Here’s a Sneak Peek at the New Stage Adaptation of Winnie the Pooh
Ahead of its opening in early November, previews began last night for the new stage adaptation of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh, entitled Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation. You can get a sneak peek at images from the family-friendly show exclusively from Playbill. The cast of the new musical includes Jake Bazel as Pooh; Chris Palmieri as Tigger; Kirsty Moon as Piglet/Roo; Emmanuel Elpenord as Eeyore, Rabbit, and Owl; and Kristina Dizon as Kanga/Owl. The music was written by The Sherman Brothers, the songwriting duo behind many Disney films, including Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and The Aristocats.
Authors Pull Out of Frankfurt Book Fair Due to Presence of Far-Right Publishers
Writers are pulling out of the Frankfurt Book Fair, the biggest book fair in the world, due to concerns about the presence of far-right publishers. One of the writers who is stepping back from the Book Fair is writer and activist Jasmina Kuhnke, who decided to withdraw after discovering that right-wing activist Philip Stein would have a stand next to the stage where Kuhnke was set to participate in a roundtable. Kuhnke, who has been threatened by right-wing groups before, says that the presence of right-wing extremists “poses an unmistakeable danger.” Following Kuhnke’s announcement, others have followed suit. Authors Nikeata Thompson, Annabelle Mandeng and Riccardo Simonetti also announced they would no longer participate. A restaurant also canceled their partnership with the Book Fair. In a statement, The Frankfurt Book Fair and the German Publishers and Booksellers Association said that they are “committed to promoting freedom of speech and freedom of the press worldwide. That is why it is also clear for us that publishers who operate within the law can exhibit at the book fair, even if we do not share their views.”
Kristen Stewart Responds to Social Media Campaign for Her to Play the Joker
A social media campaign has been pushing for Kristen Stewart to be cast as Joker opposite Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson in the new Batman film series. However, Kristen Stewart appears to feel lukewarm about the idea. “I love the energy behind [the social media campaign],” Stewart said. “I love that gusto. Let’s figure something else out. I’m totally down to play a freaky, scary person.” When asked if that meant that was a definite no, Stewart added, “Not ‘no,’ but not the most stoked I’ve ever been. Let’s do something new.”
Here’s Your Weekly Dose of Good Bookish News
Here’s the thing: not all news is bad news. Here’s a roundup of all the happy, fun, and hilarious things that have happened this week in the world of books, from a library chicken to literacy funding.