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ITTY BITTY BITS: Audra's 'Allegro'; Booker T, Memphis Horns in Musicians Hall; FX nabs 'Hancock'; Mandela off terrorist list; Holyfield's child support; Luenell's 'Reality Bite.'
*Audra McDonald joins other Broadway veterans for the first complete recording of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's Allegro, which features a 50-piece orchestra. The star of ABC's "Private Practice" sings as the mother of Allegro's main character Joe Taylor, Jr. Her contributions to the recording are "A Fellow Needs a Girl" with Nathan Gunn ) and "Come Home." The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization confirmed to Playbill.com that principal orchestral and vocal work has been completed for the recording, which will be released on a date and label to be announced shortly.
*Booker T. and the MGs, the Memphis Horns and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section are headed to the Musicians Hall of Fame, it was announced Tuesday. Booker T. and the MGs were part of the famed Memphis sound in the '60s, playing on recordings by Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, and Rufus Thomas. The Memphis Horns also were an integral part of Memphis music in the '60s and '70s, appearing on nearly every recording on Stax Records. The Alabama-based Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section worked on classics like Aretha Franklin's "Respect" and the Staple Singers "I'll Take You There."
*Cable channel FX picked up rights to broadcast Will Smith's current movie "Hancock" beginning late in 2010. According to Variety, FX will pay more than $20 million if the film does as well as expected. The formula covers a payout of about 12% of the domestic box office, with a cap if the movie goes well above $200 million. Two Will Smith vehicles, "Independence Day" and "I, Robot," consistently earn huge Nielsen ratings every time FX schedules them, making the bid for "Hancock" a no-brainer for the network.
*Former South African President Nelson Mandela will finally be taken off of a U.S. terrorism watch list, thanks to a bill President Bush signed Tuesday. Mandela and other members of the African National Congress have been on the list because of their fight against South Africa's apartheid regime, which gave way to majority rule in 1994. The bill gives the State Department and the Homeland Security Department the authority to waive restrictions against ANC members. "He had no place on our government's terror watch list, and I'm pleased to see this bill finally become law," said Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.
*Evander Holyfield is back in the headlines over his child support situation. TMZ.com reported yesterday that Toi Jenese Irvin, the mother of his 10-year-old son Evan, is demanding that the former heavyweight champ pay his $9,000 debt in full, or go to jail. In addition to being three months behind with the checks, Irvin also alleges that the boxer dropped their son's health insurance, against judges orders.
*Comedienne Luenell will appear in a new Comedy Central reality TV show called "Reality Bites Back." It debuts July 17, but you can preview it here: www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=175081
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