The Fine Mismating of a Him and Her

NYTimes.com: "“A heap of ordure,” wrote one journalist in Strindberg’s native Sweden of “Miss Julie,” which was understandably slow to find theatrical producers. Another reviewer described it as “a filthy bundle of rags which one hardly wishes to touch even with tongs.” Exciting, huh? When critics spewed like that, you knew that something serious was going on."

'SOUTH PACIFIC' Tour to Feature 30 Piece Orchestra

Broadway World: "Variety reports this weekend the answer to an often asked question - how big will the orchestra be for the upcoming tour of South Pacific? The answer...the full 30 pieces. Producer Bob Boyett explains how: 'Most of these cities have really great orchestras, and everybody knows this stuff -- they've all played Rodgers & Hammerstein all their lives,' says Boyett. 'So we travel with about 12 and the rest are local musicians.'"

Apple Tree Theatre falls

The Theater Loop: "After 26 years of productions on Chicago's North Shore and 40 years of educational programs, Apple Tree Theatre's board of directors plans to release a note Monday saying the theater is going out of business, effective immediately.
In the note, Apple Tree says its doors will close, with the entire 2009-10 season canceled."

Heartland auds flock to familiar shows

Variety: "If the stereotype of a road-only show is some non-union, not-for-New-York revival of a creaking Rodgers & Hammerstein tuner, consider the pedigree of '101 Dalmatians,' the new touring attraction from Magic Arts & Entertainment, Troika Entertainment and Luis Alvarez."

Cirque de Soleil rethinks the franchise

Variety: "Anyone who thinks they know the kind of people who attend a Cirque du Soleil show -- old enough to be affluent, arty enough to embrace risk, highly influenced by critics and artistic tastemakers -- should spend time in line at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. 'Criss Angel: Believe' is a different kind of Cirque show for a different kind of crowd."

Road shows cuts costs, keep pizzazz

Variety: "Make it cheaper, just don't make it smaller.
Touring Broadway productions have thrived in an economic landscape ravaged by falling stock prices and collapsing banks, but with capitalization funds harder to come by, producers are finding more and more innovative ways to keep costs down and attract newly reticent consumers."

Las Vegas gets back to showbiz basics

Variety: "Just a couple of years ago, top-end Strip resorts in Las Vegas, like the Wynn Hotel and the Bellagio, were commanding room rates of $300 or more, especially on weekends. But as any Vegas lover with an e-mail address now knows, those rates have come down."

The Week in Tools: Toolmonger Top 5

Toolmonger: "It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger. If you’ve been spending time in the shop — you should! — and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select"

SDCF Masters of the Stage - Harold Prince - January, 2002

American Theatre Wing: "In 2002, theatre icon Harold Prince gave the opening remarks to a packed house of esteemed theatre artists, professional directors and choreographers, and aspiring early-career post graduates at SDCF's annual Directing Symposium. The focus of Mr. Prince's address, as well as the focus of the weekend's series of panel discussions and lectures, was 'Creating the American Musical'."

Black Ensemble Theatre to present world premiere: “The Message Is in the Music”

Chicago Theater Blog: "The Black Ensemble Theater opens its Five Play Season of Excellence Dedicated to the Music with the World Premiere production of The Message Is In The Music (God Is A Black Man Named Ricky). Produced, written, and directed by Black Ensemble founder and executive director Jackie Taylor, The Message.. is a fanciful, song-filled production featuring selections by superstars ranging from Curtis Mayfield to Stevie Wonder; The Isley Brothers to The Temptations; The Beatles to Paul Simon, just to name a few. Scheduled for an open run, preview performances will begin October 3, with opening night being Sunday, October 18th. More info here."

THE LOW BID ENVIRONMENT: Is determining best value realistic?

Behind the Scenes at Taylor Studios: "How much is a dollar worth? Seems like a straightforward question at first glance doesn’t it?
Given the times, we’re all looking to stretch our pennies just a bit further. Everyone wants the best value for their dollar. Understandably, people seem to want the most ’stuff’ for the lowest price. Unfortunately, the concept of value sometimes gets overshadowed by the price tag."

Robot Jordan's Air Junk Dunk Shoes - Junk dunk

Gizmodo: "Air Jordan's for the year 2050. On pre-order now. Actually, these circuit board shoes are a piece of art created by Gabriel Dishaw."

Festival of Lights returning just in time to welcome the world

Post Gazette: "The Festival of Lights returns to Pittsburgh Thursday through Sept. 27, encompassing the days of the G-20 summit.
Illuminated projections will shine on the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and the Courtyard Marriott and Westin Convention Center hotels. Lights go on at Penn Avenue and 10th Street at 8:45 p.m. next Thursday and will continue from around 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. most nights."

Yes, They Did: 'Obama on My Mind', the Musical, Will Get American Premiere

Yahoo! News: "Seattle audiences will see the U.S. premiere of the musical Obama on My Mind - a comic look behind the scenes of an Obama campaign office in small-town America - Oct. 15-Nov. 15.
A resident cast of Equity and non-Equity players will perform the show at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center in Seattle. Opening is Oct. 23."

Woodstock heads to Broadway

Variety: "One of the men behind Woodstock aims to bring a tuner about the 1969 music fest to Broadway some time next season.
Producer Michael Lang -- an originator of the landmark event -- said he intends the show's score to be drawn from tunes of the era as well as include new songs by creatives who performed at the original fest."

'Dorothy in Oz' shows canceled as it looks for new a home

Post Gazette: "The Rage of the Stage Players' scheduled performances of 'Dorothy in Oz' have been canceled because of the closing of the show's South Side venue, the Brew House."

Burning Man's Evolutionary Mutant Vehicles

I09: "At Burning Man, the annual arts festival, mutant vehicles plod across Nevada's Black Rock Desert. And this year's art cars include a fully-functional spider walker, a remote-controlled trilobite, and a mobile mammoth skeleton."

Robo-Lincoln Wants to Terminate John Wilkes Booth with Extreme Prejudice

Gizmodo: "The D23 Expo is a Disney fan event, apparently, and at it was displayed a robotic Honest Abe from the Hall of Presidents. And man, without his clothes he looks intimidating as hell."

Interactive Technologies Introduces The SceneStation

iSquint | Entertainment Lighting News & Review: "Interactive Technologies, the makers of the CueServer, has just introduced their latest DMX Control device, the SceneStation. The SceneStation is a different kind of architectural Preset Station as is goes beyond just simple playback of looks, but can run chases, stepped sequences or a cue list of scenes."

Lord Lloyd-Webber to find Dorothy

BBC NEWS: "Lord Lloyd-Webber's latest Saturday night talent show will search for a girl to play Dorothy and a dog to play Toto in The Wizard Of Oz, the BBC says.
Winners of the programme will star in a West End production of the musical."

Welcome to Her Theatre

Yahoo! News: "What do Pure Prairie League, The Metropolitan Opera, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, actress/singer Penny Fuller, The Comedy Zone, singer/songwriter Cheryl Wheeler, the Capella Cantorum Men's Chorus and the Connecticut Ballet have in common?
This cultural mixed bag of music, dance, good conversation and fun can all be found on the upcoming schedule of the spanking new Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center."

Do Health Insurance and Self-employment Mix?

Web Worker Daily: "In my Labor Day post, I talked about the importance of web workers advocating for ourselves, and why it is necessary. One of the topics for advocacy that is on everyone’s mind right now (at least in the U.S.) is healthcare, or more particularly health insurance. This topic is of special interest to the segment of web workers who are self-employed or work freelance."

Fall theater season has something for everyone

Post Gazette: "Pittsburgh Public Theater's 'Ella: A Musical,' a portrait of the first lady of song, jazzes up a fall theater season that also heralds the return of the Radio City Rockettes.
The last time they were here, the high-kickers from NYC were among the hardest tickets in town. This time around, they kick-start a PNC Broadway Across America -- Pittsburgh season that includes two Tony-winning entries, 'In the Heights' and 'August: Osage County.'"

Jazz Poetry concert hosted by City of Asylum/Pittsburgh

Post Gazette: "'The poetry of the streets' like 'the symphony of the city' was one of those idealized references to America's urban life, a nice gloss on the noise, crowds and traffic.
In Pittsburgh, though, there truly will be poetry in the streets (an alley, actually) Saturday as well as music. It's the fifth annual Jazz Poetry Concert by City of Asylum/Pittsburgh."

The season in dance

Post Gazette: "If the Pittsburgh dance season could be labeled an indicator, the economy must be on the upswing. The fall portion of the season certainly will be the busiest ever, with an impressive first year for the August Wilson Center that includes three of America's finest black dance ensembles and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's upcoming local premiere, 'Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project,' which will include collaborative performances with no less than 15 arts groups."

'Stomp' returns to Benedum Center for eight-performance run

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Words and singing play no role in the show 'Stomp,' an international touring success story now in its 16th season. It is a force of nature built out of percussion and dance, with lots of attitude and energy.
'Stomp' returns Tuesday to the Benedum Center, Downtown, for an eight-performance run, including weekend matinees."

Irish & Classical Theatre boils down 'Crime and Punishment'

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "In a world saturated with information, says Matthew Gray, the survivors are those who are good at editing.
He's demonstrating that belief as the director of Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre's production of 'Crime and Punishment,' which begins performances today.
Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus' live stage adaptation distills this complex tale and its contest between two minds into an 80-minute drama enacted by three actors."

Playhouse director begins performances of 'That Championship Season'

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "For Pittsburgh Playhouse artistic director Ronald Allan-Lindblom, nearly everything about 'That Championship Season' has become a matter of timing.
'It's a play that has been intriguing me for a while,' he says. 'I selected it to open the season because it does speak to a country in change.'
The Rep, Point Park University's professional theater company, begins performances of 'That Championship Season' Thursday in the Rauh Theatre at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in Oakland."

Actors' Equity Names West Side Story Cast Members Outstanding Broadway Chorus

Playbill News: "Cast members of the acclaimed revival of West Side Story will receive Actors' Equity Association's Third Annual Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus."

Working in the Theatre - New Play Development - April, 1994

American Theatre Wing: "The resident theatre panelists - Randall Arney, Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre; Zelda Fichandler, Artistic Director of the Acting Company; Emily Mann, Artistic Director of McCarter Theater; Mac Pirkle, Artistic Director of Tennessee Repertory Theatre; Michael P. Price, Executive Director of Goodspeed Opera House; and Lloyd Richards, Artistic Director of Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center - discuss the beginnings of regional theatre as a place to develop new plays and playwrights, relationships with commercial theatre, marketing and building a subscriber base, and diversity in playwrights and audiences."

Cirque, MSG throw 'Banana Shpeel'

Variety: "Cirque du Soleil and MSG Entertainment will open 'Banana Shpeel' at Gotham's Beacon Theater on Feb. 11, with previews beginning Feb. 4. 'Shpeel,' a new show by Cirque's 'Kooza' scribe-helmer David Shiner, will preem at the Chicago Theater in the Windy City, where it will play from Nov. 19 until Jan. 3."

WYSIWYG Release 24: Virtual Lighting Designer Heaven

Jim On Light: "Over the last few weeks I have been testing out Cast Lighting’s new release for WYSIWYG – Release 24. In the last year, R22 and R23 have revolutionized the way that we’ve been thinking about viz software, and R24 is the crown jewel of the improvements in R22 and R23. The real-time rendering engine in R24 is so full of awesome that there is next to no need to sit and wait for a rendering of the look."

WorkScore: A Social Resume

WebWorkerDaily: "Some employers don’t place a lot of credence on traditional resumes: even a completely truthful resume may not provide a clear impression of a prospective employee’s abilities and skills. WorkScore, which launches today, is a system that allows you to gather documentation and confirmation of your skills from your co-workers, allowing you to offer a potential employer a “social resume.”"

Off the wall — literally

Berkeley Rep Blog: "Before and after performances of American Idiot at the Roda Theatre, you'll find a crowd of people in the lobby writing on the wall. Not to worry, they're all scribbling on the graffiti wall specifically designed to showcase their thoughts, emotions, and messages. Reading the wall, we found that audiences members had come from as far as New York, Denver, Salt Lake City, New Orleans, Texas, and Washington, D.C., to see the first previews."

Declining Commercial Appeal

Backstage: "The economic downturn has affected just about every sector of the national workforce. Commercial and voiceover actors have not been immune. Though many in the industry—from performers to their union representatives—say it's tough to gauge exactly how many people are having a hard time finding commercial and voiceover gigs these days, all agree that things seem slow and that advertising spending is in flux."

Cast and creators recall the birth of Broadway's 'Avenue Q'

Post Gazette: "What's an unemployed puppet to do?
The question takes on cosmic -- and very real significance -- when 'Avenue Q,' the funny, often raunchy musical tribulations of twentysomethings, closes Sunday on Broadway after a six-year run of more than 2,500 performances."

O'Donnell and cast at the New Olde Bank take on Moll Flanders

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "When he decided to bring Daniel Defoe's mammoth novel 'Moll Flanders' to the stage, Sean O'Donnell left himself no shortage of challenges.
The first of those was: How to take a 500-page book that covered the entirety of Flanders' life, included dozens of characters and was set in multiple countries on two continents and make it work at his New Olde Bank Theatre in Verona."

Army Archerd, Showbiz Chronicler, Dies at 87

Playbill News: "Army Archerd, who chronicled the projects and practitioners of show business for a half a century through his column in Variety, died Sept. 8 in Los Angeles, the trade publication reported. He was 87."

Jordan Roth Succeeds Rocco Landesman as Jujamcyn Theaters President

Playbill News: "Jordan Roth, who joined Jujamcyn Theaters in 2005 as resident producer and became vice president the following year, has succeeded Rocco Landesman as president of that company, which owns and operates five major Broadway houses."

On the London Stage - At the English National Opera, a Season for Theater Directors

NYTimes.com: "Where have all the theater directors gone? These days, it seems, to the English National Opera. As London’s other main destination for opera — the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, remains this city’s grand international pooh-bah — the ENO next week embarks upon a 2009-10 season rife with theater names at the helm, as if to reflect an increasing fluidity between the worlds of theater and opera that is scarcely the province of this venue alone."

Wajahat Ali’s ‘Domestic Crusaders’ Portrays a Pakistani-American Family

NYTimes.com: "For Khulsoom and Salman, hard-working immigrant Muslims from Pakistan, life in the American suburbs in the post- 9/11 era is not working out the way they had planned."

Top 10 Apps for Scheduling a Meeting Online

The Best Article Every day: "Meetings suck. But if there’s one thing worse than meetings, it’s playing email tag to schedule them. Is your company still sending out mass emails to ask for preferred meeting times? It’s the pits, isn’t it? Yes, Outlook has a hack whereby you can solicit responses for scheduling, but it’s not much of an improvement. There’s a better way, and it’s a ridiculously simple concept. A Web app lets you pick a range of dates on a calendar and then notify your colleagues so they can pick the times and dates that work for them. You then view the responses and you’re done."

Open Letter to Rocco Landesman

<100k Project: "First of all, allow me to congratulate you on being confirmed as the new Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. Over the past 18 months, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Mr. Bill O’Brien and Ms. Carol Lanoux Lee in the Theatre Program, both of who have been encouraging, helpful, and inspirational."

Doing It Wrong

Roadies in the Midst: "**** Sound Nerd Speak ****
I have had quite a few people ask me 'how did you come up with the sub layouts?' So, I started thinking about the train of thoughts that is passing by here at the moment. My first experimentation into 'subs pointed the wrong way,' was the Sub Cannon stuff I did with Peppers."

Spinning the Times

'kül: "For those of you out there who don't quite understand why one should bother with 'plays' when the 'real world' is out there, Spinning the Times is for you. Each of the five monologue plays is based on a headliner from the New York Times, and each demonstrates the rare gift fiction has to enhance the truth--that is, to be the lie that tells the truth. That's not to say that all five of the female Irish playwrights excelled at Origin Theater Company's challenge--some of the plays make deeper interpretations, or have a more ferocious topic at hand--but make no mistake: there's something in each piece that'll make you spin."

PLASA London 2009

On Stage Lighting: "PLASA, the biggest lighting and sound industry trade show in the UK is less than a week away. On Stage Lighting will be there to bring our readers some insight and interest from amongst the bucketful of LED products and meeja servants, sorry - servers, that will doubtless be there."

New Book: Concert Lighting: Techniques, Art and Business, Third Edition

iSquint | Entertainment Lighting News & Review: "Looking to learn more about how to design and work on lights in a live event venue or concert setup? The latest book from Focal Press can help. In it’s third edition, Concert Lighting: Techniques, Art and Business by James Moody and Paul Dexter take you on tour to get a first hand experience about what it takes to live on the road and work in one of the most demanding work conditions, the live concert world."

Should Cut Lists be Banned?

Popular Woodworking: "It is my opinion that a cut list is one of the most useless additions to woodworking project articles. Yes, these charts, or pages in some cases, do contain beneficial information, but many woodworkers rely solely on the lengths, widths and thicknesses of the cut list when they mill project parts. And they shouldn’t."

Susan Hilferty - September, 2009

American Theatre Wing: "With her Tony-winning costume designs for the hit musical Wicked virtually circling the globe, costume designer Susan Hilferty describes the detailed process by which the show's creative team conceived their own vision of Oz, and the level of work required to execute the show's distinctive costumes."

I feel there's something between us. Oh wait. It's a wall.

PRODUCER’S PERSPECTIVE: "A lot of customers I talk to are scared to buy tickets at box offices.
I wonder why . . .
Could it be the bullet proof glass and the creepy sounding microphones?"

Tool Pr0n: CNC Laser Tube Cutters

Toolmonger: "Laser cutters and computer-aided machining got together in a shed a while back, and the net result is a neat new technology for cutting profiles in tubing of all dimensions. Among many other uses, high-budget race teams use these machines for cutting their tube frame members."

Give Your Projects a Final Polish With a Standard Checklist

WebWorkerDaily: "Soon after I clicked the “Publish” button on my blog dashboard, I realized I had made a mistake.
I’d read my post through three times before hitting that button, but somehow missed adding a crucial word — the word “don’t”. Inadvertently, I had told my readers that they “have to sacrifice too much to lessen their cost of living,” . Furthermore, two of the hyperlinks I had added were broken.
I am a sloppy self‑editor, mostly because I am forgetful. I realized it was time to create a standard checklist to remind myself of all the steps I have to take before clicking “Publish”."

Ahead of the Class: Money Lessons for College Freshmen

Bargainist: "Many college freshmen think they’re heading off to a university to take classes on psychology and literature, but one of the first lessons they need to tackle is budgeting and saving money. And it’s best if you don’t have to learn these money lessons the hard way. Want to get ahead of the class? Here’s a crash course in personal finance."

Which theatre has the best scenery?

guardian.co.uk: "After 10 years in business, Keswick's Theatre by the Lake finally had its big moment last week, when the Guardian's Comment pages declared that 'no other theatre in Britain sits in such a splendid spot'. Regrettably, I have yet to go there – although I did write an article in the programme for the current production of Blackbird, so the management obviously has very good taste. Any theatre with a view of sheep, mountains, water and trees surely ticks all the right boxes for a beauty spot. Indeed, the theatre's own website claims it is 'one of the most beautifully located theatres you can find in England'. So which of England's – or, for that matter, the rest of the world's – theatres can rival it?"

Jujamcyn Names Jordan Roth President, Signaling a Broadway Youth Trend

NYTimes.com: "Ushering in a new generation of Broadway power brokers, Jordan Roth, a 33-year-old producer, finalized a deal on Tuesday to buy a stake in and to lead Jujamcyn Theaters, one of the theater district’s biggest landlords."

Berg Is New Regional Chief at Equity

Backstage: "Berg, a 17-year staffer with the union, has been Equity's senior business rep since 1999. He replaces Wasser, who has spent 13 years as eastern regional director. Berg will take over responsibilities for the region's operations, collective bargaining and contract negotiation, the union said in a statement."

West Allegheny's expanded arts education is 'long overdue'

Post Gazette: "West Allegheny parents continue to lobby the school board for improvements to the elementary school visual arts and music programs.
Nancy Volk, president of the Arts Advocacy Council booster group, presented more than 200 signatures on a petition Aug. 19, requesting additional staff and longer class periods for art and music as well as courses such as technology, physical education, library and world languages.
'It's time to make this happen,' said Mrs. Volk, of Findlay. 'It is long overdue.'"

ESTA Announces New Projects for Rigging-Related Standards

Stage Directions: "At its July 18 meeting ESTA's Rigging Working Group approved the initiation of two new projects:
* BSR E1.38 - 20xx, Temporary Ground-Supported Structures Used to Support Equipment in the Production of Outdoor Entertainment Events, Excluding Stage Roofs
* BSR E1.39 - 20xx, Entertainment Technology ˆ Recommendations for the Use of Fall Protection on Temporary Suspended and Ground- Supported Structures"

Jeff Awards Releases Nominations for 2009 Equity-Level Awards

Stage Directions: "The Jeff Awards have announced 179 nominations in 35 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions which opened between August 1, 2008, and July 31, 2009. The 41st Annual Jeff Awards ceremony, honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the immediate Chicago area, will be held on Monday, October 19, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. The Jeff Awards for non-Equity productions was held on June 9."

About Face Theatre Erases Debt

Stage Directions: "Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar and the About Face Board of Directors announced the success of their “Face the Future Campaign,” in a statement today. The campaign earned more than $200,000 for the company, erased debt and raised funds for artistic programming and the foundation of a new cash reserve. The success of the campaign has enabled the company to launch the upcoming season, including the all-new Chicago XYZ Festival, a showcase for innovative artists presenting work at all stages of development, sponsored by the Boeing Corporation."

Students turn waste into art

The Tartan Online: "Plastic grocery bags have gotten a bad rap in today’s green-conscious society. But what if your average Giant Eagle grocery carrier could be a building block in the creation of a space? Is it possible for waste to be transformed into an enjoyable environment? These questions are answered in the Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) installation, aptly titled LDPE Loop, created by four Carnegie Mellon fourth-year architecture students: Filip Agren, Max Arocena, Conor Doyle, and Liz Duray."

NFTRW Top Five

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

Even More Research: Technology Is Making Kids Better Writers, Not Worse

Techdirt: "Every few months or so, we read about some freaked out reporter/columnist/pundit/politician complaining about how the internet and texting are destroying kids' ability to write. Yet, pretty much every study on the subject has found the opposite to be true. Study after study after study after study after study have all found that kids today are better writers than in the past."

Posted by David at 9/05/2009 12:58:00 PM

Five Signs Your Resume Is Passe

DivineCaroline: "The workplace is not what it was five years ago. Neither is the job hunt. The most successful candidates are those who are ready and willing to adapt to a changing landscape. But it doesn’t matter how ready you are for the modern workplace if your resume ’s straight out of 1994."

Posted by David at 9/05/2009 12:57:00 PM

Ransom demands must stop.

Backstage at BackstageJobs.com: "Playbill just reported yet another theatre that is having financial difficulty. This time it’s Willows Theatre, in Martinez, California. Unfortunately, they are resorting to a tactic that, while (thankfully) rarely used, is very good at getting attention. In this case, it is claiming that unless they get $350,000 by November 1, they will be forced to close.
Sound familiar? Probably because you’ve already heard it from theatres such as About Face, House Theatre of Chicago, Paper Mill Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre (which failed), Magic Theatre, and a few others just in the past 2 years. I’m calling it the Ransom Demand, and frankly, I’m sick of it."

Posted by David at 9/06/2009 12:12:00 PM

Hello, Sweet Prince - Jude Law Brings His Hamlet to Broadway

NYTimes.com: "THERE could be no more apt and atmospheric place to play Hamlet than at Kronborg Castle, built here in the 16th century at the edge of the sound separating Denmark from Sweden. Laurence Olivier did it and so, over the years, did Richard Burton, John Gielgud and Kenneth Branagh."

Posted by David at 9/06/2009 12:10:00 PM

Gone Fishin': 9 to 5 Closes Sept. 6, But Tour Is Planned

Playbill News: "The cast of 9 to 5, the Broadway musical based on the movie comedy about women in an oppressive office workplace, will pack its belongings in a box on Sunday night. The Dolly Parton-Patricia Resnick show closes Sept. 6 at the Marquis Theatre."

Posted by David at 9/06/2009 12:09:00 PM

Extreme steel 'Velcro' takes a 35-tonne load

New Scientist: "For all its usefulness, Velcro hardly inspires excitement. But German engineers have taken inspiration from the mild-mannered fastener to create a version of the hook-and-loop concept with enough steely strength for extreme loads and environments."

Posted by David at 9/05/2009 12:58:00 PM

Ransom demands must stop.

Backstage at BackstageJobs.com: "Playbill just reported yet another theatre that is having financial difficulty. This time it’s Willows Theatre, in Martinez, California. Unfortunately, they are resorting to a tactic that, while (thankfully) rarely used, is very good at getting attention. In this case, it is claiming that unless they get $350,000 by November 1, they will be forced to close.
Sound familiar? Probably because you’ve already heard it from theatres such as About Face, House Theatre of Chicago, Paper Mill Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre (which failed), Magic Theatre, and a few others just in the past 2 years. I’m calling it the Ransom Demand, and frankly, I’m sick of it."

Big City - Sharon Wheatley on Juggling Babies and Broadway

NYTimes.com: "Not long after the actress Sharon Wheatley wrote her first parenting column in the Actors’ Equity Association’s newsletter, a reader e-mailed her to say he had heard about a parent support network for actors a few years earlier — but it turned out to be for people who were transitioning out of theater."

Vows - Sarah Kabanuck and David Miller

NYTimes.com: "IN “La Bohème,” the lovers Mimi and Rodolfo are pried apart by disease, poverty, failure of nerve and, ultimately, death. When Sarah Joy Kabanuck and David Miller played the roles on Broadway in 2003, some strange magnetism seemed to be forcing them together."

For Colman Domingo, a Sense of Loss Pervades His Triumphs

NYTimes.com: "IN the last scene of the Spike Lee movie of 'Passing Strange,' which captures a curtain call for the musical, Colman Domingo is crying. This tall, sculptured, vamp-ready actor — who during each performance had played the flamboyant, stoic choir director Franklin Jones, the Germanic radical Joop and the Berlin performance artist Mr. Venus — has tears streaming down his face."

Hello, Sweet Prince - Jude Law Brings His Hamlet to Broadway

NYTimes.com: "THERE could be no more apt and atmospheric place to play Hamlet than at Kronborg Castle, built here in the 16th century at the edge of the sound separating Denmark from Sweden. Laurence Olivier did it and so, over the years, did Richard Burton, John Gielgud and Kenneth Branagh."

Gone Fishin': 9 to 5 Closes Sept. 6, But Tour Is Planned

Playbill News: "The cast of 9 to 5, the Broadway musical based on the movie comedy about women in an oppressive office workplace, will pack its belongings in a box on Sunday night. The Dolly Parton-Patricia Resnick show closes Sept. 6 at the Marquis Theatre."

Edinburgh critic's notebook

Variety: "Such is the power of the Edinburgh Intl. Festival and Fringe that the population of the Scottish capital doubles during August. The city pulses with cultural tourists, and the relationship between actors and audiences is at its most intense. This summer, that relationship emerged as a theme in itself."

Rob Ashford looks to make his mark

Variety: "In London, Rob Ashford is a hot director with two Donmar Warehouse hits to his name.
Which would seem less unusual if he weren’t a West Virginia-raised, Gotham-based Broadway vet and Tony-winning choreographer who works consistently in New York but has yet to make his mark here as a director."

'Little House on the Prairie' New Jersey bound

Variety: "After rumors that the tuner would make a quicker-than-expected leap to Broadway, though, the property went back into development, effectively hibernating for the past year as producers and creatives ironed out kinks. Now the show is set to begin performances at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse on Sept. 10 -- the first five-week leg of a national tour that may bypass the Rialto altogether."

Look out licensing houses, here comes Seth!

PRODUCER’S PERSPECTIVE: "One of the most popular business bloggers in the world took a swing at the theatrical licensing agents yesterday, with this blog about a non-pro production of Grease that cost the theater company $3k in royalties to put on."

When it's time

Berkeley Rep Blog: "Last night was the invited dress for American Idiot, or, as director Michael Mayer put it, 'the first tech rehearsal we'll make it through without stopping. We hope.' As implied, 'invited dress' was a dress rehearsal (all sets, lights, costumes, sound, in place) — with a very special extra factor: an audience."

Looking for Free Stock Photos? Try Everystockphoto

WebWorkerDaily: "Text is much more compelling if you illustrate it with a photo. If you don’t have the time, or the skill, to take your own pictures, there are several free stock image libraries available; many WebWorkerDaily posts are illustrated with images from stock.xchng, for example. However, sometimes it’s hard to find exactly the right type of image, and jumping from one online stock library to another can take time. That’s where free meta-search engine Everystockphoto can help."

Closed Circuits

99seats: "So, as I mentioned here, I've been stewing on some thoughts, partly stirred by Ian Thal's comments to this post that came along at just the right time. Ian wrote:
There's a real need for arts conservatories to train students in technique and history of various forms, and this certainly has great values when it comes to painters, illustrators, filmmakers, dancers, actors, and techies-- artists who need practical training.
I found this funny because I'd just been talking to a friend about my undergraduate college."

Even More Research: Technology Is Making Kids Better Writers, Not Worse

Techdirt: "Every few months or so, we read about some freaked out reporter/columnist/pundit/politician complaining about how the internet and texting are destroying kids' ability to write. Yet, pretty much every study on the subject has found the opposite to be true. Study after study after study after study after study have all found that kids today are better writers than in the past."

Extreme steel 'Velcro' takes a 35-tonne load

New Scientist: "For all its usefulness, Velcro hardly inspires excitement. But German engineers have taken inspiration from the mild-mannered fastener to create a version of the hook-and-loop concept with enough steely strength for extreme loads and environments."

Five Signs Your Resume Is Passe

DivineCaroline: "The workplace is not what it was five years ago. Neither is the job hunt. The most successful candidates are those who are ready and willing to adapt to a changing landscape. But it doesn’t matter how ready you are for the modern workplace if your resume ’s straight out of 1994."

Help this Zombie Pilot "Fly"

Craigslist: "I'm doing a pilot for a series about various groups of survivors enduring a zombie infestation."

Looking for special effects artist

Craigslist: "We are an established Independent film company in the Pittsburgh area. We are looking to expand and would like to do films with better special effects work"

SHOW REVIEW: 'Ka'

ReviewJournal.com: "See 'Ka' again to remind yourself of the promise Las Vegas entertainment held in 2005.
The sky's-the-limit mentality wasn't confined to high-rise condos and CityCenter. It also was clear that with Cirque du Soleil's checkbook pointing the way, the Strip's ability to custom-build a title was going to lead to some amazing places."

Green Day musical extends run

Variety: "Extension for the show, which kicks off its world preem run today, has been prompted by record box office and 'unprecedented demand for seats,' per the Bay Area theater."

The Big List

Theater For The Future: "Theoretically, the big list would allow for the tracking of deep patron data – such as city-wide theatergoing habits of individual patrons. This would be a massive first step for small storefront theaters who are trying to gather real, actionable marketing data."

The Week in Tools: Toolmonger Top 5

Toolmonger: "It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger. If you’ve been spending time in the shop — you should! — and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select"

‘Phantom’ Still King of Romance, Chills

Bloomberg.com: "After 8,984 performances and with no end in sight, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1988 hit “The Phantom of the Opera” survives into a ripe age that makes it deservedly Broadway’s longest-running musical as well as an international favorite."

How Cirque du Soleil's hippy circus took over the world

guardian.co.uk: "In 1984, a group of 20 street performers put together a circus show in the small town of Baie-Saint-Paul in Quebec, to celebrate the 450th anniversary of explorer Jacques Cartier's claiming of Canada for France. Few could have guessed that this ragtag bunch of French-Canadian hippies, calling themselves the Cirque du Soleil ('circus of the sun'), would soon set off on a journey of world domination."

Willows Theatre Company asks fans for help

sfgate: "The Willows Theatre Company, which began entertaining Contra Costa County audiences 34 years ago with well-known musicals and popular comedies, will close at least one of its two theaters if it can't raise $350,000 in the next two months, officials say."

Student Debt Grows Dramatically

WSJ.com: "Students are borrowing dramatically more to pay for college, accelerating a trend that has wide-ranging implications for a generation of young people.
New numbers from the U.S. Education Department show that federal student-loan disbursements—the total amount borrowed by students and received by schools—in the 2008-09 academic year grew about 25% over the previous year, to $75.1 billion. The amount of money students borrow has long been on the rise. But last year far surpassed past increases, which ranged from as low as 1.7% in the 1998-99 school year to almost 17% in 1994-95, according to figures used in President Barack Obama's proposed 2010 budget."

Lady, Be Good: Fabrique Is Ella in Pittsburgh, Starting Oct. 1

Playbill News: "Pittsburgh Public Theater's production of Ella, the regionally hot bio-musical about jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, will feature Tina Fabrique, who has played it to acclaim around the country. Co-creator Rob Ruggiero again directs."

Casting Announced for World Premiere of South Coast Rep's The Happy Ones

Playbill News: "Raphael Sbarge, Geoffrey Lower, Nike Doukas and Greg Watanabe will star in South Coast Repertory's world premiere of Julie Marie Myatt's The Happy Ones, the story of an Orange County, CA, man who must rediscover his optimism in the wake of tragedy."

In Zayd Dohrn’s Plays, Glimmers of a Fugitive Childhood

NYTimes.com: "When Zayd Dohrn began writing 'Sick,' a play about a Manhattan family going to extremes to shield themselves from pollution, he tapped into anxieties around him: he was living in Beijing at the time, during the height of the SARS epidemic, and he had moved there from New York, where environmental fallout from the Sept. 11 attacks was widely feared."

Decoding Emerging College Majors

CollegeSurfing Insider: "I love reading articles about college major trends because that’s a good way to gauge which career fields are up-and-coming and eager to hire. Lucky for us, writers at The Chronicle of Higher Education did some legwork in yesterday’s story, “5 College Majors on the Rise.”"

"But... I'm Too Shy To Network!"

Jezebel: "In 2008, I started attending conferences with Carmen, had a pocketful of business cards that I only distributed a few of, and felt really uncomfortable and nervous in crowds. This year, she asked me for tips on networking. What changed?"

Stuart Carden appointed Writers’ Theatre Associate AD

Chicago Theater Blog: "Writers’ Theatre has appointed Stuart Carden associate artistic director.
“I’m so excited to be in collaboration with Stuart,” said Michael Halberstam, executive director the Writers’. “He has a rich background in literary development, a keen and ambitious scope of work as a director and a passion for the administrative challenges that come with supporting artistic direction. In a very short time I believe we will see Stuart’s strength of perspective and influence find its way onto the stages of Writers’ Theatre.”"

The Cole Drill

Toolmonger: "The Cole Drill is a type of ratchet drill that consists of a post assembly clamped to the workpiece (such as an I-beam or large tube) and a drill assembly attached to the post that feeds downwards by a screw and turns with a concentric ratchet. The assembly allows great drilling pressure at low speed so that large diameter holes can be drilled in steel entirely by hand."

The Provenance of Beauty: A South Bronx Travelogue

WNYC Culture: "The Provenance of Beauty: A South Bronx Travelogue is sightseeing tour-cum-performance piece that captures a neighborhood in flux. The project’s stage is literally the South Bronx streets; its seats, a moving bus. An audio guide is pumped through headphones, and features a narrator (who performs live at the front of the bus) and two prerecorded characters. Words are synced to the landscape passing by. It’s produced by Foundry Theatre, and poet Claudia Rankine wrote the text, which highlights neighborhood fixtures and landmarks."

Brow Beat : Blackface, Reconsidered

Slate.com: "I wrote a piece in yesterday's New York Times about Sophie Tucker, whose earliest recordings, some almost a century old, have been released for the first time in decades on a new CD. I describe Tucker's rise from the burlesque and variety stage circuit to vaudeville stardom and note her origins as a 'coon shouter'—a performer of blackface songs."

BONO A 'SPIDER-MAN' SUPERHERO

New York Post: "WHEN last we checked in on David Garfinkle, the hapless pro ducer of 'Spider- Man, Turn Off the Dark,' currently shaping up to be the most expensive train wreck in Broadway history, he was looking very much like David Hedison in 'The Fly.'
'Help me! Help me!' he squeaked as he struggled to break free of my web -- and get his $45 million musical back on track."

Rock legends headed to Broadway

Variety: "Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins are coming to Broadway, with the tuner 'Million Dollar Quartet' headed to Gotham for a planned spring run.
'Million Dollar' has been playing to strong response in Chicago since it opened there in October."

Dance Alloy's summer program keeps local kids in step

Post Gazette: "The music bounces off the walls at the Dance Alloy studios from the moment you open the front door.
As you stand in the entrance hallway, the rhythmic drumbeats of the 'Slumdog Millionaire' soundtrack act like a lure into the main studio. Inside the room, jazz instructor Michelle van Doeren urges 30 young dancers to tap their inner Indian spirit to the throbbing strains of 'Jai ho!'"