Hey all!  I just added photos from ALW’s Birthday in the Park and the 2008 TV Quick and TV Choice Awards to the gallery:

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber celebrated his 60th birthday with a star-studded concert in London over the weekend. The musical theater genius is responsible for penning shows such as “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. Apparently, Webber enjoyed renditions of his most well known tracks from celebrities including John Barrowman and Elaine Page.

Speaking following the concert in the city’s Hyde Park, a clearly emotional Webber thanked the audience and the BBC and made an exclusive revelation.

Webber (who actually turned 60 on March 22, but they were doing half-birthdays) said:

“There is something I would like to say tonight which is thank you to all the people who have helped me in my career. I would like to thank everyone who loves musicals as much as me and I promise you I will try my best with the sequel to ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ which, I can exclusively reveal tonight, will be called ‘Love Never Dies’.”

There you have it, folks. History in the making. Something else for Hollywood to ruin a few years down the line.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, who celebrated his 60th birthday March 22, marks the occasion publicly Sept. 14 with an all-star gala outdoor concert in London’s Hyde Park entitled Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Birthday in the Park.

John Barrowman, who starred in the West End and Broadway runs of Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard (in which he took over the role of Joe Gillis) as well as in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera (in which he played Raoul), hosts the 6 PM event.

The concert features performances by Jonathan Ansell (formerly of pop-opera boyband G4), Steve Balsamo (Jesus Christ Superstar in the West End and Broadway), Dean Collinson (Pharoah in the current production of Joseph and the Amazing Technioclor Dreamcoat), Jason Donovan (who headlined the London Palladium revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1991), Connie Fisher (Maria in The Sound of Music, produced by Lloyd Webber at the London Palladium, and currently in They’re Playing Our Song at the Menier Chocolate Factory), Maria Friedman (original London and Broadway cast of Lloyd Webber’s The Woman in White), Duncan James (Chicago in the West End), Lee Mead (currently playing the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Idina Menzel (Wicked in the West End and Broadway), Denise van Outen (Chicago in the West End and on Broadway, Tell Me On a Sunday in the West End), Elaine Paige (original Eva Peron in Lloyd Webber’s Evita and original Grizabella in Cats, who also took over as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard in the West End and on Broadway), Jodie Prenger (winner of the “I’d Do Anything” reality TV contest to play Nancy in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane production of Oliver!, opening in December), Rhydian (”X-Factor”), Joss Stone, Julian Lloyd Webber (the composer’s brother and a classical cello player) and classical soloist Hayley Westenra. Also appearing are the 100-voice Crouch End Festival Chorus, Capital Voices, harmonica player Philip Achille, and chorister Andrew Johnston. They will be accompanied by the 70-piece BBC Concert Orchestra, with Mike Dixon as musical director.

Also appearing from BBC1’s “I’d Do Anything” and “Any Dream Will Do” star searches, which Lloyd Webber judged, are Keisha Amposa Banson, Daniel Boys, Lewis Bradley, Jessie Buckley, Ben James Ellis,Keith Jack, Niamh Perry and Rachel Tucker.

The evening’s repertoire is set to include the following songs: “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “I Don’t Know How To Love Him,” “Another Suitcase in Another Hall,” “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Memory,” “Pie Jesu,” “Music of the Night,” “All I Ask of You,” “Love Changes Everything,” “No Matter What,” “As If We Never Said Goodbye” and “Any Dream Will Do.”

The concert, for which tickets are £25, will close with a fireworks finale.

The evening will be recorded and subsequently broadcast on Radio 2’s “Friday Night Is Music Night” on Oct. 10.

source: playbill.com

We recently reported that Torchwood has begun filming its highly-anticipated third season in Cardiff, Wales.  In fact, the Doctor Who spin-off was renewed last month and was given a third season order, entitled Torchwood: Children of the Earth.  This new season will be a single five-episode story arc, contrary to the regular 13-episode run.  The new season will be following the Torchwood team as they head out to their biggest battle yet.  In fact, series creator Russell T. Davies promises this season to be “bigger,” “bolder,” and “better” than ever before.

The third season, which Davies says he hopes to be a “gripping” chapter of the series, is now currently in production and BBC has released some details about who’s to appear in the upcoming season.

“This series is one big serial and the most ambitious story we’ve ever made, and we’ve got plenty of surprises in store,” BBC Wales Head of Drama Julie Gardner told RTE.  “Joining our main cast are some fantastic guest artists who will only add to making this unmissable TV.”

Wired reports that aside from season regulars John Barrowman, Gareth David-Lloyd and Eve Myles, the new season will feature Kai Owen and Tom Price as they play recurring guest roles.

The five-episode arc will also include appearances by Liz May Brice, who previously appeared in Bad Girls and The Bill, and Peter Capaldi, who is best known for playing Malcolm Tucker in the British comedy, The Thick of It.

Torchwood stars John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gewn, Burn Gorman as Owen, Naoko Mori as Toshiko and Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto.  The recently concluded second season featured guest appearances by notable actors Alan Dale of Ugly Betty and The O.C., Richard Briers, Ruth Jones and Nerys Hughes. Interestingly, the second season also geatured Doctor Who’s Freema Agyeman, who reprised her role as Martha Jones, as she teamed up with Torchwood to solve a string of mysterious deaths in Cardiff.

Catch the third season of BBC’s highest-rated show, Torchwood, as it returns to television screens next year.

source: buddytv.com

When I was growing up, homosexuality was like a curse. This was midwest America in the Eighties, so I couldn’t exactly make it a known thing. But I never doubted my sexuality. Even as a child, I knew I was different. I would look at a dirty magazine and I would feel drawn to the guy rather than the girl. His bits were more interesting than hers. It would make me feel warm and tingly. After gym class, I’d secretly peek at the other boys in the shower when I knew that I shouldn’t. I was nine or 10 and I didn’t know what being gay meant.

Later, I made sure I was good at sports and I worked out so they couldn’t call me a wimp. I had to copy the others to fit in and avoid being bullied; I’d date girls, dance with them, go for dinner but I used to panic when I was on her doorstop and I’d have to kiss her and feel her up.

I moved to the UK in 1990. Scott, my civil partner, is British. I think I prefer British men to American men. British men have changed over the past few years. They are beginning to take care of themselves and hell, nothing beats a foreskin. A lot of Americans are snipped at birth, Jewish or not.

I go through phases and right now, I’m going through a builders’ phase. I don’t know why, but they are so hot. I think it’s OK to be in a relationship and still look. It doesn’t mean you are going to do anything. Anyway, personality is a big thing for me. Of course I look at their physique, body and face but a hot body is nothing if their personality’s bad. The first time I saw Scott I knew he was the one. We saw each other casually for about year but before it got serious, I had my fair share of wham-bam. One can never have enough wham-bam. When a guy strays and ends up with someone else, it’s not a big deal. Sex for men is external. I think it’s hard for women to realise this.

I would love to lecture to women on men. I’d tell them everything about men: gay, straight, bi, how we’re all the same, how we’re all bastards. Men know what men want. In and out of bed. Some women are afraid to go to regions that are especially sensitive to men because they think it’s dirty. I’d love to be able to tell women this. I think it would open up their sex lives. Experimentation is incredibly healthy. Men love it when their partner dresses up. My mother even advocates it. Unless you are going to get physically hurt, you should give it a go. Before you start, you need a panic word in case you feel uncomfortable. Ours changes depending on the situation but you can’t shout ’stop’ because it might fit into the role-play situation a little too well.

I get loads of letters from soldiers in Iraq. Mostly they say thanks for making their sexuality acceptable but a lot tell me when they come home they are going to come out. I’m proud to represent my community and help these guys if I can.

Some celebrities do cash in on being gay. I have and I haven’t. Part of my success is down to my honesty in that department but I also like cars, mechanical things, and sports. I exist on that end of the gay community. Gay men aren’t all the same. I can be camp but that’s just me acting.

The biggest homophobes in Hollywood are the gay guys themselves. I reckon loads of Hollywood actors are gay, we don’t know which ones. I guess the industry should be easier for gay men to succeed in, but I honestly don’t know. When a straight gay man plays a gay man they get an Oscar. I just play me. If I am looked upon as a role model for young, gay men and women then so be it. I will never be negative about my sexuality.

· John’s album, Music Music Music, is released on 24 November; visit www.johnbarrowman.com

source: guardian.co.uk

LONDON, September 4: Production has begun on the CBBC series Animals at Work, Cineflix’s first foray into children’s programming, for launch in November.

Animals at Work will introduce young viewers to the world of animals with jobs and is set to air on CBBC in the U.K. and Discovery HD in Canada. Hosted by John Barrowman, the series will feature incredible animals from musical elephants to a school for buffalos.

The program is a co-production between Media Productions and Cineflix and is produced in association with the CBBC and Discovery HD. Cineflix International will retain rights for global exploitation of the property.

Rob Carey, recently appointed as the creative director for Cineflix, is overseeing Animals at Work for the company, in addition to the development and creative vision of the company’s entire range of programs worldwide.

Anne Gilchrist, controller for CBBC, said: “Animals at Work will be tracking down some extraordinary animals with incredible skills which make our lives easier, safer or simply more interesting. I know this series will go down particularly well with CBBC viewers as, with John Barrowman in charge, it’s going to be both highly entertaining and informative.”

—By Jackie Stewart

JOHN Barrowman enjoys entertaining people. When he’s not fighting aliens in the streets of Cardiff he’s judging young West End hopefuls as they compete for a dream role. Last night he was in North Wales making his debut at the Faenol Festival.

It was his first time in North Wales, a country the Glasgow-born American says he has come to love.

“I really love Wales so it’s great to have the chance to play at a big festival here. Instead of taking the motorway we took the road up through the Brecon Beacons. I feel at home here.”

His appearance came at the end of the first week of filming for the new series of Torchwood.

The 41-year-old added he was pleased to finally be performing at Faenol.

“Bryn has asked me to be involved for a few years but because of filming I’ve never been able to.”

On stage Barrowman performed songs from his forthcoming album, Music Music Music.

He was joined by Jodie Prenger, who won the role of Nancy in the new West End production of Oliver! after wowing him and his fellow judges on I’ll Do Anything.

Doctor Who actor John Barrowman is releasing an album called ‘Music Music Music’.

The record is released on November 24 and features songwriting contributions from Take That’s Gary Barlow, including first single ‘What About Us’, out November 17.

Barrowman has played Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and spin-off ‘Torchwood’ as well as pursuing a career in musical theatre, performing on both Broadway and the West End.

‘Music Music Music’ follows Barrowman’s debut, 2007’s ‘Another Side’.

source: http://livejournal.com/community/ohnotheydidnt

Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted as the ‘Ultimate Gay Icon’, pushing Kylie Minogue to second place. The Manchester United player was revealed to be the favourite after the results of a poll of 3,000 gay men were revealed by a website.

“Ronaldo’s ripped body, slicked-back hair, shiny white teeth and jewellery swung the votes his way,” the Sun quoted a spokeswoman for www.gaygolddiggers.uk.com as saying. “He looks like any gay man or woman’s dream. What with being Footballer of the Year, scoring 42 goals last season and former girlfriends saying he is talented off the pitch, he seems to have everything going for him,” she added.

Wizard Of Oz screen legend and singer Judy Garland came out third, while English pop singer and pianist Elton John and Liza Minnelli rounded off the top five.

The Top 10 ‘Ultimate Gay Icons’ are: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo, 2. Kylie Minogue, 3. Judy Garland, 4. Elton John, 5. Liza Minnelli, 6. The Village People, 7. David Beckham, 8. George Michael, 9. John Barrowman and 10. Paul O’Grady.

In issue 8 of Torchwood magazine, Russell T Davies revealed that the title for the five part story which makes up Torchwood Series 3 will be called Torchwood: Children of Earth. It has not yet been confirmed if the episodes will have seperate titles or the episodes will have the same title. Confirmed to be in the series is John Barrowman (Captain Jack), Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), and Gareth David-Llyod (Ianto Jones) and there are rumours of Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith) and Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones) also starring. The five part mini series, Children of the Earth will air next spring, a date TBA