similarly relate to Sharon’s story.
“It was a moral question that she had to face, but I think in that moment she chose to do what was best for her and I really respected her for that,” Berry said. “I think women will feel seen, they’ll feel heard, and they will cheer for her.”
Crime 101 is available to watch in theaters everywhere.
