A new generation of improbable-sounding musicals is hitting London stages. “A key common denominator among this new breed of offbeat shows is that they’re about the lyrics as much as the music.”
Tag: 01.21.06
Spamalot Heads Home
The Monty Python-inspired musical, Spamalot, is headed back to its spiritual and linguistic home. The wacky show, which has broken ticket sales records on Broadway, will begin a run in London’s West End this fall.
Native Galleries Welcome In Toronto, But What Do They Accomplish?
The Royal Ontario Museum has finally opened its long-awaited gallery focusing on the history of native peoples in Canada. The gallery seems primed for success, but it brings up an uncomfortable irony for North America’s aboriginals: having been forced from their land, mistreated for centuries, and generally denied the opportunity to reestablish their native culture, native peoples are now forced to view their history through the prism of the white man’s museums. “How can the museum transcend the guilty legacy of cultural vandalism that haunts it?”
Rings Engagement Will Be A Costly One, But Sales On Track
“The final cost of the long-awaited stage adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, which begins previews at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre on Feb. 2, may exceed its projected budget of CAN$27-million… [Still,] the most ambitious and expensive stage show in history seems to be on track. As of this week, advance sales were closing in on $15-million.”
Does Dishonesty Power The Publishing Industry?
As much fun as it may be to debate the seriousness of James Frey’s literary crimes, it’s really not as big a deal as many are making it out to be, says Simon Caterson. In fact, America’s literary history is chock full of scandals and hoaxes, and sometimes, it even seems that the entire inustry is powered by near-constant controversy.
The Changing Face Of Mozart
“More nonsense has been written about Mozart than almost any historical figure except Jesus Christ.” He was poisoned by a jealous rival, he was a musical manifestation of God, he was an offensive and boorish idiot savant – the myths abound, and they are all demonstrably false. “Every generation has admired Mozart, but some more than others and in remarkably different ways. The changing perceptions of the man and his music are themselves almost a small social history.”
Louisville Orchestra Threatens Musicians With Shutdown
The management of the cash-strapped Louisville Orchestra pulled out of contract negotiations with its musicians last week and went public with what it says is the musicians’ “complete disregard for the challenges facing the orchestra.” The orchestra’s executive director says that the ensemble may shut down before the end of the current season and reorganize in bankruptcy. The musicians say they were “stunned” by the announcement.
Dug In Over Health Insurance
The stalled contract talks between the Louisville musicians and management can be summed up in two words: health care. “The orchestra now pays 99 percent of individual players’ health-care premiums. In its first offer, management sought a $50,000 savings in overall health-care expenses through a variety of options. The musicians’ Dec. 23 counterproposal included phased-in coverage for dependents — calling for the orchestra to pay 100 percent of dependent/family premiums in the 2008-09 season. The orchestra deemed that absurd.”
Fort Worth CEO Resigns Under Pressure
The president and CEO of the Fort Worth (Texas) Symphony Orchestra has been forced to resign after less than two years at the helm. Katherine Akos, who came into the job with an impressive resume including stints as a professional violinist and as a top fundraiser for the San Francisco Conservatory, reportedly had a hard time replicating her success in Texas, and her relationship with FWSO music director Miguel Harth-Bedoya was described as “frosty.”
Wondering What Rush and Hannity Will Be Talking About This Week?
In his latest audio message to the world, Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden singled out a certain left-wing Washington historian as being worthy of praise. You might think that having the world’s best-known terrorist as a fan would be a nightmare scenario for such an author. But 72-year-old William Blum isn’t running from the endorsement: in fact, he says he’s quite pleased.