TOM CRUISE HONORED AS 2018 Pioneer of the Year at CinemaCon in Las Vegas - CRUISE IS THE FIRST MOVIE STAR TO RECEIVE THE AWARD

The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation (WRMPPF) honored Tom Cruise, multiple Academy Award nominee and three-time Golden Globe winner, as its 2018 Pioneer of the Year. Director, producer and Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie presented Cruise with the prestigious award at the Foundation’s annual Pioneer of the Year dinner, which took place Wednesday night at Caesars Palace during the National Association of Theaters Owners (NATO) annual convention, CinemaCon.
Cruise was honored before an audience of 2,500 motion picture executives consisting of film studio chiefs, theatrical distribution heads, and exhibition presidents and CEOs. Multiple Emmy-winning actor and comedian James Corden surprised guests to emcee the evening that included a special performance by Tony and Grammy Award-winning Hamilton star Leslie Odom, Jr. Additional appearances were made by actors Angela Bassett, Henry Cavill, Simon Pegg and Paramount Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Gianopulos.
A tradition for 72 years, the Pioneer of the Year dinner honors leaders of the motion picture industry and within the philanthropic community. The Pioneer of the Year award is one of the motion picture industry’s highest honors. This year’s event raised a CinemaCon record of more than $1.5 million for the benefit of the Pioneers Assistance Fund which provides financial assistance to individuals in the motion picture distribution and exhibition community who are encountering an illness, injury, or a life-changing event.

A global cultural icon, Cruise has portrayed some of the most memorable characters of all time in blockbuster films such as Top Gun, Jerry Maguire, Risky Business, Minority Report, Interview with the Vampire, A Few Good Men, The Firm, Rain Man, Collateral, The Last Samurai, Edge of Tomorrow, The Color of Money and the Mission: Impossible franchise, among many others.
Cruise’s versatility is evidenced by the films he selects and characters he portrays. He has had a producing role on many of his legendary films and has worked with a remarkable list of award-winning and esteemed film directors, including Francis Ford Coppola, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Martin Scorsese, Barry Levinson, Oliver Stone, Ron Howard, Rob Reiner, Sydney Pollack, Neil Jordan, Brian de Palma, Cameron Crowe, Stanley Kubrick, Paul Thomas Anderson, Ed Zwick, Steven Spielberg, Michael Mann, J.J. Abrams, Robert Redford, Brad Bird, Doug Liman and Chris McQuarrie.
Cruise will next star in the sixth installment in the Mission Impossible (July 27, 2018) franchise for Paramount Pictures followed by Top Gun: Maverick (July 12, 2019), the studio’s long awaited sequel to the Cruise classic Top Gun.
“A consummate filmmaker, leader, and visionary involved in all aspects of film production, Tom is an accomplished member of our entertainment community who demonstrates extraordinary creativity and exceptional influence in our industry; these qualities make him a true pioneer,” said Kyle Davies, President of WRMPPF and President of Domestic Distribution at Paramount Pictures. “We are delighted to honor Tom as the 2018 Pioneer of the Year.”

Cruise is the first actor to receive the award. Having achieved extraordinary success as an actor and producer in a career spanning over three decades, Cruise is a three-time Academy Award® nominee and three-time Golden Globe Award winner whose films have grossed $9 billion in worldwide box office — an incomparable accomplishment.

IT’S A WRAP! Kitty Bungalow’s CATstravaganza a Roaring Success Cat Lovers, Broadway Fans, and Hollywood Stars Raise Unprecedented Funds for Feline Friends

Last night on Saturday, April 21st at the Montalban Theatre in Hollywood, Cat-Lovers, Broadway fans, and Stars of two legs and four came out to support Kitty Bungalow’s musical CATstravaganza, Hamilton’s Cats. The show ended up being the most successful of Kitty Bungalow’s to date aiding the non-profit’s mission of turning feral cats into furrever companions by raising more than $65,000.
Kitty Bungalow Founder and Head Mistress Shawn Simons said, “This, our now seventh year of our celebrity musical event, was by far our most ambitious undertaking. Thankfully, our sponsors, celebrities and friendly audience did not disappoint all coming out to be a part of the music and laughs, all for a not so funny cause, the feline over-population problem still plaguing our city. The kitties couldn't be more grateful.”
The show Hamilton's Catstold the story of a small-town cat rescue that decided to put on the musical Catsas a fundraiser for their organization. Sadly, no one was interested until they discovered Andrew Lloyd Webber planned to attend. Featuring the talents of Fred Willard (“Modern Family”), Emily Deschanel (“Bones”), Wendi McLendon Covey (“The Goldbergs”), Mindy Sterling (“Con Man”), Kirsten Vangsness (“Criminal Minds”), Nicole Sullivan (“Black-ish”), Bethany Joy Lenz (“Dexter”), Elaine Hendrix (“Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll”), Carla Jimenez (“The Mick”), Brendan Robinson (“Pretty Little Liars”), Lori Alan (“SpongeBob SquarePants”), Maiara Walsh (“Switched at Birth”), and Moshow the Cat Rapper. 
The event began with the Hamilton’s Cats stars walking the red carpet at 7:00pm, which was hosted by Bonnie-Jill Laflin. At the same time, doors opened to guests where they could bid on prizes, play games, or enjoy magic tricks with The Fantastic Fig and his Cat Newton. The curtain rose at 8:00pm, with a half hour intermission beginning at 9:00pm where guests were treated to live music by duo Almond&Olive. After the end of the second act, Kitty Bungalow’s theatre patrons enjoyed an after party with DJ’s, an open bar, tapas, and other treats.
 The year’s CATstravaganza was a roaring success; and thanks to Kitty Bungalow’s sponsor Solid Gold Pet Nutrition, 100% of all sales went to help rescue more homeless animals. Additional thanks go to Fizzion Concentrated, Lime Crime, and Michelson Found Animals.
About Kitty Bungalow: Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that rescues, neuters, socializes and finds homes for feral kittens while providing outreach, education and Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) services. Dedicated to the city of Los Angeles and its street cats, their goal is a truly humane LA.