Maralin Niska, 89, Beloved Star At New York City Opera

“[Her] mesmerizing stage presence and command of dozens of roles made her a mainstay of [the company] in the 1960s and ’70s … [She] had a dark, supple, powerful voice, … but it was her dramatic gifts and movie-star looks – The Daily News of New York once said she resembled ‘Ava Gardner of the love goddess years’ – that earned her a special place in the hearts of opera fans.”

Tony-Winning Director Pulls His ‘Hamlet’, And Its Star, From Company

“It seemed to be a coup for Theater for a New Audience: Its first summer Shakespeare production would be Hamlet, with the much-lauded Tony-winning director Sam Gold at the helm, and the rising Hollywood star Oscar Isaac in the title role. … [But] last month Mr. Gold, citing insurmountable artistic differences, backed out and took the play – and Mr. Isaac – to the Public Theater.”