Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theatre has revised plans for the $125 million new home it is trying to build. Whether it will be built is still in question. The Guthrie has only raised $63 million for the project so far, and has been unsuccessful prying money out of the state government. Governor Jesse Ventura vetoed a $24 million appropriation for the project last year.
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Companies Stepping Away From PBS Underwriting
Exxon Mobil has spent $230 million in the past 30 years underwriting PBS’ “Masterpiece Theatre”. No more. “The company wants to target its messages in the environmental realms that more closely align with its businesses. It’s a message public broadcasting executives are hearing frequently these days.” Many companies “are saying they simply have no extra pocket change in the down economy for image messages – the only thing that public television’s strict rules allow – that aren’t directly tied to getting consumers to buy a product. That puts PBS, and local stations that air its programming, in an increasingly difficult situation.”
Russian Dance Legend Dead
“Natalya Dudinskaya, one of the last surviving legends of Soviet ballet, died aged 90 on Wednesday. No other dancer could compare to her lightning-fast cascades razor-edge precise steps. Her dancing technique was once labeled ‘choreographic bel canto,’ a reference to the classic Italian vocal school demonstrated at its best by singers such as Maria Callas.”
Hytner Explains How To Run A Theatre
Nicholas Hytner on his qualifications for running London’s National Theatre: “Of course I’ve never run a theatre, but I’ve always felt a bit of an impresario. I’m a director who’s whored around, kicked around for the right offer – and I’m not talking money. If an affair has looked exciting, I’ve leapt in. Some of my best times have been at the National, going back to the days when I worked here when Richard [Eyre] was director. It’s a good stage of life to be working hard. I’m hungry enough and confident enough to take it on.”
Aussie Movies Earned 5 Percent Of Aussie Boxoffice In 2002
The Australian Film Commission reports that Aussie films earned $41.8 million at the box office last year, representing 4.9 per cent of the total Australian movie market. “The figure is down on both 2001 and 2000 figures, which came in at $63.4 million (7.8 per cent) and $54.2 million (7.9 per cent) respectively.”
Gross Is Fine – Just No Stealing Paintings
As reality TV shows get grosser and more extreme, is there any idea the networks won’t go for? Apparently yes: “We had someone who wanted us to break into the Getty Museum and steal a painting,’ says the creator of such shows as World’s Funniest Hypnotist. Bad ideas like the Getty heist could give a black eye to the whole reality genre, he says, which he believes has a lot of quality entertainment life left in it.”
Gioia Confirmed As New NEA Head
Poet Dana Gioia has been unanimously confirmed by the US Senate as the ninth Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Leading the National Endowment for the Arts is a great privilege and an enormous responsibility. Both the arts and arts education face many challenges at present, and the Endowment has much to do.”
Judge Rules For Metropolitan Opera In Labor Dispute
A federal judge has ruled for the Met Opera in a dispute with the uniuon that represents the opera company’s restaurant workers. The judge said that “the union and its lawyers had victimized the Met through bad faith, willful misconduct, lying and withholding evidence.”
Foster’s Plan For WTC Dead?
Norman Foster’s plans for the World Trade Center site have been all but rejected. “A team of architects rejected his proposal of two crystalline towers because they felt it would not be practical to construct or find tenants to fill. The architects’ recommendation will go to the panel which will make the final decision next week.”
Liverpool Nominated For World Heritage
Liverpool’s historic waterfront has been nominated to be a Unesco World Heritage Site. “Liverpool’s historic buildings are a proud reminder that this was a hugely important maritime and mercantile city on the world stage.” The nomination is also thought to boost the city’s chances to be chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2008.