“One press agent calls it ‘votergate.’ A veteran producer says it’s ‘a problem that has been going on for years.’ And a former drama critic says it’s a scandal people ‘bitch and moan about’ but one that the theater industry does ‘absolutely nothing to police.’ They are talking about Tony voters who do not bother to see all the nominated shows but vote for candidates in all the categories nonetheless.”
Tag: 06.02.04
Ontario To Stop Censoring Films
By early 2005, Canada’s largest province will end nearly a century of film censorship, thanks to recent court rulings and a decision by the provincial government of Ontario not to fight for the survival of such practices. Ontario has always required that films be presented to its Film Review Board for possible censorship before being released to the public. The government is considering implementing an American-style ratings system to replace the review board.
Karmazin Quits Viacom – Is Stern Finished?
Mel Karmazin has resigned as chairman of Viacom, the media conglomerate that owns CBS and radio giant Infinity Broadcasting. The resignation is likely to have ripple effects throughout the media world, as several Disney board members are known to have been courting Karmazin as a replacement for embattled CEO Michael Eisner. Additionally, Karmazin’s departure could spell the end for controversial radio host Howard Stern, whom Karmazin allowed a very long creative leash which is unlikely to be matched by future execs running scared from a potential FCC crackdown on obscenity.
Northern Plains Ballet Scales Back Expectations
Northern Plains Ballet, which had hoped to become the flagship dance company of its region with productions mounted in multiple cities throughout the Northern Plains states, has announced that it will cut the cities of Sioux Falls (SD), Grand Forks (ND), and Billings (MT) from its schedule in future seasons. That leaves the company with performances in only Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota, and a possible staging of The Nutcracker in Aberdeen (SD). Extremely low attendance and revenue shortfalls were cited as the reasons for the cutbacks.
Violists Are Always Better Named Later
“The world of classical music was in turmoil this morning when officials of the Professional Orchestra League revealed that seven principal players of the New York Philharmonic had tested positive for steroids and would receive automatic life suspensions from the league.” In other surprising industry news, the principal clarinetist of the Cleveland Orchestra has been demoted to the minor leagues, and San Francisco has traded its concertmaster to St. Louis for “its entire flute section and a violist to be named later.”
Adams Wins Inaugural Northwestern Prize
“The Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer John Adams is the first recipient of Northwestern University’s Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Musical Composition. The biennial award carries a cash award of $100,000 and honors living composers of widely recognized achievement. It is one of the largest in classical music.”
Wong Leaving Honolulu
Conductor Samuel Wong is stepping down as music director of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. The move is being cast as Wong’s own decision, but the orchestra was informed not by the conductor himself, but by the orchestra’s president, without Wong in attendance. “Wong just completed his eighth season with the Honolulu Symphony. He will remain as the conductor laureate for the 2005-06 season and conduct at least six concerts over the next two seasons.” As for what he’ll do next, Wong, who holds a degree in opthalmology from Harvard, is hoping to help start an Institute of Music & Healing, which would deal with music-related injuries.
Bollywood Director Charged In Production Death
A major Indian film director has been arrested on several charges surrounding the death of an assistant on a film set last week. The assistant, Nadia Khan, was hit by a train during shooting in Bombay, and director Kaizad Gustad is charged with fabicating evidence and negligence. The judge in the case is asking that an additional charge of culpable homicide, which carries a prison term of ten years, be added to the list.
Booker Goes Global
“The organisers of the Booker Prize for Fiction have launched a new £60,000 international literature award. The Man Booker International Prize will be handed out every two years from the middle of 2005… The existing Booker Prize is open to citizens of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. The new global prize can be won by an author of any nationality, providing his or her work is available in the English language.”
Case Against Supposed Spanish Art Hoarder Unravels
A Spanish raid on what authorities claimed was an illegal collection of antiquities hidden away from public view has turned out to be an embarrassing mix-up. “What the police described as ‘an illegal archaeological museum’ of ‘clandestine’ objects was anything but hidden. A dusty sign reading ‘Museo’ points to the entrance to the exhibition space, which, it transpired, was open to visitors to the winery and was frequently toured by local school groups. Furthermore, the little museum at the Toro Albalá Winery was included in cultural circuits proposed by the Córdoba tourist office.”