Time Warner’s throwing ABC off its cable system in dozens of cities a few weeks ago ranks as one of the all-time stupidist corporate decisions. “What the company said, at a time when people everywhere expect to be able to get what they want when they want it, was, We won’t let you have it, if it doesn’t suit our corporate agenda. Disney took out ads in the papers, offering free installation of satellite television to Time Warner cable systems customers. Over twenty-five thousand Time Warner customers took them up on the offer. – New York Press 05/22/00
Author: Douglas McLennan
TEST DRIVING A CONCERT HALL
On tour in Europe, the Philadelphia Orchestra stops for a concert in Birmingham England’s acclaimed concert hall. The hall was designed by the same architect who is designing the Philadelphia’s new home. The verdict? “For many, the concert had been tough. The strings could hear neither in front nor in back of themselves. ‘The rehearsal was frightening. Ensemblewise, we were all over the place. It feels like you’re walking on eggshells.’ ” – Philadelphia Inquirer
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OPERA DIRECTOR IN THE WORLD?
GOLD MEDAL PERFORMANCE
Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry has won the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture, “awarded on behalf of the Queen by the Royal Institute of British Architecture, and still, despite the big bucks attached to newer international prizes, the most prestigious of its kind.” – The Guardian
JOHN GIELGUD —
— dies at the age of 96. – Dallas Morning News (AP)
GAY “FIDDLER” CAUSES FUSS
A Hartford high school reinterprets “Fiddle on the Roof” and draws controversy. “In their interpretation Tevya became an African American female; Yente the Matchmaker became a drag queen, and Tevya’s daughter, Chava, became a young man who falls in love with another young man. ‘There was no objection to making one of the characters gay, only that two sets of male lips came together.’ – Hartford Courant
VIRTUAL THEATRE ONLINE
A new British internet venture aims to promote British theatre, enabling visitors to “go backstage” with interactive video access to the cast and companies. Visitors will able to chat with actors, watch rehearsals and see some of the backstage trauma involved in putting on a theatrical production. Also online will be 3-D virtual reality models of set designs, costumes and the theatres, as well as digital excerpts of plays. – The Independent (UK)
WHAT IF THEY HAD A THEATRE BOOM AND NOBODY CAME?
More theatre is produced in Los Angeles than in any city in the US, including New York. But more often than not, the cast outnumbers the audience in dozens of small 99-seat theaters spread out throughout the metropolitan area. “Audience apathy can partially be attributed to there being no theater center in Los Angeles.” – Los Angeles Times
ACTING DRAIN
Auckland’s theatre community is in dire need of more space. Without it, say local directors, more and more of New Zealand’s talent is likely to leave for Australia. – New Zealand Herald
JOHN GIELGUD dies —
— at the age of 96. – Dallas Morning News (AP)