"We Come as Friends" Arrives on March 8 from BBC Home Entertainment

We Come As Friends is a modern odyssey ; a dizzying, almost science fiction-like journey into the

heart of Africa. At the moment when the Sudan, the continent’s biggest country, is being divided into two nations, an old “civilizing” ideology re-emerges – one of colonialism and  a clash of empires, with new episodes of bloody (and holy) wars over land and resources.

The Los Angeles Times says, “Filmmaker Hubert Sauper goes where other people don’t go, sees what the crowd doesn’t see and creates unsettling, provocative political documentaries that are unlike anyone else’s.”

Sauper takes us on a voyage in his tiny, self-made aircraft constructed from tin and canvas, leading us into the most improbable locations and into people’s thoughts and dreams in both stunning and heartbreaking ways. Chinese oil workers, UN peacekeepers, Sudanese warlords, and American evangelists ironically weave common ground in this documentary.

We Come As Friends made its theatrical premiere in August, 2015 and releases on DVD March 8, via BBC Home Entertainment.

Ride Along 2 Pulls in on DVD/BD on May 24

Fasten your seatbelts and brace yourselves for another wild ride when Kevin Hart (Get Hard, The Wedding Ringer) and Ice Cube (22 Jump Street, Barbershop) return in Ride Along 2, the hilarious, action-packed comedy coming to Blu-ray and DVD on May 24, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD feature even more of the duo's hysterical banter and explosive fun with deleted scenes, gag reel, never-before-seen bonus material, including a hilarious new recruitment video "Ride Along With Us" and "The Ride Diaries" with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube!

Ride Along 2 reunites the partners and brothers-in-law-to-be as they take on new crime in Miami. The absurdity quickly unfolds while tough cop and all-around cool guy James (Ice Cube) works to solve a major case with the mouthy wannabe Ben (Kevin Hart). In the riotous sequel to the action-comedy hit that first brought together the hilarious mismatched cops, "Ice Cube and Kevin Hart are the comedy duo of the year!" according to Dave Morales, KRIV-TV (Fox).

Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like a Man), Ride Along 2 also stars Ken Jeong (The Hangover, "Dr. Ken"), Olivia Munn ("The Newsroom," X-Men: Apocalypse), Benjamin Bratt (Despicable Me 2, "Law & Order"), Sherri Shepherd ("The View," "30 Rock") and Tyrese Gibson (Furious 7, Transformers).

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to Distribute Genius Brands Kids Titles

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) and kidvid producer Genius Brands International Inc. announced a multiyear agreement for SPHE to provide marketing and distribution of GBI’s "Kid Genius" and "Baby Genius" brands throughout North America.  Also, the deal allows SPHE and GBI to co-develop, distribute and globally merchandise future animated or live-action properties derived from their respective programming libraries.

“SPHE will work with the GBI team to deliver enriching learning experiences and inspiring entertainment content to families and children across North America,” said Ben Means, SVP of third-party strategic partnerships for SPHE. “This partnership underscores our longterm commitment to provide consumers with quality product for children and families.”

This transformative, long-term commitment between our companies allows Genius Brands International to focus on what we do best; creating, producing, merchandising and acquiring commercial content for both kids and families, and enables us to expand and accelerate our growth and shareholder value,” said Andy Heyward, GBI Chairman and CEO. “SPHE’s substantial, marketing, promotion, and retail and digital distribution resources will be instrumental in the continued expansion of our brands.”

Among the brands SPHE will distribute will be "SpacePOP," an all-new music and fashion-driven brand for tween girls debuting in Fall 2016; a new original "Baby Genius" series to coincide with the brand’s expanded launch in 2016; Warren Buffett’s "Secret Millionaires Club," an animated series accessible on-air, online and at retail; and Stan Lee's "Mighty 7 (SLAM 7)." Additionally, the agreement covers catalog titles and three new as-yet unannounced properties being developed by GBI.

KRAMPUS Arrives to Terrify on DVD/BD in May

An ancient demonic avenger lays siege to an unsuspecting family in Krampus, a truly terrifying,

darkly comedic tale coming on May 24, 2016, to Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (delayed due to Uni's holdback policy to rentailers and public libraries).  From Michael Dougherty (writer and director of cult horror favorite Trick 'r Treat, writer of X-Men: Apocalypse), Krampus is "a must see film" (We Got This Covered) that delivers inventively nasty laughs as it plunges viewers into a nightmarish world ruled by a legendary monster bent on total destruction, punishing those who have lost faith. Krampus on Blu-ray and DVD also comes with exclusive bonus features including an alternate ending, deleted scenes, gag reel and extended scenes.

When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max (Emjay Anthony) is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas. Little does he know, this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers. All hell breaks loose as beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own, laying siege to the fractured family's home and forcing them to fight for each other if they hope to survive.

Adam Scott ("Parks and Recreation," Black Mass), Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine, The Sixth Sense), David Koechner (Anchorman Series) and Allison Tolman (TV's "Fargo") star in this gleefully gory horror thriller that delivers the kind of deep, dark laughs and hair-raising scares that make for a delightfully twisted holiday classic.

Norm of the North Slides in on DVD/BD on April 19

This winter’s coolest family comedy, Norm of the North, slides onto Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus

DVD and Digital HD) and DVD (plus Digital) April 19 from Lionsgate. Telling the ultimate tale of a loveable underdog who proves anything is possible with determination and a posse of loyal lemmings, Norm of the North features the voices of Rob Schneider (Grown Ups), Heather Graham (The Hangover franchise), Ken Jeong (The Hangover franchise), Colm Meaney (Con Air), Loretta Devine (TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy”), Gabriel Iglesias (Magic Mike), Michael McElhatton (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”) and Bill Nighy (Love Actually).

Life can be a real bear—just ask Norm, a polar bear with unusual talents and a heart as big as the great outdoors. When he hears that human homes are going to be built in his Arctic backyard, Norm comes to the rescue. With a team of ragtag lemmings at his side, Norm heads to the concrete jungle of New York City on a freewheeling, fun-filled mission to stop the madness and save the Arctic.

Experience even more exhilarating adventure with special features including deleted scenes, outtakes, “The Arctic Shake” sing-along and a trivia challenge for the whole family to enjoy! The Norm of the North Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $34.99 and $29.95, respectively.

Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food" on DVD/BD March 1

PBS Distribution announced today it is releasing “IN DEFENSE OF FOOD” on DVD and Blu-ray. Join New York Times best-selling author Michael Pollan on a fascinating journey to answer the question: What should I eat to be healthy? Busting myths and misconceptions, the program reveals how common sense and old-fashioned wisdom can help us rediscover the pleasures of eating and at the same time reduce our risks of falling victim to diet-related diseases.

Pollan’s journey of discovery takes him from the plains of Tanzania, where one of the world’s last remaining tribes of hunter-gatherers still eats the way our ancestors did, to Loma Linda, California, where vegetarian Seventh Day Adventists enjoy remarkable longevity, and eventually to Paris, where the French diet, rooted in culture and tradition, proves surprisingly healthy. Along the way, he shows how a combination of faulty nutrition science and deceptive marketing practices have encouraged us to replace real food with scientifically engineered “food-like substances.” And he explains why the solution to our dietary woes is in fact remarkably simple: Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants. “IN DEFENSE OF FOOD,” features interviews with scientists, nutrition experts, physicians, food activists and more, and includes the stories of real families.

“IN DEFENSE OF FOOD” will be available on DVD and Blu-ray March 1, 2016. The run time of the program is approximately 120 minutes. The SRP for the DVD is $24.99 and $29.99 for Blu-ray. The program will also be available for digital download.

Almost every day there’s a new headline about food. Eat more fiber. Drink less milk. Eggs are bad. Eggs are good. No wonder people are confused. The program begins with an exploration of the kind of food most Americans eat today — known as the Western diet. It includes lots of meat, white flour, sugar and vegetable oils. It’s cheap, convenient and has been processed to taste really good. But the effects of the Western diet on health are not so tasty, including alarming increases in obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

The Hateful Eight Rides in on DVD/BD on March 29

Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company are proud to present the home entertainment release of the eighth film by two-time Academy Award winner Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained, Pulp Fiction). Shot entirely on 70mm and featuring a Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning score by Oscar winner Ennio Morricone (Bugsy, The Mission) THE HATEFUL EIGHT “absolutely delivers on the sheer moment-to-moment pleasures fans have come to expect -- from dynamite dialogue to powder-keg confrontations,” Peter Debruge, Variety.

 

An explosive frontier mystery about eight strangers with one deadly connection, THE HATEFUL EIGHT will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack ($39.99 SRP) and DVD ($29.98 SRP) from Anchor Bay Entertainment March 29, 2016. Special features for THE HATEFUL EIGHT include two featurettes - “Beyond the Eight: A Behind-the-Scenes Look” and “Sam Jackson’s Guide to Glorious 70mm.” 

"If you’re going to shoot your movie and release it in 70mm,

it’s really the way to go: twenty-four frames a second flickering through a projector,

creating the illusion of movement.” - Quentin Tarantino

 

Starz' Tumbledown Arrives on DVD/BD on April 5

Starz Digital’s comedic love story, Tumbledown starring, Rebecca Hall (The Gift, The Town, The Prestige), Jason Sudeikis ( Horrible Bosses, Sleeping with Other People ), Dianna Agron ( I Am Number Four, The Family, “Glee”), Blythe Danner (The Lucky One, Meet the Parents), Griffin Dunne (Dallas Buyers Club, “House of Lies”), Joe Manganiello (Magic Mike, “True Blood”) and Richard Masur (My Girl, “Girls” and “All My Children”) arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on April 5, 2016 from Anchor Bay Entertainment. Tumbledown, “a sweet and gently comic tale” (John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter) is directed by Sean Mewshaw (Last Night, What Were You Thinking) from a screenplay by Desi Van Til (producer Open Heart). Kristin Hahn of Hahnscape Entertainment, Bron Studios’ Aaron L. Gilbert, and Margot Hand produced the film. 

Pop culture scholar Andrew (Jason Sudeikis) comes to Maine to interview Hannah (Rebecca Hall), the protective widow of an acclaimed singer. When the unlikely pair strike a deal to co-write a biography, Andrew finds himself clashing with a cast of locals, including Hannah’s hunky suitor (Joe Manganiello), and her loving but defensive parents (Blythe Danner, Richard Masur). When Hannah and Andrew's stormy partnership blossoms into an unexpected connection, they face the possibility that the next chapter in their lives may involve each other. Dianna Argon and Griffin Dunne costar in this startlingly funny and sweetly romantic tale of moving on and finding love in the unlikeliest of places.

Ken Burns' JACKIE ROBINSON to DVD / BD in April

PBS Distribution announced today it is releasing KEN BURNS’S: “JACKIE ROBINSON” on DVD and Blu-ray April 12, 2016, coinciding with its PBS airing. This new four hour documentary, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon, tells the story of Jack Roosevelt Robinson, who rose from humble origins to break baseball’s color barrier. Robinson waged a fierce lifelong battle for first-class citizenship for all African Americans that transcends even his remarkable athletic achievements.  

The run time of the program is approximately 240 minutes on 2 discs.  The SRP for the DVD is $24.99 and $29.99 for Blu-ray. The program will also be available for digital download.   

“Jackie Robinson is the most important figure in our nation’s most important game,” said Ken Burns. “He gave us our first lasting progress in civil rights since the Civil War and, ever since I finished my BASEBALL series in 1994, I’ve been eager to make a stand-alone film about the life of this courageous American. There was so much more to say not only about Robinson’s barrier-breaking moment in 1947, but about how his upbringing shaped his intolerance for any form of discrimination and how after his baseball career, he spoke out tirelessly against racial injustice, even after his star had begun to dim.” 

Born in 1919 to tenant farmers in rural Georgia and raised in Pasadena, California, Robinson challenged institutional racism long before he integrated Major League Baseball. As a teenager, he demanded service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter and refused to sit in the segregated balcony at a local movie theater. In 1944, while serving as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Robinson was arrested after he defied an order from a civilian bus driver to move to the back of a military bus. He was found not guilty.

Kindergarten Cop 2 Back on Duty May 17th

A family favorite gets reimagined in Kindergarten Cop 2, a fish-out-of water comedy available on

DVD on May 17, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Directed by Don Michael Paul (Jarhead 2: Field of Fire, Tremors 5: Bloodlines), Kindergarten Cop 2 stars action superstar Dolph Lundgren (The Expendables 3, Workaholics) and Bill Bellamy (White Collar, Royal Pains) along with an adorable ensemble of young actors and is bursting with laughs for the entire family.

Assigned to recover sensitive stolen data, a gruff FBI agent (Dolph Lundgren) goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher, but the school's liberal, politically correct environment is more than he bargained for.

The Kindergarten Cop 2 DVD will delight longtime fans and new viewers alike with hilarious bonus features including deleted scenes, a gag reel and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film.

"NATURAL BORN PRANKSTERS" On DVD, In Theatres on April Fool's Day

Lionsgate announced today they will release the film NATURAL BORN PRANKSTERS across all

platforms on April 1, 2016.  Featuring all-new, never-before-seen pranks and badass stunts, the film stars YouTube’s top pranksters Roman Atwood, Dennis Roady, and Vitaly Zdorovetskiy (aka VitalyzdTV), who have collectively amassed over 28 million subscribers and over three billion views.

Studio71, the multichannel network of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group, financed and produced the film, which was directed by Atwood and Ben Pluimer and will be released day-and-date in theatres and on DVD.

Pranks have generated over 13 billion views worldwide on the YouTube platform alone, with the Natural Born Pranksters leading the charge. VitalyzdTV is currently the #1 YouTube prank channel with almost 9 million subscribers, and Roman Atwood Vlogs has over 100 million monthly views. Vitaly and Atwood are behind some of the most viral pranks in history — Vitaly’s “Gold Digger” (45 million views), and Atwood’s “Anniversary Prank Backfires” (75 million views) and “Plastic Ball Prank” (63 million views).

Janis : Little Girl Blue OST to Get March CD Release

Columbia/Legacy Recordings is releasing Janis: Little Girl Blue (Original Motion Picture

Soundtrack), the official album companion to the highly acclaimed documentary written, directed and coproduced by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Amy J. Berg ("Deliver Us From Evil," "West of Memphis"). Janis: Little Girl Blue (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is being released on CD beginning Friday, March 4

A remarkable career-spanning anthology, Janis: Little Girl Blue (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), brings together 17 essential Janis Joplin live and studio performances, including classic solo and Big Brother & the Holding Company tracks. The album debuts a previously unreleased version of "Piece of My Heart" (featured in the documentary and recorded live at the Generation Club in New York City in April 1968 during the Wake for Martin Luther King concert, this performance was included in the 1991 D.A. Pennebaker/Chris Hagedus short film, "Comin' Home," and has been never been available on a commercial audio release).

Janis: Little Girl Blue (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) includes an early recording of Janis Joplin singing Lead Belly's "Careless Love"; live performances with Big Brother & The Holding Company (from San Francisco's Avalon Ballroom, the Monterey Pop Festival, the Generation Club in New York City and Detroit's mythic Grande Ballroom); the Kozmic Blues Band (Frankfurt, West Germany, April 12, 1969); Janis live at the Woodstock Music & Art Fair (August 17, 1969) and the legendary Festival Express Tour (July 4, 1970). Rounding out Janis: Little Girl Blue (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) are definitive studio performances from the classic four original albums--Big Brother & The Holding Company, Cheap Thrills, I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! and Pearl--recorded during Joplin's lifetime. All of the recordings on the Janis: Little Girl Blue (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) can be heard in the film.

Wynona & the Big Noise Release Self-titled Debut CD

WYNONNA & THE BIG NOISE release their debut self-titled album on Friday, via Curb Records.

Following a one week streaming preview on NPR’s “First Listen,” the album is available now on CD

Special guests on WYNONNA & THE BIG NOISE include Susan Tedeschi, Jason Isbell, Timothy B Schmit and Derek Trucks. It was produced by Cactus Moser, WYNONNA’s husband and longtime drummer and includes cuts written by the band, as well as Americana innovator Julie Miller to R&B’s Raphael Saadiq to Music Row legend John Scott Sherrill and multiple CMA Awards-winner and Grammy nominee Chris Stapleton, coupled with WYNONNA‘s commanding and incomparable voice.

Buzz and anticipation has been building for some time and the music is speaking loudly. Rave
reviews are flooding in (see some below) with critics calling this arguably the best album of her career, describing the music as raw, rootsy, joyful, tough and tender, noting that this project marks the beginning of a new chapter in the American music icon’s 30+ year career.

Masterworks Broadway Announces More Winter 2016 CD Releases!

Masterworks Broadway announces a slate of releases for Winter 2016 including the release of three classic albums from the archives – Sweet Charity (February 12), Salad Days (March 18), and Kismet (April 15). And, on February 26, Masterworks Broadway releases The Essential Stephen Sondheim, celebrating the 85th birthday year of the legendary theater composer and lyricist. Upon release, each title will be accompanied by new album pages and photos.

Winner of the 1967 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical, Sweet Charity stars Juliet Prowse as everyone’s favorite dance-hall hostess in the Cy Coleman/Dorothy Fields musical. Also featuring Red McLennan, Josephine Blake, and Paula Kelly, the production originated in Las Vegas at the newly opened Caesar’s Palace earlier that year. Sweet Charity – The Original London Cast Recording will be officially released for the first time on CD in the U.S. February 12, 2016.

Stephen Sondheim, the pre-eminent Broadway composer and lyricist of the modern era, has been awarded eight Tonys, eight Grammys, an Oscar, a Pulitzer Prize, five Oliviers and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Essential Stephen Sondheim spans this iconic artist’s unparalleled career, from West Side Story (1957) through Passion (1994), and also includes important works from his forays into television and film. This new 2-CD collection features performances by Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin, Ethel Merman, Jason Alexander, Angela Lansbury, Elaine Stritch, Victor Garber, Barbara Cook, Carol Burnett, Rita Moreno, Dean Jones, Glynis Johns, Marni Nixon, Lee Remick, Jim Walton, Lonny Price, Peabo Bryson, Nancy Wilson and many more. The Essential Stephen Sondheim will be released on February 26.

The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, to Publish Autobiography on September 27

Simon & Schuster has announced the world-wide publication of  music legend Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography, Born to Run, which will be released internationally on September 27, 2016. The work will be published in hardcover, ebook, and audio editions by Simon & Schuster in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India, and rights have already been sold to publishers in nine other countries.

The NJ rocker, Springsteen, has been privately writing the autobiography over the past seven years. He started work in 2009, after performing with the E Street Band at the Super Bowl’s halftime show.

In Born to Run, Mr. Springsteen describes growing up in Freehold, New Jersey amid the “poetry, danger, and darkness” that fueled his imagination. He vividly recounts his relentless drive to become a musician, his early days as a bar band king in Asbury Park, NJ and the rise of the E Street Band. With disarming candor, its said he tells for the first time the story of the personal struggles that inspired his best work, and shows us why the song “Born to Run” reveals more than we previously realized.

BOB THE BUILDER: CONSTRUCTION HEROES! Gets to Work on DVD May 3

Grab your tools and get ready for teamwork time with Bob the Builder and his trusty crew!  Spring City is abuzz with new construction and Bob the Builder and his team are there for all the action! From constructing the amazing new "Spring City Splash" water park to developing an exciting motocross course, Bob and his team prove that with a positive attitude and whole lot of laughter, there's nothing this talented builder and his team can't fix!

Brand new Bob the Builder includes six exciting adventures that are all-new to DVD, from Hit Entertainment and Universal Home Entertainment! The new launch of the series has achieved 15.2 million views on PBS Kids mobile app and more than 10 million views on the US YouTube Channel. In 2016, the DVD release will be supported by a robust marketing campaign that includes: social media and YouTube content; TV, radio, and digital media; a PR campaign; website and app launches. With years of history and success, Bob the Builder broadcasts on PBS to 100 million homes every week.  

"The Life of Riley" , Documentary on Blues Legend BB King to Air on PBS on 2/12

"The Life of Riley" will be airing nationally on PBS on February 12, 2016. This is the only documentary ever made on the last of the Blues legends, BB King.

Narrated by Morgan Freeman and directed by Jon Brewer, this visually stunning picture has an astounding list of contributors (aside from King himself), including Bono, Eric Clapton, Bruce Willis, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman, as well as appearances by Mick Jagger and President Obama.

This is a no holds barred, powerful feature that explores how a black cotton picker from Mississippi turned his life around and battled against all the odds and unrelenting racism to overcome even the toughest critics. Filmed on location all over America as well as in the United Kingdom, this picture brings to life the heat and gin-soaked plantations where it all began. With the full cooperation of the B.B. King Museum, owners of vaults and archives so precious and immense, that several trips had to be made to America to revisit the collection and partake of its many gems. Prejudice and segregation has stained the lives of countless African Americans, and B.B. "Riley" King made sure that through his music, he never allowed it to mar his spirit. This is the essence of the story that makes an astoundingly beautiful film.

Graham Nash Shares New Tune - "Encore" - listen

Graham Nash's upcoming album, This Path Tonight, marks his first collection of new songs since 2002's Songs for Survivors.  Since then, he's entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Hollies, published his memoirs, launched two tours with CSNY and watched the musical outfit once again dissolve, and separated from his wife Susan after 38 years of marriage.

Apparently, the last fact weighed heavily on Nash's mind when he wrote the tunes for This Path Tonight, which arrives on April 15th.  "This Path Tonight is my emotional journey at this point in my life," he said recently. "Many changes are happening and, as a musician, I'm trying to find the courage to face my future and grab a hold of it. ... My producer Shane Fontayne and I wanted to make a funkier, more intimate feeling and started the album with the song 'This Path Tonight.'"

Order This Path Tonight now from B&T.

HAMILTON Cast to Perform at 2016 Grammy Award Show

The GRAMMY-nominated musical "Hamilton" ushers Broadway back to the GRAMMY Awards stage after a more than five-year hiatus. GRAMMY winner Lin-Manuel Miranda and his extraordinary cast will perform a number from the acclaimed musical on the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards, directly from the legendary Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York, marking one of only four times that the GRAMMY telecast has featured a performance live via satellite. Watch a video of the "Hamilton" cast announcing their upcoming GRAMMY performance below, from B&T.

 

Previously announced performers include Adele, James Bay, Andra Day, Ellie Goulding, Sam Hunt, Tori Kelly, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood, and The Weeknd. Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J is set to host Music's Biggest Night^® for the fifth consecutive year. Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Additional performers will be announced shortly. The "Hamilton" performance will be the eighth time in history that musical theater has been featured on the  GRAMMY Awards.   Order the Hamilton OCR recording CD and other Grammy award nominee releases from B&T now.

Previous Broadway productions featured on the telecast include "Godspell" (1972); "The Magic Show" (1975); "Sophisticated Ladies" (1982); "La Cage Aux Folles" (1984); "Will Rogers Follies" (1992); "Riverdance" and "Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk" (1997); and, most recently, "American Idiot" (2010). 

Santigold Reveals "Chasing Shadows" Video, Track

Santigold is kicking off 2016 by sharing a new track and accompanying video  , “Chasing Shadows,” from her third album 99¢ due out February 26th via Atlantic Records. Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij produced the track, which also features backing vocals from the West Los Angeles Children’s Choir. “ ‘Chasing Shadows’ (watch below for B&T)  is about with the conflicted reality of an artist's life. Caught in the web we spin around ourselves, a mixture of hubris and the guise of perfection, we fear being swallowed up by our own ambition. Never in the moment, as quickly as we reach our goals, our gaze shifts to those still looming in the distance. We judge ourselves harshly for not being further on the path and revel in the anxiety of racing the rate of consumption. The lyrics weigh the value of going against the current to maintain artistic integrity, and the feelings of isolation and vacancy bred by a persona that is always "on" and ready for show,” says Santigold. The lyrics are underscored by Santigold’s rapid-fire vocals. The video, which premiered on Tidal, was directed by Elliott Lester (Nightingale, Blitz, Love Is the Drug).


In conjunction with the new track and video for “Chasing Shadows”, Santigold has released another comical infomercial.  Following her recent comedic roles on The Office and Adult Swim’s NTSF:SD:SUV, she began creating infomercials for every song on 99¢ as an extension of the album’s exploration of the commercial nature of our world and the ways in which we package ourselves and our lives for consumption. “We have no illusion that we don’t live in this world where everything is packaged. People’s lives, persona, everything, is deliberate, and mediated. It can be dark and haunting and tricky, and freak us out, but it can be also be silly and fun and we can learn to play with it,” she says. She also explores our fascination with perfection and our inherent inability to attain it. The use of playful satire, social critique, and self-examination to explore these themes is reflected in the album’s cover art, a collaboration with photographer Haruhiko Kawaguchi (photographer Hal), which finds Santigold shrink-wrapped amongst her cluttered possessions ready for the store shelves.

PBS To Release "American Experience : The Perfect Crime" on DVD in March

PBS Distribution announced today it will release“AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: THE PERFECT CRIME” on DVD. In 1924, the murder of a 14-year-old boy by two wealthy college students shocked the nation. But more horrifying than the brutal killing — the boy was bludgeoned to death — was the motive. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb admitted they planned to abduct and kill a child at random simply for the thrill of it. Legendary defense attorney Clarence Darrow summoned experts to show that the murderers had been shaped by childhood trauma and that it was society and its barbaric death penalty that deserved to be put on trial. Set in 1920s Chicago — a city of gin joints, gangsters, and political corruption — The Perfect Crime tells a story that set off a national debate about morality, individual responsibility, and capital punishment.

“AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: THE PERFECT CRIME” will be available on DVD March 22, 2016. The DVD run time is 60 minutes and the SRP is $24.99. The program will also be available for digital download.

Soon after a pair of eyeglasses found at the crime scene linked them to the murder, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb confessed to the killing. The prosecutor was convinced he had an open-and-shut case — a premeditated murder carried out in cold blood. He vowed that justice would come in the form of the death penalty. Suddenly, Leopold and Loeb were splashed across the front pages and the horror of the murder began to pale before the specter of the murderers: two arrogant young men in stylish suits, smoking cigarettes and chatting blithely with reporters about their killing of Bobby Franks.

Lionsgate Secures Film and DVD/BD Rights to Magic Tree House Book Series

Continuing to expand its portfolio of brands and franchises, Lionsgate has acquired the rights to the Magic Tree House book series, it was announced today by Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger. The Company is developing multiple live-action films to be released by Lionsgate's Summit Entertainment label that are based on the adventures chronicled in the 54-volume Magic Tree House collection, one of the most beloved and recognizable children's brands in the world. Award-winning author Mary Pope Osborne will executive produce along with her husband, Will Osborne.

The Magic Tree House franchise has sold over 130 million books, been translated into more than 35 languages and even spawned a successful musical on its way to worldwide acclaim. The series, which chronicles the adventures of brother and sister Jack and Annie after they discover a mysterious tree house and find a collection of books that transports them through history, has earned acclaim from diverse groups including the American Booksellers Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. Published by Random House Children's Books, the most recent installment of the 54-volume series was released last month. The series has taught millions of children the joys of reading and is perennially at the top of national bestseller lists. 

Carol Arrives in March from Anchor Bay

Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company are proud to announce the home entertainment release of CAROL—one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2015, from director Todd Haynes and starring Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett and Academy Award nominee Rooney Mara.

Adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel The Price of Salt, CAROL follows two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change. A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens. While Carol breaks free from the confines of marriage, her husband (Kyle Chandler) begins to question her competence as a mother as her involvement with Therese and close relationship with her best friend Abby (Sarah Paulson) come to light.

Living up to its groundbreaking source material, the film premiered to a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival—and won the festivals’ Queer Palm award. Since this auspicious debut, it has continued to collect both adoration and accolades. The Academy Awards honored the film with six nominations, including Actress in a Leading Role for Cate Blanchett and Actress in a Supporting Role for Rooney Mara. The film garnered five Golden Globe nominations—the most of any film this year—including Best Motion Picture, Drama, alongside nominations for both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama. Blanchett and Mara also received Screen Actors Guild nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, respectively. Other awards and nominations include: nine BAFTA nominations; six Spirit Award nominations; four wins from the New York Film Critics Circle for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography; nine Critics’ Choice nominations, and over 125 Top Ten lists.

Star of "Risen", Joseph Fiennes, Meets Pope Francis Today

Joseph Fiennes, star of Sony Pictures' new film release RISEN, met Pope Francis in Vatican City today. Fiennes is in town with actress Mario Botto and the producers to promote RISEN, which opens in theaters nationwide in the USA on February 19, 2016. The film will be screened at the Vatican tomorrow. No word on SPHE's DVD/Blu-ray release yet.

RISEN is the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection and the weeks that followed, as seen through the eyes of an unbelieving Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a high-ranking Roman Military Tribune. Clavius and his aide Lucius (Tom Felton) are instructed by Pontius Pilate to ensure Jesus' radical followers don't steal his body and claim resurrection. When the body goes missing within days, Clavius sets out on a mission to locate the missing body in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.

          

Rome, Italy - February 3, 2016: Risen star, Joseph Fiennes meets Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City.

Cyndi Lauper Goes Country on May 6, With DETOUR

Cyndi Lauper’s celebrated musical journey takes an unexpected southern turn on DETOUR, her 11th studio album, which finds the Grammy, Emmy and Tony-winning singer-songwriter putting her signature spin on a dozen classic country songs.

DETOUR showcases Lauper’s unmistakable voice on country classics from the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s and features guest appearances from county music stars Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Willie Nelson. Lauper recorded the album in Nashville alongside a band comprised of the city’s top session players.

The album will be Cyndi Lauper’s first for Sire Records and executive produced by legendary Sire founder, Seymour Stein. DETOUR will be available May 6, 2016 on CD and  LP.

Lauper says recording a country album is something she’s dreamed about for many years. Growing up, she recalls listening to singers like Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Wanda Jackson in her Aunt Gracie’s kitchen. “When I was a really young kid, country music was pop music, so this is what we grew up listening to. These songs are part of some of my earliest memories so it has been an absolute thrill to revisit them.”

"Censured Voices" Get March 15 DVD Release

The historical Six-Day War of 1967, wherein Israel launched a preemptive strike against the Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian troops amassed on its borders, is revisited and reconsidered in Mor Loushy’s extraordinary historical chronicle CENSORED VOICES, available on DVD March 15, 2016.

With its decisive victory over just a few short days, Israel nearly tripled its size with its newly occupied lands and, brimming with relief, joy and pride, a new national narrative of manifest destiny emerged. But drowned out by the euphoria, other voices—many of those who fought in the war—had something different to say. It is those voices that are heard in CENSORED VOICES.

One week after the Israeli-Arab conflict, Amos Oz (soon to be a celebrated author) and editor Avraham Shapira arranged to record conversations with returning soldiers about their experiences on the brief battlefield. These intensely candid interviews capture the young men wrestling with the question of the responsibility of the conqueror to the conquered (even when the shoe could easily have been on the other foot), the paradox of a people who fled oppression who must now oppress to preserve their security, and the still fervent hope for a lasting peace with their Arab neighbors.

"Sisters" Arrive on DVD/BD for Public Libraries on April 11

'Comedy superstars Tina Fey ("30 Rock," "SNL") and Amy Poehler ("Parks and Recreation," "SNL") reunite in Sisters, the uproarious hit coming to Blu-ray and DVD for public libraries on April 11,

2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. From Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore, Sisters is a "hilarious, heartfelt and downright dysfunctional" (Rama's Screen) delight, perfect to share with friends — and relatives. The Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD versions feature even more of Tina and Amy's outrageous shenanigans in a new Unrated Version, as well as over an hour of deleted and extended scenes, gag reel and more!

When the Ellis sisters, the always-responsible Maura (Poehler) and impossibly hotheaded Kate (Fey), receive word from their retired mom and dad that their family home is on the market, they discover they have one weekend left to clean out the old junk in their bedroom. As they comb through the artifacts of their teen years, Maura and Kate's trip down memory lane leads them to a seemingly crazy plan. Looking to recapture their glory days, the sisters throw one final "Ellis Island" blowout for their classmates, resulting in the cathartic rager that a bunch of ground-down adults really need.

Produced by Tina Fey and Jay Roach (Meet the Parents franchise) and executive-produced by Amy Poehler from a script by Paula Pell ("Saturday Night Live," "30 Rock"), Sisters also features an all-star comedy cast including Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids), Ike Barinholtz (Neighbors), John Leguizamo (Ride Along), John Cena (Trainwreck), James Brolin (Catch Me If You Can), Dianne Wiest (Hannah and Her Sisters), Rachel Dratch ("30 Rock"), Samantha Bee ("The Daily Show") and Kate McKinnon ("Saturday Night Live").

Spotlight Arrives in March for Public Libraries

The riveting true story of the dedicated investigative team that blew the lid off a monumental cover up, Spotlight comes to Blu-ray combo pack and DVD for public libraries on March 22, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Directed by Academy Award nominee Tom McCarthy (Up, The Station Agent), this taut drama goes behind the scenes of one of the most notorious scandals in recent history as a small group of intrepid journalists take on a seemingly unbeatable opponent — and win. "A tour de force" (Variety), Spotlight on Blu-ray and DVD features an insightful "making-of" documentary and revealing conversations with the filmmakers.

"A masterpiece" according to Brian Truitt, USA Today, Spotlight is one of the most important and critically acclaimed films of the year, nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Additionally, the film was nominated for three Golden Globes, two SAG Awards, eight Critics Choice Awards and a total of nine Best Picture nominations.

Michael Keaton (Birdman), Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher) in his Academy Award nominated role and Rachel McAdams (Southpaw) in her Academy Award nominated role lead a critically acclaimed cast in this gripping story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation that uncovered a scandal that rocked one of the world's oldest and most trusted institutions. Delving into allegations of child abuse within the local Catholic Archdiocese, a tenacious team of Boston Globe reporters exposes a decades-long cover-up that reaches the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishments. "Brilliantly acted and flawlessly directed" (New York Post), Spotlight is a powerful drama-thriller the critics are calling "the All the President's Men of our time" (Los Angeles Times).

Ken Burn's JACKIE ROBINSON on DVD/BD on April 12

PBS Distribution announced today it is releasing KEN BURNS’S: “JACKIE ROBINSON” on DVD and Blu-ray April 12, 2016, coinciding with its PBS tv airing. This new four hour documentary, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon, tells the story of Jack Roosevelt Robinson, who rose from humble origins to break baseball’s color barrier. Robinson waged a fierce lifelong battle for first-class citizenship for all African Americans that transcends even his remarkable athletic achievements.

The run time of the program is approximately 240 minutes on 2 discs. The SRP for the DVD is $24.99 and $29.99 for Blu-ray. The program will also be available for digital download. 

"Jackie Robinson is the most important figure in our nation’s most important game,” said Ken Burns. “He gave us our first lasting progress in civil rights since the Civil War and, ever since I finished my BASEBALL series in 1994, I’ve been eager to make a stand-alone film about the life of this courageous American. There was so much more to say not only about Robinson’s barrier-breaking moment in 1947, but about how his upbringing shaped his intolerance for any form of discrimination and how after his baseball career, he spoke out tirelessly against racial injustice, even after his star had begun to dim.”

"Megafalls of Iguacu" and "deserts and life" Set for DVD Release by Public Media

Public Media Distribution announced today it is releasing “Megafalls of Iguacu” on DVD. Deep in the heart of South America, where Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay collide, lies one of the most spectacular geographical secrets of the natural world, a place forged from the explosive clashing of the earth’s tectonic plates.

“Megafalls of Iguacu” will be available on DVD February 23, 2016. The run time of the DVD is approximately 60 minutes and its SRP is $24.99.

Over three miles long and 300 feet high, Iguaçu is one of the greatest waterfall on earth. Five times the size of Niagara, some 2000 tons of water pour over its 300 cascades each second. These awesome falls are also home to one of the richest habitats on earth: 2000 species of plants, 450 species of birds, 50 different mammals and more reptiles and insects than anyone has been able to count.

This visually stunning documentary charts the dramas and intimacies of daily life for those animals adaptable enough to make Iguaçu their home and follows the rangers who risk their lives to guard the animals from the poacher’s guns. It’s an intimate portrait of a natural mega structure, as never seen before.