“Dreams and fantasies aren’t easily conjured in live theater during the best of times – much less those in which Opera Company [of Philadelphia]’s L’Enfant budget was cut from $250,000 to $150,000 in mid-season. But at a time when fantasy should be less practical than ever, theatrical capabilities have caught up with the imaginations of some of the 20th century’s most fantastical minds.” Which is to say, technology has stepped in where busy scenery might have been.
Author: Laura Collins Hughes
Philadelphia’s WHYY Lays Off 8 Percent Of Staff
“With a surprise announcement, WHYY laid off 16 full-time workers and one part-timer yesterday as part of what the organization characterized as ‘an employee restructuring plan’ designed to keep the budget balanced while WHYY moves ‘in new directions.’ The move, encompassing 8 percent of WHYY’s staff, should trim about $1.2 million in salary and benefits,” and countered what employees said had been management’s continual reassurances “that the station was economically healthy.”
Obama May Be Publishing’s Midas, But There’s A Catch
The book Hugo Chavez handed to President Obama on Saturday “went from No. 54,295 on Amazon to No. 2 in two days — after four, it remains strong, at No. 7. The implications, it seems, are a) that everything Obama touches turns to gold, and b) if a struggling author wants instant success, the surest route is to stand next to him and press her book into his presidential hands. The real problem here is the ‘stand next to him’ part.”
Roger Ebert Gives $1 Million For U. Of Illinois Film Studies
“Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert and his wife, Chaz, have made a gift of $1 million toward creation of the Roger Ebert Program for Film Studies Fund at the University of Illinois, his alma mater. The gift was announced during the 11th annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival in Champaign.”
Blame Hollywood For Wall Street’s Greed, Sleight Of Hand
“Though America’s captains of finance have been pilloried for their greed and though the financial collapse has been attributed to avarice, the collapse may actually have had less to do with greed per se than with a certain mindset that seems to have been adopted by Wall Street from Hollywood. In short, you can blame the Hollywoodization of Wall Street for our economic woes.”
With A Museum In Planning Stages, Its Collection Dwindles
“Henry Varnum Poor, who died in 1970, is little known now, but he painted landscapes, portraits and murals in a loose, Picasso-like style; created ceramics that are in the collections of museums like the Art Institute of Chicago; and built a few houses for famous friends like Burgess Meredith and Maxwell Anderson.” The artist’s home “is slated to become a museum and artists’ residence,” but his son “still owns the contents … and he has begun selling major pieces or donating them to museums.”
One Day Only On Albert Hall Walls: Its History In Graffiti
“The venerable Royal Albert Hall has commissioned street artists to transform the blank walls of its loading bay with graffiti art for a unique one-day exhibition. LOAD will chronicle the venue’s rich 138-year history coving performances by legendary artists such as Jimi Hendrix, pictured, Pavarotti, Eric Clapton, The Killers and Frank Sinatra.”
Itinerant Anti-Gay Church To Protest Rent At Calif. School
“A Kansas-based church known for celebrating at the funerals of American soldiers killed in war plans to protest the staging of the musical ‘Rent’ at an Orange County high school Friday. The Westboro Baptist Church intends to picket at Corona del Mar High as classes let out and as audience members arrive for the play. Counter-protesters also plan to attend.”
Murakami Prints From Handbag Leftovers Spark Fraud Suit
“They may not have realized it, but the folks who snapped up as much as $4-million worth of limited-edition prints by artist Takashi Murakami two years ago at the special Louis Vuitton boutique inside his exhibition at L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art apparently were getting nicely mounted handbags — minus the snaps and straps.” One man who’s sued Vuitton says that’s fraud.
Taking A Tip From Ira Glass Et Al, WNYC Shows Its Faces
“On Tuesday WNYC radio’s Jerome L. Greene Performance Space will open its doors on Charlton and Varick Streets in Lower Manhattan,” offering passers-by the chance “to peer in on public radio in the making” as various popular shows “begin monthly broadcasts before audiences there. But the space, envisioned as a laboratory in which to rethink public radio as an interactive medium, will also host concerts, audio theater and political debates, many streamed live on thegreenespace.org.”