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

TV & MOVIES

‘Shrek’ Sequel Already in the Works

DreamWorks said Thursday that it is already planning a sequel to its hit animated comedy “Shrek,” though no timetable is set and the project is said to be only in “pre-pre-production.” But while “Shrek” screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio are set to return for the second installment, there’s been no deals made yet for a return by any of the film’s voice cast, including Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow. “Shrek,” which opened in Los Angeles on May 16, has already grossed more than $112 million in theaters.

Smiley Will Spread Himself Around

Tavis Smiley, who was fired from his “BET Tonight” anchor slot last March in a bitter dispute with BET Chairman Robert Johnson, has signed several deals that soon will return him to television. Smiley will join ABC News as an “occasional contributor” to its evening newsmagazines and “Good Morning America.” He will also be a contributor for CNN news shows under a separate agreement. And Smiley has another deal with Buena Vista Television for a syndicated talk show.

Tracey Takes On: Fashion

Comedian Tracey Ullman will premiere a new talk series on cable’s Oxygen in the fall, a fashion program called “Tracey Ullman’s Visible Panty Lines.” Ullman will use her humor to “look at how fashion has infiltrated every facet of life.” The 11-episode series will expand on Ullman’s style Web site, https://www.purpleskirt.com, with each half-hour edition featuring a celebrity guest who will discuss his or her own personal style. First-season guests include Cindy Crawford, Jackie Collins, Rita Wilson and Belinda Carlisle.

THE ARTS

Hagen OK After Geffen Stage Fall

Actress Uta Hagen, 81, fell off the 2-foot stage of the Geffen Playhouse during a between-scenes interval at a preview performance of “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks” Wednesday. Two doctors who were in the audience attended to her. Hagen wanted to return to the performance, Geffen producing director Gilbert Cates said, but Geffen management canceled the rest of the performance and took her across the street to UCLA Medical Center for X-rays. No bones were broken, Cates said, and Hagen was expected to return to the show Thursday evening. Audience members at Wednesday’s performance can exchange ticket stubs for seats at later performances.

Virgin Uproar Prompts 2nd Show

Santa Monica artist Alma Lopez, whose semi-nude digital collage of the Virgin of Guadalupe remains a focus of protest in Santa Fe, N.M., is finding out that there is no such thing as bad PR. Santa Fe Catholics are appealing a recent decision by the state-supported Museum of International Folk Art to continue displaying Lopez’s controversial work, called “Our Lady.” But now, Lopez has gotten another showing in the New Mexico state capital. Emanations Studio Gallery has included Lopez in a group show called “Las Malcriadas: Coloring Outside of the Lines.” According to gallery owner Pola Lopez (no relation to Alma), the show features “taboo” art by meztiza artists and is a response to the outcry over “Our Lady.” The term Malcriadas refers to ill-bred, spoiled or bad girls. Among the works to be shown is a photograph of a penis with multiple piercings by Albuquerque photographer Delilah Montoya.

QUICK TAKES

Disney’s California Adventure will open “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire--Play It!”--an attraction in which theme park guests can compete for prizes on a replica of the ABC game show’s set--in late August. . . . NBC is partnering with the New York state-based Oneida Indian Nation in a talent search for Native American actors, comedians and writers. NBC said the search, set to begin in August with regional competitions in cities across the United States and Canada, aims to increase the presence of Native Americans on TV. . . . Film producer Steve Tisch (“Forrest Gump”) gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today during 11:30 a.m. ceremonies at 6522 Hollywood Blvd. . . . The new album from Scottish rock band Travis doesn’t hit record stores until June 12, but the band is previewing songs from “The Invisible Band” disc on its Web site (https://www.travisonlineusa.com) through June 8. . . . Eric Clapton has told RollingStone.com that his current “Reptile” concert tour may well be his last. “It doesn’t work for me anymore,” Clapton told the Web site. He added, however, that he will “leave the door open . . . to play the odd theater.” . . . Curtis Hanson (“L.A. Confidential”) will direct rapper Eminem in “Fight Song,” a movie loosely based on the rapper’s life. . . . Singer Enrique Iglesias will reportedly make his feature film acting debut playing a mariachi musician alongside Antonio Banderas in director Robert Rodriguez’s “Once Upon a Time in Mexico.” . . . Phil Jones, 64, a 32-year CBS News correspondent who has covered subjects from Vietnam to politics, will retire at the end of June.