MOVIES’Very Satisfied’ With Kodak, President SaysFrank Pierson,...

MOVIES

‘Very Satisfied’ With Kodak, President Says

Frank Pierson, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, gives a mixed-to-positive review to the Kodak Theatre--the Oscars’ new home.

The place “just doesn’t sound right,” he told The Times, citing areas in which dialogue is muffled (some audience members couldn’t hear Tom Cruise’s opening remarks) and speakers that need to be moved.

Still, media reports that the academy may pull up stakes and head elsewhere next year are off-base, Pierson says.

“Acoustical problems also occurred when the Hollywood Bowl was created, and will be solved, I’m sure,” he says.

When it comes to ambience, Pierson notes, the venue deserves high marks. “There’s an intimacy, a closeness with what’s going on onstage. Performers up there feel they’re at a party with the audience. All in all, I’m very satisfied with the house.”

THEATER

De Niro-Queen Musical Headed for London

Two of the surviving members of the rock group Queen are collaborating with Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Productions on a futuristic musical featuring some of their hits, including “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

“We Will Rock You,” produced by Brian May and Roger Taylor--the former guitarist and drummer for the band--is due to open on May 14 at London’s Dominion Theatre.

The musical will be a sci-fi fantasy about a world overtaken by globalization where everyone listens to the same computerized music and instruments are banned, MTV News reports.

“Queen’s music is uniquely theatrical,” said the project’s author, Ben Elton.

“I had this vision where ‘The Matrix’ meets the Arthurian legend meets ‘Terminator 2.’” If all goes well, the producers plan to stage the $10.7-million musical in North America, Australia, Scandinavia, Italy and Japan.

RADIO

‘FolkScene’ Music Show to Return to KPFK-FM

“FolkScene,” the long-running folk and roots-music radio show that left the local airwaves in 2000 after more than 30 years, will return to its former home at Pacifica Radio station KPFK-FM (90.7) on April 7.

Producers Roz and Howard Larman were taken off the air after a dispute with management over commercial use of material recorded in or with KPFK facilities.

Control of the station recently changed hands; the new management resolved outstanding differences.

The Larmans’ first program will feature an interview with singer-songwriter-actor Loudon Wainwright III, who also will give a live performance.

The Larmans had continued doing “FolkScene” as an Internet show, available at www.kpig.com.

QUICK TAKES

“Nightline’s” five-part series on gay life in America, postponed after the Sept. 11 attacks, will run Monday through Friday next week....CBS has given a go-ahead to a fifth season of “Survivor,” which will premiere in the fall. Producer Mark Burnett is scouting locations in Central America, South America and Asia....

On Wednesday, 12 semifinalists were selected in Pasadena’s first Rachmaninoff Piano Competition--only one of them from the U.S. The contestants will play one-hour recitals tonight, Friday and Saturday at the Norton Simon Museum, with a prize of $30,000 awaiting the winner.