Carnegie Mellon University hosts 'Talking Black in America' Pittsburgh premiere

TribLIVE: "Talking Black in America: The Story of African American Language," is the first feature-length documentary devoted to African American speech, and attempts to remedy misconceptions and resulting marginalization, according to a news release.

The film will have its Pittsburgh premiere at 4 p.m. April 11 in Carnegie Mellon University's Rashid Auditorium.

Working with Students to Reclaim the Revolutionary Roots of Czech Theatre

HowlRound Theatre Commons: “Now let’s create an image of exclusion,” I explained to the classroom of young Czech teens. Silently, they arranged themselves into a landscape of frozen poses, working together to create a tableau based on their personal understanding of the word. Some students crowded around a kneeling student, trapping him as he reached out towards the others. A young man held another boy’s hands tightly behind his back while another student covered his mouth. A girl sat with her back to the rest of the group, eyes cast downward, utterly isolated. Then I asked them how they might change the image from one of exclusion to one of inclusion.

Pittsburgh Ballet, Seton Hill collaboration benefits students and dancers

TribLIVE: Four Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers will perform works choreographed for them by other members of the company on April 7 in the Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center in Greensburg in a program titled “Icon and Echoes.”

4 Mixing Tools You Didn't Know You Had

Pro Audio Files: When we think of mixing tools we generally think of compression, EQ, reverb, and distortion. In reality, we have a lot more tools at our disposal, none of which require any specific plugins. We have an arsenal of compositional tools that we might be ignoring. And yet, these tools are every bit as powerful as any signal processor.

Inside the World of Virginia’s Roadside Attraction King

Atlas Obscura: Imagine winding down the switchbacks of a rural mountain road into the tiny town of Buena Vista, Virginia. You glide down sleepy Main Street, passing renovated Victorian-style homes and small businesses, when suddenly you spot three eight-foot-long ants affixed to the facade of an old three-story brick building. Blinking, you spy giant cartoonish grasshoppers peering down from nearby fire escapes and rooftops. A mosquito clinging to a pharmacy sign. A giant spider perched in a park tree. A praying mantis gazing at the doors of a church.

Off-Broadway Smash-Hit PUFFS to Be Shown in Movie Theaters Nationwide

www.broadwayworld.com: The highly acclaimed and rollicking hit comedy is about to get the big-screen treatment when "Puffs: Filmed Live Off Broadway" comes to U.S. cinemas for a two-day event this May. For seven years, a certain boy wizard went to wizard school. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of The Puffs... who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world.

Alcorn McBride: Tech talk

InPark Magazine: Before I was fortunate enough to fall into this industry, I worked in one of those big box technology stores. As an engineering student with an affinity for technology, I remember being fascinated by the gimmicks manufacturers would use to lure consumers into spending more money. One example I’ll never forget was Sony’s top-of-the-line CRT TV called the WEGA. In the late 1990s, this was the only TV to offer a flat screen (instead of the domeshaped screen most CRT televisions had). This slight improvement came at a high cost, though – and I’m not just talking about money.

How to Link Spreadsheets & Share Data in Google Sheets

business.tutsplus.com: Spreadsheets are one of the best ways to log and organize data. Frequently, I use them to organize projects or take notes on something new I'm learning. It's easy to use a spreadsheet like a blank canvas, and then order the data into a structured format later.

Stage preview: PICT's 'Jane Eyre' comes with behind-the-scenes comeback

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Paul Bernardo awoke from a motorcycle accident to broken ankles, a broken shoulder, broken ribs, a concussion. He was in an ambulance, and he had no memory of the incident or the woman who had pulled him out of the road, where he had skidded along the New Jersey asphalt and been hit by a car.

CMU International Film Festival kicks off

The Tartan: One of Carnegie Mellon University’s most exciting and most critically acclaimed events, the Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival, is underway. Beginning March 22 and running until April 8, the festival will include a vast array of films from across the world, as well as moderated discussions, a short film competition, and even Q&As with directors.

The Art of the Loudspeaker Demo

Church Production Magazine: When it comes to choosing audio equipment, by far the most important--and most difficult--decision any church has to make is selection of a new main loudspeaker system for the worship auditorium or sanctuary.

Thoughts from Mark Shanda - USITT President

sightlines.usitt.org: The mission of USITT is to connect performing arts design and technology communities to ensure vibrant dialogue among practitioners, educators, and students. Let that mission statement roll around in your head for just a minute and please keep that central to your engagement for the balance of the week. Some key words that jump out to me include community and vibrant dialogue. In this past year, our community has faced challenges that we never imagined we would face and the need for vibrant dialogue is critical.

#RigSafe on Arbor Day

sightlines.usitt.org: Arbor Day is April 27. This is the sixth year that USITT has celebrated Arbor Day as a day of Rigging Safety Awareness.

Rigging Safety is something that we must be concerned with every day. Whether you are an ETCP certified rigger or walking on a stage for the first time, the safety of the world around you, and in particular rigging, is something that we must all think of.

Less Is More? Do Fewer Channels And An Acoustic Performance Make For An Easier Gig?

ProSoundWeb: “It’s going to be an easy gig – we only have three vocal microphones and an acoustic guitar.”

This is a sentence I’ve heard many times from PA providers who’ve hired me to mix. It was surely meant to provide comfort, but it had the exact opposite effect. In fact, I’ve always dreaded intimate acoustic events, and have developed several techniques for dealing with them.

Marilyn Monroe musical to open on Las Vegas Strip in May

Las Vegas Review-Journal: We’re about to see just how many gentlemen — and women — prefer blondes.

“Marilyn! The New Musical,” an original production about the life of Marilyn Monroe and her younger life as Norma Jean Baker, opens for previews May 23 at Paris Theater at Paris Las Vegas.

The show’s grand opening is June 1, which would have been Monroe’s 92nd birthday.

Music business and commercial real estate collide at Cotton Eyed Joe

www.knoxnews.com: Chuck Ward is known for flipping houses, but last year he picked up a property with plenty of commercial amenities -- interstate visibility, thousands of square feet of retail space, one famous tenant … and a mechanical bull.

In November, Ward paid $2,725,000 for the building at 11220 Outlet Drive that is home to Cotton Eyed Joe, the iconic country music club known for line dancing, concerts and the aforementioned rodeo ride.

Kelly Critic Review: ‘A Chorus Line,’ Central Catholic/Oakland Catholic

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: As I walked down the crowded hallway toward the theater, the walls were lined with photos of the cast in a classic actor-headshot style; that is, black and white photos of the individual members of the cast wearing black shirts against a plain background. This sent the audience into the world of “A Chorus Line,” a show revolving around a dance audition, before even entering the theater. Among the excited buzz that flooded my ears was a woman next to me telling someone that she had been to every single Central Catholic show, and she absolutely adored each one. Between the headshots, the woman, and the gorgeous old building that Central’s McGonigle Theater is home to, I knew I was going to be in for a treat.

BROADWAY BACKWARDS 2018 Raises Over A Half A Million Dollars

www.broadwayworld.com: Fundraising records and gender norms alike were smashed by stars of stage, screen and pop music on April 2, 2018, at this year's inclusive, dynamic and loving Broadway Backwards.

The 13th annual edition of the show, which celebrates the LGBTQ community through gender-reversed renditions of beloved showtunes, raised an incredible $680,273 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City. The show was produced by Broadway Cares.

Emboss Your own Seals with a Laser Cutter

Hackaday: Parchment might be a thing of the past, but for those of us who still use paper an embossed seal can give everything from your official documents to your love letters a bold new feeling of authenticity. As far as getting your own seals made, plenty of folks will settle for having a 3rd party make them a seal, but not us. [Jason] shows us just how simple it is to raster our own seals with a laser cutter.

World premiere musical ‘The Sting’ releases first production shots

Theater Cues: Production photos giving us a first look at the upcoming Broadway-bound world premiere musical “The Sting,” featuring Harry Connick Jr. at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ, were released today. In previews now and opening Sunday April 8, the Broadway-bound show is based on the 1973 film of the same title (set in 1936 Chicago) with a complicated plot about two professional grifters (Paul Newman and Robert Redford) who con a mob boss (Robert Shaw).

Tax Tips for Freelance Creatives: Debunking Common Myths

99U: Does the thought of doing your taxes make you want to cry? For many in the design industry, including myself, the answer is a resounding yes. But a solid grasp of figures and finances is the equivalent to building the strong foundation to a building. If you can shore up the money part of your business, you can spend more time doing what you really love—the creative part of the job.

NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Set a New Standard for Live Musicals

www.vulture.com: NBC’s live production of Jesus Christ Superstar was pitched to audiences as a “Live in Concert” version, which led some to expect a straightforward performance of the songs. It turned out to be an inventively staged production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock-and-roll gospel, so passionately imagined that it set a new standard for this type of event.

Maker Spotlight: Jessica Koe

makezine.com: Specifically regarding sewing electronics into dancewear/clothing, I got started when a professor came into the office with a box of electronic components specifically designed to be sewn onto cloth. He was showing my professor/boss (who also loves sewing and crafting) how the parts could be connected onto metal snaps to then be snapped on/off clothing for washing or general reuse, and the capabilities of different electronics.

The Paper Trail

Guild of Scenic Artists: Budgeting tools are a necessity for conveying fiscal information to the design team. As a Charge, I have gone through many iterations of estimating templates before I landed on what I currently use. I have found estimates to not only help me convey information, but they have also given me clout in meetings where I had none before.

"It Just Didn’t Occur to Me": Showrunner Melissa Rosenberg on Race

The Mary Sue: We have been very vocal about our disappointment about the latest season of Jessica Jones, especially in regard to the treatment of men and women of color. (Jeri was great though.) Thankfully, it hasn’t been just us and the criticism about the issue has been loud enough that it reached the ears of showrunner, Melissa Rosenberg.

Pennsylvania honors Lois Weber, a Pittsburgh film pioneer who helped shape early filmmaking

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Many early 20th century filmmakers were visionaries who didn’t shy away from works with politically charged social themes.

One film icon, a Pittsburgher, was known for taking on abortion, wage inequity and drug abuse as well as for technical innovations. But her work has been lost in the shuffle of history— both figuratively and literally.

A Snapshot of Set and Theater Design of the 20th Century

Architect Magazine | Design, Theater, Building Technology Heritage Library: The grand opera houses of 19th century Europe led to equally extravagant American movie palaces of the early- and mid-1900s. These structures were often ornately decorated and constantly evolving with technological innovations in lighting, movie projection, and seating design. This month we explore some architectural documents that reveal the progression of theater design in the 20th century.

Steven Bochco Obit

www.vulture.com: The writer-producer, who died Sunday morning of leukemia at 74, was the mastermind behind a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Hill Street Blues, NYPD Blue, L.A. Law, and Doogie Howser, M.D. He won multiple Emmys and Peabody awards, the Humanitas Prize, and countless other honors, and incidentally ran a series of on-air finishing schools for writer-producers (including Deadwood’s David Milch and Law and Order’s Dick Wolf) who absorbed his sensibility and went on to be almost as important has he was.

Can I combine with brands that say they have “Prolyte compatible” truss?

Prolyte: From a distance all trusses look the same. On closer examination, however, differences become apparent. Joining together trusses from different manufacturers places a high risk of liability on different parties: the user, the employer, the owner and the manufacturer/distributor. This risk is based on the effect of different legal spheres such as product safety, product liability, warranty and reliability as well as stability and load bearing capacity.

Not Everything Needs Copyright: Lawyers Flip Out That Photos Taken By AI May Be Public Domain

Techdirt: You may recall the years we've spent over the ridiculous monkey selfie story, concerning whether or not there was a copyright in a selfie taken by a monkey (there is not) and if there is (again, there is not) whether it's owned by the monkey (absolutely not) or the camera owner (still no). But one of the points that we raised was to remind people that not every bit of culture needs to be locked up under copyright.

Better Brainstorming

hbr.org: About 20 years ago I was leading a brainstorming session in one of my MBA classes, and it was like wading through oatmeal. We were talking about something that many organizations struggle with: how to build a culture of equality in a male-dominated environment. Though it was an issue the students cared about, they clearly felt uninspired by the ideas they were generating. After a lot of discussion, the energy level in the room was approaching nil. Glancing at the clock, I resolved to at least give us a starting point for the next session.

Theatre's missing accents

Exeunt Magazine: In ‘I bet Nicholas Hynter doesn’t have to do this’, a brilliantly titled chapter of Glory and the Garden (eds. Ros Merkin & Kate Dorney) , Gwenda Hughes chronicles the complaint letters she received as artistic director of The New Vic, then The Victoria Theatre in North Staffordshire. Amongst these are a series of moans directed at Northern Broadsides’ Shakespeare, including one outraged-of-Cheshire writer who felt horrified at the bard’s words being so unsuitably intoned by those with (gasp) regional accents.

carlo ratti’s scribit is a writing robot that turns any surface into a canvas

www.designboom.com: carlo ratti associati has developed an intelligent writing robot that can draw and erase images on any vertical surface, from whiteboards to glass or plaster, transforming it into a screen where drawings, messages or feeds can be projected. scribit is the result of a long investigation of writing machines developed at CRA, including drone graffiti ‘artists’ and the façade of the future food district at milan’s world expo 2015.

On the Representation of Disabled Women in Cinema

Chaz's Journal | Roger Ebert: Hollywood just doesn’t seem interested in telling unique disabled stories in general, and the only narrative they do regards men who become disabled. "Where the women at?," to paraphrase “Blazing Saddles.” When I saw “The Shape of Water” last year I had to smile. The movie has its flaws from a disability standpoint, but seeing a mainstream Hollywood feature about a woman with a disability from birth, who is a sexual being, who is independent, and who leads her own story, felt revolutionary.

Top Places Where Filmmakers Live And Work

Theatre Nerds: Have you ever thought of moving to the other country or city, wishing to find better life opportunities or striving for new challenges and adventures? I guess that the majority of people will answer positively. The choice of a country, city or town where you are going to live can become one of the most significant life decisions. Especially if you are a filmmaker and, except inspiring you and offering a lot of professional opportunities, your place of living should be as comfortable as it only can be.

Tempest in a #MeToo Pot

Chaz's Journal | Roger Ebert: The big news last weekend was the storm brewing on Trump’s horizon that refused to blow over: adult-film star Stormy Daniels, after building pressure for weeks, finally made landfall on “60 Minutes” with intimate details of her one-night fling with Donald J. Trump before he laid claim to the highest office in the land.

Some 60 years ago, another storm, a burlesque queen named “Tempest Storm” claimed to have bedded the young Senator John F. Kennedy from Massachusetts before he became—in the words of THE breathy blond Hollywood sex goddess—"Mr. President.” Ms. Tempest Storm, who just turned 90 and is the oldest burlesque queen alive, is the subject of an eponymous 2016 documentary about to premiere in Boston.

Can Conservative Values and Progressive Politics Coexist?

Theatre Development Fund – TDF: Abby Rosebrock did sketch comedy and worked in academia before becoming a performer-playwright. She was most fulfilled when the two went together. "It's like being a singer-songwriter," she explains. "You've written your own material and the performance is integral to bringing that material to life."

Chicago Dance Month a feast for the feet

Chicago Sun-Times: A few big dance companies like the Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Giordano Dance Chicago enjoy widespread local recognition, but many of their smaller counterparts across the city go largely unrecognized by the general public.

Why Practical Skills Will Matter More Than Your Degree In The New Econ

www.fastcompany.com: When Giancarlo Martinez applied a few years ago to be a web developer at Genome, a digital marketing firm in New York, he was confident that he had the ability. But he couldn’t help but wonder whether company recruiters would be able to recognize his chops—and even if they did, he worried that they still might not give him a chance.

The Tourist in Dallas

Projection Mapping Central: In promotion of “The Tourist” the Joule Hotel in downtown Dallas was lit with projected AR.

Copyright Law and the Reboot Mentality

The Mary Sue: Every year on January 1, much of the world celebrates Public Domain Day: the day when new works fall out of copyright and enter the public domain. In Canada and New Zealand, January 1, 2018 marked the day when creative work by anyone who died in 1967 (50 years ago) became part of the public domain. In most of Europe and South America, it marked the day when creative works by anyone who died in 1947 (70 years ago) became public domain.

Chicago company makes big things that are seen but seldom noticed

Chicago Sun-Times: So here’s the riddle:

What business makes something big that you see all the time but seldom notice?

These very large, custom-made products are usually unique: built once and never again. Each can cost millions of dollars only to be used briefly, sometimes just for a few hours, then thrown away.

Steven Bochco: 1943-2018

Balder and Dash | Roger Ebert: On the Mt. Rushmore of TV creators next to faces like Norman Lear and David Chase, there should be a spot reserved for Steven Bochco, the man who changed the medium of television drama in the way he emphasized ensemble over star vehicles and multi-episode arcs over standalone stories. Shows like “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law,” and “NYPD Blue” earned Bochco a stunning 10 Emmy awards, along with prizes from the Directors and Writers Guilds of America and four Peabody Awards. In 1996, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. He should probably have his own wing.

ISLE OF DOGS | Making of: Animators

FOX Searchlight - YouTube: ISLE OF DOGS tells the story of ATARI KOBAYASHI, 12-year-old ward to corrupt Mayor Kobayashi. When, by Executive Decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island, Atari sets off alone in a miniature Junior-Turbo Prop and flies across the river in search of his bodyguard-dog, Spots. There, with the assistance of a pack of newly-found mongrel friends, he begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire Prefecture.

How John Legend, Sara Bareilles and Co-Stars See ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Roles

The New York Times: John Legend hasn’t done musical theater since high school. But when NBC called to ask if he might be interested in playing the title role in a live broadcast of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” he said, “I had a hard time turning down the role of Jesus Christ.”

Now Mr. Legend, best known as an R&B singer and songwriter, is channeling his inner rocker as he leads a starry cast of the latest televised musical.

NFTRW Weekly Top Five

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

10 Email Phrases That Make You Sound Unprofessional

www.fastcompany.com: There are some things you already know not to mention via email; political opinions, anything that could be considered sexual harassment, and office gossip are among the no-brainers. But there are also some less obvious topics and phrases you’d do well to stay away from, particularly if you want to come off as professional, competent, and on top of your workload. After all, emails can stick around for a long time, and you never know what might get dug up down the road.

Posted by David at Comments Here

Special Effects Makeup Artist Subtly Transforms Face into Striking Illusions

mymodernmet.com: Special effects makeup artist Monika Falčik produces striking—yet subtle—looks that will make you do a double-take. A self-confessed “makeup junkie” from Lithuania, she uses the material to create illusions that her entire face has shifted or that her hand suddenly has a heart-shaped hole in it. Creatures are also popular subjects for Falčik, from beautiful butterflies to slippery reptiles to a ferocious big cat.

Posted by David at Comments Here

Understanding framing lumber grades

Pro Construction Guide: The species of lumber and lumber grades available will often vary depending on which region you are in. In California, for example, the predominate species of dimensional lumber used for home building is Douglas Fir-Larch (DF-L). As you move east, lumberyards stock both DF-L and Hem Fir (HF). Once you get into the Southwest, you may use Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF). All of these are considered softwoods and are graded under the American Softwood Lumber Standard PS 20.

Posted by David at Comments Here

An Unexpected Show Cancellation

TheatreArtLife: As production people, we spend a lot of time planning how the show is going to run, sound and look, as well as creating an environment that is safe so the audience will enjoy themselves. Just last month, I was working on one of our largest shows of the year, 2,500 tickets sold. We would be converting our recreational space into a concert hall.

Posted by David at Comments Here

Historical Accuracy Bad Excuse for Sexual Assault in Fantasy

The Mary Sue: Throughout the seven seasons of Game of Thrones, audiences are shown a variety of gruesome sequences of violence and gore. Most of these are so fantastical that no audience members are likely to experience them in real life: being burned to death by a dragon, giving birth to a shadow monster, or having one’s head explode after a giant presses really hard on one’s eyeballs.

Posted by David at Comments Here