Holly to Bolly: Cats coming to Dubai Opera in January, Filipino pop group 4th Impact return to Dubai, and more

Courtesy ITV

Courtesy NDTV Good Times

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Cats coming to Dubai Opera in January

Theatre-goers will be excited to hear that Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-breaking musical Cats is to be staged at Dubai Opera from January 16-25. Adapted from T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, the cast of the touring music, dance and verse show has yet to be announced. "I am delighted that Cats is coming to Dubai for the first time, and is one of the first musicals in the spectacular new Dubai Opera, where the production can be seen as intended," says Andrew Lloyd Webber, "Cats has now been seen in over 30 countries worldwide and the team are very much looking forward to performing in Dubai." This original production is one of the longest-running shows in the history of London's West End and New York's Broadway. Select pre-sale tickets are available now from Dubai Opera and Ticketmaster with the official sale beginning on Thursday, September 29 with prices starting from Dh275. Visit www.dubaiopera.com, www.ticketmaster.ae — The National staff

Filipino pop group 4th Impact return to Dubai

Filipino family girl group 4th Impact will return to Dubai on December 15 to perform The Comeback Concert at Oud Metha’s Al Nasr Leisureland. The band that found fame after finishing fifth in last year’s The X Factor UK television talent competition, is made up of the Cercado sisters — Celina, Almira, Irene and Mylene. The girls last performed in the UAE in April 2015 before embarking upon an international tour. The group took to its Facebook page to confirm the Dubai performance news by posting: “We can’t wait to see you again Dubai! Grab your tickets now”. Tickets start from Dh100. For more information call 0529140441. — The National staff

Indian TV to air Dubai Diaries

A new five-episode television series called Dubai Diaries that shines a light on the city's entertainment scene, street food, shopping spots and business activities is to be aired on Indian lifestyle channel NDTV Good Times from October 6. The line-up of guest-anchors includes actress Tarana Raja, TV host Varun Mitra, food fanatics Rocky and Mayur, adventure junkie Neha Dixit and presenter Ambika Anand. "Dubai is a true crossroad of the world," said Rocky and Mayur in a released statement. "This once small trading post has today grown into a smorgasbord of varied nationalities. We dug deep into the small nooks and crannies of Dubai. Street food, people, food trends and how the inhabitants of Dubai like to eat, are all things that we will bring you in our episode." IANS

Priyanka Chopra surprised to audition for Quantico role

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has told Good Morning America that auditioning for the Amercian TV series Quantico was a new experience for her. The 34-year-old actress, who plays FBI agent Alex Parrish, was not used to doing screen tests, with the practise not common in India. "They had to meet me and I had to do a reading," says Chopra, "I had never been in a stare-out room with seven people sitting there and had to perform. It was such a weird thing for an actor to do. So, I talked to myself in the bathroom beforehand and said 'You've done 50 movies. What's wrong with you?' And I went in there, did my thing, and I got the job," she added. The second season of Quantico aired on OSN First HD on Monday. — IANS

Naomi Watts and Liev Schrieber split

Actors Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber are going their separate ways after 11 years. "It is with great love, respect and friendship in our hearts that we look forward to raising our children together and exploring this new phase of our relationship," the pair said in a joint statement, that also asked for privacy for their two young sons. The separation follows the divorce announcement of Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Forty-seven-year-old Australian Watts and 48-year-old American Schreiber have been involved since 2005 but never married. The couple star together in the upcoming boxing drama The Bleeder which is slated for release in January next year. — Reuters

Peter Rabbit to make big screen debut

British talk-show host James Corden and Australian actress Rose Byrne are joining forces to help bring the classic children's tales of Peter Rabbit to the big screen, according to Sony's Columbia Pictures. Corden, host of CBS's The Late Late Show, will voice Peter Rabbit while Byrne — of Dallas Doll fame — will voice a character named Bea. The film, which will be a live-action CGI production, will be released in April 2018. Announcement of the film coincides with the 150th anniversary of the birth of author Beatrix Potter, whose The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published in 1902. British actress Daisy Ridley from Star Wars and Australian star of The Night Manager, Elizabeth Debicki, will also be part of the voice cast. — Reuters