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

POP/ROCK

Court Rules Singer Can Use Footage of His Dad

Country singer John Michael Montgomery did not have to obtain permission from his late father’s estate to make his hit “I Miss You a Little,” the Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled.

The 1997 song and music video paid tribute to Harold Montgomery, who died of cancer in 1994. The video included footage of the elder Montgomery singing.

Barbara Montgomery--Harold’s widow and John Michael’s stepmother--initiated the suit, claiming that the use of Harold’s likeness violated a “right of publicity.” The Supreme Court held that the 36-year-old Montgomery can use his father’s likeness--or anyone else’s, for that matter--in a constitutionally protected expression, including a commercial music video.

THEATER

Sondheim, Weidman Sue Producer Rudin

Broadway powerhouses Stephen Sondheim (“Sweeney Todd”) and John Weidman (“Contact”) have filed a $5-million lawsuit against producer Scott Rudin, claiming he is trying to kill a musical they have been working on for nearly 10 years.

The show they are producing is called “Gold!,” based on the lives of Wilson and Addison Mizner, brothers whose notorious scams extended from the Alaska gold rush of the late 1800s to the birth of Hollywood in the 1930s. Although it was scheduled to open in Chicago next September, cease and desist letters sent by Rudin’s lawyers scared off the director and the theater operators by telling them he had rights to it, the two claim in court papers filed in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court.

Sondheim and Weidman are asking for a ruling that Rudin has no rights to the play and that he be ordered to pay $5 million in damages.

Rudin could not be reached for comment.

Alex Reorganizes to Face the New Economy

The Alex Theatre in Glendale is reorganizing in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks and changing economic conditions.

Three positions on its 22-member staff will be eliminated at the end of December, while two other positions--director of finance and administration and an event coordinator--have been created. And, in an effort to create revenue, a director of development and a director of marketing are being hired--positions which have long been vacant.

New Digs for Displaced Radio Troupe

California Artists Radio Theatre, which lost its longtime home at the Hollywood Roosevelt’s Cinegrill when the hotel was closed for remodeling, has taken up residence in a 155-seat theater in the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in North Hollywood.

Its first show, a Christmas-themed program of holiday stories, poems and songs, will be presented Dec. 15.

Broadcasting since 1987, the group counts John Astin, Michael York, Lynn Redgrave and Rod Steiger among its members.

TELEVISION

Blockbuster Cancels Its TV Awards Show

Video giant Blockbuster Inc. has canceled its star-studded TV awards show due to uncertainty over viewership and cost of production, executives said.

The ceremony, scheduled for next spring, has been reevaluated because of the Sept. 11 attacks, spokeswoman Liz Greene said. The company, she explained, would have had to make significant financial commitments soon to book the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. and prepare for in-store voting by customers..

“These are uncertain times, and we were unable to predict consumer response to an awards show,” Greene said, adding that there were also concerns about the availability of stars to attend the awards.

QUICK TAKES

“Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace” will air on Fox Sunday night with captioning for the deaf and descriptive narration for viewers who are blind or visually impaired.... KOST-FM (103.5) is playing all holiday music through Dec. 25.