Tony award winner makes return to Broadway stage

Tony award winner makesreturn to Broadway stage
NEW YORK -- The last time he was on Broadway, nearly 15 years ago, Jonathan Pryce played a manipulating con man in the musical "Miss Saigon" -- and won a Tony Award for his performance.
Now, Pryce is coming back to the New York stage to portray a similar if more stylish swindler in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," the musical about a pair of French Riviera scam artists.
Pryce replaces the show's original star, John Lithgow, who leaves the musical Jan. 15. Pryce begins performances Jan. 17.
Pryce has starred in such movies as "Brazil," "The Adventures of Baron von Munchausen," "Glengarry Glen Ross" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl."
"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," which is based on the 1988 movie starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, opened last March. The show's other stars, Norbert Leo Butz, Sherie Rene Scott and Joanna Gleason, will continue in the production.
Minogue reschedules tour after surgery for cancer
SYDNEY, Australia -- Pop diva Kylie Minogue will hold her homecoming Australian tour at the end of next year, after canceling the event earlier this year when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, her promoter said Sunday.
The London-based, 37-year-old singer had returned to her hometown of Melbourne in southern Australia to perform her "Showgirl: The Greatest Hits" tour in May when she was diagnosed. Minogue underwent surgery in a Melbourne hospital to remove the cancer, and doctors declared the operation a success.
On Sunday, her Australian tour promoter, The Frontier Touring Company, announced the tour would begin at the end of 2006.
"We appreciate that the end of next year is a long time away for ticket holders, and the option of refunding tickets will remain available to fans," promoter Michael Gudinski said.
Usher, now a movie star, tells how to please women
NEW YORK -- Need some dating tips? Ask Usher.
The R & amp;B singer, who is starring in his first lead role in "In the Mix," shared secrets with Time magazine.
"Women love compliments, you know what I mean? Buy her a drink," he said. "Talk to her about whatever it is that she wants to talk about. As long as you keep her laughing, you got it."
The film features the 27-year-old musician as Darrell, a playboy New York City disc jockey who finds himself in an interracial relationship with co-star Emmanuelle Chriqui.
Usher, whose 2004 "Confessions" had huge critical and commercial success, isn't the only musician with a movie these days. Rapper 50 Cent has his own movie, too. Both show the stars baring some skin. But does Usher think he's the better man?
"I'm a smaller guy. 50's got the arms; I got the abs," he says.
Love behind the scenes 'a big gift' producer says
NEW YORK -- For the producer of "Brokeback Mountain," a real-life romance between Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams was a gift.
The film stars Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as ranch hands who fall in love, then hide their affair from their wives and families for years. Williams, best known for her years on the teen drama "Dawson's Creek," plays Ledger's wife, Alma.
"It was a big gift to have two people falling in love in our midst," producer James Schamus told Time magazine in a story about the movie. "You forget how lovely that is."
Ledger, 26, and Williams, 25, are engaged and recently had their first child, Matilda.
Today's birthdays
Baseball Hall-of-Famer Stan Musial is 85. Country singer Jean Shepard is 72. Actor Laurence Luckinbill is 71. Actress Marlo Thomas is 68. Actor Rick Lenz is 66. Singer Dr. John is 65. Actress Juliet Mills is 64. Comedian-director Harold Ramis is 61. Television producer Marcy Carsey is 61. Actress Goldie Hawn is 60. Rock musician Lonnie Jordan (War) is 57. Singer Livingston Taylor is 55. Actress-singer Lorna Luft is 53. Journalist Tina Brown is 52. Actress Cherry Jones is 49. Rock musician Brian Ritchie (The Violent Femmes) is 45. Gospel singer Steven Curtis Chapman is 43. Actress Nicollette Sheridan is 42. Singer-actress Bjork is 40. Football player Troy Aikman is 39. Rhythm-and-blues singer Chauncey Hannibal (BLACKstreet) is 37. Rock musician Alex James (Blur) is 37. Baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. is 36. Rapper Pretty Lou (Lost Boyz) is 34. Country singer Kelsi Osborn (SHeDAISY) is 31. Actress Jena Malone is 21.