Author: ArtsJournal2

Even Disney Plus, Which Just Got To Europe, Will Reduce Its Streaming Load

Why? Because everyone’s at home – and everyone needs bandwidth. “European Commissioner Thierry Breton had asked streamers to take measures to prevent congestion on the internet. One of the suggestions he presented was switching to standard definition when high-definition was not necessary.” Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Disney, and Netflix are among those answering the call to reduce streaming quality. – Los Angeles Times

Debbie Allen, Ben Platt, And Other Celebrities Host Instagram Dance Classes And Parties

Debbie Allen, star and choreographer of Fame, has been hosting dance lessons and classes since Wednesday. “‘While all of us are dealing with this uncertainty and darkness, we will bring the light right here on the dance floor,’ she told her class which amassed to over 89,000 students, as she blasted Fame‘s titular song.” (And don’t forget about #QuaranTunes.) – The Hollywood Reporter

Suzy Delair, Who Starred In Movies And Music Halls, Has Died At 102

Delair starred in Laurel and Hardy’s last movie, but she was best known for starring in 1940s thrillers directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, some of which were made during the Nazi occupation of Paris. She had begun singing in cafés when she was 14, which is how she met the director and, eventually, became a movie star – but she never stopped singing. – The New York Times

All Of The Dead Sea Scrolls At The Museum Of The Bible Are Fakes, Study Says

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Did you think the owner of Hobby Lobby paid too much for something that wasn’t authenticated so he could put it in his museum? You were correct. “Experts have confirmed what has long been suspected: the artifacts proudly displayed in the nation’s capital by the owners of the Hobby Lobby chain of stores are not part of one of the most significant archaeological finds of all time. They are worthless forgeries, probably made from old shoe leather.” – The Guardian (UK)

Actors’ Equity Mounts A Letter-Writing Campaign For Laid-Off Workers

Here’s part of the letter (note: not a lot of actors are “middle-class” either) for the campaign as shared in tweets on Sunday: “Now is the time for Congress and local governments to put workers first to ensure that everyone who works in the arts and entertainment sector has access to emergency paid leave, health care and unemployment benefits. Payroll tax cuts won’t help those whose theaters are now dark. For every middle-class actor you see onstage, there are dozens more working behind the scenes and in an administrative capacity.” – Los Angeles Times

Some Theatres Have Hired Film Crews Quickly So ‘All That Work Wouldn’t Be Lost’ To The Shutdown

At Signature Theatre in Arlington, Va., the staff hired a crew to film a new play whose run was supposed to last until March 29 – and the theatre is shut until March 30. The idea is not 100 percent figured out yet, and there are definitely Equity and other union issues to discuss, but … “The theater decided it might be able to show the play to patrons still holding tickets by giving them special access to the film online. … Many companies, like Signature, are asking people to donate the cost of those unused tickets to help defray expenses at an uncertain juncture.” – The Washington Post