“A psychopathic Buddhist warrior-king hardly sounds plausible in fiction, let alone in modern history. But the story of Freiherr Roman Nikolai Maximilian von Ungern-Sternberg, an Estonian-raised, ethnically German, tsarist officer, who became the last khan of Mongolia amid the chaos of the Russian civil war, has so many bizarre elements that the reader will soon believe almost anything.”
Tag: 02.12.09
Broadway Recycles
“In the past the majority of unwanted sets ended up in trash bins. But the Broadway League’s Broadway Goes Green environmental initiative means that much of what used to wind up in a trash heap will be repurposed or recycled.”
Norman Foster Hotel In Vegas Gets Chopped In Mid-Construction
With its elegantly elliptical curve and signature variegated blue-and-white exterior suggesting sea glass, the Harmon was expressly designed by British superstar architect Lord Norman Foster to be one of the newly defining iconic buildings in this young, aspiring city. But the new hotel will now be 28 stories rather than 48 after 15 stories of incorrectly placed rebar was discovered.
Uh Oh. Obama Mentions Macbeth At Theatre
“And with that reference, he unwittingly ventured into what many theater hands believe to be dangerous territory: any mention of the name of the doomed Scottish king in a theater outside of a performance is considered verboten by many actors, who believe it will result in a cursed production — including a greater possibility of injury, bankruptcy, even death.”
Why The Arts Need Stimulus Support
“There is nothing in today’s culture that encourages young people to participate in anything more than the most ephemeral expressions of art. The idea of great art is downplayed or ignored, and people grow up consequently seeing less civic importance in theaters, symphonies and museums.”
Ohad Naharin On The Boycott-Batsheva Movement
The Batsheva Dance Company has been dogged throughout its North American tour by calls for a boycott from activists angry about Israel’s invasion of Gaza. The BDC’s artistic director says, “I think it’s not really going to make a difference to boycott a dance company. I’m thinking, where else can they channel their energy?”
California Is Last In Arts Funding (Again)
A new report “calculates that the California Arts Council’s $5.6-million budget comes to 15 cents per capita – 11% of the national average of $1.35. We’ve been in the cellar since 2003, when the budget crisis before the current budget crisis led to the agency’s gutting.”
Columbus Symphony Lets CEO Go
“Already looking for a music director to replace Junichi Hirokami – let go in November with a year on his contract – the orchestra has started searching for a new executive director. Orchestra officials said today that ‘by mutual agreement’ the contract of Tony Beadle would be allowed to expire Aug. 31.”
Sacramento Ballet: It’s Not Dead Yet
Last month, when the troupe cancelled the remainder of its 2008-09 season, “many thought the company was out of business. In fact, the dancers are performing more than they would have in the regular season – but in other venues.”
Houston Ballet Premieres Full-Length Work About Marie Antionette
Choreographer Stanton Welch, the company’s artistic director, sees the last Queen of France as a victim of multiple circumstances. “One part in particular struck me: When they took her to the Austrian border and stripped her of her clothes before handing her over to the French. What an act of complete humility [sic] for a teenager.”