Lawsuit Over 'Children of the Promise' Dismissed

The memoir of an LDS soldier who survived a Japanese POW camp during World War II is historical fact, and can't be copyrighted, ruled US District Judge Dale A. Kimball last week. Kimball's ruling threw out the lawsuit filed by the former soldier, Gene Jacobsen, against LDS author Dean Hughes and his publisher, LDS Church-owned Deseret Book.

MoTab's Float is Largest

Hargrove, Inc., the company that is building the floats for George W. Bush's inaugural parade, has had to scramble to put together the floats for this year's parade. The delayed election results left the company with little time to design and build the floats, as well as prepare for the inauguration's nine balls, two dinners and two luncheons. But in spite of the delay, owner Earl C. Hargrove says he has the biggest float ever built for people to carry the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Osmond Charms Critics For Upcoming PBS Special

As part of his promotion for an upcoming performance on PBS, Donny Osmond appeared before TV critics in town for the Television Critics Association press tour. Osmond charmed the TV critics with Broadway hit songs from his upcoming PBS special - "Donny Osmond: This Is the Moment." Osmond is taping the special in New York City on Thursday. "This Is the Moment" will feature contemporary music from Broadway hits including the title track from "Jekyl &Hyde."

Paperback of Perry's 'Half Moon Street' Joins Bestseller Lists

The paperback of LDS writer Anne Perry's 20th mystery novel has joined the bestseller lists, hitting both the New York Times list and USA Today's list. Card's new book, "Shadow of the Hegemon" also continues to rise on bestseller lists, joining four new lists this week.

Tongan Video-documentary Produced by President Shumway to Premiere

A video documentary, "Haka He Langi Kuo Tau: We Dance in the Ecstasy of Singing" will premiere Jan.18. President Eric B. Shumway served as Executive Producer of the film, which was produced for the government of Tonga. This film will feature a variety of traditional dances and is the second in a series of three video-documentaries. Originally, the Polynesian Cultural Center made an agreement with the government of Tonga to "explore ways to boost the tourism industry in Tonga." This evolved into a film project that would share the richness of Tonga's living culture, while also recording traditions for future generations.

Author Dean Hughes to address BYU Women Jan. 20

Dean Hughes, author of the "Children of the Promise" series, will give a lecture hosted by BYU Women on Saturday (Jan. 20) at 2 p.m. in 2260 Conference Center at Brigham Young University.

Music

Osmond's Plan to Host $100,000 Pyramid Delayed PASADENA, CALIFORNIA -- Donny Osmond's attempt to host a new version of the $100,000 Pyramid game show has been delayed, say critics. Osmond shot two pilots, one a $100,000 version the other a one million dollar version, last year. The series was to be showcased at this week's Syndicated Television Marketplace, but was withdrawn at the last moment. Osmond says that the delay is only for a year. "We're going to wait one more year. We want to make sure that we're doing it properly and that it's something I want to do."

Osmond $100,000 Pyramid crumbles Jam! Showbiz 19Jan01 A2 By Bill Brioux: Toronto Sun

Several Mormons Participate in Bush Inauguration WASHINGTON, DC -- In addition to politicians, several Mormons participated in various inauguration activities this past weekend. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square both performed, with the Choir riding a float in the Inaugural parade. A BYU Daily Universe article mentions three BYU students and faculty that performed with those groups. In addition, LDS pop star Marie Osmond was the host at one of the Inaugural Balls, and a number of other Mormons from Utah represented the state in several capacities. A Deseret News article mentions a lot of Bush political contributors who made the trip to atted the Balls.

Students, faculty to share music at Bush inauguration BYU NewsNet 16Jan01 A2

Whirlwind catches Thompsons Milwaukee WI Journal Sentinel 18Jan01 A2 By Katherine M. Skiba: Journal Sentinel staff Governor, wife dash from dinner to parties to hearing to bashes

Fortune 500 gives big for inauguration Philadelphia PA Inquirer 19Jan01 A2 By Peter Nicholas

Drew will be there; Delta, too USA Today pg3E 19Jan01 A2 By Arlene Vigoda

Utahns head for Texas-style inauguration Deseret News 18Jan01 A3 By Josh Loftin: Deseret News staff writer Cowboy boots are a must for Friday night ball

Theatre

LaBute's Bash Opens in Chicago CHICAGO, ILLINOIS -- LDS Filmmaker and playwright Neil LaBute's set of three one-act plays, "Bash" opened Sunday, January 20th in Chicago's About Face Theater. The plays examine "how people give themselves away in a hundred unwilled ways and how character is defined by crisis." The plays, which features Mormon characters, has received critical praise in performances in New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC and elsewhere. The Chicago Tribune published an interview with LaBute on the day that the plays opened, looking at the contradiction between what LaBute writes, and the tame, Mormon life that he leads. An article a week earlier reveals that part of that life is in a $540,000 home he purchased in Barrington, Illinois in 1998.

Art &Stage: Local Labute Chicago Tribune 19Jan01 A2 By Chris Jones

Home &Garden: Fielder's Choice Chicago Tribune 14Jan01 A2 By Bob Goldsborough: Special to the Tribune

[an error occurred while processing this directive]