Entertainment

Duncan Sheik, the Tony Award-winning composer behind Spring Awakening and more, has died, according to his Instagram. He was 56.

The Friday morning Instagram post said the “father, husband, son, brother, and friend” died on Thursday night “surrounded by love.”

A message shared on Sheik’s Instagram earlier this week by his family said he was “receiving medical care” and was “in critical but stable condition.”

“The world has a lost a singular talent, and deeply influential voice in music and theater,” Friday’s statement said. “From his Grammy-nominated hit “Barely Breathing” to his groundbreaking, Tony and Grammy Award-winning work on Spring Awakening, Duncan’s artistry touched many and leaves an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.”

Born on Nov. 18, 1969, in Montclair, New Jersey, Sheik rose to fame in 1996 when he released his self-titled debut album, which included his hit song, “Barely Breathing.”

The song peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned him a Grammy nomination for best male pop vocal performance.

Following his debut album, he released Humming in 1998, Phantom Moon in 2001 and Daylight in 2002.

While “Barely Breathing” established Sheik as a singer-songwriter, his career later expanded into musical theater, where he found success as a composer.

Sheik collaborated with lyricist Steven Sater and composed the music for Spring Awakening, which opened on Broadway in 2006.

He told Broadcast Music, Inc. in 2015 that around the time he was making the music for Spring Awakening, he wasn’t “a huge fan” of music that was happening on Broadway and he wanted to make the music for an audience “beyond the normal crowd that would go to a Broadway musical.”

The rock musical, based on Frank Wedekind’s 1891 play and starring Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, John Gallagher and Skylar Astin, became a major success. It won eight Tony Awards in 2007, including best musical, best original score and best orchestrations.

He went on to compose music for several other stage productions, including American Psycho and Because of Winn-Dixie. He also collaborated with Sater again on Alice by Heart and The Secret Life of Bees.

In his interview with Broadcast Music, Inc., he added that working on musical theater has “helped broaden my palette.”

Sheik went on to release several more albums throughout his career, including White Limousine, Whisper House, Covers 80s, Legerdemain and Claptrap.

In May, it was announced that Sheik’s new musical, Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, would make its off-Broadway debut this fall. The musical is based on Moyoco Anno’s manga graphic novel of the same name.

An off-Broadway revival of Spring Awakening is also set to open this fall. 

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New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson is heading to Law & Order: SVU.

The guest-starring role on season 28 of the NBC drama series has been in the making for a while. SVU star Mariska Hargitay is a big Knicks fan and was a courtside mainstay for the playoffs this year, often seen hugging Brunson after the games. The team won their first championship in 53 years back in June.

After the win, Brunson was asked what he would do in the offseason and he responded, “Try to get on SVU.”

“When the plans finally make it out of the group chat. Jalen Brunson is officially headed to #SVU!” the show’s Instagram posted.

The point guard will appear in the Nov. 5 episode, though his role remains under wraps.

Brunson also appeared with Hargitay in the opening segment of the 78th Emmys, which Hargitay hosted. He’s set to host the season 52 premiere of Saturday Night Live on Sept. 26.

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The mission isn’t over for Chris Pratt. Prime Video has released the official trailer for season 2 of The Terminal List, the action-thriller following Pratt’s Navy SEAL Commander James Reece. Returning for the series’ sophomore season are Tom Hopper, Constance Wu and Luke Hemsworth. The Terminal List, based on the bestselling novels by Jack Carr, follows Reece as he battles unknown conspiratorial forces seeking to upend the world order. All eight episodes drop Oct. 21 …

Jennifer Lopez’s limited Las Vegas residency is coming to the small screen this holiday season. Jenny from the Block took over the Vegas strip in 2025 for her The JLO Show: Live in Las Vegas residency; a concert film capturing the performance will air on CBS and Paramount+ on Thanksgiving Day. An extended version will be available exclusively on Paramount+ …

The Rose Hill population is growing. Prime Video announced Thursday the addition of series regulars Siobhan McGroarty, Sophia Reid-Gantzert and West Mulholland to the romantic family drama. Gigi Zumbado and Curtis Hamilton will have recurring guest roles. They join previously announced series leads Jake Weary, Sean O’Pry, Hannah Galway and Sadie Dickerson. The new series is based on Elsie Silver’s Rose Hill series about best friends West Belmont and Ford Grant …

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Greta Gerwig is sharing some insight into her upcoming Chronicles of Narnia adaptation, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.

In a new cover story with Empire, the writer/director explains why she cast Meryl Streep to voice Aslan, the mythical lion and creator of the Narnia world.

“I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness. Someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight,” Gerwig tells Empire.

She adds, “I wanted someone who was older than 70, so there was a wisdom of experience, but who also had the capacity of fresh wonder, like a child. And also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one.”

Gerwig also tells the mag that she wanted her adaptation to have the feel of a rock opera, inspired by the feeling she got listening to music by David Bowie, Paul McCartney and others.

“Narnia is literally a world made out of music,” she says. “It is a world sung to life by Aslan, and rock ’n’ roll to me felt like a world made out of music.”

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew hits theaters Feb. 12, 2027, and Netflix on April 2, 2027. In addition to Streep, it stars newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell alongside Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and Daniel Craig.

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Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor is married.

The actress, who played Daphne Bridgerton on seasons 1 and 2 of the Netflix romance series, posted photos from her wedding to actor Cameron Fuller on social media Thursday.

“Married my best friend,” she captioned the black-and-white photos. In one, she’s walking hand in hand with her new husband. The second photo features the newlyweds kissing.

Fuller commented with a heart with an arrow through it emoji.

Dynevor’s family, friends and costars also took to the comments to share in the excitement. Her mother, Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor, wrote, “Best weekend of our life. Beautiful Phoebe and Cameron. Love you both so much.” Dynevor’s sister, Hattie Dynevor, added, “The best weekend ever.”

Bridgerton costars Simone Ashley and Jessica Madsen commented with a bunch of heart emojis.

According to British Vogue, the wedding took place in Provence, France, with Dynevor wearing a dress by Louis Vuitton artistic director of womenswear Nicolas Ghesquière.

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Spring Awakening composer Duncan Sheik is receiving medical care for an unspecified health issue, according to a statement posted to his official Instagram Thursday.

The statement adds that Sheik remains in “critical but stable condition.”

“Out of respect for Duncan and our family, we will not be sharing any further medical details at this time,” the statement continues. “We kindly ask for privacy during this incredibly difficult time and will provide updates when appropriate. Thank you for the continued love and support.”

Sheik had a hit song in 1996 with the Grammy-nominated “Barely Breathing” off his self-titled debut album. He later became a successful composer for stage and film, perhaps best known for composing the 2006 musical Spring Awakening, which launched the careers of Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff. Sheik won a Tony for the project.

An off-Broadway revival of Spring Awakening begins previews in November. The new cast was announced on Wednesday.

Sheik also wrote the music and lyrics for the new musical Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, debuting off-Broadway this fall.

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The late Dolly Parton is sharing a new video message, which was recorded before she died in August.

The Americana Music Association released Parton’s video Wednesday, which was submitted as part of her acceptance of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Americana Honors & Awards.

“Roots music, or what is now called Americana music, is what I grew up playing back in the Smoky Mountains,” Parton said in part in the video. “It’s that same music that drew me back to East Tennessee back in 1997 to write and record my album ‘Hungry Again.’ And that project really opened the door to a series of bluegrass and acoustic albums that changed the course of my career in so many ways.”

“Now, new fans discovered these albums, new Americana music communities embraced them, and now looking back at it all, I see this era of my career as a musical renaissance of sorts,” Parton continued.

The Americana Music Association announced in August that Parton — whose songs include “I Will Always Love You,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “Jolene” — was being recognized for her “enduring contributions as one of history’s greatest songwriters and recording artists.”

Parton was in good company: Emmylou Harris, Van Morrison and Willie Nelson are among the artists who have been honored with the Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

Parton, a Tennessee native, died on Aug. 25 at the age of 80 following a private battle with cancer, according to her family.

Throughout her six-decade career, Parton built a legacy that expanded beyond music into entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

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It’s almost time to return to the tent.

Netflix has announced that collection 14 of The Great British Baking Show arrives to the platform on Sept. 25. A trailer for the new collection has also been released.

One episode will premiere weekly every Friday. This new batch of episodes will find 12 new bakers, in the age range from 21 to 67, competing against each other for the title of Star Baker, and to escape elimination from judges Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson.

Lawson joins the series after longtime judge Prue Leith announced her departure from the program back in January. Leith joined the show in 2017 and judged it for nine seasons.

“I’m uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now! Of course it’s daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I’m also bubbling with excitement,” Lawson said in a statement shared at the time she was announced as host back in January.

The real-life professions of this year’s collection of amateur bakers range from pediatric doctor to hairdresser to competitive sprinter. A drag king, a retired garment technologist and a political economy student are also part of this season’s cast.

The trailer for this season finds the bakers taking on brand-new challenges and reacting to Lawson taking over as a judge.

“I can’t believe that she has entered the series where I am gonna be on the show,” doctor and home baker Yannis says.

Comedian and actor Noel Fielding once again unites with Alison Hammond to serve as the co-hosts of the new season.

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Girls creator Lena Dunham is now a girl mom.

The writer and actress shared in an essay with Vogue that she has welcomed her first child with husband Luis Felber via surrogate.

In the essay, Dunham describes how she prepared for the baby’s birth by building her daughter’s wardrobe.

“She was preparing herself, inside our surrogate’s strong and healthy body, and as the clothes stacked up in the box, so did some sense that she was becoming real,” Dunham, 40, writes.

Last year, Dunham confirmed to The Times that she and Felber, who married in 2021, were heading toward parenthood. “I will say we’re in the process of expanding our family in new ways,” she said. “I want to safely meet our children and then figure out how to talk about it.”

Dunham previously revealed that she had a hysterectomy at age 31 due to endometriosis. Endometriosis is a painful disorder where the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside of the organ and affects other organs, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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The force was with Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Sony Pictures’ fourth Tom Holland-starring Spider-Man film has overtaken Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the highest-grossing movie of all time at the domestic box office.

The Force Awakens was released in 2015. It has spent over a decade in the top spot at the North American box office, boasting a grand total of $936 million. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has officially passed the first installment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, currently totaling $936.773 million. This comes after only 47 days in theaters.

Additionally, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has earned $2.45 billion worldwide. This makes it the third highest-grossing movie of all time. It only comes behind James Cameron’s original 2009 Avatar film at $2.9 billion and Avengers: Endgame at $2.7 billion.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day opened in theaters on July 31. It holds the record for the biggest domestic opening weekend of all time with $360 million. Along with Holland, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon also return in the Destin Daniel Cretton-directed movie.

It finds Sadie Sink joining the Spider-Man universe alongside Tramell Tillman and Liza Colón-Zayas. Marvel mainstays who also appear in the movie are Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova/Black Widow, Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk and Marisa Tomei as May Parker.

The film follows Peter Parker as he fights full time as Spider-Man in a world who doesn’t remember who he is. As he sees his old friends move on without him, Peter sparks a change “he may not have the power to control,” according to an official description. “But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves — a powerful villain no one can even see. The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn’t forgotten them.”

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