Olivier Awards - Lyricist Tim Rice is to be honoured for his outstanding contribution to musical theatre at this year's Olivier Awards. Rice, who penned the lyrics to shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita and collaborated with Elton John on The Lion King, will be given the Olivier Special Award at the event, on 15 April 15 at the Royal Opera House. The nominations for this year's ceremony, which will be hosted by Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, were announced last week. Matilda the Musical led the way, picking up 10 nominations.
PWL Reunion - Steps, Jason Donovan, Sinitta and Sonia are among a host of Stock Aitken Waterman acts that will perform at a special reunion concert this summer in London's Hyde Park on 11 July. The gig will bring together nearly all the artists who found fame on the PWL record label to mark its 25th anniversary. Ricky Astley, Bananarama, Pepsi and Shirlie and Brother Beyond will also feature on the line-up.
Edinburgh Update - Edinburgh International Festival artistic director Jonathan Mills has announced that he is to stand down from the post in 2014, when he will have been in post for eight years. Mills took up the position in the autumn of 2006 with a five-year contract up to the festival of 2011. He has extended that twice - first for a year to include the 2012 Olympics and then up to 2014, the year of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
This year's programme is the largest in scope in recent memory. Specific project grants for 2012 will increase public funding by 12% over last year while there has been a 15% increase in funding from private and commercial sources. This year's event is expected to top £10 million turnover for the first time ever.
Manchester News - The Lowry in Salford has won in six categories at the Manchester Theatre Awards 2011. The awards, which have been rebranded after losing support from the Manchester Evening News, also saw the Bolton Octagon triumph in four categories and Manchester Royal Exchange in The Royal Exchange's outgoing artistic director Braham Murray is recognised with the Special Achievement for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre in the North West award.
Eurovision Update - A ballad called Love Will Set You Free is the UK's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest, it has been confirmed. Sung by veteran crooner Engelbert Humperdinck, it premiered on the official Eurovision website on Monday.
Good News - Big budget TV dramas could be offered 25% tax breaks for filming in the UK, the chancellor is expected to announce in his Budget this week. George Osborne will say too many "cinematic" UK TV shows are filmed abroad because of tax incentives. The UK TV production industry comprises more than 1,500 independent TV production companies, employing 21,000 people with total revenues of £2.2bn, according to the Treasury. Mr Osborne is expected to announce a consultation on tax breaks in Wednesday's Budget.
Art Auction - An Andy Warhol painting of singer Elvis Presley could fetch up to $50m (£31.7m) when sold in a New York auction in May. Sotheby's said Double Elvis "epitomises the artist's obsessions with fame, stardom, and the public image". The life-size painting is one of 22 pieces Warhol dedicated to the singer, and will be shown in London, Los Angeles and Hong Kong before the sale. Eight Elvises was sold for $100m (£63.5m) in a private sale in 2008.
(Jim Evans)
