Full-Metal Prep: The Value Of A Well-Appointed Workbox At Every Gig

ProSoundWeb: Today, more than three decades later, there are many styles of workboxes, ranging from touring boxes built out of wood to ATA flight cases that offer a lot of drawers, but they all basically do the same job: keeping the key tools and components that make a show happen organized.

Shielded vs. Unshielded Network Cable for Smart Homes and Residential

Residential Systems: In residential AV, especially high-end homes where clients expect total reliability, shielded cable is often regarded as the premium choice. It seems more robust and specifying “more protection” can seem like the safest approach. However, in practice, the decision should be more nuanced — and for good reason.

Gateway To Creativity: Key Factors In Upgrading A Live Digital Mixing Platform

ProSoundWeb: Stepping up to a modern console is less about replacing hardware and more about expanding possibilities. The goal isn’t just more faders or DSP; it’s crafting mixes that connect with audiences and band members through greater clarity, dynamics, and control. While an upgrade might be triggered by aging gear or changing production demands, the deeper purpose is equipping teams to deliver consistent, high quality audio under pressure — with more headroom, more options, and more confidence.

Vertigo Theatre workers get 16% raise in first contract

albertaworker.ca: While browsing through the provincial database of collective agreements, I came across a new collective agreement that was ratified earlier this month. This agreement was for about 30 workers employed by the Vertigo Theatre and represented by Local 212 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts, otherwise known as IATSE.

Engineers and theater students tackle stage design in partnership with TAIT

College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University: “The structure of the course mirrors the workflow of professional entertainment engineering projects,” said Hines, associate teaching professor of production technology and management. “They must consider engineering constraints and a budget while crafting designs.”

C.H. Hanson Acquires Brodbeck Ironworks in Metalworking Push

New Equipment Digest: C.H. Hanson has picked up the assets of Brodbeck Ironworks, adding modular belt grinding systems to its lineup and putting a bladesmith-turned-engineer in charge of product development across its brands.

Photos: Get a Look Inside the Design of RHINOCEROS at A.R.T.

www.broadwayworld.com: On July 9, the first day of Rhinoceros rehearsal, designers shared their visions for the play with the company. Rehearsals continue for A.R.T.’s new production of Eugène Ionesco’s landmark play, Rhinoceros.

How will terminal blocks help controls engineers with troubleshooting and PLC protection?

Control Design: A terminal block is a place to connect a wire to another wire and create a junction point. Picture a terminal block as an intersection on a two way or four-way highway.

Automatic Air-Actuated Collet Closer Eases CNC Operation

Power & Motion Tech: Consistent clamping of tools and parts in CNC machines is necessary to ensure accurate and repeatable machining of products. Collet closers are a commonly used device for holding tools and work pieces on these machines.

People to Watch: Phanésia Pharel

AMERICAN THEATRE: The Haitian American playwright and screenwriter from Miami made her Off-Broadway debut earlier this year at WP Theater with her play The Waterfall. Next, at Barrington Stage Company, in a co-production with Goodman Theatre and Hartford Stage, is her newest work, Dead Girl’s Quinceañera, taking the stage Aug. 5-29.

Artists’ $20 Ticket Programs Show Why Not All Ticket Holdbacks Are Created Equal

TicketNews: The latest $20 concert-ticket programs from some of the world’s biggest artists are built around a practice that is often treated as inherently anti-consumer: holding tickets back from the initial sale.

Shanghai Is Betting Its Cultural Future on a Giant Unfolding Fan

Architect Magazine: When cities compete for global influence, they often build museums, concert halls, and opera houses. But increasingly, the success of those institutions depends less on what happens inside their auditoriums than on how effectively they become part of everyday urban life.

Beckhoff celebrates the 40th anniversary of its first PC-based machine control system

Control Design: For 40 years, PC-based control has put the power of IT standards and Moore’s Law for integrated circuits directly into the hands of machine builders and automation engineers. In the 1980s, industrial manufacturing was dominated by the hardware-based PLC. In 1986, Beckhoff responded by delivering the first industrial PC-based machine control system.

Getting Rock To Roll: A History Of The Development Of Road Cases

Getting Rock To Roll: A History Of The Development Of Road Cases - ProSoundWeb: Ah, road cases, workhorses of the AV production world. They protect our mission critical gear from being rattled apart on rough roads, outdoor conditions like dusty winds and rain, and the thousand natural shocks that gear is heir to. They also make good chairs and tables, and can be an excellent place for a nap.

Kennedy Center board lacks materials needed for closure vote, senator says

The Washington Post: A federal judge in May ordered the stewards of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to more carefully weigh the need for a long-term closure. But just days before those trustees are set to vote on the matter, they have received no new assessments about how closing for two years would affect the venue, according to Democratic lawmakers who sit on the board.

EDINBURGH 2026: Geoffrey Asmus Q&A

www.broadwayworld.com: My show ‘Patriautism’ is essentially a greatest hits show of my favourite political, religious and historical jokes I’ve written over the last few years. I wrote a few UK-specific jokes that I’m excited to try out as well. The show will also incorporate some crowd work and will never be the same night to night. My goal is to incorporate one new joke each show for the full run as a writing exercise.

New Veteran-Run Theater Company To Debut ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’

Jersey Shore Online: Jersey Shore Light Opera (JSLO) will present its first production, “Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore,” brought together by a veteran-owned company looking to bring their talents to the local stage at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts.

How To Build an MDF Storage Bench

This Old House: A solid storage bench provides seating and storage space, making it perfect for entryways, mudrooms, or bedrooms. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is an excellent material choice for this project due to its affordability, durability, and easy use. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of building an MDF storage bench, complete with cubbies for organizing shoes and other items.

Bergen County Players receives 15 Perry Award Nominations

ORADELL, NJ: Fresh off being named the #1 Live Theater Venue in (201) Magazine's Best of Bergen Poll, Bergen County Players (BCP) is celebrating another major milestone. The historic community theater company has earned an impressive 15 New Jersey Association of Community Theaters (NJACT) Perry Award nominations honoring excellence in its 93rd season.

AT&T Center, Dallas Theater Center Plan Merger

AMERICAN THEATRE: They already share buildings, so why not share staff, scene shops, and other resources? That’s at least part of the logic behind the newly announced merger of the multi-venue AT&T Performing Arts Center (AT&T PAC) and Dallas Theater Center (DTC), which if approved by the boards of both organizations will make DTC the official producing arm of A&T PAC, primarily a presenting outfit for resident performing arts companies and other entertainment, in early 2027.

EDINBURGH 2026: Nathan Sibthorpe on TRUTHMACHINE Guest Blog

www.broadwayworld.com: Truthmachine is not just a show about a lie detector test - every performance is also a real polygraph interrogation with a brave audience volunteer. Contemporary theatre often seeks out moments of radical truth and authenticity in order to connect with its audience. We want to see ourselves on stage; we want to manifest something real! Our theatre shares this ambition, but our approach is to outsource the truth to unrehearsed audience members.

Harry Potter Workshop Inspires Young Designers

Town Square Delaware LIVE: Young artists, aspiring designers, and Harry Potter fans will have the opportunity to step into the creative world behind the curtain during a two-day theatre design workshop at Jester Artspace this August.

At Tanglewood, the Fresh Air Is Tainted by Tension

The New York Times: Tanglewood is special to many, many people. It’s the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, but also a place where people make memories: where they picnicked with their grandparents or got soaked in a storm. It matters. It means something. To my family, it’s a retreat, a sanctuary, a place where things can rest just a little easier for one sunny afternoon.

Wicked by the Numbers: Broadway’s Emerald Empire of Bubbles, Haute Couture and Green Paint

Broadway Buzz | Broadway.com: Wicked is the ultimate Broadway blockbuster: a behemoth feat of stagecraft that has kept audiences enrapt for over 22 years. In fact, Wicked is the fourth longest-running musical in Broadway history and the third longest-running production currently on the Great White Way.

Behind the scenes, Moda Center workers hold out hope for a deal on renovations

kgw.com: For more than three decades, workers at the Moda Center have built stages, hung lights and helped bring some of the biggest names in entertainment to Portland. For the behind-the-scenes players, the Moda is more than just an arena — and renovations represent a welcome investment in the place to which they've dedicated their careers.

EDINBURGH 2026: Mimi Collins on GOOD GIRL Guest Blog

www.broadwayworld.com: This August, I am bringing Good Girl, my darkly funny solo show about infidelity, emotional collapse, and the unexpected care found within the world of BDSM to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I’ve never been more excited to share a piece in my life - or more terrified.

Behind the scenes of Disney's The American Adventure

Sound & Video Contractor: A massive amount of engineering has gone into EPCOT’s The American Adventure, with show sets that are connected together on a giant moving mechanism. This mechanism has the ability to go back and forth and lift the scenes up and down behind a massive rear projected screen in order to engage guests with the history of the United States.

The case for a consistent remote and distributed I/O platform with Dinkle International

Control Design: Implementing a reliable input/output (I/O) architecture is fundamental for any type of monitoring and control system. An increasing demand for Internet of Things (IoT) data gathering and sophisticated automation is prompting designers to find more effective I/O for connecting with sensors, motor controls and actuators.

Cameron Mackintosh Says 'Utterly Different' LES MISÉRABLES Coming to NYC

www.broadwayworld.com: Sir Cameron Mackintosh has teased that something big is headed to New York - though he's not the producer behind it. Speaking with NY1's Frank DiLella, in regards to a potential return of Les Misérables to New York the producer said: "There is a very exciting entirely different plan for New York to happen in two years time, not by me, but it's something that I wholeheartedly back. It's a wonderful idea and it would be utterly different. Something to look forward to."

L-Acoustics Brings Clarity To Monte de Dios In Santo Domingo

ProSoundWeb: The new home of Ministerio Internacional Monte de Dios in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the largest Christian church in the Caribbean, is equipped with a sound reinforcement system developed by Wholestage that is headed by L-Acoustics K2 line arrays, KS28 subwoofers and more.

Photos: A New Cats Takes the Stage in London

Playbill: London's new reimagined revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats is at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre ahead of a U.K. tour, and Playbill has a first look at the production, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie (Jesus Christ Superstar, King Kong).

A History of the Wildest Sneakers and Streetwear Pieces Worn by Superheroes and Villains in Film

www.complex.com: There’s a long history of onscreen adaptations of legendary comic book characters wearing streetwear and sneakers, starting as far back as Michael Keaton in Batman Returns (1992), long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe became a thing. Whether it be custom pieces produced by major brands for the movie, or a sly incorporation of existing pieces into costume design, superhero movies frequently have something there for the sneakerheads and streetwear fans.

What will hi-fi look like in 2076? We asked some of the most influential experts in the industry

What Hi-Fi?: As celebrating milestone anniversaries typically involves reflecting on the early years, it’s only natural that, as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations this year, we have backpedalled to the ’70s with the dedication of a Led Zeppelin documentary.

Review Roundup: Andrew Stein's DISRUPTION Opens Off-Broadway

www.broadwayworld.com: Disruption, a new play by Andrew Stein, directed by Hersh Ellis, just opened at The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center.

How the War Changed the Way I Work with Teenagers in Theatre

HowlRound Theatre Commons: For more than ten years, I worked in Ukraine’s extracurricular arts education system. Unlike in the United States, where art education is often integrated into schools, Ukraine has a separate network of public educational institutions under the Ministry of Education and Science that provides art education after the regular school day. I worked at the largest extracurricular arts center in Dnipro, one of Ukraine’s longest-established institutions of its kind, with a history spanning nearly ninety years.

'Heated Rivalry' Sets Hard Line With Fans While Filming Season 2

www.thewrap.com: In an Instagram message to the gay romance drama’s fevered fanbase on Tuesday, production company Accent Aigu Entertainment thanked viewers for their continued support into Season 2 of the surprise hit while drawing a hard line with in-person disruptions to filming.

Handling The Weird Things: Designing The Special Effects For Beetlejuice

Live Design Online: Beetlejuice, which has been delighting audiences from Broadway to the West End and all across America, is a showcase not just for its talented cast and creatives but for the zany tricks and special effects that make life in the Netherworld so engaging for audiences. The special effects designer for the show, Jeremy Chernick, has worked on more than fifty Broadway productions and on theatre, opera, dance and immersive experiences.

Change Arts Launching Queer Theatre Festival on Fire Island

Playbill: CHANGE Arts is launching an annual queer theatre festival that will bring new plays, readings, and other special events to Fire Island, with events planned both in Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines. The inaugural Fire Island Theater Festival will be held September 23-27.

Feature: Indonesian Musical Theater: 2026 Overview (Part 1)

www.broadwayworld.com: Indonesia has a long history of theatrical forms that integrate musical elements to the performance. From traditional art forms such as Lenong and Ludruk, to the birth of Komedie Stamboel during the colonial era, up to the modern influence of American musical theater, thespians throughout the nation have always been exploring how music can add another layer to theatrical works.

My agonizing (and relieving) decision to leave DC theater

DC Theater Arts: There may be a few days in your life when you get everything you want. Those days feel immediately bittersweet; a new dream blossoms, but an older dream has to wilt and perish. This past March, I had one of those days. It was an overcast Tuesday. I’d gotten up early to take an Amtrak from NYC to DC, and on my taxi ride back to Virginia, I saw I’d missed a call from a Connecticut phone number. This was a promising sign. In February, the David Geffen School of Drama (DGSD) at Yale had flown me up to New Haven, where the staff of the Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism M.F.A. program interviewed me.

Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter Thoughts On Artificial Intelligence

brobible.com: Nothing has received more attention in recent years than artificial intelligence. Nada. Every single day there are new stories proclaiming ways AI will fundamentally alter the ways in which we live our lives and inhabit the earth. The industry is predicted to reach a $3.6 trillion valuation within the next seven years.

‘Worlds of Fun' Workers Vote Overwhelmingly to Join IATSE Local 31 in Kansas City

IATSE: In a victory for entertainment workers in the region, employees at Worlds of Fun amusement park in Kansas City voted 21–1 on July 7, 2026 to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 31. The newly formed bargaining unit covers 37 workers across Technical Services, Wardrobe and Stitchers, Costumes, and Creative Services.

Guerrilla Recording Is As Simple As One, Two… Eight?

ProSoundWeb: Guerrilla = Someone who operates in an independent and irregular manner. Often a guerrilla is not well funded, and must make do with limited resources without making compromises in quality and effectiveness. Guerrilla Recording = Recording in an independent and irregular manner using limited resources without making compromises in quality and effectiveness.

Anna D. Shapiro Named Dean and Director of Juilliard Drama Division

Playbill: Tony-winning director Anna D. Shapiro has been named the next Richard Rodgers dean and director of Juilliard's Drama Division. Shapiro, who will lead Juilliard's actor and playwright training programs, will meet with students, faculty, and staff at the start of the new academic year in September. Following a period of transition, she will begin her full-time tenure July 1, 2027.

EDINBURGH 2026: ELF LYONS Q&A

www.broadwayworld.com: BWW catches up with Elf Lyons to chat about bringing Elf Lyons is The Woman On The Edge to the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Antitrust Trial Set for March 2027

www.thewrap.com: The Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger’s legal battle with a group of 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America is headed to court, with an antitrust trial set for March 2027 — and a corresponding ticking fee of $1.06 billion.

Kim Taylor-Coleman Re-Elected President of Academy Foundation Board

www.indiewire.com: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday continued its string of annual election announcements, this time sharing that casting director Kim Taylor-Coleman was re-elected president of the Academy Foundation Board.

Mark Fleischer Exits Along With Pittsburgh CLO: 'It's Been an Honor to Work Here'

onstagepittsburgh.com: As Mark Fleischer says goodbye to Pittsburgh, his work home for the past 12 years, longer than any other, he is leaving with pride mingled with the same frustration and anticipation many of us are feeling, as Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera is no more.

Interview: Spotlight on Des Moines Playhouse

www.broadwayworld.com: It's hard to believe that August is already here, and with that comes a new season of shows at our local theatres. As I contemplated how to shine a light on our local theatres this season, the first idea was to do a series of spotlights on each theatre. The questions I decided to use look at what each theatre brings to the community, what a person can do if ticket pricing is an issue, and, with funding for the arts going down, how people can support these theatres.

International Schools Dominate Student Academy Awards

www.thewrap.com: Film schools from outside the United States dominated the 2026 Student Academy Awards, which announced its list of winners on Wednesday. Schools from Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom won nine of the 12 awards, with the U.S. schools that once won the lion’s share of awards earning two wins in the documentary category and one in alternative-experimental.

Rocky Horror Show musical director sent threats to self to end production and avoid cast drama

Boing Boing: You'd think someone involved in The Rocky Horror Show couldn't get enough drama. But the musical director of a production in Vermont got so fed up with cast theatrics that he sent a series of threats to himself in a successful effort to shut the show down. Kenneth Grenier, 26, of Hyde Park, was cited for making false reports, according to Essex police.

Beth Leavel Will Be Inducted Into Muny Hall of Fame

www.broadwayworld.com: Tony Award winner Beth Leavel, who stars as Katie Connelly in the Muny production of Meet Me In St. Louis, will be inducted into the Muny Hall of Fame, honoring her contributions in more than a dozen Muny productions over four decades.

Interview: Faeron Wheeler of ONE-ACT PLAY FESTIVAL at The Masque Theatre

www.broadwayworld.com: We’ve been building the Festival each year, getting smoother and smoother with our operations. This is obviously great for the entire production team! I also think that we have really hit our stride with the range of scripts that were available to choose from for the Festival. The variety in this year’s lineup is wonderful - something for everyone.

Lollapalooza 2026: Year of the Flood Review

consequence.net: Festivals are concerts on Hard Mode. Acoustics and attention work differently outdoors, distractions abound, and no matter who you’re seeing, most of the crowd probably came to see someone else. Veteran performers of coffee shops and clubs are met for the first time by indifference, and they can surprise themselves by leveling up — or bombing — in ways they never imagined. And sometimes it rains.

Ballet Preljocaj Upgrades to ETC Halcyon Titanium Ultra Bright Moving Lights

LightSoundJournal.com: Ballet Preljocaj, one of Europe’s most prestigious contemporary dance companies, has selected ETC Halcyon Titanium Ultra Bright moving heads to modernize its lighting inventory and transition from legacy HMI technology to LED. Following a comprehensive market comparison, the company identified the Halcyon series as the ideal solution to meet the rigorous demands of its international touring productions.

Feature: GIRLSTORIES LEADERSHIP THEATRE at Powerstories Theatre

www.broadwayworld.com: Powerstories Theatre is thrilled to announce the return of its presidentially-recognized Girlstories Leadership Theatre, launching a new season in September 2026 with renewed vision and inspiring leadership.

What's the ONE Exhibit Tool You Can't Work Without?

ExhibiTricks: The Museum Exhibit Design Blog: There's that old party game where somebody asks, "If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring only one book (or album, or snack), what would it be?" I've always thought exhibit developers deserve our own version.

What Does Christopher Nolan Think About Film Criticism?

brobible.com: Christopher Nolan took a cutting shot at film criticism during his promotional tour for The Odyssey. According to Nolan, the belief that identifying a storytelling mechanism therefore invalidates it has become a “fundamental flaw” in modern criticism.

Maxi Gilbert Selects 67 Claypaky HY B-EYE K25s for La Oreja de Van Gogh Tour

LightSoundJournal.com: For the new tour by Spanish pop icons La Oreja de Van Gogh, Lighting Designer Maxi Gilbert chose 67 Claypaky HY B-EYE K25 fixtures, placing them at the very core of his technical design. The production deliberately prioritizes light over LED walls to shape the stage architecture and drive the show’s visual narrative.

Pledge-of-Support Partners Make Donations at USITT 2026

Behind the Scenes: Behind the Scenes was honored to receive generous contributions from five Pledge-of-Support Partners during special check presentations at the 2026 United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) Conference & Stage Expo in Long Beach, California.

The Day I Pleated With Iris van Herpen

hyperallergic.com: “Hands are like a language,” Iris van Herpen says as we pleat a textile together inside the recreated atelier at the center of Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses. “Each pair that joins me in creating this dress will influence the DNA of the garment.” A first of its kind, the live installation at the Brooklyn Museum invites visitors to work alongside the Dutch fashion designer in creating a garment that will evolve over the course of the show’s run.

Immersive Horror Play 'A Ghost in Your Ear' Sets New York Premiere

variety.com: Jamie Armitage‘s immersive horror show “A Ghost in Your Ear” has set its New York premiere at Audible‘s off-Broadway Minetta Lane Theatre following a sold-out London run earlier this year.

Variety's New Leaders: Class of 2026

variety.com: Leadership can mean leveraging one success to create the next — and navigating hundreds of crucial steps in between. It can also mean being the best team player you can be, finding the right story, signing the right client, packaging the right product or developing the right promotional campaign.

Guest Column: The Fee You Didn't Know You Were Paying

Event Marketer: Open the exhibitor services manual for your next show and scroll past the carpet and the electrical order forms. Somewhere in the labor section sits a line item called the EAC fee. It is sometimes listed at upwards of $350. At some shows it is charged more than once for the same contractor. Very few exhibitors can explain what they are buying.

'Come From Away,' the Acclaimed Musical About a Small Town’s Response to 9/11, Gets Its First Pittsburgh Production

Table Magazine: When the United States closed its airspace on September 11, 2001, thousands of planes had to land — and, in the confusion and shock of the moment, it didn’t matter much where. Hundreds of planes found the nearest available airport or made for regional hubs; about 240 were diverted into Canada.

A quick overview of three CAD modeling techniques

www.thefabricator.com: Mainstream 3D CAD offers many alternative modeling techniques that can be combined to arrive at about the same ending point. The “best” modeling technique is a moving target, but completing the model without delay is a bonus. Opportunity cost (time to completion) always should be minimized.

Motorola's Razr Wheel Debuts at Lollapalooza 2026

The Knockturnal: Towering above the festival grounds, Motorola’s razr Wheel, the first Ferris wheel in Lollapalooza’s history, offered attendees panoramic views of the Chicago skyline while providing a welcome break from the crowds below. The free attraction quickly became one of the festival’s most popular gathering spots, giving fans a chance to experience Lollapalooza from a completely new perspective.

Royal Ballet & Opera In Need of Investment for Stage Infrastructure to Remain Open

OperaWire OperaWire: According to a report obtained by the Times of London, the building will need about £60 million over the next three years just to “keep the building open and functioning” and as much as £200m over the next decade. The report suggests that it will cost at least £20 million a year because of its “obsolete infrastructure.”

EDINBURGH 2026: Anna Thomas Q&A

www.broadwayworld.com: BWW catches up with Anna Thomas to chat about bringing How To Juggle A Ferret to the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Kennedy Center Halts Free Public Tours After Five Decades of Service

The New York Times: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is stopping free public tours of the center, which had been a mainstay of the cultural institution for more than five decades, according to an internal memo.

Insta360 Luna Ultra Review: This Is the Only Gimbal Camera You Need

gizmodo.com: I honestly had to ask myself: Could my one camera be a vlogging cam? I still resent the very concept to a certain degree. I don’t find my life or my face interesting enough that it deserves to be tracked from every angle, capturing every moment of my bland visage’s reaction to my ordinary life, even if Insta360’s Luna Ultra makes it so dang easy—and I’ll admit it, fun—to do just that.

Why ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Could Be A Turning Point For ScreenX

www.forbes.com: ScreenX is built around a simple idea: why settle for one screen when you can have three? In addition to the main projector, it adds two more, to project additional images onto side-wall screens for a wraparound 270° view of the action.

Pittsburgh Public Theater and Pittsburgh CLO officially merge without a name

triblive.com: After more than 130 combined years of entertaining Pittsburgh audiences, two of the city’s biggest theater companies have become one. Pittsburgh Public Theater and the Pittsburgh CLO officially merged Friday, months after their boards approved the historic move. Now, the newly formed organization has one final act: choosing a new name.

How a Former Military Settlement in Taipei Became an Artist Residency

hyperallergic.com: Two tiny lightbulbs dangle from five feet of wire, blinking on and off to the rhythm of human breath. Magnets attached to the bulbs pull them together or push them apart at random, mimicking the relationships between people — or communities.

Gavin Newsom Urges State AGs to Settle Paramount-WBD Lawsuit

www.thewrap.com: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has expressed concern over 12 state attorneys general’s lawsuit seeking to block the pending $110 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.

Audience member faints on opening night of London play during graphic scene

The Independent: The opening night performance of Cleansed at London’s Almeida Theatre saw Sarah Kane’s provocative play live up to its reputation – with one audience member fainting during a graphic scene. First staged in 1998, Cleansed is one of five plays by the late playwright Kane, who died by suicide in 1999 at the age of 28. It is noteworthy for its visceral violence, prolonged nudity, and dark themes.

Dallas Theater Center to merge with AT&T Performing Arts Center

CultureMap Dallas: Two of the most prominent arts groups in Dallas, AT&T Performing Arts Center and Dallas Theater Center, are exploring a merger that they say would expand theater programming, arts education, and support for local artists while keeping both institutions' artistic identities intact.

Live Nation gives first look at Citizens Live at the Wylie as construction continues

WTAE: Soon, Pittsburghers will have a new place to watch concerts, comedy shows, and other live performances when Citizens Live at the Wylie opens Oct. 1. On Tuesday, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 was invited inside for a first look at the construction progress.

A movement may be over. But nonprofit theatre lives.

hesherman1.substack.com: It hurt. As someone whose career began in and was nurtured by not-for-profit theatre, Oskar Eustis’ declaration last week, “I think the American nonprofit theater movement is over,” hit me and many others like a ton of bricks.

36 women+ playwrights commissioned to create new plays examining the current state of democracy in America

www.whatsonstage.com: A new initiative will bring together 36 acclaimed women+ playwrights from across the world, with each creating ten-minute plays that respond to shared questions about the state of democracy in America.

Public media survives first year since Congress and Trump killed funding

NPR: A year ago, President Trump drove a conservative backlash against NPR and PBS straight to Capitol Hill, where Congress stripped public radio and television stations of nearly all federal funding. When his signature turned that bill into law, Trump ended nearly six decades of bipartisan support for funding public media.

A Homegrown Model: Adult Film’s Evolution from Basement to Backyard to Beyond

The Brooklyn Rail: In the tight confines of a basement in Ridgewood, ten acting students swirled around each other, muttering lines from the plays of Tennessee Williams. “Too loud,” announced Ryan Czerwonko, the class’s instructor and artistic director of the DIY-theater and training company Adult Film. “Whisper.”

Song, Stage & Screen 2026: Musical Theater Conference

gordoncox.substack.com: An annual event organized by the International Society for the Study of Musicals, the 2026 edition of Song, Stage & Screen brought together about 100 scholars from 17 countries and five continents. (This year the conference was held online; next year’s is in Sydney.) The 2026 theme, “Musicals Everywhere,” invited participants to look at musicals through a global lens—which explains how this journalist ended up getting asked to give a keynote alongside professors and grad students from across the globe.

Kids' Night on Broadway Sets August Return; 21 Shows Are Participating

Playbill: Kids' Night on Broadway, a program of The Broadway League that sends kids 18 and under to Broadway shows for free as long as they're accompanied by a full-paying adult, will return August 25.

Interview: Department Chair Robert Caisley On the University of Idaho's Distance-Based M.F.A. in Theatre Arts

www.broadwayworld.com: The University of Idaho Department of Theatre Arts offers a distance-based M.F.A. in Theatre Arts geared toward Working Theatre professionals and seasoned educators. The 60-credit program can be completed in three years, or fewer through an M.A. to M.F.A. conversion option, and offers both synchronous and asynchronous coursework so students can continue working within their local theatre communities while earning their degree.

How a Romare Bearden Masterpiece Inspired August Wilson

The New York Times: The playwright August Wilson, a Pulitzer Prize winner for “Fences” and “The Piano Lesson,” drew inspiration from the piece for “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” a standout in his 10-play Century Cycle, focused on the residents of the predominantly Black Hill District in Pittsburgh.

On-Set Visual Effects Workers on Star Wars Productions Join IATSE

IATSE: A group of U.S. visual effects workers engaged directly by Star Wars franchise productions has joined the IATSE for collective bargaining purposes. The new bargaining unit includes U.S. workers who contribute to titles including, but not limited to: The Mandalorian & Grogu, Ahsoka, and Starfighter.

AI-powered drill press

Woodworking Network: According to the company, the SNIPER is designed to eliminate time-consuming manual alignment by using its Sniper Vision Targeting System to identify the intended drilling point and automatically position the spindle over the target.

Ryan Murphy to Receive Norman Lear Award at Showrunners Breakfast

variety.com: Variety‘s annual Showrunners Breakfast will return on August 14, featuring two spotlight conversations with a curated group of this year’s Emmy-nominated showrunners, plus the Norman Lear Creative Conscious Award presentation to Ryan Murphy.

Anti-Leatherman plier multitool hails from German legacy knifemaker

newatlas.com: When it comes to plier multitools, the classic Leatherman family has served as the de facto format for over 40 years, sometimes even working as a proprietary eponym. But it's not the only style of plier-equipped multitool out there, as German legacy knifemaker Böker reminds with the new Naturensöhne MK II NXT, a streamlined multitool that takes on a single-handle format more similar to a Swiss Army knife. It's built to travel swiftly and lightly across the great outdoors, slicing, sawing and cranking its weight's worth when things need to get done, and done right.

Trump Gutted the Kennedy Center. A Tour Guide Wants You to See It Anyway.

The New York Times: Some days no one turns up for a tour at all. Most days there are only a few, including those curious about all the reports of ruin. When people do come, what do they see?

SDCC Stunner: Hall H On Borrowed Time?

www.forbes.com: As San Diego Comic-Con 2026 wound down on Sunday, the organizers dropped a bombshell at the annual “Comic-Con Talkback Panel,” a forum for attendees to ask questions and vent grievances about the show. As fan after fan raised issues about getting into Hall H, the fabled 7,500 seat auditorium where the biggest studios make their biggest announcements during the show, Comic-Con Chief Communication and Strategy Officer David Glanzer made a seemingly offhand remark that raised eyebrows around the room.

Study Reveals That Creativity Has Been Declining Since the 1990s

mymodernmet.com: While both intelligence (IQ) and creativity (CQ) scores were climbing in the U.S. before 1990, creativity has since taken an alarming downward turn. Research by Kyung Hee Kim, a professor at William & Mary University, found that imaginative creativity for both children and adults has declined significantly over the past few decades.

Flexible PCBs: Not Only For The Few

Hackaday: Flexible printed circuit boards are a fascinating technique for making electronics venture beyond the two-dimensional, but surprisingly they’re not something many of us have worked with. [Jessica Stanley] gave a talk at the recent Electromagnetic Field event in the UK, exploring the different ways to make your electronics bend.

Interactive experience and gaming brand Time Mission announces 15+ location expansion for 2027

InPark Magazine: Time Mission, the social gaming location-based entertainment (LBE) brand, announced plans for its most ambitious expansion to date, with 15 to 20 new locations planned for 2027 and six venues currently under construction across the United States and Europe.

The New Hazlett Theater Has Announced Its First Artistic Director

Table Magazine: Melissa Cardello-Linton, a Pittsburgh native who spent the early part of her career working in live performance in New York, has been named the Artistic Director of the North Side theater. It’s a first for the institution; in the 20 years since the New Hazlett Theater became its own organization, it has never had an Artistic Director.

Trump Orders Warnings Placed at ‘Inaccurate’ Smithsonian History Museum

The New York Times: President Trump on Friday ordered warning signs and exhibits installed outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to alert the public that the museum does not, in his view, accurately reflect American history.

New Hazlett makes big changes amid thorny theatrical landscape

Pittsburgh City Paper | News, Dining, Music, Best Of, Arts, Film: In the wake of a rocky year for some of Pittsburgh’s largest theater companies, the New Hazlett Theater is staking its future on locally produced work. The North Side theater announced the appointment of Melissa Cardello-Linton as the company’s first-ever artistic director as well as the launch of a new program aimed at local, original show production.

Portland mayor supports PSU performing arts center, smaller Keller

Oregon ArtsWatch: The lengthy behind-closed-door deliberations about the future of the Keller Auditorium are finally about to go public, and likely spark even more conflict over whether to replace the downtown performing arts center with a new, city-owned venue at Portland State University.

Award-winning theatre to see at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026

www.whatsonstage.com: A whole host of performers will be arriving in Edinburgh next month as the Festival Fringe kicks off. Among them will be a variety of award winners and newcomers, all looking to show off their latest work to audiences. These are just some of the shows that have already received a stamp of approval.

Best AI Tools for Event Planning (2026)

www.asianefficiency.com: For curated, invite-only events, Luma builds the cleanest event pages and handles guest management end to end. For large public events where discovery matters, Eventbrite’s built-in audience and multiple ticket tiers do more work. Canva handles the visuals, ChatGPT does the planning and strategy, and Notion tracks every detail in between — a full stack that runs about $10/month beyond the tools you already pay for.

Deaf West Theatre to Host First-Ever New York City Gala

www.broadwayworld.com: Deaf West Theatre will present The 35th Anniversary Gala – One Night in New York on Monday, September 28 at Joe’s Pub, honoring Academy Award-winning actor Troy Kotsur, five-time Tony Award-winning producer Eva Price, and Tony Award-winning directors Bill Rauch & Zhailon Levingston.

Judge Extends Pause on Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger for Extra 14 Days

variety.com: Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin is scheduled to hold a hearing on Aug. 3 on a request for a preliminary injunction that would block the deal indefinitely. Paramount is asking for additional time to make its case against the injunction.

Blog: RAGTIME's Immigrant Heritage Night Was 'Fuel to Keep Engaging in the Fight'

www.broadwayworld.com: Just last month, the Vivian Beaumont Theatre hosted a special event in recognition of National Immigrant Heritage Month. On June 23, Lincoln Center Theater honored a remarkable group of visionary leaders for a special evening at Ragtime to celebrate the extraordinary ways immigrants have shaped – and continue to shape – the cultural, intellectual, and civic fabric of this country.

Bosch 12V Max Cordless Pocket Drill

Tested and Reviewed by Popular Mechanics: Bosch has an established reputation for making cordless drills that are small yet capable of handling their fair share of fasteners. (The brand also makes the miter saw we recommend for most people.) Such is the case with the Bosch 12V Max Two-Speed Pocket Drill/Driver, the brand’s most diminutive cordless drill. I spent several weeks testing this drill, using it to handle odd jobs around my house and running it through a series of driving and drilling trials.

‘SUFFS’ Tony-Nominated Director Leigh Silverman

onStage Pittsburgh: Two-time Tony nominee Leigh Silverman carved out time in her very busy schedule on the eve of SUFFS arrival in Pittsburgh Tuesday to talk about the touring musical, its significance, and the state of theater in the United States. Silverman should know.

Boundary Problems

The Theatre Times: For the second time in two years, a flashy, big-budget Romeo and Juliet has opened in New York that’s so bent on pleasing one particular target audience with shallowly conceived staging gimmicks that its storytelling is hopelessly muddled.

Oskar Eustis Is Stepping Down From the Public Theater

The New York Times: Oskar Eustis has been running theaters his entire adult life. He co-founded one, called Red Wing, when he was 17. He has led companies in Zurich (Das Labor), San Francisco (Eureka), Los Angeles (Mark Taper Forum), and Providence (Trinity Rep). And, for the last 21 years, he has been the artistic director of the Public Theater in New York, stewarding Free Shakespeare in the Park, nurturing “Hamilton” and becoming one of the most influential figures in the American theater.

Live Nation’s $2.4M California Wage Settlement Covers More Than 16,000 Workers

TicketNews: Live Nation Worldwide and HOB Entertainment have agreed to pay $2.4 million to resolve a proposed class action alleging the companies failed to properly compensate thousands of hourly and nonexempt employees in California.

RWS Global delivers new shows to Holland America Line’s Oosterdam

InPark Magazine: Four new shows are taking center stage on Holland America Line‘s Oosterdam, expanding the cruise line’s entertainment lineup with fresh productions and collaborations. The four original shows were created exclusively for Holland America Line in partnership with RWS Global. One of the debuts includes a new rock show created by RWS Global in collaboration with Rolling Stone: “Holland America Line and Rolling Stone Present, All Access: The Songs That Shaped Us.”

Building Theatrical Bridges in Queer and Trans Ohio

HowlRound Theatre Commons: On my commute to teach, amidst the soybean fields and crystalline ponds of Ohio I see a slew of political signs. “Trump save America” appears with a photo of the President surviving an assassination attempt. “Protect life” hovers on plywood in hand-painted red and blue letters. I drive from my queer suburb of Cleveland (rumored to have made it into Trivial Pursuit in the eighties as the United States city with the highest per capita rate of same-sex couples) to Oberlin College (one of the first racially integrated and gender inclusive institutions in the country).

The Moralists at the Stage Door

THEATRE & THE ART OF LIFE: Theatre today remains a frequent target of moralists—people who are quick to tell others how they should behave. At Out Front Theatre in Atlanta, for example, Paul Rudnick’s The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told—a comic, queer retelling of Genesis—was denounced in a petition bearing 40,000 signatures. On Broadway, meanwhile, the suffragist musical Suffs was interrupted mid-performance by protesters demanding that it be shut down for the alleged crime of recycling “white feminism.” Different pulpits, same sermon: Art, behave.

Compact Zevor screwdriver holds 24 bits for DIY

newatlas.com: We've seen a couple of nifty screwdrivers that have room to hold their own driver bits. Thanks to clever design, this new one packs a whopping 24 bits in a lightweight body that's way more compact than you'd expect.

E.U. Withdraws Venice Biennale Funding Over Russia’s Return

news.artnet.com: In a statement, the European Commission‘s spokesperson Thomas Regnier said that European taxpayers’ money should be used to support cultural events that “safeguard democratic values, foster open dialogue, diversity, and freedom of expression.” He added that those values “are not respected in today’s Russia.”

10X10X10 PLAY FESTIVAL to Return to Fells Point Corner Theatre for 10th Edition

www.broadwayworld.com: Fells Point Corner Theatre is celebrating the 10th edition of its annual 10x10x10 Play Festival, a showcase of original short plays that has helped launch works that later expanded into full-length plays and feature films.

The real life mermaids of Florida’s Weeki Wachee Springs

Huck: In the Newton Perry Underwater Theatre, a steel-drum cover of ​‘Under The Sea’ plays on repeat over tinny speakers. The crowd is the kind you only ever assemble in the offseason, on the cheap midweek slot, a glorious cross-section of the American interior: tattooed young fathers bouncing toddlers on their knee, both in matching Ariel shirts; rows of patient senior citizens with nowhere better to be; a troupe of glittered Disney adults who have clearly made a day of it.

In defence of the theatre preview

www.whatsonstage.com: There was a recurring refrain in the comments sections when we were covering the glitzy opening night at Jesus Christ Superstar earlier this month: “I saw that two weeks ago. How can it be opening tonight?”

Pocket screwdriver tool combines versatility and design

newatlas.com: Most repair tools for the DIYer are functional, but can be cumbersome to carry around. The T.Fix, however – a triangular pocket-sized tool on Kickstarter – is a balance of function, versatility and modern elegant design.

Paramount-Warner Bros Merger Temporarily Blocked—Bigger Losses Could Be Coming

www.forbes.com: A federal judge temporarily blocked Paramount Skydance’s planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery on Monday, saying states had raised “serious questions” about whether the deal violates antitrust law—a potentially costly early signal for Paramount, as the company faces billions of dollars in payments if the deal either continues getting delayed or ultimately falls through.

Whitney Cummings Donald Trump Sex Trafficking Joke Cut on Netflix

variety.com: Whitney Cummings performed a comedy set at Bill Maher’s Mark Twain Prize ceremony, which took place on June 28 at the Kennedy Center. But according to the comic, her closing joke won’t be seen in the Netflix broadcast of the event, which streams on July 21.

Does Broadway Have a Gen Z Problem?

www.broadwayworld.com: Gen Z is an odd group of people. They dominate online spaces, getting the majority of their news and information from social media (this is now true of most people, but it has always been true of Gen Z). They are also the most anti-AI generation by most accounts, in spite of being one of the most likely generations to willingly use it. They are one of the most anti-social generations, but they also put immense value on live events and experiences. So Broadway feels like a natural outlet for them.

Audio Engineers at Three Denver Music Venues Vote to Join IATSE Local 7

IATSE: Over a dozen Audio Engineers at three of Denver’s most prominent independent music venues have voted overwhelmingly to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 7. Workers at The Oriental Theater, The Federal Theatre, and HQ Denver each cast their ballots separately, delivering decisive majorities across all three venues.

The Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), formerly Loew’s State Theatre – Providence, Rhode Island

After the Final Curtain: PPAC sits on Weybosset Street in downtown Providence and first opened in 1928 as Loew’s State Theatre. Designed by Rapp & Rapp—basically the go-to architects for movie palaces in the ‘20s—it was built for the Loew’s Theatres chain at the height of the movie palace boom. It opened with Excess Baggage starring William Haines, but the real draw that night was the building itself.

Lights, Shoes and Moves: Behind-the-scenes of Civic Theatre's 'Grease'

WBOI - NPR News & Diverse Music in Northeast Indiana: The Fort Wayne Civic Theater is preparing for its opening weekend of ‘Grease’ and after weeks of preparation the stage is set and ready for the actors to do their part. But before the curtains could open on this iconic musical, months of work went into to building it from the ground up.

Ten of the most eye-catching Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows of 2026

www.whatsonstage.com: The annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe is almost upon us! With thousands of performers and audience members flocking to the Scottish capital, there are just as many shows on offer and it can be positively impossible to decide which ones to book to fill your day.

Who owns an AI generated song? What we can learn from the phonograph and the evolution of copyright laws

theconversation.com: Copyright is built on the idea that human creativity deserves protection. Legally, this is known as “originality”. The principle is simple: people create valuable cultural works and the law protects that effort. But artificial intelligence (AI) is challenging one of copyright law’s most basic assumptions. In doing so, it may force us to rethink what we mean by intellectual property.

Make it Shine! Make it Sparkle! A Step by Step Guide to Creating Your Own Textured Stained Glass

Guild of Scenic Artists: Stained glass is a significant part of architecture and design often used in churches, castles, and even homes. It’s also a very common Scenic technique, and one of my favorite elements of Scenic Art.

Suspended Rings Float in Kinetic Light Installation

mymodernmet.com: Spanish artist SpY has unveiled a mesmerizing new installation for the 2026 NUR International Media Art Festival in Kazan, Russia. Titled CYCLES N2, the large-scale work suspends 15 illuminated rings above a dramatic hall lined with glowing red ramps.

Nolan and Lucas Have VERY Different Stances About AI in Movies

Nerdist: Recently, two big-name directors have taken public stances on AI usage in the movies. Interviewers have asked both George Lucas and Christopher Nolan about AI and its place in movie-making recently, and they have very contrasting takes.

Longtime Vegas Fixture, "Marriage Can Be Murder" Closes at Rio

Vital Vegas: “Marriage Can Be Murder,” a dinner show that ran for an astonishing 27 years in Las Vegas, has closed at Rio. Taking its place is another long-in-the-tooth crowd-pleaser, “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding,” further proof original ideas have become as scarce as talent at a Gordie Brown show.

Don’t Try This at Home: How Performers Turn Stunts Into Movie Magic

The New York Times: There were stunts in films before there was talking. Long before Tom Cruise dangled from the wing of a plane, the silent film star Harold Lloyd originated an enduring Hollywood image, hanging from a clock face in “Safety Last!” (1923). Though the slapstick and sight gags of Lloyd and his peers Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin once shaped cinema, opportunities in the stunt industry, like many aspects of film production, are now changing because of technologies like CGI, A.I. and robots.

Quantum Theatre’s Karla Boos embarks on final voyage with The Tempest

Pittsburgh City Paper | News, Dining, Music, Best Of, Arts, Film: In the blazing July afternoon sun, Karla Boos perches on a set of wooden risers as a gaggle of actors assembles on the blue circular stage, the rust-covered exterior of Carrie Blast Furnaces looming behind her. It’s a fitting location for Boos’ final production as artistic director of Quantum Theatre, a stage at the end of a long, winding road, nestled against an unmistakable symbol of Pittsburgh’s industrial history.

Hatchette and Elsevier Sue Google for Using Their Work to Train AI

gizmodo.com: Major publishers Hachette Book Group, Cengage Learning, and Elsevier have filed a lawsuit against Google alleging that Google used their work to train its AI chatbot Gemini. Scott Turow, the author of crime thrillers like Presumed Innocent, has also joined the suit which is seeking class action status.

Google revamps image search for its 25th anniversary with more images and more AI

Ars Technica: Believe it or not, there was a time when searching the web for images was not possible. Twenty-five years ago, Google launched image search, and it’s celebrating by looking back at its biggest visual milestones and refreshing the experience for today’s searchers. The celebration also includes expanded AI because that’s just how Google rolls in 2026.

Don’t Repeat NY’s 3D Printing Blunder

Electronic Frontier Foundation: This year the state of New York had the dubious honor of being the first to pass a controversial provision to mandate all 3D printers come with surveillance and censorship. That means not only is there a ticking clock to protect every artist, researcher, engineer, and hobbyist in the state, but there is a real risk of other states thoughtlessly following suit—prior to the New York rules even taking effect.

If ‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball’ Can’t Stay Open on Broadway, What Can?

Out.com: Despite winning multiple Tony Awards and garnering a devoted following, the reimagined revival Cats: The Jellicle Ball will close its Broadway run on Saturday, August 8, per an announcement made across the show’s social media accounts on Monday evening.

Kinetic Theatre produces Pittsburgh premiere of David Mamet’s ‘Henry Johnson’

The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle: Andrew Paul is getting used to producing Jewish playwright David Mamet’s plays. Paul, producing artistic director of the Kinetic Theatre Company, previously staged four of Mamet’s plays and is now preparing to open a production of “Henry Johnson.”

Frankie Grande's Onstage Concussion: ‘Serving Face’ Has Workplace Risks

www.forbes.com: Frankie Grande, brother of singer/actress Ariana Grande, recently suffered a concussion after a prop ship wheel struck him in the face during a performance of Titaníque on July 2, 2026. In the show, a Broadway parody of the 1997 box office hit film “Titanic,” Grande plays both ship captain Victor Garber and plumber Luigi.

2026 Frikkin Lasers Challenge: Laser Bandsaw

Hackaday: Can you call it a bandsaw if it has neither band nor saw? [WeldingRod1] does, with his entry in the laser contest — a manually-controlled laser cutter that he’s dubbed a Laser Bandsaw. Some might quibble that it’s not actually sawing with the beam, and others will inevitably find the safety implications rather frightening.

Writers Guild of America Sues to Block Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger

www.hollywoodreporter.com: The labor union representing film and television writers filed a suit in U.S. district court for the northern district of California on Tuesday alleging that the deal breaks antitrust law and would harm wages and working conditions for writers by creating a single mega-buyer of film and television programming with outsized power.

Back to the Future reveals first look at flying car ahead of tour

www.whatsonstage.com: Ahead of the first-ever UK tour of Back to the Future The Musical, the show has, for the first time in its history, shown photos of its flying DeLorean. The production is based on the 1985 Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film Back to the Future, which starred Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown.

Oregon AG Wants Pause On Paramount Merger, Hints At Federal Corruption

Techdirt: I think I’ve extensively explained at this point why the $111 billion merger between Paramount/CBS and Warner Brothers is a gargantuan pile of shit that will indisputably harm labor, consumers, markets, creatives, and potentially even national security. It doesn’t matter the company names; every single major media merger of this type ends badly for everyone but the trust fund brunchlords at the top.

Amber Davies requests audience member filming Legally Blonde be removed from auditorium

www.whatsonstage.com: Davies said: “This is your daily reminder not to film at the theatre. Unfortunately tonight at the Bord Gáis, we’ve got a beautiful audience, but there’s just one woman in the front row being filming the entirety of act one. It’s had us all distracted. It’s ruined the morale of our wonderful eighth show on a Saturday night from selfish actions.”

Ravinia makeover features bigger stage, wider chairs, better acoustics — but fewer seats

WBEZ Chicago: Audiences who visit the Ravinia Festival this weekend for an opening concert featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, pop artist Lizzo and classical pianist Yunchan Lim will likely see and hear a few improvements.

Why the End of Your Tape Measure Is Loose

Family Handyman: Whether you’re a seasoned handyman or a DIY beginner, odds are you’ve noticed the hook at the end of your tape measure isn’t firmly attached. You might assume it’s because of a factory defect or that it has been worn down over time, but there’s actually a fascinating reason why most tape measures have a loose hook at the end.

Hershey (2026) Filming Locations: Where Was It Shot?

4filming.com: The first trailer for Hershey has arrived, and the Milton Hershey biopic is heading to theaters over Thanksgiving weekend 2026. Directed by Mark Waters — the filmmaker behind Mean Girls and Freaky Friday — and released by Angel Studios, the film stars Finn Wittrock as chocolate pioneer Milton S. Hershey and Alexandra Daddario as his wife, Catherine “Kitty” Hershey.

Iron Maiden FOH Engineer Ken "Pooch" Van Druten Expands His Waves Ecosystem

ProSoundWeb: Iron Maiden front of house engineer Ken “Pooch” Van Druten has utilized Waves SuperRack SoundGrid and plugins as a foundation of his touring workflow, and he recently expanded that ecosystem by adding Waves LiveBox, giving him the ability to run third-party VST3 plugins.

19 CMU Alumni Earn 28 Primetime Emmy Nominations

CMU Drama: The Primetime Emmy nominations were announced this week and Carnegie Mellon alumni once again made an impressive showing for their work across the television industry. This year’s nominees include 19 alumni spanning 11 categories for a total of 28 nominations.

New experimental Leatherman multitool sells out instantly

Sound & Video Contractor: Leatherman has introduced a brand-new multitool under its experimental Garage line that sold out almost immediately after becoming available. The Leatherman Adapter sells for $75, and interested parties can sign up to become notified when it returns to the storefront.

The cover letter is officially dead: AI has created a new job-hunting paradox

Fast Company: Welcome to the new and tricky world of applying for a job in the AI era. Yes, applicants can use LLMs to fill out applications and cast a far wider net. But AI has also made recruiters far more anxious about the authenticity of the people they’re evaluating and, in some cases, it is clogging up candidate pools. In a stagnant job market, it feels like a tech-fueled race to the bottom; it’s not clear anyone is really winning—at least right now.

14 Things To See Inside The Smithsonian

www.theroot.com: With 21 museums, the National Zoo, and millions of objects in its collections, the Smithsonian is far more than a tourist destination in Washington, D.C. It’s a living archive of American culture, creativity, and resilience. From iconic artifacts to groundbreaking exhibitions, these are just some of the reasons the Smithsonian remains one of the country’s greatest cultural institutions–and why its work continues to matter.

Universal Celestial Goodnight Debuts at Epic Universe

Inside Universal: Universal Orlando has officially debuted Universal Celestial Goodnight, the new nighttime spectacular that caps off each evening at Epic Universe. The new show, presented nightly at park close, features nearly 600 lighting fixtures, over 350 fountains, and seven million LED lights. These elements come together to celebrate each of Epic Universe’s worlds before culminating with a fireworks finale.

AI notetakers add another layer to virtual meeting etiquette

AP News: Launching an artificial intelligence tool to take notes and summarize important information from a virtual meeting can be alluring. Seconds after one of the agents attends an hour-long video conference, it can deliver a recap of key points and outline a to-do list for all the participants.

Karla Boos on Quantum Theater, Her Career and Retirement

pittsburgh-owlscribe.blogspot.com: Karla Boos, founder and Artistic Director of Quantum Theatre, will retire in December 2026 after programming the company’s 37th season. Her departure marks the end of an extraordinary era of creative leadership and bold experimentation, not just for Quantum Theatre, but for the city of Pittsburgh and the national stage.

Lewiston native is understudy for 5 roles in Maine State Music Theatre’s ‘1776’

www.sunjournal.com: At any moment Roger Philippon could suddenly be one of five people who played a critical role in the founding of our nation. That is, if someone gets sick. Philippon, 70, of Lewiston has committed to memory five roles as an understudy in the Maine State Music Theatre’s production of the Tony Award-winning musical “1776, ” now in Brunswick through Saturday, July 11.

Money Problems and Clashes With Staff: Inside Arena Stage Director’s Exit

NOTUS — News of the United States: Ahead of the December 2024 world premiere of “Death on the Nile,” an Agatha Christie adaptation by local playwright Ken Ludwig, Hana S. Sharif made a complicated request. Sharif, the artistic director of the prestigious Arena Stage in D.C., asked her staff to build an intricate revolving mechanism called a “turtle” that would transform a steamship deck into swanky staterooms, like a reptile shedding its shell.

Upon His Return To The Goodman, Nick Offerman Reflects On His Early Days In Chicago Theater

blockclubchicago.org: Offerman has deep roots in the Chicago area: He was born in Joliet, grew up in downstate Minooka and got his professional start on Chicago stages in the 1990s, performing with the long-gone Defiant Theatre, as well as with Steppenwolf, the Goodman and A Red Orchid Theatre.

Why The Best Player Alive Barely Runs

kottke.org: David Epstein, author of the recent Inside the Box (a book about the value of constraints), did a fascinating video on “anticipatory skill” and “chunking” and how players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (who can accurately head the ball even in the dark) use them to slow down a fast, complex game.

Academy Museum Sets 2026 Horror Exhibit with 'Carrie,' Slashers & More

www.indiewire.com: Starting September 26, the Museum’s fourth-floor Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Gallery will play host to rare props, production materials, and interactive displays, ranging from full costumes of horror’s most notorious slashers to an invention to surf the groundbreaking marketing website for the original “The Blair Witch Project”

Appeals Court Rejects Bid to Restore Trump Name to Kennedy Center

variety.com: President Donald Trump’s name will not be returning to the Kennedy Center anytime soon. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Wednesday ruled against the arts institution’s motion to stay a lower court’s decision that Trump’s name be removed from the Kennedy Center pending its appeal.

Wynn Al Marjan Island Announces Landmark Partnership With Punchdrunk, The Global Pioneers Of Immersive Theater

Live Design Online: Wynn Al Marjan Island today announced a landmark partnership with Punchdrunk, the internationally acclaimed immersive theater company behind some of the most influential and genre-defining productions of the past two decades, including the global phenomenon Sleep No More. The partnership marks Punchdrunk's first production in the MENA region and signals a bold new chapter for live entertainment in the Middle East.

Fxck you White American Theatre

by Nataki Garrett Myers: In March 2019, I was the subject of an NYtimes article, alongside five other colleagues, about the gates being flung open in the American theater. That article announced my appointment as artistic director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and it featured Stephanie Ybarra, Jacob Padron, Maria Goyanes, Robert Barry Fleming, me, and the best among us, Hana Sharif.

Cody Renard Richard Opens Doors for Future Theater Leaders

OutSmart Magazine: For Houston native Cody Renard Richard, a life in the theater was never part of the plan. “None of my family saw this coming. I don’t even think I saw this coming,” he reveals. “My entire family are cowboys and cowgirls. I was sort of birthed into the rodeo culture.”

Texas Covers Up Beloved "Black Artists Matter" Mural in Austin

hyperallergic.com: Officials in Austin destroyed a prominent street artwork displaying the message “Black Artists Matter” last week following an order from Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott.

Controversial Anne Frank Musical 'Slam Frank' Releases Soundtrack

www.rollingstone.com: When Slam Frank opened last September at the Asylum, a 150-seat off-Broadway performance space in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen district, it had no marketing budget and no marquee actors in its cast. What it did have was an out-there, provocative storyline — a progressive theater troupe presents Anne Frank as a pansexual Latina with a Black mother, a neurodivergent gay father, an ultra-orthodox Jewish sister, and a gender-fluid love interest as they hide from the Nazis — and a vibrant hip-hop-meets-pop songbook studded with Broadway Easter eggs.

Bose Professional Previews Upcoming Brand Change

Church Production Magazine: Bose Professional, is unveiling a preview of its new global brand identity, 802 Labs, and sharing plans for a phased transition beginning in February 2027. “During the transition, Bose Professional customers and partners can expect continuity across products, support, service, and business relationships.

Interview: 'You Literally Feel Like You're In The Movie!': Stephanie Costi on Reprising Her Role of Sandy in GREASE THE IMMERSIVE MOVIE MUSICAL

www.broadwayworld.com: Recently, we had the chance to chat with Stephanie Costi, who will be reprising her role of Sandy in Grease The Immersive Movie Musical. We discussed what originally brought her to the production, some of her favourite moments from last year and what she thinks makes immersive theatre such a special art form.

What Does Dance Patriotism Look Like Today?

Dance Magazine: At this turbulent political moment, as the nation commemorates its 250th anniversary, it’s a complicated time to be an artist in the U.S. The country’s dance organizations appear to be of multiple minds on how to observe the semiquincentennial. Some companies have thoughtfully programmed works that align with the anniversary. Other groups and artists have chosen to ignore the milestone—or to choreograph through it, making works that grapple with its complexities.

Interview: Director Trevor Barrette Previews THE RULES OF PLAYING RISK at Hudson Village Theatre

www.broadwayworld.com: Trevor Barrette is a prominent multi-hyphenate artist in the Montreal and off-island theatre community, moving fluidly between roles as a director, stage manager, educator, and playwright. Having interviewed Trevor multiple times over the course of his diverse career, I have watched him seamlessly transition from independent creator to a staple of the regional stage.

The drill bit sharpener that led to the legacy of William Sellers

www.thefabricator.com: One Friday a few months ago, when Jim Howe, my boss at Howe’s Welding and Metal Fabrication, asked me to drill 2 ¼-in. holes in some 1 ½ -in. plate (see Figure 1), I knew the task would be slow, requiring multiple bits and a lot of patience. I didn’t know, however, that I was about to fall down a drill-bit-sharpening rabbit hole.

Best Miter Saw for Woodworking, Contractors, and DIYers

www.protoolreviews.com: As one of the core woodworking and carpentry tools, our crew and I have had the privilege of testing dozens of the best miter saw models over more than 15 years. A lot has changed in that time, mostly for the better. If you’re looking to buy, lean on our experience to determine what rises above the rest and is worth your consideration.

The Problem Wasn't the Gear. It was Everything Around It.

Church Production Magazine: Sit on the left side of the room and all you heard was drums. Sit on the right and all you heard was piano. Land somewhere in between and you got both—competing, unblended, bouncing off 880,000 tons of concrete in a 1,600-seat horseshoe that, by any reasonable measure, wasn’t supposed to sound like this.

'Legally Blonde' & The Y2K Costumes That Made It: Stylist Interview

wwd.com/pop-culture: Stylist Jasmine Caccamo sees why the fashion from 2001’s “Legally Blonde” matters 25 years later. “‘Legally Blonde‘ was such a snapshot of the early 2000s because it embraced the era without apology,” said Caccamo, who’s worked with Olympic gold medalist Alex Morgan.

Clear-Com connects Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune teams

AV Magazine: When US TV game shows Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! needed to upgrade their wireless communications, they turned to Clear-Com’s FreeSpeak system. Chris Savage, technical manager and project lead for both shows, oversaw the system design and installation. “Both shows share a control room but have stages that are effectively miles apart due to walls, pathways, and even parking lots,” he says.

Racist comments roiled this student production of 1776 - and strengthened actors' resolve, they say

www.inquirer.com: Seventy-five Philadelphia students thought the stakes were high when they debuted 1776: The Musical in front of a crowd that included former President Joe Biden, former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker at Philadelphia’s High School for Creative and Performing Arts last week.

The Fascinating Backstory to LA CAGE AUX FOLLES’ Creation — and Why ‘Lawsuits Ensued’

www.broadwayworld.com: In the new book A Very Unusual Way: Maury Yeston and His Singular Path to Broadway and Beyond (released Wednesday, July 1), author Joshua Rosenblum recounts how Jean Poiret’s French play La Cage aux Folles — which was adapted into the 1978 film of the same name — was originally going to be developed for the stage by a different creative team.

Best Practices for Protest Sound

SoundGirls.org: Why Sound matters and should not be an afterthought. It helps people hear important information clearly, keeps crowds connected and engaged, supports accessibility, and allows speakers, performers, organizers, and communities to communicate effectively in difficult environments. Poor sound, on the other hand, can create confusion, fatigue, safety issues, and frustration.

Review Roundup: DELIRIUM World Premiere at Boston's Calderwood Pavilion

www.broadwayworld.com: Review Roundup: DELIRIUM World Premiere at Boston's Calderwood Pavilion NEW! Boston Theatre Newsletter Get all the top news & discounts for Boston & beyond. Arlekin has returned to Boston with DELIRIUM, a new adaptation of Eugène Ionesco's Frenzy for Two, adapted and directed by Igor Golyak. Running through July 2, 2026 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA for a strictly limited engagement, Delirium brings together two of the most celebrated international stars Andrey Burkovskiy and Chulpan Khamatova — in a darkly comic, deeply human piece about survival, love, and the fragile architecture of reality.

Getting Active: Amplifying Communities

SoundGirls.org: Community organizers have plenty to juggle when a public rally, street demonstration, or community concert. Volunteers don’t always have the technical experience to set up a PA or wireless mic system. Budgets are often tight or non-existent, and equipment must be cobbled together at the last minute in reaction to recent events. In these situations, audio technicians can offer invaluable advice and create meaningful impact.

Mayor Mamdani's 2027 Budget Includes $323M Funding for NYC Culture

www.broadwayworld.com: Earlier this week NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, City Council Speaker Julie Menin, Council Finance Chair Linda Lee, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget Sherif Soliman and members of the City Council reached agreement on a balanced $125.8 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget.

Adirondack Studios boosts Middle East presence and personnel

InPark Magazine: Adirondack Studios (ADKS), provider of scenic design, fabrication and project management to some of the world’s most iconic destinations, announced the promotion of three senior members of its Dubai team, as well as the creation of registered entities in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

$300 million National Geographic Museum of Exploration opens in D.C.

Sound & Video Contractor: Last Friday saw the grand opening of the National Geographic Museum of Exploration, or MOE, in Washington, D.C. The $300 million project spans 100,000 square feet, and invites visitors to be engaged in 138 years of human exploration. Built on the site of the previous National Geographic Museum, the new museum opened after four years of construction expand the site from 16,800 square feet to its current, larger scale.

Hang It Wherever You Need It: Discover the TAF TC Truss Systems

LightSoundJournal.com: When you need to precisely position suspension points, LED screens, and lighting accessories, TAF TC systems offer the ultimate freedom to place loads exactly where your structure demands. The integrated C-profile for suspension makes installation faster, neater, and highly versatile, seamlessly adapting to compact 290 mm, robust 400 mm, and heavy-duty 520 mm configurations.

Building 'The Stuff' That Dreams Are Made Of- How a Prop Shop Creates Broadway’s Most Magical Items

www.broadwayworld.com: A week before their Tony performance, the candelabra that Amber Gray holds during the Rocky Horror set sat on a counter in Brooklyn for repair. You’ve seen the shimmering pink vial in the hands of Megan Hilty and plastered across Playbills and pole banners in the theater district, or maybe you’ve seen the light-up “Handbook For The Recently Deceased” on the Beetlejuice tour in Sarasota, Florida. Wherever they are now, those props were born in a small, unassuming workshop on the intersection of Meeker Ave. and Apollo Street.

How Ukrainian Playwrights Are Defending Culture

HowlRound Theatre Commons: When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, it claimed that Ukraine had no language and no culture. This isn't just a military assault; it is an assault on Ukrainian identity and culture itself. Playwright and screenwriter Laura Cahill was teaching screenwriting to teenagers in Ukraine when the full-scale invasion began in 2022, at which point she founded Young Playwrights Ukraine.

How Flyspace Built a Decade of Growth on a Stageline Foundation

stageline.com: Since 2012, Flyspace has grown from a fledgling event management company into a regional powerhouse, now operating an impressive fleet of 17 Stageline mobile units.

2026 Show Control Geekout Wrapup—Special Meow Wolf Omega Mart Edition!

John Huntington: On June 16, 2026 Jim Janninck and I coordinated this year’s (mostly) annual show control Geekout. This was the 15th edition (past writeups here), and this one was special. Joseph White, Show Systems Leader at Meow Wolf, reached out last year, offering to host this year’s Geekout in our traditional multiple case study session format at their Omega Mart location at Area 15 in Las Vegas.

PennWest University cutting more than 40 majors and minors in academic redesign

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania Western University is moving forward with its plan to cut 43 academic majors and minors while adding dozens of new workforce-focused certificates and credentials.

Google's new Nano Banana 2 Lite image model is its fastest and cheapest yet

Ars Technica: There are plenty of AI image-generation models these days, but the ones capable of quality outputs tend to be slow and expensive. Google DeepMind says its new image model, known as Nano Banana 2 Lite, offers the best balance of quality and speed. It’s available today across the Google ecosystem, creating images in a fraction of the time it takes Google’s beefier models.

Broadway Cleaners Union Votes to Authorize a Strike; Negotiations for New Contract Underway

www.broadwayworld.com: On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, more than 250 cleaners voted to authorize a strike that would impact 30 theaters showing Tony award-winning productions like Schmigadoon, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Wicked, and The Lion King. This marks the first time Broadway cleaners have authorized a strike in nearly two decades.

The Sound of the Giant: Modeling Stadium Acoustics at Estadio Azteca

Digital Engineering 24/7: Five matches of this year's FIFA World Cup® are set to be held in Mexico City's iconic Estadio Azteca, officially known as "Banorte Stadium" and temporarily renamed "Mexico City Stadium" by FIFA® for its 2026 tournament. Together with Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã Stadium, Estadio Azteca is one of only two stadiums to have hosted two FIFA World Cup finals.

PROLIGHTS HaluPix Duo Powers Sombr at Coachella 2026

Lighting&Sound America Online - News: The 2026 edition of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival once again set the standard for large-scale festival production. On the Outdoor Theatre stage, alt-rock artist Sombr delivered a visually striking show, with a wall of 114 PROLIGHTS HaluPix Duo defining the stage design.

Springboard To Design Announces Additional Tony Award-Winning Guest Artists For The 2026 Cohort

Live Design Online: Springboard to Design (SB2D), the tuition-free theatre design program for students from underrepresented communities, today announced additional Tony Award-winning guest artists joining its 2026 roster, alongside the opening of applications for three upcoming programs.

World Cup fans wowed by American stadium LED displays

AV Magazine: International fans have been stunned by the scale and digital technology of World Cup stadiums in the USA, with giant LED screens foremost among the objects of their awe.

Creative sector is Chicago’s third-largest industry, says new study

WBEZ Chicago: The creative sector is Chicago’s third-largest industry and accounts for nearly 213,000 jobs, according to a new economic impact study released Thursday by Arts Alliance Illinois, a statewide advocacy organization.

Syracuse Drops 84 Majors Including Classics, Ceramics and Italian

The New York Times: Syracuse University is closing or halting enrollment in about 20 percent of its academic programs, in a move that the school’s provost said was designed to create a university that would be “more focused, more distinctive and more aligned with student demand.”

Washington Theater Leader Is Out on Opening Night of TLC Musical

The New York Times: Arena Stage, a Washington-based nonprofit theater that is one of the nation’s leading regional institutions, has abruptly parted ways with its artistic director, who submitted a resignation email on Friday, hours before the opening night festivities for a new musical about the ’90s girl group TLC.

Interview: Houses on the Moon Celebrates 25 Years of Amplifying Urgent Stories

www.broadwayworld.com: When Houses on the Moon Theater Company was founded 25 years ago, the company set out with a simple mission, which was to tell deeply human stories that too often go unheard. A quarter century later, that mission has never wavered.

Review Roundup: SINATRA THE MUSICAL at the Aldwych Theatre

www.broadwayworld.com: Sinatra The Musical is now officially open at the Aldwych Theatre in London. The production stars Joel Harper-Jackson as Frank Sinatra, Ana Villafañe as the movie goddess Ava Gardner, Phoebe Panaretos as Frank’s first wife, Nancy Sinatra and the Olivier Award-winning Jenna Russell as Frank’s mother, Dolly Sinatra.

REVIEW: Ottawa Fringe delivers geese, gloves, potholes, and more

Intermission Magazine: The annual event’s 29th edition features 62 shows, selected by a lottery system, including pieces in both English and French. I had the chance to catch several of this year’s English-language shows in the Arts Court complex, containing seven of the festival’s 10 venues. This slate of offerings from both local and visiting artists provided a diversity of theatrical experiences, guided by my own pursuit of shows with a metatheatrical bent.

Best New Tools for Summer 2026

Pro Tool Reviews: There are tons of new tools released each quarter—so many that it can be hard to keep track of everything. If you’re after the latest tool announcements from your favorite brands, you’ve come to the right place! We’re staying on top of the BEST new tools, so you have one place to check to see the latest and greatest.

Planning propels your show experience

Woodworking Network: You’ve never been to the International Woodworking Fair (IWF) in Atlanta before. What should you expect? What do you need to know? Or even if you are a veteran attendee, how should you ensure you get the best show experience? Attending IWF can be a powerful experience that changes the trajectory of your business or it can be an expensive, overwhelming waste of time. The difference is planning.

NOW PLAYING: The Black Mirror Experience

www.noproscenium.com: Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror has been delivering dystopic bangers season after season since 2011, giving us glimpses into dark near futures that distressingly seem to keep coming true. The show has become the first real heir of Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone with an anthology format that allow Brooker and his writer’s imaginations to run wild while aiming for the tightest storytelling possible. Which has led to some real television classics.

How We Got Here, and What Comes Next: Unifying Pittsburgh Public Theater and Pittsburgh CLO

onstagepittsburgh.com: When their marriage becomes legal sometime this summer, only then will the new name and details of the Pittsburgh Public Theater and Pittsburgh CLO unification be fully revealed. Until that time, they are in the engagement period of a process that will culminate in the region’s two largest professional theater companies merging into one.

How installation art can make plastic waste more tangible

theconversation.com: Science tells us that plastic lives forever. From oceans to urban streets, plastic pollution has become a defining geological marker of our time – entangled with nature, yet often hard to see.

YouTube AI Training Argument Raises Indie Music Community Concerns

www.billboard.com: YouTube has long been one of the most accessible ways for independent artists to get their music out into the world: Anyone can create an account and post content on the site with just a few clicks. But what many artists likely didn’t realize when they clicked “agree” to the platform’s terms of service is that YouTube, and its parent company Google, would later claim the agreement justifies training artificial intelligence models on their music.