“Before the 80s art was not a job. If you wanted to be an artist you would have to do a lot of side jobs to make a living. People became artists out of necessity. Now one wants to be an artist to travel, go to parties, and it’s really cool to be an artist. Of course, this tendency is not very good, but I think time will be the final judge of this.”
Tag: 06.18.14
If West End Theatres Aren’t Fit For Purpose, Knock ‘Em Down
Or at least hollow them out and do a complete rebuild, argues Lyn Gardner. “Unlike some, I certainly don’t believe that all theatre buildings must be saved for posterity. The Victorians and Edwardians who built many of our West End theatre barns would have laughed at that notion.”
That Tony You Just Won For Producing A Show? That’ll Be $2,500, Please
“Individuals who receive top billing above a show’s title are eligible to purchase awards; consortia of investors can purchase up to four Tonys. The purchasing program usually yields $250,000 or more each year to help finance the Tonys ceremony.”
The Downside Of A “Culture Of Excellence”
The legacy of the “culture of poverty” has made a generation of Americans shy away from difficult questions around culture and achievement. The best way to repent is not to continue ignoring these questions, but to insist upon a more rigorous and detailed examination of them—more than the Tiger Mom herself can provide.
Top Theatre Ticket Prices In London’s West End Triple In Ten Years
“This is more than triple the amount it cost to buy a top-price seat in the West End only 10 years ago, when a record high was reached with a £49 ticket to see The Producers in 2004. Over the same period, house prices in London have increased by around 90%.”
Massive Redo Of Miami Beach Convention Center Will Impact Art Basel
“The forthcoming redevelopment programme for the Miami Beach Convention Center is likely to have an impact not only on Art Basel in Miami Beach itself, but also on the fair’s closest neighbour, Design Miami, and the city’s satellite fairs.”
NY City Ballet’s Saratoga Season Is Finally Growing, Not Shrinking
“The New York City Ballet, which was forced by financial pressure to limit its Saratoga Performing Arts Center residency to one week last summer and this year, will return for two weeks in 2015, SPAC management announced Tuesday.”
More Evidence Of Why Musical Training Is Great For Kids’ Brains
“Precisely why learning an instrument would have a positive impact on academic achievement has never been clear. A new study from Boston Children’s Hospital provides a possible answer. It reports musical training may promote the development and maintenance of a key set of mental skills.”
The Strange Case Of China’s Half-Built ‘Ancient’ City
“In the last few years, Datong has made a massive push to draw those tourist groups to its inner city, a place that was first settled in the Han dynasty around 200 BC. It’s all part of an ambitious plan to raze the old city and replace it with a new ‘ancient’ Tang-style city.” Naturally there are complaints that the new “historic” buildings are ersatz; worse is what happened after the mayor left town.
John Lithgow’s ‘King Lear’ Rehearsal Diary, Part One
“This is not going to be easy. … And since late February I have foregone shaving.”