This July 17, 2017 file photo shows Maya Rudolph from the cast of "The Emoji Movie" in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File)
By Mark Kennedy, AP Entertainment Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --
The Fox network has cast Maya Rudolph to help lead the live TV musical "A Christmas Story" this winter.
The "Saturday Night Live" veteran and star of "Bridesmaids" will play the mother of 9-year-old Ralphie Parker, the boy at the center of the musical who dreams of landing an air rifle for Christmas.
The show will air Dec. 17. More casting will be announced later.
The Broadway production of "A Christmas Story: The Musical" opened in 2012 with a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, recent Tony Award winners for the musical "Dear Evan Hansen." It was nominated for three Tony Awards, including best musical, best book and best original score.
The musical is based on the 1983 film, which was based on Jean Shepherd's semiautobiographical story.
Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on Weds., Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it's ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.
In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.
Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lay's potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based company's chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month, U.S. government agencies, companies and schools have rushed to reevaluate policies and programs they adopted with the goal of reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money.
PepsiCo's rollback came as Coca-Cola reaffirmed support for its DEI efforts.
In its annual report, Atlanta-based Coke warned that its business could be negatively affected if it is unable to attract employees that reflect its broad range of customers.
"Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion … could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success," the company said.
Coca-Cola has set a goal of having women in 50% of its senior leadership roles by... Read More
