Category: theatre

“Disney’s deep pockets, in an era when Broadway producers struggle to raise money, has turned cruise theater into a plum opportunity for those who aren’t soured by strictures like blending venerable Disney characters and songs into new shows.”

“Beat Generation, a three-act play rediscovered in a New Jersey warehouse in 2005, will be staged for the first time this October [at a festival] in Kerouac’s hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts.”

“The American musical had its origins as popular entertainment, coming from vaudeville and operetta, and while it has always been primarily a for-profit business, it was an essential part of the cultural landscape. Over the past few decades, however, the market reach of musicals has been reduced to a very specific niche market while the artistic ambitions of the artists that create it have continued to grow and evolve.” But without a Broadway-style band, forget it.

“The closure will mean layoffs for about 15 permanent staff, a loss of work for about 200 contractors, and ripple effects across the theatre community in Vancouver and beyond.”

It’s the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre. “We can’t continue operations with the amount of debt that we have and no realistic way of paying it back,” said Playhouse theatre company chair Jeff Schulz.

“We mustn’t underestimate the appeal of the West End. The Olympics is not going to be as disruptive as we feel… life’s not going to cease while these games are going on.”

“Everyone seems to believe they will (or have) discover(ed) some brand of theatre that will save the art, making it more resonant and vital, returning audiences to the live theatre, crushing film and television and blah blah blah. Often these grievances and corresponding solutions are tied (somehow) to solving the financial crisis we face. I call bullshit.”

The program of events isn’t up yet, but “the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has bowed to external pressure and has started selling tickets for this year’s event through its own website.”

That’s because he’s the same guy: Antoni Cimolino. This is “an earlier transfer of power than originally expected, as current artistic director Des McAnuff will now be leaving a year ahead of schedule.”

The former assistant director in North Yorkshire’s Georgian Theatre Royal dies, but goes on caring for his theatre.