Tag: 08.14.00

OPPORTUNITY RUINS

One month after the Roman Coliseum hosted its first theatrical event in 1,500 years, a pop concert planned for the amphitheaters of ancient Pompeii and Paestum may be next. Despite widespread concerns over possible damage to the ruins, Italy’s culture minister promised that more of Italy’s famous monuments will present entertainment. – Times of India (AP) 08/14/00

ARTSCORPS

  • A Boston pilot program “teams students with five local cultural institutions. The students act as apprentices to artists in five disciplines: dance, portraiture, storytelling, Vietnamese silk painting and puppetry-theater arts. In addition to the cultural experience, the students are also gaining job training and literacy skills. The students are required to keep a daily journal, show up on time, and act professionally and respectfully. For their time – five hours a day, five days a week, for five weeks – the program’s participants receive $6 an hour.” – Boston Herald 08/14/00

ARCHAEOLOGICAL LAND MINES

For the last 18 years, one of Israel’s top archaeologists has been digging at Mt. Gerizim, home of the world’s small remaining Samaritan community, on the West Bank. Amongst his many discoveries, the archaeologist has unearthed the fact that “if digging in Israel is like working in a thorn field of political and religious sensitivities, archaeology in the territories is thornier yet.” – The Jerusalem Report

UNTANGLING IDEOLOGY

An interview with Iranian artist Shirin Neshat, whose popular “Women of Allah” photo series and video installations subvert stereotypes of Muslim women. “There’s the stereotype about the women – they’re all victims and submissive – and they’re not. Slowly I subvert that image by showing in the most subtle and candid way how strong these women are.” – Time (Europe)

IS THE NET GOOD FOR THEATER?

While many theater lovers bemoan that Internet culture is eroding the audience for live performance, one critic at least sees it differently. “The current state of play is actually decidedly encouraging on many fronts. I would hazard a guess that the recent drive towards cheap TV programming and its dumbing down have driven ranks of citizens out of their living rooms in search of better arts and entertainment in public venues.” – The Independent (UK)

“WEST SIDE STORY” PREMIERED —

  • — 43 years ago this week, becoming an instant sensation and setting a new standard for American musical theater. Playwright Arthur Laurents (who wrote the book) and Chita Rivera (who originated the role of Anita) reminisce about the fateful collaboration. “We had a vision of what we called lyric theater, and it was something intuitively we all shared and all felt.” – NPR [Real audio file]

BUILDINGS AND BODIES

The Zandra Rhodes Museum of Fashion, designed by architect Richard Legorreta, is slated to open in South London in 2002. The museum will address why “architecture and fashion move remarkably closely together at some points in history. The connections are intriguing, for buildings are in many ways a representation of ourselves, our bodies and the ways in which we clothe ourselves. We build facades for ourselves, not just for our buildings.” – The Guardian

LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR HOMEGROWN

The Olympic Arts Festival next month in Australia would have been the perfect opportunity to showcase aboriginal plays and playwrights to the world. Instead, “the festival program sends out a loud message to people from overseas who may want to spice their sports with a bit of theatre or opera from the country they’re visiting: it has none.” – Sydney Morning Herald