Tag: 01.14.05

Previewing The Year In Dance

The American dance scene will become ever more eclectic in 2005, with plenty of crossover (Savion Glover tapping his way across scores by Bach and Beethoven), a healthy dose of classic ballet (Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring will be revived in Washington), and “a veritable atlas of international dance troupes [visiting] US shores, in case Americans needed further reminder of how small the world has become.”

Broadway 2005: Serious Star Power, Seriously Goofy Musicals

It’s a bit early to be declaring 2005 the Year Of The Anything, but a look at the upcoming Broadway schedule does make a few trends abundantly clear. If all goes as expected, this will be the year that the Broadway musical regained its footing (likely on the back of the Monty Python blockbuster Spamalot), and the year that the Great White Way threw in the towel on new plays, opting instead for a host of revivals of classic stage works featuring big-name stars to draw in the tourists.

Getting Ready To Rumble

Conventional wisdom says that Broadway only has room for one smashingly successful blockbuster musical per season. But this year, Spamalot will be going head-to-head with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, with plenty of star power, Hollwyood glitz, and industry buzz on each side. Michael Riedel can’t wait to see who wins: “At this point, I’m not betting on either combatant. I’m just looking forward to the struggle. Let’s hope it’s bloody, with dashed hopes and dreams all over the place.”

Chicago, City Of Wacky Bridges

“Offering a major surprise, the City of Chicago on Friday will announce winners in its international design competition for pedestrian bridges along the lakefront, choosing a bold new look for the North Avenue Bridge instead of a plan that would have echoed the gently curving profile of the existing bridge.” Among the winners are a boomerang-shaped bridge with solar-powered lighting, two S-shaped specimens, and a curving suspension bridge. Each bridge will cost several million dollars to build, and construction is slated to begin in 2007.

Is Copyright An Immoral Monopoly?

Extension of copyright is all the rage lately, with companies and individuals scrambling to protect their exclusive rights to various moneymaking characters, songs, and images. On the surface, such protection seems at least somewhat reasonable, but isn’t the public interest hurt when the government repeatedly prevents classic songs from entering the public domain? “We rightfully grant the monopoly called copyright to inspire new creative work. But once that work has been created, there is no public justification for extending its term. The public has already paid. Term extension is just double billing.”

Fox Agrees To Balance 24 With PSAs

It’s not an easy time to be Muslim in America, and lately, Islamic advocates have been complaining mightily about Fox Television’s new season of the terrorism drama 24, which depicts an ordinary Muslim family as a covert terrorist “sleeper cell.” Fox isn’t apologizing for the plotline, but has agreed to air several public service announcements produced by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which depict Muslims in a positive light.

Chicago’s New Star Trumpeter?

Succeeding an orchestral legend is no small undertaking, and the Chicago Symphony has proven itself most determined to find the perfect fit for the principal trumpet chair once occupied by 53-year veteran Bud Herseth. One hopeful was given the job in 2001, but failed to acheive tenure. Now, the CSO is preparing to announce the hiring of the Atlanta Symphony’s young principal, Chris Martin.

The UK’s Freedom Of Speech Debate

“There is the choice that faces our increasingly multicultural society. We can try to defend an ever growing number of “cultures”, defined by religion, race, ethnic tradition or sexual preference, from public comment they regard as grossly offensive. There’s a case for this, but let’s be clear what it will mean. The result must inevitably be that we shall have less free speech. Future historians may look back on the last three decades of the 20th century as a high point of freedom of expression, never to be achieved again. There may be a net gain in other public goods – such as civic peace – but there’ll be a net loss of liberty. Alternatively, we can take the view that, precisely because Britain is increasingly multicultural, all variations of religion, all “cultures” – including, of course, atheism, devout Darwinism, etc – should get used to living with a higher degree of public offence.”

The New Women Conductors

Three women conductors lead orchestras in New York this weekend. “These artists represent a new wave of female conductors in their late 20’s through early 40’s. Others are Joana Carneiro, Sara Jobin, Sarah Ioannides, Sarah Hicks, Keri-Lynn Wilson and Anne Manson. They confront significantly less prejudice than did their counterparts who are only a few years older: Gisèle Ben-Dor, Catherine Comet, Rachel Worby, JoAnn Falletta, Marin Alsop and others, performers who have made women a familiar presence on the orchestra podium.”