PEOPLE

PEOPLE
Spielberg, Hanks revisit D-Day
HOLLYWOOD -- Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, inspired by "Saving Private Ryan," return to the D-Day beaches in June to unveil their latest World War II epic, a multimillion-dollar TV series.
"Band of Brothers," a true-life tale tracing the dramatic exploits of a U.S. army unit as it fights its way across Europe, cost $120 million to make and is being billed as one of the most expensive television programs in history.
The series will receive its premiere in an auditorium seating 1,000 people to be built beside Normandy's Utah Beach, the scene of some of the fiercest D-Day fighting.
The screening is set for June 6, the 57th anniversary of the 1944 landings by Allied forces.
Pixar mastermind
EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- Pixar Animation, the studio behind the "Toy Story" movies and "A Bug's Life," has signed its key creative talent to a 10-year contract.
John Lasseter, who masterminded Pixar's three digitally animated films, agreed to the long-term, exclusive deal as executive vice president.
Lasseter will continue to oversee Pixar productions, which include "Monsters, Inc.," featuring the voices of John Goodman and Billy Crystal, which is due in theaters this fall.
Videographer fined
DORNOCH, Scotland -- A man who secretly filmed the baptism of Madonna's baby was fined $1,440 Thursday.
Robert Podesta, 51, had hidden in the organ at Dornoch Cathedral and got 24 minutes of video of the private baptism of Rocco Ritchie, son of the singer and film director Guy Ritchie, on Dec. 21.
Podesta wasn't detected until he tried to leave the cathedral sometime later.
At an earlier hearing, Podesta, of Orcop in western England, admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner likely to cause concern.
Sheriff Ian Cameron previously ordered the videotape destroyed.
Kingston's new kid
LOS ANGELES -- "ER" doctor Alex Kingston is a new mother.
Kingston, who plays Dr. Elizabeth Corday on the NBC medical drama, gave birth to a daughter Wednesday, publicist Marcel Pariseau said.
Kingston and the baby, who weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, are "healthy and happy," Pariseau said Thursday. Kingston's husband of two years is free-lance journalist Florian Haertel.
Pryor snubbed
HOLLYWOOD -- Richard Pryor's hometown of Peoria, Ill., will not name a street after its prodigal son. The city council voted 6-5 this week against a study of renaming a street for the comedian. Several council members said there was little support for the idea and plenty of public opinion against it.
ETC.
First Class performance
AUSTINTOWN -- First Class, a big band made up of area band directors, will play the hits of Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and more in concert with the Fitch High School Jazz Band at 7 p.m. April 11 in the Fitch High School cafeteria. Admission is $3.
Gypsy tunes at Bliss
YOUNGSTOWN -- Hungarian gypsy music from Transylvania will be performed by The Band from Szaszcsavas at 7:30 p.m. April 10 in Bliss Hall at Youngstown State University. The seven musicians will be joined by two professional dancers from Budapest Ensemble of Hungary. Tickets are $8. Call (330) 782-4738 for reservations.
Butler conservation
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Butler Institute of American Art will conserve more historic paintings with the aid of a $5,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. The NEA gave the Wick Avenue art museum a $8,900 grant in 1995 and a $5,000 grant in 1997. Both were used to help conserve paintings.