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*Tony Award-winning actor Laurence Fishburne will appear as an inspirational teacher in the new drama "Without Walls" at the Center Theatre Group's Mark Taper Forum (135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles) from June 1 through July 16. Opening is set for June 11. Fishburne will portray the role of Morocco, an idealistic and popular drama teacher at a non-traditional high school in Manhattan, circa 1977. Morocco has great skill in bringing out the best in his students, and he cares deeply about them, perhaps too deeply as eventually revealed in this sensitive drama about both the power and the fragility of the student/mentor relationship. Tickets are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org or at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Music Center.
*Loretta Devine, Rockmond Dunbar, Sommore, Terri J. Vaughn and Jenifer Lewis star in the MoJam Entertainment film “Dirty Laundry,” which began production in New York and Atlanta last month. The film, written and directed by actor Maurice Jamal, follows Patrick, a black gay man who has carved out the perfect life for himself in San Francisco – until one day, a boy knocks on his door claiming to be his son. As Patrick sets off to discover the truth, the audience discovers the many secrets that make up his "perfect life."
*Actor Anthony Mackie has been cast in the upcoming Warner Bros. drama "We Are Marshall," reports Karu Daniels of Black Voices. Set in Huntington, West Virginia, the film is based on the true story of a small town's efforts to rebuild after the devastating effects of a tragic plane crash. Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, David Strathairn and Kate Mara co-star in the film, to be directed by McG (“Charlie's Angels”). Mackie, a New Orleans native is a Julliard graduate who was most recently seen in “Freedomland.” Other credits include “Million Dollar Baby,” “The Manchurian Candidate,” “8 Mile” and “She Hate Me.”
*Rapper Obie Trice borrows clips from his appearance on Thursday’s episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” for a music video to his new single, “Snitch.” According to Allhiphop.com, the April 13 episode, titled “Poppin’ Tags,” follows three teens who are murdered while promoting a rapper’s new album. The investigation leads to rival rappers Jessie "Dollar" Cleveland (Page Kennedy), Hi-Def (Travis Barker) and "Drops" (Method Man). Trice’s video is slated to debut exclusively on CBS.com starting Friday, April 14.
*Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett have teamed for a new reality show that searches for the next great film director. “On the Lot,” to premiere early next year on Fox, will feature 16 aspiring filmmakers competing for the big prize: a development deal with Spielberg’s DreamWorks.