• After some very successful years writing for the stage, Harvey Fierstein says he would like to be on one again. "I'm looking for something to act in now," the four-time Tony Award winner said this week. But beware, writers: no gimmicks. "When somebody thinks, 'Oh, that would be cute for Harvey,' it's probably going to bore me." The 60-year-old is looking for a change after coming off a remarkable Broadway season in which three of his works were onstage -- Tony-winner Kinky Boots, Casa Valentina and Newsies. While Kinky Boots is still going strong, Casa Valentina has closed and Newsies will shutter after its Aug. 24 performance. Until the right acting gig comes along, Fierstein is busy making sure the brewing national tours of both Kinky Boots and Newsies get off OK. "Of course, you keep your finger on them," he said. "They're your children. If you don't stick your face in there, then what kind of parent would you be?" Now he's hoping to add to his acting credits, which include playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. He had debated playing a role in Casa Valentina but realized that critics might have gotten confused. "Because, you know, they're not that bright," he explained, laughing. "It's more fun for me, in a way, to act in something I didn't write because part of acting is to get out of your own head and to get into somebody else's head. That's part of the escape of acting," he said. "If it's something I wrote, then I'm not escaping anything."
• Beyonce is set to have a "Flawless" night at the MTV Video Music Awards. The singer will perform at the Aug. 24 show at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. She leads in nominations with eight, including video of the year for "Drunk in Love." The 32-year-old also will receive the video vanguard award, a lifetime achievement honor also bestowed to Michael Jackson, Madonna and Britney Spears. Beyonce caused a stir last weekend when she released a Nicki Minaj-assisted remix to her song "Flawless," where the singer raps and refers to the leaked elevator video of her sister Solange attacking Jay Z. Beyonce's collaborative tour with her husband wrapped its U.S. dates Wednesday. They will play two shows in Paris next month. Other performers at the Video Music Awards include Ariana Grande, Maroon 5, Usher and 5 Seconds of Summer.
A Section on 08/08/2014