“Matt Hanczaryk, 39, a South Philly self-described recovering Catholic and indiscriminate existentialist, says: ‘I was walking around the galleries like I was in a beautiful funeral, then I saw her and it woke me from that reverie.'”
Author: Matthew Westphal
At Cannes, At Long Last, Progress For Women
“After years in which the festival was criticized for favoring male auteurs, this year three female directors have strong films in competition … Even if Cannes’s selection, like the film industry itself, hardly achieves gender parity, there’s been more conversation this year about the challenges of getting more women behind the camera and in front of it.”
This Civil Servant Wrote A Guide Based Entirely On Public Information – And Was Charged With Revealing Government Secrets
Said the magistrate, “This is one of the clearest cases for [an acquittal] that I’ve seen in my 26 years being here.”
‘A Twisty Tale Of Mayhem And Allegorical Ridiculousness’ – 20 Years Of Pig Iron Theatre Company
Co-founder Dito van Reigersberg says the company was “super-not-built-to-last, which is maybe why it did. The three of us were really interested in working together on projects, not in creating an institution, so we fashioned just enough infrastructure to support the plays we wanted to make – an impulse that kept us pretty scrappy.”
Yes, We Need Shocking Theatre – But In Limited Doses
Michael Billington: “Several recent experiences have led me to believe there is a vital distinction to be made between the moral awakening that comes from shock and the visceral impact of unmitigated horror.” (E.g., King Lear versus Titus Andronicus)
Teacher Suspended For Selling Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ To Students At A Loss
“Todd Friedman, a 29-year public-school veteran who teaches at Midwood High School [in Brooklyn], was put on administrative duty – and faces possible termination – after the city Department of Education slapped him with disciplinary charges. His crime: He personally ordered 102 paperback copies of the novel from a publisher last September for his Advanced Placement students.”
Robin Wright Fought For Equal Pay With Kevin Spacey For ‘House Of Cards’ – And Won
“I was looking at statistics and Claire Underwood’s character was more popular than [Frank’s] for a period of time. So I capitalized on that moment. I was like, ‘You better pay me or I’m going to go public.’ And they did.”
Opera Star Leaves Stage, Founds Political Party And Runs For Parliament
Georgian bass Paata Burchuladze: “I am forced to leave the sweet and good life of an opera career and go into politics. This is not because I’m a good person or politician, but because the country is in a very bad condition. … We will have strong representation in parliament and we will cooperate with all parties. All Georgia is currently on our side.”
Brazil’s New President Abolishes Culture Ministry
“Acting President Michel Temer, who took over last week after president Dilma Rousseff’s suspension for an impeachment trial, has cut the number of ministries from 32 to 23 in a measure he says will help streamline a bloated government. However merging the culture portfolio into the education ministry has provoked a storm of protest led by the country’s cultural elite.”
What The Canadian Opera/National Post Review-Spiking Affair Portends
“I don’t think anyone will notice the difference soon, but it will be arts organisations like the COC who will lose most from the absence of critics in the mainstream press.”