Outdoor theatre was a risky bet in 2020, but in the Berkshires, it more than paid off. The artistic director of the Barrington Stage Company on the conversation that changed this winter’s planning: “My development director almost passed out.” – The New York Times
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Is Hollywood Changing For Women Of Color?
Well, the two actors who responded in this interview had their own show when they did the interview – but by publication time, it was gone. Gabrielle Union: “When you talk about who is in positions of power, who has the ability to green-light something, who has the ability to help get someone paid, who has the ability to keep something on the air or yank it off … we are under-indexed on positions of power that control this town.” – Vulture
Two Museums Tried To Deaccession Some Art Through Sotheby’s Last Week
But only the Baltimore Museum caught so much grief that it “paused” its sale. The Brooklyn Museum? Well, its sales were “almost $20 million for seven works by artists including Henri Matisse, Joan Miró and Claude Monet.” What’s up with the tale of two museums? – The New York Times
Britain’s So-Called Equalities Minister Suggested That Some Black Authors Wanted Racial Division
More than 100 British authors reacted quickly. “The allegation here is not only clearly false but dangerous. It risks endangering the personal safety of anti-racist writers. In recent years progressive writers, politicians and activists across Europe and the United Kingdom have been physically attacked and killed by far-right extremists.” – The Guardian (UK)
Turns Out Universal Accessibility At Museums Can Help During A Pandemic
For instance, the Guggenheim’s audio guide, “Mind’s Eye,” was designed for the blind and low-vision community. Now it’s also serving the sighted people who miss the musuem. “It’s a vivid escape for those of us stuck inside during the pandemic.” – NPR
Games Are The New Battleground (State)
Games, and their social context, are where many people shape their political ideas. And, of course, they’re where candidates go as well. “The presidential campaign for Joe Biden took the former vice president’s message to Animal Crossing, where players could visit a Biden HQ island. And on Oct. 19, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) proved to be an affable Twitch personality when she brought a low-key get-out-the-vote effort to indie game sensation Among Us.” – Los Angeles Times
The NEH Will Pay To Erect New Statues Of Columbus And Others
In an open slap at protesters who took down statues they considered to be celebratory of racism, colonialism, and sexism, Trump’s National Endowment for the Humanities is giving money to rebuild or repair three toppled statues. – The New York Times
Even Its Founders Couldn’t Figure Out How To Market Quibi
They tried, sort of. When app downloads dropped, they brought in experts. “The marketing experts pitched multiple ideas to shake up Quibi’s approach. One plan was to heavily promote several marquee shows on the app, similar to how Netflix used House of Cards to legitimize itself.” But the founders weren’t into it. – Los Angeles Times
What Is Novelist Elizabeth Strout Doing To Stay Culturally Alert During The Pandemic?
The author of Olive Kitteredge (for which she won a Pulitzer) and many other novels, including 2019’s Olive, Again, just fell for the playing of pianist Hélène Grimaud, and continues to find Edward Hopper’s art comforting. – The Guardian (UK)
Sean Connery, Scottish Definer Of James Bond, 90
Connery was Bond for seven films and embodied him for many Bond fans. He dismayed those fans “by walking away from the Bond franchise and went on to have a long and fruitful career as a respected actor and an always bankable star.” – The New York Times