The announcement comes nearly 15 years after Kain assumed the creative reins in 2005 and 50 years after joining the company as a dancer in 1969. Kain commissioned and acquired 65 works for the company, and is directing and staging a new “Swan Lake” in June 2020. – Toronto Star
Blog
Four Different Operas In 48 Hours – A Logistical Marvel
The new schedule of matinees on Saturday and Sunday means that the Met sometimes mounts four different productions in the 48 hours between Friday and Sunday evening — a truly herculean task that the company performs on a scale that is unusual, if not unique, in the world. – The New York Times
Twyla Tharp’s Message: Keep Moving!
“The figures are still shocking in terms of people who don’t exercise or who are not aware of the reality that diet is actually extremely important,” she said. “If you want to have a future, you’ve got to provide for that now.” – The New York Times
20 Comedy Sketches That Helped Define The Last 20 Years
“The past two decades have been especially defining for the medium. The Internet, social media, politics, social mores, and public discourse on race and gender have altered dramatically; sketch comedy has not only reflected that, but has also helped propel those changes forward.” – Washington Post
The Early American Temples To Democracy Were Only Possible Because Of… Slave Labor
The uplifting symbolic content of civic buildings such as the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond or the University of Virginia in Charlottesville came at the expense of human freedom, as slave labor was responsible for both. How could Jefferson countenance the use of slaves in the construction of a democratic architecture? The obvious answer: money. Much could be saved with enslaved labor, and more could be made by owners who rented slaves out. – Metropolis
Future Fair Proposes A Revenue Share Model For Art Fairs. But Will It Work?
Inclusion in fairs can be make-or-break for galleries, especially smaller ones. But it feels as though the balance of power is shifting back to exhibitors. This might well be overdue when it comes to the larger fairs, but it puts the organisers of smaller events in a difficult spot in a survival-of-the-fittest world. – The Art Newspaper
There Is No Such Thing As The Brooklyn Accent
For all the lore that exists around “Brooklynese” (not to mention the insistence of the Brooklyn borough president), a pair of linguistics researchers found that there was no evidence for the existence of an accent particular to Brooklyn (as opposed to New York City as a whole) and that roughly three-quarters of respondents, native New Yorkers and out-of-towners alike, could not distinguish between borough accents. – Gothamist
At The Center Of Theatre That Works: The Stage Manager
In a field known for big egos and explosive emotions, stage managers combine calm, nimbleness and competence that balances left- and right-brain attributes. They have to have an eye for detail, drillmaster-like discipline, psychological finesse and artistic flair. In short, nothing gets off the ground without them. – The Star-Tribune (Mpls)
There Was One City In Renaissance Italy Where Women Artists Flourished
“Why was Bologna, the largest city in northern Italy, so receptive to women artists? … ‘A few factors include the city’s unusual political structure and the diversity of artistic patronage, from the lower-middle class up, the liberalizing presence of the university, and an already-existing tradition of accomplished women in other cultural sectors (that is, besides the visual arts).'” – Hyperallergic
Eastman School Orchestra Tours China – But China Says S. Korean Students Can’t Come. Eastman Agrees To Go Anyway
Since 2016, China has blocked South Korean artists from performing. “We were suddenly caught right in the middle of this. It was really a challenging decision to make,” said dean Jamal Rossi. “Do we continue the tour without the valued colleagues or do we still go forward?” – 13WHAM