The modernist Syrian poet Ali Ahmad Said Esber – better known by his pen name, Adonis – is the first Arabic-language author to receive the prestigious €50,000 German literary award.
Author: Matthew Westphal
UK Phone Hacking Scandal Inspires Half A Dozen Plays
“Six volunteers have agreed to allow [London’s Theatre503] access to their voicemails, recordings of which will be passed on to one of six playwrights. … These will then form the basis of six short plays to be premiered at the end of September.”
Debris From Missouri Tornado Is Now Art In Kansas City
“Pieces of twisted metal and scrap wood left behind by a massive tornado that tore through Joplin, Mo., are now sitting in a gallery in Kansas City. The sculptures and paintings from the wreckage are to be sold at auction Saturday.”
Arkansas Arts Center Erases $4 Million In Debt
“Warren Stephens, chairman of the Arkansas Arts Center Foundation, on Monday announced that the foundation had raised $4 million for the Arts Center, eliminating the center’s troublesome debt.”
Montreal Symphony Musicians Adore Their New Concert Hall
After a day of rehearsals, the orchestra’s concertmaster called the new space “one of the greatest halls I’ve ever played in.” Another violinist says the acoustic “has a warm colour to it, not metallic, not harsh.” A veteran clarinetist exclaimed, “People were on Cloud Nine.”
Matthew Bourne Announces First Winner Of His New Young Choreographer Award
“Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures company has announced that 22-year-old James Cousins has won the inaugural New Adventures Choreographer Award (NACA). … The judges, who were ‘bowled over by the standard’ of applications, also decided to create a runner-up prize which has been awarded to 19-year-old Tom Jackson Greaves.”
Not DJs, AJs (‘Aroma Jockeys’) – Nightclub Dancing For The Deaf
“A vibrating dance floor and ‘aroma jockeys’ spreading scents are set to bring a new kind of disco experience to London that can be enjoyed by deaf as well as hearing clubbers.”
How Much Damage Did Tropical Storm Irene Do To Broadway’s Box Office?
With all 23 productions currently on Broadway having shut down for the weekend, the Broadway League reported that ticket sales were down 42% from the previous week, with attendance down 40%.
More Britons Attend Theatre Than Sporting Events, Says Study
“More people in Great Britain attend theatre shows than sports events, according to a new analysis of cultural engagement across Europe. Sports attendance was higher than theatre-going in all … European countries surveyed except Great Britain, the Netherlands and Estonia.”
Tenor Salvatore Licitra In Critical Condition Following Accident
“Licitra lost control of his scooter while out late on Saturday near the [Sicilian] city of Ragusa, fell and struck his head … He was not wearing a helmet.” Hospital officials describe his condition as “stable, but extremely grave.”