DANCEJoffrey Nixes Merger: The Joffrey Ballet has...

DANCE

Joffrey Nixes Merger: The Joffrey Ballet has abandoned plans to merge with Ballet Chicago, though the company is still closing operations in New York City and seeking a new home. “Instead of enhancing both companies, a merger would severely compromise the artistic viability of each,” explained Gerald Arpino, co-founder and artistic director of the company. Arpino also announced that the Joffrey has reached a tentative, undisclosed settlement in the $600,000-$900,000-action against it by AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists), regarding back pay and other money owed dancers. The settlement now goes to the union membership for ratification. The company has also named a new executive director: Arnold N. Breman, formerly executive and artistic director of the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Fla.

LEGAL FILE

Stolen Script?: An aspiring filmmaker has filed a $1.8 million-lawsuit accusing writer-director John Singleton of stealing the idea for the script for his film “Higher Learning.” Darryl Wharton, 27, alleges that Singleton based “Higher Learning” on “Caught Out There,” a script Wharton gave Singleton in 1991 that has “similar scenes, similar themes and even a character with the same name.” The suit filed in Baltimore asks $900 million in compensation and $900 million in punitive damages from Singleton, his production company, Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures and a Sony Theaters representative. “Higher Learning” grossed $38 million nationally this year.

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Extortion Hearing: A former personal assistant and her lawyer have been accused of trying to extort money from Tori Spelling by threatening to reveal her secrets. A hearing began this week in Los Angeles to determine if Karen Tublitz and attorney Frances Jones should stand trial on the felony charges, a prosecutor said. Tublitz had asked a tabloid how much she would get for information about the “Beverly Hills, 90210” star, but the call was a joke, said her attorney, Harland Braun. Tublitz was fired as Spelling’s personal assistant in September, 1994, after less than two months. Tublitz later hired Jones as her lawyer. Both were arrested after Tublitz and Jones negotiated a confidentiality agreement with Spelling’s lawyers for $30,000, Braun said. Spelling’s side wanted to pay $750, he said.

MOVIES

Drama Acquired: “Burning Blue,” a critically acclaimed play about gay men in the armed forces, is coming to the big screen. Working Title Films (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”) has bought the rights to the drama by first-time playwright David Greer, 37, a former U.S. Navy pilot. In the play, a young officer falls in love with a colleague and is forced to resign after an aggressive investigation. The production has taken the journey from a small theater in London to the city’s West End where it opened last week. Its next stop is Broadway. Robert Fox, who produced the play, will be executive editor on the film; Greer will write the screenplay. Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp have been linked to the project.

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Definitely Def: Rap guru Russell Simmons, founder of the Def Jam record label, has signed a two-year deal with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment to create a film production company, Def Pictures. Simmons says he plans on making about six films in the deal. It will not be Simmons’ first venture into film--he is currently producing the remake of “The Nutty Professor” starring Eddie Murphy, as well as two films being directed by Abel Ferrara. Simmons, who is also the producer of HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam,” got his start working with rap groups such as Public Enemy and Run-DMC.

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Ciao, Venice: After years of shunning the Venice Film Festival, Hollywood is storming the Italian city this year. With 11 films, the United States dominates the program of the 52nd annual fest, which opened Sunday and is screening 21 feature-length films from around the world through Sept. 9. Two American movies--”The Crossing Guard,” directed by Sean Penn, and Spike Lee’s “Clockers”--are among 16 entries vying for the festival’s top prize, the Golden Lion. “Clockers” looks at New York’s black ghettos through the eyes of a white policeman. In “The Crossing Guard,” Jack Nicholson is a policeman intent on avenging his murdered son.

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Howdy, Partners: The winners of the annual Golden Boot Awards, which honor those who have worked to further the tradition of the Western in film and TV, have been announced. The late Burt Lancaster will receive a Golden Boot in memoriam at the Aug. 12 ceremony at the Century Plaza Hotel. James Coburn will be honored for his work in such Westerns as “The Magnificent Seven” and “Maverick.” Jane Seymour will get the Boot for her role on the CBS series “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” Claire Trevor, who has appeared in more than 65 movies including John Ford’s classic, “Stagecoach,” will also be honored.