Chitty Chitty Bang Bang To Launch National Tour In November 2008

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the stage musical based on the popular novel by Ian Fleming, is set to launch its national tour on 18 November 2008 at the Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Playbill reports that the stage musical, in addition to featuring a brand new creative team, will also play at the following locations: Tampa, Appleton, Baltimore, Dayton, San Antonio, Houston, Pittsburgh, Providence, Philadelphia, Orlando, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Louisville, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City, Tempe and Costa Mesa.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang features music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The production was adapted by Jeremy Sams for the London and Broadway stage previously. This upcoming tour will feature a script adapted by Ray Roderick, who will also handle directing duties.

The creative team also includes set and costume designs by Anthony Ward with additional set designs by Robert Bissinger, lighting designs by Charlie Morrison and choreography by Joanne Hunter. Further details on casting are yet to be announced.

Big League Productions, Inc. is presenting the tour by arrangement with Dana Broccoli, Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, Frederick Zollo, Nicholas Paleologos, Jeffrey Sine, Harvey Weinstein, East of Doheny Theatricals, Michael Rose Limited and MGM On Stage.

The final Broadway Hilton Theatre performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was on 31 December 2005. Billed as the ‘fantasmagorical stage musical,’ Chitty began Broadway previews on 27 March of 2005 and officially opened on 28 April.

The production played 34 previews and 285 regular performances. Adrian Noble directed with musical staging by Gillian Lynne, sets and costumes by Anthony Ward, lighting by Mark Henderson, sound design by Andrew Bruce, orchestrations and dance arrangements by Chris Walker, musical supervision by Robert Scott and musical direction by Kristen Blodgette.

For more information on this upcoming Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tour, visit www.chittyontour.com.

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'Live and Let Draw' James Bond Competition

A competition mixing 007 and drawing is being held in order to fill main gallery of the Mississippi Arts Center.

The Clarion Ledger reports that winning entries in the Greater Jackson Arts Council’s Live and Let Draw Competition: James Bond Invitational will go on display this August.

Juried entries will go on display in an exhibition at the Mississippi Arts Center and also be featured at the arts council’s annual Storytellers Ball (to be held 21 August–with the equally Bondian theme, ‘Shaken, Not Stirred’), kicking off the 2008-2009 arts season.

The top prize is $1,000 with additional prizes of $300, $200 as well as some honorable mentions for a total value of $2,100 in cash and gift certificates. The hope is to make this first-time contest an annual tradition.

In addition to the above awards, a $500 people’s choice award will be voted on and announced at the Storytellers Ball.

The deadline for entries is 30 June for two-dimensional works–paintings, drawings, mixed media, photography or more–in the spirit of the James Bond theme. Entries can have three-dimensional qualities, but must hang on the wall for display. Artists can submit photos, digital prints or digital files (no slides or original artwork); there’s a $10 entry fee per piece.

‘My thought was, what could we do in the gallery during that time? Being an artist myself, I thought, what a wonderful excuse to give back to the artists of Mississippi and have a competition,’ said Sylvia Hale Pooley, development and special events manager for the Greater Jackson Arts Council.

‘Since this building is now under the watchful eye of the Arts Council and we’re in the process of the master plan for the rehabilitation and transformation of the arts center of Mississippi into a community arts center, we definitely want to try to start showcasing the building,’ said Janet Scott, arts council executive director.

‘Our moniker is, “Be part of the story,” and … we try to incorporate everything we do to be a part of the cultural story in Jackson and Hinds County.’

The Live and Let Draw 007 exhibition will be on display from 4-30 August. An artists reception for the show will be open to the public from 2:00 to 4:00pm on 7 August. Awards will be presented then.

For further information on this James Bond-themed art competition, phone Sylvia Pooley at 601-960-1557. Entry forms may be downloaded at jacksonartscouncil.org.

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Brown's Hotel Launches Exclusive Ian Fleming Centenary Package

As the 28th of May draws nearer, details on yet another special event tieing into the Ian Fleming centenary have been revealed:

Brown’s Hotel Launches Exclusive Ian Fleming Centenary Package

Ian Fleming

To celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Ian Fleming’s birth and the launch of The Imperial War Museum’s new exhibition, ‘For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond’, Rocco Forte’s Brown’s Hotel is offering a special package, The Ian Fleming Centenary stay.

There’s nowhere more appropriate that Brown’s Hotel in which to pay homage to one of literature’s great characters; John Gardner liked the hotel so much he included it in his Bond novel Icebreaker, and the sexy and stylish Donovan Bar offers a wide range of decadent Bond cocktails. Things have certainly been shaken, and perhaps a little stirred, since the recent £24 million renovation of Brown’s Hotel; its re-launch was a decidedly glamorous affair with even famed Bond actor Roger Moore in attendance.

Now guests can sample the Bond lifestyle for themselves with this stylish weekend get-away…

Highlights of the Ian Fleming Centenary package include:

• Overnight accommodation in a luxurious room or suite
• Full English breakfast (which is reputed to be Bond’s favourite meal of the day)
• Two tickets to ‘For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond’ – the new exhibition at The Imperial War Museum, London*
• Two Bond cocktails in The Donovan Bar
• An exclusive, hardback copy of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale
• Complimentary use of gymnasium to buff up those muscles

*Tickets to the ‘For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond’ exhibition are subject to availability and time restrictions may apply. To book these tickets, clients must contact the hotel directly to arrange.

Prices start from £315 per night, excluding VAT, for two people sharing. Available Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, from 18th April to 28th December 2008, subject to availability.

For further information on the Ian Fleming Centenary package, phone 0870 460 8040 or visit the official website.

Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for complete coverage of the Ian Fleming centenary and all James Bond-related events.

Winning Films For 'Best Of Bond' Weekend Announced

Casino Royale

Back in March of this year, fans were asked to vote which James Bond films they would want to see on the big screen at a ‘Best of Bond’ weekend scheduled at the Barbican this June.

All the official entries in the series, from from 1962’s Dr. No to 2006’s Casino Royale were eligible and now the winners have been announced:

1. Goldfinger
2. From Russia with Love
3. Casino Royale
4. Dr. No

On a special note, CommanderBond.net’s own Paul Dunphy will be on hand on Saturday, 7 June to introduce the Goldfinger screening at 8:45pm.

The fifth Bond film chosen by voters, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is scheduled for a digital release in 2009.

The Barbican’s ‘Best of Bond’ weekend, a celebration of Ian Fleming’s centenary, will take place on 7 and 8 June. Vodka Martinis (shaken, not stirred) will be available at the Cinema 1 bar prior to the Goldfinger screening.

Vist the official Best of Bond website for further information and details.

The Barbican Centre is located at Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS.

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'The Spy Who Loved Me' – The Reunion

Following up Bondstars’ Goldfinger: The Reunion this past April, news has emerged on an upcoming event centered on another popular James Bond film: The Spy Who Loved Me.

Details from the official website follow:

The Spy Who Loved Me – The Reunion

When: Sunday October 19th 2008 (Times TBC)
Where: Pinewood Studios, London, England

After the huge success of our Goldfinger event in April we decided to celebrate another Bond classic and Sir Roger Moore’s personal favourite – The Spy Who Loved Me.

The event will include:

• Members of the cast and crew in attendance
• Memorabilia stalls
• The Pinewood Studios tour
• Buffet lunch
• A digital screening of The Spy Who Loved Me in Pinewood’s state of the art screening theatre.
• A Q & A with the cast and crew

An Evening With Sir Roger Moore

In the evening we are holding a special gala dinner in honour of our very special guest – Sir Roger Moore. The event is to tie in with the launch of his autobiography and also in support of Unicef. This will be followed by an on stage interview where Sir Roger will recall stories and anecdotes from his incredible career.

For full terms and conditions, information on payment details or to purchase tickets (prices TBC), visit Bondstars.com.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest details on upcoming James Bond events.

James Bond Summer Screening Extravaganza

Diamonds Are Forever

Get ready to Bond with outdoor 007 screenings on Thursday and Friday nights for 16 weeks this upcoming summer in Rosslyn, Virginia and the NoMa (North of Mass Ave.) section of Washington D.C.–because one Bond screening is never enough!

The ‘Once is Never Enough’ James Bond summer screening event is being organized as part of the Georgetown Film Festival.

Both the Bond screening events at Rosslyn, Virginia and NoMa, Washington D.C are free to the public. Screenings typically begin at dusk/8pm-ish.

The full line-up of Bond screenings:

Rosslyn:

• 2 May – Dr. No
• 9 May – From Russia With Love
• 16 May – Goldfinger
• 23 May – Thunderball
• 30 May – You Only Live Twice
• 6 June – Diamonds Are Forever
• 13 June – Live and Let Die
• 20 June – The Man with the Golden Gun
• 27 June – The Spy Who Loved Me
• 11 July – Moonraker
• 18 July – For Your Eyes Only
• 25 July – Octopussy
• 1 Aug – A View to a Kill
• 8 Aug – GoldenEye
• 15 Aug – Tomorrow Never Dies
• 22 Aug – Die Another Day

NoMa:

• 8 May – Dr. No
• 15 May – From Russia With Love
• 22 May – Goldfinger
• 29 May – Thunderball
• 5 June – You Only Live Twice
• 12 June – Diamonds Are Forever
• 19 June – Live and Let Die
• 26 June – The Man with the Golden Gun
• 10 July – The Spy Who Loved Me
• 17 July – Moonraker
• 24 July – For Your Eyes Only
• 31 July – Octopussy
• 7 Aug – A View to a Kill
• 14 Aug – GoldenEye
• 21 Aug – Tomorrow Never Dies
• 28 Aug – Die Another Day

For futher information, phone 703-522-6638 (Rosslyn), 202-289-0111 (NoMa), or visit the official website.

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'For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond' Released In US

Following up the UK release at the beginning of the month, 007 fans in the US can now get their hands on a copy of Ben Macintyre’s For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond as it hits bookshelves today (and is also shipping at Amazon.com.

As previously reported by CommanderBond.net, the book accompanies an Ian Fleming centenary exhibition of the same name, which recently opened at the Imperial War Museum in London.

Cover artwork for For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond can be viewed online here.

The book is published by Bloomsbury Publishing and retails for $34.99 in the US. The full blurb:

A riveting look into the world of James Bond and his creator, published on the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth.

In For Your Eyes Only, Ben Macintyre reveals where the world of Ian Fleming ends and the world of James Bond begins. Macintyre looks at the actual people on whom the writer based his fictional creations–friends, colleagues, lovers, and, of course, the notorious villains. Exploring the tradition of spy fiction past and present, with specific attention to the Cold War, Macintyre explains how Bond was based on the realities–and fantasies–of Fleming’s life as a wartime spymaster and peacetime bon vivant.

Stylishly illustrated, For Your Eyes Only features a collector’s dream of gadgets, costumes, props, and storyboards from the films–Daniel Craig’s bloodstained shirt from Casino Royale, the Aston Martin DB5, complete with weaponry–as well as memorabilia from Fleming’s personal archive: his smoking jacket, the manuscript for Casino Royale, his golden typewriter, his guns, and much more.

• Order the UK hardback edition of For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the US hardback edition of For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond from Amazon.com

Stay tuned to CommanderBond.net for further details on Ben Macintyre’s For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond and complete coverage of all the Ian Fleming centenary events.

Crystal City's 21 Weeks Of James Bond

Monday nights will be shaken and stirred in Crystal City!

Take part in the Crystal Screen Outdoor Film Festival for 21 weeks of action packed James Bond 007 movie classics. Bring a picnic and a blanket. Special contest, prizes and fun theme nights will take place throughout festival.

The event will feature screenings of all 21 official Bond films from 1962’s Dr. No through 2006’s Casino Royale on Monday nights starting 5 May through 22 September 2008.

There is no charge to attend. Screenings start at sundown. The full 007 line-up:

• 5 May – Dr. No
• 12 May – From Russia With Love
• 19 May – Goldfinger
• 26 May – Thunderball
• 2 June – You Only Live Twice
• 9 June – Her Majesty Secret Service
• 16 June – Diamonds Are Forever
• 23 June – Live and Let Die
• 30 June – The Man with the Golden Gun
• 7 July – The Spy Who Loved Me
• 14 July – Moonraker
• 21 July – For Your Eyes Only
• 28 July – Octopussy
• 4 Aug – A View to a Kill
• 11 Aug – The Living Daylights
• 18 Aug – Licence to Kill
• 25 Aug – GoldenEye
• 1 Sept – Tomorrow Never Dies
• 8 Sept – The World is Not Enough
• 15 Sept – Die Another Day
• 22 Sept – Casino Royale

The 21 Weeks of James Bond screenings will take place at 18th and Bell Street, across from Crystal City Metro Station and Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

Visit the event website for further information.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest on James Bond-related events happening around the world.

'For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond' Now Shipping

Although not officially due for release until 7 April in the UK, Ben Macintyre’s For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond is now shipping at amazon.co.uk.

As previously reported by CommanderBond.net, the book accompanies an Ian Fleming centenary exhibition of the same name, which is due to run 25 April 2008 through 1 March 2009 at the Imperial War Museum in London. More details on that event here.

Cover artwork for For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond can be viewed online at amazon.co.uk.

The book is published by Bloomsbury Publishing and retails for £20.00 in the UK. It will be released on 29 April (retailing for $34.95) in the US. The full blurb:

Published to coincide with the 2008 Imperial War Museum exhibition of the same name, this is a thrilling stand-alone book that looks into the entwined worlds of James Bond and Ian Fleming. The book and exhibition will explore how Fleming’s 007 emerged against the background of the Second World War and the Cold War, and how Bond’s world was based on the realities (and fantasies) of Fleming’s life as a wartime spy-master and peacetime bon viveur. They will show how the film version of Bond evolved for a later age, and answer a question that has obsessed generations of Bond fans over the years: where does the world of Ian Fleming end, and that of James Bond begin? Stylishly illustrated, this book will incorporate a treasure-trove of gadgets, costumes, props, and storyboards from the films – Daniel Craig’s blood-stained shirt from Casino Royale, the Aston Martin DB5, complete with weaponry – as well as memorabilia from Fleming’s personal archive: his smoking jacket, the manuscript for Casino Royale, his golden typewriter, his guns, and much more. Alongside this array of extraordinary visuals, Ben Macintyre tells the story of how Fleming created the most popular legend of all time.

• Order the UK hardback edition of For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the US hardback edition of For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond from Amazon.com

Stay tuned to CBn for further details on Ben Macintyre’s For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond and complete coverage of all the Ian Fleming centenary events.

More 007 Cast And Crew Members Announced For Autographica 11

Early last month, CommanderBond.net first reported that several cast and crew members from the James Bond series would be attenting the upcoming Autographica 11 event–‘the world’s largest autograph show.’

Since then, even more guests from the 007 films have been announced. The full line-up now includes:

• Lucy Fleming (niece of Ian Fleming)
• Bettina Le Beau (Secretary, Dr. No)
• Lisa Guiraut (Belly Dancer, From Russia With Love)
• Martine Beswick (Zora, From Russia With Love / Paula Caplan, Thunderball)
• Mollie Peters (Patricia Fearing, Thunderball)
• Paul Stassino (Francois Derval, Thunderball)
• Luciana Paluzzi (Fiona Volpe, Thunderball)
• Alexandra Bastedo (Meg, Casino Royale (1967))
• Caroline Munro (Naomi, The Spy Who Loved Me)
• Albert Moses (Barman, The Spy Who Loved Me / Sadruddin, Octopussy)
• Paul Darrow (Doctor, Die Another Day)

Autographica is unlike any other similar event you have ever attended. At Autographica you will not just see and meet the guests, but get to know them, as the entire event is held in a luxury hotel, with all the facilities that that encompass. All of our guests stay in the same hotel, so you may well find yourself having breakfast with any one of our guests.

Most guests are available all day both days for signing, and some also offer talks or Q and A session too. In addition, and where time allows, we also have photo shoots with specific guests, and all of these can be booked in advance.

Autographica 11 will be taking place on Friday, 18 April through Sunday, 20 April at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole in the UK. Specific times follow:

• Saturday, 19 April: 10:30am – 4:00pm
• Sunday, 20 April: 11:00am – 4:00pm

Ticket prices are £10 per day. The pre-booked Gold Pass for unlimited two day early admission is £35. Children, if accompanied by an adult, are free on both days.

Note that there are only 1,000 tickets set aside each day for at the door purchases, so pre-booking is strongly recommended. Pre-booked tickets are only available to buy in advance. Phone 01959 573792 for details or visit the official website.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest details on upcoming James Bond events.