“On the last day of a research trip to the British Library in London, Alan Houston unearthed an unexpected bit of history: 47 letters written by, to and about Benjamin Franklin, the American statesman, inventor and icon. No one knew the letters existed. No one had read them in 250 years.”
Tag: 04.23.09
A Political Tug-Of-War Over British Folk Music
The modern British folk revival has always had a leftish slant, influenced by American stars such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. But lately the quasi-fascist British National Party has been trying to move in on the folk scene, and now London’s Conservative mayor, Boris Johnson, has organized a folk extravaganza in Trafalgar Square for St. George’s Day (he’s England’s patron saint). Some top folksingers aren’t happy with this new audience.
Vancouver’s Ballet B.C. Considers Going Dark Next Fall
“While the organization narrowly escaped bankruptcy in December, it is still struggling to pull together a 2009-10 season amid less-than-stellar ticket sales, disappointing fundraising results, and a global recession. … [T]he company wants to spend the first half of next season creating new work, but doing so raises questions about whether Ballet B.C. can expect continued financial support if it does not perform until 2010.”
Masur Wanted NY Phil Proms Concerts At Armory
Not long after Kurt Masur was appointed the Philharmonic’s music director, he got the idea that the Park Avenue Armory, which could hold almost 5,000 people, could be the perfect place for “something like the BBC Proms concerts in London, which attract many thousands of listeners to the cavernous Royal Albert Hall every summer. […] An official of the Philharmonic deputized to scout the terrain, he added, had gone back to report: ‘This is not a concert hall. This is a dump.'”
Broadway Producers Threaten Liberace Musical
“Is a lit candelabrum atop a grand piano still compliant with New York fire prevention and building codes? Someone had better find out,” because a new show titled Liberace: The Man, The Music & The Memories has been announced for Broadway this fall. The musical will “recreate the experience of a Liberace concert in a Las Vegas show room. The musician and comedian Wayland Pickard has been cast [in the title role].”
Hmm, What Other Dead Celeb’s Life Can We Make Into A Musical? How About Jade Goody?
A business partner of Britain’s reality TV megastar – who died of cervical cancer last month at 27 (having sold the rights to televise her final days) – announced the project at a book party for her just-published diaries. Naturally, the musical’s lead role will be cast via a television talent show.
Scottish Ballet On A Fast Boat To China
“Scottish Ballet is to tour China for the first time in 17 years after receiving funding from the Scottish Government, it was announced yesterday. The entire company, including 40 dancers and 20 backstage staff, will take their productions of Carmen and Pennies From Heaven on the Oriental tour next month after the £100,000 boost.”
With Opera Budget Tight, It’s Technology To The Rescue
“Dreams and fantasies aren’t easily conjured in live theater during the best of times – much less those in which Opera Company [of Philadelphia]’s L’Enfant budget was cut from $250,000 to $150,000 in mid-season. But at a time when fantasy should be less practical than ever, theatrical capabilities have caught up with the imaginations of some of the 20th century’s most fantastical minds.” Which is to say, technology has stepped in where busy scenery might have been.
Philadelphia’s WHYY Lays Off 8 Percent Of Staff
“With a surprise announcement, WHYY laid off 16 full-time workers and one part-timer yesterday as part of what the organization characterized as ‘an employee restructuring plan’ designed to keep the budget balanced while WHYY moves ‘in new directions.’ The move, encompassing 8 percent of WHYY’s staff, should trim about $1.2 million in salary and benefits,” and countered what employees said had been management’s continual reassurances “that the station was economically healthy.”
Blame Hollywood For Wall Street’s Greed, Sleight Of Hand
“Though America’s captains of finance have been pilloried for their greed and though the financial collapse has been attributed to avarice, the collapse may actually have had less to do with greed per se than with a certain mindset that seems to have been adopted by Wall Street from Hollywood. In short, you can blame the Hollywoodization of Wall Street for our economic woes.”