The Berkshire Eagle from Pittsfield, Massachusetts • 32

The Mile Eagle 0(4 The RaKthile Eagle ENTERTAINMENT On the Web: D8 Wednesday. May 16. 2001 D8 Wednesd; Playwright, actor Jason Miller dead at 62 Won Pulitzer, Tony for 'Championship Season'; Oscar nominee for 'The Exorcist' Boston theater critics honor Tina Packer Bost hono Most recently. Mil ler was artistic director of the Scranton Public Theater and its summer theater festival. He was to play Oscar Madison in the theater's forthcoming production of -The Odd Couple." According to The Associated Press, Miller is survived by three sons: Jason Patric.

the actor, and Joshua Miller, both of Los Angeles: and Jordan Miller of New York City. He is also survived by a daughter, Jennifer Miller of Los Angeles. By Jeffrey Borak Berk Aire Eagle Staff LENOX Shakespeare Company's founding artistic director, Tina Packer, received the Boston Theater Critics Association's prestigious Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence at dinner ceremonies Monday at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Boston. Packer was cited for "establishing a distinctive American Shakespeare company" and for her work as actress. director.

producer and educator. Earlier in the day. Packer cut two ribbons at the Founders Theatre. a 428-seat facility opening June 13 at Shakespeare Company's new property at 70 Kemble St. The Elliot Norton Awards are presented annually by the Boston theater critics to honor performance and production achievements in theater.

The awards are named after Elliot Norton. considered the dean of local theater critics. who celebrated his 98th birthday at the dinner presentation. Director Nicholas Martin's production of "Hedda Gabler." featuring Kate Burton in the title role. at the Huntington Theatre Company, was named Outstanding Production by a Large Resident Company.

The production first was seen in the Berkshires last summer at the Theatre Festival. Martin's production of Frank McGuinness drama "Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Toward the Somme" will be produced at Williamstown this summer before its presentation next season at the Huntington Theatre in Martin's second year as the Huntington's artistic director. LENOX director, Tina sociation's pr at dinner cere Packer ww Shakespeare producer and Earlier in Theatre. a 41 Company's The Elliot Boston theat achievement Norton. consi brated his 981 Director Ni featuring Ka Theatre Corn Large Reside Berkshires la Martin's prod the Sops of duced at Will next season a as the Huntin 1 department at Catholic University for never attending classes, never taking tests and never getting the girls back to their dormitory by 10 o'clock." At Catholic University, Miller met his wife, Linda, Jackie Gleason's daughter, with whom he had three children.

Miller had a fourth child with a girlfriend, Susan Bernard. Variety of jobs To earn money, Miller worked as a welfare investigator, waiter, truck driver and messenger boy. Along the way he wrote plays, among them "The Circus Lady," "Perfect Son" and "Lou Gehrig Did Not Die of Cancer." One of them, "Nobody Hears a Broken Drum," was produced off Broadway in 1970. Just weeks before "That Championship Season" opened in May 1972 at the Public Theater, Miller was drawing unemployment checks. Papp knew Mil ler from his performance in "Subject to Fits," a Public Theater production.

After "That Championship Season," Miller went on to act in other projects, including The Nickel Ride," a 1973 film, and "The Dain Curse," a 1978 CBS min iseries based on the Dashiell Hammett novel. But he remained best known for his Pulitzer Prizewinning play and for his role in The Exorcist" as a priest battling a young girl's demons. Moved to N.J. Miller and his family eventually moved from Queens to New Jersey. In the 1974 Times interview, Miller said he could never leave the New York area for long.

"When I was growing up in Scranton, New York was the capital of my imagination, the El Dorado of my mind," he said. 'As soon as I was able, I started visiting whenever I could, coming with a little money and selling my blood on Delancey Street for a few dollars more, to sit and drink in the Cedar Bar, hoping that Jackson Pollock, Allen Ginsberg or Norman Mailer would drop in." And now that I've lived there and know all the criticisms, I still have a great affection for the city," he continued. "Its rhythm and vitality suit me. I need this element of risk for survival since perhaps it is the -city's dangers that force me to creativity. The point is, I went to New York to do something.

And I did it." 14 AI Showings for 0514 0517 44 BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY 6:00 Romance comedy set to LOnthrl about one year in the life ot a thirty-something angle woman. Stars Renee Zellweger, Cohn Firth Hugh Grant 100 min CHUNHYANG 3:00, 7:00 Korean language love story about two lovers. one a Nutt officiai re other the dausitter of a courtesan, who cross class hoes to be together. NR By Robin Pogrebin New 'lurk Times News Service Jason Miller, the playvvright and actor who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1973 for That Championship Season." died on Sunday in Scranton. Pa.

He was 62 and lived in Scranton. The cause was a heart attack, said Joseph Brennan, the Lackawanna County coroner. Miller also won a Tony Award for "That Championship Season" and in the same year was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Father Damien Karras in the horror movie "The Exorcist." "Mat Championship Season." about a reunion of members of a winning basketball team with their coach. set in the Lackawanna Valley, was based on Miler's experience as a member of the St. Patrick's High School basketball team in the 1950s.

The play, directed by A.J. Antoon, who also won a Tony Award for his i'ork, originated at Joseph Papp's Public Theater in 1972 and then moved to the Booth on Broadway. The cast included Charles Durning and Paul Sorvino, who was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance. Writing in The New York Times, Walter Kerr called "That Championship Season" "rock solid, bitterly funny, painfully shaming." Miller adapted the play into a film, which he also directed. Released in 1982, it featured Robert Mitchum as the coach, Bruce Dern as the mayor and Stacy Keach, Martin Sheen and Sorvino as members of the team.

The play was revived in 1999 at the Second Stage Theater. Born in Queens, N.Y., Miller grew up in Scranton and graduated from St. Patrick's and the Jesuit-run University of Scranton, where he studied English and philosophy, acted and won first prize in the Jesuit Eastern Play Contest. According to The As-sociated Press, Miller later earned a master's degree from Catholic University in Washington. But in a 1974 interview in The Times, Miller said he was asked to leave the speech and drama ter's degree from Catholic Univer- sity in Washington But in a 1974 interview in The Times, Miller said he was asked to leave the speech and drama Mummy' still rules box office 6M11M111' ALONG CAME A SPIDER 3:20, 830 Morgan Fisternan reoran his 'kiss The Girls" tote in a thruier about a psycnologist-detectite who ts tacking a semi inumleref turned kidnapper, Co-stars Pe-naive Ann and Monica Porter 110 min.

weeks. 9. "Memento" (Newmarket). $1.2 million, 445 locations, $2,734 average, $10.1 million, nine weeks. 10.

"The Tailor of Panama" (Sony). $817,311 441 locations, $1,853 average, $10.5 million, seven weeks. Main Street Stage to offer one-act plays by Cbeldlov BLOW 3:10, 8:15 A powerful motion pocture that follows the rise and fall of drug dealer George Jung (Johnny Depp) as his story plays out against the evenshiffing tapes-by of the '60s, 70s, and Based on a hue story. Co-stars Rachel Griffiths and Ray Liotta HEARTBREAKERS 6:00 Sigoumey Weaver and Jennder Love Hewitt star in the comedy about a mother daughter team of con artists. 130 min PG13 70 Railroad Gt.

Barrington actor's theater company come to grips with mortality one dark night in their theater; and "The Bear," a comedy in which a land-owner's request for money from a widow in mourning for her late husband turns into a battle of the sexes. In the cast are Barnabas Rose, Douglas MacDonald, Spencer Trova, Nancy Kulpinksi and Bruce T. MacDonald. Main Street Stage is at 5512 Main St. Ticket information is available by phoning 663-3240.

Imamm NORTH ADAMS Main Street Stage's 2001 season continues this weekend with the opening Friday of "Three By Chekhov," an evening of one-act plays by the late-19th century Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. Performances will be Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 through June 16. Frank LaFarzia makes his Main Street Stage directing debut with this bill of two one-act comedies and a small drama: "The Proposal," in which a parcel of land becomes the dominant issue when a landowner comes to ask his neighbor for the hand of his daughter; "Swan Song," a small drama in which an aging actor and the aging prompter in the when a landowner comes to ask his neighbor for the hand of his daughter; "Swan Song," a small drama in which an aging actor and the aging prompter in the IT'S i 1 IT'S SHREK (PG) THE CLAIM (A) ENEMY AT THE GATES (A) CHOPPER (A) LOS ANGELES (AP) The 'Mummy Returns" earned $33.7 million to top the weekend box office for a second week, raising its total to nearly $118 million in 10 days. The medieval fantasy 'A Knight's 'rale," the only other movie that opened in wide release, came in second place with $16.5 million. The top 10 movies at North American theaters aiday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per lo- cation, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled day by Exhibitor Relations Co.

1. "The Mummy Returns" (Universal). $33.7 million, 3,410 locations, $9.895 average, $118 million, two weeks. 2. "A Knight's Tale" (Sony).

$16.5 mil' lion, 2,980 locations, $5,541 average, $16.5 million, one week. 3. "Bridget Jones's Diary" (Miramax). $4.4 million, 2,506 locations, $1,779 average, $50.9 million, five weeks. 4.

"Along Came a Spider" (Paramount). $3.07 million, 2,480 locations, $1,239 aver--Age, $64.1 million, six weeks. 5. "Driven" (Warner $3.04 mil' lion, 2,804 locations, $1.087 average, $26.1 million, three weeks. 6.

"Spy Kids" (Dimension). $2.6 million, 2,599 locations, $1,025 average, $101.6 million, seven weeks. 7. "Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles" (Paramount). $2.1 million, 2,166 locations, average, $20.7 million, four weeks.

8. "Blow" (New Line). $1.8 million, 1,502 $1,237 average, $47.1 million, six LOS ANGELE! Mummy Returns" 'lion to top the we for a second week to nearly $118 mil The medieval far Tale," the only ot opened in wide second place with The top 10 rm American theaters Sunday, followed studio, gross, nun locations, average cation, total gross weeks in release, a5. day by Exhibitor RE 1. "The Mummy Re $33.7 million, 3,410 loci age, $118 million, two 2.

"A Knight's Tale" 'lion, 2,980 locations, $5, million, one week. 3. "Bridget Jones's $4.4 million, 2,506 loca age, $50.9 million, five 4. "Along Came a Sr $3.07 million, 2,480 loci age, $64.1 million, six 5. "Driven" (Wamei lion, 2,804 locations, $1 million, three weeks.

6. "Spy Kids" (Dime 2,599 locations, $1,02 million, seven weeks. 7. "Crocodile Dunde (Paramount). $2.1 milli( average, $20.7 mi 8.

"Blow" (New Line) $1,237 averac detailed nfonnation on these movies visit wvav.thetripiestorn or call (413) 528-8385. Concert Choir slates concerts LENOX The Berkshire Concert Choir will perform Haydn's "Lord Nelson Performances are scheduled for Friday evening at 7:30 at St. Ann Church in Lenox and Sunday afternoon at 3 at St. Stephen's Church in Pittsfield. John Cheney, artistic director of the Concert Choir, will conduct.

Soloists will be soprano Teresa Eldh, mezzo soprano Elizabeth Emory, tenor Mark Andrew Ison and bass Gene Summers. The choir also will sing Beethoven's "Elegaic Song" and "For the Beauty of the Earth," set to music by John Rutter. The Concert Choir string quartet Cindy Ogulnick and Miriam Shapiro, violins; Elizabeth Barbour, viola, and Erika Phillips, cello will perform Haydn's String Quartet in Major, Op. 76, No. 4, the "Sunrise." Ticket information is available by phoning 442-1684 or 528-9949.

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...4, Esion I 111 1.1 CIIIE111 ter IGIAGES111.1011 ALONG CAME 12:40 3:25 A SPIDER IR) 6:50 9:40 BRIDGET JONES 12:30 2:45 DIARY (R) 5:00 7:15 9:30 CHOCOLAT IP0.13) 9:35 DI PP- I i c1 71 Members: Children $47, Adults $55, Seniors $53 Non-members: Children $54, Adults $63, Seniors $62 Call (413) 443-7171 ext. 10 to register Reserve by May 21 Members: Children $47, Adults $55, Seniors $53 Non-members: Children $54, Adults $63, Seniors $62 Call (413) 443-7171 ext. 10 to register A A Ai Reserve by May 21 CROCODILE 12:45 3:00 5:20 DUNDEE IN LA (pc) 7:40 9:50 DUNDEE IN LA (PG) 740 9:50 Berkshire Mall Cinemas 10 (Lanesboro): Crocodile Dundee in L.A. (PG) 3, 5:20, 7:40 Along Came a Spider (R) 12:40, 3:25, 6:50 Bridget Jones Diary (R) 12:30, 2:45, 5, 7:15 Chocolat (PG13) Spy Kids (PG) 12:35, 2:50, 5:05, Knight's Tale (PG13) 12:30, 12:50, 3:30, 3:50, 6:30, 6:50, 9:30 Driven (PG13) 12:45, 3:40, 6:55 Pollack (R) 12:35, 3:45, 6:35 The Mummy Returns (PG13) 12:40, 1, 3:40, 4, 6:40, 7, 9:40 10. North Adams Cinemas 6 (Curran Highway): Along Came a Spider (R) 7 Spy Kids (PG) 7:15 The Mummy Returns (PG13) 6:30 Bridget Jones' Diary (R) 6:40 (PG13) 6:45 A Knight's Tale (PG13) 6:40 94.30.

Triplex Cinema (Great Barrington): Bridget Jones's Diary (R) Chunhyang(NR) 3 Along Came a Spider (R) 3:20 Blow (R) 3:10 Heartbreakers (PG13) 6. Images Cinema (Williamstown) Ameres Perros (R) 7. Crandell (Chatham, N.Y.): Along Came 'a Spider (R) 7 9. Berkshire Mall Cini boro): Crocodile Dun, 3, 5:20, 7:40 9 Spider (R) 12:40, 3:25, Jones Diary (R) 12:30, 2 Chocolat (PG13) 9:35 12:35, 2:50, 5:05, 7: (PG13) 12:30, 12:50, 6:50, 9:30 Drii 3:40, 6:55 Polla 6:35 The Mumr 12:40, 1, 3:40, 4, 6:40, North Adams Cini Highway): Along CamE Spy Kids (PG) Mummy Returns (PG Bridget Jones' Diary (PG13) 6:45 9 (PG13) 6:40 9'30. Triplex Cinema (G Bridget Jones's Dian yang(NR) 3 Along 3:20 Blow Heartbreakers (PG13) Images Cinema (Will Perros (R) 7.

Crandell (Chatham, 'a Spider (R) 7 9. North Adams Cinemas 6 (Curran Highway): Along Came a Spider (R) 7 Spy Kids (PG) 7:15 The Mummy Returns (PG13) 6:30 Bridget Jones' Diary (R) 6:40 (PG13) 6:45 A Knight's Tale ven Triplex Cinema (PG13) 6:40 930. (Great Barrington): Bridget Jones's Diary (R) Chunh- yang(NR) 3 Along Came a Spider (R) 3:20 Blow (R) 3:10 Heartbreakers (PG13) 6. Images Cinema (Williamstown) Ameres Perros (R) 7. Crandell (Chatham, N.Y.): Along Came 'a Spider (R) 7 9.

DRIVEN (P0-13) 12:45 3:40 6:55 9:25 KNIGHT'S 12:50 3:50 TALE maim 6:50 9:50 KNIGHT'S 12:30 3:30 TALE (palm 6:30 9:30 12:35 3:45 POLLACK (n) 6:35 9:35 Spy 12:35 2:50 KIDS (PG) 5:05 7:20 THE MUMMY 3:40 RETURNS (P013) 6:40 9:40 THE MUMMY 1:00 4:00 RETURNS (P013) 7:00 10:00 CARNIVAL TIME! cTtz3Go corn 0 EiguN A FULLY RESTORED PICTURE AND A DIGITALLY RESTORED SOUNDTRACK AND OF John, Paull George Ringo! lip 1 1 Filia II 0 1111 0 1. DRIVEN IPG-I 3) 1245 3:40 di, -7 1,1 14, 6:55 9:25 KNIGHT'S 12:50 3:50 TALE (P013) 6:50 9:50 1 6 ft 11 0 KNIGHT 3:30 'S It 6. TALE (P013) 6:30 9:30 POLLACK (n) 12:35 3:45 0 IL A 3 altilli THE MUMMY 1 6 :00 4:00 35 9:35 11 0 leg Pug Spy 1235 250 fi KIDS (PG) 5:05 7:20 Dgv THE MUMMY 1240-- 3:40 RETURNS (P013) 6:40 9:40 rtvA -16' 1, RETURNS (P013) 700 1000 ---1AV -I, 'et 4 CARNIVAL '01 A DIGITALLY RESTORED SOUNDTRACK A FULLY RESTORED PICTURE AND 'IlmEt 11.0Cr". 172: :..1 3,1 p--- '-'11; 41'11 ..1 di -all rI c43 'IF, 4'111 au14PIN 4'1 g' .7 -i o' II4 1 11 4' 0.,111, AND OF c11Z3G0 Corn 0 7- she '441; John, Paul, George Ringo! I (tpoilhlti. liNiE0.1iltilitilli bil 11,11 avIllAIStvAliiih.

I 11N1' I PA a 24 NI 28 41 di 1 1 I Oft .111 I I Scream along for literacy all proceeds benefit the Eagle and Transcript classroom programs and Images Cinema (a nonprofit community moviehouse). Scream along for literacy all proceeds benefit the Eagle OPEN: Thursday Friday 6:00 p.m. until after 10:30 p.m. Saturday Sunday 1:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m.

Monday 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Babe Ruth League SAVE -ortrzt, I Uabe Huth League 00 sAvE 1 1 2 Nu 1141601Ifit11 Iit 110i1MIIIIIMIAV Inouftwftw 0 i Ai iktotktt 4,111111 i fiov 41111dfil Nit" 11 Reader Books, C6 Bridge, C7 Business, D' Classified, Comics, C7 Ccmmunity 7 Crossword, Editorials, A( Entertainmei i i fro, IPAYLONEPRIC ISREGIAL 0 HSEW 7 1000 1 I Ride all Rides for $1 0 00 PER El PERSON I with coupon I (regular 8121 I I RIDE SPECIALS: THURSDAY 6-10 I I SATURDAY, SUNDAY I SATURDAY, SUNDAY 11. MONDAY 1-5 I I JI7 Ltre 1 3 Sift (g is -11(t), 1140)00 (e 11Wk i 0 Both events benefit The Kids' Place The Berkshire County Children's Advocaty Center 4 41, Saturdays May 19 12:45 2:30 PM Sundays May 20 12:45 2:30 PM $5 members $6 adults $4 children ImaciEs wisifiarminsgtoswtrneetm ci 4 413-458-5612 I 1 uo oil r.4,,,.. 00 4 4 1PAYLONEPRIC 1, I -12 IsREGIA1 It Both events benefit 4 11 I Ride all Rides for The Kids'Place 0 The Berkshire County aildren's Advoca ty Center Saturdays 19 12:45 2:30 PM Ltelf "714' ill i fi )IN, 1 $1 0 0 0 1 vi i isloi aliiiiii Sunday, May 20 12:45 2:30 PM ik 1 1 pasl.

i IJUI.7. tjt if, 1 with coupon $5 members $6 adults $4 children fpn Ti es itH 1, (0 '4' --d -ir (regular 8121 1 At 0 1 ,0 1 'T 0 1 I ner Spring Street (CIY-D4 RIDE SPECIALS: i HEINEtif 1 THURSDAY 6-10 I I SATURDAY, SUNDAY I ls -11(t), 114,00 l'uNkIES Williamstown, MA 1 100k I 1 MO1-5 I (e 1r I i rip1-17 413-458-5612 fro, v. NDAY 1 i 't I 1 8 Pw -e-t-.