•• On June 3rd, The Blank Theatre will present a starry evening featuring scenes, songs and speeches from 20 years of The Blank’s Young Playwrights Festival. Jennifer Garner will host the 6 PM event at Avalon Hollywood.

Currently scheduled to take part in the celebration are Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, Nicholas Brendon, Brianna Brown, Gordon Clapp, Dale Dickey, Daisy Eagan, Thea Gill, Peri Gilpin, Gale Harold, Lenny Jacobson, Michael E. Knight, Tom Lenk, Scott Lowell, Allison Mack, Virginia Madsen, Angel Parker, Rex Smith, Jennifer Stone, DB Sweeney, Kirsten Vangsness, Gedde Watanabe, Virginia Williams and Noah Wyle.

Started in 1990 by founding artistic director Daniel Henning, The Blank Theatre is Hollywood’s regional theatre and is “committed to developing excellence in artistic talent, and providing the opportunity for artists to take bold risks.”

For tickets, priced $50-$125 (VIP packages available for $250-$350, includes post-performance reception with the cast), visit www.TheBlank.com or call (323) 661-9827. Avalon Hollywood is located at 1735 Vine Street, Hollywood.

Hollywood glitz and glamour was showcased in Temecula on Sunday night as the Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival capped off its festivities with a star-studded awards gala at the Pechanga Resort and Casino.

Several big names in film and music were honored as an audience of more than 200 people, including many of the filmmakers and musicians who debuted their work during the five-day event, looked on.

Among the honorees was film star Virginia Madsen, who praised film festivals as venues for creativity and good moviemaking. Madsen, who has starred in numerous films and received an Oscar nomination for “Sideways,” was honored Sunday with the founder’s award for outstanding career achievement.

“Film festivals are the lifeblood of independent filmmaking nowadays,” Madsen said in an interview. “It’s very hard now to get your film made and distributed and seen… The more interesting, artistic films are just not getting out there.”

That’s where film festivals such as Temecula’s come in, she said. “It’s a great gathering place for creative thinking, for creative minds,” Madsen said. “It’s also a wonderful place to meet the newcomers.”

✿ The 17th Annual Temecula Film Fest will honor Golden Globe and Academy Award nominated actress Virginia Madsen at the fest’s Black Tie Gala. She  started her career in 1984 in David Lynch’s adaption of “Dune,” but had her break-through with the 1986 film “Fire with Fire.” Madsen is best known for her character Maya in 2004′ Sideways, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy Award, and won an Independent Spirit Award.

✿ Festival Director Jo Moulton said “Virginia Madsen has developed into one of this generation’s finest actresses. She brings unique versatility to each of her roles and she continues to raise the bar in both film and television. We are delighted to honor the 2011 Founder’s Outstanding Career Achievement Award to Virginia Madsen.”

✿Virginia Madsen will be honored with the Founder’s Outstanding Career Achievement Award on Sunday, September 18, at the annual Black-Tie Gala held at the Pechanga Resort & Casino. The festival runs from Sept. 14 – 18. For more information, click here.