“Box offices have never been busier, figures for 2005 show. From Billy Elliot to Guys and Dolls they have been packing them in: during 2005 a record 12.1 million customers, compared with 10.1 million in 1986, spent a total of £375,163,339 on London theatre tickets.”
Tag: 01.31.06
Teachout: Wasserstein, A Dissenting View
Terry teachout wasn’t a fan: “In fact, I didn’t think much of any of Wasserstein’s plays, and I dreaded having to say so in print, since she was an exceedingly nice lady. I fudged the point in my review, calling her “one of our best theatrical journalists, a keen-eared social observer with a knack for summing up cultural watershed moments like the coming of age of the baby boomers and putting them on stage to memorable effect.” All true, and none of it incompatible with the fact that I considered her to be a glib, punch-pulling lightweight, a kind of feminist Neil Simon who never cut too close to the knuckle.”
Oakland Ballet Shuts Down
“The Oakland Ballet said Tuesday that it is closing after four decades because of an ongoing ticket slump and the loss of its venue.”
Evita Revival In London
Andrew Lloyd Webber is reviving “Evita” in London. “It was a huge success when it was first staged in 1978 but has not been seen in London for more than 20 years. Argentine singer and actress Elena Roger will take the lead role in the new production when it opens at London’s Adelphi Theatre in June.”
Proposed UK Visa Changes Could Hurt Arts
The UK government wants to “change the system whereby arts companies can enter Britain on a joint visa. This could force every member of a visiting group to apply individually for work permits – and be charged more to do so. The proposals could be disastrous for the arts, said Tim Hawkins, producer of the Edinburgh Fringe’s renowned Aurora Nova festival of foreign performance. ‘We bring about 200-300 foreign performers to the UK each year. If we had to do an individual application for each, it would be a nightmare’.”
Think Dance Down Under
It’s nice to be appreciated at home, but Australian dance would like some attention in the US too. So at the recent Arts Presenters conference in New York, Australian dancers made their case. And it has paid off…
Welsh Arts Funding Reform Plan To Be Postponed
Welsh culture minister Alun Pugh is being forced to postpone plans to directly fund his country’s six large arts organizations, taking the process away from the Welsh Arts Council. “There’s a great deal of party political mischief-making going on at the moment. They (the other parties) enjoy giving the government a bloody nose when they can get the arithmetic.”
More Bad News For Troubled Washington Ballet
Rebecca Wright, director of the company’s school, has died. “Wright’s death falls especially hard on the institution because she had directed the school only since September 2004. Wright, 58, was the first successor to founder Mary Day, who had run the school for 60 years. Wright had been brought on to continue Day’s tradition of nationally recognized excellence, said Artistic Director Septime Webre, but she barely got a chance.”
Bringing Opera To The Marines (Thanks To The NEA)
“Opera is the latest joint venture between the NEA and the Department of Defense. The endowment first brought Shakespeare to 18 military bases in 2004. Last year, famous authors helped troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan write their stories. Bringing opera to 39 military bases around the country was even more adventurous, but NEA staff members have been pleased by the response. People had to be turned away from performances at Fort Carson, Colo., and Picatinny Arsenal in Wharton, N.J.”
Chief Exec Out At Fort Worth Orchestra
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra president Katherine Akos has left the orchestra a year before her contract was to expire. Why? “The orchestra matured and so many great things happened at a speed that outpaced the internal infrastructure in the organization. They’re having some growing pains, and it’s unfortunate when people get caught up in it.”