“Declining church attendance is playing a role, as is the growth of nondenominational congregations … that pine for a more modern aesthetic. … To attract business, some artisans are even steering clear of using the term ‘stained glass’ because it carries connotations of fusty old churches … [and are] targeting projects without religious overtones.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
Casting, And Wrangling, The Kids In NY City Ballet’s “Nutcracker”
It’s a tricky process, says the company’s children’s ballet master: “You want the best kids for the part, but they have to be the right size. So much is based on the look of it, and they have to fit together.
Forget Standing In Line At The Mall: Today’s Kids Talk To Santa By Video Chat
“With children glued to screens at ever-earlier ages – the average age of initial interaction is 11 months, according to one study – a raft of digital services have emerged to put Santa in the palm of their little hands.”
John Waters Has Remade “Pink Flamingos” With, And For, Kids
Says the auteur of the G-rated 74-minute video Kiddie Flamingos, “It’s a conceptual art piece. It’s really only your perverted mind that makes it not innocent.”
Top Posts From AJBlogs 12.23.14
Monday Recommendation: Holly Hofmann
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2014-12-22
Lookback: was Johnny Mercer a poet?
AJBlog: About Last Night Published 2014-12-23
Problems with data: measuring diversity
AJBlog: For What It’s Worth Published 2014-12-21
Should nonprofit museums have free admission because they are tax exempt?
AJBlog: For What It’s Worth Published 2014-12-20
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Moody’s Lowers Metropolitan Opera’s Credit Rating
“The Metropolitan Opera’s decision to once again use its monumental Chagall murals as collateral for loans was one of the factors Moody’s Investors Service cited on Monday when it downgraded the company’s credit rating, noting the company’s ‘weakened financial profile’.”
It’s Official: Renée Fleming Is Headed To Broadway
The soprano superstar will reprise her role as an opera diva in playwright Joe DiPietro’s Living on Love, in which she performed this past summer at the Williamstown Theater Festival.
Board Fires CEO Of Queens Library System In NYC
“The library’s Board of Trustees axed Galante on Wednesday after reviewing his expense accounts, which included charging more than $40,000 to his library credit card for food, alcohol and entertainment. Galante is still facing federal and city probes into how he managed library funds.”
British Theatre Unions Working On New Agreements For Non-West End Houses
“Industry body UK Theatre is working with unions Equity, BECTU and the Musicians’ Union on a joint initiative to overhaul its existing collective agreements for performers, backstage staff and musicians working outside the West End.”
The Best Director On American Television?
Matt Zoller Seitz nominates Michelle MacLaren. “Her visual chops are undeniable, but the managerial skills she honed while toiling on the logistical side of showbiz are an equally important part of her success. TV is art made under pressure. … MacLaren approaches the job with a stoic unflappability leavened by nonchalant Canadian cheer.”