“Looking at the way ancient people assembled themselves, archeologists see cults and primitive, celestial religions. But how primitive were these people’s beliefs, and how different from them are we?” Many of the ancient structures seem to be echoed in today’s urban organization…
Tag: 02.18.07
Why We’re Rethinking Robert Moses
Why is there this sudden desire to reevaluate Moses? New York was at its nadir in the early ’70s when Caro wrote his book. It was almost as if people thought, ‘Who can we blame for this?’ Now that the city has made a remarkable turnaround, it’s as if people want to ask, ‘Who made this possible?’ The answer, again, is Robert Moses.”
Tripping On Dance In The OC
Questions have been raised about Orange County’s new Samueli Theatre’s suitability for dance. “A Spanish flamenco dance troupe canceled one of its performances and the crew had difficulty transforming the bare, flexible space to meet and satisfy the company’s technical needs.” It “canceled the second night of its five-day run in November after two dancers sustained injuries they said were caused by flooring that was incorrectly assembled.”
America’s Favorite Buildings – And The Survey Says…
“Topping the list are the Empire State Building, the White House and Washington National Cathedral. New York and Washington, D.C., each account for eight of the Top 20 buildings and, along with Chicago, are home to 65 of the 150. San Francisco had nine entries on the list, led by the Golden Gate Bridge at No. 5.”
Youth Kick – A Broadway Success Story
A group of 20-somethings puts together a musical that gets to Broadway and wins decent reviews. So a question: “How did they get to be at the helm of a $2.5 million commercial production in the first place?”
An Orchestra With A Foot In The Future
It’s South Florida’s New World Symphony. “In the increasingly professionalized world of modern orchestras, where merely playing beautifully no longer guarantees musical greatness, ticket sales or successful capital campaigns, New World has set itself a distinctive mission: to mold graduates of elite conservatories and university music programs into the ultimate orchestra players while also trying to field a world-class performing ensemble.”
The Difference Between American And English
How do the two nationalities’ actors compare? “Theatrical training is the standard answer for what distinguishes our acting cousins from across the pond. And it’s hard not to marvel at the virtuosic command of speech and diction, the way veterans such as Dench, Mirren and O’Toole make music out of spoken thought.”
Damien Hirst In Hollywood
“Brit Art’s biggest superstar opens a new show of paintings, Superstition, at the fancy Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills on Thursday, just three days before the Academy Awards. Hirst and the gallery’s owner, Larry ‘Go-Go’ Gagosian, both masters of media manipulation, will be counting on Hummer-loads of A-listers making the pilgrimage.”
Chronicling Tennessee Williams’ Descent
Williams wrote in his notebooks. “By the end, his diary writing has become a means of self-sedation. On planes, he scurries to the lavatory to drink from his contraband flask of liquor, and scribbles as he does so. ‘Now we are rocking a bit,’ he woozily notices. Turbulence or delirium tremens? In one of the last entries, he asks an almost posthumous question: ‘Did I die by my own hand or was I destroyed slowly and brutally by a conspiratorial group?”
Live Photography, Live Dance Onstage
Lois Greenfield is a photographer who shoots Australian Dance Theatre performances live onstage. The photos are instantly projected on the stage. “I thought the dancers would jump in a pre-set place so I could shoot them. Instead, I’m on stage with an SLR camera, zooming in and out all over the place. At first, I was terrified, as everything I shoot goes on screen.”