Category: people

NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s wife, actress Donna Hanover, who was supposed to perform in the sexually suggestive “The Vagina Monologues” Off-Broadway has postponed her appearance in the show, citing family circumstances. – Chicago Sun-Times (AP)

Celebrated conductor Semyon Bychkov reflects on his 26-year career – from being thwarted by anti-Semitism in his native Russia to “the KGB’s seemingly arbitrary decision to allow him to emigrate” to the U.S.at age 23. – Irish Times

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise are reportedly planning to star on stage together in a London revival of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” The West End production would be directed by Donmar Warehouse director Sam Mendes (of “American Beauty”) who directed Kidman in her dramatic breakthrough, “The Blue Room,” last year. – The Age (Melbourne)

Patrick Stewart was overlooked for a Tony nomination just a week after he publicly chastised the producers of “The Ride Down Mt. Morgan” for insufficiently promoting the play. – CNN

— dies in New York at the age of 90. – BBC

Most writing about Marcel Duchamp focuses on what he said or wrote. But “through most of his subsequent career, Duchamp worked harder at burnishing his persona than he ever did at creating art. And he certainly spent more time plotting ways to expand an extremely limited oeuvre than he did poring over his signature accessory, the chess board (but that’s another story).” – The Idler

Is novelist Martin Amis, whose much-hyped autobiography will be released later this month, still the pinnacle of English literary fiction? Nine younger British novelists’ assess his work and influence, calling him everything from “the archetypal geeky white boy” to “uncompromisingly brilliant.” – The Independent (UK)

Michael Marsicano is one of the country’s most successful arts administrators. From 1989, when he arrived, until this year, one year after his departure, the annual budget of Marsicano’s agency – the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Arts & Science Council – grew from $2.8 million a year to $15.6 million. In terms of private support, it is No. 1 in per-capita giving among arts councils in the country, No. 1 in money given at the office, and No. 4 in total dollars raised. – The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

At age 81, Lawrence Ferlinghetti is still feisty as ever. A recording company recently put out a recording of him reading his work – with musical accompaniment that makes him furious. “I find that music is a complete bring-down of the poems. They went ahead with complete disregard of my wishes in the matter.” – New Zealand Herald

Time Magazine art critic Robert Hughes goes on trial next week in Australia for dangerous driving. But he says he won’t get a fair trial unless he can present evidence about a $15,000 extortion attempt against him. Detectives charged two men on Wednesday night over the extortion attempt on Mr Hughes after a police sting operation involving a $15,000 drop-off at Perth airport. – The Age (Melbourne)