Happy 55th Birthday to the National Endowment for the Arts

NEA: In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into the law the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-209) "to provide for the establishment of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities to promote progress and scholarship in the humanities and the arts in the United States, and for other purposes."

Randy Orton’s Tattoo Artist Sues Take-Two For Using Her Designs In WWE Games

kotaku.com: Take-Two and World Wrestling Entertainment are headed to trial after a judge ruled WWE 2K games copied the work of an artist responsible for some of pro wrestler Randy Orton’s tattoos.

Arts community fuming over Quebec's decision to shut it down

Montreal Gazette: Folks in the arts community expected some bad news from Premier François Legault’s announcement on Monday afternoon, but many in the entertainment biz were shocked by how drastic the measures were for their business.

All cinemas, theatres, museums, bars and libraries are to close beginning at midnight Wednesday and for the following 28 days for the areas, including Montreal, that have been placed under the government’s red alert status.

Broadway leaders applaud inclusion of Save Our Stages in revised Heroes Act

Broadway News: The Save Our Stages Act has made it into the latest version of the House Democrats’ Heroes Act.

The provision would provide $10 billion in grants to live venue operators, producers, promoters and talent representatives in the entertainment industry whose business has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Equity Points to Disney Layoffs to Urge the Senate to Act Now

www.broadwayworld.com: "A bill that could provide these laid-off employees with unemployment insurance and a pathway to affordable health care has been sitting on Mitch McConnell's desk for months," said Mary McColl, executive director of Actors' Equity Association. "In Florida, laid off Disney workers can only receive $275 in unemployment benefits, which is unconscionable. The Senate must help these workers."

Adam Savage's Favorite Tools: Optical Center Punch!

Tested: Adam shows off a machining tool that allows you to make a punched mark in an exact location on a piece of material--especially when precision matters. An optical center punch lets you make a mark right on target, much more accurately than making a mark with just the naked eye.

Black artistic leaders take charge at several Chicago theaters

Performing Arts Feature | Chicago Reader: Chicago theater is in the midst of a historic transition, with COVID throwing companies into financial turmoil, forcing season cancellations, mass layoffs, and in some cases, permanent closures. Yet alongside this devastation, demands for rapid social evolution have led some institutions to step (or be pushed) into dramatic growth. Historically, talented Black theatermakers have largely been relegated to onstage or lower-level administrative roles.

#WeMakeEvents Commences Day of Action

TPi: As unemployment soars, 25 countries join together to represent over 30 million workers in the worldwide events industry as part of the #WeMakeEvents campaign’s global day of action planned for 30 September

Strathmore Brings Craig Walsh’s Projection Mapping to Its Campus

District Fray: “Craig Walsh is a phenomenal innovator in terms of his ability to create digital mapping,” says Joi Brown, Strathmore’s artistic director. “The spaces that will be in the trees are visual portraits, so it’s a visual treat that I think people will really appreciate. It’s a large-scale visual instantiation, so it’s very eye-catching.”

Anita Hill On Sexual Harassment In Hollywood And Beyond

90.5 WESA: In the three years since the Harvey Weinstein story broke and the #MeToo movement took off, a new report finds that people working in Hollywood and the entertainment business say not enough has changed.

Entertainment Leaders Discuss Resuming Production, Safety Protocols

Variety: Following weeks of lockdown, production for several shows has resumed with new safety protocols in place to protect cast and crew members. Leaders in the entertainment industry are looking to innovate their approaches to content production, including reimagining budget allocations and what series will look like for viewers.

Disney to Lay Off 28,000 Theme Park Employees

www.themeparkinsider.com: In light of the prolonged impact of COVID-19 on our business, including limited capacity due to physical distancing requirements and the continued uncertainty regarding the duration of the pandemic – exacerbated in California by the State’s unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen – we have made the very difficult decision to begin the process of reducing our workforce at our Parks, Experiences and Products segment at all levels, having kept non-working Cast Members on furlough since April, while paying healthcare benefits.

Metabo HPT Compact Cordless Drill Review | Black Edition

www.protoolreviews.com: We first tested the Metabo HPT DS18DBFL2 alongside more than 50 other drills to determine which models are the best in a variety of scenarios. The Black Edition of the Metabo HPT compact cordless drill starts with the same foundation and uses a different kit configuration with a $99 price tag. Now it’s adding “Best Value” to its list of accolades.

Martin Audio For Unique Van Converson Accommodating Live Performances In The UK

ProSoundWeb: A unique Luton van conversion for singer-songwriter Olivia Dean that’s equipped with Martin Audio components has enabled the East London-based recording artist to tour and play live for audiences in her local area during the Covid-19 lockdown.

PLASA Hosting Upcoming Online Program Covering Business, Industry & New Technology

ProSoundWeb: PLASA Online 2020, skated for Monday, October 12 through Friday, October 16, will present of program of free content design to provide industry professionals with knowledge to help navigate the Covid-crisis and prepare for what’s next in live events and entertainment.

I have never been comfortable in theater, by Artemis Montague

DC Metro Theater Arts: I have never been comfortable in theater. Not safe. Not “safer.” Just completely unwelcomed.

We are in a global pandemic. There is movement building on the ground and online that no one in the United States has seen before. This is an unprecedented moment in our history.

Theater, just like the rest of society, will never be able to go back to “normal,” even if there is never another case of COVID-19. There is no going back to something that was built on inequity, inaccessibility, and injustice.

Theme park storytelling

InPark Magazine: As a child growing up in Los Angeles, I regularly visited Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Universal Studios Hollywood. I was awed by the attractions at the parks and they left a lasting impression. What I did not understand at the time was that elements of storytelling were what so appealed to me, whether narrated or environmental. Fast forward to now, where I have two college degrees centered on stories, a Ph.D. where most of my research focused on theme park narratives, and classes I teach that emphasize the power of storytelling for great guest experiences. The stories in theme park spaces that I encountered over the years were major inspirations for my career path.

Connecticut Venues Allowed to Reopen After Surprise Announcement from Governor

www.ticketnews.com: Concert venues and other arts spaces will be allowed to open as early as October 8 in Connecticut, following a surprise announcement by Governor Ned Lamont last week. Shuttered since March in one of the states hit hardest by the pandemic in its early phases, some organizers plan to open as soon as possible, with others holding off to plan their return safely in greater detail.

PART TWO - Building A New Gem at Auburn University: The Gogue Performing Arts Center

Wenger | J.R. Clancy: From the very beginning, the team at Auburn University knew the 85,000-square-foot space would require superior acoustics. This forward-thinking would ensure the Gogue Center’s 1,202-seat Woltosz Theatre could accommodate every type of performance, and that each experience would leave audiences wanting more.

D-Day countdown - WeMakeEvents Global Day of Action planned for 30th September

LightSoundJournal.com: The #WeMakeEvents campaign has been ramping up activity in order to highlight how the global live events industry urgently needs to get back to work. Over 30 million people in 25 countries would usually work in the events industry, but with social distancing measures in place, there is no possibility of a financially viable return for the foreseeable future.

Actors' Equity Releases Statement in Response to Amy Coney Barrett's Nomination to the Supreme Court

www.broadwayworld.com: Actors' Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, has released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump nominating Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

Theaters Could Become Acquisition Targets During Pandemic

www.forbes.com: As theaters remain dark, there might be a game of musical chairs behind the scenes.

According to Broadway investment banker Lisbeth R. Barron, who brokered the deals for British firm Ambassador Theatre Group to take over six theaters in the United States, the overwhelming losses that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused might lead to some theaters changing hands.

Everything I Need To Know About Sound Design, I Learned From Ruth Bader Ginsburg

SoundGirls.org: Ok, maybe not EVERYTHING, but what I mean to say is that I can (and do) apply RBG’s wisdom anywhere. We lost a champion of the people, a defender of equality, and a warrior among women when we lost Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and it’s up to us to make sure that her legacy is carried out for ages to come. It sounds lofty, I know.

Sydney Opera House announces $1.2m new work commissioning program

www.limelightmagazine.com.au: The Sydney Opera House has thrown Australian performing artists and creators a $1.2 million lifeline in response to the COVID-19 crisis, with a new program funded by the venue’s donors, partners and contractors to commission a broad range of fresh work.

'The Mandalorian' Creators Talk Sustainable Virtual Production

Variety: During the final episode of Variety‘s Sustainability in Hollywood event presented by Toyota Mirai, Rob Bredow, senior vice president and chief creative officer at Industrial Light & Magic, and Janet Lewin, senior vice president and general manager at ILM and co-producer of “The Mandalorian,” talked to artisans editor Jazz Tangcay about how the virtual production of “The Mandalorian” has allowed the show to reduce its carbon footprint.

People are theatre's biggest asset; it's time to start valuing them

Exeunt Magazine: Ever get that feeling where right when you need to shout about something the loudest, the words suddenly dry up? Right now, I feel a bit like I did one night at the pub in the before-times, when I reached into my bag only to find another hand inside it. A smartly dressed man was midway through stealing my phone; he melted back into the crowd as I watched him in mute horror.

Vidya Makan's wake-up call to the industry

Theatre People: 101 of Australia’s BIPoC and CALD performers aged 18-25 have joined forces to feature in a song, ‘I Need You To See Me’, by critically acclaimed performer and composer Vidya Makan. The song is an explicit invitation to our entertainment industry by the talented artists it habitually marginalises to be seen and to create change.

We Need A New Federal Theater Project!

New York Theater: “One of the things we’re talking about internally has been the way in which the scale of this catastrophe — a wholesale shutting down of the field — is only really comparable is the Great Depression. We’re looking at 20 percent or higher unemployment! So what lessons can we find in the Federal Theater Project? Under the New Deal, the government’s super-spending effort that put America back to work in the ’30s, the Federal Theater Project only accounted for 0.5 percent of the Works Progress Administration spending, which, if you applied that to the current bailout, would come to $10 billion.

The Helen Hayes Awards night plus reaction you didn’t see from 4615 Theatre Company

dctheatrescene.com: The Helen Hayes Awards were last night, so I slipped into my good tux, straightened my black tie, and took the Metro down to the waterfront. I hoofed it to the Anthem; saw some buddies; shook some hands; slapped some backs. I squeezed up to the crowded bar and ordered a martini; the bartender accidently put his finger in the glass but what the hey. Somebody gave me a hug…

Netflix inks ‘very long-term’ deal for Vancouver production hub

Globalnews.ca: If you’re the kind of Canadian viewer who notices when Vancouver shows up in a TV series, get ready to be spotting it more often.

Streaming giant Netflix has inked a “very long-term” deal with a Burnaby production centre to make the Lower Mainland one of its three international content hubs.

Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Day 6 at The Tabor Opera House. September 26, 2020.

Drypigment.net: Saturday was our last big day to lower scenery from the attic at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado. It was the sixth of seven workdays in a row. We did manage to hit our goal of lowering all remaining shutter scenes, plus a few other pieces, to the stage floor. The attic looks positively bare. Only eight borders remain for me to document today. That being said, some scenic pieces still remain in the loft above the attic and on platforms high above stage right and stage left.

'There will be positives': artistic directors on theatre's terrible year

Theatre | The Guardian: Last summer, the Observer profiled a group of newly-appointed artistic directors – a fresh surge of talent taking its place at the top of six of our best-loved theatre companies. A notably diverse cohort, they were bursting with optimism and ideas for shaking up the industry. Our theatre critic Susannah Clapp, introducing the new talent, looked forward to seeing how they would transform the theatrical landscape – with the caveat that “it is hard, though, to guess what changes will be wrought”.

Alan Cross: Before radio, there was the Théâtrophone

National | Globalnews.ca: We’ve long taken the ability to summon up audio entertainment on demand, be it through radio, CDs, tapes, and records, or via the internet. But the first method of transmitting audio into private homes has been completely forgotten.

Long before voices and music were transmitted through the air — and even before people owned phonographs and records — the well-to-do in cities like Paris, Lisbon, Brussels, Stockholm, London, and even New York were able to listen to music and theatre productions without having to go anywhere. And in stereo, too.

BWW Interview: How Emmy Award Winning Set Designer Matthew Anderson is Rebuilding NYC's Restaurant Industry

www.broadwayworld.com: The ongoing global health crisis has affected businesses all over the world, many of which have been forced to shutter their doors- leaving millions of people out of work- in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. The arts and hospitality industries have been hit especially hard, with the hospitality industry in New York City facing a decline of over 400,000 jobs, and the arts industry facing around 1.4 million jobs lost overall in the United States.

Entertainment Changes Coming at Walt Disney World

www.themeparkinsider.com: First the good news for fans: Disney is bringing back the For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration show, starting October 5. It's part of the return of live musical shows to the resort, following both Disney's agreement with the Actors’ Equity Association union that represents stage performers at the resort as well as increased attendance at the parks.

Grab a brush, take a stand. 10 Pittsburgh Solidarity for Change murals are going up in the next month

nextpittsburgh.com: Spurred by his own experiences with police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement, the Homewood resident and executive artist of the Moving the Lives of Kids Community Mural Project is mobilizing other like-minded artists, college students and community members to design and create a series of art walls promoting unity and social justice.

NFTRW Weekly Top Five

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

Metropolitan Opera closed until fall 2021 due to coronavirus concerns

Broadway News: The Metropolitan Opera announced Wednesday that it will be closed until fall 2021 due to the continuing threat of COVID-19.

The Met had previously hoped to restart its season on Dec. 31, 2020, but now says it has been advised by its health officials to wait until the fall, or a time at which “a vaccine is widely in use, herd immunity is established, and the wearing of masks and social distancing is no longer a medical requirement,” according to a press release.

Posted by David at 9/25/2020 11:21:00 AM

Times Square New Year's Eve Celebration Goes Virtual for 2021; Live Elements Still to be Determined

www.broadwayworld.com: With January 1, 2021 now 100 days away, the organizers of the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square provided a preliminary teaser of how the event will change in response to the changes and challenges of 2020: a virtually enhanced celebration that brings Times Square and The Ball to you digitally no matter where you are, scaled-back and socially-distanced live elements still to be determined, and an extremely limited group of in-person honorees, socially distanced, who will reflect the themes, challenges and inspirations of 2020.

Posted by David at 9/25/2020 11:21:00 AM

Equity reports an 'enormous' rise in complaints of racism

Theatre | The Guardian: Equity, the UK trade union for creative practitioners, has seen a massive upsurge in cases of racism reported across the stage and screen industries. Paul Fleming, the union’s incoming general secretary, said the complaints raised by members include “dignity issues” and racist language used in dressing rooms and auditions.

Posted by David at 9/25/2020 11:17:00 AM

LA: The L.A. River Is About To Become An Immersive Epicenter

by NoPro Newswire | Sep, 2020 | No Proscenium: The Guide To Everything Immersive: The nonprofit River LA, which works “ to bring people, water and nature together along all 51 miles of the Los Angeles River” has brought on experiential arts veteran Mikhael Tara Garver to head up a new multi-year initiative “Rio Reveals,” which gets its start next month with a media preview, followed by the public-facing Rio Records, “which combines art, music, history, design and storytelling into a collaborative, immersive online adventure for 100 guests per interactive performance.

Posted by David at 9/25/2020 11:23:00 AM

Why 'Six' plans to reopen in London this fall

Broadway News: As he looks to reopen “Six” in London this November, producer Kenny Wax has the advantage of having a small cast, an 80-minute show and relatively low running costs.

Still, working amid rising coronavirus infections and restrictions in the United Kingdom, Wax acknowledges there’s a possibility the production will be shut down. He’s choosing to move forward for one main reason.

Posted by David at 9/24/2020 11:22:00 AM

Ford Foundation announces $150 million in grants to arts groups of color

The Washington Post: Eduardo Vilaro, the artistic director and chief executive of New York’s Ballet Hispánico, has tried to ignore the slights. Well-heeled patrons who wouldn’t join his board because they favored older, Whiter organizations. Theater managers telling him they couldn’t present the company because they had already programmed a “minority-themed” group.

LA: The L.A. River Is About To Become An Immersive Epicenter

by NoPro Newswire | Sep, 2020 | No Proscenium: The Guide To Everything Immersive: The nonprofit River LA, which works “ to bring people, water and nature together along all 51 miles of the Los Angeles River” has brought on experiential arts veteran Mikhael Tara Garver to head up a new multi-year initiative “Rio Reveals,” which gets its start next month with a media preview, followed by the public-facing Rio Records, “which combines art, music, history, design and storytelling into a collaborative, immersive online adventure for 100 guests per interactive performance.

Restart-19 : Experiment Targets Safe Resumption of Live Concerts

LightSoundJournal.com: Restart-19 is an evidence-based scientific study conducted by the University Medical Center, Halle, in conjunction with regional government, aimed at investigating the Coronavirus risks associated with staging major cultural or sporting events in indoor arenas. The project has received almost a million euros in funding, a measure of just how desperate the situation facing the future of such events has become. The principle aim of the study was to determine which technical and organisational actions can most effectively minimise the risk of infection.

Performing in Winter: Creating COVID-safe Super Venues and Sharing the Stage

The Theatre Times: You pass through a wide doorway to a large space with good air circulation. Inside, an usher behind a screen scans your ticket and sends you onward. Signs on the carpet direct you to the large auditorium, which is arranged in clusters of seats, one per household. In the middle of the room, the stage is set for a full orchestra. Tomorrow the same stage will be used for a theatrical production. The lights go dim; the music starts.

Metropolitan Opera closed until fall 2021 due to coronavirus concerns

Broadway News: The Metropolitan Opera announced Wednesday that it will be closed until fall 2021 due to the continuing threat of COVID-19.

The Met had previously hoped to restart its season on Dec. 31, 2020, but now says it has been advised by its health officials to wait until the fall, or a time at which “a vaccine is widely in use, herd immunity is established, and the wearing of masks and social distancing is no longer a medical requirement,” according to a press release.

Times Square New Year's Eve Celebration Goes Virtual for 2021; Live Elements Still to be Determined

www.broadwayworld.com: With January 1, 2021 now 100 days away, the organizers of the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square provided a preliminary teaser of how the event will change in response to the changes and challenges of 2020: a virtually enhanced celebration that brings Times Square and The Ball to you digitally no matter where you are, scaled-back and socially-distanced live elements still to be determined, and an extremely limited group of in-person honorees, socially distanced, who will reflect the themes, challenges and inspirations of 2020.

What is a Crossover?

SoundGirls.org: Crossovers are not the most glamorous or talked about gear in live sound, but they are an integral part of the signal chain. Also known as frequency divider networks, these devices filter and route the signal based on frequency. Without a crossover, the same signal gets fed to each driver in the system. Imagine the tweeter, mids, and sub all playing the same song reading the same balance of frequencies.

Artist Relief Fund Raises Nearly $20 Million

The New York Times: The Artist Relief fund, a national coalition of arts grantmakers that distributes $5,000 grants to creative professionals affected by the coronavirus pandemic, has awarded $13.5 million to 2,700 individuals since April.

Off Broadway’s Acclaimed ‘Cambodian Rock Band’ Sets Post-Pandemic Tour

Deadline: Off Broadway’s Signature Theatre will take its acclaimed production of Lauren Yee’s play with music Cambodian Rock Band on the road, marking the theater company’s first production to tour. The production, with songs by L.A. band Dengue Fever and directed by Chay Yew, was praised by critics upon its Signature opening earlier this year, and has been mentioned by The New York Times as a potential contender for a Pulitzer Prize for Drama nomination.