Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press.

STAGE

See ‘Rent’ for $20: “Rent” tickets costing $20 each--for 28 of the 39 seats in the front two rows of the orchestra--will be held for sale on the day of each performance during the show’s upcoming run at the Ahmanson Theatre. Beginning Thursday with the first preview, each performance’s discounted tickets will go on sale two hours before curtain time on a cash-only basis, with a limit of two tickets per person. At that time vouchers will be distributed, which will enable the buyer to pick up the actual tickets 15 minutes before curtain--with photo ID required at both transactions. Since the award-winning musical moved to Broadway, the producers have maintained a tradition of selling some $20 tickets at each performance in order to make the show more affordable. But don’t plan to camp overnight at the Music Center--no lining up will be permitted before 6 a.m. Regular ticket prices for “Rent,” which is scheduled to run at least through Jan. 18, are $35-$70.

MOVIES

Versace Story in Production: Filming began in Florida Monday on a quickie feature-length independent movie about Andrew Cunanan, the suspected serial murderer who killed himself in July following the slaying of fashion designer Gianni Versace. “The Versace Murder,” expected to cost about $5 million, is written and directed by Menahem Golan (“Delta Force,” “Death Wish”), and stars Italian actor Franco Nero as Versace, stage actor Shane Perdue as Cunanan and Stephen Bauer as an FBI agent. It’s expected to be completed by Christmas. ABC also has a TV movie in development about Cunanan and the Versace slaying.

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Harrelson’s New Cause?: Actor and frequent activist Woody Harrelson was arrested in Houston Friday after refusing to sign a ticket for not wearing his seat belt. Harrelson was riding with his attorney--who was wearing a belt--when the vehicle was stopped as part of a safety check. (Texas law requires everyone riding in front seats to use seat belts.) He paid a $95 fine and was released. Harrelson was in Houston to lead an anti-logging protest against Houston-based Maxxam Corp., a lumber company that owns 7,500 acres of redwood forest in California’s Humboldt County.

POP/ROCK

Montserrat Relief: British pop stars including Elton John, Paul McCartney, Sting and Phil Collins joined forces Monday to raise more than $1 million at a benefit concert for the volcano-ravaged Caribbean island of Montserrat. Billed as the most star-studded lineup since 1985’s Live Aid concert, the event was organized by Beatles producer George Martin and featured several artists who had recorded at Martin’s Air Studios in Montserrat. The concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall was recorded for future U.S. broadcast. Martin said he would personally visit the Caribbean island to ensure the money is spent effectively.

QUICK TAKES

CBS’ Emmy Awards telecast won Sunday night’s national ratings race, attracting more than 13 million homes. The overall rating fell about 6% from last year, which CBS attributed partly to muscular ratings for Fox’s repeat of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movie “True Lies.” . . . Sylvester Stallone will host “Saturday Night Live’s” 23rd season premiere, airing Sept. 27 on NBC. The British group Jamiroquai, the recent winner of four MTV Video Music Awards, will be the musical guest. . . . Fox’s “The X-Files” will begin its fifth season on Nov. 2, the first Sunday of the November rating sweeps. The network delayed the show’s introduction in part to avoid scheduling conflicts with the Major League Baseball playoffs. The series will also air its 100th episode in November. . . . Former adult film star Traci Lords has joined the cast of NBC’s “Profiler,” playing a serial killer. . . . The L.A. district attorney’s office has formally dropped all drug charges against Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan stemming from his arrest last May after a near-fatal heroin overdose. The move follows Gahan’s completion of a yearlong probation that included drug rehabilitation therapy.