Stomp, the globe-trotting international theatrical phenomenon, will be the opening act of SummerFest Abu Dhabi - the emirate's 52-day event running from June 27 to August 17. The Stomp crew will perform six shows at Emirates Palace Auditorium from June 27 to 29, at 3pm and 7pm. Having played to more than 15 million people in 51 countries on five continents during its 22-year run, the shows will see eight professional performers use a variety of everyday props - from supermarket trolleys, lighters and a kitchen sink to plastic bags, brooms and bin lids - to bring the show's blend of rhythm, theatre, comedy and dance to life. Tickets start at Dh150 and are available at www.ticketmaster.ae. - The National staff
Sanjay Dutt hailed for professionalism
The Tamil director KS Ravikumar, who is making his Hindi directorial debut with Policegiri, says Sanjay Dutt is one most professional actors he's worked with. Dutt, 53, returned to prison on May 16 to complete the remainder of a five-year sentence for firearms offences relating to the 1993 Mumbai bombings. Beforehand, the star managed to complete filming projects including Policegiri, in which he plays a police officer. "Even after Sanjay was sentenced to the jail term, there was hardly any effect on his commitment towards the film," said Ravikumar. "He didn't let his personal problems affect the output of the film and ensured to work collaboratively. I still recall how friendly he was on the sets with the entire team. This certainly helped me to connect to him as a friend, and not just as director." Ravikumar's Bollywood action comedy is scheduled for release in July. - IANS
Casting call held for UAE film Dollars
Producers of the UAE's first Bollywood film Dollars have held a second round of auditions in a bid to fill the movie's central character roles. The castings were staged on Tuesday in Dubai's Al Quoz district and come on the heels of initial auditions held back in April. The film, which will be shot in the UAE, Iraq and India, charts the journey of two Mumbai-based friends who move to Dubai for work and find themselves in hot water. The movie is the debut offering from the director Sameer Khan. - The National staff
S Korean star Lee Byung-Hun to marry
The top South Korean movie star Lee Byung-Hun, one of the best known faces of the "Korean Wave" of popular culture, will marry the actress Lee Min-Jung in August. The 42-year-old, who starred in last year's blockbuster costume drama Masquerade and reprised his role as the villainous ninja Storm Shadow in this year's Hollywood blockbuster GI Joe: Retaliation, will tie the knot with his longtime girlfriend Lee, 31, in Seoul on August 10. As well as Masquerade, which swept last year's national film awards, Lee Byung-Hun starred in the 2000 hit Joint Security Area. He also features in the Hollywood action comedy Red 2 that stars Bruce Willis and will be released later this year. - AP