“The Walkie-Talkie, which in fact looks more like a brimming pint glass, is the most incongruous thing to have appeared on the London horizon for some time – quite an achievement in a city that has recently seen the erection of the Strata, a three-eyed Mordor tower at Elephant and Castle with its trinity of rooftop turbines; and a giant shard of glass at London Bridge.”
Tag: 12.13.12
Broadway Faces Possible Strike By Service Workers
“The union representing cleaners, porters, elevator operators, matrons and other service workers at most Broadway theaters voted Wednesday to authorize a strike, according to reports. The union, Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, is in a dispute with the Broadway League, primarily over healthcare benefits.”
Houston Grand Opera Sued By Woman Claiming She Was Raped During Rehearsal
“A Matagorda County woman has filed a lawsuit against the Houston Grand Opera and a Pearland man who she says sexually assaulted her during rehearsals for an production in which they had been hired as extras.”
British Arts Orgs Need A More American Approach To Fundraising (Think Economic Development)
“Arts organisations need to better articulate the regeneration benefits they can bring to town and city centres when approaching private donors, according to a leading philanthropist.”
Despite Turmoil, Oregon Ballet Theatre Seems To Be Thriving (For Now)
Popular artistic director Christopher Stowell has just resigned after a disagreement with the board, and two senior staff members have also departed. But revenue from this year’s Nutcracker is running well ahead of projections, and critics are unusually enthusiastic about this year’s edition of the ballet.
Of Course Children Can Act! Go Ahead And Nominate That Girl For Best Actress
Beasts of the Southern Wild star Quvenzhané Wallis, aged six at the time of filming, is widely expected to land an Oscar nomination. Some observers find this ridiculous, seeing her performance as “the result of first-time director Benh Zeitlin’s superb handling of a sweet young child.” Don’t believe them.
Can One Really Celebrate The Holidays Without Celebrating Religion?
“Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or both or none of the above, religion is hard not to notice at this time of year. Even so, many Americans observe the holiday without mentioning God. But can you really give and receive holiday gifts without attaching some religious significance?” A New York Times debate.
Was Robert Schumann Insane? Or Just An Echt-Romantic?
“The life and death of Robert Schumann is, to most appearances, a case history of romantic excess. The composer did his best to embody the spirit of the age, placing emotion above reason, venerating nature and creating the art that the Zeitgeist demanded.” He also threw himself into the Rhine and ended his life in an asylum.
Danish Lawmakers Want To Make Public Names Of All Artist Grant Applicants – Including Rejects
“[The] country’s former culture minister … hopes that making this information public will quash the misconception that cronyism plays a part in the grant-making process. … Artists fear the stigma associated with a failed application and are concerned that it will be difficult to secure funds elsewhere if their project is perceived as not worth public money.”
Runaway Sergei Polunin To Return To UK In A Most Unlikely Ballet
“Sergei Polunin, the Ukrainian prodigy who stunned the dance world by walking out on the Royal Ballet, is to return to the UK for a brutal show ‘as far away from Swan Lake as you can get'” – an adaptation of Midnight Express, the story of an American drug-smuggler in a Turkish prison.