From Holly to Bolly: Mary Poppins is flying into Dubai Opera and more

Plus: Dwayne Johnson Is People’s First Non-White Sexiest Man Alive in 20 Years, Mose Allison, jazz-blues musician dead at 89 and ‘Rock On 2’ team denies claim of plagiarising song.

Mary Poppins stage show coming to Dubai Opera next year

Children’s favourite magical nanny is being brought to the Dubai Opera stage next year. Mary Poppins, will be staged from May 1 to 18. Tickets for the show go on sale from November 27. Set in Edwardian London, Mary Poppins is a tale of a nanny with supernatural powers who arrives at Cherry Tree Lane to care for two pampered children, Jane and Michael Banks. The stage version is an adaptation of the stories by PL Travers and the hit 1964 film Walt Disney Film starring Julie Andrews. It has been co-created by Cameron Mackintosh and Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes. The score is by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman, and includes the musical classics Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Feed the Birds. Tickets are on www.dubaiopera.com - The National Staff

Judge calls for dismissal of copyright case against Bieber and Usher

A US federal judge has recommended that a $10 million lawsuit accusing Justin Bieber and Usher of illegally copying parts of their song Somebody to Love from two Virginia songwriters should be dismissed.

Magistrate Judge Douglas Miller said Devin Copeland and his cousin Mareio Overton failed to show that Bieber and Usher had access to their 2008 song, also titled Somebody to Love, before creating their work in early 2010.

The lawsuit was originally dismissed in March 2014, but a federal appeals court, in a rare reversal in such cases, revived the case in June 2015, saying a reasonable jury could find the songs’ choruses “intrinsically similar.”

Bieber and Usher, whose full name is Usher Raymond, said their song was based on a November 2009 version by songwriter Heather Bright and a production trio, The Stereotypes.

The recommendation will go to US. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen, who entered the March 2014 dismissal, and will decide whether to again dismiss the case. - Reuters

Dwayne Johnson Is People’s First Non-White Sexiest Man Alive in 20 Years

People magazine named the wrestler-turned-actor this year's "sexiest man alive."

Johnson, 44, whose famous catchphrase in the ring is, “Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?”, said learning about his new title put him in a quandary.

"What went through my mind was just how cool and exciting it is," Johnson told People. "And then I thought, 'Wow, we've pretty much reached the pinnacle.' I'm not quite too sure where we go from here."

Johnson rose to mainstream fame in the mid-1990s as a contender with World Wrestling Entertainment Inc and later became an actor and Hollywood producer.

In his latest project, the actor is featured in the upcoming Disney animated film Moana as the voice of demigod Maui.

The entertainer recently said he was poised to make another major change and eventually trade in show business to enter the political ring. - Reuters

Jim Parsons cast in ‘Brother Orange’

Actor Jim Parsons is to star in and produce the drama movie Brother Orange.

The Big Bang Theory star is set to portray American private internet media company BuzzFeed editor Matt Stopera.

Parsons will produce the project alongside Todd Spiewak, through their That’s Wonderful Productions company, as well as Michael Shamberg and Matthew Henick, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

Stopera will be the executive producer of the motion picture with TV personality Ellen DeGeneres, actress Ilana Glazer and producer Jeff Kleeman.

The movie will tell the true story of Matt’s friendship with a guy who became known as Brother Orange, or Li Hongjun. - The National Staff

Mose Allison, jazz-blues musician dead at 89

Mose Allison, a pianist and singer whose witty, southern-accented lyrics delivered over a backdrop of boogie-woogie blues and jazz piano won fans and influenced musicians across a wide spectrum, died Tuesday of natural causes. He was 89.

His mournful playing and tales of love and loss won him legions of devoted fans during a career that stretched over 60 years. He received the prestigious National Endowment for the Artists jazz masters honour in 2013.

In 1957, he recorded his first album, Back Country Suite, on the Prestige label, the first of over 30 albums he would record during his career.

In addition to his wife, Allison is survived by his son and three daughters, including singer-songwriter Amy Allison. - AP

‘Rock On 2’ team denies claim of plagiarising song

The producers of Rock On 2 have denied claims by the late Khasi musician E Brektist R Wanswett's family that the song Hoi Kiw (Chalo Chalo) in the film is a copied version of the legendary musicians renowned folk tune.

The team has not just denied the allegation, but also expressed abundant distrust at the timing of the allegation when the film is already out.

Actor-producer Farhan Akhtar said it is a song by the band Summersalt and that they were given the rights to use it.

Akhtar’s partner Ritesh Sidhwani added that the song was owned and officially licensed by Summersalt to them and have been credited in the movie, as well. - IANS

International star Priyanka Chopra unveils first look of her Punjabi movie

Indian actress and global superstar Priyanka Chopra unveiled the first look of her debut Punjabi film production Sarvann this week. The lead star of ABC's drama series Quantico says making the film was a long cherished goal. The movie stars Punjabi actor Amrinder Gill, and marks the second production association between Chopra's Purple Pebble Pictures and Vashu Bhagnani's Pooja Films. The movie, backed by an all-woman team of producers, is a coming of age story of a young man who discovers his true identity.

The actress says she has an elaborate plan for the marketing of the film worldwide. - IANS