Kennedy Center Unions Challenge Trump's 'Revitalization' Plans

Parade: The labor unions representing staff at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., have broken their silence regarding Donald Trump’s recent announcement concerning the facility’s future.

Actors' Equity, IATSE, Other Entertainment Unions Condemn Kennedy Center Closure

Playbill: Following President Trump's announcement that the Kennedy Center would be the closed for two years beginning July 4 for renovations, a number of entities have roundly condemned the move from Congressional Senators to, now, a host of entertainment unions and workers.

Ballet to Broadway: an Interview with Leigh Ann Esty - a Swing and Understudy for 'Disney's Beauty and the Beast'

onstagepittsburgh.com: The Benedum Center has invited Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to ‘be their guest’ from Tuesday, February 24th, through March 1st. The production marks the 30th anniversary of Disney’s groundbreaking musical that brings the beloved 1991 film to life. The new production hails from the same producers of Disney’s Aladdin, The Lion King, and Frozen, with original Broadway Choreographer Matt West serving as director and choreographer. Before Belle stumbles upon the Beast’s castle, I had the pleasure of speaking with Swing and Mrs. Potts understudy Leigh-Ann Esty.

11 New Milwaukee Products Coming In 2026 You Should Know About

www.slashgear.com: Anyone following the most recent World of Concrete trade show likely saw some of the new Milwaukee tools for construction jobs coming in 2026, including heavy-duty equipment like demolition hammers and pick mattocks. However, there are plenty of other Milwaukee products in the pipeline that those outside of the masonry industry may appreciate.

Spanish Olympics Figure Skater Gets Minions Routine Approved

brobible.com: The Winter Olympics don’t officially kick off until Friday, but there’s already been some controversy courtesy of a Spanish figure skater who said he’d been blocked from performing his Minions-themed routine on the world’s biggest stage. Thankfully, it appears reason has prevailed after the internet bullied Universal into backing down from the copyright claim that threatened to derail his trip to Italy.

AEO Excellence Awards 2026 entries open

Event Industry News: Entries are now open for the AEO Excellence Awards, the Association of Event Organisers’ flagship awards programme celebrating excellence, innovation and impact across the UK and international events sector. Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on 12 June 2026 at Grosvenor House, with this year’s masquerade-themed celebration, “Behind the mask: a night of recognition”, offering a backdrop to recognise the people and work shaping the industry.

Decor and Design Details to Love in Fennell's Wuthering Heights

Film and Furniture: Emerald Fennell’s 2026 adaptation of Wuthering Heights moves decisively away from traditional windswept naturalism and treats design as emotional voltage, using architecture and surface to heighten every feeling.

The auteur of 'Strange Loop' tackles an opera like no other

NPR: Most productions of operas lead with the composer's name and ignore the writer. It's Puccini's "La Boheme" or Verdi's "La Traviata." But a new opera, "Complications In Sue," which opens tonight in Philadelphia, is being billed for its librettist. That's Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Michael R. Jackson. Jeff Lunden explains.

DJI RS 5 Review: Best Results With DJI's Top-Tier Gimbal

www.slashgear.com: If you want to capture epic cinematic sequences, smooth professional documentary footage, or beautiful artistic B-roll, then you might well be interested in a camera gimbal. However, if you're like me, there is also a lot of hassle associated with using a gimbal that might hold you back from using it as much as you might have imagined prior to purchasing such a tool.

‘Temple of the Moon’ Selected as Burning Man’s Sacred Space

www.ticketnews.com: Burning Man Project has announced the design for the 2026 Temple: Temple of the Moon, created by James Gwertzman with support from the Moonlight Collective and the Temple Build Crew.

'Sinners' Used 287 Prosthetics and 26 Sets of Custom Fangs

variety.com: For the scene, which ends with the sunrise and the annihilation of the vampires, director Ryan Coogler submerged the cast and crew in a Louisiana lake. “There was no room for error,” says the film’s prosthetic makeup designer Michael Fontaine, who spent weeks planning, sculpting and molding castings.

'Wuthering Heights' Production Design: Behind the Bottles Scene & More

www.indiewire.com: Whatever else you might think of it, there’s no denying writer and director Emerald Fennell designed her adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” to be gleefully jarring. Maybe no moment exemplifies this better than the near jumpscare of Cathy (Margot Robbie) returning to her not-so-homey childhood abode to find her father, Mr. Earnshaw (Martin Clunes), dead on the ground in basically Peter Griffin pose, surrounded by piles of gin bottles rising to the rafters.

Bridgerton Season 4 Costume Design Behind-The-Scenes

Tomorrow's World Today®: Glamour recently published a behind-the-scenes look at the costume design process for Bridgerton Season 4, primarily focusing on the elaborate, ostentatious masquerade ball designs.

Oscar-winning costume designer shares advice she'd give her younger self

Good Morning America: Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter made history last month, receiving her fifth Oscar nomination for best costume design for "Sinners." Carter is already the most nominated Black woman in Oscar history and has won more awards than any other Black woman in Oscar history, but it's a distinction she says she didn't aim for when she was younger.

Buffalo Faith, Civil Rights Leaders Urge Albany to Target Ticketmaster Dominance — Not Resale Competition

TicketNews: A coalition of Buffalo faith leaders, civil rights advocates, and community organizations is pressing New York lawmakers to take aim at what they describe as a live event ticketing system “stacked against” fans and artists — and they’re warning that one of the most talked-about fixes in Albany, a cap on resale prices, could ultimately strengthen the very market power legislators say they want to curb.

Integrated Systems Europe Releases Results For 2026 ISE Show In Barcelona

ProSoundWeb: The recently concluded 2026 ISE Show at Fira de Barcelona in Spain has reported 92,170 visitors from around the world, as well as 1,751 exhibitors — including 323 making their debut at the event — contributing to the largest total show floor space in the event’s history at 101,000 square meters.

Deborah L. Scott on the Costumes of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'

www.indiewire.com: When costume designer Deborah L. Scott first worked with director James Cameron on “Titanic” in 1997, she won a well-deserved Academy Award for her work; this year, she received her second nomination for another Cameron film, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” and her achievement in that film is even more impressive.

California Introduces Bill to Cap Resale Ticket Prices

www.billboard.com: California could become the next state in the U.S. to put a limit on the price of resale concert tickets. Today (Feb. 5), California state assemblyman Matt Haney introduced a spot bill titled the California Fans First Act that would cap the price of a resold concert ticket to no more than 10% above the ticket’s original face value.

5 Free Alternatives To Popular Paid Windows Apps

www.slashgear.com: If you have noticed, recently it seems like every software that used to be available for a one-time fee is now only accessible through monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or annual subscriptions. This has led to "subscription fatigue," as these subscription bills quietly drain our wallets.

Disney World, Universal Orlando Jointly Close Down Parks Ahead of Operational Hazards

disneytips.com: Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort have shut down one of their theme parks in unison over a looming threat that will once again cover Central Florida soon. Time to reschedule those fun in the sun vacations. Here’s what you need to know.

There’s a reason to get to LAX early: the airport’s concert series

LAist: In my time going to shows in and around L.A., I’ve seen DJ sets all over — in parks, backyards, Thai restaurants, quinceañera venues, plus a few other spots I’m not going to blow up here. But despite being a big Brian Eno fan, seeing a show at an airport was completely new for me, even though LAX puts on concerts and DJ sets about once every couple weeks as part of their “LAX Presents” performance series.

When a Stage Director Trades Broadway for the Olympics

Playbill: Directing a new musical on Broadway is not an easy task. Even leaving artistry aside, one has to wrangle hundreds of people and show elements, from cast to backstage crew to large and often mechanical sets and costumes and props—all of which need to be unified under a distinct and engaging directorial vision.

Review Roundup: Critics Sound Off On CHEZ JOEY at Arena Stage

www.broadwayworld.com: Chez Joey is now running at Arena Stage. With fresh arrangements of the legendary catalog of Great American Songbook duo Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, a new book by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Richard LaGravenese (The Fisher King), choreography by Tony winner Savion Glover (Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk), and co-direction by actor, director, and producer Tony Goldwyn (ABC’s Scandal) and Glover - the production runs through March 15th, 2026.

Sphere Entertainment Posts 28% Q4 Revenue Jump

www.ticketnews.com: For the three months ending in Dec. 31, 2025, total company revenue increased 28% to $394.3 million, up from $308.3 million in the prior-year quarter. The company posted an operating income of $28.9 million, compared to an operating loss of $142.9 million a year earlier. Adjusted operating income rose to $128.0 million, up $95.2 million year-over-year.

Theatre Group Asia Will Present International Premiere of The Notebook This Fall

Playbill: Theatre Group Asia will present the international premiere of The Notebook this fall. The company—founded by the Tony Award-winning theatre designer Clint Ramos—will bring the musical to the Philippines next September, with dates and a venue to be announced.

Wuthering Heights costumes 'aren't historically accurate'

Yahoo Style Canada: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star as Cathy and Heathcliff in director Emerald Fennell's reimagining of Emily Bronte's classic tale and Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran has now opened up about the movie's lavish looks - insisting the stunning outfits are an amalgamation of different fashion from across the centuries.

'70s Vintage Coats on 'Ponies:' Twila's Wardrobe Explained by Costume Designer Anastasia Magoutas

heywhatevernevermind.substack.com: Friend of WNVM and fellow Substacker Beth Lisogorsky at You Need to Watch This nailed it when she wrote that “Ponies” is a “delightfully escapist watch” — not just for the American newbie spy antics in Cold War–era Moscow, but for the excellent period costumes. As a complete sucker for quips–and–banter–filled covert ops, odd-couple team-ups, and ’70s fashion, I was immediately in — and had to jump on the phone with costume designer Anastasia Magoutas.

Why Hart Tools Are Being Discontinued

www.slashgear.com: Home improvement can be tough for DIYers working on a budget, as even the smallest household jobs can get very expensive, very fast. It's important to save money, especially on power tools, which is why many people use the Hart brand. But unfortunately, this affordable line of tools is being discontinued by parent company Techtronic Industries Limited (TTI), which is shifting its focus to other core brands.

New Discovery Shatters William Shakespeare’s Biggest Mystery

www.popularmechanics.com: In the annals of William Shakespeare’s legacy, a twist has emerged that’s practically as dramatic as any of the Bard’s plays: the real “Shakespeare” behind a centuries-old family document has been revealed ... and it’s not the man we expected.

5 Snap-On Tools That Aren't Just For Cars

www.slashgear.com: Snap-On is a name that evokes powerful mental images within anyone who even has a passing relationship with hand and power tools. Snap-On is one of the most iconic tool brands in existence, and it's among the best hand tool makers you'll find. Equipment is expensive, and the company doesn't run commercials or sell through traditional channels such as big box stores.

BMW patents logo-shaped screw to block DIY repairs

Boing Boing: In the latest blow to right to repair, BMW has patented a screw which incorporates the automaker's iconic logo design into the head. The screw head design patent filing was spotted by Autoblog

Chicago composer Florence Price roars back to life with new opera

Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago proudly claims Florence Price as one of its own. After all, it was here that she became the first Black female composer to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra. But this week, a new opera about Price’s origin story premiered in the Twin Cities in Minnesota, which has spent weeks at the epicenter of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement campaign. Still, Minnesota Opera chose to charge ahead with its planned premiere of “My Name is Florence.”

Fusion Community Spotlight: From Traditional Machinist to Modern Shop – Adam Booth’s Fusion CNC Journey

Fusion Blog: Adam Booth here, though some of you may know me online as Abom79. I’m a third‑generation machinist based in Pensacola, Florida, and the owner of a small but mighty job shop where old‑school manual machining and modern CNC live under the same roof. My work today combines repair and job‑shop projects, CNC production, product development, and educational content

Rosamund Pike in ‘Inter Alia’ and More Theater to Stream

The New York Times: Two British soldiers go for a pint. In 1979, at the height of the Troubles, Bobby and Dave, deployed to Northern Ireland, are off duty when they attract two women from across the pub. Crackling banter, a slow dance. Everyone is enjoying themselves. But these are no amateur flirts, the two beauties work for the Irish Republican Army. Their little bait and switch leads to Bobby’s murder, haunting Dave for decades.

Fringe: And Her Children. Agitprop for Gun Control

New York Theater: Anna Fierling, the spokesperson for the National Rifle Association who tells her story in “And Her Children,” is a fictional character clearly inspired by former NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch, but merged with the main character (not coincidentally named Anna Fierling too) of Bertolt Brecht’s “Mother Courage and Her Children.”

SUFFS Filmed Recording Sets Spring Premiere on PBS Great Performances

www.broadwayworld.com: As previously reported, Great Performances will air a filmed recording of Suffs, the Broadway musical from Tony Award winner Shaina Taub. Now, it has been revealed that the capture will air this Spring on Friday, May 8, 9:00 p.m. ET on PBS. The recording was filmed during the show's original Broadway run, which opened in April 2024 and ran until January 2025.

Black Theatre United Launches BTU Collective; Appoints New Board Members

Playbill: Black Theatre United (BTU) has launched a new collective, The BTU Collective; and has also appointed a number of new board members. The organization, founded in 2020, aims to educate, empower, and inspire through activism in the pursuit of justice and equality.

Coming Soon: Lonely Hops

www.noproscenium.com: Birch House Immersive's annual Valentine's Day show Lonely Hearts returns to Chicago for its ninth year this week in the for of Lonely Hops, which moves the action to Forbidden Root brewery’s Cultivate Ravenswood brewpub, which becomes the Pfeltenhopps Brewery in the world of the show.

From Redcoats To Rococo Madness—Costuming ‘The Artful Dodger’

www.forbes.com: The second season of The Artful Dodger opens in a frenzy of action as Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell) runs through Port Victory hoping to save her love, Jack Dawkins aka the Artful Dodger (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) from the hangman’s noose. Belle’s dress is a gorgeous dusky rose color, with yards and yards of skirt, and when I sat down with costume designer Marion Boyce to talk about her work on this new season I had to start by asking about the objectively beautiful gown.

Haiti’s Hand-Painted Winter Olympics Uniforms Are a ‘Story of Resistance’

news.artnet.com: Just weeks before the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan on February 6, Olympic officials blocked Haiti’s plan to feature a painting of revolutionary leader Toussaint Louverture on its team uniforms, prompting a race against time that culminated in a radically altered, hand-painted redesign—the first in the games’ 100-year history.

Christie to sell video processing business to former owners

AV Magazine: Christie is to sell its broadcast and professional video business to its former owners Clark Williams and Jeff Wilson. The company announced an agreement in principle to sell the business to Vista PHX Crop, a new firm created by the former Vista Systems owners and industry veterans.

AEO People’s Awards celebrates industry winners as attendance rises by more than 44%

Event Industry News: The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) has celebrated the winners of the AEO People’s Awards, recognising outstanding people and teams from across the events industry, as attendance rose to a record 370, up from 257 in 2025.

dBTechnologies At Heart Of Audio Upgrade Villa de Matel Chapel In Houston

ProSoundWeb: The 150-seat Villa de Matel Chapel on the campus of Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word’s Motherhouse in Houston, Texas has a new sound reinforcement system incorporating a range of dBTechnologies loudspeakers in a project by Houston-based design and integration firm AV Design Pros.

Presidents on Broadway

New York Theater: Only four of the 45 presidents of the United States were born in February, but they include the two most revered, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, who are also the two most frequently depicted on Broadway. Both are in shows currently. The other two February presidents, Ronald Reagan and even William Henry Harrison, have also been on Broadway.

Inside Ed Sheeran’s World Tour with CAST’s WYSIWYG

LightSoundJournal.com: Lights Control Rigging (LCR) is one of the UK’s most respected lighting rental companies, trusted by globally recognized artists and major event producers alike. Among its most ambitious projects is Ed Sheeran’s monumental world tour, a groundbreaking in-the-round production that redefines how audiences experience live performance.

Musical Comedy Is Their Jam: Quinn Patrick Shannon and Connor McCanlus Team for PMT's 'Annie'

onstagepittsburgh.com: For 50 years, into every musical theater generation, there must be an Annie. One must see it, mount it or perform in it. It’s an unwritten role. The show that launched countless renditions of Tomorrow was not on Connor McCanlus‘ dance card as a performer. Until now. Oh sure, he had seen it, on stage and screen, and like most of us, revered Carol Burnett’s portrayal of the comically cruel Miss Hannigan.

Kerry Washington Pushed to Shoot ’Imperfect Women’ in Los Angeles

www.hollywoodreporter.com: Washington, Elisabeth Moss and Kate Mara teamed on Tuesday to debut a first-look at Imperfect Women during Apple TV’s press day at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar. The trio joined showrunner, creator and executive producer Annie Weisman, who moderated their panel in front of 300 journalists, influencers and content creators, in what marked the first lengthy chat about the eight-episode series.

The Museum of Broadway to Open SO IN LOVE…WITH BROADWAY Exhibition

www.broadwayworld.com: The Museum of Broadway will present a new special exhibit that will encapsulate the great love stories of Broadway through unforgettable costumes, accessories, lyrics and more.

NFTRW Weekly Top Five

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

Olympic Figure Skating Costumes Aren’t Cheap. Just Ask The Designers.

www.forbes.com: If Alysa Liu can continue her improbable comeback, shrugging off a two-year hiatus to win figure skating gold at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, she’s poised to cash in: Americans who top the podium at the 2026 Games will receive a $37,500 bonus from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. But while that would be a healthy payday for most Winter Olympians, the 20-year-old medal favorite has already sunk around that much into an often-overlooked expense for her sport.

How Disneyland got built in just one year

Boing Boing: Disneyland Handcrafted is a new documentary about the construction of Disneyland from July 16, 1954 to its opening date on July 17, 1955. The fact that this groundbreaking park was built in one year is mind-boggling. Today, it can take five years to construct one Disney theme park ride!

How Industrial Robot Safety Was Written In Blood

Hackaday: It was January 25th of 1979, at an unassuming Michigan Ford Motor Company factory. Productivity over the past years had been skyrocketing due to increased automation, courtesy of Litton Industry’s industrial robots that among other things helped to pick parts from shelves. Unfortunately, on that day there was an issue with the automated inventory system, so Robert Williams was asked to retrieve parts manually.

Miscommunication Between Artist and Olympic Figure Skater Highlights the Mess of Music Copyright

www.vice.com: On February 8, 2026, Canadian artist Seb McKinnon publicly questioned the use of his song “The Return” after learning U.S. Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn choreographed her free skate to the track. McKinnon posted on X/Twitter, claiming Glenn used the song “without permission” and that it “aired all over the world.” He then asked, “What? Is that usual practice for the Olympics?”

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.

 

Bob the Drag Queen's road to Broadway

Out.com: The greatest thing you’ll ever learn on Broadway is the power of persistence. Just ask Bob the Drag Queen, the RuPaul’s Drag Race winner who is fulfilling his dream of headlining on the Great White Way. He’s now starring as Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge! The Musical — though his path to playing the “Spectacular, Spectacular” owner of a Parisian cabaret, where a composer falls in love with a courtesan to a soundtrack of modern jukebox hits, was unconventional.

Olympic Figure Skating Costumes Aren’t Cheap. Just Ask The Designers.

www.forbes.com: If Alysa Liu can continue her improbable comeback, shrugging off a two-year hiatus to win figure skating gold at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, she’s poised to cash in: Americans who top the podium at the 2026 Games will receive a $37,500 bonus from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. But while that would be a healthy payday for most Winter Olympians, the 20-year-old medal favorite has already sunk around that much into an often-overlooked expense for her sport.

David Lynch Club Silencio Nightclub Frieze LA Takeover: Dates, Details

www.rollingstone.com: The first iteration of Club Silencio appeared in Lynch’s seminal 2001 film, Mulholland Drive, where both the fictional nightclub and the word (Spanish for “silence”) played a pivotal role in the plot. Lynch eventually decided to re-create the club in real life, opening the doors to Silencio in Paris’s 2nd arrondissement in 2011.

SoundGirls Online Mentoring for Recording Arts

SoundGirls.org: SoundGirls is excited to offer three online mentoring sessions with Jasmine Mills, to be held via Zoom as part of our mentoring program. These sessions will take place once per month over three months and will focus on recording arts with space for questions, discussion, and career guidance in a small-group setting.

How Disneyland got built in just one year

Boing Boing: Disneyland Handcrafted is a new documentary about the construction of Disneyland from July 16, 1954 to its opening date on July 17, 1955. The fact that this groundbreaking park was built in one year is mind-boggling. Today, it can take five years to construct one Disney theme park ride!

A Look at Black Broadway, 1820 – 2026

New York Theater: For every well-known showcase of Black Broadway – “Porgy and Bess,” 1935; “A Raisin in the Sun” 1959; last year’s “Purpose,” winner of both the Tony and Pulitzer — there are little-remembered milestones ranging over the past two centuries. The gallery below, in honor of Black History Month (which several federal agencies now have banned employees from celebrating), samples the history of theater by, for and with Black Americans, taken from collections at the New York Public Library, the Library of Congress, and the Museum of the City of New York

2026 Oscars Sets Production Team for ABC Telecast

hollywoodreporter: Also returning to this year’s production are music director Michael Bearden, production designers Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley, lighting designers Bob Dickinson and Noah Mitz and supervising choreographer Mandy Moore.

How Industrial Robot Safety Was Written In Blood

Hackaday: It was January 25th of 1979, at an unassuming Michigan Ford Motor Company factory. Productivity over the past years had been skyrocketing due to increased automation, courtesy of Litton Industry’s industrial robots that among other things helped to pick parts from shelves. Unfortunately, on that day there was an issue with the automated inventory system, so Robert Williams was asked to retrieve parts manually.

JBL debuts updated Intellivox Active beam shaping speakers

AV Magazine: Harman Professional Solutions is debuting the updated JBL Professional Intellivox Active Digital Beam Shaping Column speakers at ISE. Featuring Dante networked audio support, the 13 new models are the next-generation replacements for the Intellivox DSX, DS and HP‑DS ranges.

Lowy Concert Hall launches substantial sound upgrade with L-Acoustics L-ISA

LightSoundJournal.com: Opened in 1957 with a design by the founding architects of the State of Israel, Dov Karmi and Ze’ev Rechter, Lowy Hall instantly became a cultural cornerstone that would define Israel’s musical landscape for generations. As the home of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the wood-lined concert hall within the Charles Bronfman Auditorium has hosted some of the world’s most celebrated performers, from Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, and Leonard Bernstein to leading international orchestras.

Minions Olympics ice skater! What happened, how to watch

attractionsmagazine.com: Universal granted the “Minions Olympics ice skater,” Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté, permission to skate to music from the “Minions” movies during the Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Miscommunication Between Artist and Olympic Figure Skater Highlights the Mess of Music Copyright

www.vice.com: On February 8, 2026, Canadian artist Seb McKinnon publicly questioned the use of his song “The Return” after learning U.S. Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn choreographed her free skate to the track. McKinnon posted on X/Twitter, claiming Glenn used the song “without permission” and that it “aired all over the world.” He then asked, “What? Is that usual practice for the Olympics?”

‘An Unbelievable Mess’: Artists Are Stymied by Trump Travel Bans

The New York Times: The travel bans — along with escalating costs and delays in the always-fraught visa application process — represent a looming crisis for the American performing arts sector, as many overseas musicians, theater companies and others face new and seemingly insurmountable obstacles to travel. Some, assessing the risks, are electing to avoid coming here altogether, according to talent agents and the American promoters and producers who are now contemplating holes in their calendars.

Thermoforming: Shaping Curvy Grilles With No Supports

Hackaday: Although hobbyists these days most often seem to use thermoplastics as a print-and-done material in FDM printers, there’s absolutely nothing stopping you from taking things further with thermoforming. Much like forming acrylic using a hot wire or hot air, thermoplastics like PLA can be further tweaked with a similar method.

Sara Bareilles Musical The Interestings Will Make World Premiere in 2027

Playbill: The Interestings, a new musical adapted from Meg Wolitzer's 2013 bestseller featuring a score by Waitress composer-lyricist-star Sara Bareilles, has set a world premiere in Berkeley Rep's 2026-2027 season, to be presented in association with Matt Ross. Previews will begin January 31, 2027, at the California theatre, with opening night set for February 17.

7 Legendary Broadway Backwards Performances to Celebrate 20 Years

Playbill: Broadway Backwards has been flipping the script on the musical theatre canon for 20 years, transforming beloved showtunes into bold celebrations of visibility, joy, and pride. Across two decades, familiar lyrics have taken on new meaning, fueled by daring storytelling and pure theatrical electricity.

The motors and gearing of different robotics

www.motioncontroltips.com: Industrial six-axis robotics often integrate frameless motors at their axes. Over the last decade, permanent-magnet brushless servomotors have come to dominate. Increasingly common in six-axis robotic assemblies are frameless and direct-drive variations.

Shakespeare and Italy

Folger Shakespeare Library: The Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics got us thinking about Shakespeare and Italy. Shakespeare’s plays are well stocked with merchants of Venice, gentlemen of Verona, and other Italian characters. One-third of his plays are based, or partially based, in Italy. Florence, Milan, Padua, Rome, Sicily, Venice, Verona—these Italian settings play a crucial part in his plots, making them characters in their own right.

5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Sondheim

The New York Times: To call Stephen Sondheim America’s greatest musical dramatist is to make him into a monument. He was that, of course, bringing to Broadway, in his lyrics but also his music, the psychological acuity and convincing characterization of theater at its most elevated.

Live Nation, Azoff-Aligned Lobby Throws Weight Behind Unfinished California Price Cap Legislation

TicketNews: A new California proposal being marketed as the “Fans First Act” is arriving with an industry-backed public-relations rollout – including full-throated backing from Live Nation Entertainment and its allies – even as the actual legislative language remains largely undefined.

Adafruit Warns New Ghost Gun Laws Could Have Unintended Consequences for 3D Printers

gizmodo.com: In a series of blog posts, the open-source hardware company Adafruit criticized the recently introduced legislation in Washington state and New York, calling the measures misguided, overly broad, and potentially harmful to the open manufacturing industry.

Disney names parks head Josh D'Amaro to succeed Bob Iger as CEO

PBS News: Disney has named its parks chief Josh D'Amaro to succeed Bob Iger as the entertainment giant's top executive. D'Amaro is the Disney Experiences Chairman, spearheading efforts for the company's theme parks, cruises and resorts.

Seized, subverted, shuttered: a year in Trump’s assault on the Kennedy Center

US news | The Guardian: The Brentano String Quartet had finished their performance when a special guest dropped in backstage: the US supreme court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “We thanked her for everything she had done for our country,” recalls violinist Mark Steinberg. “It was a nice moment.”

Relational Dynamics in Theatrical Partnerships

AMERICAN THEATRE: In this moment of collective upheaval, the existing hierarchies within theatrical practice are reaching their shelf life and it’s time to unearth alternatives. It’s becoming difficult to build deep and meaningful relationships when resources are scarce and we’re all fighting for the same donors, investors, and audiences.