David Alan Grier's 'Sporting Life' On Broadway

NPR: In 1935, George Gershwin brought the script for his folk opera Porgy and Bess to the opera's original cast, which was entirely made up of African-American actors. "[In the original], every other word was N-word this, N-word that," says actor David Alan Grier. "[And] there's a very famous story: Al Jolson really wanted to play Porgy, in blackface."

Shorts Inspire Music In 'Sounding Beckett' Trilogy

NPR: It all began last year, when the Library of Congress presented Samuel Beckett's Ohio Impromptu alongside a piece of music by composer Dina Koston, which responded to the text. A New York group, the Cygnus Ensemble, played the music, while Washington, D.C., director Joy Zinoman staged the play, for one night only.

Thornridge High School alumni return home to found the Collective Theatre

Chicago Sun-Times: Sometimes you can go home again, and something wonderful happens. That’s one way to describe the journey of six Thornridge High School alumni who’ve returned to Chicago to found The Collective Theatre. The new African-American theater company will raise the curtain on its debut production, “HooDoo Love,” beginning Sept. 22 at the Athenaeum Theatre.

Russian ships displayed at DNC tribute to vets

11alive.com: On the last night of the Democratic National Convention, a retired Navy four-star took the stage to pay tribute to veterans. Behind him, on a giant screen, the image of four hulking warships reinforced his patriotic message. But there was a big mistake in the stirring backdrop: those are Russian warships.

Is YouTube the New Tin Pan Alley?

huffingtonpost.com: If you lived in New York in the early 20th century, and you wanted to hear the most popular music hits of the day, you only had to walk over to 28th Street and 6th Avenue -- Tin Pan Alley. As you moved toward 5th Avenue, you'd hear the cacophony of dozens of pianists banging out the greatest songs of the era, enticing you to enter their stores and buy sheet music from their publisher. And if you were lucky enough to walk down this legendary block in 1913, you might have heard the playing of a young George Gershwin. But times changed, and by the middle of the century, Tin Pan Alley was only a memory.

2012 PLASA Awards for Innovation Announced

Lighting&Sound America Online - News: The PLASA Awards for Innovation, sponsored by AED Rent and Lighting&Sound International, were presented at the PLASA show in London yesterday evening, along with the announcement of the prestigious Gottelier Award.

Updated Edition: Show Networks and Control Systems by John Huntington

Briefingroom on LiveDesignOnline: Author, educator, and industry veteran John Huntington has released Show Networks and Control Systems, the completely updated and revised edition of his industry standard reference text, which was previously titled, Control Systems for Live Entertainment. The book includes an in-depth examination of the control and networking technology used in lighting, lasers, sound, stage machinery, animatronics, special effects, and pyrotechnics used in concerts, theme parks, theatre, themed retail, cruise ships, museums, interactive performing arts, and special events.

Mermaids: Entertainers with a tail

CNN.com: Mythical mermaids have fascinated humans for centuries, and alluring creatures in bikini tops and fish tails seem to be keeping the love alive. One of the first mermaid shows in the United States can be traced back to Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida, where mermaids debuted synchronized ballet moves at an 18-seat theater in October 1947.

Court upholds ruling favoring local stagehands

News from southeastern Connecticut: In a case that grew out of a dispute over the stagehand business at Mohegan Sun, the state Appellate Court has upheld a ruling in favor of stagehands who withdrew from a union and formed their own business. The resulting nonunion company, Crew 538 LLC, has since cornered the lucrative stagehand business at the casinos and elsewhere in southeastern Connecticut, according to its co-founder, Robert Francis of Lisbon.

PLASA 2012 Makes Last Stand at Earls Court

FOH online: In its 21st year, PLASA 2012 marks the final staging of the annual exhibition at Earls Court & Olympia before the show moves to ExCeL London (and the month of October) for 2013. Along with panel sessions on the industry’s involvement in this year’s Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 Olympics, there were plenty of new professional audio products on display.

J-O-B PM

Production Manager–Center Theatre Group/ Kirk Douglas Theatre.

Center Theatre Group (CTG) is seeking an individual to join the Production Department as the Production Manager of the Kirk Douglas Theatre, a LORT D regional theatre in Culver City/ Los Angeles.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: managing all production elements and communication between all production departments, negotiating designer contracts, estimating and managing show budgets and participating in season planning, hiring and supervising onsite theatre production staff, and facilitating communication both within and outside of CTG. 

Dinner Theater

showbusinessweekly.com: Misconceptions have tarnished the image of dinner theater. Some actors believe that if they accept a role at a dinner theater, they’ll have to work for low wages, be forced to wait tables, and perform in an amateurish production. Contrary to all the myths, many dinner theaters pay a moderate salary, only in rare instances do performers double as waiters, and several venues in the country mount productions that have been on Broadway.

Fired Factory Theatre artistic director Ken Gass calls on board to resign

thestar.com: The latest development in the Factory Theatre dispute between Ken Gass and the board of directors who fired him on June 20 finds Gass removing himself from any future involvement with the theatre, despite the thousands of signatories demanding his reinstatement as artistic director. He also calls for the unilateral resignation of the board.

Not to be passed by

The Stage: The true path towards acceptance and integration of minorities isn’t made, of course, when special pleading is made for them but they’re happily, healthily and naturally integrated into the way of things. It’s why colour-blind casting in the theatre is so brilliant; both Derek Jacobi and currently Jonathan Pryce, playing the title role in King Lear at the Donmar Warehouse and Almeida Theatres respectively, had one of their three daughters played a black actress — respectively Pippa Bennett-Warner (as Cordelia) and Jenny Jules (as Regan), without comment or surprise.

I AM THE 8%

Make Musicals: In a recent blog, Ken Davenport noted the severe lack of young commercial theater producers. His figure for “producers under 40” came it at a paltry 8%. As a member of that 8% I’m not in the least surprised by that statistic. There are a lot of misconceptions floating around about the glamorous lives of theater producers. In reality, producing requires a massive amount of work, risk, and stress, and in the vast majority of cases, yields absolutely zero financial return. Broadway producing is not, I repeat, not a viable day job. Let’s debunk a few myths together, shall we?

Robe Olympic Torch is a Winner for Light Relief at PLASA

Lighting&Sound America Online - News: The Olympic Torch donated by Czech moving light manufacturer Robe Lighting's CEO Josef Valchar, was auctioned at the PLASA trade exhibition at Earls Court in London on Monday. It was won for £6,200 by European AV rental company, AED Rent. The proceeds are going to entertainment technology industry charity, Light Relief.

Pennsylvania’s new voter ID law could stump students

The Tartan Online: For the upcoming election, a new Pennsylvania law passed in early August requires that all voters, including students, must present some form of government-issued photo identification at the polls. The Voter ID Law specifies that the identification used must have a picture and an expiration date. As Carnegie Mellon student IDs have both already, students are allowed to use their student ID in place of a state-issued ID.

Susan Danis brings opera enthusiasm to Florida Grand Opera

Performing Arts - MiamiHerald.com: As an opera evangelist, Susan Danis is accustomed to meeting people who are intimidated by the notoriously unapproachable art form. “I’ll say to people, ‘It’s really not that bad,’ and they just look at me,” she said. “It’s like sushi: you’re not going to know if you like it unless you taste it.”

Film Is Dead? Long Live Movies

NYTimes.com: IN the beginning there was light that hit a strip of flexible film mechanically running through a camera. For most of movie history this is how moving pictures were created: light reflected off people and things would filter through a camera and physically transform emulsion. After processing, that light-kissed emulsion would reveal Humphrey Bogart chasing the Maltese Falcon in shimmering black and white.

Scam Alert: Production Companies Beware!

FOH online: It has come to our attention here at FRONT of HOUSE that an East Coast (possibly New Jersey-based) individual claiming to be the "tour technical director" of a (well-respected and legitimate) production company working on a new touring Disney musical has been contacting sound rental and production companies in an attempt to procure gear under suspicious circumstances. Among the items "needed" by this individual included DiGiCo consoles, Meyer speakers, Shure and Sennheiser wireless rigs.

J-O-B ME

MASTER ELECTRICIAN FOR ASOLO REP

The nationally recognized Asolo Rep (LORT C) seeks experienced Master Electrician for year round, salaried position. Responsibilities include interpretation of plots and paperwork, prep work for each show, and managing crews. Candidates must have working knowledge of STRAND LIGHT PALLET CLASSIC, maintenance and repair of conventional and moving lighting equipment, strong communication and time management skills, competence with AutoCad, VectorWorks 11 and Lightwright 4, and rigging and troubleshooting abilities.

Ability to program moving lights and work with projection equipment

Applicants should have three years of professional theatre experience. Successful candidate will have excellent scheduling/planning, computer, and organizational/communication skills.

Past experience with a theater company working in rotating rep is a plus

Detailed knowledge of lighting, current technologies, equipment maintenance, and troubleshooting is a must. Responsibilities include load in and strike, hang and focus of all Asolo Rep shows, supervision of lighting budget, and lighting system maintenance

Position is covered under an agreement between Asolo Rep and IATSE Local 412.

Excellent benefits package including family health, retirement and dental contributions.

Please send letter and resume to Vic Meyrich, Production Manager Vic_Meyrich@Aolo.Org

Live Sound: The Old Soundman: Dealing With Getting Walked On

Pro Sound Web: “Getting ahead without being a jerk” is actually what our young friend said he wanted to discuss. I will use the pseudonym “Oz Man” for him due to the volatile nature of his dilemma! Notice that he is so distraught that he offers no salutation!

A homo Hamlet?

Chicago Reader: When we first see Scott Parkinson's Hamlet, he looks exactly like a Hamlet is expected to look. Leaning against an upstage wall, dressed all in black, his backlit face obscured by moody shadows, he's the very picture of the melancholy Dane. There's even an homage to Laurence Olivier's 1948 film performance suggested by the glow of his Nordic-blond hair.

Metropolitan Opera stagehand sues over sexual harassment

NYPOST.com: A former Met stage carpenter is suing the Metropolitan Opera for sexual harassment, claiming that her male colleagues constantly abused her with unwanted come-ons and crude, dangerous pranks. Teri Orsburn, 53, worked for almost three years at the Met, where she was the company’s only female stagehand.

A Sparkling Night Out at the Fifth Knight of Illumination Awards

Lighting&Sound America Online - News: Hundreds of lighting professionals donned their finest outfits and put on their dancing shoes for the fifth Knight of Illumination Awards (KOI), held in London on September 10. The popular awards, organized by The Society of Television & Lighting Design (STLD), The Association of Lighting Designers (ALD), and Clay Paky, celebrate the work of lighting designers working in the UK.

An interview with Rory O'Malley

The Tartan Online: Tony Award-nominated actor Rory O'Malley (CFA '03) returned to his alma mater last Monday to participate in a staged reading of 8, a play that documents the court case battling to overturn Proposition 8 in California. The Tartan spoke with him after the reading to talk about his experiences at Carnegie Mellon, his activism work, and his role in The Book of Mormon.

Our Opera Does It Right

ABQJournal Online: The day Charles MacKay took over as the Santa Fe’s Opera’s new general director back in 2008, the stock market dropped 500 points. Austerity followed at the Opera as in many other places: salaries were frozen, staff vacancies went unfilled, the retirement program was suspended, and old sets from past performances were reused.

Press Release: Carnegie Mellon Names Thanassis Rikakis Vice Provost for Design, Arts and Technology

Carnegie Mellon News - Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon University today announced that Thanassis Rikakis has been named to the newly created position of Vice Provost for Design, Arts and Technology. Rikakis will serve as a full professor in the College of Fine Arts' School of Design and School of Music and will hold a courtesy appointment in the College of Engineering's Biomedical Engineering Department. He also will oversee the university's Entertainment Technology Center (ETC), facilitating increased connections between the groundbreaking activities of the ETC and related activities on campus.

From Beethoven to beatboxing: how Germany trains its arts managers

Culture professionals network | Guardian Professional: The wailing and gnashing of teeth about the disintegration of cultural institutions – an increasingly difficult and at the same time incomprehensible economic situation – and the vanishing political lobby for so-called 'high culture' is a never-ending phenomenon in Germany. Set against the background of the European and wider economic crisis, the breast-beating is louder than ever.

J-O-B TD

Job Details, MSU: The Office of Arts & Cultural Programming (ACP) presents and produces dance, music, theater, performance and opera created by internationally acclaimed artists whose work advances the boundaries of the performing arts. The Peak Performances season is acclaimed for bringing visionary artists together with adventuresome performance audiences. The Technical Director works with ACP’s Production & Facility Manager to maximize performance conditions enabling the artists to achieve creative goals without compromise. ACP is responsible for The Alexander Kasser Theater and The MSU Amphitheater. The Technical Director will work alongside other ACP production area heads on a day-to-day basis, working in a team environment.

The Clowns from Out of Town

showbusinessweekly.com: Clowning is a tradition found all over the globe. As week two of the NY Clown Theatre Festival continues, I had a conversation with two of the festival’s international performers to hear their unique perspectives on how they discovered clown and the differences they’ve encountered while performing for American as well as international audiences.

Kids at Burning Man: Good or Bad Idea?

Strollerderby: A trek out to the Black Rock Desert in Northern Nevada for the annual Burning Man festival (which is happening right now) is not for the faint of heart. It is hot, dusty, wild and there will be sex, drugs, and plenty of booze – not really a Romper Room type of place. Despite the debauchery, each year many a brave family will head to the wild west and bask in the glory of all that Burning Man has to offer. But would you?

Fairbanks theater company pushing its artistic limits

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: A burgeoning theater group is pushing the limits of the stage in Fairbanks, and it wants you to be a part of it. Revive the Red Tent is an up-and-coming theater company founded just a few years ago, but it is one that has found its place in an art world crafted to stretch the imagination and open a dialogue to higher critical thinking. Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Fairbanks theater company pushing its artistic limits

2012 Gottelier Award Goes to John Meyer of Meyer Sound

FOH online: John Meyer, who founded Meyer Sound Laboratories in 1979 with his wife Helen, was named winner of the 2012 Gottelier Award, named for the late Tony Gottelier, one of the entertainment industry's most influential designers, innovators and commentators. Meyer was also the recipient of the first Parnelli Audio Innovator award in 2004.

Applications for the 2013 Rose Brand $5,000 Scholarship Are Now Available

Lighting&Sound America Online - News: The 2013 Rose Brand Scholarship application is now available on Rose Brand's Facebook page. The Scholarship is awarded to a student in the amount of $5,000.

Houston Ballet's Women@Art promises dazzling choreography from Twyla Tharp & Aszure Barton

CultureMap Houston: As much as I dislike the name for Houston Ballet’s second program of the upcoming season, Women@Art, I can’t wait to see the show. If you were lucky enough to see Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly With Me at the Hobby Center in April, you’ll be even more dazzled by this brilliant choreographer’s peculiar take on classicism, The Brahms-Haydn Variations. I remember feeling dizzy from the density and details when American Ballet Theatre premiered it 12 years ago.

Pasadena Playhouse keeps artistic director, hires new executive

latimes.com: Sheldon Epps has renewed his contract as artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse, and Elizabeth Doran will join him as its new executive director after nearly four years as managing director of the Actors' Gang in Culver City.

IATSE, L.A. Controller Wendy Greuel Urge Governor to Sign Tax-Credit Extension

The Wrap Movies: IATSE Local 80 President Thom Davis and L.A. City Controller Wendy Greuel have sent a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown urging him to sign an extension of California's film and tax credit laws. Two nearly identical measures, AB 2026 from Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes and SB 1197 from state Sen. Ron Calderon, were sent to the governor's desk on Aug. 31, the final day of the legislative session. They would extend the California Film Commission’s requirement to allocate tax credits through and including the 2016-17 fiscal year.

Emerging Arts Leaders Networks

#artsmgtchat: It started with this exchange: “How are you doing?” “Great! … Have you noticed we’re the youngest ones here?” Four months later, myself and a colleague decided to start the South Carolina Young Professionals Arts Network. You see, Maggie (my colleague) and myself had just recently graduated from the Arts Management program at the College of Charleston and had both landed executive director jobs at small arts nonprofits on different sides of South Carolina.

J-O-B PM

Production Manager

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, the nation's foremost classical theatre, located in Washington, D.C., seeks a Production Manager to start on or about March 4, 2013.  The PM leads an exceptional full time staff of sixty, an intern company of six to ten, and up to forty overhire in any week, all of whom work in six different buildings throughout DC.  The PM is responsible for the successful production of six subscription shows plus the annual Free for All, a Shakespeare show offered free to the public.  The STC production budget for this, our core activity, is approximately seven million dollars.

Equity Centennial Book on the Way

Actors' Equity Association: Equity’s Centennial illustrated history is being printed and should be available in September as planned. Entitled, Performance of the Century, 100 Years of Actors' Equity Association and the Rise of Professional American Theater, the coffee table book is being written by well-known theatre journalist Robert Simonson and will be published for national release in the fall of 2012 by Applause Books.

I took my 9-year-old to the opera, and she loved it

The Mommy Files | an SFGate.com blog: Last year when my daughter was 8 years old, I took her to the San Francisco Opera’s shortened version of Carmen for families. She was enchanted by the elaborate costumes, the richly textured voices and the bustling pageantry, and when I tucked her into bed that night she was humming Bizet’s beloved aria Habanera. She was thrilled—yet also irritated because she didn’t get to see the full performance and missed an entire act. She felt cheated.

'Deathtrap' canceled after objections to nudity and gay content

latimes.com: A Los Angeles revival of Ira Levin's “Deathtrap” has been canceled after the estate of the late author expressed objections to the use of nudity and some of the production's gay content. The engagement, which was supposed to have begun September at the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, was to be a remounting of the staging that ran at the center in the spring.

Live Sound: JBL Professional Supports Artists For Autism Benefit Concert

Pro Sound Web: JBL Professional supported the recent Artists for Autism benefit in Tarzana, CA, providing a VRX Series PA system for the day-long event. Held at live music venue Petie’s Place, the Artists for Autism event featured performances by Resurrect the Machine, Ronny North, the Back Beat Brawlers and Jeff Iftekaruddin. All proceeds from the event were donated to the Autism Speaks foundation.

Church Sound: A Glossary Of Commonly Used Sound/Audio Terms

Pro Sound Web: The sound of microphone techniques, effects and EQ in a recording can be hard to translate into engineering terms. For example, what EQ should you use to get a “fat” sound or a “thin” sound? The glossary below may help. It’s based on conversations with producers, musicians, and reviewers over 30 years.

SURG Deadline: October 24, 2012

GET STARTED Now!

SURG Deadline: October 24, 2012
Research Support is Available for all Disciplines--the Humanities, Social Science and Arts, Business, Computer Science, Engineering, and the Sciences

Informationand Proposal Submission: www.cmu.edu/uro <http://www.cmu.edu/uro>

NOTE:  SURG Proposal Writing Sessions
Wednesday, October 10   12:00-1:00 p.m.  UC/Rangos 3
Wednesday, October 17    4:30-5:30 p.m.   UC/Peter/Wright/McKenna Rooms
                                                  
Small Undergraduate Research Grants (SURG) are open to ALL undergraduates in any discipline, freshman-seniors.  Grants are available of up to $500 for single entries and up to $1,000 for group entries to cover such things as the costs of supplies and materials, time on laboratory equipment, or travel toanother city for archives.

The deadline for Spring 2013 SURG proposals is Wednesday, October 24th at 5:00 PM . Apply online at www.cmu.edu/uro/ <http://www.cmu.edu/uro/> .  We strongly recommend that you attend the SURG Proposal Writing Sessions.  It is the quality of the proposal that determines who is selected. We are also available to review a draft of your proposal: URO Director, Stephanie Wallach (sw4s@andrew.cmu.edu)  or URO Assistant Director, Jennifer Keating Miller (jkeating@andrew.cmu.edu), no later than October 22th. Please contact them by email to make an appointment.

Make a contribution.  Work with a mentor.  Follow a passion.  Develop an idea.  Solve a problem. Create, build, perform, discover.
Apply for SURG.

Is Stripping an Art?

Studio 360: New York State’s highest court is mulling an answer to a question that has long plagued intellectuals: What separates art from mere entertainment? And in this particular case, what separates pole dance from dance?

Church Sound: GC Pro Helps Bridgeway Community Church Upgrade Wireless Systems

Pro Sound Web: Bridgeway Community Church in Columbia, Maryland, had come to rely heavily on wireless audio from everything from worship services to theatrical and music performances. When the new regulations governing the RF spectrum came into affect, the church turned to their long-time A/V collaborator Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), to assist them in upgrading and complying with the new regulations.

Where We’re Headed: A Grad Student’s Point of View

ArtsFwd: I’m currently studying arts administration in the context of an MBA program. At the end of my first week last fall, I remember noticing that Apple had already been mentioned in every one of my core business classes. The massive success of companies like Apple, Google, and Hulu (see above), the current speed at which start-ups nationwide are generating new products and apps, and the separate but related DIY/pro-am movement in the creative sector has led to a collective cultural focus on innovation and change. No doubt, it’s not just MBAs who want in. Young people entering the non-profit arts crave the same excitement and sense of creation, and often assume they’ve chosen a field conducive to that.

J-O-B ATD

ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
OLNEY THEATRE CENTER, an AEA COST theater with four performance
facilities producing an eight-play season plus special events, seeks full-time
Assistant Technical Director. This position reports to the Technical Director and
assists with all duties associated with the design, production, and installation of
scenery.

NFTRW Weekly Top Five

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

Are You A Bit Of A Loser? Don't Worry, You're Probably Really Creative

Co.Create: Creativity \ Culture \ Commerce: Are you a recovering high school geek who still can’t get the girl? Are you always the last person picked for your company’s softball team? When you watched Office Space, did you feel a special kinship to the stapler-obsessed Milton Waddams? If you answered yes to any of these questions, do not despair. Researchers at Johns Hopkins and Cornell have recently found that the socially rejected might also be society’s most creatively powerful people.

Posted by David at 9/24/2012 04:24:00 PM Comments Here

Hooter's Waitress and other Embarrassing Jobs On Resume

thegrindstone.com: I have a confession to make. My resume isn’t completely accurate. I mean, everything on there is completely legit—but I may have left off a few things. O.K. so it was one job, and when I accepted it, I thought it was going to be the job. It wasn’t. In fact, it was the first of only two times in my career when I absolutely knew, with complete certainty, that I needed to quit. And that’s exactly what I did.

Posted by David at 9/23/2012 04:23:00 PM Comments Here

Lady Gaga’s Debuts A Light Wig Made From Fiber Optic Strands [Video]

PSFK: Lady Gaga has introduced one of the newest inventions from the Haus of Gaga, a handmade wig by Frederic Aspiras that they’ve been working on for over six months. The wig is made of a mixture of real human hair and fiber optics, and was inspired by the idea of a Disney Princess going to a rave.

Posted by David at 9/24/2012 04:29:00 PM Comments Here

With planning, 'you snooze, you lose' no longer applies to work week’s sleep debt

Health & Wellness Tips - UT Southwestern: Contrary to popular belief, sleeping in on the weekends doesn’t help you catch up on sleep lost during the week, but rather makes you sleepier come Monday morning. “A great myth of sleep deprivation is that if we miss sleep over the course of the work week, we need to catch up on an hour-by-hour basis on the weekend,” says Dr. Gregory Carter, a sleep medicine specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Posted by David at 9/21/2012 04:26:00 PM Comments Here

Failure Is The Only Option, If Success Is The End Goal

Fast Company: There are two sides to every story: it was the best of times, it was the worst of times; you take the bitter with the sweet; every rose has its thorn. However, in leadership, we often miss out on half the story. Most discussions focus on what leaders "should do" rather than on what they "should avoid." The result? We talk about success, but seldom talk about failure.

Posted by David at 9/24/2012 04:09:00 PM Comments Here

Video: Giant kinetic moving sculpture walls wow in South Korea

DVICE: Giant 3D video displays can be pretty cool, but it's hard for a virtual 3D effect to compete with an actually moving 3D display. This crazy wall design built for the Hyundai Motor Group's Exhibition Pavilion is a great example, with giant walls of moving blocks creating patterns that wow a bunch of visiting school kids.

Posted by David at 9/21/2012 03:53:00 PM Comments Here

‘Jersey Boys’ is a mix of the songs, stories of legendary group

TribLIVE: From the age of the audience and the stage set-up, you might think that the Benedum Center is hosting yet-another oldies concert. Think again. “Jersey Boys,” which is making a return appearance through Sept. 23 as a nonsubscriber offering of PNC Broadway Across America — Pittsburgh, is far more than a stroll down the golden-oldies path.

U.K. Tax Credit Vital to Film Industry Health: Study

The Hollywood Reporter: Cut the film tax credit, and the U.K. movie production sector would collapse to be around 71 percent smaller without it, and the contribution made to the British economy would also shrink.

Midwest Musketeers Storm Broadway

NYTimes.com: To sit in the orchestra of a Broadway theater in the week before a show begins previews is to wonder that any show ever opens at all. Late on a Friday night, at the close of a technical rehearsal for “Grace,” a play by Craig Wright at the Cort Theater, doors wobbled, lines faltered and costume changes dragged.

Lady Gaga’s Debuts A Light Wig Made From Fiber Optic Strands [Video]

PSFK: Lady Gaga has introduced one of the newest inventions from the Haus of Gaga, a handmade wig by Frederic Aspiras that they’ve been working on for over six months. The wig is made of a mixture of real human hair and fiber optics, and was inspired by the idea of a Disney Princess going to a rave.

Are You A Bit Of A Loser? Don't Worry, You're Probably Really Creative

Co.Create: Creativity \ Culture \ Commerce: Are you a recovering high school geek who still can’t get the girl? Are you always the last person picked for your company’s softball team? When you watched Office Space, did you feel a special kinship to the stapler-obsessed Milton Waddams? If you answered yes to any of these questions, do not despair. Researchers at Johns Hopkins and Cornell have recently found that the socially rejected might also be society’s most creatively powerful people.

PLASA Announces 2012 PLASA Award for Innovation Winners

Stage Directions: Across the pond at Earl’s Court in London, the PLASA show has manufacturers showing off their new gear. While most of the gear is aimed more for the rock ‘n’ roll and live event industry, the technology that gets used there eventually filters into theatre—or theatre techs get jobs in the rock ‘n’ roll world. Either way, cool new gear! PLASA recognized eight new products with the Award for Innovation this year: Stageco for the Arena Lift, Digital & Future Technologies for the Super Twofer, Tait Technologies for the Pixel Tablet, Avolites for the Sapphire Media Infinity Video Control System, Harman International for the JBL VTX V25 Line Array with D2 Dual-Diaphragm Driver Technology, Martin Professional for the MAC Viper Profile, CAST Group's BlackTrax won a prestigious Gold Innovation Award. ETC was given the Award for Sustainability for the LED Source Four. Also receiving an award for a lifetime of developing innovative products was John Meyer, founder of Meyer Sound. PLASA honored him with the Gottelier Award for his pioneering work in sound reinforcement.

Failure Is The Only Option, If Success Is The End Goal

Fast Company: There are two sides to every story: it was the best of times, it was the worst of times; you take the bitter with the sweet; every rose has its thorn. However, in leadership, we often miss out on half the story. Most discussions focus on what leaders "should do" rather than on what they "should avoid." The result? We talk about success, but seldom talk about failure.

Meet the Makers: Mad Science

Pittsburgh Mini Maker Faire: Get a sneak preview of Pittsburgh Mini Maker Faire by category each day until the big day, Sept. 22nd! Today’s featured category is Mad Science.

Watch a Building Animate Itself Like a Computer Screen

gizmodo.com: This building's animation might look like it's computer generated but it's actually done with good ol' fashioned human hands. Literally. People are inside each room and shut each window to create a building wall that looks like pixels.

Uganda bails British producer over gay play

AFP: Uganda released a British theatre producer on bail Monday after he was arrested last week for staging a play about a gay man without proper authorisation, his lawyer said. Producer David Cecil -- who faces up to two years in jail if found guilty -- was charged Thursday with two counts including one of "disobeying lawful orders" and sent to prison pending Monday's bail hearing.