Harander Jeremy Piven has recently worked on flicks such as "Runaway Jury", "Scary Movie 3", "Chasing Liberty", "Lucky 13",Black Hawk Down" ,"Two for the Money", "The Kingdom","Cars"-voice of Harv,"Keeping Up with The Steins" and "Smoking Aces." Jeremy also plays Ari, Vinces' Agent, in recent HBO Original Series, "Entourage." Jeremy has recently won 3 Emmy's for Entourage - 2006, 2007 & 2008.

Virginia Madsen, circa 1982-83, starred in the season opener of  ABC's"The Practice." Now starring in new movie, "Sideways" and is nominated for a Golden Globe for supporting actress. Virginia is starring in "Smith," Thursdays on CBS.

Stu Figa - Here's the latest news - I sang at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum back in May in conjunction with the exhibit "Fighting the Fires of Hate: America and the Nazi Book Burnings".  The concert, which included selections from my CD "Dancing on the Edge of the Volcan" was a huge success and indeed a great honor.

Brad Holcman to Appear on NBC Reality Show "Average Joe" also part of the production team for successful TNT show "Saved." ("America's Most Talented Kid") and Andrew Glassman are putting together "Average Joe" for NBC Studios.Comic/"Celebrity Mole" champ Kathy Griffin is set to host "Joe." As for "Average Joe," skein will test how important looks are in the dating process, sort of like Nash's "Mr. Personality"--but without the masks. Skein, shot in Palm Springs, will start with an ex-beauty queen/NFL cheerleader who's told she's being set up to meet a group of handsome guys, a la "The Bachelor." When she meets the men, however, it turns out they're all. . . well, average Joes. Krasnow said the men on "Joe" look nothing like the Ryans and Evans that populate more established primetime dating skeins.  "Our cast is made up of people you'll never forget, either visually or personality-wise," he said. "These people look like people you'd see at Starbucks or coming out of the subway." Like "Love or Money," "Joe" will contain the now standard twists and turns throughout its six-episode run. "Every time the cast thinks they've figured out this show, we significantly change it up on them," Glassman said. (Courtesy - Josef Adalian, NBC Studios)

David Rush was named Playwriting Teacher of the Year by ATHE, a national organization of theater academics. In 2002, his musical PRAIRIE LIGHTS (for which he wrote lyrics) had a successful run at Stage Left and has been Jeff recommended.  As of today, there are three productions planned around the country for next holiday season. In 2001, his play. POLICE DEAF NEAR FAR won Jeff and After Dark Awards for Best New Work in  Chicago. In 2000, his play PROPHET OF BISHOP HILL was Jeff Nominated for Best New Work in Chicago, and also won an After Dark Award. He is under contract with SIUC Press for a textbook, "A Student's Guide to Play Analysis," which should be out by 2004. His new play, CUTTINGS, is under option for production at Stage Left for 2003-2004 season!

Congrats to Harander Duane Schuler for the success page for Lighting Designer for the Metropolitan Opera in NY, and Lyric Opera in Chicago.  See Duane in the Alum site with his tuba!

Remember to check out T.J. Shanoff's new sports radio in Chicago on the Score, 820 AM from 6-9 am. T.J. is also currently involved in the current show at Chicago's Second City in Piper's Alley. IT'S THE Young Austin Powers in the recently released feature, "Austin Powers III, Goldmember"!!  Aaron Himelstein, a fifteen-year-old from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, Harand Camper in 1998 (La Mancha) and 1999 (Casablanca) studied acting at the Piven Theater Workshop in Evanston (alumni include John and Joan Cusack, Rosannna Arquette and Aidan Quinn). He previously appeared in two Chicago-based TV series: Cupid, starring Jeremy Piven (also a Harand Alumni,) and "What About Joan," starring Joan Cusack. On the stage, he appeared in Chicago's famed Steppenwolf Theater Company's production of "Morning Star." And last year he starred in the critically acclaimed Broadway production of "Dead Eye Boy," for which he received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.  Aaron is presently playing friedman on "Joah of Arcadia" and new FOX series "House." Also has new film to be sunmitted to the Sundance Film Festival.

Harander Laura Lippman, author of the Tess Monaghan mystery novels,  starting with Baltimore Blues, has been nominated and won several major awards, including the Quill Award. There are 3 more books currently under contract. For details check out: www.lauralippman.com Harand Camper, counselor, and professional organizer Linda (Levin) Parks and her husband, Jim Parks, (who is the host of New Spaces on Home & Garden Television-HGTV) have created a CD of guided meditations called A Journey Into Light. For more info, visit  www.ajourneyintolight.com Eric Roberts & Lindsey Freitlinger are part of the production team for "Oprah."