Hatch and his wife, artist and filmmaker Camille Billops, “created a vast archive of interviews with black actors, singers, writers and artists. … He became an expert in the history of black theater, not only rediscovering overlooked works but also unearthing the black origins of elements that had been appropriated by white playwrights and entertainers.” – The New York Times
Blog
Our Story Is Not Ended: Chay Yew On His Last, Closed Play And The Future Of Theatre
Yew, who was ending his run as artistic director of Victory Gardens in Chicago: “We will emerge with new stories to tell. We will revisit old tales that give our lives new meaning and sustenance. We will find innovative ways to see and think. We will found new spaces for our stories; they may again be in shuttered storefronts, church basements, or around the fire, as when we first told stories. New homes will be built by a new generation of American artists, and they will be more equitable and inclusive than our current ones.” – American Theatre
Great Classical Music, Theatre, And Dance Now Online
This week’s edition of what we can watch while stuck at home and missing all of the culture outside our walls. – The New York Times
What Does A Delayed Cannes Mean For World Cinema?
Er, maybe move online this year, film festivals? “Cannes organizers are looking at the possibility of postponing the event by about six weeks, until late June, in the optimistic hope that the contagion will have abated and that cinephiles will once again feel comfortable taking long flights and sitting in crowded theaters elbow to elbow with coughing strangers. Yes, that’s one of the many signatures of Cannes, infinitely less glamorous than the red-carpet premieres and black-tie dress code: Nearly every screening is accompanied by a surround-sound cacophony of wheezes and sniffles.” – Variety
Chicago Neighborhood Sings Bon Jovi From Quaratine
Inspired by Italy, Rogers Park got itself together to sing the popular 1980s rocker’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.” The singer himself joined in via Instagram, and a local radio station changed its playlist so the song would start precisely at 7 pm. “As the final chorus hit, one neighbor even began tossing rose petals out of the window while singing.” – Block Club Chicago
Broadway Unions Reach Deal With Producers To Help Workers For A Few Weeks
The “emergency relief agreement” negotiated by the Broadway League and 14 different unions created an agreement “to pay hundreds of actors, musicians, stagehands and others for the first few weeks of the industry shutdown, and to cover their health insurance for at least a month.” – The New York Times
EuroVision Is Canceled; Long Live AlternaVision?
That’s not its official name, and it won’t be a competition, but EuroVision organizers said “the show will ‘honour the songs and artists’ that were due to take part of the contest this May.” – BBC
What Theatre Can Do For Humanity In The Midst Of This Unprecedented Crisis
First of all, theatre can acknowledge the uncertainty, anxiety, grief, and pain of this time – and the resilience that so many people are bringing right now. “Some theatres … have recorded performances, and many others are doing or considering live streaming. That is a good start. After this crisis passes, we will also need to equip education and community engagement departments with the funds and technology tools needed to make our work more accessible to our communities—the future of our field and our future audiences depend on it. I remain hopeful we can do it. Theatre people are nothing if not resourceful and adaptable.” – American Theatre
The Race To Save The Art Of The Most Famous Sculptor We’ve Never Heard Of
Luisa Roldán revolutionized the use of terra cotta for small devotional figurines and was a court sculptor for the final Hapsburg Spanish king – in the 1690s. Her work was sent to Mexico and England. So why don’t more of us know about her? – Hyperallergic
Kenny Rogers, Who Brought Country To Pop And Sang With The Muppets And Dolly Parton, Has Died At 81
Rogers was the original country star selling out arenas, long before Garth Brooks or Shania Twain in the 1990s. “Rogers’s popularity stemmed partly from his genial persona and rugged good looks, but also from his ability to inhabit his material, which, he often said, was of two main types: love songs like ‘You Decorated My Life’ and narrative ballads like ‘The Gambler’ and ‘Lucille.'” – The New York Times