Arts & Entertainment – Winnipeg Free Press

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From left: Sinead Keenan, Caoilfhionn Dunne and Roisin Gallagher star in How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, a comedic mystery from creator Lisa McGee.

Toast St. Paddy with TV, books that celebrate the Emerald Isle

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In time for St. Patrick's Day, take any of these five suggestions to get a dose of Irish spirit.

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Kennedy Center votes to shut down operations for 2 years and names a new president

Steven Sloan, Hillel Italie And Darlene Superville, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Kennedy Center votes to shut down operations for 2 years and names a new president

Steven Sloan, Hillel Italie And Darlene Superville, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: 2:53 PM CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Kennedy Center's board of directors voted on Monday to shut down operations for two years following this summer's July 4 celebrations. The widely expected decision comes in the wake of numerous resignations and cancellations during President Donald Trump's second term, although Trump himself has cited the need for repairs as a reason for the closure.

“We’re going to ensure it remains the finest performing arts facility of its kind anywhere in the world," Trump told reporters at the White House before the board met Monday.

The board also voted to install Matt Floca as CEO and executive director, replacing Trump ally Richard Grenell, who oversaw far-reaching changes at the venue that prompted an outcry from many artists and exacerbated the operation's financial challenges. Trump praised Grenell on Monday, saying he had been a longtime friend, and wished Floca “good luck with everything.”

The Kennedy Center said the vote was unanimous, though Rep. Joyce Beatty didn't cast a vote. The Ohio Democrat is an ex officio member of the board and sued to preclude the Trump administration from excluding her from Monday's meeting. Over the weekend, a federal judge ruled she was entitled to participate in the meeting but didn't require that the board allow her to vote.

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Updated: 2:53 PM CDT

FILE - A woman walks outside The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts on Feb. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, File)

Jessie Buckley wins the best actress Oscar for tear-jerking ‘Hamnet’ performance

Kaitlyn Huamani, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Jessie Buckley wins the best actress Oscar for tear-jerking ‘Hamnet’ performance

Kaitlyn Huamani, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:42 PM CDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jessie Buckley claimed her first Oscar on Sunday for her “Hamnet” performance that prompted almost anyone who saw it to blow through a box of tissues.

The prize for best actress went to second-time nominee Buckley for her role as William Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes, in the drama directed by Chloé Zhao.

Buckley burst into a fit of laughter before beginning her speech, saying, “This is really something.”

“It’s Mother’s Day in the U.K. today, so I would like to dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart,” she said. “We all come from a lineage of women who continue to create against all odds. Thank you for recognizing me in this role.”

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:42 PM CDT

Jessie Buckley arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Complete list of 2026 Academy Awards winners

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Complete list of 2026 Academy Awards winners

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:30 PM CDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “One Battle After Another” won several awards at Sunday’s Oscars, including best picture, director and the first-ever casting award.

“Sinners” star Michael B. Jordan, won best actor, earning his first Oscar. Jessie Buckley won best actress for her role in “Hamnet.”

Amy Madigan took home the first award of the night. She won best supporting actress for “Weapons.” She was the first winner announced at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday night hosted by Conan O'Brien.

Ryan Coogler won best original screenplay for “Sinners,” which entered the night with a record-breaking 16 nominations.

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Updated: Yesterday at 10:30 PM CDT

Chris Appelhans, from left, Maggie Kang, and Michelle L.M. Wong accept the award for animated feature film for

Dick Vitale and Charles Barkley will call their first NCAA Tournament game together

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Dick Vitale and Charles Barkley will call their first NCAA Tournament game together

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 4 minute read 3:00 PM CDT

Dick Vitale previously declined a standing invitation from CBS and TNT Sports to call an NCAA Tournament game.

An assist from Charles Barkley is finally making it happen this year.

Vitale and Barkley will call Tuesday night’s second First Four matchup in Dayton, Ohio, between Texas and N.C. State on truTV with Brian Anderson and Jenny Dell. It will be the second game this season that Vitale and Barkley have worked together, after the Indiana-Kentucky game in December.

“This is happening because he (Barkley) worked a game on ESPN. Now I’m doing back the favor and giving them a game on their network,” Vitale said. “I had been offered chances in the last few years. Sean McManus (the retired chairman of CBS Sports) would call and say, ‘You shouldn’t end your career without doing an NCAA game, and we’ll let you do it on CBS.’ I appreciated it so much, but I told him the one thing I wanted on my resume was that I worked my entire career at ESPN. He was surprised but said he respected that.”

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3:00 PM CDT

FILE - Charles Barkley, left, and Dick Vitale prepare for their broadcast before an NCAA college basketball game between Kentucky and Indiana in Lexington, Ky., Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/James Crisp, file)

Warriors coach Steve Kerr part of Oscar documentary short win with ‘All the Empty Rooms’

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Warriors coach Steve Kerr part of Oscar documentary short win with ‘All the Empty Rooms’

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read 1:21 PM CDT

Golden State coach Steve Kerr is now an Oscar winner.

Kerr was one of the executive producers for “All the Empty Rooms,” which won the Oscar for documentary short.

The 35-minute film chronicles how broadcast journalist Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp told the stories of how families have memorialized the bedrooms of children killed in mass shootings. Kerr — whose father, then the president of American University in Beirut, was shot and killed in 1984 — has long spoken out about a need for common-sense gun regulation.

“I didn't have anything to do with the making of the film," Kerr said Monday. "But I am very proud to be associated with it.”

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1:21 PM CDT

Joshua Seftel, from left, Gloria Cazares, Conall Jones, and Steve Hartman accept the award for documentary short film for

Celebrity birthdays for the week of March 22-28 includes Keri Russell and Elton John

The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Celebrity birthdays for the week of March 22-28 includes Keri Russell and Elton John

The Associated Press 6 minute read 9:55 AM CDT

Celebrity birthdays for the week of March 22-28:

March 22: Actor William Shatner is 95. Singer Jeremy Clyde of Chad and Jeremy is 85. Singer-guitarist George Benson is 83. News anchor Wolf Blitzer is 78. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is 78. Actor Fanny Ardant is 77. Sportscaster Bob Costas is 74. Country singer James House is 71. Actor Lena Olin is 71. Singer-actor Stephanie Mills is 69. Actor Matthew Modine is 67. Comedian Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele) is 55. Actor Will Yun Lee (“Hawaii Five-0″) is 55. Actor Guillermo Diaz (“Scandal”) is 51. Actor Anne Dudek (“House,” “Big Love”) is 51. Actor Cole Hauser (TV’s “Yellowstone”) is 51. Actor Kellie Williams (“Family Matters”) is 50. Actor Reese Witherspoon is 50. Drummer John Otto of Limp Bizkit is 49. Actor Tiffany Dupont (“Murder in the First”) is 45. Rapper Mims is 45. Actor Constance Wu (film’s “Crazy Rich Asians,” TV’s “Fresh Off the Boat”) is 44. Guitarist Lincoln Parish of Cage the Elephant is 36.

March 23: Director Mark Rydell (“On Golden Pond”) is 97. Singer Chaka Khan is 73. Actor Amanda Plummer is 69. Actor Catherine Keener is 67. Actor Hope Davis (“The Matador,” ″About Schmidt”) is 62. Actor Richard Grieco (“21 Jump Street”) is 61. Drummer Kevin Griffin of Yankee Grey is 61. Actor Marin Hinkle (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Two and a Half Men”) is 60. Singer-keyboardist Damon Albarn of Blur and of Gorillaz is 58. Actor Kelly Perine (“Knight Squad,” ″One on One”) is 57. Drummer John Humphrey of The Nixons is 56. Bandleader Reggie Watts (“The Late Late Show with James Corden”) is 54. Actor Randall Park (“The Interview,” ″Fresh Off the Boat”) is 52. Actor Michelle Monaghan is 50. Actor Keri Russell is 50. Actor Brandon J. Dirden (“For Life”) is 48. Gossip blogger Perez Hilton is 48. Singer Paul Martin of Marshall Dyllon is 48. Actor Nicholle Tom (“The Nanny”) is 48. Country singer Brett Young is 45. Actor Ben Rappaport (“Ozark,” “The Good Wife”) is 40.

March 24: Harmonica player Lee Oskar of War is 78. Singer Nick Lowe is 77. Bassist Dougie Thomson of Supertramp is 75. Actor Donna Pescow is 72. Actor Kelly LeBrock is 66. DJ Rodney “Kool Kollie” Terry of Ghostown DJs is 65. TV personality Star Jones is 64. Guitarist Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers is 62. Actor Peter Jacobson (“House”) is 61. Actor Lauren Bowles (“True Blood”) is 56. Actor Lara Flynn Boyle is 56. Singer-violinist Sharon Corr of The Corrs is 56. Actor Megyn Price (“Rules of Engagement,” “Grounded For Life”) is 55. Actor Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”) is 53. Drummer Chad Butler of Switchfoot is 52. Actor Alyson Hannigan (“How I Met Your Mother,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) is 52. Actor Amanda Brugel (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) is 49. Actor Olivia Burnette (“Sons of Anarchy”) is 49. Actor Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “The Help”) is 49. Actor Amir Arison (“The Blacklist”) is 48. Actor Lake Bell (“The Practice”) is 47. Bassist Benj Gershman of O.A.R. is 46. Bassist Jesse Phillips of St. Paul and the Broken Bones is 46. Actor Philip Winchester (“Chicago Justice,” “Chicago Med”) is 45. Dancer Val Chmerkovskiy (“Dancing with the Stars”) is 40. Actor Keisha Castle-Hughes (“The Nativity Story,” “Whale Rider”) is 36.

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9:55 AM CDT

Keri Russell poses in the press room with the award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series for

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Burgers, cocktails, sparkly new duds: Oscar winners, losers and guests hit the after-parties

Liam Mcewan, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

Burgers, cocktails, sparkly new duds: Oscar winners, losers and guests hit the after-parties

Liam Mcewan, The Associated Press 7 minute read Updated: 1:06 PM CDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For most people across the globe, Oscar night ends with the bestowing of that final golden statuette.

Not for Oscar winners and guests, of course. Their night is just beginning.

After the first stop — the Governors Ball — many headed to the more exclusive Vanity Fair party at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where guests were greeted by a 20-foot high arrangement of 10,000 yellow orchids, according to organizers, with a menu that ranged from Mediterranean sea bass and grilled ribeye to Domino’s pizza served in “custom slice boxes” and In-N-Out burgers. The invite list was culled this year to make the gathering more exclusive. Some guests stopped to talk on their way in.

Keeping the comedy fresh, not worrying about Leo

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Updated: 1:06 PM CDT

Conan O'Brien arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

In win for ‘One Battle After Another,’ the Oscars meet an anxious moment

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

In win for ‘One Battle After Another,’ the Oscars meet an anxious moment

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press 7 minute read Updated: 2:56 PM CDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A horde of children chased host Conan O’Brien onto the Dolby Theatre stage in the opening moments of the 98th Academy Awards, and throughout an Oscar ceremony that saw “One Battle After Another” win best picture, it was like they never left.

A queasy future, both immediate and for generations to come, pervaded an Academy Awards shadowed by war, political turmoil and whatever might happen to the movies in an artificial intelligence-supercharged tomorrow. These were the high anxiety Oscars. At almost every turn, they seemed to be trying to rally a little optimism despite omnipresent storm clouds.

“We pay tribute tonight, not just to film, but to the ideals of global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience and that rarest of qualities today — optimism,” O’Brien said in his opening monologue. “We’re going to celebrate. Not because we think all is well, but because we work, and hope for better.”

The last time the Oscars took place just after a U.S. launch of war in the Middle East was 2003. Just days after the Iraq War began, the musical “Chicago” won best picture.

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Updated: 2:56 PM CDT

Host Conan O'Brien, dressed as the character Gladys Lilly from

Metric and Broken Social Scene add five new Canadian dates to tour

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Metric and Broken Social Scene add five new Canadian dates to tour

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 2 minute read 10:29 AM CDT

TORONTO - Metric, Broken Social Scene and Stars have added 14 new dates to their tour, including five in Canada.

The trio of indie rock bands will embark on the All the Feelings tour in June, and previously they only had one scheduled Canadian stop, in Toronto on Aug. 7.

Now, they're due to perform in Calgary on June 28 and in Edmonton the following day.

They'll also perform in London, Ont., on Oct. 3, Ottawa on Oct. 5 and Laval on Oct. 7.

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10:29 AM CDT

Canadian indie rock band Metric members, James Shaw, left to right, Joules Scott-Key, Emily Haines and Josh Winstead are shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Live Nation Entertainment (Mandatory Credit)

Key Oscar moments: Paul Thomas Anderson and Amy Madigan wins, outstanding songs and sad goodbyes

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press 8 minute read Preview

Key Oscar moments: Paul Thomas Anderson and Amy Madigan wins, outstanding songs and sad goodbyes

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press 8 minute read Updated: 11:42 AM CDT

This Oscar cycle's heavyweight battle is finally over. The politically charged action comedy “One Battle After Another” just managed to outmuscle Ryan Coogler’s musically driven vampire thriller “Sinners.”

It was a 3-hour and 40-minute whirl through cinema and celebration, with Michael B. Jordan winning best actor for “Sinners” and Jessie Buckley winning for “Hamnet,” making her the first Irish performer to ever win in the category.

There was electricity when Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman and Black person to win the cinematography award for “Sinners,” asking all the women in the Dolby Theatre to stand up because moments like this don’t happen without women “standing up for you and advocating for you.”

Here were some other show highlights:

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Updated: 11:42 AM CDT

Melissa McCarthy, from left, Rose Byrne, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Ellie Kemper present the award for best original score during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Behind the scenes at the Oscars: What you didn’t see on camera

Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

Behind the scenes at the Oscars: What you didn’t see on camera

Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press 7 minute read 12:26 AM CDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — There’s the Oscars you see on television and the one that takes place off camera. During commercial breaks, it can be a race to catch up with, congratulate and possibly console the peers around you. It can also be a time to run to the famed lobby bar and really be out of sight.

At Sunday's 98th Oscars, The Associated Press was inside the Dolby Theatre scoping out all the things that weren't broadcast to the world.

Before the show began

The stars like to cut things close when it comes to the Oscars. Many of the biggest names of the night didn’t make it to the red carpet until it was just 30 minutes to showtime. But unlike a premiere, live television doesn’t wait for the tardy A-lister to start.

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12:26 AM CDT

Emma Stone appears in the audience during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Politically charged awards season ends with some at Oscars advocating for peace in Gaza

James Pollard, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Politically charged awards season ends with some at Oscars advocating for peace in Gaza

James Pollard, The Associated Press 5 minute read Yesterday at 11:48 PM CDT

A few artists protested more than just the Trump administration's immigration policies on Hollywood's biggest night.

The presence of “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT” pins at the Academy Awards paled in comparison to last month's Grammys. But those who did wear protest apparel used Sunday's red carpet to also advocate for Palestinian liberation and a ceasefire amid the fragile situation in Gaza, adding to the growing artist-driven activism at entertainment awards shows.

“No to war and free Palestine,” actor Javier Bardem said onstage before presenting best international feature film. He wore a patch reading “No a la Guerra,” the same anti-war slogan he sported to protest the Iraq war more than two decades ago.

As Hollywood's awards season comes to a close with the Oscars, political organizers suggested that celebrities found their political voices more this cycle than in recent years. Maremoto Executive Director Jess Morales Rocketto, whose Latino advocacy group was behind the immigration pins that debuted at the Golden Globes, called it a “return to form” for artists' political engagement.

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Yesterday at 11:48 PM CDT

Nadim Cheikhrouha arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Sinners’ and more: Oscars choreographer Mandy Moore breaks down the show

Maria Sherman, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Sinners’ and more: Oscars choreographer Mandy Moore breaks down the show

Maria Sherman, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 11:21 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — You know Mandy Moore's A-list choreography — from Taylor Swift’s monumental “Eras Tour” to the Oscars, where her show-defining work includes Ryan Gosling’s performance of “I’m Just Ken” in 2024 and last year's “Wicked”-ly energetic opening. At this year's Academy Awards, her goal was “to come out big again,” she told The Associated Press ahead of the ceremony. And “a big thing about these performances this year is you’re not just celebrating the songs. You’re celebrating the film.”

She did exactly that throughout the ceremony, and certainly for its two tentpole performances: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, the voices behind the fictional girl group HUNTR/X, who performed “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” and Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq tackling “I Lied to You” from “Sinners.”

For the former, Moore served as a creative director. “It's a huge song. ‘Golden’ is huge.” she said. “There are two pieces to the performance: The first piece is a celebration of traditional Korean culture. And there is traditional drumming and singing and folk dance. And it then transitions into obviously the more kind of modern pop world of the ‘Golden’ performance.”

Preparation was extensive. “Immediately I went to the Oscars team and said, ‘I need to work with someone who is a Korean consultant and I would also love to hire this person to be in the performance.’” They landed DaEun Jung, associate professor from the University of California at Riverside, an expert in “not only the dance styles, but the wardrobe and the music and the singing,” Moore continued. “So, she has really been integral to that whole process of creating the prologue.” She also agreed to dance in the “Golden” performance.

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Yesterday at 11:21 PM CDT

Rei Ami, from left, EJAE, and Audrey Nuna perform 'Golden' from

Michael B. Jordan wins best actor for ‘Sinners,’ taking home his first Oscar in popular victory

Beth Harris, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Michael B. Jordan wins best actor for ‘Sinners,’ taking home his first Oscar in popular victory

Beth Harris, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:18 PM CDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael B. Jordan has been building toward a performance like “Sinners” for over 20 years. Now he has the best actor Oscar as his reward in what proved to be a hugely popular win.

Jordan got one trophy for playing identical twins Smoke and Stack in the blues-seeped supernatural horror film set in 1930s Mississippi that earned a record 16 Academy Award nominations and won four.

Last year's winner, Adrien Brody, announced Jordan's name Sunday night, setting off a wild celebration inside the Dolby Theatre. Teyana Taylor, a supporting actress nominee for “One Battle After Another,” joined the standing ovation, mouthing, “Yes!”

Jordan was cheered loudly as he made his way through the backstage photo and interview rooms. The win is Jordan's first Oscar.

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:18 PM CDT

Michael B. Jordan accepts the award for actor in a leading role for

Paul Thomas Anderson wins best director Oscar for ‘One Battle After Another,’ claiming 3 awards

Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Paul Thomas Anderson wins best director Oscar for ‘One Battle After Another,’ claiming 3 awards

Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:15 PM CDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paul Thomas Anderson has long stood among modern cinema’s most influential filmmakers. Now he has an Oscar to match.

Anderson won the Academy Award for best director for “One Battle After Another,” the sweeping political drama that blends his signature character-driven storytelling with large-scale historical themes.

“They make a guy work hard for these,” Anderson said while glancing down at the trophy. Earlier in Sunday's ceremony, he won his first-ever Oscar for best adapted screenplay and took home best picture to close out the show.

"I wrote this movie for my kids to say sorry for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world we’re handing off to them,” he said.

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:15 PM CDT

March 16, 2026

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