Now that Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theatre has moved into a new home, what’s to become of the old one? It will be demolished. A local college had suggested moving the building to its campus, but the idea proved not to be feasible. “We were really excited about saving the Guthrie and putting it up there for retirement. It would fit on that campus, which was built in the same period,”
Tag: 07.20.06
Dallas Opera’s Good Year
Ticket revenues were down, but total attendance was up slightly. New partnerships and outreach programs brought in nearly 3,000 first-time patrons.
Sydney Dance Directors Resign
“Having seen dance blossom in the past 30 years increases the sadness we feel at seeing it enter a less dynamic phase. Potential for new adventures is greatly diminished in these cash-strapped times. The exciting new undergrowth has never been sparser and old growth (we consider the Sydney Dance Company as such) has never been more threatened.”
How The Los Angeles Theater Center Got New Management
“Ethnic favoritism has been a part of city politics ever since there were cities. Furthermore, 98 percent of L.A.’s theaters are run by Caucasians, who are now a statistical minority of the local population. What was announced as an open-bid process had become, by the final act, a tainted and disturbing story of the power of political connections.”
Will Disney Cuts Move Through The Industry?
So what do Disney’s cutbacks signal for the movie industry? “Nothing seems assured or certain. Everything is insanely expensive. Pictures that you think are going, suddenly get pulled. The rules aren’t being followed. There’s a sense that the way things happen is up for grabs. You have to ride with these strange tides.”
The 30-Second Ad – That Didn’t Work… Now What?
The 30-second TV ad is becoming less and less effective, and advertisers are trying to invent nw ways of getting through to consumers. “Today’s consumer, especially the under-35 generation raised on computers and cellphones, demand interaction with a product and prefer to do their own research prior to purchase. Advertisers are scrambling to adapt.”
Getty To Publish Internal Governance Info
The Getty Trust, which has been embroiled in staffing and governance issues in the past year, says it will publish detailed finance and governance information online. “Part of our intent is to increase the transparency of the Getty, to make sure people understand that the Getty is committed to being a leader among non-profit [organisations] in terms of governance,”
Publish-On-Demand Goes Mainstream
“The print-on-demand business is gradually moving toward the center of the marketplace. What began as a way for publishers to reduce their inventory and stop wasting paper is becoming a tool for anyone who needs a bound document. Short-run presses can turn out books economically in small quantities or singly, and new software simplifies the process of designing a book.”
New Method Teaching Deaf Improves Literacy Rates
“Advocates say a phonetically based technique called cued speech can improve literacy rates among deaf students even if not used primarily for speaking. They point out that the average 18-year-old deaf high school graduate reads on a third- or fourth-grade level. The system is gaining popularity with new research, a grass-roots movement and new funding aimed at improving reading scores under the federal No Child Left Behind Law.”
The Pynchon Is Coming!
As usual, the release of a new Thomas Pynchon book is shouded in mystery. “This much is known about the new book: It’s called “Against the Day” and will be published by Penguin Press. It will run at least 900 pages and the author will not be going on a promotional tour.”