Actors gang up for benefit

TIM ROBBINS took his antiwar message to the stage Aug. 18 with a reading of “The Trial of the Catonsville Nine,” benefiting the Actors’ Gang and Office of the Americas, a nonprofit group that promotes peace and international justice. Sharon Stone and Jeremy Piven slipped into their seats at the Kirk Douglas Theater for the sold-out show, where 1. Neil Patrick Harris showed off his theater chops alongside the big-name cast. After a standing ovation, 2. Robbins, left, artistic director of Actors’ Gang, lightened up at the after-party in the lobby with director Gordon Davidson, while cast mates 3. Martin Sheen, left, and Beau Bridges banded together. 4. Paul Haggis congratulated Camryn Manheim at the low-key gathering, where no forks forced guests to eat with their hands.

-- Jenny Sundel

--

Happy B-day, dear Dono

“It” boy Donovan Leitch became an official grown-up at the Mulholland Tennis Club on Aug. 16 in front of his wife, Kirsty Hume, daughter, Violet, and mother, Enid. He joked that the kitschy affair felt more “like my 40th bar mitzvah!” Seemed guest Josh Charles agreed. He toasted “L’chaim!” to his pal’s birthday as guests sipped on signature drink the Dono, a Hpnotiq martini. 7. Leitch lighted up at the sight of his cake, a surprise from Hume and Violet. Also heating up the scene: 8. Hollywood hot spot impresario Brent Bolthouse and Amber Valletta, who met Leitch on a photo shoot 14 years ago. To better reminisce about the good ol’ days, a Steely Dan cover band set the mood for fashion-forward guests, including 9. Tatiana von Furstenberg, left, and Shiva Rose. Also providing music: Leitch’s Uncle Petey, who sang “Oh Dono Boy” -- although by the end of the night, with his country club induction over, surely everyone would have agreed to the revision: “Oh Dono Man.”

--

India’s splendid independence

Hollywood went Bollywood for India Splendor, a six-day festival celebrating India’s 60th anniversary of independence. India’s superstars got their Hollywood ending

with -- what else? -- an award show at the closing night gala at UCLA’s Royce Hall

on Aug. 15. Conductor 10. Zubin Mehta gave thanks after receiving Global honors,

while Bollywood beauty 11. Bipasha Basu performed for the East-meets-West crowd, which included Maggie Grace and director John Landis. The day before, India’s

version of Brangelina, 12. Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan, partied at the Napa Valley Grille after a screening of their flick “Guru” at the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum.