Obama Center releases grand opening weekend events schedule

WBEZ Chicago: The Obama Presidential Center is preparing a big show for its grand opening next month. The center on Wednesday released its schedule of activities for its opening weekend, June 19-21. Many events are free, family-friendly and open to the public.

Ghostly Showgirls, Glittery Foliage, and a 27,000-Pound Building Make Up the Sets of These Tony-Nominated Shows

Playbill: The 2025–26 Broadway season welcomed audiences into many different worlds. Within just a few blocks in Times Square, audiences experienced the mysteriously seductive Dr. Frank-N-Furter's castle, the shimmering runway at the fabulous Jellicle Ball, the kaleidoscopic wonderland of Schmigadoon, and a built-to-scale Brooklyn bank that rotated on and off the stage.

What We're Building Next

DC Theater Arts: None of us anticipated the Washington Post gutting its arts and culture staff. That decision landed hard on a community that has long relied on that coverage, not just as readers, but as the artists, administrators, and theater lovers whose work and passion it documented. The Post provided consistent employment for talented writers across this region, and the reach of its coverage helped audiences discover, understand, and invest in the extraordinary work happening on our stages. Its absence leaves a gaping hole in our community’s ability to be seen.

Chicago sound artist Kikù Hibino collaborates with his noise hero Merzbow

Chicago Reader: Experimental Chicago producer and sound artist Kikù Hibino has long dreamed of collaborating with Japanese noise artist Merzbow, aka Masami Akita. Hibino, a Japanese native, traces this desire to 2002, when he noticed Merzbow backstage at the inaugural stateside edition of artist-curated music festival All Tomorrow’s Parties, held at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Interview: Tamara Siler of SINNERS AND SAINTS at Main Street Theater

www.broadwayworld.com: Tamara Siler has been a fixture of the Houston theater scene for decades, appearing in everything from Dreamgirls and Into the Woods to Caroline, or Change and Bat Boy: The Musical. Now she’s stepping into the spotlight for a deeply personal cabaret evening at Main Street Theater titled Sinners and Saints, running at their Rice Village location through June 13th.

Chicago’s Lyric Opera receives $20 million gift from Illinois-based Negaunee Foundation

WBEZ Chicago: Lyric Opera of Chicago has received a $20 million gift from the Illinois-based Negaunee Foundation, which will be used to expand educational programming and make Mozart a more permanent fixture on the Downtown stage.

PA company builds huge venue for White House's UFC event

local21news.com: Residents in Warwick Township may have recently noticed an odd structure towering in the skies. The project, which looks like two giant crossed arches, will eventually become the venue for the UFC Freedom 250 White House event in June.

25 Old Home Architectural Details (That We've Forgotten How To Build)

www.obsessedwoodworking.com: You walk into an old house and something hits you before you can name it. The trim is heavier. The doorways are taller. The light falls differently across the walls. There’s a depth to the rooms that the new houses you’ve been in don’t have — even the ones with bigger square footage and higher ceilings.

'Survivor' betting controversy explained, Aubry Bracco interview

www.goldderby.com: Jeff Probst has broken his silence on the controversial debate over betting sites like Kalshi and Polymarket spoiling the outcomes of reality TV shows, including Survivor. "You're telling me there's a way I can make money by sharing information I have, and I might not ever get caught? Of course, people are going to do that," the host and showrunner told Variety. "And if I found out somebody on our show bet on this, they'd be fired."

The TV industry still struggles with class inequality – access alone won’t fix it

theconversation.com: While questions of diversity and representation have received growing industry attention, class inequality has often remained less prevalent within these discussions. And where interventions have been introduced, they have tended to focus on entry and skills-gaps rather than the deeper structural conditions that shape who is able to sustain a long-term career once inside the industry.

The Best Things In Life Are Free

SoundGirls.org: I just worked my first session as a paid engineer at a historic studio where I’ve been working for free for two years. In honor of that milestone, here are my thoughts on working without monetary compensation.

How Shirley Kurata Built a Surreal Fashion Playground for Keke Palmer in "I Love Boosters"

The Credits: When writer-director Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You) approached Oscar-nominated costume designer Shirley Kurata with crime comedy I Love Boosters, it was a no-brainer. Though shot in Atlanta and set in a surreal version of the San Francisco Bay Area, the dynamic collaboration that pops and crackles with bold colors and rich textures is inspired by their California roots.

35th Annual Gene Kelly Awards Announces Winners

www.broadwayworld.com: An enthusiastic sold-out crowd filled the Benedum Center as Pittsburgh CLO celebrated Allegheny County’s finest high school musical theater performers at the 35th Annual Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Broadway’s ‘The Lost Boys’ and Its Flying Vampire Spectacle

The New York Times: The first vampire descends from the shadows, high above the stage, barely visible as he comes in for the kill. Four vampires disappear into a dark void below the stage after dropping, one by one, from a trestle bridge.

High End Systems Zeo Delivers Spectacular Lighting for the DSDS 2026

LightSoundJournal.com: Following appearances at several major live events, including the 2025 Halftime Show, the High End Systems Zeo once again demonstrated its capabilities at a high-profile broadcast production: the grand finale of Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS), Germany’s equivalent of American Idol, on May 9, 2026.

3 positions eliminated from Pittsburgh Playhouse as part of ‘operational restructuring’

triblive.com: Days before layoffs at Pittsburgh Public Theater, three staff positions were eliminated from Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse, university representatives confirmed Thursday.

How Small Design and Manufacturing Teams Are Moving Faster Than Ever

Fusion Blog: It’s easy for small design and manufacturing teams to feel at a disadvantage compared to larger organizations with dedicated departments and deep resources. But in today’s product development landscape, the opposite is often true. Smaller teams can move faster by embracing agile workflows and avoiding the handoffs and delays that slow larger operations.

ProSlide: Sliding into summer

InPark Magazine: Founded in 1986 by former Canadian Alpine Ski Team member Rick Hunter, Canadian waterpark pioneer ProSlide began designing water slides inspired by the smooth curves and high speeds of downhill ski racing. Nearly four decades later, the company’s offerings span everything from water coasters and speed slides to immersive rafting experiences and family attractions designed for parks of all sizes.

Meet The Secret Weapon Behind The Mask Of The Mandalorian

www.inverse.com: The opening credits of The Mandalorian and Grogu are history-making for a few reasons. Longtime fans might be unsettled to see traditional opening credits at the beginning of a Star Wars movie, but, more than that novelty, the names in those opening credits are a very big deal.

TV composers roundtable: The magic of main titles and end credits

www.goldderby.com: As part of our ongoing series of exclusive conversations with the industry's key (and too often unsung) contributors, Gold Derby gathered the esteemed and award-winning composers from a few of the most musically memorable series this season.

Pittsburgh Public Theater Staff Members Laid Off Amid Merger Preparation

OnStage Blog: Several staff members at Pittsburgh Public Theater were informed this week that their positions had been eliminated as the organization continues preparations for its planned merger with Pittsburgh CLO.

Actors' Equity Association Reveals Results of 2026 Officer and Councilor Election

www.broadwayworld.com: Actors' Equity Association has revealed the results of its 2026 Officer and Councilor Election. In total, 43 positions across all three regions and representing four categories (principal actor, chorus actor, stage manager and at-large) were filled, effective immediately.

Pittsburgh Public Theater employees’ positions eliminated following CLO merger

triblive.com: A separation letter obtained by TribLive news partner WTAE stated the Public faces “ongoing financial constraints” and will forgo its fall season ahead of a forthcoming merger with the Pittsburgh CLO.

Tribeca Festival 2026 preview for theater lovers

New York Theater: The musical “Hadestown” is brought to the screen with the original Broadway cast, followed by a live concert. Broadway songwriters Sara Bareilles and Alicia Keys are each profiled. There’s a documentary about a drag theater company putting on a production of “The Rocky Horror Show” in Wyoming.

14 Community Theaters Featured in Downtown Pittsburgh Showcase

onstagepittsburgh.com: An event titled Pittsburgh Community Theater Showcase seemed like a good time to check out the Dollar Bank Lobby Series at the O’Reilly Theater. The three-day showcase illustrates the possibilities of the series, announced by Pittsburgh Public Theater in February as “intimate performances and community‑centered events designed to bring fresh artistic voices into the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh,”

Pittsburgh Public Theater lays off staff as merger proceeds with Pittsburgh CLO

www.wtae.com: According to staff members with Pittsburgh Public Theater, all staff members have been terminated as of Tuesday. Staff members say they were told Tuesday that their positions have been eliminated and were told to prepare to leave the same day.

20 Schools Inducted Into Disney on Broadway School of Excellence Program

Playbill: Winners have been revealed for the third annual Disney on Broadway School of Excellence program, an initiative from the Educational Theatre Association, Disney Theatrical Group, and Music Theatre International. Winning schools receive a free license to produce a Disney stage musical—such as The Little Mermaid, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, or Newsies—in the 2026-2027 school year.

Broadway Bets Raises Record-Breaking Sum for Broadway Cares at Edison Ballroom

Playbill: Broadway Bets, Broadway’s official game night produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares, was held May 18 at the Edison Ballroom and raised a record-breaking $989,528. A mix of Broadway talent, industry insiders, and theatre enthusiasts joined in the Texas Hold ’em tournament for all levels.

Claypaky Illuminates the Arsenale Water Show

LightSoundJournal.com: At the historic Arsenale of Venice, the vast Darsena Grande was transformed into a spectacular open-air stage for Arsenale Water Show 2026 – The Call of Olympia, one of the highlight events of the Venice Carnival. Blending myth, emotion and cutting-edge technology, the immersive production delivered a powerful visual and sonic experience set against the unique backdrop of the Venetian lagoon.

2026 Chita Rivera Awards winners: ‘Schmigadoon!’ dominates Broadway honors

www.broadwaynews.com: Winners are here for the 2026 Chita Rivera Awards, honoring the best in dance during the 2025-2026 theater and film seasons. This year’s ceremony was held on May 18 at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.

Interview: Dylan Godwin of DEAR ALIEN at ALLEY THEATRE

www.broadwayworld.com: The Alley is now presenting DEAR ALIEN, a show that'll be running through May 31st in the lower Neuhaus space. It is a world premiere by playwright Liz Duffy Adams. BROADWAY WORLD writer Brett Cullum got to sit down with Alley Company member Dylan Godwin and talk about the show, philosophy, and breaking the fourth wall.

What’s Next? Something Revealing!

AMERICAN THEATRE: The end of the year for any school is a whirlwind of end-of-the-year performances, spring musicals, dance shows, and music productions as we march toward graduation. It was only two weeks ago that the curtains closed on my school’s production of In the Heights; a week later, we produced the seniors’ one-person show festival, and this week my students are preparing for the Adrienne Arsht Center’s inaugural high school award showcase, as one student has moved into the next round of the Jimmy’s nominations.

Going to a show in Chicago? Be prepared to hand over your phone till it’s over

WBEZ Chicago: If you want a deep dive into Chicago arts and culture, check your phone at the door: The “unplugged” trend is growing locally among arts groups responding to a collective desire for more phone-free experiences. Organizers say they aim to deepen human connection and offer spaces for creating art.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Cancels Performances Following Cyber Attack

www.broadwayworld.com: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres has alerted patrons that a cyber attack on its computer network may force the rescheduling of some upcoming performances.

DEATH BECOMES HER Is Closing- So What Happened?

www.broadwayworld.com: Death Becomes Her announced today they will be closing on Broadway on June 28 due to poor sales. This announcement comes as a relative surprise; had you asked anyone six months ago, they would have told you Death Becomes Her was more likely than not to have an extended run on Broadway.