Blog

Evita Revival In London

Andrew Lloyd Webber is reviving “Evita” in London. “It was a huge success when it was first staged in 1978 but has not been seen in London for more than 20 years. Argentine singer and actress Elena Roger will take the lead role in the new production when it opens at London’s Adelphi Theatre in June.”

Proposed UK Visa Changes Could Hurt Arts

The UK government wants to “change the system whereby arts companies can enter Britain on a joint visa. This could force every member of a visiting group to apply individually for work permits – and be charged more to do so. The proposals could be disastrous for the arts, said Tim Hawkins, producer of the Edinburgh Fringe’s renowned Aurora Nova festival of foreign performance. ‘We bring about 200-300 foreign performers to the UK each year. If we had to do an individual application for each, it would be a nightmare’.”

Welsh Arts Funding Reform Plan To Be Postponed

Welsh culture minister Alun Pugh is being forced to postpone plans to directly fund his country’s six large arts organizations, taking the process away from the Welsh Arts Council. “There’s a great deal of party political mischief-making going on at the moment. They (the other parties) enjoy giving the government a bloody nose when they can get the arithmetic.”

What It All Means Beyond Oscar

Are there any, shall we say, larger societal meanings behind what movies snap up Oscar nominations? You know there had to be: “To some, Oscar night – and the movies it celebrates – has become a Rorschach test for a self-absorbed industry out of touch with mainstream tastes. Other culture watchers, though, insist that the cinematic tribute reflects, and even guides, America’s collective direction and values. As that debate rages on, at least one larger trend is evident in nominations of recent years, including this one: From biopics to message films, audiences and creators alike seem to be drawn to “reality”-based movies – both in content and technique.”

More Bad News For Troubled Washington Ballet

Rebecca Wright, director of the company’s school, has died. “Wright’s death falls especially hard on the institution because she had directed the school only since September 2004. Wright, 58, was the first successor to founder Mary Day, who had run the school for 60 years. Wright had been brought on to continue Day’s tradition of nationally recognized excellence, said Artistic Director Septime Webre, but she barely got a chance.”

Bringing Opera To The Marines (Thanks To The NEA)

“Opera is the latest joint venture between the NEA and the Department of Defense. The endowment first brought Shakespeare to 18 military bases in 2004. Last year, famous authors helped troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan write their stories. Bringing opera to 39 military bases around the country was even more adventurous, but NEA staff members have been pleased by the response. People had to be turned away from performances at Fort Carson, Colo., and Picatinny Arsenal in Wharton, N.J.”

Chief Exec Out At Fort Worth Orchestra

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra president Katherine Akos has left the orchestra a year before her contract was to expire. Why? “The orchestra matured and so many great things happened at a speed that outpaced the internal infrastructure in the organization. They’re having some growing pains, and it’s unfortunate when people get caught up in it.”

Wendy Wasserstein’s Legacy

“In a sense, Wasserstein made Broadway safe for feminism, in a wave of women dramatists (Beth Henley, Marsha Norman, Tina Howe) who cracked the male-dominated repertoire of Broadway and regional theater in the 1980s. Ms. Wasserstein’s penchant for writing appealing romantic comedies made her work more commercially viable than that of most of her peers. And while clearly expressing a belief in equal rights, she was just as focused on depicting a post-feminist ambivalence many women in her audiences shared.”