DANCEBolshoi Gets Artistic Director: Dancer Vladimir Vasilyev...

DANCE

Bolshoi Gets Artistic Director: Dancer Vladimir Vasilyev was appointed artistic director of Russia’s troubled Bolshoi Theater on Saturday. The government appointment, one day after President Boris Yeltsin dismissed the Bolshoi’s general director, Vladimir Kononin, was the latest twist in a feud over control of the theater. Vasilyev, 54, a former principal dancer at the Bolshoi, replaces Yuri Grigorovich, who resigned earlier this month. Vasilyev and a yet-to-be-named executive director will share responsibility for running the ballet. Meanwhile, 14 dancers who went on strike March 10 to protest the turmoil at the ballet are due in court in Moscow today to face charges of staging an illegal strike.

MOVIES

Breaking Out: Warner Bros.’ virus movie “Outbreak” is still catching on at the box office. The film took the No. 1 spot for the second weekend in a row with $10.7 million, according to early industry estimates. Gramercy Pictures’ horror movie “Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh” took second place with $6.3 million for its first weekend. In third was Disney’s “Man of the House” with $5.5 million. “Bye Bye, Love,” a new release from 20th Century Fox, was fourth with $4.6 million. Paramount’s “Losing Isaiah,” with Jessica Lange, came in fifth with $2.7 million for its premiere weekend. A box-office note: Savoy Pictures’ “Circle of Friends” had a strong opening in limited release, taking in about $30,000 per screen on just four screens. The movie goes into wider release Friday.

They ACEd It: The American Cinema Editors honored “Forrest Gump” as the best edited feature film of 1994 at its 45th annual awards Saturday night at the Beverly Hilton. “Hoop Dreams,” the acclaimed documentary about inner-city basketball players, won the ACE award for best edited documentary. Filmmaker Robert Altman (“Short Cuts,” “The Player”) was honored with this year’s ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award for his contributions to movies during his 33-film career. The pilot of CBS’ “Chicago Hope” won for best edited episode from a one-hour TV series. And an episode of HBO’s “The Larry Sanders Show” won for best edited episode from a half-hour TV series.

TELEVISION

Changes at CNN: CNN is revising its weekend schedule beginning April 8. “CNN Saturday Morning” and “CNN Sunday Morning,” three-hour news shows co-anchored by Joie Chen and Ralph Wenge, will be added to the lineup. Other new programs on tap include “CNN Computer Connection,” which will feature segments on the latest software as well as tips on using computers, and “Parenting Today,” which will focus on the issues facing parents. In addition, the network’s weekday show “Inside Politics” will show up as “Inside Politics Weekend” on Saturdays with Wolf Blitzer as host. “Crossfire Sunday,” a spinoff of CNN’s weekday program, will begin airing, as will a Sunday edition of “The Capital Gang.”

LEGAL FILE

Slated for Service: Christian Slater will spend three days working with homeless children as part of a plea agreement to a weapons charge. Slater was sentenced Friday in a New York criminal court to work with the Children’s Health Project, which provides medical care to children in homeless shelters. Slater was arrested in December at Kennedy International Airport for carrying a pistol in his luggage. The gun was unloaded and licensed, but it’s illegal to bring a weapon on a plane.

A Love Tap?: A teen-ager in Orlando, Fla., says Courtney Love punched him out. Ryan O’Donell, 17, filed a misdemeanor complaint against Love on Saturday. He claims the singer slugged him about five times in the chest while she was performing with her band, Hole, on Tuesday. Police said they’d look for witnesses before forwarding O’Donell’s complaint to prosecutors.

POP/ROCK

Midnight Madness: Elton John fans who stay up late tonight can have John and his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin sign their newest collaboration, “Made in England,” at Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard. John and Taupin will start signing at midnight (when the album is officially released) and keep going until 3 a.m. Tower Records will let fans pre-purchase the album with a coupon, so they’ll be ready when the signing begins. Those who want to attend the event can pick up wristbands at the store starting at 8 a.m. today to reserve a place in line. The line will begin to form at 9 p.m.