MOVIESSpacey Summer: Universal Pictures has moved up...

MOVIES

Spacey Summer: Universal Pictures has moved up the release of Imagine Films’ space adventure “Apollo 13” to June 30 from its originally planned mid-November slot. The film is directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinese and Ed Harris. “We felt it could have its strongest shot in the summer,” said a Universal spokesman, adding that the move was prompted by the progress of the production. Produced by Brian Grazer, the movie is based on the near fatal 1970 moon mission. Shooting is expected to wrap next month.

POP/ROCK

Americas Concert: Liza Minnelli, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Paul Anka and Kenny G are among those scheduled to perform at Miami’s Knight Center tonight in “Concert of the Americas,” a presidential tribute to the hemisphere’s various nations and cultures. Others scheduled to appear at the concert, which is part of President Clinton’s summit with leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada, include the Ballet Gran Folklorico de Mexico, poet Maya Angelou and actors Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Jimmy Smits and Paul Rodriguez. The show, produced by Quincy Jones and David Salzman, will be broadcast Dec. 18 at 9 p.m. on KCET Channel 28. But it can be seen first on the Spanish-language network Univision, which will air “El Concierto de Las Americas” on Sunday at 6 p.m.

THE ARTS

MOCA Board Takes a Loss: Art collector and philanthropist Peter Norton has resigned from the board of trustees of the Museum of Contemporary Art. Sources close to the museum say that Norton left because MOCA declined to book “Black Male: Representations of Masculinity in Contemporary American Art.” The controversial show, currently at New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art, where Norton serves as a trustee, will appear at the UCLA/Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Cultural Center April 25 to June 18. Norton declined to comment on his resignation but denied that a dispute over “Black Male” was the reason. Norton, who joined MOCA’s board in 1990, has helped to fund such exhibitions as Rene Green’s “World Tour” and a retrospective of Martin Puryear’s sculpture.

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Tevye Time: Los Angeles Civic Light Opera has announced two-week runs of two musicals as part of its 59th season--”Fiddler on the Roof” with Theodore Bikel (opening Jan. 18 at the Pantages Theatre) and “Blood Brothers” with Petula Clark and David Cassidy (opening March 14 at the Wilshire Theatre). LACLO subscribers also will receive tickets to two previously announced shows: “Beauty and the Beast” at the Shubert Theatre and the non-musical “Family Secrets” at the Henry Fonda.

LEGAL FILE

Woodstock Suit: The town of Saugerties, N.Y., is suing concert promoters Woodstock Ventures Inc. and Polygram Diversified Entertainment, claiming local coffers were cheated out of thousands of dollars because flimsy security allowed thousands of gate-crashers to attend this year’s Woodstock show. An estimated 350,000 people--including many who didn’t pay the $135 ticket price--turned out for the Aug. 13-15 Saugerties concert. Promoters have yet to say how many tickets were sold, but estimate that number will probably be slightly more than 163,000. The promoters agreed to give Saugerties $5.05 per ticket and have so far paid $740,000--proceeds from about 140,000 tickets. Woodstock partner Michael Lang said Thursday that there wouldn’t have been as many gate-crashers if the town had allowed ticket sales at the site.

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Deja Vu: Singer James Brown was charged Thursday with shoving his wife, Adrienne, to the floor during an argument at their South Carolina home. He faces a maximum 30 days in jail and a $200 fine if convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence. The 61-year-old Godfather of Soul could face a separate sentence if he is charged with violation of probation, which he is serving for aggravated assault and failing to stop for a police officer. He served two years in prison after leading police on a two-state car chase in September, 1988. That same year, Brown was charged with assault with intent to kill for allegedly beating Adrienne, his third wife, with a pipe and shooting into her car. The charges were dropped.

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Bootleg Scripts: Paramount Pictures has accused two memorabilia dealers of boldly going too far--by selling bootleg copies of the script from the hit movie “Star Trek: Generations” before the film’s release. The lawsuit, filed in Atlanta, names as defendants Connecticut resident Joe Kindle and the New York memorabilia shop Omega Zone. Both are also accused of selling a bootleg script from the upcoming TV series “Star Trek: Voyagers.” Paramount is seeking an injunction to stop the sales, plus $100,000 in damages for each script sold.

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Crichton’s Plot Twist: Author Michael Crichton, whose stories-turned-movies include the blockbuster “Jurassic Park” and the just-opened “Disclosure,” has been sued in Los Angeles by a former assistant. When Marla Katz became pregnant, she claims Crichton suggested she get an abortion, then wouldn’t employ her again when she returned from a paid maternity leave. Katz seeks unspecified damages from Crichton, who says he’s a feminist, for sex discrimination, wrongful termination and breach of contract. Crichton’s attorney called the lawsuit “outrageous” and a well-timed publicity stunt.