AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 12:33 p.m. EDT

John Lithgow to return to Broadway in a Roald Dahl play that's not for kids

NEW YORK (AP) — John Lithgow is returning to Broadway in a play that might change how we read bedtime stories to our children. The two-time Tony Award-winner will star as Roald Dahl in “Giant,” which explores accusations of antisemitism against the beloved writer. The play, by director-turned-playwright Mark Rosenblatt, won the Olivier Award earlier this year for best new play in London. Set over a single afternoon in 1983, “Giant” presents Dahl facing outcry after making antisemitic comments. Jewish representatives from Dahl’s publishers visit his home to chart a course. Lithgow is also set to play Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s “Harry Potter” TV series.

Jane Fonda, Ron Howard, Colman Domingo and more mourn the death of Robert Redford

Hollywood figures and fans of movies mourned the death of Robert Redford, expressing affection and admiration for the Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema. Actor Coleman Domingo says Redford had an “everlasting impact” on movies and director Ron Howard calls his Sundance Film Festival a “game changer.” “Reservation Dogs” director Sterlin Harjo says Redford empowered filmmakers. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump say they admired his work. Redford died Tuesday at his home in Utah. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox commended the actor and activist for making “Utah a home for storytelling and creativity.”

Many sports fans are unhappy with how much it costs to watch their games, an AP-NORC poll finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new poll finds sports fans are likelier to use a combination of streaming services and traditional TV options to access their favorite teams. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll shows this complicated and often expensive patchwork is common for many sports fans and leaves them beholden to multiple platforms and subscriptions if they want to keep up with their teams. About 4 in 10 people who follow sports “extremely” or “very” closely use both cable and satellite TV and a sports streaming platform. That's compared with about 2 in 10 people who follow sports “somewhat” closely.

Spain threatens Eurovision boycott if Israel competes

MADRID (AP) — Spain has joined the group of countries threatening not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest unless Israel is excluded from the competition over the war in the Gaza Strip. The Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia have already taken the same stance. Spain’s addition to the list puts more pressure on both Israel and the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the popular contest. Russia was banned from Eurovision after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Israel has continued to compete the past two years despite disputes over its participation.

Tory Burch takes her latest collection to the bank for New York Fashion Week show

NEW YORK (AP) — Tory Burch delivered a spectacular venue, a relaxed approach to American sportswear, and a message of female empowerment in her Spring/Summer 2026 collection at New York Fashion Week. Monday's presentation was at an old bank in Brooklyn, which looked more like a giant church than a former financial institution. Models passed bank tables as they strutted the runway in Burch’s muted tones of brown, blue, cream and gray. The most notable design was the low waists on pants and skirts. More casual looks included fitted silk knit shirts with pointed collars paired with wool pants.

Trump files $15B defamation lawsuit against The New York Times

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Times says President Donald Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the newspaper and four of its journalists is meritless and an attempt to discourage independent reporting. Court documents show the lawsuit was filed Monday in federal court in Florida. It names several articles and one book written by two of the publication’s journalists and published in the lead up to the 2024 election, saying they are part of a decades-long pattern of "intentional and malicious defamation” against Trump. It follows lawsuits Trump has filed against ABC News and CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” both of which were settled out of court by the news organizations’ parent companies. Trump also has sued The Wall Street Journal.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America are still benefiting from Nate Bargatze's controversial Emmys bit

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America has seen a surge in donations after a controversial fundraising stunt at the Emmy Awards. Host Nate Bargatze pledged $100,000, adjusting the amount based on acceptance speech lengths. Despite the gimmick, which had donation totals in negative territory near the end of the night, the organization received $250,000 from Bargatze and $100,000 from CBS. The nonprofit says its donation totals have more than doubled compared to this time last week. While some applauded the stunt, others criticized it as insincere. Fundraising strategist T. Clay Buck argued that generosity should not be conditional or theatrical.

Arthur Sze is appointed US poet laureate as the Library of Congress faces challenges

The Library of Congress has named Arthur Sze the new U.S. poet laureate. The library announced Monday Sze will serve a one-year term, starting this fall. The 74-year-old author and translator succeeds Ada Limón. Sze was initially hesitant about the role due to concerns over the responsibilities involved and recent upheaval at the federal library. However, Sze accepted the position after considering the opportunity to give back to poetry. Sze plans to focus on translation, which he believes can deepen the appreciation of poetry. Sze says from his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, poetry has helped him grow “in every way.” The New York City native studied at the University of California, Berkeley.