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Fri/Sat/Sun November 10~12, 2017

CAPITOL Nashville released Keith Urban’s new single “Female” this week to radio stations. The song was inspired in part by the Harvey Wein-stein scandal in Hollywood’s fi lm industry. Urban recorded it on Halloween, and the quick release ensures that the song gets attention while the world is still discussing the predatory behavior and abuse of power at the heart of that ongoing story.

“As a husband and a father of two young girls, it affects me in a lot of ways,” Urban tells Bill-board of the song’s empowering message. “And as a son — my mother is alive. It just speaks to all of the females in my life, par-ticularly. For a guy who grew

up with no sisters in a house of boys, it’s incredible how now I’m surrounded by girls. But not only in my house; I employ a huge amount of women in my team. The song just hit me for so many reasons.”

“Female” was crafted by three of Nashville’s current go-to songwriters — Ross Copper-man, Nicolle Galyon and Shane McAnally — during the early stages of the Weinstein saga in October. The New York Times published the initial story Oct. 5, and the writers’ reaction to it was enhanced by the sensitive emotional state created by the Oct. 1 massacre of 58 fans at a country concert in Las Vegas.

“After Vegas, to be honest, I

haven’t wanted to do anything other than writing songs that make an impact,” Copperman says. “So that’s all I’ve been doing. We got to talk that day, and then Shane McAnally was like, ‘I’ve had this title in my phone a long time. I’ve never known how to do it.’ Me and Nicole were like, ‘Uh, yes, we’re doing that.’ We thought the best way to write it was to just list things in the chorus.” (SD-Agencies)

FOLLOWING a multiple-outlet bidding war, Apple has emerged as the victor for a morning show drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.

The tech giant has picked up the untitled drama with a straight-to-series, two-season order (20 episodes total). Aniston and Witherspoon will star, executive-produce and co-own the show alongside Michael Ellenberg’s Media Res company.

The show is described as an inside look at the lives of the people who help the United States wake up in the morning, explor-ing the unique challenges faced by the women (and men) who carry out this daily televised ritual. Brian Stelter’s book “Top of the Morning: Inside the ‘Cutthroat World of Morning TV’” — which was previously in development at Lifetime as a TV movie — will provide additional background for the show. (SD-Agencies)

THE Bee Gees band is getting the stage musical treatment.

Universal Pictures president Jimmy Horowitz on Wednesday announced that its live theater division has reached an agree-ment with Barry Gibb, Yvonne Gibb (Maurice Gibb’s widow) and the Estate of Robin Gibb to develop a stage musical based on the life story of The Bee Gees. Barry Gibb will serve as an executive producer on the project, which will feature the group’s iconic music.

“This is a wonderful opportu-nity for our family,” Barry Gibb said Wednesday in a statement. “I’m personally very excited to be a part of the creative process along with Yvonne and Dwina [Robin Gibb’s widow]. It’s another adventure for us and a chance to throw the spotlight on all my brothers and fi nally the real story of us will be told. It’s an honor to be working along-side the people I most respect. I can’t wait to get started!”

The Bee Gees, comprised of Gibb brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice, are among the world’s best-selling music artists of all time. The trio rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s and saw

Bee Gees musical in the works

Aniston morning show drama lands at Apple

Keith Urban releases song about Weinstein

Former bartender claims Kevin Spacey groped him

A FORMER bartender working in London has come forward with further sexual assault alle-gations against Kevin Spacey.

In a video interview with the BBC, Kris Nixon said he was working at a bar which was a regular hangout for staff at the Old Vic theater, where Spacey was creative director. One night roughly 10 years ago, he said, the actor came to the bar for a post-performance party, which then moved to his penthouse for an afterparty.

“I was sitting on a sofa with my then sort-of girlfriend. She got up to get a drink, and Kevin Spacey sat down on the sofa

next to me,” Nixon said. “He then reached over, grabbed my penis and said insulting words.”

Nixon claimed he promptly left the party but was propo-sitioned again in his pub a couple of weeks later, when Spacey confronted him in the basement stockroom.

“He reached forward, grabbed my waistband and said some-thing to the effect of, ‘I can make it up to you,’ or, ‘Let me make it up to you’,” Nixon said, adding that he pushed Spacey aside.

Nixon’s claims add to a grow-ing chorus of allegations against Spacey. (SD-Agencies)

ASHLEY JUDD is set to topline “A Dog’s Way Home,” Sony’s adaptation of the best-selling book by W. Bruce Cameron, the author of “A Dog’s Purpose.”

Judd will lead an ensemble that also sees Edward James Olmos, Wes Studi, Alexandra Shipp and Jonah Hauer-King on the roll call.

Charles Martin Smith, who directed animals as the helmer of “Air Bud” and “Dolphin Tale,” is directing the family drama, which is being produced by Gavin Polone. Cameron and his wife, Cathryn Michon, wrote the script.

According to the studio, “A Dog’s Way Home” chronicles the heartwarming adventure of Bella, a dog who embarks on an epic 400-mile journey home

after she is separated from her beloved human, Lucas, an aspir-ing med student and VA hospital volunteer. Bella touches the lives of many during her unwaver-ing quest; from an orphaned mountain lion cub to a home-less veteran down on his luck, Bella brings joy and comfort to everyone she meets with her unique spirit and faith.

Sony also announced that it has rescued two dogs to play the role of Bella.

The fi lm is now in production. Lauren Abrahams and Maia Eyre are overseeing the project for Columbia Pictures.

Judd recently appeared on David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks: The Return” and is currently starring on Epix’s “Berlin Station.”

(SD-Agencies)

Judd to star in ‘A Dog’s Way Home’

Bee GeesBee Gees

global success with hits such as “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” “Too Much Heaven,” “Nights on Broadway” and “Stayin’ Alive.” The Bee Gees’ entire publishing and recorded music catalogs are represented exclusively through Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol Records and Universal Music Enterprises.

The group’s hits previously

provided the score for the 1999 Broadway musical adaptation of “Saturday Night Fever,” which ran for just over a year.

Universal Theatrical Group is the fi lm studio’s newly rebranded live theater division, which includes Universal Stage Productions (“Wicked,” “Billy Elliot,” “Bring It On: The Musi-cal”) and DreamWorks Theat-ricals (“Shrek the Musical”).

The Bee Gees project follows the success of other traditional bio-musicals, including “Jersey Boys” and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.” Most recently, Gloria Estefan’s life and music were developed into “On Your Feet!” and upcoming projects include shows based on the careers and songs of Donna Summer, Tina Turner and Cher. (SD-Agencies)

Keith UrbanKeith Urban

Jennifer Aniston Reese WitherspoonJennifer Aniston Reese Witherspoon