Now that Ross Stretton is moving on to head up London’s Royal Ballet, what’s to become of the Australian Ballet? And who should lead it? – Sydney Morning Herald
Tag: 05.03.00
DANGEROUS RIDE
The Shubert Organization, producers of the Broadway play “The Ride Down Mount Morgan,” have filed charges of unprofessional conduct with Actors Equity Association against the show’s star, Patrick Stewart. Stewart gave an impromptu speech after Saturday’s performance accusing the Shuberts of under-promoting the play. “Stewart could be reprimanded or fined if the union agrees with the producers.” – New York Times
TIME WARNER CALLS TRUCE —
— with ABC and restores the network to its cable lineup while the two companies continue to negotiate a new deal. – Boston Globe 05/03/00
BLACKOUT HANGOVER
ABC is likely to feel “a quick and nasty pinch this May sweeps” after yesterday’s debacle, when Time Warner pulled the plug on seven Disney-owned ABC stations around the country. “One rival network exec expects ABC to take an immediate 2% to 3% ratings hit nationally, that might mean the difference between first and second place.” – Times of India (Reuters) 05/03/00
SWEET REVENGE
Metallica collects 335,000 names of Napster users it says have stolen the band’s music. – CBC 05/03/00
LARRY DOES LONDON
Manhattan art dealer Larry Gagosian, known as one of the brashest dealers on the art scene, is taking his larger-than-life gig to London where a new branch of his gallery will open May 9. “Gagosian has been described as “the hottest art dealer in the world,” known for persuading people to part with art they never knew they wanted to sell, and convincing others to buy it at prices they never knew they were prepared to pay.” – London Evening Standard
ART OUTPOST
“Usually, new government buildings forage for their furnishings and decoration after the builders have left. Art is an afterthought. But in Moscow the British government specially commissioned furniture, textiles and works of art by British artists while the building was still under construction. The result is a tribute to their foresight, for if diplomacy is the art of presenting your country in the best possible light, the new embassy is itself a symbol of the achievements that have made Britain so pre-eminent in the visual arts in recent years. – The Telegraph (UK)
JUST ANOTHER STATUE
Boston has not had a good record of choosing public art. Last weekend a symposium sought to identify ways to turn that record around. “More artist input, and less community involvement in dictating content and style, was a subplot that simmered without reaching a boil. The community that asks for and gets another figurative statue of a local hero is a community unaware of the world of other options – the world artists know. But ‘community involvement’ has become such a lightning rod that many people in the arts are afraid to question it. – Boston Globe
NOT TO BE UPSTAGED
London’s Royal Academy – the good folks who brought you “Sensation” are out to do it again. Just in case anyone thought the RA was going to cede the contemporary turf to the about-to-open Tate Modern, the RA announces a sure-to-shock show focused on beauty and horror. – The Guardian