How Will Theatre Fare During, And After, The Coronavirus Outbreak?

Lyn Gardner takes a look at history. “Shakespeare’s fellow thespians toured out of London, far away from the plague’s more deadly ravages. But that is not an option for theatremakers in the interconnected world of Covid-19. But of course, there are other methods of distributing art – including live streaming – that might offer different ways of getting theatre out there while venues are closed. It might help open the eyes of theatres and companies to the possibilities of digital in a way they haven’t previously explored.” – The Stage (UK)

Alan Turner, Artist Who Painted Oddly Disturbing Trees And Body Parts, Has Died At 76

Turner drew on surrealism, abstract expressionism, and much more for his works. “In recent years, spurred by cardboard shelters in the homeless encampments along the Tiber River that he saw on his frequent trips to Rome, he developed a ‘Box House’ series, mostly in graphite, that explored not only those but all sorts of boxes that harbor all sorts of things.” – The New York Times

For Black Artists, There’s A Question Of Who Can Challenge Mediocre Work

The issues are layered. “Black auteurs frequently don’t get to just worry about making art that speaks to their own interests. Because of discrimination in Hollywood, creators also shoulder what the Jamaican Canadian director Stella Meghie recently called ‘the unbearable weight of representation.’ That burden also affects viewers, who may feel the need to support some unremarkable work for fear of losing what little black programming exists.” – The Atlantic

A Surge In Online Services During Coronavirus?

If the coronavirus continues to spread, analysts believe U.S. consumers will adopt behavior similar to that of Chinese consumers. China this year has seen a surge in people downloading apps on their smartphones in such areas as games and entertainment, according to San Francisco mobile data and analytics firm App Annie. Weekly game app downloads on Apple devices last month were up 80% in China, compared with a monthly average of downloads for 2019, the company said. – Los Angeles Times