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'Nine': Creatively Blocked, But Still Putting On A Show

Fresh out of ideas for his new film, a famous director turns to his muses — his wife, a mistress, a movie star and more — for inspiration. Rob Marshall's splashy adaptation has all the razzle-dazzle display of its musical-theater roots, but as each woman takes her turn in the costume parade, the plot's thinness becomes increasingly apparent, and Nine begins to feel less like a show than a showcase.

The Best Debut Fiction Of 2009

Critic John Freeman picks the year's top five debuts by fiction writers. The list includes three collections of short stories and two novels. Freeman says the era of the splashy debut might be gone, but these authors demonstrate, despite their short publishing histories, that first-time writers can still make a big impression.

'Young Victoria': Her Majesty, Mrs. Bland

In trying to warm us up to the monarch who was famously Not Amused, Jean-Marc Vallee's movie soft-pedals the scandals and treats everyone — even some of history's serious villains — rather gently. The result is a tepid biopic, if an unsurprisingly pretty one.

For 'Avatar,' An Unprecedented Marketing Push

The PR campaign for the movie Avatar is unprecedented in its complexity and technology. Jesse Baker reports on how director James Cameron is trying to take a movie based on an original story and build the kind of fan frenzy that comes with a franchise.

Actor Tim Robbins On New Theater Economics

Nearly 30 years ago, actor Tim Robbins started a theater in the Los Angeles area called The Actors Gang. They enjoyed success with their interpretation of classics like Ibsen and Chekhov, and with more contemporary performers like Danny Hoch and Eric Bogosian. But in the midst of the current economic recession, the board of directors suggested they stop productions. Robbins' response was to do just the opposite: he launched a series of performances to raise money and bring new audiences to the theater. The WTF Festival has been a huge success and has taught Robbins much about the developing new business models for live theater.

More than 1,600 local children in need to receive gifts this Christmas

The Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Entertainment recently contributed more than $25,000 to the Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare Angel Tree to purchase gifts for angels in need.

Cherokee Nation to Host Healthy Cooking Class

Post-holiday guilt is something many individuals face each year. The average American gains weight during the “holiday season,” meaning the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years. At the start of 2010, the Cherokee Nation will be hosting a special class on healthy cooking which will run for a total of four weeks beginning Thursday, January 14, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Bartlesville.

Cherokee Nation Helps Oklahoma Preserve Cherokee History

As a way of helping preserve Cherokee history as a part of Oklahoma’s past, the Cherokee Nation recently provided $50,000 to the Oklahoma Historical Society. The contribution will help preserve three distinct sites: Sequoyah’s home near Sallisaw, the Murrell Home in Park Hill near Tahlequah, and the military fort site at Fort Gibson.

Cherokee Nation Offers Free Tax Prep Assistance

With holiday festivities in full swing, tax season may seem like a long way off but in reality it is just around the corner. The Cherokee Nation is partnering once again with the Internal Revenue Service to offer free basic tax preparation to taxpayers that qualify for the earned income tax credit.

Cherokee National Youth Choir Holding Auditions

The award-winning Cherokee National Youth Choir will hold auditions for new choir members on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, at the Cherokee Nation tribal complex south of Tahlequah.