Christie to showcase the power of visual storytelling at ISE 2026

TPi: Showcasing an array of innovative and adaptable solutions, Christie will highlight its latest visual technologies across a range of immersive and interactive demonstrations, including 1DLP and 3DLP laser projectors, LED video walls, and powerful image processing solutions.

4 New DeWalt Products Coming Out In 2026 That Aren't Power Tools

www.slashgear.com: It would be nearly impossible for any hardware manufacturer to make and sell every single type of tool available, which is why there are always tools that one brand makes that another doesn't. For instance, there are Milwaukee tools you won't find from DeWalt, including common devices like soldering irons and more innovative tools, like the Drain Cleaning Air Gun.

A 3-day Broadway Concert is Happening in the Hudson Valley This Summer: How to Get Tickets

www.timeout.com/newyork: New York theatre’s summer plans just got a major new addition. In August, a first-of-its-kind, three-day outdoor Broadway celebration will head north of the city, transforming Kingston’s historic Hutton Brickyards into a destination for musical theatre fans. Running August 14–16, The Festival reimagines Broadway as a full-scale festival experience, blending big voices, beloved songs and scenic Hudson Valley surroundings.

Recipients of the 2026 Victor Shargai Leadership Award Announced

DC Theater Arts: The Board of Directors and Advancement Committee of Theatre Washington, in partnership with Craig Pascal, community advocate and husband of Victor Shargai, are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2026 Victor Shargai Leadership Award: award-winning playwright, director, and actor Psalmayene 24 and philanthropist and theater champion Share Fund, with leadership by Julie Jacobson and Pamela Nash.

An Open Letter to Richard Grenell

by Emil J Kang: You said something on PBS NewsHour that I want to take seriously: “We cannot have arts institutions that lose money.” You are responding to real pressures. I’ve spent thirty years in this sector. I’ve sat in rooms where we discussed debt reserves, union contracts, and ticket revenue that could not cover costs. I’ve felt the anxiety you’re responding to. It’s real. But the conclusion you’ve drawn from it reflects a misunderstanding of what you’ve inherited.

Why Did Teatro ZinZanni in Chicago Just Close?

www.timeout.com/chicago: Teatro ZinZanni will wrap its current Chicago run this Saturday, effectively going dark through the spring and summer, with hopes of returning in the fall. The immersive dinner-theater staple has been a Loop fixture since 2019, serving multi-course meals alongside circus acts, cabaret, comedy and live music inside a custom Spiegeltent perched on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel on West Randolph Street.

The Guardian view on the class crisis in the arts: the UK’s culture must not become the preserve of the elite

Editorial | The Guardian: In his McTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh TV festival in 2024, the playwright James Graham called class “everyone’s least favourite diversity and representation category”. A socioeconomic duty on public bodies was included in 2010’s Equality Act, but has never been enacted.

MEXODUS to Return to NYC This Spring at the Daryl Roth Theatre

www.broadwayworld.com: On the heels of a twice-extended run at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre in Fall 2025, Mexodus, the new musical written and performed by Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, choreographed by Tony Thomas, and directed by David Mendizábal, will return to New York City this spring for a limited 10-week-only engagement. Performances begin Friday, March 6 at the Daryl Roth Theatre.

Trump Announces Sweeping Kennedy Center Renovation Plan

Engineering News-Record: President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post on Feb. 1 that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will undergo a sweeping renovation that would require a multiyear closure. In a post that reads more like a declaration than a proposal, Trump said that following the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, the venue would close for as long as two years.

Gloves

Cool Tools: These Spectra/Kevlar gloves are used in the restaurant industry to defend against knife and mandolin cuts, as well as handling trash that may have protruding bits of glass and fish bones. I read about them in a cooking magazine, and bought one glove after cutting myself on a mandolin.

KSS NW LTD takes home Festival Supplier Award

Access All Areas: Bolton-based security and crowd management company KSS NW LTD won the Best Crowd Management & Security award at the Festival Supplier Awards last week. The award was presented on 29 January at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London and recognises performance across the UK and Ireland’s outdoor events and festival industry.

The Kennedy Center Embarrassed Trump, so Now He Needs to Destroy It

www.jezebel.com: As soon as artists and performers began canceling their scheduled Kennedy Center engagements en masse following President Donald Trump’s historically self-aggrandizing move to add his own name to the building, we probably should have figured that the single most likely outcome would be that Trump would immediately begin tracing his fat fingers over a glowing, red self-destruct button for the center, which has served the American public for 55 years since its opening in 1971.

White Light elevates Channing School’s production with expert technical solutions

LightSoundJournal.com: Channing School, renowned for its commitment to creativity and excellence in performing arts, recently captivated audiences with its ambitious musical production of Hadestown. Known for its bold storytelling and immersive staging, the school’s Performing Arts team sought a solution that would bring the industrial, underground aesthetic of the West End show to life, while empowering students to lead on technical execution.

Is the Husky Tripod from Home Depot an Influencer's Dream?

www.themarysue.com: Arguably, the best thing for any retailer these days is for one of its products to go viral online. If a TikTok girlie with a sizable audience reviews your product favorably, her followers will inevitably flock in droves to get said object for themselves.

Kennedy Center Official Resigns Less Than Two Weeks After Hiring

www.hollywoodreporter.com: Kevin Couch, the newly appointed head of artistic programming at the Kennedy Center, has resigned from his post. Couch told The New York Times that he left his position of senior vice president of artistic programming Wednesday, but did not provide a reason for his resignation.

Seattle Children's Theatre Pulls Bruce Lee Play From Kennedy Center Lineup

Playbill: Seattle Children's Theatre has joined the growing list of artists who wish to no longer be affiliated with the Kennedy Center following President Trump's takeover. On January 20, the theatre announced that it would be pulling its upcoming production of Young Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story from the Washington, D.C. institution's Family Theatre venue.

Review: Prime Stage Shines a Spotlight on the 'Freedom House' Hidden Figures

onstagepittsburgh.com: The pioneering Freedom House Ambulance Service has garnered much-deserved attention of late, thanks to The Pitt, the HBO show that shines a spotlight on all things Pittsburgh, following the WQED documentary Freedom House Ambulance: The FIRST Responders and the 2022 book American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America’s First Paramedics, by Kevin Hazzard.

Judge Kacsmaryk Compares Drag To Blackface, Allows College Campus Drag Ban In Texas

www.erininthemorning.com: On Saturday, Jan. 17, far-right judge Matthew Kacsmaryk issued one of his most extreme rulings yet, finding that West Texas A&M can ban drag performances on campus. In reaching that conclusion, Kacsmaryk discarded long-standing First Amendment precedent and made demeaning assertions about drag itself, including a comparison to “blackface.”

Pittsburgh had a record-breaking year for film and TV projects

nextpittsburgh.com: Dawn Keezer, executive director of economic development nonprofit The Pittsburgh Film Office, says the film industry deserves more recognition as part of the region’s “economic stratosphere.” Film and TV productions spent $300 million on Pennsylvania-based products and services while filming in the region in 2025.

7 Ryobi Air Compressor Tools You Probably Didn't Know Existed

www.slashgear.com: Ryobi makes a lot of tools. If you were ever to spend an afternoon browsing through its website, you'd probably find at least a few you didn't know the company made, let alone sold. Something you won't find in stores that Ryobi sells (or at least sold once upon a time) is the humble air compressor. This tool compresses air and then allows you to use it to power tools, inflate car tires, and even clean stuff. I've long used air compressors to clean tower fans in my house by carefully blasting them with pressurized air.

Investors panic over Google's AI game generator, tank gaming stocks

Boing Boing: A couple years ago, it was my distinct displeasure to inform you about the advent of Sora AI-generated video just before the resulting tidal wave of slop rendered truth a luxury. It's my even more distinct displeasure to inform you that we could be standing at the edge of a similar precipice — at least, according to a few investors.

Trump Says Kennedy Center Will Close for 2-Year Reconstruction Project

The New York Times: President Trump announced Sunday that he would shut down the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which has been battered by cancellations and boycotts, for two years starting this summer. He said that would allow his administration to transform what he called “a tired, broken, and dilapidated Center,” into “the finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind.”

& Juliet Partners With TDF to Provide 1,600 Free Tickets to Students and Educators

Playbill: Broadway's & Juliet has partnered with the theatrical not-for-profit TDF (The Theatre Development Fund) to launch The &Future Education Initiative, which will provide New York City students and educators the opportunity to see the hit jukebox musical on Broadway for free this spring.

AUDIX Introduces New Novacore Digital Wireless Ecosystem

ProSoundWeb: AUDIX has announced the launch of Novacore, a new digital wireless platform comprised of 16 distinct products, including the NCR1, NCR2, and NCR4 single and multi-channel receivers, NCHH handheld and NCBP bodypack transmitters, specialized NCEC and NCTH vocal capsules, the Novacore Frequency Coordinator, and a set of accessories.

NFTRW Weekly Top Five

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

Broadway Bridges Back for 2026, Bringing $10 Broadway Tickets to NYC Sophomores

Playbill: The Broadway League's Broadway Bridges program, which aims to ensure NYC public high school students see a Broadway show, has returned for 2026. The program, which serves schools across all five boroughs, invites high school sophomores and public high schools to see a participating Broadway show for just $10, with the goal of making sure every NYC public school student sees a Broadway show before they graduate.

Los Angeles' Hold on Hollywood Is Slipping

www.hollywoodreporter.com: There’s not enough work. And especially not enough work to afford to live in Los Angeles. More often than not, it seems, that’s what people hear when the topic turns to Hollywood’s film and TV production in the industry’s home base over the past couple of years.

Disney World’s New Villains Land at Magic Kingdom Will Be Its Most Original in Years: Report

people.com: The Wall Street Journal spoke to Disney Imagineering leaders past and present about what fans can expect from the forthcoming addition to the Magic Kingdom. The new area, which is already under construction, is expected to feature villains from beloved movies like Snow White, Peter Pan, and Aladdin, among others.

Alex Honnold Skyscraper Climb on Netflix: What Happens if He Falls?

variety.com: Later today (well, tomorrow in Taiwan), “Free Solo” climber Alex Honnold will start his ascent on the 1,677-foot Taipei 101 skyscraper — without ropes — by carefully making his way up the tower’s slab base. But that’s the easy part. From there, he’ll get on the building’s middle section, designed like eight-story “bamboo boxes,” which will require steep climbing over these overhanging sections.

Returning to Your Magic Tree House

AMERICAN THEATRE: What is your first artistic memory? We at American Theatre love to ask folks what moment in their youth generated that first spark, what title infected them with the theatre bug. When it comes to the theatre, I recall dancing in the aisles during habitual outings to theatre for young audiences in Rio and, as a toddler, proclaiming I’d make theatre for a living. When I came to the U.S., my love for language and the written word blossomed with The Magic Tree House series and Beatrix Potter books.

 

Martin Crimp’s Version Of "The Seagull" Makes It To The German Stage

The Theatre Times: Many, especially prestigious, new productions of Chekhov’s The Seagull in the UK and USA commission new translations or versions of the play. For example, in 1985, for his West End production, director Charles Sturridge presented the translation by himself and Tania Alexander. The cast included Vanessa Redgrave as Arkadina, her daughter Natasha Richardson as Nina, Jonathan Pryce as Trigorin and John Lynch as Konstantin. Peter Hall used a new version by Tom Stoppard for his 1997 production at the Old Vic, starring Felicity Kendal as Arkadina, Victoria Hamilton as Nina, Michael Pennington as Trigorin and Dominic West as Konstantin. The National Theatre production of 2006, directed by Katie Mitchell, with Juliet Stevenson as Arkadina, Hattie Morahan as Nina, Mark Bazeley as Trigorin and Ben Whishaw as Konstantin, used a version by Martin Crimp, usually referred to as “paired-down”.

Lollapalooza India 2026 Review + Photos: Substance and Style

consequence.net: Lollapalooza India 2026 crashed into Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Racecourse on January 24th and 25th, and holy shit, the fourth edition delivered on a level that left me hoarse, sunburnt, and stupidly happy. I rolled up half-doubting after last year’s lineup announcement had everyone in my WhatsApp group rolling eyes — “meh, but we’ll go anyway ” —because Lolla‘s become this unspoken Mumbai ritual. You throw on questionable shorts, cram a playlist onto your phone, herd your mates, and dive in.

Murals: A Right to Protest and Preserve

Arts Management and Technology Lab: The power of the arts is undeniably transformational for individuals and communities. Public art specifically can enhance our outer world and allow anyone to view free, accessible art. This article examines murals as a specific form of public art to explore how their creation can generate lasting social, civic, and cultural impacts within the communities they inhabit. The following offers a historical perspective on the evolution of mural-based works and the impact of technological integration on public artists today.

It’s a Theatre Question

www.culturebot.org: Lucas Hnath’s new adaptation of Molière’s farce, directed by Sarah Benson at New York Theater Workshop, complicates the notion of theater as escape by deploying recognizable faces whose personas exist alongside their characters rather than disappearing into them. Matthew Broderick plays Matthew Broderick as Tartuffe. As Madame Pernelle, Bianca Del Rio dons her signature beat. In a set resembling a tennis court, Orgon, Elmire, et al. bounce accusations and confessions back and forth, fighting for their version of truth.

Los Angeles' Hold on Hollywood Is Slipping

www.hollywoodreporter.com: There’s not enough work. And especially not enough work to afford to live in Los Angeles. More often than not, it seems, that’s what people hear when the topic turns to Hollywood’s film and TV production in the industry’s home base over the past couple of years.

Amelia Aguilar on finding acceptance and honesty in ‘Octet’ at Studio

DC Theater Arts: Sometimes, you stumble upon the right narrative at the right time in your life. For me, that was listening to the Dave Malloy musical Octet in 2020. Malloy creates sonically ambitious, dramaturgically dense shows. His most well-known is Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 — an adaptation of a small section of War and Peace described as an “electropop opera,” whose Broadway production received 12 Tony nominations in 2017.

Alex Honnold Skyscraper Climb on Netflix: What Happens if He Falls?

variety.com: Later today (well, tomorrow in Taiwan), “Free Solo” climber Alex Honnold will start his ascent on the 1,677-foot Taipei 101 skyscraper — without ropes — by carefully making his way up the tower’s slab base. But that’s the easy part. From there, he’ll get on the building’s middle section, designed like eight-story “bamboo boxes,” which will require steep climbing over these overhanging sections.

Goodspeed Musicals to Pause Productions at Terris Theatre for 2026

www.broadwayworld.com: Goodspeed Musicals will temporarily pause productions at The Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn. While 2025 was a strong season with nearly sold-out performance runs at both The Goodspeed and The Terris, sharply rising production costs and shifting audience habits, expectations and preferences have made The Terris Theatre’s sole focus on the development of brand-new shows more challenging to accomplish.

Society of Camera Operators 2026 Awards Movie, TV Nominees

www.hollywoodreporter.com: The Society of Camera Operators has announced its 2026 Camera Operator of the Year awards nominees across film and TV. The film nominees are Colin Anderson for both One Battle After Another and Marty Supreme, with Brian Osmond on the latter; Lukasz Bielan with Natasha Mullan for F1; Gilles Corbeil with James Frater for Frankenstein; and Michael Fuchs with Kate Roberson for Weapons.

Broadway Bridges Back for 2026, Bringing $10 Broadway Tickets to NYC Sophomores

Playbill: The Broadway League's Broadway Bridges program, which aims to ensure NYC public high school students see a Broadway show, has returned for 2026. The program, which serves schools across all five boroughs, invites high school sophomores and public high schools to see a participating Broadway show for just $10, with the goal of making sure every NYC public school student sees a Broadway show before they graduate.

Hollywood Professional Association announces Innovation & Technology Nominees

NCS | NewscastStudio: The Hollywood Professional Association announced the nominees for the 2026 HPA Awards Innovation & Technology program on Jan. 15. The expanded awards recognize technology contributions across the media and entertainment production lifecycle.

History of Lilith Fair, Sarah McLachlan's All-Female Music Festival

mymodernmet.com: In the summer of 1997, a revolution rolled through the United States and Canada under a chorus of female voices. For years, the music industry had clung to an unspoken rule not rooted in data, but in prejudice, that no two women could play back-to-back on a lineup because it wasn’t “profitable.” That belief shaped radio playlists, tour bills, and who was allowed to take up space on stage.

Review Roundup: DATA Opens Off-Broadway

www.broadwayworld.com: Matthew Libby’s play DATA has officially made its New York stage premiere, directed by Tyne Rafaeli, starring Karan Brar reprising his role from the Arena Stage production, as Maneesh, as well as Brandon Flynn as Jonah, Sophia Lillis as Riley, and Justin H. Min as Alex.

A new Henry V is a barometer of our times – what can Shakespeare’s war play tell us amid global chaos?

Theatre | The Guardian: I have long argued that Shakespeare’s history plays have more urgent relevance today than his tragedies. The issues they raise – such as the nature of good governance and the difficulty of deposing a tyrant – are precisely those that still haunt us. Henry V, shortly to be given a new RSC production directed by Tamara Harvey, seems especially timely as we are living in a world where the threat of war is painfully real.

Elation brings its strongest lineup to date to ISE 2026

LightSoundJournal.com: Join Elation at ISE 2026 in Barcelona, Booth 6Q300, February 3–6 for a sneak peek at the future of lighting! From European firsts to the most powerful lineup yet, experience in Barcelona Elation’s lighting portfolio crafted to elevate every stage and production.

Hollywood Assistants Finally Get the Spotlight at Inaugural AvA Awards

www.hollywoodreporter.com: Assistants vs. Agents, the popular Instagram account that highlights the struggles of being a Hollywood assistant, hosted its inaugural awards show in L.A., in what appears to be the first honors ever recognizing the young people who keep studios, agencies and sets on track and on time.

BROADWAY BARES to Return to Hammerstein Ballroom in June

www.broadwayworld.com: Tickets to the annual event, produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares are on sale now. With two performances at 9:30 pm and midnight, Broadway Bares launches NYC Pride Week in dazzling, seductive fashion - a one-night-only extravaganza of show-stopping numbers, fearless talent and unforgettable moments.

Re-sensitizing to Place in Site-Specific Performance

HowlRound Theatre Commons: Welcome to the third episode of Bridge Between Realities, a podcast produced for HowlRound Theatre Commons, a free and open platform for theatremakers worldwide. My name is Tara Khozein. I’m a classical singer and theatre artist.

The Public Will Host 'People's Filibuster' Protest Event in Response to Minnesota ICE Action

Playbill: Off-Broadway's Public Theater will hold a "The People's Filibuster" protest event in support of and solidarity for the people of Minnesota January 31. The event will be held on the steps of the company's flagship downtown building at 425 Lafayette Street from 11 AM to 7 PM ET, with the event also streaming live.

Educational Theatre Foundation Will Launch Storyline Initiative in Memory of Craig Zadan

Playbill: The Educational Theatre Foundation will launch Storyline: A Craig Zadan Legacy Program, aimed at expanding access to theatre education at the district level. The new program's pilot launch is being made possible via a grant from The Kresge Foundation.

L-Acoustics For "Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)" On Broadway

ProSoundWeb: Currently playing at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway, “Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)” is a high-energy show with just two lead actors on a rotating set that’s being supported by a sound reinforcement system that incorporates a range of loudspeakers from L-Acoustics, including Kara II and A Series models.

Another Top Kennedy Center Official Resigns

The New York Times: The top official overseeing artistic programming at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has stepped down less than two weeks after his hiring was announced, the latest senior official to resign. Kevin Couch, who was senior vice president of artistic programming, said he left the role on Wednesday. He declined to provide a reason for his resignation.

A Play Without Live Actors: Is ‘An Ark’ Theatre’s Afterlife?

AMERICAN THEATRE: As An Ark opens, actor Golda Rosheuvel enters stage right and sits down in one of four chairs. She looks directly at you, maintaining deep, expectant eye contact. She smiles at you and nods understandingly. Do you smile back? I did. Almost involuntarily. A human reflex: subconscious mirroring.

Studio Technologies To Spotlight AES67, ST 2110 & Ravenna-Compatible Consoles At 2026 ISE Show

ProSoundWeb: Studio Technologies announced that its newest announcer consoles, which are compatible with the industry’s most widely used audio-over-IP (AoIP) protocols, will be featured at the 2026 ISE Show at Fira de Barcelona in Spain at booth 4K800). The consoles, now available for shipping, each offer a range of features but differ in the number of talkback sender (output) channels, with the six-talkback-channel Model 5536, four-talkback-channel Model 5534, and two-talkback-channel Model 5532.

Takeaways From the 2025 IADMS Conference on Occupational Health Hazards

Dance Magazine: When it comes to injuries, dancers often think of overuse issues­, like stress fractures, or more acute injuries, like a sprained ankle. But this year’s International Association for Dance Medicine & Science conference shed light on an often overlooked aspect of a dance career: occupational health hazards.

‘A new form of theater’: can Ian McKellen, 52 cameras and ‘mixed reality’ reinvent a medium?

US theater | The Guardian: You sit in a circle at the Shed, the cultural center in Manhattan’s futuristic Hudson Yards, waiting for the show to begin. Through your enhanced glasses, you see four empty chairs facing you, just out of reach. You watch strangers look out for the actors to arrive. As they do, one at a time, you feel unsettled – each locks eyes with you, specifically. “Don’t panic,” the esteemed British actor Ian McKellen assures you, as the actors take their seats.

Who Makes Knipex Pliers And Where Are They Manufactured?

www.slashgear.com: For decades, products sporting the "Knipex" label have earned a reputation for quality and are widely considered to be the gold standard for pliers. Knipex even made it to SlashGear's list of the best hand tool brands. A German company that has been making pliers since 1882, Knipex is unique because it has a steadfast focus on a single product category.

Production Workers at Arena Stage Vote to Join IATSE

IATSE: Approximately 80 backstage production workers at Arena Stage, one of the nation’s leading regional theaters, have voted to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). In a National Labor Relations Board election, workers voted overwhelmingly for union representation, with over 85% of ballots cast in favor.

‘Broadway Hit “Oh, Mary!’ Sets 2026 U.S. National Tour

TicketNews: Cole Escola’s Broadway comedy “Oh, Mary!” is preparing to take its irreverent portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln beyond New York, with a national tour scheduled to begin in fall 2026. The touring production will launch in Hartford, Connecticut, with its first performances set for The Bushnell, before traveling to cities such as Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

Philip Glass cancels Kennedy Center premiere of Symphony No. 15

AP News: Prize-winning composer Philip Glass has called off a scheduled world premiere at the Kennedy Center of a symphony about Abraham Lincoln, the latest in a wave of cancellations since President Donald Trump ousted the previous leadership.

Returning to Your Magic Tree House

AMERICAN THEATRE: What is your first artistic memory? We at American Theatre love to ask folks what moment in their youth generated that first spark, what title infected them with the theatre bug. When it comes to the theatre, I recall dancing in the aisles during habitual outings to theatre for young audiences in Rio and, as a toddler, proclaiming I’d make theatre for a living. When I came to the U.S., my love for language and the written word blossomed with The Magic Tree House series and Beatrix Potter books.

City Theatre will not merge with Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Public Theater

triblive.com: Last August, three major local theater companies — City Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theater and Pittsburgh CLO — announced they were considering the possibility of a merger. Today, the companies revealed that such a union is not in the cards — or, at least, not for all three.

Pittsburgh Theater Companies Halt Three-Way Merger Talks; Two Organizations Continue Discussions

www.broadwayworld.com: Three major Pittsburgh theater organizations, City Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theater, and Pittsburgh CLO, have confirmed that a previously explored three-way merger will not move forward. In a statement emailed to supporters Tuesday afternoon, leadership from the three organizations said their boards did not reach unified alignment to authorize participation in a proposed three-way consolidation process.

AI-Powered Robots in the Art World: Applications in Contemporary Art and Museums

Arts Management and Technology Lab: From algorithmic computation to human-machine collaboration, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is reshaping how society produces knowledge and imagines the future. AI-powered robots are now appearing not only in factories but also in art studios, galleries, and museums, signaling a crucial cultural shift, transforming technology from a tool of production to an active participant in artistic creation and curatorial practice.

Five Fronts in Trump’s Culture War

The New York Times: In his first term, President Trump took issue with some actors, arts funding and the media. In his second, he has hit the accelerator. Changing what Americans see and hear at their national museums, their performance spaces and on television is now at the core of his agenda. Mr. Trump views it as an effort to return to a lost vision of national greatness, one that seeks to “remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage.” Critics regard it as a nostalgic, reductive whitewashing. Here are five areas where the Trump administration has tried to reshape American culture.

Who Makes Festool Tools And Where Are They Manufactured?

www.slashgear.com: With many power tool brands, pinning down exactly who makes a product — and where it's made — isn't always straightforward. The story behind who makes Ryobi socket sets is a prime example of the complexities of modern tool branding and manufacturing. Against this backdrop, it's refreshing to find a company that relies on a handful of known locations to manufacture the vast majority of its tools.

Ghost Light Global to lead industry trip to Edinburgh Fringe

www.broadwaynews.com: This summer, bespoke theater travel organization Ghost Light Global will be taking a group of industry professionals to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The trip, which includes attendance to 3-5 performances each day plus networking events with festival creators and other industry professionals, will take place from Aug. 23-28.

Trump Washes Hands of Kennedy Center ‘Deficit’ After Takeover

www.thedailybeast.com: President Donald Trump attempted to wash his hands of the “massive deficit” plaguing the storied cultural institution that he has attempted to rename after himself. Trump, 79, passed the blame for the plummeting sales at the Kennedy Center. “People don’t realize that The Trump Kennedy Center suffered massive deficits for many years and, like everything else, I merely came in to save it and, if possible, make it far better than ever before!”

PokePark Kanto: Inside Pokemon Theme Park in Japan

variety.com: Every Pokémon fan’s childhood dream has come true: PokéPark Kanto, a sprawling Pokémon world, has come to life in Tokyo’s Yomiuri Land amusement park, complete with hundreds of life-sized Pokémon, two rides and countless hidden secrets to discover.

Trump Offers Bonds to Hollywood While Again Threatening Tariffs

variety.com: President Trump renewed his threat to tariff films made overseas on Monday, but also suggested that he would offer “low-interest bonds” to help stimulate domestic production. In an interview with the New York Post, the president did not explain his proposal but indicated he is still considering the decline in production.

5 Recipients of American Theatre Wing's National Theatre Company Grants Named

Playbill: In recognition of the importance that regional theatres play in the American theatre, and how the work of American playwrights advances the art form and culture, the American Theatre Wing has announced the five recipients of its National Theatre Company Grants program.

I Do review – immersive hotel drama as wonderful as a real wedding day

Theatre | The Guardian: When isn’t there big family drama in the buildup to a wedding? The nerves, the tantrums – sometimes even charges of “inappropriate” first dances. Isn’t it all part and parcel of the apparently perfect day?

Met Opera director and designers order names stripped from 'Carmen'

AP News: In a dispute of operatic proportions, the production team of Bizet’s “Carmen” at the Metropolitan Opera ordered their names stripped from programs over a restaging decision, and the company intends to bring back sets of a retired 2009 version.

It’s ICE Out of Minnesota Day, and Twin Cities Theatres Are Part of It

AMERICAN THEATRE: As people in Minneapolis and nationwide grieve the murder of Renee Nicole Good, and both activists and ordinary citizens struggle to resist and recover from targeted raids by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of Somali, Southeast Asian, and Latine immigrants in the Twin Cities, advocacy is coming in many forms, including the artistic.

Production Assistants Union Notches First Win in New York

www.hollywoodreporter.com: Workers on the Netflix series The Four Seasons, which shoots in New York, have voted in a National Labor Relations Board election to unionize with Production Assistants United. Ballots were due by the end of the day on Monday and were counted on Thursday, with 19 crew members voting to join the union and one voting against. Thirty-four people were eligible to participate.