Hurricane Sandy stalls entertainment industry

Jon Stewart has the night off as Hurricane Sandy bears down on American's East Coast. Photo / AP

David Letterman and Jimmy Fallon are doing their shows without audiences. Jimmy Kimmel, visiting from his home base in sunny Hollywood, canceled a taping in Brooklyn.

The Daily Show and The Colbert Report are taking the night off, and each of Broadway's 40 theatres will be dark - all because of a powerful storm bearing down on the East Coast.

Hurricane Sandy didn't just halt airline flights and the stock market, it also caused widespread cancellations across the entertainment industry.

New York City officials said that all film permits for Monday and Tuesday have been revoked because of the hurricane and associated safety precautions.

"There will be no city authorised outdoor filming within the five boroughs," read a statement from the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting.

The storm also forced Focus Features officials to cancel the New York premiere of Anna Karenina, which was set for Tuesday. A studio spokeswoman said they plan to reschedule.

Concerts planned for New York and New Jersey were canceled or postponed, including John Legend, Journey, comedian Louis CK, and the Freedom to Love Now show featuring Rufus Wainwright and fun., which is now set for spring of 2013.

Radio City Music Hall is shuttered until Wednesday.

East Coast charity galas were also cancelled, and fashion designer Prabal Gurung postponed the unveiling of his anticipated collection for Target until next week.

NOAH FILMING HALTED OVER HURRICANE

Production on Biblical epic Noah has been put on hold as America's East Coast braces itself for Hurricane Sandy.

Russell Crowe and Emma Watson have been filming Darren Aronofsky's epic movie in Long Island, New York in recent months, but the project is now facing delays as US officials warned residents to take cover ahead of the storm, which is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rains to coastal regions.

In a post on her Twitter page, Watson wrote: "I take it that the irony of a massive storm holding up the production of Noah is not lost (on) Darren Aronofsky (and) Russell Crowe."

Crowe has also used Twitter: "Wind picking up outside," he wrote.

"Sitting in a Hurricane, just like any another day ... I'll wait to see what blows in with the wind," Crowe added.

- AP with WENN