For the future of American musical theater, look at “The Lion King.” For a long time Broadway musicals were defined by a very narrow New York aesthetic. “What Disney has astutely done is create a mythic story that is as accessible in London as it is Tokyo and could be one day in Timbuktu.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada)
Author: Douglas McLennan
DUBLIN CHOICE
Ireland’s National Symphony Orchestra choice of Gerhard Markson as principal conductor is about as conservative as could have been made in the circumstances. – Irish Times
IN FOR A POUND
A proposal by the British government to slash admission fees to £1 to London museums is being met with mixed (but generally enthusiastic) reaction. – The Art Newspaper
HIGH STAKES SUIT
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is suing the heirs of a local collector for $18 million for refusing to come to an agreement about the sale of a Picasso painting. “On one side you have SFMOMA, furious that its generous offer — $3 million more than the family realized at auction — was rejected. On the other, you have the family, furious that its right to dispose of its inheritance as it sees fit is being questioned. How do you explain SFMOMA’s lawsuit, which, even if it is won by the museum, might jeopardize its relationship with many potential donors?” – San Francisco Examiner
A USE FOR DEAD TREES
A Detroit sculptor sees a picture of a sculpture on the pages of the Detroit Free Press that was stolen from him last fall and goes out to claim it. – Detroit Free Press
MINNESOTA TAKES ON L.A.
Minnesota Public Radio has bought “Marketplace” from KUSC. The northlanders previously assumed control of a Los Angeles public radio station and the MPR president says “I want the doors to be open to the creative community.” The new venture should be “a hothouse to incubate new ideas based on Los Angeles talent, cultural resources, ideas.” The production company’s name might evolve into something like Los Angeles Public Radio Productions. – Los Angeles Times 04/14/00
ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY
A German court has has ruled that America Online must take ultimate responsibility for music piracy on its websites. The judgment by the Bavarian state court in Munich, published yesterday, opens the way for the music industry to sue companies that provide a gateway to the internet. AOL was sued after discovery that digital music files belonging to the complainant were being swapped on some of AOL’s music forums. – The Independent (UK) 04/14/00
WHO YA GONNA BLAME?
“Blame Canada,” the scurrilous little ditty in the Oscar telecast featuring Robin Williams sashaying across the stage sandwiched between high-kicking Mountie chorus girls, gave Canada the highest visibility it has had in years south of the border. New York cabbies are cursing midtown traffic and insisting their passengers “Blame Canada.” Talk-show hosts and newspaper columnists are throwing up their hands at the various ills besetting the world, insisting people “Blame Canada.” And just in time, a festival of Canadian cinema opens tonight in New York with the best brand name going: Blame Canada.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada) 04/14/00
AD-BUSTERS
- The new generation of video recorders has advertisers worried. The machines can automatically skip ahead of commercials or zap them altogether. When the devices first came out, ads trumpeted the ad-busting features, but now they’re not mentioned so prominently. Without the ads, who’d pay for the programming? – Chicago Tribune 04/14/00
NO DAMES ALLOWED
Dame Edna – aka Aussie Barry Humphries – has been snubbed by this year’s Tony committee. The decision not to allow “Dame Edna: the Royal Tour” to compete in the two main categories – the season’s best musical or best play – comes as a blow to a show that has been hailed as one of Broadway’s more innovative offerings. It is also something of a slap to Dame Edna, and her real-life alter ego, whose unexpected success has been credited with breathing life into a sometimes lackluster season on the Great White Way. – The Age (Melbourne)