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Monday, May 04, 2026
Genelec Helps Transform Tallinn City Theatre In Estonia
ProSoundWeb: The Estonian Youth Theatre, which started 60 years ago as a single house in Tallinn on Lai Street to use as a private rehearsal and office space and is now 16 unified buildings – each dating back to the 13th century – in one theater complex, recently underwent an audio upgrade of all public spaces with ambient soundscapes and even coverage delivered by Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers.
Suffs Has Recouped on the Road
Playbill: The current tour has recouped 28 playing weeks into its triumphant march across North America. The acclaimed Tony-winning musical about the passionate American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote has been seen by more than 375,000 patrons since its launch September 19, 2025, at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle.
'Schimgadoon!' on Broadway, Alex Brightman, Sara Chase interview
www.goldderby.com/theater: Broadway mainstays Alex Brightman and Sara Chase are using their two decades of kinship to unearth comedy and heart in Schmigadoon!, the stage version of the Apple TV musical theater satire. The pair star as Josh and Melissa, a couple who are dropped into the titular town where every day unfold's like a '40s and '50s-era musical.
A Look at 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' Wardrobe
The Knockturnal: In the world of The Devil Wears Prada 2, the wardrobe doesn’t just support the story—it leads the narrative, commanding as much screen presence as Miranda Priestly herself. Two decades ago, The Devil Wears Prada became a fashion mood board for a generation, anchored by a cast that has since evolved into the industry’s most formidable stars.
DPA Microphones Capture The Detail Of Yann Tiersen On Tour
ProSoundWeb: Veteran live sound engineer Jamie Harley, whose four‑decade career spans electronic, indie and acoustic music, deployed a DPA Microphones DPK2015 piano stereo kit on the “Rathlin from a Distance | The Liquid Hour” tour by French composer and musician Yann Tiersen.
Friday, May 01, 2026
World Record-Breaking Drone Show Lights Up the Sky in China
mymodernmet.com: There are many amazing breakthroughs in the world of drones, particularly light shows. As such, there are very specific achievements and records to be broken, all different and delightful in their own way. One such Guinness World Record was broken in February 2026.
Trish Santini Named Managing Director at The Old Globe
www.broadwayworld.com: The Board of Directors of The Old Globe has appointed Trish Santini as Audrey S. Geisel Managing Director. Santini will work together with Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein to lead San Diego’s flagship arts institution.
Synth-Werk Reissues ‘Kraftwerk’ Bode Frequency Shifter
Synthtopia: The Bode Frequency Shifter was iconically used by Kraftwerk, and was also licensed for production by Moog.
The Bode Frequency Shifter complements modern pitch shifters by affecting sound in a very different way, creating inharmonic overtones that change the timbre, often resulting in metallic sounds.
let’s just do it.
www.culturebot.org: Under the cobalt blue ceiling of La Mama’s Great Jones rehearsal studios, the team behind The Door Slams, A Glass Trembles– the most recent offering from the venerable experimental theater company Talking Band– prepped for an early runthrough. On one side of the room, a lush assortment of costumes strain a set of rolling racks. On the other, a well-stocked table sags under the weight of full place-settings and myriad of other props.
2026 Tony Honors Go To 1/52 Project, Jake Bell, Kenn Lubin and Loren Plotkin
www.broadwayworld.com: The Tony Awards Administration Committee will present the 2026 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre to four outstanding contributors to the Broadway industry - 1/52 Project, Jake Bell, Kenn Lubin, and Loren Plotkin.
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Shakira crew member dies after suffering ‘crushing injuries’ while building stage for Rio concert
The Independent: A local construction worker helping to build the stage for Shakira’s upcoming Brazil concert has died after suffering “crushing injuries,” organizers have confirmed.
Tragedy in Rio: Worker dies before Shakira show
www.msn.com: A few days before pop superstar Shakira's (49) planned free concert at Copacabana, a worker died during stage construction. As the fire department of the state of Rio de Janeiro (CBMERJ) reported according to G1, the technician got caught in a lifting device on Sunday and suffered severe injuries to his legs.
Worker crushed to death while setting up stage for Shakira's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro
www.thesun.co.uk: Workers managed to free the man who was rushed to hospital.
He was later pronounced dead, the state fire department (CBMERJ) said.
Concert organizer Bonus Track said in a statement: “Unfortunately, the technician passed away in hospital.”
Shakira Crew Member Dies From ‘Crushing Injuries' in Brazil
www.usmagazine.com: Concert organizers confirmed that a crew member died while setting up the stage for Shakira’s upcoming Brazil show.
Broadway Stagedoor Culture Is Getting Out of Hand
www.themarysue.com: There was once a time when people did things for the sake of doing them, instead of just to get clout online. Countless everyday joys have been ruined by the bottomless hunger for likes and views and attention, but one experience that has really suffered is seeing a show on Broadway.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
What Is the State of the Theater Industry? Experts Weigh In
www.broadwayworld.com: What is the state of the theater industry in 2026? A panel of New York theater professionals came together earlier this month with SAG-AFTRA Foundation to talk about just that, in a conversation moderated by BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge.
John Cameron Mitchell on ‘Oh, Mary!’ and 25 Years of ‘Hedwig’
www.rollingstone.com: At 63, the Broadway legend is best known for his punk-rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which charts the rage-filled escapades of genderqueer glam rocker Hedwig as she follows around the ex-boyfriend who stole her music and became a star.
A Harry Potter Light Show Will Take Over the L.A. Sky With 1,200 Drones
www.timeout.com/los-angeles: Los Angeles is about to get a little more magical. This June, the sky above Dodger Stadium will transform into a glowing wizarding world spectacle as 1,200 synchronized drones take flight for a one-night-only Harry Potter-themed show.
Kraftwerk Loses Two-Decade-Long Copyright Dispute
variety.com: A circuitous and protracted copyright infringement case first brought by German electronic-music pioneers Kraftwerk in 2004 has finally been settled — and not in the pioneering electronic group’s favor.
Met Opera's $200 Million Saudi Arabia Deal Falls Through
www.broadwayworld.com: The Metropolitan Opera's high-profile arrangement with the Saudi Arabian government - a deal that would have delivered up to $200 million to the struggling company over eight years - has collapsed, The New York Times reports.
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Adam Jacobs to Host 10th Annual Arts for Autism Benefit Concert at New Amsterdam Theatre
www.broadwayworld.com: On June 22nd, 2026, Arts for Autism will arrive at the New Amsterdam Theatre – home of the blockbuster Aladdin – for the tenth annual concert featuring a constellation of Broadway performers alongside the stars of tomorrow – student performers from across the nation.
BROADWAY BOUND THEATRE FESTIVAL Unveils 10th Anniversary Lineup
www.broadwayworld.com: AI replaces every human job overnight. A queer musician is trapped in his childhood home in Tennessee during the pandemic. And a FDNY lieutenant spends Christmas Eve at Ground Zero, looking for the remains of his fallen brother at the 2026 Broadway Bound Theatre Festival (BBTF). In this bold and eclectic lineup, the human condition is on full display as a dynamic mix of new plays and musicals light up the stage.
London’s West End Travel Guide for Theater Lovers: Shows, Hotels, Bars
Observer: London’s West End is a pilgrimage-worthy destination for anyone who loves the stage, rivaled only by Broadway in New York City. For avid theatergoers, Theatreland presents one-of-a-kind opportunities, like witnessing three-time Oscar nominee and Tony, Emmy and Grammy winner Cynthia Erivo play all 23 roles in Kip Williams’s Dracula and watching Chris Pine in his London stage debut in Ivanov at the Bridge Theatre. For a tried-and-true option, Agatha Christie’s murder mystery The Mousetrap holds the title of the longest-running show in London, having premiered in 1952.
L.A. Mayor Hopeful Nithya Raman Faces Questions on Hollywood Policies
www.hollywoodreporter.com: On Apr. 21, L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman released a new campaign video, in the quick-cut, walk-and-talk online style by which Zohran Mamdani updated the Aaron Sorkin ethos. “I’m running for Mayor to make sure Los Angeles stays the film and TV capital of the world,” she announced before ticking off her agenda and criticizing incumbent Mayor Karen Bass for her record in handling L.A.’s downward production spiral, including her delayed appointment of a film liaison who Raman faulted for lacking experience in the entertainment business.
Celestial stage Titanic drone show
TPi: Celestial has been revealed as the company behind the spectacle over Belfast Harbour that has captured global attention. Commissioned as part of the BBC’s Made Of Here campaign, the project set out to symbolically bring RMS Titanic back to life using drone show technology.
Monday, April 27, 2026
Announcing the 2026 Hemsley Lighting Programs Internship Recipients
Lighting&Sound America Online - News: The Hemsley Lighting Programs, Inc. was established in 1983 as The Gilbert V. Hemsley, Jr. Internship in Lighting in honor of the late lighting designer. For over three decades, the programs, which now include The Hemsley Lighting Internship, The Hemsley Lighting Portfolio Review, The Howell Binkley Fellowship, and the Independent Study Program, have been helping current students and recent graduates bridge the gap between the educational and professional worlds.
A troupe departs, but Carnegie Stage space might live on
90.5 WESA: Since 2012, when it relocated from Washington, Pa., off the WALL Theater has occupied a big storefront on West Main Street, in Carnegie. There it staged 79 works, including this month’s Pittsburgh premiere of Jennifer Haley’s drama “Breadcrumbs.”
Global festivals prove being Green works
TPi: Ahead of Earth Day, A Greener Future (AGF), the not-for-profit company dedicated to making the live event sector sustainable, highlighted how festivals are leading the way on green initiatives with innovative solutions that are cost-effective and reduce emissions.
Vineyard Theatre and IATSE Workers Reach Bargaining Agreement
AMERICAN THEATRE: Vineyard Theatre has ratified its first collective bargaining agreement with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which formally recognizes the union as the representative for its covered backstage and overhire crew members.
CityLight Church In Nebraska Scales Up Its Sound With NEXO & Yamaha
ProSoundWeb: Before its recent move, CityLight Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, a growing congregation, worshiped in a century-old building where audio infrastructure was lacking until the recent deployment of a new main sound reinforcement system utilizing NEXO loudspeakers and a Yamaha digital console implemented by integration firm HouseRight.
Sunday, April 26, 2026
NFTRW Weekly Top Five
Here are the top five comment generating posts of the past week:
New Disney Boss Cuts 1,000 Jobs Then Turns Around and Posts a Job Fair
disneytips.com: Walt Disney World is a place built on the idea that everything runs seamlessly, that every ride launches on cue, every light hits its mark, and every experience feels effortless to the people paying to enjoy it. What most guests never think about is the army of people behind the scenes making all of that happen, and right now, Disney needs more of them.Posted by David at 4/23/2026 11:32:00 AMPink to Host 2026 Tony Awards
www.billboard.com: P!nk, a lifelong theater fan, is set to host the 79th Annual Tony Awards, which will air live from Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7. The show will broadcast live to both coasts on the CBS, and streaming on Paramount+ from 8 to 11 p.m. ET/5 to 8 p.m. PT.Posted by David at 4/23/2026 10:46:00 AMHe’s a Playwright, His Mother’s a Physicist—And They’re Performing a Show Together
Playbill: You might think that when playwright Shayok Misha Chowdhury asked his mother to be in his play, it would be a hard ask. But actually, it was pretty easy. “Everyone's always like, ‘How did you rope your mom into doing this?’ It really was like, can we make a physics meets theatre thing that interests the two of us?” He then turns to his mom, Bulbul Chakraborty, who’s sitting next to him, “and you were really game.”Posted by David at 4/24/2026 10:14:00 AMAI In Hollywood: Saying Yes To Utility AI – And No To Generative AI
www.forbes.com: Hollywood has become one of the loudest voices of resistance to artificial intelligence, and for good reason. In an industry built on authorship, credit and creative control, generative AI has raised fundamental questions about who owns a performance, a story, or even a cut. But behind the headlines and strikes, a quieter shift toward utility AI in Hollywood is underway.Posted by David at 4/23/2026 11:46:00 AMSurviving Coachella: Why Artist Safety Is A Contractual Negotiation
www.forbes.com: For the modern artist, the economic reality is uncompromising: touring is the cash engine. In a world where streaming royalties are structured like digital municipal bonds – slow, steady, and fractional – mega-festivals like Coachella are the high-yield assets. A single opening or headline slot can often be worth more than a year of catalog royalties, tempting artists to sign the festival contract with the biggest number and ask questions later.Posted by David at 4/22/2026 11:04:00 AM
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