“The Museo Guggenheim Bilbao is completing feasibility studies for a satellite near the historic town of Guernica, just 40km east of Bilbao. Local and provincial authorities in the Basque Country anticipate that the new museum would extend the so-called ‘Bilbao effect,'” but the government is wary of spending in this economy.
Author: Laura Collins Hughes
Why Its New Theatrical Behemoth Is A Boon For Britain
“It’s hard to see the acquisition of Live Nation’s theatres by the Ambassador Theatre Group as anything other than good news,” despite concerns that ATG is now too powerful. The group’s “record suggests that [it is] not likely to achieve success by dumbing down.”
Northern Calif.’s Willows Theatre Company To Shutter
“In September, the board of the 34-year-old company said that as a result of lackluster ticket sales and outstanding debt, they needed to raise $350,000 by Nov. 1 or the Willows would close.” Emergency fund-raisers weren’t enough to save it.
Transsexual Jesus Play Draws 300 Protesters In Glasgow
Glasgay! arts festival organizers said “Jesus Queen of Heaven,” written and performed by transsexual playwright Jo Clifford, “had not intended to incite or offend anyone. The Christian protesters gathered outside the theatre ahead of the opening night of the production on Tuesday.”
Station 100 Miles South May Fill St. Louis’ Classical Void
With St. Louis poised to lose its sole classical station, officials at Southeast Missouri State University “say that with a power increase and antenna upgrade at a repeater station in Farmington, the goal is to get classical music to the St. Louis region.”
LA Radio Passes On NEA Opera Honors
“There will be a recurring California motif at the National Endowment for the Arts’ second annual NEA Opera Honors ceremony on Nov. 14 — but there are no plans for the national radio broadcast of the musical proceedings and award presentations to grace Southern California’s airwaves.”
With £90M Acquisition, UK Theatre Has A New Titan
“Yesterday Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire … celebrated the £90 million acquisition that makes their company the largest British theatre operator since the variety era, dwarfing Lord Lloyd-Webber and Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s rival empires.” Their takeover of Live Nation’s theatres “could have distinct consequences for theatregoers, particularly in the regions.”
Leonardo’s Fattest Codex Meets The Public
“With 1,119 pages of drawings and notes, almost all of them in Leonardo’s own hand, the Atlantic Codex is by far the largest set of works by the archetype of universal genius.” Milan’s Biblioteca Ambrosiana is putting all of it on view over the next six years, bit by bit.
Estate Fight Pits Heirs Vs. Museum Of Fine Arts, Houston
“Alfred C. Glassell Jr., founder of Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co., intended to leave about half of his $500 million estate to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and his will should be honored, a lawyer for the museum said.” Lawyers for Glassell’s daughter say the museum took advantage of an old man.
Late-Night TV’s Not Just For White Guys Anymore
“Fox on Saturday launches a weekly showcase for African-American comic Wanda Sykes. Next week” on TBS, “George Lopez becomes the first Latino to host a nightly late-night comedy series on a major network…. And last month saw the arrival of ‘The Mo’Nique Show’ on BET. Is this the Obamafication of the late-night wars?”