Blog

Tyler Perry Writes His Farewell Letter To Madea

“I understood very early on that this mostly blue-collar African-American audience was feeling inspired. They were getting answers to a lot of what was going on in our community that no one was talking about. … I could lift them with humor and use that laughter as an anesthetic and talk about really deep, sensitive issues that were destroying so many of us. – The New York Times

After 20 Years, William Forsythe Is Back To Making Ballet

“‘Give me a little booty! Show off! Glissade, glissade, tombé, ballonné, piqué, yessssss!’ William Forsythe called out ballet steps, bouncing through them on sneakered feet. ‘Let’s go, let’s go!’ sang Barry White as ‘Sha La La Means I Love You’ played over the speakers. … Mr. Forsythe turned happily to a few observers: ‘Isn’t ballet delightful?'” – The New York Times

Philadelphia’s Academy Of Music Is Shedding

Well, it’s really called “spalling” — chipping and splintering by the brick, concrete or other materials on the exterior of the handsome theater, the US’s oldest opera house, now owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra and the venue (these days) for touring musicals, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and Opera Philadelphia. Peter Dobrin explains why it’s happening and what’s being done. – The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Astounding Life Of André Previn

“[He] was not only among the most charismatic performers of his day, but also enjoyed one of the greatest classical-music lives since Berlioz and Liszt.” David Patrick Stearns surveys an amazing lifetime: Not only were there film scores and Broadway shows, Oscars and Grammys, classical compositions galore, music-director posts at major orchestras and prestigious guest conducting gigs — there were comedy shows, TV appearances, five marriages to glamorous women (including a movie star and a world-famous violinist), and what he called “the divorce that didn’t work.” – The Guardian

Broadway Producer And Harper Lee’s Estate Are Shutting Down Local ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ Productions All Over America

“The theaters were planning to stage an adaptation of the novel by the playwright Christopher Sergel, which has been widely staged by adults and students for decades. Lawyers for the producer Scott Rudin, backed by the Lee estate, are telling the theaters that their productions are no longer permissible because there is a new adaptation, by the screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, which opened on Broadway in December.” – The New York Times

Former Balanchine Dancer Sues Balanchine Trust And Its Founder (And She’s A Board Member)

“Susan Gluck, a trustee of the George Balanchine Trust, which administers the rights to perform Balanchine’s ballets, filed a petition Thursday … seeking a full accounting of the financial management of the trust. She danced [under Mr. B. at New York City Ballet] from 1978 to 1986.” Gluck petition charges that Barbara Horgan, for many years Balanchine’s secretary, “has leveraged the trust to consolidate her power … and maximize her income to the detriment of other trust beneficiaries.” – The Washington Post

Edinburgh Wrestles With The Question ‘How Much Festival Can One City Take?’

It’s not just the ever-growing Fringe: the International, Film, and Book Festivals are expanding, too. But yes, the Fringe is the biggest issue: it regularly sets attendance records and is now Scotland’s most lucrative event. But as it continues to surge, the side-product problems are causing worry among residents, campaigners, and the government: “It’s clearly not sustainable, but on several levels. The question that everyone is asking is: is growth the only metric of success you have?” – The Herald (Scotland)