“Brevity has become an increasingly compelling selling point in today’s legit landscape, but a number of this season’s incoming productions — following the Tony-winning revival of play trilogy ‘The Norman Conquests’ — are bucking the trend and hoping auds still have an appetite for the epic.” Among the outsize events on the horizon in New York: “‘The Orphans’ Home Cycle,’ nine Horton Foote plays condensed into a three-part marathon running, yes, nine hours.”
Tag: 07.10.09
Adrian Noble To Be A.D. Of Old Globe’s Shakespeare Fest
“The Old Globe Theatre has hired the distinguished British director Adrian Noble to lead its 2010 Summer Shakespeare Festival, taking the place of Darko Tresnjak, who is leaving the theater. Noble, who was artistic director of England’s renowned Royal Shakespeare Company for nearly 13 years, will initially be on a one-year contract to direct the festival, whose 2010 edition coincides with the Globe’s 75th anniversary.”
Where The Recording Business In Flourishing: Contemporay Classical
“Business is going very well. Orders are increasing, and our distribution network is expanding. We’re getting more inquiries from different countries, which is quite remarkable in this climate. In addition to the major markets, we are now entering into agreements with smaller countries.”
Dispute Over Plan For Olympics Channel
“Only one day after the U.S. Olympic Committee announced plans to launch a new cable channel dedicated to coverage of Olympic sports, an international controversy has erupted, threatening to scuttle the channel and Chicago’s bid to be the host city for the 2016 Summer Games.”
Books As Solitary Pursuit? Hardly!
“Novels aren’t just sources of solitary cogitation. They are social objects, and we use them to brandish our identities, mark our allegiances and broker our relationships. They can provoke passions as strongly as politics. Thanks to the intimate connection between story and reader, they impact upon us very personally, and can drive otherwise undemonstrative folk to feel they have a right – nay duty – to confront complete strangers with their zeal.”
Pianos Invade London Streets
Around London on the streets there are 30 pianos, waiting to be played. They’re “part of an interactive art project meant to challenge people to come out of their urban insularity and also to provide some summertime music.”
Arts Groups Find Out Who Gets Federal Stimulus Money
“In February the NEA received $50 million from the administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to preserve jobs in the arts. Since then the NEA gave 40 percent of the funding to state and regional arts agencies. This week the agency announced the recipients of the competitive round for nonprofit groups.”
As Neuroscience Gets More Sophisticated, A Danger Presents: Could Someone Hack Your Brain?
“In the past year, researchers have developed technology that makes it possible to use thoughts to operate a computer, maneuver a wheelchair or even use Twitter — all without lifting a finger. But as neural devices become more complicated — and go wireless — some scientists say the risks of “brain hacking” should be taken seriously.”
Viral “Thriller” Dance To Attempt World Record
“In 2008, Thrill the World dancers set a new record for people dancing to “Thriller” when 4,179 people in 10 countries simultaneously danced to the song, using the moves in Jackson’s John Landis-directed video. Currently, 56 events are planned in nine countries.”
As Prominent Music Mags Fold, One Thrives
“As the miserable ad climate continues its toll, one music title is bucking the trend: online upstart Pitchfork Media. Unlike its better-known competitors, Pitchfork.com delivers few major scoops and lacks famous financial backers. But it also has no distribution or printing costs. Its quirky, passionate staff express little concern over the state of its balance sheet, which appears to teeter from one year to the next between profitability and losing money.”