“The billionaire Campbell Soup Co. heiress … has given support, much of it quite substantial, to the University of the Arts, the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Main Line Health, the Morris Arboretum, WHYY, the Philadelphia Museum of Art,” and numerous educational endeavors.
Author: Matthew Westphal
Three More NY City Ballet Stars Are Headed To Broadway
“Today, principal Robert Fairchild is currently headlining the West End production of An American in Paris, [having been nominated for a Tony in the Broadway production,] while soloist Georgina Pazcoguin has been on a leave of absence this past year to play Victoria in the Broadway revival of CATS. When the just-announced revival of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic Carousel opens on Broadway in March 2018, we’ll be adding three more names to the list: …
Top Posts From AJBlogs 04.18.17
Doin’ It: Performing Arts
In my last three posts I have been exploring participatory experiences as being an important element in the work of arts organizations. This week I want to talk about participatory experiences in the performing arts. … read more
AJBlog: Engaging Matters Published 2017-04-18
Butch Morris’s workbook for spontaneous composition published
The deathbed wish of composer-cornetist Lawrence Douglas “Butch” Morris (1947-2013) was that his detailed documentation of Conduction®, the method he devised to enable spontaneous composition for ensembles of literally any type employing codified hand-signals, be published … read more
AJBlog: Jazz Beyond Jazz Published 2017-04-18
Amidst Villar Rojas’ Chaotic Ruins on Met’s Roof Garden, Dan Weiss Sets Me Straight (with video)
“Barratt’s Back,” I announced in the erroneous headline of a recent post. It seems that she never left. … read more
AJBlog: CultureGrrl Published 2017-04-18
Which Is More Harmful To The Arts: Elitism Or Populism?
Liesl Schillinger: “Those of a populist mind-set attack so-called elitist art forms as boring; those of an elitist mind-set attack so-called populist art forms as facile and unworthy. But in either case, it’s usually the mind-set, not the work itself, that raises hackles.”
Adam Kirsch: “The truth is, however, that few writers ever make a conscious choice between elitism and populism, difficulty and accessibility. Writers write as their minds and fates compel them to.”
Podcasters Are Bringing Alcoholics Anonymous Into The Digital Age
While there’s no such thing as an “official” podcast for any 12-step program, “plug ‘AA’ or ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ or ‘Recovery’ into your iTunes search and you’ll find the options are abundant and growing.” Emanuel Cavallaro meets several of the people making and distributing these podcasts.
Skaters Put An Art-Deco Half-Pipe Inside ‘Detroit’s Largest Art Object’
“It’s a sight Fisher Building architect Albert Kahn couldn’t fathom in 1928: a five-foot mini-ramp packed with skateboarders in one of his greatest architectural achievements. In Detroit, such a brash juxtaposition is becoming the norm.”
Ah, The Aromas Of Old Books (And The Science Behind Them)
A group of London researchers have analyzed samples of various tomes and developed a vocabulary for describing books’ scents similar to the language used for discussing wines. (Yes, this can have some practical uses.)
Theatre Criticism Needs A ‘Diversity Upgrade’ – And Here’s A New Program To Give It One
“While U.S. theatres have a long way to go in terms of equity, diversity, and inclusion, they are a multicultural utopia compared to the narrow demographics of those who write about the thea¬tre … That’s why American Theatre is proud this year to help administer an arts journalism track as part of the Rising Leaders of Color Program.”
Vanessa Redgrave Directs Her First Film
“The sight of a Syrian toddler’s lifeless body washed up on a Turkish beach was among the horrors that drove Vanessa Redgrave to make her directorial debut with a feature documentary about the refugee crisis, she said.”
Christine Goerke – How A Mozart Soprano Overcame A Vocal Crisis And Became Everyone’s New Favorite Brünnhilde
“[It was] a challenge akin to a top pitching prospect’s deciding to become an outfielder. … She struggled through lean years without much work as she reinvented herself, taking on credit card debt for the first time as she and her husband raised a family in suburban New Jersey.”