“There are plenty of cognoscenti in the US who believe that Peter Martins is making a bad job of honouring the god [Balanchine], and they regularly say so in print, describing him as a man of little taste and much ambition. There are others who argue that he has, in fact, done well, his energy shown by the 100 ballets performed in the 50th anniversary season last year, and his refusal to allow NYCB to become a museum company, which would have been anathema to Balanchine himself.” – The Telegraph (London)
Tag: 07.23.00
BODY BEAUTIFUL
Artists have been grappling with issues of beauty since there were first artists. “Who defines the body beautiful, and how has this definition been affected by feminism, multiculturalism, mass media and new technologies? If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, what kinds of images still have the power to produce such sensory experience?” – New York Times
DO WE HAVE TO MENTION THE SPONSOR?
The Roundabout Theatre sold its name to American Airlines. The Winter Garden almost had “Cadillac” above the marquee. The arts love those corporate dollars. But at what price? – Newsday
HOW ABOUT GETTING EXCITED?
Chicago’s Goodman Theatre is moving into a long-awaited new $46 million home this November. So why does the upcoming opening “seem so remarkably lackluster just four months prior to ribbon cutting? And why does the initial season for what is clearly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity seem like an afterthought?” – Chicago Sun-Times
ACTING TOUGH
Being an actor is tougher than ever. “In Britain, over 90 per cent of them are unemployed at any given time. Yet while the number of graduates pouring out of drama and stage schools continues to rise, the opportunities are dwindling. And finding out about openings is harder than ever if you’re not already one of the lucky 10 per cent.” – The Observer (UK)