“From its bamboo floors to its rooftop deck, Clayton Homes’ new industrial-chic ‘i-house’ is about as far removed from a mobile home as an iPod from a record player.” The iHouse (as it is branded), “was conceived as a moderately priced ‘plug and play’ dwelling for environmentally conscious homebuyers,” who can customize the structure online.
Tag: 05.06.09
Augusto Boal, 78, Who Created ‘Theatre Of The Oppressed’
“[T]he visionary Brazilian theatre director and dramatist, who has died aged 78, spent his life proving that you didn’t have to wait until ‘after the revolution’ for worthwhile social improvements – you could use theatre to make radical changes in the here and now.”
San Francisco Symphony Launches Online Social Network – Will It Work?
Anne Midgette: “But isn’t the point of an on-line social network that it puts you in touch with hundreds of like-minded people around the globe? Is the San Francisco Symphony really going to pull in the numbers to make a viable network, which involves people wanting to log on regularly to post, chat, check out other people’s profiles, and so on?”
Copying DVDs Is Illegal, But It Shouldn’t Be
“A federal judge … Thursday or soon thereafter is likely to conclude RealNetworks’ DVD-copying software is unlawful, and therefore should be permanently barred from distribution. That’s the correct interpretation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Yet we think it’s offensive that the 1998 act produces the absurd result that consumers are considered hackers and copyright scofflaws just for duplicating DVDs for personal use.”
Sans Nielsen Numbers (Again), TV Execs Twiddle Thumbs
“Nielsen Media Research was in full damage control mode Wednesday as the primetime network ratings were held hostage for a third day in a row. Patient network execs … had nonetheless grown impatient as they woke up to yet another day without any numbers.” Consequently, “the networks are likely to again dust off complaints that they’re hamstrung by the Nielsen monopoly.”
Super-Agent Sam Cohn, 79, Co-Founder Of ICM
“Cohn repped thesps and filmmakers including Meryl Streep, Jackie Gleason, Woody Allen, Vanessa Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, Nora Ephron, Robert Altman, Paul Newman, Mike Nichols and Sigourney Weaver. His influence extended to Broadway and other fields, and his clients also included Bob Fosse, Arthur Miller, Arthur Penn, Kander and Ebb, Peter Maas and E.L. Doctorow.”
New Plans Underway For London’s Westminster Theatre
“A planning application has been submitted to the City of Westminster Council that would see a new residential development on the off-West End site include two performance spaces – a 350-seat main theatre and a secondary studio with room for around 260 standing, which would be used for jazz and world music gigs, as well as cabaret.”
Funding Approved For New Las Vegas Arts Center
“The Las Vegas City Council approved agreements and funds today for the $245 million Smith Center for the Performing Arts, which could begin construction later this month. […] The center will have a 2,050-seat multipurpose main hall and an education building that will house a 300-seat cabaret theater, and a 200-seat flexible studio theater for rehearsals, children’s theater and community events.”
Four Out Of Five Principals Depart Sarasota Ballet
Lauren Strongin, the company’s female star, is leaving to become a corps member at Houston Ballet, where she’ll make quite a bit more money despite the lower rank. Kyoko Takeichi and Saneyuki Kawashima are retiring, and Sarasota artistic director Iain Webb chose not to renew the contract of Sergiy Mykhalov.
Madison’s Overture Center (Just) Keeps The Wolves At Bay
“Overture Center for the Arts officials said they’re optimistic that the facility will break even this year, despite the recession. […] The entities that own the Overture are still negotiating with three banks to stave off foreclosure, but those who operate the facility itself said they are confident the arts center will do well this upcoming season [with shows like The Lion King].”