“Greer Reed-Jones has been named to replace Beth Corning as artistic dire[c]tor of Dance Alloy Theater. Corning resigned last week and the board immediately promoted Reed-Jones,” the company’s education director, who is a former Alvin Ailey ensemble member and a former principal dancer for Dayton Contemporary Dance Ensemble.
Author: Laura Collins Hughes
Suicides Of Maestro And Wife Raise Issues Of Ethics, Law
“[E]ven among those who support decriminalizing assisted suicide, Sir Edward’s death raised troubling questions. Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said in a BBC interview that the growing numbers of Britons going abroad to die, and the manner of their deaths, made it more urgent to amend Britain’s laws. There are ‘no safeguards, no brakes on the process at all,’ she said.”
Appreciation: Conductor Edward Downes
“He was not one of the notorious titans of the orchestra pit: there was no controversial wartime past; there were no stories of sudden rages, or reclusive obsessions of the sort that made some conductors infamous even to people who never heard them perform. There was just a much-respected man, with a determined character, fine musical judgment and commitment to his work.”
Survey: Most Wealthy Donors Haven’t Scaled Back Giving
“A survey by Barclays Wealth of 500 wealthy individuals in the UK and US revealed that around 75pc had not reduced their contributions to charity, while more than one in four had increased their giving in the last 18 months.” At the same time, “the report indicated that donors were becoming more discerning about how they donated their money.”
Skylight Opera Invites Fired A.D. Back; He Says No
“Bill Theisen, the Skylight Opera Theatre artistic director who was cut loose in a budget-trimming measure in June, was asked by the board to return to his post. He has declined the offer,” citing what he called “a breach of trust.”
Vatican OKs Potter Prince — And Other Surprising Movies
“The Church has a tangled, fraught history with Hollywood’s offerings. The U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops has a whole site dedicated to evaluating whether films are appropriate for Catholics, including their top ten films for every year since 1965. While the Vatican’s condemnatory reactions to movies generally make for splashier headlines, the Church also has often embraced important films throughout cinematic history….”
Why Catcher ‘Sequel,’ Banned Or Not, Isn’t Worth Reading
“[John David] California’s grip on the material is about as steady as, say, a nonagenarian’s on a heavy paperweight. Among the more ludicrous aspects of the novel is that California imitates Salinger’s style by having the 76-year-old C think and talk exactly as Holden did at age 16.”
Publishers Weigh Risks, Rewards Of Later E-Book Release
“No topic is more hotly debated in book circles at the moment than the timing, pricing and ultimate impact of e-books on the financial health of publishers and retailers. Publishers are grappling with e-book release dates partly because they are trying to understand how digital editions affect demand for hardcover books. A hardcover typically sells for anywhere from $25 to $35, while the most common price for an e-book has quickly become $9.99.”
Art Dealer Salander’s No. 2 Is Charged As He’s Re-Arrested
“New York’s biggest-ever art fraud investigation claimed another casualty yesterday, when three- decade art market veteran Leigh Morse was arrested for her role as Lawrence B. Salander’s right-hand woman. … The office of Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau announced three additional counts against [Salander] and he pleaded not guilty. “
Why We Can’t Resist Watching People Dance
“It seems that every few weeks or so brings a new YouTube video sensation that features people dancing in public, usually in unison and in large groups. … The popularity of these videos speaks to something innately attractive about watching random people subsume themselves into a larger mass of synchronized bodies. Is the appeal instinctual? Sociological? Psychological?”