NFTRW Weekly Top Five

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

Student Blog: How to Balance Doing Everything Without Burning Out

BroadwayWorld: We are officially 9 weeks into the fall semester, and I am burnt out. So I thought it would be a good time to look back on how I got here. Coming back to school was great, and I was so ready to get started. I had a million things I wanted to accomplish this semester. I did really well accomplishing those same things over the summer, so why would this fall be any different?

Student Blog: Lifelong Lessons Learned from Theatre

BroadwayWorld: I’ve been acting in the theatre industry since I was four, and I've had the opportunity to perform in productions ranging from school to professional and regional work across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. From a very young age, I learned crucial skills that will stick with me forever and have little to do with talent, acting, singing, or dancing ability.

Broadway’s ‘School Girls’ will be available for streaming during final week of performances

www.broadwaynews.com: Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) and the League of Live Stream Theater (LOLST) will stream a live capture of Broadway’s “School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play” during its final week of performances. “School Girls” is currently playing at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, where its limited run began previews on Sept. 8 and opened on Sept. 28.

DEI Law Prompts School to Cancel 'Little Shop of Horrors'

www.mediaite.com: A suburban Dallas school district claimed a state law that references “social transitioning” prompted it to cancel a high school production of Little Shop of Horrors after a female student was cast in the role of Seymour, the nerdy flower shop assistant at the center of the tale.

More than half of theatre workers taking jobs outside of sector to survive – survey

www.thestage.co.uk: More than 50% of respondents to an Equity survey have had to take work outside of the sector to survive, with only a quarter thinking they will be working in the industry in three years’ time. The findings are part of a survey of more than 2,100 Equity members, with general secretary Paul W Fleming saying the results highlight “a precarious workforce”.

 

“The Wave,” Fascism Cautionary Drama, Restored at OCVTS in New Jersey

hesherman1.substack.com: School Violence Awareness Week at Ocean County Vocational and Technical School’s Grunin Performing Arts Academy in New Jersey will come and go this month without one of its tentpole events, performances by students of The Wave (aka The Third Wave), a play designed to show how easily societies – and high schoolers – can fall under the sway of Fascist ideologies.

Presidential Crowd Work in ‘FDR’s Very Happy Hour’

AMERICAN THEATRE: Almost alone among American presidents, our 32nd, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is still remembered not for a single incident or tic but for a cluster of iconic landmarks and attributes: the New Deal and World War II, the ivory cigarette holder and pince-nez glasses, fireside chats in an arch mid-Atlantic accent, the wheelchair.

Student Blog: Lifelong Lessons Learned from Theatre

BroadwayWorld: I’ve been acting in the theatre industry since I was four, and I've had the opportunity to perform in productions ranging from school to professional and regional work across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. From a very young age, I learned crucial skills that will stick with me forever and have little to do with talent, acting, singing, or dancing ability.

Stream The Stage Managers’ Association 2026 Del Hughes Awards

Live Design Online: On Monday October 26th, 2026, the Stage Managers’ Association (SMA) will present its annual Del Hughes Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Art of Stage Management at the National Opera Center’s Marc A. Scorca Hall in NYC. The event will also be live streamed: register for free virtual tickets here: Del Hughes Award live stream.

What Walt Disney Taught Tim Downey About Building Communities

Builder Magazine: Walt Disney might not be the most obvious influence for a real estate developer. For Southern Land Co. founder and CEO Tim Downey, however, Disney’s obsession with the details that shape an experience has provided a blueprint for four decades of business.

AV Sustainability Summit urges education and collaboration

AV Magazine: Marjolein Koens-Schaddelee presented the keynote Designing AV for a Net Zero Future. The MD of AVEX made an analogy between sustainable practices and owning your first home; they both involve a sense of freedom with responsibility. She made the point that the AV industry needs to adopt a system approach rather than focus on individual behaviours and told summit attendees that it’s OK to fail, and that we can pick ourselves up and try something else.

Sound artist May Wilcher on finding community at Open Improv Lab

90.5 WESA: Sound artist May Wilcher was a self-described “homebody” before she started attending Pittsburgh Sound Preserve’s Open Improvisation Lab. “I’ve just been interested in weird stuff for a long time.” Wilcher said. “If you are at the margins, you won’t feel so welcome in, like, a standard musical environment.” Open Improv Lab is an every-other-Monday night gathering at Bantha Tea Bar in Garfield, where — as Wilcher puts it — “there are almost no rules.”

More than half of theatre workers taking jobs outside of sector to survive – survey

www.thestage.co.uk: More than 50% of respondents to an Equity survey have had to take work outside of the sector to survive, with only a quarter thinking they will be working in the industry in three years’ time. The findings are part of a survey of more than 2,100 Equity members, with general secretary Paul W Fleming saying the results highlight “a precarious workforce”.

Mae Jemison, Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson Will Co-Produce Broadway's Galileo Musical

Playbill: Former NASA astronaut and the first woman of color in space, Dr. Mae Jemison; scientist, educator, and television host Bill Nye; and astrophysicist, author, and Hayden Planetarium Director Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson will be co-producers of the forthcoming new Broadway musical Galileo, scheduled to begin previews November 10 at the Shubert Theatre prior to an official opening December 6.

Broadway’s ‘School Girls’ will be available for streaming during final week of performances

www.broadwaynews.com: Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) and the League of Live Stream Theater (LOLST) will stream a live capture of Broadway’s “School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play” during its final week of performances. “School Girls” is currently playing at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, where its limited run began previews on Sept. 8 and opened on Sept. 28.

She Kills Monsters May Be Seen at Copley High in Ohio

hesherman1.substack.com: After more than a month of turmoil following the announcement that Copley High School in Ohio’s fall show, Qui Nguyen’s She Kills Monsters, would be canceled, despite rehearsals already being underway, it’s now likely that show will be seen on the high school’s stage – although the high school won’t take responsibility for it.

Visualization: from creative vision to buildable reality

blooloop: They say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” The world of themed entertainment is no exception. Visualization, the process of translating words and abstract concepts into something that can be seen, explored and evaluated, is one of the most crucial tools in experience design.

Poor Theatre in a Rich Town

HowlRound Theatre Commons: My mom worked at Wal-Mart for fifteen years as a cashier. During this time, she experienced unsafe work environments, unpredictable scheduling, unreliable hours, and, of course, low pay. She was making $11.25 an hour when she retired in 2021. Growing up, my dad’s white-collar job kept us financially stable, but I was always aware of the financial reality my mom’s job represented for many other people.

Student Blog: How to Balance Doing Everything Without Burning Out

BroadwayWorld: We are officially 9 weeks into the fall semester, and I am burnt out. So I thought it would be a good time to look back on how I got here. Coming back to school was great, and I was so ready to get started. I had a million things I wanted to accomplish this semester. I did really well accomplishing those same things over the summer, so why would this fall be any different?

B.C. union launches petition seeking film tax-credit change

Vancouver Sun: A petition backed by B.C.’s International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 891 union is calling on Ottawa to change how the production services tax credit is calculated. Article content The move, the union says, would make B.C. and Canada more competitive for film and TV production.

From Magnetic Tapes to Intelligent Digital Archives

TV Tech: There was a time when preserving an audiovisual recording meant protecting a physical object. Film reels, magnetic audio tapes, U-matic, Betacam, VHS, Digital Betacam and other professional formats demanded careful handling, controlled environments and, above all, working playback machines.

Real World Gear: The Latest Subwoofers

ProSoundWeb: Initially developed to extend low-frequency response in the 1960s, subwoofers have grown to become the most ubiquitous specialty enclosure. For years, dedicated subs accompanied modular full-range loudspeakers with predictable tops-to-subs deployment ratios, depending on the type or style of music: two-to-one for pop music, one-to-one for rock and one-to-two for reggae and rap. This was as complicated as subwoofer math initially got.

DEI Law Prompts School to Cancel 'Little Shop of Horrors'

www.mediaite.com: A suburban Dallas school district claimed a state law that references “social transitioning” prompted it to cancel a high school production of Little Shop of Horrors after a female student was cast in the role of Seymour, the nerdy flower shop assistant at the center of the tale.

ANNIE to Offer Sensory-Friendly Performance at Goodspeed

BroadwayWorld: To make live theatre accessible to all, Goodspeed Musicals will be offering a special Sensory-Friendly Performance for the 50th Anniversary production of Annie on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 6:30 p.m. The Tony-winning musical made its pre-Broadway premiere at The Goodspeed in 1976 and now makes its triumphant return to The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn.

Sparks Audio Launches New ClipMap For Pro Tools Workflows

ProSoundWeb: The macOS and Windows application reads .ptx files directly, allowing users to access session content without Pro Tools installed. ClipMap can open multiple sessions in browser-style tabs, enabling engineers, mixers and editors to compare mixes, locate alternate takes and retrieve sound effects or other material without repeatedly switching between projects.

Jimmy Awards set 2027 date

www.broadwaynews.com: The Broadway League Foundation has announced the date and venue for the 18th annual Jimmy Awards, which celebrate the achievements of high school musical theater students across the country. The ceremony will take place on June 21, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre.

Los Angeles Film and TV Shoot Days Keep Plunging As Officials Scramble

www.hollywoodreporter.com: L.A. saw a nearly 5 percent drop in shoot days from June to September compared to the same period last year and an 11 percent drop compared to the previous quarter, according to the latest report from permitting office FilmLA issued on Wednesday. The total is 36 percent below the five-year average, highlighting the fierce competition between states and other countries to host Hollywood.

How Netflix's 'East of Eden' Dressed Good and Evil, According to the Costume Designer

www.esquire.com: “There’s more beauty in the truth, even if it is dreadful beauty,” John Steinbeck writes in his sprawling California epic East of Eden. It’s an idea that runs through the biblically inspired 1952 novel: what lies beneath the surface will, eventually, find a way out.

How many shots are in the average movie today?

stephenfollows.com: Last night I had the absolute pleasure of watching American Graffiti (1973) at the ActOne Cinema in Acton, and then listening to Mark Kermode quiz Walter Murch about how he built its sound. Murch edited Apocalypse Now and The English Patient, and he wrote In the Blink of an Eye, which is probably the best book there is on film editing.

Immersive Displays: ClearLED Powers 360° Research Environment In Bristol

invidis: The University of Bristol’s Digital Futures Institute (BDFI) has installed a custom 360-degree LED display as part of its Reality Emulator, an immersive research environment designed to visualize complex datasets, simulations and virtual worlds.

What Is Non-Literal Casting, and When Is It Okay?

AMERICAN THEATRE: A central idea we’ve found ourselves contemplating at Cherry is that of authenticity. Alongside the three pillars—diversity, equity, and inclusion—that organizations throughout our society are working (with varying degrees of real commitment) to adopt, the casting world often adds “authenticity” as a fourth. (The website of the U.S.’s most significant casting service leads with “Breakdown Services champions authenticity and diversity in casting.”)

'Verity' Costume Designer on Dakota Johnson & Anne Hathaway Looks

Marie Claire: Verity, the Amazon MGM Studios adaptation of Colleen Hoover's popular psychological thriller, became a fashion film the moment that Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson joined the cast as Verity and Lowen, respectively. Costume designer Jacqueline Demeterio used that to her advantage.

Three Dramatic Writing Alumni with Pittsburgh Productions

CMU Drama: This season, three alumni of the School of Drama’s Dramatic Writing program are returning to Pittsburgh with productions at three different professional theater companies, bringing their distinctive voices, creative vision, and years of professional experience back to the city where their journeys began.

When Will Women of Color in Leadership Be Enough for the Theater Community?

kaylakimvotapek.substack.com: It has officially been one year since I stepped into my first-ever role as an Executive Director of a national organization. A position that so many producers and arts manager spent their entire careers dreaming about becoming. I know, because I was one of them.

Before Wicker the Movie, Did You Know There Was a Wicker Husband Musical?

Playbill: Wicker the movie—starring Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, and Peter Dinklage—is out October 23 and already, early reviews are calling it "the horniest, most tender film of the year." We at Playbill know all about falling in love with a man made of straw—we do support the ending of the Wicked musical after all.

Feature: EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT Brings San Francisco's Fillmore District to Life at SFBATCO

BroadwayWorld: San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (SFBATCO) is celebrating the rich cultural history of the city's Fillmore District with the world premiere of Every Saturday Night (A Harlem of the West Musical).

Should Workers Get to Bargain on AI?

Asian Pacific Post: There’s an argument playing out at bargaining tables across the province. Crystal Braunwarth, co-chair of the BC Federation of Labour’s AI committee, says unions across British Columbia are hearing workers voice their concerns about artificial intelligence entering the workplace.

Festival at UT Austin to Honor Terrence McNally’s New-Play Legacy

AMERICAN THEATRE: The Terrence McNally Foundation, in partnership with Texas Performing Arts, the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin, and Rattlestick Theater, has announced the Terrence McNally Festival, a pop-up festival that will run Jan. 29-31, 2027, in Austin. The three-day festival will bring together distinguished theatre artists, emerging playwrights, and leading scholars for a weekend of performances, new play readings, and academic exploration.

Primary Stages Adds Four Members to Board of Directors

BroadwayWorld: Dianne Denommee, Greco Song, Stephen Taft, and Florence Zhang will join the Primary Stages Board of Directors. The Board represents a passionate group of theater-lovers committed to advancing Primary Stages' mission "to inspire, support, produce, and share the art of playwriting."

Disney Believe to offer Encanto musical, Frozen dining venue

blooloop: Disney Cruise Line's new ship, the Disney Believe, will feature the world's first Encanto musical, a new Frozen-themed dining venue, and a Zootopia entertainment hub. Disney has revealed the attractions and experiences aboard the Disney Believe, also announcing that the ship will set sail on 18 December from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Getty Images to File for Bankruptcy, Go Private in Restructuring Deal

www.hollywoodreporter.com: After abandoning a $3.7 billion merger with rival Shutterstock in late June over a regulatory roadblock, Getty Images now plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and go private in partnership with Charles Koch’s investment firm.

Experience the Hilarity of The Bed Trick at Pittsburgh Playhouse

onstagepittsburgh.com: Pittsburgh Playhouse’s production of The Bed Trick delivered an entertaining night of modern comedy while loosely following a Shakespeare classic. Written by Keiko Green,the play follows college roommates Harriet (Amalea Krill), Marianne (Quinn Starrett), and Lulu (Chloe Sohngen) as they navigate friendship, relationships, and the recent divorce of Marianne’s parents.

With Call Of Duty Release Near And No Union Contract In Sight, Activision Workers Authorize Strike

aftermath.site: Following the 2024 completion of Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard purchase, Jordan Kunze, a now-former Activision union steward and QA employee of several years, spent “well over a year” fighting to obtain a remote work accommodation due to a documented medical condition.

AI Agent Blamed for Deleting New Season of Swedish Reality-TV Show

www.rollingstone.com: Talk about meeting The Challenge — the latest challenge to the Swedish version of the popular reality-TV show has met its match by way of an apparent AI agent, which is being blamed for deleting its entire new season.

The Artisans Who Made Sure 'The Odyssey' Sailed Smoothly

variety.com: Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick, production designer Ruth De Jong and editor Jennifer Lame are part of the team that helped bring Christopher Nolan’s sprawling adaptation of “The Odyssey” to the big screen. These talented trio will be honored with the Variety Creative Collaborators Award at the Middleburg Film Festival on Oct. 16.

Head Downtown for Halloween Fun, Photo Ops, and Vendors at the Pittsburgh Playhouse’s Fall Fest

Table Magazine: There is an annual, family-friendly fall fest that can be found in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh right outside the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Roads close and the day-to-day rhythm of the city stops in favor of all-ages crafts and activities, costumes and games — culminating in a delightful performance meant to entertain young and old alike.

What Is It to Act? On Acting and Activism

HowlRound Theatre Commons: A woman from the audience suddenly climbs onto the stage and begins to scream. The actors know it is not part of the show. This incident took place near the end of a February 2026 performance of Rage at Dramaten, the Royal Dramatic Theatre, Sweden’s national stage.

Variety Celebrates 10 Artisans to Watch 2026

variety.com: In 2026, moviegoers came back to cinemas, packing theaters to see blockbusters like “The Odyssey,” “Project Hail Mary,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” “Toy Story 5,” “Michael” and “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” and low-budget films like “Backrooms” and “Obsession.” But all those movies needed skilled artisans to complete the directors’ visions, including those on Variety’s 10 Artisans to Watch list.

Guinness World Record set for most drones flown in a week

AV Magazine: US drone show company Sky Elements has set two Guinness World Records titles during seven large-scale drone shows over three consecutive nights in Blue Ridge, Texas. Together with Damoda America, the company launched 71,207 drones in one week, the most ever recorded, including an 11,000-drone performance, the largest drone show ever flown in America.

La MaMa and Spiderwoman Theater Present Global Indigenous Theatre Festival

AMERICAN THEATRE: La MaMa, in association with Spiderwoman Theater, has announced the Global Indigenous Theatre Festival, a nine-day festival produced in collaboration with Loose Change Productions. It will bring artists from all over the world to New York to celebrate Spiderwoman Theater’s 50th anniversary and to honor the transformative excellence of Indigenous cultures. It showcases a range of Indigenous artists from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Minneapolis. It runs Oct. 30-Nov. 7, 2026 at La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theatre and Downstairs Theatre. Tickets are now on sale online.