Major UK festivals report significant economic impact

Access All Areas: New economic impact reports show major UK festivals continue to generate significant financial benefits for host towns and regions. Warwick Folk Festival and Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival (pictured) have both released findings from independent economic impact assessments, highlighting the contribution of the festivals to local economies through visitor spending, tourism and employment.

Who Makes Snap-On Sockets And Where Are They Manufactured?

www.slashgear.com: Snap-on is one of the most recognizable names in the professional hand tools segment. Primarily known for its wide range of sockets, the company has, over time, expanded its product portfolio to include wrenches, power tools, and storage solutions. Snap-on is known for its premium pricing, super expensive tool boxes with many of its tools priced well over $200.

Sony at ISE 2026: Empowering Creativity, Enhancing Spaces

LightSoundJournal.com: Sony demonstrates in Barcelona how its technology enables creativity to flourish and transforms the way people connect, learn, and collaborate across corporate, retail, education, and production spaces, debuting several exciting new products and solutions, including the Crystal LED S Series and the BRAVIA Professional Displays BZ-P series, along with the new end-to-end immersive Spatial Reality Display (SRD) system in collaboration with Ameria.

ISE 2026 Mid-Show Updates: From Drone Shows to Free Throws

Sixteen:Nine | All Digital Signage, Some Snark: Our editors are still roaming the halls of ISE 2026 in Barcelona – here are some cool and curious things they spotted in the halls. For daily updates, subscribe to our free invidis Global Newsletter which is published daily at 8am Barcelona time.

Electro-Voice Introduces Next-Generation EVF & EVH Series Point-Source Loudspeakers

ProSoundWeb: Electro-Voice has announced the introduction of the next generation of EVF and EVH point-source loudspeakers comprised of four new models offering higher acoustic output, improved pattern control, and a simpler model selection process. They’re being spotlighted at the 2026 ISE Show at Fira de Barcelona.

WHAT OUR MEMBERS DO: Melanie Escano, Assistant Editor

cinemontage.org: I’m an assistant editor on “Chicago Med.” I process dailies, organize and mark scenes, add in temporary sound effects, mock up simple visual effects, score temporary music, export producer/studio cuts for review, troubleshoot technical issues, turn over the locked show for sound, music, and color departments — and my editor, Dorian Harris, ACE, gives me scenes to cut. I’m always grateful for that opportunity.

The Smith Center's 2026-27 Broadway Series brings fresh Tony winners to Vegas

Las Vegas Weekly: The Smith Center for the Performing Arts’ 2026-27 Broadway Las Vegas Series has everything. It has elves. It has robots. It has musicians performing in Spanish; we know you love those. All it doesn't have is Mary Todd Lincoln—although, remarkably, she’s available as an add-on.

Pittsburgh Symphony’s 2026–27 Season Balances Familiar Faces and New Directions

onstagepittsburgh.com: The PSO’s newly announced 2026–27 classical season leans into what the ensemble does best: deep artistic relationships, ambitious programming, and a growing interest in how symphonic music fits into contemporary cultural life.

Seeing Things: How Glenn Cote and the ‘Alien: Earth’ Team Got Those Special Effects

cinemontage.org: FX’s “Alien: Earth” series captures all the vintage charm of the original 1979 “Alien” film while adding fun, new flavors to the franchise: the “Ocellus” eyeball alien creature, the carnivorous plant-like alien called the “Orchid,” the USCSS Maginot spaceship, cool new tech like Morrow’s Swiss Army-style cyborg arm, and lab equipment for transplanting consciousness — all requiring visual effects.

How Hollywood Choked Sora 2’s Rise

by Erik Barmack: For a few wildly hyped weeks — roughly late September through early November 2025 — it felt like the internet had finally crossed some invisible line with respect to AI video.

Kennedy Center president warns of ‘skeletal teams’ during ‘total renovation’

The Washington Post: Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell warned of upcoming staff cuts and the reality of “skeletal teams” in a Tuesday night email to his staff that also touted a “total renovation of the building beginning in early July.”

Cadac Consoles Introduces CM-SYSTEM Dynamic Routing Control

ProSoundWeb: Cadac Consoles has announced the debut of the new CM-RT12 MegaCOMMS router that provides large-scale dynamic routing control across the latest-generation CM-system fiber-based ecosystem. It’s being showcased at the 2026 ISE Show at Fira de Barcelona at booth 7E550.

The wrenching beauty of Jean-Baptiste Lully at the Palace of Versailles

The Independent: The Palace of Versailles has always been about artifice. Nothing is quite true, its spectacle invented and reinvented for its age. Ironically, in our days of access and equality, it is probably far more a successful part of Parisian life than at any time since the great days of Louis XIV and the end of the 17th century. It hosts balls and garden parties, firework and fountain displays, and a fine series of concerts and opera performances.

CODA Audio launches ViFORCE at ISE 2026

TPi: WIDE BAND Cardioid is a paradigm shift in pattern control and sonic integrity brought about through a period of intensive R&D at CODA Audio. This unique, Patent Pending technology comes to market first in ViFORCE and its slimline partner subwoofer, the SUB FORCE 35.

Playwright Tracy Letts on reviving ‘Bug’ on Broadway

Chicago Sun-Times: When Tracy Letts penned his play “Bug” 30 years ago, it seemed to come at a specific moment when conspiracy theories had become more integrated into mainstream society. Letts, who would go on to win a Pulitzer Prize (for writing the play “August: Osage County”) and two Tony Awards (for acting and best play), said he grew up in a time when conspiracies were passed person-to-person “urban legend style.”

Cohesion ecosystem supports Halsey's For My Last Trick Tour

TPi: Halsey’s 2025 summer tour For My Last Trick, in support of her acclaimed fifth album The Great Impersonator, was a show to remember, combining Broadway-style theatrics, automated prop sets, a giant LED wall, a pyro package and more beneath an Art Deco-inspired false proscenium. This dramatic and cinematic amphitheater tour, her highest-selling one to date, was supported by Cohesion on each of its thirty coast-to-coast stops.

Vari-Lite debuts Neo X console at ISE 2026

TPi: Vari-Lite and Signify have revealed the Neo X5 CRE — an affordable, compact lighting console designed specifically for space-constrained environments such as control rooms, studios, and medium-sized performance spaces.

Students Compete to Showcase Art on Sphere’s Exosphere

www.ticketnews.com: Public voting is now open for the Third Annual Sphere XO Student Design Challenge, giving fans the opportunity to help select which Las Vegas-area student artworks will be featured on Sphere’s Exosphere in celebration of Pi Day.

Towering mushrooms adorn Grand Palais for Chanel couture show

www.dezeen.com: French fashion house Chanel filled Paris's Grand Palais with Alice in Wonderland-style mushrooms and real trees, which created a runway for the brand's Spring Summer 2026 haute couture show.

The “Screen / Stage” Programme At The Between.Pomiędzy Festival 2025

The Theatre Times: The “Screen / Stage” program was created as a space for shared viewing, discussion, and reflection on digital forms of contemporary theatre. Positioned at the intersection of live performance and digital mediation, the initiative invited participants to engage with recorded stage productions not as passive spectators, but as active commentators and critics. By combining collective viewing with moderated discussion, “Screen / Stage” explored how theatre functions across formats, cultures, and traditions, and how meaning is shaped through performance, adaptation, and craft.

Upcoming Webinar – How to Stay Calm, Focused, and Effective on Any Gig

SoundGirls.org: Join us on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 11:00 AM PDT as we host Jessica Chranowski of Pure Life Therapy. Free – and Online – Register Here In collaboration with SoundGirls, this workshop is for people who love working in entertainment… and are sick of feeling fried, foggy, or on edge just to prove they can handle it.

Darren Aronofsky Is Teaming Up With…AI?

The Mary Sue: If you needed more convincing that Darren Aronofsky is only in the movie business to make people uncomfortable, then buckle up, because his next spectacle once again pushes the envelope in a way nobody asked for: A web series about the Revolutionary War, produced with AI.

The Joffrey Ballet Celebrates Seventy with "American Icons," a Tribute to American Dance

www.newcitystage.com: This season marks the seventieth anniversary of the Joffrey Ballet and the thirtieth year the company has called Chicago home. The spring program honors American choreographers; appropriate for a ballet company that made its name touring the United States while pushing the boundaries of classicism in dance.

Santiago’s Teatro a Mil 2026: theatre, democracy and artistic responsibility

The Theatre Times: There were two key themes running through this year’s Teatro a Mil, the Chilean capital’s long-running theatre and performing arts festival. “Yes, Theatre Matters” may have been the festival’s tag line but the role and responsibilities of the artist, most notably at a time of economic precarity, proved a key theme.

I ♡ City Theatre and Hope You Do, Too

Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents: I very much enjoy live theater, you’ve probably noticed that in my blogging. Pittsburgh has multiple live theater companies and venues, from community theaters in McKeesport and Carnegie to mainstream denizens of Downtown. We are fortunate, but we are also divided. Honestly, there’s a discernible vibe between the community theaters and the Cultural District theaters. If you know, you know. The lack of creative responses to this divide is likely part of the economic implosion.

Brandi Carlile on Singing 'America the Beautiful' at Super Bowl

variety.com: No “Joke”: Brandi Carlile is one of the few vocalists out there with so powerhouse of a voice, she could almost be considered overqualified to sing “America the Beautiful.” That’s what she’ll be doing just prior to Super Bowl LX kicking off on Sunday, and although it is not always considered to be as demanding as its patriotic twin, “The Star Spangled Banner,” Carlile promises that she’ll be performing it at the upper end of her range, which may mean that this seemingly gentler song will have its own bombs bursting in air, musically speaking.

ISE 2026 - Day 2

LightSoundJournal.com: If the first day of ISE 2026 served to take stock of an increasingly vast and cross-cutting trade fair, the second day definitely gets down to business. This is where design choices, product philosophies and, above all, solutions designed to simplify the lives of designers, technicians, and system integrators emerge.

Bad Bunny Stuns the Super Bowl With Lady Gaga, Real Wedding Ceremony

variety.com: Bad Bunny promised “the world will dance” in his advertisement before the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, and his joyous, elaborate, unapologetic, unity-themed performance did not disappoint as he — with Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin and many more — raced through a medley of his songs, introducing them and himself to many of the more than 125 million viewers.

Inside Bad Bunny’s Historic Super Bowl Halftime Show

WIRED: Each time in its nearly 60-year history, putting on the Super Bowl halftime show gets harder. Sometimes the logistics get complicated by concerns about protecting the turf.

Bad Bunny’s sensational Super Bowl 2026 stage design was a celebration of Latin America

Wallpaper*: The Puerto Rican superstar certainly delivered on that pledge with his sizzling show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. But it wasn’t just hits like ‘Tití Me Preguntó’, guest appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, and the musician’s signature hip thrusts that sent the crowd wild — the multi-faceted stage design allowed Bad Bunny create a powerful portrait of Latinx culture.

Super Bowl LX Halftime Show: Light Plots

Live Design Online: Puerto Rican superstar and Grammy-winner Bad Bunny took center stage at the Super Bowl LX Apple Music Halftime Show, broadcast live on February 8, 2026 on NBC from Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, which is the home stadium of the San Francisco 49ers. The show was also streamed on Peacock.

Vibe Coding Is Killing Open Source Software, Researchers Argue

www.404media.co: Thanks to vibe coding, a colloquialism for the practice of quickly writing code with the assistance of an LLM, anyone with a small amount of technical knowledge can churn out computer code and deploy software, even if they don't fully review or understand all the code they churn out. But there’s a hidden cost. Vibe coding relies on vast amounts of open-source software, a trove of libraries, databases, and user knowledge that’s been built up over decades.

Only 1 in 4 Chicago indie venues is profitable, says new study

Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago’s independent music venues have been putting on a good show lately. Relative newcomer The Salt Shed is selling out most shows and leaning into an onsite music village concept with a record store, guitar shop and food trucks. Meanwhile, Wrigleyville stalwart Metro is unparalleled with its rare club showcases from bands like Metallica and Green Day.

Refreshed, Modern & Engaging: The Innovative Design For An Immersive Adaptation Of "Phantom of the Opera"

ProSoundWeb: “Forget everything about how you would typically do this, and then let’s figure out how we are going to do it.” This was theatrical sound designer Brett Jarvis’s instruction to his audio team when they began work on the sound design for Masquerade, a cutting-edge, immersive adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, directed by Diane Paulus.

Major changes to student loan borrowing and repayment are coming. Here's what to know

PBS News: If you or your child are planning to borrow to help pay for college this fall, get ready for your student loan options to look a lot different. President Donald Trump's signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed by Congress last year, made the most expansive changes to federal student loan borrowing and repayment in decades.

The Frequency Festival connects a far-flung constellation of sounds

Chicago Reader: Since its inception in 2013, the Frequency Series has been hosted by north-side performance space Constellation, usually on Sunday nights. Founded and programmed by former Reader staff critic Peter Margasak, the series devotes the bulk of its programming to new classical music, but it also purports to illuminate links between new classical, free improvisation, noise, and other boundary-pushing disciplines—with the goal of bringing their audiences together.

NFTRW Weekly Top Five

Here are the top five comment generating posts of the past week:

The Super Bowl Will Test New Device for Blind Fans Who Want to Enjoy the Big Game

gizmodo.com: For years, blind and low-vision sports fans have been limited to audio play-by-play commentary to follow their favorite teams. But that isn’t always ideal. Audio feeds can lag behind the action, miss key moments, leaving fans having to repeatedly ask friends or family for clarification on what’s going on the field or court.

Grammys 2026 stage features "modern sculptural" gramophone

www.dezeen.com: The stage and scenography for the Grammy Awards ceremony in LA this coming weekend is designed by New York-based Yellow Studio and anchored by a giant golden gramophone. The Recording Academy's annual celebration of musical achievement, which takes place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on 1 February 2026, is Yellow Studio's fifth production design for the Grammys.

University installs cinema to showcase work by students

AV Magazine: The school of social sciences at one of South Africa’s leading universities’ has opened a cinema to allow students to experience the work they have produced in a professional and immersive environment.

All the world’s enraged: a new era of ‘resistance theater’ is rising as Trump attacks the arts

US news | The Guardian: On a cool winter night in Los Angeles, dozens gathered to protest against the Trump administration’s attacks on the arts and the recent federal immigration raids in southern California. But these protesters didn’t carry signs or chant in front of a government building – they recited poems such as Antifa Tea Party and Love in Times of Fascism. They performed anti-fascist improv to a small but lively crowd at The Glendale Room, a library-themed theater, as part of the monthly show Unquiet: A Night of Creative Resistance.

'Go See A Show' Offers Discounted Tickets to Participating Pittsburgh-Area Theaters

onstagepittsburgh.com: Go See a Show, a regional initiative currently involving nearly 20 producing theater companies, is underway, offering discounts to performances and aiming to “reenergize local audiences and celebrate the enduring impact of live theater.”

 

Brian May Reveals Reason the Band Won’t Tour in the U.S.

www.thedailybeast.com: “America is a dangerous place at the moment, so you have to take that into account,” he said. “It’s very sad because I feel like Queen grew up in America, and we love it, but it’s not what it was. Everyone is thinking twice about going there at the moment.”

Guardian of the Film Academy’s Treasures Talks Museum and Collection

www.hollywoodreporter.com: On Jan. 13, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that Amy Homma, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ director and president, will henceforth also oversee the Academy Collection, which includes some 52 million film-related items held within the Margaret Herrick Library and the Academy Film Archive, ranging from an original script of Citizen Kane to a pair of the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.

D-Day VR Museum On Steam Is An Entertaining Educational Exhibition

www.uploadvr.com: On June 6, 1944, the Allied Forces launched the largest amphibious assault in history, turning the tide on the beaches of Normandy, eventually winning the Second World War against the Axis powers. This defining moment came to be known as D-Day. Countless accounts of it have been recorded since, making it a key point in history where democracy prevailed.

M-Cube Turns Historic Tunnel into Immersive LED Art Gallery

Sixteen:Nine | All Digital Signage, Some Snark: Italian digital signage specialist M-Cube has turned a historic underground tunnel in Gorizia, Italy, into a fully immersive LED art environment, blending contemporary digital media with protected architectural space in a carefully engineered installation.

Before a Rape Trial, a Theater Piece Passes Its Own Judgment

The New York Times: France’s reckoning with sexual violence isn’t over. After the case of Gisèle Pélicot, whose husband was found guilty in 2024 of drugging her and inviting strangers to sexually assault her, another large-scale trial looms on the horizon. This year, 17 men will appear in a French court on charges of gang rape and human trafficking that prosecutors say were linked to a pornographic website. And theater is already on the case.

'Go See a Show' encourages Pittsburgh audiences to attend performances

90.5 WESA: Pittsburgh’s three largest theater companies might be parting ways in terms of a potential merger. But this week, the troupes announced a new joint marketing initiative they hope will help performing-arts groups across the city. It’s called, straightforwardly enough, Go See a Show. It’s meant to get Pittsburgh audiences excited about live performance by letting them know more of what’s out there, while sweetening the pot with discounts and other promotions.

From classroom to credits

befores & afters: Coming from a film background, Hod always felt drawn to compositing – it relates directly to the shot as a whole. Compositors have a lot of impact on how the final image will look and the idea that you can take images from different sources and blend them seamlessly together was a draw.

All the world’s enraged: a new era of ‘resistance theater’ is rising as Trump attacks the arts

US news | The Guardian: On a cool winter night in Los Angeles, dozens gathered to protest against the Trump administration’s attacks on the arts and the recent federal immigration raids in southern California. But these protesters didn’t carry signs or chant in front of a government building – they recited poems such as Antifa Tea Party and Love in Times of Fascism. They performed anti-fascist improv to a small but lively crowd at The Glendale Room, a library-themed theater, as part of the monthly show Unquiet: A Night of Creative Resistance.

BMAC, Live Nation Urban Launch Paid Festival Accelerator for HBCU Talent

TicketNews: The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) has announced a new collaboration with Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) and Live Nation Urban to create paid, hands-on pathways into the live music industry for HBCU students through a special cohort of the BMAC Live Accelerator Program.

Darren Aronofsky AI Revolutionary War Animated Series Used Human Voice Actors

variety.com: Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky used AI to travel back in time 250 years ago to the American Revolution. But he tapped real-life human actors to provide voices in documenting key events of the country’s foundational conflict.

To cry or not to cry: how moving the audience to tears can backfire

theconversation.com: “One must have a heart of stone not to read about the death of little Nell without laughing” was Oscar Wilde’s notorious response to the emotional onslaught of Charles Dickens’s 1841 novel, The Old Curiosity Shop. Having watched two films in two weeks about the death of a child, it offers a clue as to why I cried in only one.

Celebrating Black History Month

IATSE: As we observe Black History Month, we reaffirm a simple truth: Black history is American history! The story of our nation and of the labor movement cannot be told without the contributions, sacrifices, and leadership of Black workers who fought to expand opportunity, dignity, and democracy for all.

Music Managers to Watch Behind Chappell Roan, Olivia Dean & More

www.billboard.com: During a year in which demon hunters dominated, Goose and Geese both flew high and a British breakout earned a best new artist nod — among other major milestones on and off the Billboard charts — these managers helped guide their artists, songwriters and producers through their biggest wins to date.

Solid State Logic Provides Update On Certified Training Partner Program

ProSoundWeb: Solid State Logic has provided an update on its SSL Certified Training Partner Program that’s designed to provide schools and institutions the tools they need to help students build skills, expand their professional networks, and gain a competitive edge in the job market.

The Gerber Pocket Cleaver Could Be the EDC Tool You Actually Use

www.popularmechanics.com: Like most EDC enthusiasts, I have a lot of pocket knives that look quite similar (but I promise, I have a reason for owning each). I’m a sucker for the sleek, minimalist design of most pocket knives because they make for excellent compact carry. However, they can all start to look the same after a while. It gets harder to break through the noise of super steels, anodized handles, and shrinking multitools.

University installs cinema to showcase work by students

AV Magazine: The school of social sciences at one of South Africa’s leading universities’ has opened a cinema to allow students to experience the work they have produced in a professional and immersive environment.

‘Try/Step/Trip’ Is a Story of Hip-Hop Rehabilitation, Told in Step

The New York Times: Dahlak Brathwaite was on the rise. He had just graduated from the University of California, Davis, and he had appeared twice as a spoken-word poet on HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam.” Then he was pulled over by a police officer, who found hallucinogenic mushrooms in his car and arrested him.

The Super Bowl Will Test New Device for Blind Fans Who Want to Enjoy the Big Game

gizmodo.com: For years, blind and low-vision sports fans have been limited to audio play-by-play commentary to follow their favorite teams. But that isn’t always ideal. Audio feeds can lag behind the action, miss key moments, leaving fans having to repeatedly ask friends or family for clarification on what’s going on the field or court.

Google's Project Genie Is Not for You

gizmodo.com: Google has a whole new world for people to play in—but only for a minute. This week, the company released Project Genie, which the company calls its “general-purpose world model” that is capable of generating interactive environments. First unveiled to a small group of invite-only testers back in August of last year, the model, known as Genie 3, is now rolling out to Google AI Ultra subscribers in the US, so you can get your hands on it for the low, low price of $250 per month.

The Columbia Theatre – Sharon, PA

After the Final Curtain: The Columbia Theatre opened on November 29, 1922, with 1,732 seats and a construction cost of $350,000 (about $6 million today). It was built by the Columbia Amusement Company, which also operated theaters in Warren, Erie, and Salamanca. Architect Arland W. Johnson of New York City designed it as a true vaudeville palace—complete with a marble staircase, full stage, orchestra pit, seven dressing rooms, and elaborate plasterwork throughout the auditorium.

'Go See A Show' Offers Discounted Tickets to Participating Pittsburgh-Area Theaters

onstagepittsburgh.com: Go See a Show, a regional initiative currently involving nearly 20 producing theater companies, is underway, offering discounts to performances and aiming to “reenergize local audiences and celebrate the enduring impact of live theater.”

West End Production of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD Will Become One Part

www.broadwayworld.com: After ten years in the West End as a two-part theatrical event, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will evolve into a single performance-format. The production will move to the version of the show currently performed by companies around the globe, including the Broadway production in New York City, where the reimagined one-part production premiered in 2021 and is currently breaking all major box-office records.

How to build a culture of innovation

Fast Company: Every company wants to be innovative. Most approach this by trying to hire highly creative specialists or by spinning up a new “innovation” team. But companies that consistently innovate do something different: They build company-wide systems focused on customer solutions and make innovation part of everyday business.

Trump Announces Kennedy Center Closure Due to 'Renovations'

www.ticketnews.com: The President said the venue will officially close on July 4, 2026, noting that the center has spent a year consulting with contractors, musical experts, art institutions, and other advisers and consultants to decide whether or not the venue will close and reopen or move forward with partial construction while still holding performances. Trump noted that “if temporarily closed for Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding,” the venue “can be, without question, the finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World.”

ADJ and AVANTE Audio gear up for ISE 2026

TPi: Many of the new lighting products being shown by ADJ at ISE were first unveiled to international audiences at the LDI show in Las Vegas in December, giving EMEA visitors the opportunity to experience these solutions in person for the first time. AVANTE Audio will also use the exhibition to showcase its exciting new Akro Series active line array system, which pairs power and performance with precision and portability.

Evolution Dome US Revs Up Ford’s Historic F1 Return in Detroit

Event Industry News: As Ford Motor Company roared back into Formula 1 with the reveal of its new racing lineup, inflatable structure specialist Evolution Dome was on the ground to ensure the event infrastructure was just as cutting-edge as the cars.

Amazon’s Firm Order to Employees on ‘Melania’ Revealed

www.thedailybeast.com: Amazon did not allow talent to opt out of working on Melania for political reasons, a new report alleges. That order came straight from Amazon’s leadership, forcing studio staff to choose between working on an absurdly expensive documentary about Melania Trump or risk losing their jobs, three sources told The New York Times

The Number of TV Shows Available in the U.S. Fell Again in 2025

www.hollywoodreporter.com: The number of original series running on networks and streaming services in 2025 was down for the third straight year since a high in 2022. According to a year-end report from data firm Luminate, 1,122 shows premiered last year, an 11 percent drop from the 1,266 premieres in 2024. Since hitting a high of 1,695 shows in 2022, per Luminate, the TV landscape (excluding live sports and news programming) has shrunk by a third.

"The Gift That Keeps on Giving": An Interview with Carmelita Tropicana

www.thesegalcenter.org: For longtime frequenters of the downtown New York theatre scene, Carmelita Tropicana is a household name. In her decades-long career as a performance artist, actor, author, and teacher, she has built a body of work that alloys raucous humor and fantastical role play—with the help of a roster of memorable personas and characters—to interrogate the entanglements of queerness, ethnicity, nationality, and gender.

Grammys 2026 stage features "modern sculptural" gramophone

www.dezeen.com: The stage and scenography for the Grammy Awards ceremony in LA this coming weekend is designed by New York-based Yellow Studio and anchored by a giant golden gramophone. The Recording Academy's annual celebration of musical achievement, which takes place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on 1 February 2026, is Yellow Studio's fifth production design for the Grammys.

Chicago theaters bet on the future

Chicago Reader: The theaters-to-apartments pipeline in Chicago has claimed several long-running venues in recent years, including Briar Street Theatre (longtime home of the Blue Man Group), the Royal George (which debuted in 1984 and primarily served as a rental facility), and Stage 773 on Belmont (which opened as the Theatre Building in 1977 and has been home to countless companies and productions in the decades since). All three sites are slated for residential or mixed-use development.

Kennedy Center was always in the political spotlight but not like this

Los Angeles Times: Last Tuesday, Philip Glass withdrew the delayed premiere in June of his latest symphony, No. 15. Originally meant to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2022, it is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, but the composer decided the values of the current Kennedy Center were “in direct conflict to the message of the symphony,” which is inspired by Lincoln’s 1838 Lyceum Address.

Tickets Now on Sale for Kids' Night on Broadway Featuring THE OUTSIDERS, WICKED and More

www.broadwayworld.com: Tickets for Kids’ Night on Broadway are now on sale. The program returns to New York City on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, with 18 participating Broadway shows. A program of The Broadway League, Kids’ Night on Broadway allows anyone 18 and under to attend a participating Broadway show for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult.

Consumer Advocate Urges Senators to Look Beyond ‘Bots and Scalpers’ Ahead of Senate Hearing on Ticketing

TicketNews: As the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy prepares to gavel in today’s high-profile ticketing hearing, a major consumer advocacy group is urging lawmakers not to let the conversation collapse into a familiar script: blame scalpers, blame bots, and leave the structure of the market untouched.

Miss Saigon Will Return to London's West End in 2027

Playbill: The international hit musical Miss Saigon, which launched the career of Lea Salonga, will return to the West End in 2027, playing an eight-month limited engagement at the Prince Edward Theatre, more than a decade since the last revival played that same theatre.

Tony Award-winning producers Hal Luftig, Cathy Dantchik and Kevin Connor launch new production company

www.broadwaynews.com: Tony Award-winning producers Hal Luftig, Cathy Dantchik and Kevin Connor have announced the establishment of a new company. Halcyon Theatricals provides producing, consulting and dramaturgy services in addition to lead-producing new work for the stage. According to a release, the company gets its name from “the mythic halcyon bird who could calm the seas and create a time of success, prosperity and harmony.”