ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

STAGE

Pointing Fingers: The Broadway community is still abuzz about Patrick Stewart’s dramatic curtain speech at Saturday’s performances of “The Ride Down Mt. Morgan,” in which he told a stunned audiences that he had lost faith in the ability of his producers--which include the powerful Shubert Organization, Scott Rudin, Roger Berlind and ABC Inc.--to properly promote and advertise the Arthur Miller drama. The actor, whose popularity has kept the box-office grosses of the well-received play near capacity, refrained from making the speech after Sunday’s matinee because, according to his publicist, Kelly Bush, he had heard from the producers and “a dialogue has begun.” Still, Shubert chairman Gerald Schoenfeld is demanding a public apology from Stewart before any meeting takes place. Many Broadway insiders expressed shock at Stewart’s action. “You don’t blindside your producers, particularly if they’re the Shuberts,” said one longtime observer, adding that everyone is waiting to see how the controversy may affect the deliberations of the Tony nomination committee, which meets Sunday.

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“Selena’s” Stage Move: “Selena Forever,” a musical about the life of slain tejano singer Selena Quintanilla Perez, will be presented at the Universal Amphitheatre May 11-14, rather than at the Wiltern Theatre, where it was supposed to have played May 9-21. The producers asked Emily Simonitsch, House of Blues Concerts vice president for special markets, for help in promoting the show. She suggested the switch in light of the amphitheater’s history of promoting Latin concerts. House of Blues Concerts has arranged a promotional campaign for the show with Marshall’s stores, offering discounted tickets for store customers. The $2-million musical has been on tour since premiering March 23 in San Antonio.

POP/ROCK

Roadblock: Former Village Voice writer Jimmy McDonough has sued Neil Young for $1.8 million in response to the musician’s refusal to allow publication of his Random House biography. “Shakey: The Biography of Neil Young” was written by McDonough over a period of eight years, with Young’s permission and assistance--subject to any changes he requested about his immediate family. Challenging Young’s reputation as a champion of “creative freedom,” lawyer Henry Gradstein said that the musician used “the wealth and power he had accumulated from his musical and business success to squelch publication.” Young’s spokesman, Bob Merlis, said he was unaware of the lawsuit and could not comment.

TV/RADIO

‘Survivor’ Suspect: Richard Hatch, a contestant on the CBS summer reality series “Survivor,” remains free on $10,000 personal recognizance after being arrested last week on charges of child abuse. Hatch is reportedly one of the finalists in the series, which isolated 16 contestants on an island for 40 days. CBS, which will premiere the show May 31, has had no comment regarding the arrest. Hatch’s 9-year-old son is being held in state custody until the case is resolved.

MOVIES

Erin’s Woes: Erin Brockovich, subject of the hit film of the same name, says in a “Dateline NBC” interview tonight that her “15 minutes of fame” have not been worth it. Brockovich gained unwanted publicity when her ex-husband Shawn Halaby and her ex-boyfriend Jorg Brown were arrested for allegedly demanding $310,000 from her and her lawyer-boss, Ed Masry. If they didn’t comply, the two men allegedly said, they would claim that Brockovich was a bad mother and having an affair with Masry. After reporting the incident to Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael Bradbury, Brockovich and Masry participated in a “sting” operation that led to the arrest. “To have this happen because of the movie, shame on both of them,” she says. “It’s really impacting and ruining what was supposed to be a great message for America.”

QUICK TAKES

Liza Minnelli, hospitalized for a problem with her left hip, has canceled upcoming tour dates for “Minnelli on Minnelli.” The 54-year-old entertainer has already had two surgeries on her other hip, which has hampered her mobility and caused her to perform some numbers seated. . . . “MOCA Art Auction 2000,” the Museum of Contemporary Art’s biennial fund-raising gala, sold $1.1 million worth of art Saturday night at the Geffen Contemporary. The take surpassed the $960,000 sold in 1998 but fell behind the event’s all-time high, $1.3 million in 1990. Sculptor Louise Bourgeois’ bronze “Nature Study,” purchased by MOCA trustee Susan Bay-Nimoy, brought this year’s top price of $75,000. . . . Women in Film will give its 24th annual Crystal Awards to actress Jessica Lange, Universal Pictures distribution chief Nikki Rocco, and former group president producer Barbara Boyle. The ceremony will take place June 9 at the Century Plaza Hotel. . . . Donna Hanover, the wife of New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, decided to postpone her appearance in the controversial play “The Vagina Monologues” after her husband announced he has prostate cancer. . . . Woody Allen is embarking on his first tour of college campuses, pegged to the release of his “Small Time Crooks,” to be released by DreamWorks SKG on May 19. One stop is UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television, where he’ll appear at the Wadsworth Theatre on Monday. Student ID is required for admission.