Author: Laura Collins Hughes

What’s The Point Of A Visiting Theatre Professor At Oxford?

Michael Frayn will be the next visiting professor of contemporary theatre at Oxford University, succeeding Kevin Spacey in a “starry professorship” that “seems to be more of a PR exercise than a serious academic proposal. Frayn is a respectable, intellectual choice but Oxford does not even have a drama department at which he is expected to lecture.”

Dear United Airlines: You Broke My Guitar.

“Next time an airline loses or breaks your luggage, try shaming them with a song and a video. That’s what a little-known Canadian country and western singer did after he claimed that his Taylor acoustic guitar had been damaged by baggage handlers at Chicago’s O’Hare airport last year. United Breaks Guitars has become a YouTube sensation and provided Dave Carroll with the biggest hit of his career.”

Are Publishing’s Fall Releases Too Much Of A Good Thing?

“Many publishers are saying their fall catalogs are their strongest in years, and after last fall, an unqualified disaster that left the industry demoralized and diminished, much is at stake as their hopes are tested. … With optimism, however, comes worry–particularly because shoving every major release into the same three months could very well result in a traffic jam that will benefit no one.”

Legit Heir And Maybe-Relative Tussle Over Molnar Estate

“[W]hen a family history has been segmented by the Holocaust and spans generations, continents, religions and ultimately sensibilities, separating truth from mythology can be like trying to unmix two shades that went into making the same can of paint. That, at least, is one way to interpret the battle between Elizabeth Rhodes and Gabor Lukin over the estate of the Hungarian playwright and novelist Ferenc Molnar, who died in 1952.”

Picketers Target First Wives Club Backers At Old Globe

“When the musical version of ‘The First Wives Club’ opens July 31 at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, audiences can expect some juicy drama — outside the theater doors, that is.” Two New York producers who plan to take the show to Broadway “have allegedly stiffed their former employees out of money, and — like the heroines of the musical — the wronged parties are seeking sweet revenge.”

Report: Moscow’s Architectural Heritage Is Being Erased

“Moscow’s skyline and architectural heritage are on the verge of being destroyed forever because of low-quality renovations and thoughtless demolition, according to a report released yesterday by a group of Russian and international activists. … The problems have been blamed on a lack of legal consequences for developers who ruin listed buildings.”

Umm, About Staging Siegfried During The High Holidays …

“Now that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has defused Mike Antonovich’s potentially embarrassing attempt to change the focus of Los Angeles Opera’s Ring Festival from Wagner…, I hope it is safe to point out that the company’s troubles may not be completely over. Unfortunately, its next installment in the cycle, ‘Siegfried,’ opens on Sept. 26, in the midst of the Jewish High Holidays” — and it’s the “most problematic of the cycle” in terms of stereotyping.

LACMA Curators Leaving In Higher Than Normal Numbers

“The museum’s curatorial ranks have dwindled as key staff members have retired or moved on to new positions. A search for a Chinese art specialist has dragged on for nearly three years, and five curators have left this year or will depart soon. With a hiring freeze in effect, the situation raises questions about how long the vacancies will remain open. Until the economy improves? Forever?”