By NANCY RABINOWITZ, Associated Press Writer

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Christopher Walken sang a song from "Hairspray" and spoofed a "Saturday Night Live" skit Friday night to earn Harvard's Hasty Pudding Man of the Year award.

At a roast before the presentation, Walken, who serenaded John Travolta last year in the latest film version of "Hairspray," sang to a Harvard student dressed in drag.

Another cast member of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals at Harvard University, the nation's oldest undergraduate drama troupe, came on stage banging a cow bell, evoking the "SNL" skit in which Walken played a music producer who called for "more cow bell."

Walken, who joked afterward that he'd "have prepared or had a couple of drinks" if he had known what was in store, donned a copper-colored bra and brown wig. He couldn't get into a pair of blue pumps that were supposed to be part of the outfit, doing a dance in his street shoes instead.

The Hasty Pudding roasters also had Walken read the recipe for "hasty pudding," and asked him to show off his "psychic powers," a play on his role in 1983's "The Dead Zone."

"I hope nobody's watching," Walken said. "I acted on this stage in a play about 20 years ago."

In a more serious vein, he said he was "amazed and thrilled" by the honor.

The 64-year-old actor won a best supporting actor Oscar as a troubled Vietnam veteran in 1978's "The Deer Hunter." He was nominated again for 2002's "Catch Me If You Can."

Last year, he was featured in the film "Balls of Fury."

Talisa Friedman, press manager for the Hasty Pudding drama troupe, said Walken exemplifies the Hasty Pudding spirit and the value it puts on fun.

Charlize Theron also won a Hasty Pudding award this year.

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`Macbeth' is thrillingly reimagined

By MICHAEL KUCHWARA, AP Drama Critic

NEW YORK - According to theater legend (admittedly, not the most reliable of sources), mentioning the name "Macbeth" backstage at a theater will bring bad luck to a production.

So "The Scottish Play" is most likely the title being bandied about these days in the wings of the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Harvey Theater where a thrilling, inventive re-imagining of one of Shakespeare's most difficult plays has set up shop.

In this mesmerizing production from England's Chichester Festival Theatre, director Rupert Goold has created a startling new universe for the play. "Macbeth" may be set in Scotland, but here it takes on the appearance of Stalinist Russia — with a few anachronistic touches thrown in to keep the audience a bit off-kilter.

Goold's idea for this tale of a violent, bloodlust journey to power is extravagant yet carefully thought-out with its use of video, projections, electronic music and in one instance, a replay of the famous banquet scene (featuring Banquo's ghost) from two different perspectives. There are reasons behind its bloody showiness, as a society spins out of control and Macbeth and his equally ambitious wife kill their way to the top of the kingdom.

And it helps that the title character is portrayed by Patrick Stewart, who, besides his celebrity from "Star Trek," is an accomplished classical actor. His appearances in "The Tempest" and a reading of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" have enlivened Broadway in past seasons.

The pantherlike Stewart has a steely resolve and a magnetism that makes you see why Lady Macbeth, his willing partner in treachery, was attracted to him in the first place. Kate Fleetwood's Lady Macbeth is a revelation. She exudes the charisma of a glam 1930s movie star, fiercely prowling the wide Harvey stage.

The two possess a sexual magnetism, a connection to each other that makes their murderous collaboration more than credible. And Fleetwood does a compelling mad scene as she finds that getting away with murder always comes with a price.

Yet Stewart also captures the man's contradictions, primarily his inherent insecurity, his nervousness at having to continue to kill to keep what he gotten.

There is uniformly strong work from the entire cast but special mention should be made of Christopher Patrick Nolan's lascivious porter and the Macduff of Michael Feast. The actor provides a heart-stopping moment as Macduff learns his wife and children have been murdered.

One of Goold's most ingenious conceits is his depiction of the three weird sisters or witches, who foretell Macbeth's downfall. Here, they are nurses serving in a grim hospital and later in the play portray watchful, willful servants who swirl through the banquet scene.

Designer Anthony Ward has created an eerie, tiled all-purpose set (it looks like a morgue) that allows scenes to rapidly blend into each other.

One constant is a sink, which sits downstage throughout performance. It's here where Macbeth and his missus wash blood from their hands. The blood may disappear but their guilt does not. Equally vivid — and indelible — is the memory of this superb production that runs through March 22.

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Forbes: Madonna Richest Woman in Music

NEW YORK (AP) — Madonna is the richest woman in music. The 49-year-old entertainer leads Forbes's list of the top 20 "Cash Queens of Music," earning $72 million between June 2006 and June 2007.

The pop star's "Confessions" world tour pulled in $260 million, Forbes said. She also made money from album sales, her fashion line with H&M and a deal with NBC to broadcast her concert performance at London's Wembley Stadium.

Forbes said it compiled the list by examining concert grosses, merchandising revenue, album sales and other revenue from clothing lines, fragrance deals and endorsements.

Barbra Streisand is No. 2 with $60 million, thanks to her comeback tour of North America and Europe.

Celine Dion ranks third with $45 million, largely from her successful "A New Day" show in Las Vegas, which she wrapped up in December after a five-year engagement at Caesars Palace.

Shakira is fourth with $38 million, followed by Beyonce ($27 million), Gwen Stefani ($26 million), Christina Aguilera ($20 million), Faith Hill ($19 million), the Dixie Chicks ($18 million) and Mariah Carey ($13 million).

Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne and Martina McBride each banked $12 million.

Britney Spears ranked 14th on the list, earning $8 million from music royalties and sales of her fragrances with Elizabeth Arden.

Spears is followed by Carrie Underwood and Nelly Furtado ($7 million each); Fergie, Jennifer Lopez and Sheryl Crow ($6 million each); and Norah Jones ($5.5 million).

On the Net:

• Forbes:
  http://www.forbes

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