People: Vaccaro to fill Valerie Harper’s role in play
Performer Brenda Vaccaro will replace Valerie Harper in a play in Maine as Harper recovers from an illness and brief hospitalization.
The Ogunquit Playhouse said in a release Saturday night that Vaccaro will step into the role of Millicent Winter in the production of “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” which is playing through Aug. 15.
The 75-year-old Harper, who has battled cancer, was hospitalized Wednesday before an evening performance. York General Hospital said she was released Thursday.
Playhouse officials say Harper is “feeling great right now” and they want her to continue resting and spending time with her family.
Vaccaro has received an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a People’s Choice Award, and a Theater World Award. She’s also received Academy Award and Tony Award nominations.
Brown: Families’ feud ‘far from over’
Bobby Brown’s sister vowed the family feud was “far from over” between their family and the late Whitney Houston’s kin during the memorial service for her niece, Bobbi Kristina Brown.
A frustrated Leolah Brown walked out of the St. James United Methodist Church in Alpharetta on Saturday and spoke to reporters gathered outside. She was angry because of some words that were said during the funeral by Pat Houston, the sister-in-law and former manager of Whitney Houston.
“I told her that Whitney is going to haunt her from the grave,” Leolah Brown told reporters outside the church.
Before she went back inside the church, Leolah Brown expressed her love for Bobbi Kristina and Whitney Houston. But she ultimately spewed more venom toward Pat Houston, calling her a “phony” and not a “blood relative.”
Dr. Dre announces new album release
Hip hop super-producer Dr. Dre said the wait is finally over – he’s going to release his first album in 15 years.
Dre said on his radio show, Dr. Dre’s The Pharmacy, that “Compton: A Soundtrack’ by Dr. Dre” will be available Aug. 7.
He said Saturday that the album was inspired by the N.W.A. biopic “Straight Outta Compton,” a Hollywood film that details his rise in the music industry along with members of one of the genre’s most well-known hardcore groups.
Dre said the album includes features from Ice Cube, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and Snoop Dogg.
It’s his first album since “2001,” which was released in 1999.
He said it’s going to be his grand finale, “and the record is bananas.”
The birthday bunch
Singer Tony Bennett is 89. Actor Martin Sheen is 75. Lifestyle guru Martha Stewart is 74. Actor Jay North (TV: “Dennis the Menace”) is 64. NFL quarterback Tom Brady is 38. Actress Mamie Gummer is 32.