While the younger Delpy knew what to expect from her father Albert Delpy, it was a bit of a shock for co-star Chris Rock, it turns out. “I don’t think he was truly prepared to have an interaction with someone like my dad! I could see it in Chris’s face – at times, he was, like, ‘Oh, my God – what’s gonna happen?’ But it was all a lot of fun for everyone,” says Julie Deply, director of the new movie ‘2 Days in New York’.

In the new story, Marion from ‘2 Days in Paris’ and her new boyfriend have to handle a visit by her French family. Along with her father, Marion’s sister, Rose, played by Alexia Landeau, is also joining. “Marion herself is not very analytical,” Delpy says of her own character. “She’s a bit neurotic and unaware of what she’s doing. She acts before thinking about what she’s about to do. She’s much like me, if I wasn’t as analytical as I am – I think everything through 10 times before doing it,” she laughs. Rose, she says, “is like Marion multiplied times 10.”

A child psychologist, the younger sibling has a penchant for analyzing the non-existent “problems” of her sister’s son, a constant irritation to Marion and source of many a cat fight in the film. “Rose is a bit jealous of her sister, whom she loves and wishes she was more like.” Though she herself has no sisters, the love-hate dynamic between the two was a familiar one to Delpy. “I’ve seen quite a bit of this between sisters, with friends that have smaller or bigger sisters. With these two, it’s a source of trouble, and it’s really funny.”

Making things worse is the presence of Manu (Alex Nahon), the uninvited ex-boyfriend of Marion – and current beau of her sister. Played with robust egotism by Nahon, Manu (especially with his girlfriend’s help) is the source of plenty of trouble for Mingus – and plenty of laughs. “Manu is a nightmare come true,” Delpy notes. “He says and does things that just make your skin crawl.”

So wait a minute – aren’t the French supposed to be those polite, sophisticated people with the berets who say “oui” and “monsieur” and all that? “Mingus isn’t dealing with those kind of French,” Delpy laughs. “He’s facing the Gaulois.” As in the Gauls, the ancient French who fought Julius Caesar and worshipped boars. “All they thought about was food, having fun and sex. We all come from those very tough-skinned, eccentrics.” Just watch Albert Delpy’s Jeannot in any scene in the movie, and you’ll get the picture.

Image Courtesy of  2 Days in New York

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While his character is mostly a serious one in the new film ‘2 Days in New York’, Chris Rock has plenty of opportunity to give us. . . Chris Rock. Particularly when, perplexed by any situation, his character Mingus has an informal chat with one of his heroes, President Obama (okay, one of those full-sized cardboard cutouts of President Obama you can get at any gift shop in Times Square). Everything from dealing relationships to whether it’s cool to address him as “Barack.”

As you’ll probably guess, director Julie Delpy’s comedic sense is based in her admiration of classic screwball comedies. “I love that stuff,” Delpy says. “I was brought up on all kinds of different comedies, but I love absurd comedy.”

In one hilarious sequence, for example, Mingus is trying in vain to have a reasonable conversation at the dinner table with Albert Delpy’s Jeannot, who, barely speaking any English, gets “assistance” from Manu, played by Alex Nahon – who’s not much better, mistranslating everything that comes out of Mingus’s mouth. [“Aren’t you on the radio?” “Yes, I have two shows on Public Radio and one on Sirius.” “He says he has the flu, it may be serious.”] If talking to Jeannot isn’t hard enough by itself, the two sisters are going at it over Alexia Landeau’s character Rose’s continued misdiagnosis of Marion’s son.

“I love this kind of mayhem – no one understands anything in a conversation that’s going nowhere, and the sisters are fighting over kids and autism and screwing ex-boyfriends,” Delpy says. “It’s the kind of absurd moment that just makes me laugh.”

The scene is also a perfect example of the incredible editing work of film editor Isabelle Devinck, who worked with Delpy on her last film, “Le Skylab.” While, just as with her writing, Delpy often edits her films herself, she and Devinck worked together here as a kind of a tag team for comic timing. “She’s my favorite person on the planet right now,” the director states. “We have such a wonderful time working together, because we have the same sense of humor. It’s like having two brains.”

The mistranslation sequence required special care to turn out as funny as Delpy wished. “Isabelle and I spent three weeks on that scene alone,” she explains. “It was very important for it to have that experience of back-and-forth, between them trying to have this crazy conversation and the sisters fighting in the back. Those kinds of scenes are the trickiest things to do. If you’re a few frames off, it doesn’t work. It has to be understandable, so you can get what’s going on. The comedy has to work on both sides.”

Another treat from the editing room is a wonderful series of montages, used, for example, to give us, in a fun, brief capsule, the path of Jeannot’s life, or fill us in on the visiting French’s day of sightseeing around the Big Apple. “Most of those kinds of scenes in movies show the characters with a few seconds at this famous location, a few at another. I thought it would be funny to have a montage of photos where we see every landmark in New York in 30 seconds.” The sequence is comprised of hundreds of snapshots, taken with a Canon 5D digital still camera – all looking like a tourist (from the looks of them, probably Jeannot) took them. “That was the goal.”

Image Courtesy of  2 Days in New York

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Once writer/director Julie Delpy had decided on the new direction in her character Marion’s new life in the sequel to ‘2 Days in Paris’, ‘2 Days in New York’, Delpy enlisted two old friends – Alexia Landeau and Alex Nahon – to help her develop the story. Both had appeared in the previous ‘2 Days’ film, as Marion’s sister, Rose, and ex-boyfriend, Manu, respectively. “I’ve known Alex since I was 19, and Alexia for about 14 years.” She and Landeau eventually wrote the final screenplay together.

“I had the story in mind, but I wanted to write with someone,” Delpy says. “I’ve been writing alone for many, many years. I love writing, but when I write alone, I can get stuck in my head. It’s like I’m talking to myself. But when I write with someone, it becomes a game. You bounce ideas off each other. Of course, I always end up getting my ideas in!” she laughs.

The film begins with Marion giving us a quick capsule of what’s happened prior, explaining to her child – and us – how she is now a single mom with a young son, and that grandpa and Auntie Rose are coming for a visit – all via a pair of hand puppets. “I had actually used that with my own son,” she explains. “I wanted to explain to him what had happened to my mother, and that I needed to go back to work. And that was the perfect way for me to explain it to him, so that he wouldn’t feel abandoned.”

Marion herself has a young boy (fathered by Jack, the Adam Goldberg character from the previous film), and Mingus has a young daughter, also from a previous marriage. “He’s had two marriages, so he’s not perfect at it either. He’s learned from his previous experiences to be on the lookout for a sign of anything crazy.” And over a two-day period, he gets an eyeful.

“Prior to the family visiting, the relationship is working just fine. But then we have two days – a time limitation, which is interesting – where her family comes to visit, and it stirs up all kinds of things for her.” Everything from the death of her mom, a gallery opening of her art, to the big question of whether the soul actually exists – which she explores by selling hers to an anonymous bidder as a conceptual art piece! “I wanted to bring all that out, so that Mingus can see it and ask, ‘So is this the real you?’”

At the other end of the handle stirring the pot are the three visitors, led by Delpy’s own father, veteran French actor Albert Delpy, whose hilarious performance as Marion’s loopy dad, Jeannot, is one of the highlights of the film. “I was raised by a big child,” the director laughs. “He’s a wild beast. I saw him onstage in the 70s doing the most insane things, in plays that were just crazy. I’ve seen him play women, junkies. . . everything.” Delpy wrote the part specifically for her father (who also appeared in the previous film). “I know who he is, and I know what he’s capable of. And I know what to do to get him to go to a place where, you know. . . . ‘There he goes.’”

Image Courtesy of  2 Days in New York

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Hip talk-radio host and journalist Mingus (Chris Rock) and his French photographer girlfriend, Marion (Julie Delpy), live cozily in a New York apartment with their cat and two young children from previous relationships. But when Marion’s jolly father (played by Delpy’s real-life dad, Albert Delpy), her oversexed sister, and her sister’s outrageous boyfriend unceremoniously descend upon them for an overseas visit, it initiates two unforgettable days of family mayhem. With their unabashed openness and sexual frankness, the triumvirate is bereft of boundaries or filters. . . and no one is left unscathed in its wake. The visitors push every button in the couple’s relationship, truly putting it to the test. How will the couple fare. . . when the French come to New York?

Setting the stage for a culture clash

It’s the next big step: meeting the relatives. Maybe you get a little nervous, take a little while to warm up to everybody, but, hopefully, everything will go smoothly. But somebody forgot to warn poor Mingus: HERE COME THE FRENCH.

After shooting her 2009 dark thriller, ‘The Countess’, writer/director/actress Julie Delpy decided it was time for a comedy – a genre at which she had proven herself quite adept two years earlier, with ‘2 Days in Paris’, a successful romantic comedy co-starring Adam Goldberg. “I thought, ‘Okay, why not a sequel?’” she says. “But I knew I couldn’t do a sequel with the same guy, because that would be too much like ‘Before Sunset’ and ‘Before Sunrise’, two romantic gems she had starred in and co-write with Ethan Hawke, directed by Richard Linklater. “Out of respect for those films, and for Richard and Ethan, I knew I couldn’t do that.”

So Delpy spent the next year or so thinking and taking notes, as she usually does, figuring out the next step in Marion’s life. “Marion seems to go from relationship to relationship. She’s not after getting the ring and getting married – her issue is commitment, chemistry and figuring out her life,” she says. “That’s the serious part.”

All good comedies, the director notes, have, at their core, a true reality. “I like to build on real ground – not necessarily drama, but on a reality. I’ll pick a subject matter that could be a drama. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a funny story. But then I turn it around with crazy situations and characters – that’s what makes it funny.”

The first thing Delpy had to figure out was who Marion’s new guy would be – and that didn’t take long. “I thought, ‘I want someone new as a boyfriend. Who is it?’ And the first person that came to mind was Chris Rock.’”

While the obvious thought would be that Delpy wanted to create a bi-racial couple, that’s not the case. “It was never about that. I just love his energy. Chris has a neurotic side, which I really like. He has an angst about him that I think is endearing and which I thought would make a really interesting dynamic in this relationship.”

Image Courtesy of  vipflash / Shutterstock.com

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Now that the summer comedy ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’ is completed, the filmmakers, including Director Kirk Jones and producer David Thwaites, hope that ‘What to Expect’ succeeds in portraying the varied experience of pregnancy with genuine humor and honesty. Co-screenwriter Shauna Cross hopes the film might inject some reality back into the way pregnancy and childbirth are regarded and portrayed. “I hope that people who have gone through pregnancy feel like they can relate to it,” says the screenwriter.

“And I hope the people who are going through it go easy on themselves. Maybe they’ll opt to not judge themselves and open up to the generous spirit of the movie and just laugh a lot.”

“I think the movie really taps into the joy of having kids,” avows Chris Rock. “Being a father is the best gig I’ve ever had, and there’s really nothing anybody can do to truly prepare for everything that it is. Doesn’t matter how much money you have. Doesn’t matter what kind of job you have. Kids are great. And they love you no matter what.”

Director Kirk Jones thinks that ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’s combination of humor and emotion is something that should appeal to most moviegoers, regardless of their feelings about having children. “I believe that everyone, at one time or another, thinks about either having – or not having – children,” says Jones.

“It’s a deeply human experience that’s obviously not for everyone, and it doesn’t have to be. But I believe that whatever our thoughts are on the matter, stories about bringing new beings into the world resonate on a deeper level. I think this movie manages to look at the way things really are for expectant parents today, and to remind us all just how fun and fulfilling it really is.”

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Casting ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’, the star studded movie in theaters soon, was a daunting task – the filmmakers had to balance an ensemble cast of twelve leads – but actors were incredibly responsive to the film’s subject matter and the strength of screenwriters Shauna Cross’ and Heather Hach’s script.

Says producer David Thwaites, “You can’t ever be 100% sure about chemistry between actors until the cameras are rolling, so you have to follow your instincts. [Director Kirk Jones] and I spent a huge amount of time working out that balance. I think we have a tremendous cast – there isn’t a single role that I’d change or an actor who hasn’t exceeded my expectations.”

“It was incredible how everybody who we really hoped would be in the movie ended up in the movie,” adds author Heidi Murkoff, who also serves as executive producer on the film. “What amazed us watching the performances is how real they were. You could tell the actors wanted to be in this movie, that they were invested in it, and they were connected to the whole experience. I think that makes a big difference.”

Among the five couples in the film, the one that faces the biggest lifestyle change with the on-set of pregnancy are Jules, a celebrity personal trainer with her own weight loss TV show, and her partner, Evan, a professional dancer. Played by Cameron Diaz and Matthew Morrison, Jules and Evan have become the favored champions on the current season of Evan’s show, Celebrity Dance Factor, and their three-month run has seen both their professional and personal lives become increasingly intertwined.

“Jules doesn’t think she can get pregnant; but she does, accidentally, and it sort of speeds things up for them as a couple,” explains Diaz. “They’re both dynamic people with really busy careers, and Jules in particular is ‘Type A.’ She’s used to being in control at all times, and now that’s going to have to change.”

Morrison, currently showcased on the hit television series Glee and a veteran of musical theater, is the other Alpha parent in the power couple. “Jules and Evan are two very strong-minded people,” he says. “They butt heads all the time, and they’re challenged to find a compromise in nearly every situation or decision about the baby. From the little things up to the biggies, like circumcision.”

Jones adds, “With a baby about to enter the picture, Jules and Evan realize they have to become less selfish. They have to work with each other for the good of their child, whether that’s something that comes naturally to them or not.”

Also starring in the film are such big names as Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Rock, and Dennis Quaid, including a slew of others.

Actors Anna Kendrick, known for her work in ‘Up In The Air’ and The ‘Twilight Saga’, and “Gossip Girl’s” Chace Crawford are two of the freshest faces in the cast, playing Rosie and Marco, two young, ambitious chefs who operate rival food trucks and grapple with an unplanned pregnancy after a one-night stand. Crawford explains, “Marco and Rosie make a bet on who can sell the most signature items during the rush, and afterwards they have some drinks and, well, one thing leads to another.”

When she learns she’s pregnant, Rosie is as blindsided as Marco, and her experience reflects the film’s motto: when it comes to pregnancy, expected the unexpected. Explains Kendrick, “She wants an answer. She wants a solution. And she wants him to have a great plan. But it’s never that simple.”

With the principals cast, Jones took just as much care casting the film’s supporting roles with notable talent. Those actors include Rebel Wilson as Janice, Wendy’s assistant, Wendi McLendon-Cover as Kara, Holly’s friend, Kim Fields as Holly and Alex’s social worker, and a long list of performers, many of whom appear as themselves: Megan Mullally, Cheryl Cole, Dwyane Wade, Whitney Port, Tyce Diorio and Taboo.

“It’s very easy when you’re putting a movie together with so many lead actors to lose sight of the potential of the supporting cast,” says Jones. “But it was a joy for me every day to turn up on set and be so impressed and appreciative of the contributions of the supporting cast, all of whom delivered above and beyond.”

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Soon to be in theaters everywhere, ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’ initially came in the form of a help book by the same name, written by Heidi Murkoff. ‘What to Expect’ caught the attention of Phoenix Production producers David Thwaites and Douglas McKay, and afterwards the two discussed its potential for a feature film. They then contacted Alan Nevins, who in turn, approached Heidi and Erik Murkoff.

The question remains: how does a non-fiction pregnancy manual translate into a narrative film? Phoenix chairman Mike Medavoy admits, “Bringing the book to the screen might seem like a far-fetched idea, in a way. But I credit the vision of both David Thwaites and Doug McKay, who said, ‘Hey, we know how to do this, and we’re going to do it!’”

After reading the book and realizing just how diverse pregnancy experiences can be, David Thwaites imagined an ensemble film comprised of several interlocking stories. “It just occurred to me – having seen how different people are with their children, and how none of their pregnancies were the same – that this was something that would be well served by having a number of different couples who find themselves pregnant at the same time.”

Director Kirk Jones, the English director known for the films ‘Waking Ned Devine’ and ‘Nanny McPhee’, responded in particular to the comedic potential of the project. “The book has such a generous sense of humor, and I began to identify the potential of that in the film. Couples experiencing pregnancy for the first time are being launched headfirst into the unknown, and that’s always a rich place for comedy. And for pathos, too. I like to make films that feature humor and emotion, often at the same time. I think that’s a magical combination.”

Book author Heidi Murkoff admits she was initially skeptical about an adaptation, but she was soon won over by the producers’ take on the project. She says, “These guys plugged into the sensibility of ‘What to Expect’: the warmth, the friendliness, the hand-holding, and also the humor. I knew the book was in great hands.”

Murkoff’s husband and Executive Producer of the film Erik Murkoff agrees, “The further we got into the project, the better it got. But it really started with the script, along with a great director and wonderful cast, and it built and built and built. We’re very lucky.”

Faced with limitless story possibilities, the filmmakers approached screenwriters Shauna Cross and Heather Hach to fashion an appealing cast of characters whose experience might represent the diversity of the pregnancy experience. The structure itself, according to Hach, was immediately evident. “I was incredibly pregnant myself when I came aboard this project, so it was really on my brain and in my heart,” she recalls. “And it just made sense to me: there are three trimesters and there are also three acts in a movie so there was an inherent story there.”

Shauna Cross, who’s also a mother, set her sights on bringing as much humor as possible to the characters’ experiences. “While I found pregnancy touching and sweet, I also thought so much of it was funny,” she says. “I wanted to push that and make it feel modern, so that this film could be our generation’s version of how we get through this stuff now.”

By the final draft of the script, the writers and filmmakers had built a vibrant ensemble comedy around five different couples, each one incorporating unique experiences and addressing both male and female points-of-view. Producer Arnold Messer says, “We were quite conscientious in our attempts to make sure the film looked at a whole range of perspectives on child-rearing. As much as it’s a movie about babies; it’s also a movie about people who don’t want babies. As much as it’s a movie about motherhood; it’s also about fatherhood.”

Director Kirk Jones also felt strongly that the book’s candor and honesty should be reflected in the film. In keeping with his dictum, the screenplay candidly addresses many issues surrounding pregnancy, including the physical challenges of carrying a child to term, infertility and adoption. “Often pregnancy is portrayed the way people in the media talk about it: women have this wonderful glow and an amazing experience,” says Jones. “But it’s also pretty tough. And our script didn’t flinch from being truthful, honest and grounded.”

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Since its first publication in 1985, ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’ has become a modern standard and the definitive bible for expectant parents. The perennial New York Times bestseller, authored by Heidi Murkoff, was named one of USA Today’s 25 most influential books of the past 25 years and is now the first book in a series that has sold 35 million copies worldwide.

The book offers exactly what it promises: a wealth of up-to-the-minute information and advice about the mysterious and unpredictable process of pregnancy. But its true appeal is its singular voice: totally frank, modern, empathetic and very funny. That’s exactly what sets ‘What to Expect’ apart from the glut of imitators and what attracted producers at Phoenix Pictures – Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer and David Thwaites – to the idea of adapting ‘What to Expect’ for the screen with Lionsgate and Alcon Entertainment.

“I think it’s very, very clever, this movie concept based on the book,” says actress Cameron Diaz, who plays one of five expectant mothers in the ensemble comedy. “I’ve always heard the title being talked about. It’s one of those books that have been around and a part of almost everyone’s life. When you read it, it feels like you’re getting advice from your best friend who’s been through it all.”

Co-star Jennifer Lopez agrees wholeheartedly. “The book is amazing, which is why it’s so popular,” she says. “It tells you exactly, week to week, what’s happening to you in the moment. I think women, by nature, when we’re pregnant, are so worried that everything’s going to go okay. And here you have this book saying, ‘This is supposed to be happening. Don’t worry. You’re supposed to feel like this.’ I think the movie does the exact same thing. It reassures you by telling five totally different stories about being pregnant and making you laugh.”

A father of two, Chris Rock admits that the book, ‘What to Expect’, is still on his wife’s nightstand…and his oldest daughter is nine. “This book’s been in my face for ten years,” he says. “But it really helped. It’s rough having a baby. My wife was pretty cool. But just imagine carrying around a seven- or eight-pound ham for nine months. Forget it even being in your body – just have it in a bag that you can’t put down – and you’ve got to sleep with that ham and swim with the ham and take a bath with the ham. No matter where you go, you’ve got to carry this ham. So, you know what? You’re allowed to complain.”

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New York, U.S.A. – “The Comedy Awards” (#comedyawards) are back and better than, well, last year, when the second annual event airs on COMEDY CENTRAL on Sunday, May 6 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Some of the biggest names in comedy, including Chris Rock, Kristen Wiig, Ty Burrell,Tracy Morgan, Will Arnett, Hannibal Buress, Chevy Chase, Louis C.K., Tina Fey, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Annie Mumolo, Chris Parnell, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Adam Scott, and Jon Stewart joined the night’s big honorees Don Rickles and Robin Williams to honor and celebrate the world of comedy.

Highlights from the show include:

• Robert De Niro and Jon Stewart presenting Don Rickles with the “Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence”
• Patton Oswalt presenting Robin Williams with the “Stand-Up Icon Award”
• Politically-themed fun as Tracy Morgan contemplates joining the Secret Service and Key & Peele bring out President Obama’s Anger Translator Luther
• Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo (literally) wrestling over their award for “Best Comedy Film”
• The night’s big winner Louis C.K. wondering if four awards is maybe a few too many
• Chris Rock riffing on whether or not the nominees are actually funny
• And much more…

Fans are encouraged to visit www.thecomedyawards.com to vote for their digital favorites in categories including Best Comedy App, Best Comedy Podcast, Best Remix, Mash-up or Supercut and  Funniest Person on Twitter.  Voting for these categories will be open through Sunday, May 6, when “The Comedy Awards” premieres on COMEDY CENTRAL

“The Comedy Awards” is led by its Board of Directors which include such luminaries as: Carol Burnett,James Burrows, Greg Cavic, Stephen Colbert, James Dixon, Budd Friedman, Jim Gosnell, Rick Greenstein, Brad Grey, Caroline Hirsch, Sharon Jackson, Blair Kohan, Martin Lesak, Steve Levine, Jamie Masada, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, Conan O’Brien, Peter Principato, Joan Rivers, Jay Roach, Chris Rock, Ray Romano, Rory Rosegarten, Michael Rotenberg, George Schlatter, Mitzi Shore, David Steinberg, Jon Stewart, Lily Tomlin, Sandy Wernick and Geof Wills.

The Board of Directors is responsible for the selection of the nominees.  The nominees are then sent out to over 1500 working members of the comedy community to determine the winners.

“The Comedy Awards” has once again joined forces with the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) to endow The American Comedy Fund.  Without a union or other protection, many comedians face unique challenges to succeed and survive.

The Fund provides much-needed financial assistance, health benefits and other resources for comedians across the country during times of need, crisis or transition.  The American Comedy Fund is administered by EIF in collaboration with the Motion Picture & Television Fund and The Actors Fund.

Don Mischer, Casey Patterson, EVP, Event Production, Viacom Entertainment Group and Charlie Haykelare the Executive Producers.  Juliane Hare is Producer.  Beth McCarthy Miller, the Peabody and DGA Award-winning and Emmy-nominated Director, directed “The Comedy Awards.”  “The American Comedy Awards” was created by George Schlatter.

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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced the presenters who will induct the 2012 honorees. The 27th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place Saturday, April 14 in Cleveland and debut Saturday, May 5 (9:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO.

Honorees and presenters for this year’s show include:

• Beastie Boys will be inducted by Chuck D.
• Donovan will be inducted by John Mellencamp.
• Small Faces/The Faces will be inducted by Stevie Van Zandt.
• Red Hot Chili Peppers will be inducted by Chris Rock.
• Laura Nyro will be inducted by Bette Midler.
• Freddie King will be inducted by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill.
• Don Kirshner will be inducted by Carole King.
• Cosimo Matassa, Tom Dowd and Glyn Johns will be inducted by Robbie Robertson.
• The Blue Caps, the Comets, the Crickets, the Famous Flames, the Midnighters and the Miracles will be inducted by Smokey Robinson.

More details about performances, additional presenters and special guests will be announced at a later date. Leading up to the April 14 ceremony, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will host more than a week of special events, including the grand opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s new Library and Archives, tours of the newly-redesigned museum interior space, the unveiling of a new Grateful Dead exhibition, the Rock My Soul gospel tribute, a free concert for Cleveland and a special series of education programs designed to teach students across the nation about the history and impact of rock and roll.

As previously announced, the performers to be inducted are Beastie Boys, Donovan, Guns N’ Roses, Laura Nyro, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Small Faces/the Faces, the Blue Caps, the Comets, the Crickets, the Famous Flames, the Midnighters and the Miracles. The Early Influence inductee will be Freddie King. The Ahmet Ertegun (nonperformer) Award will be given to Don Kirshner. The Awards for Musical Excellence will be presented to Cosimo Matassa, Tom Dowd and Glyn Johns.

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