ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

POP/ROCK

Pioneer Awards Announced: Stevie Wonder, the Impressions and the Chi-Lites will be honored at the Rhythm & Blues Foundation’s 11th annual Pioneer Awards in New York City in September. Wonder, a 21-time Grammy winner, will be honored with a lifetime achievement award. Seven acts will be honored as pioneers, including the Impressions, who laced inspirational songs such as “Keep on Pushin’ ” with social commentary, and the Chi-Lites, the soul quintet that scored hits such as “Have You Seen Her.” Also to be honored are Johnnie Johnson, the pianist for Chuck Berry and title subject of the classic “Johnny B. Goode”; Clyde Otis, Nat “King” Cole, Bobby “Blue” Bland and Huey “Piano” Smith, who recorded “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie-Woogie Flu.”

THE ARTS

Paris Opera Shines: France on Tuesday inaugurated the gleaming facade of the Paris Opera, returned to its 19th century splendor by a bold renovation project that had experts tracking down precious materials across two continents. Workers using state-of-the-art technology labored for more than a year to remove grime that had accumulated since 1867, when the opera house was built to the greater glory of Emperor Napoleon III. “After years of grayness, the Palais Garnier has come to life, its exterior in full harmony with the passion and light of its interior,” said Culture Minister Catherine Tasca. Today the landmark is home to the Paris Opera Ballet company, while opera performances are held at the Opera-Bastille in eastern Paris. The restoration cost $7.7 million.

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Kaiser Exits Royal Opera: Michael Kaiser, the executive director of London’s Royal Opera House, has announced his resignation from the post for personal reasons. Kaiser, who has been in the job for a little more than 18 months, told staff in a letter that he would be leaving by June 2001--the end of the venue’s new season. Kaiser has been credited with turning around the fortunes of the national venue in Covent Garden, which is home to both the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet.

TELEVISION

Soap Shifts: Live coverage of today’s Lakers victory parade, which begins at 11 a.m. in downtown Los Angeles, will result in preemptions for four daytime soap operas. CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” and “Bold and the Beautiful” will air in the wee hours at 2:35 a.m. and 3:35 a.m., respectively. ABC’s “Port Charles” and “All My Children” will be shown at 2:45 a.m. and 3:15 a.m. . . . Meanwhile, the Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal will carry his celebration to “The Tonight Show” at 11:35 tonight on NBC.

STAGE

Not to Be: The critically panned Broadway production of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” starring “Frasier’s” Kelsey Grammer, will close Sunday after just 13 performances and a loss of $1.5 million. Grammer put his own money into the show after its producers reportedly wanted to close the revival after its Boston engagement. “Macbeth,” directed by Terry Hands, received some blistering reviews. Ben Brantley, in the New York Times, called the production “blunt-witted.” The revival had been scheduled to run until July 30.

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Drabinsky Stages Comeback: Flamboyant theater producer Garth Drabinsky announced his return to the theater business Tuesday at Toronto’s Bluma Appel Theatre. The former co-founder and CEO of Livent, the Canadian theatre production company that failed amid as yet unproven allegations of financial mismanagement and wrongdoing, still faces criminal fraud charges in the United States. Drabinsky said that he is bringing a revival of South African playwright Athol Fugard’s acclaimed play “The Island” to a Toronto theatre next May in collaboration with its London producers, the Royal National Theatre.

QUICK TAKES

The 73rd annual Academy Awards will return to the Shrine Auditorium for the 10th time on March 25, 2001. . . . “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” is looking for contestants for episodes taping in July. Interested participants can start the qualification process by calling (800) 433-8321, between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. today through June 30. . . . Veteran sitcom actor Tony Danza will join the cast of the CBS hourlong legal drama “Family Law.” . . . NBC will broadcast six consecutive episodes of “Will & Grace” during a special prime-time marathon on July 18. Viewers will be able to pick their favorite episodes by going online at https://www.nbc.com. . . . Mary Connelly is replacing Billy Kimball as executive producer of CBS’ “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.” Connelly, who assumes her new role Monday, was previously a segment producer on “Late Night with David Letterman.” In a statement, Kimball said he is leaving to pursue other projects. . . . United Artists Films, the art house division of MGM, has entered into a three-year, first-look deal with Self Timer Inc., the newly formed parent company of Michael Stipe’s Single Cell Pictures, headed by Sandy Stern, and C-Hundred Film Corp., headed by Jim McKay. Stipe and Stern most recently produced the Academy Award-nominated “Being John Malkovich.”