‘The technical element is the spectacle element’: The stagehands who make the magic happen

The Daily Cardinal: The spectacle of theater is part of what continues to draw crowds in the age of smartphones and streaming services. Upon sitting down to watch a live performance, the dazzling lights, sounds and sets never fail to mesmerize an audience. To those sitting in the auditorium, such theatricality might appear to have an almost effortlessly magical quality to it.

Actors’ Equity ratifies new touring agreement

www.broadwaynews.com: Actors’ Equity Association and the Broadway League have brokered a new agreement that will govern professional actors and stage managers who work on all union tours. The April 28 announcement of the newly ratified contract comes after months of negotiations.

WGA Contract Talks Down to Wire: Why History Shouldn't Repeat Itself

Variety: The question of whether the TV and film industry will be shut down by labor action will be answered one way or another by the time Monday ends on the west coast. In broad strokes, the Writers Guild of America and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers face one of three basic outcomes as the WGA contract expires at midnight PST.

Best Compact Miter Saw for 2023

Pro Tool Reviews: A compact miter saw is a model that falls under a 10″ blade diameter. They’re fantastic tools for jobs that require smaller workpieces and the sliding models can still get you 12 inches of cross-cut on 2x material. You can forget 4x material here, though—at least on a single cut. The 7-1/4″ to 8-1/2″ blades won’t make that without rotating the workpiece. The best compact miter saw still functions as a compact, capable power tool for Pros.

AGMA Stands in Solidarity with WGA

American Guild of Musical Artists: AGMA stands in solidarity with the more than 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America, who began a strike today after rejecting the final offer of the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers.

"The Little Mermaid" immersive experience coming to Camp Atlanta

"The Little Mermaid" immersive experience coming to Camp Atlanta: Walt Disney Pictures and Camp are teaming up for an all-new one-of-a-kind immersive kid-friendly experience in Atlanta, GA where families can climb, slide, sing, dance, and play in the world of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”

Where Have All The Taylor Swift Eras Tour Tickets Gone?

www.ticketnews.com: In 2015, tickets tickets for Adele’s “25” tour sold out in record times. Her tour tickets, reported in Billboard as a “messy” pre-sale, sold out in about four hours. It was reported that despite her team’s efforts to control the market, on the first day for European sales the ticket prices were already going for ten times their original prices.

‘Yellowjackets’ Season 2 costume designs are Emmy-worthy

GoldDerby: The second season of Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” begins as winter finally envelops the Canadian Rockies and visits greater misery upon Wiskayok High’s girls soccer team. For the hit survival thriller’s costume department, though, it comes bearing a shot at an Emmy.

'Succession' Costume Designer Michelle Matland On Crafting The Show's Fashion

HuffPost Entertainment: “Dopey” Lanvin sneakers. Startup founders dressed like “fucking Björk.” Buddha in Tom Fords. Funeral-ready wedding attire. Ludicrously capacious bags. These are some of the trademark style moments and allusions that have helped Jesse Armstrong’s “Succession” evolve into an examination of wealth, fashion and luxury. Ostensibly inspired by the real-life Murdoch family, the HBO drama follows the Roy siblings as they vie to take over Waystar Royco, a media conglomerate founded by patriarch Logan Roy.

Inside Phantom of the Opera Load-Out: The Chandelier Leaves the Majestic

www.theatermania.com: Today, May 1, was a somber and historic day for Broadway and Phantom of the Opera fans: the show’s iconic chandelier officially left the Majestic Theatre and was loaded onto the back of a truck (presumably headed for a farm upstate).

The Impractical Dresses of ‘Ghosted,’ ‘Poker Face,’ and ‘The Lost City’: “Costume Designers Have to Figure It All Out”

www.shondaland.com: The season finale of Poker Face, the Peacock detective show from Knives Out and Glass Onion director Rian Johnson that stars Natasha Lyonne and is loosely inspired by Columbo, marked a departure from the rest of the series: in terms of fashion, at least.

Fake AI-Generated Travis Scott Album Taken Off YouTube, Soundcloud

www.businessinsider.com: "I ain't talking Uber, come take a trip into my mind," croons Travis Scott on a song called "Winter Snow." The thing is, the track isn't by Travis Scott at all. It's not an official recording from the artist. The song — and the album it comes from — are generated entirely with AI.

Aykroyd and Belushi coming back to Old Joliet Prison

Shaw Local: Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi will return to the Old Joliet Prison this year, the head of the city museum that manages the prison site said Monday. A repeat performance by the Blues Brothers band at the location that provided the opening scene for the 1980 film classic will be another showcase moment for the restoration of the former Joliet Correctional Center.

Best Cordless Circular Saw Reviews 2023

Pro Tool Reviews: Cordless has come a long way since the early days of lithium-ion power. Where circular saws were initially struggling for adequate performance (and even a 7 1/4-inch blade), they now exceed the performance of 15-amp corded models. We decided to test the waters and pulled our expert team together to discover who makes the best cordless circular saw from an elite top tier of advanced models.

Is Cosplay Cultural Appropriation? Let's Find Out

The Senpai Cosplay Blog: Is cosplay cultural appropriation? As cosplayers, we dress up as characters from a variety of fandoms including Anime, video games, comics, movies and much much more. There are so many wonderful cosplays out there!

Relatable, Witty, and Heartwarming Characters Grace New Hazlett Theater's 'Morning Reckoning'

onstagepittsburgh.com: Upon entering the New Hazlett Theater to enjoy local multidisciplinary artist Kelly Trumbull’s new play, I was immediately struck by the scenic design and props (Tucker Topel). The fan club meetings occur in the club president Kandace’s (Alex Manalo) suburban New Jersey basement. The 1970s-80s plaid sofa was a basement standard during the 90s as it was banished to the basement when your parents got new living room furniture from Kaufmann’s.

Writers Strike Picket Lines: How Studios Retort Went Over

The Hollywood Reporter: Intermittent rain and quite a bit of wind did not appear to deter striking writers from again hitting picket lines throughout Los Angeles on Thursday, many of them galvanized by the previous night’s solidarity rally that drew over 1,800 Writers Guild of America members.

Ballerina uses her art to express solidarity with those fighting for rights in Iran

CANVAS Arts: Since anti-government protests erupted in Iran last year, people around the world have taken to social media to show their support. That includes an Iranian American ballerina who's tapping into her own heritage and her art, in solidarity with those pushing for more rights.

Thespis Beautifully Personifies the Pittsburgh Savoyards’ Tradition of Gilbert & Sullivan

onstagepittsburgh.com: Bringing the works of Gilbert and Sullivan to life with passion and regularity, The Pittsburgh Savoyards are always about making history, so rarely are some of these witty and topical operettas performed. Kudos are in order for marking the 85th season of performances by this venerable regional troupe and committing to producing the “lost” G&S opera Thespis, a Pittsburgh premiere.

Keeping Up With Quasi: An Interview with 'Quasi' Costume Designer, Kelly Kwon

The Art of Costume: Quasi is a captivating story (now available on Hulu) that follows the tumultuous journey of a hapless hunchback in his pursuit of love. However, Quasi’s life takes an unexpected turn when he becomes entangled in a perilous feud between the Pope and the King of France. Amidst the chaos and humor of this tale, costume designer Kelly Kwon takes center stage, bringing her creative prowess to the forefront as she meticulously creates the stunning Quasi costumes that breathe life into the characters.

Why TV Dialogue is Hard to Hear for Users and Viewers

IndieWire: As streaming has grown to dominate how people watch TV, subtitles have only become more commonplace. And while the primary benefit of that is increasing accessibility, it’s also been used by consumers to address what feels like a growing problem: dialogue is getting harder and harder to hear.

Motor Stage Automation invests in Litec

LightSoundJournal.com: Motor Stage Automation (MSA) is a fresh and innovative new company based in Denmark, working internationally, specialising in the designing art of stage and show automation and movement elements and systems. Known for ingenuity, imagination and creative and lateral thinking, the company is headed by Christian Vigsø, who used the downtime during the pandemic positively to launch this exciting venture.

Live Nation CEO Says Ticketmaster Should Charge "A Bit More"

www.ticketnews.com: Live Nation Entertainment CEO Michael Rapino gave a lengthy interview to music industry analyst Bob Lefsetz last week, offering his perspective on the swirling controversies around his company and its place in the marketplace. In it, he offered some interesting justifications for its policies about ticket pricing and competition.

Broadway's Tony-Winning The Lion King Readies for Milestone Performance

Playbill: The Lion King—which celebrated its 25th anniversary on Broadway in November 2022—will mark another milestone when it plays its 10,000 performance the evening of May 6. The Tony-winning musical plays the Minskoff Theatre. With 27 productions over its 25 years, including runs of more than 20 years in Tokyo, London, Hamburg and on tour throughout North America, The Lion King has played nearly 60,000 performances worldwide.

Main Light provides USC School of Dramatic Arts with cutting-edge Elation lights for theatrical design program

LightSoundJournal.com: Dry-hire rental house Main Light has partnered with the USC School of Dramatic Arts to supply Elation Professional Fuze MAX Spot™ LED moving head luminaires for use in the theatrical design program’s light lab for the 2023 spring semester. Used in teaching lighting programming and design, the luminaires allow students to get hands-on with the latest in cutting-edge entertainment lighting.

Pittsburgh Public Theater to Host a Live Staged Reading of a New Musical, 'The Carlisle Project'

onstagepittsburgh.com: Pittsburgh Public Theater Playwrights-in-Residence, Annalisa Dias, and Ronee Penoi will present their new musical, The Carlisle Project, in a live staged reading at the O’Reilly Theater on Wednesday, May 10, at 7:00 pm.

It's a Green Light: Immersive The Great Gatsby Finds Its Flappers

Playbill: Immersive Everywhere's interactive production of The Great Gatsby has found its Jay, Nick, Daisy, and Tom. Performances will begin June 2 ahead of a June 22 opening in Park Central Hotel New York. The hotel's 16,000-square-foot ballroom is being transformed into The Gatsby Mansion for the New York run, which follows seven years of sold-out performances in London.

This Bay Area theater started an emergency fundraising campaign, but not because of low attendance

Datebook: In the last six months of 2022, ticket sales were up 9% compared to the same period in 2019, Artistic Director Khalia Davis told The Chronicle at the time. Two shows, “Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play” and “A Year With Frog and Toad,” sold out within days of releasing tickets. The company was experimenting with a membership model, where audiences could come as many times as they wanted.

The Theatre We Want In 2040? We Used "Strategic Foresight" To Plan On The Prairies

The Theatre Times: Does it seem far-fetched to imagine a future where the government subsidizes theatres and theatre artists at a living wage, and land-based art hubs rely heavily on new technologies while nurturing partnerships to grow and tend gardens? Theatre as an art form asks audiences to “suspend their disbelief” and activate their imaginations. But challenge a number of theatre practitioners to imagine what the future of theatre might look like in 2040, and this is quite a different prospect.

GLP JDC1 hybrids track skiing/snowboarding tricks on the slopes of Canada’s Big Air Show

LightSoundJournal.com: Crowds congregate annually at the base of the ‘Smart Alec’ ski trail in Ontario to watch the province’s finest freestyle skiers and snowboarders perform choreographed flips and tricks off the 50ft Big Air Jump, accompanied by music, lights, fireworks and all manner of show sizzle.

Consumer Groups Slam CO Bill Enabling Ticket Abuse, Deception

www.ticketnews.com: The recent rejection of multiple consumer-friendly amendments to a Ticketmaster-backed bill in Colorado has drawn condemnation from a group of consumer rights organizations, who have urged that the bill be rejected in its current form. The Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights coalition slammed the decision by lawmakers to revert the bill to its original language, which they say gives “permission to Live Nation’s Ticketmaster and AEG’s AXS to deceive consumers when tickets go on sale, and to turn a blind eye to illegal software bots that scoop up tickets before humans can instead of reporting their usage to law enforcement.”

Long Live The Queen: Behind The Costumes of 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story'

The Art of Costume: Dearest readers! It is with utmost delight that we invite you to once again return to the opulent world of Bridgerton, as the incomparable Shonda Rhimes unveils her latest masterpiece: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. As expected, the splendorous court of Queen Charlotte is filled with some of the most beautiful costumes, designed by costume designers Lyn Paolo and Laura Frecon. The two costume designers joined The Art of Costume to discuss their inspirations, a royal wedding, the use of jewelry, King George, and some hidden costume details.

25th Lenya Competition Awards 3 Top Winners

AMERICAN THEATRE: The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music has announced the winners of the 25th annual Lenya Competition. In a three-way tie, the jury awarded first prize to Taylor-Alexis DuPont, Ryan Johnson, and Nyla Watson.

Kabuki kids: The children of Japan's traditional theater

The Japan Times: Like most 10-year-olds in Japan, Maholo Terajima enjoys baseball and video games, but recently his schedule has also included lessons in sword fighting, choreography and fan dancing — preparations for his kabuki debut. The French-Japanese boy made his first appearance to rapturous applause this week under his new stage name, Onoe Maholo, at Tokyo’s Kabukiza theater, the storied home of the classical art form.

What to expect at this year’s Helen Hayes Awards

DC Theater Arts: The Helen Hayes Awards are back, baby, live and in person! For the first time since 2019, the DMV theater community will be able to celebrate its achievements with a big old party. This year’s event will look and feel different from past ceremonies, so DCTA sat down with Theatre Washington leadership to get the scoop on what to expect when you don your fancy duds on May 22.

Tania El Khoury, Whitney White Win Alpert Awards for Theatre

AMERICAN THEATRE: The Herb Alpert Foundation has announced the winners of the 29th annual Herb Alpert Award in the Arts (HAAIA). Administered by California Institute of the Arts, each award comes with an unrestricted prize of $75,000 and a residency at CalArts. It is given annually to risk-taking mid-career artists working in the fields of dance, film/video, music, theatre, and the visual arts. The 2023 Herb Alpert Award in the Arts winners include Ayodele Casel, and duo Makini (jumatatu m. poe) and Jermone Donte Beacham for dance, Christopher Harris and Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich for film, Erin Gee and Linda May Han Oh for music, Tania El Khoury and Whitney White for theatre, and American Artist and Park McArthur for visual arts. A virtual HAAIA awards celebration was held this afternoon.

Bell bites back over Macbeth review

limelightmagazine.com.au: A recent review in Melbourne’s The Age by critic Cameron Woodhead has provoked Bell Shakespeare Company into issuing a rare public rebuke of the writer’s language and critique of the work of Hazem Shammas, currently playing the title role in its production of Macbeth.

A Saturday That WOW’d (A NoPro Diary)

by Noah J Nelson | May, 2023 | No Proscenium: What is Without Walls Festival, aka WOW? Simply put: it is an annual performing arts festival that celebrates work that takes place outside of traditional theatrical venues. That means a lot of outdoor performances and a healthy dollop of immersive & interactive work. If a piece can fit inside that broad mandate, it’s a candidate for WOW.

Understanding Theatre as Service, Part One

HowlRound Theatre Commons: Olga Sanchez Saltveit is the artistic director emerita for Milagro Theatre, the Pacific Northwest’s premier Latinx arts and culture organization, following her service as the company’s artistic director from 2003 until 2015. She is now also assistant professor of theatre at Middlebury College. Shayna Schlosberg is the equity leader at Oregon Public Broadcasting and moved to Portland, Oregon last summer after many years in Houston, Texas. These two leaders have spent their careers in service of the Latinx community.

Broadway on the Cheap: How To Get Rush and Lottery Tickets

New York Theater: Below is a chart showing a list of discounted tickets via lottery and rush for each current Broadway show, presented in the tradition of the useful (but sadly no longer updated) website Broadway for Broke People. The practice of discounted rush tickets (where you line up, usually on the morning of the performance) began with the musical “Rent” in 1997, when theater lovers often camped out in front of the theater overnight, for a chance at $20 tickets in the first two rows, at a time when regular ticket prices for Broadway shows had already begun their steep ascent to prohibitively expensive.

“This is Not Your Grandmother's Camelot”: Costume Designer Jennifer Moeller Explains Her Approach

Vogue: What does one wear to Camelot? Even if the climate is “perfect all the year” as the jaunty title song goes, the task of dusting off the tabards and trains of the round table for the current revival of the 1960 Lerner and Loewe musical now running at Lincoln Center Theater fell to costume designer Jennifer Moeller (Clyde’s, Dickinson).

Meet the Wabanaki artists behind the costumes for a Wolastoqey story ballet

CBC News: Emma Hassencahl-Perley is working to revitalize Wolastoqey iconography and regalia and she's bringing that knowledge to her work as the lead costume designer for an upcoming ballet at the Fredericton Playhouse.

Amazon Studios Hit by Layoffs

The Hollywood Reporter: Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Amazon’s Prime Video has reduced its workforce by 100 staffers across its technology team and other areas. Also impacted are a small number of MGM staffers who joined Amazon as part of its $8.5 billion acquisition of the storied film and TV studio.

Best Cordless Router Reviews for 2023

Pro Tool Reviews: I have a confession—I love routing. I find it therapeutic. There’s something about running a bit down an edge and adding an element of creativity that’s enjoyable. Recent upgrades in battery and motor technology are letting us cut the cord on trim routers and making the experience that much better. We decided to bring in the best cordless router models and test them head-to-head in a review that also happens to be great for my mental health.

International Association of Venue Managers Orange County Convention Center Spotlights Sustainability During Earth Week 2023 -

blog.iavm.org: The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), in partnership with Orange County Government, hosted an Earth Week celebration showcasing its premier sustainability initiatives and green meeting practices.

Streamlined Workflow: The Sound Approach For The Recent World Tour By Larkin Poe

ProSoundWeb: Larkin Poe is an American roots-rock band from Nashville, comprised of sisters Rebecca Lovell (lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin, piano) and Megan Lovell (harmony vocals, lapsteel and drobo buitars) collaborating with bassist Tarka Layman and drummer Ben Satterlee. The sisters first started out in 2005 as a bluegrass Americana group called the Lovell Sisters and in 2010 regrouped as Larkin Poe.

How 'Paint' Costume Designer Finds the Perfect Period Pieces for Film

nofilmschool.com: Paint tells the story of the failing romantic and professional lives of Carl Nargle (Owen Wilson), the most popular cable television painter in Vermont. While Carl is largely inspired by Bob Ross, this is not a Bob Ross story. Instead, this is a film that is entirely focused on the downfall of someone beloved by his local community. Obscurity is inevitable for Carl as the world changes around him, and costume designer Allison Pearce captures this perfectly through the look of each character in Paint.

Sustainable Disney Costumes Made from Recycled Gadgets and Gizmos

Disney Parks Blog: Did you know that thousands of costumes worn by cast and employees at Disney Parks and Experiences around the world, from cruise ships to high-speed coasters, are made from recycled plastics? I love learning all about Disney’s commitment to environmental sustainability, something we call Disney Planet Possible, and I’m excited to share some of the impressive recycling and upcycling initiatives taking place around the world!

A Fake Drake Song Shows the Potential for A.I.'s Future

reason.com: A viral song this month showed one of the potential uses—and a future battleground—in the realm of artificial intelligence (A.I.). On April 4, an anonymous internet user named ghostwriter977 uploaded a song titled "heart on my sleeve" to all the major streaming platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, and TikTok. The song sounds like a collaboration between pop superstars Drake and The Weeknd, but neither is on the track: ghostwriter977 used A.I. to simulate the artists' voices.

Netflix Must Pay $42 Million to Writers in Unpaid Residuals After ‘Bird Box’ Arbitration Ruling

www.thewrap.com: The Writers Guild of America has secured $42 million in unpaid writer residuals from Netflix after an arbitration ruling was handed down in the guild’s favor regarding the Sandra Bullock horror film “Bird Box.”

Theater Mu to Host AAPI Generations Conference

AMERICAN THEATRE: Theater Mu will host the AAPI Generations Conference May 19-21 at Park Square Theatre in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month along with Theatre Mu’s 30th anniversary. The event will include guests of honor David Henry Hwang, Amy Hill, and Mu co-founding artistic director Rick Shiomi. The opening plenary will feature University of Minnesota professor and Asian American theatre historian Dr. Josephine Lee discussing with Hwang, Hill, and Shiomi their experiences and the changes they’ve seen in Asian American theatre.

Lizzo Brought Drag Queens Onstage In Tennessee. Uh Oh, Is Daily Wire Creep Matt Walsh Mad Now?

Wonkette: If there is one thing all patriotic Americans know, it is that Lizzo is cool. Also that Tennessee is having some kind of weird little white supremacist freakshow contest with itself to see who can be the most reactionary fascist shitshow loser. Surprise, Tennessee is winning!

Origins of the 50-ft Stage Rule for Fire Safety Curtains

ASTC: A common question to theatre consultants is about the origin and basis of the” fifty foot rule” for requiring proscenium opening protection between the stage and auditorium. For background, the first fire safety curtain is reported to have been installed at the third Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in 1794 for property protection.

Prolight + Sound: Our Impressions

LightSoundJournal.com: The 2023 edition of Prolight + Sound closes with some interesting numbers, up from the 2022 edition – the first post-pandemic. A significant figure that translates into the fact that for many companies Frankfurt remains an important and still well-attended event.

A digital trip to the era of gas lamps and greasepaint

limelightmagazine.com.au: Launched this week, a 12-minute fly-through of a virtual recreation of the historic theatre allows viewers to experience the venue’s original stage, backstage areas, dressing rooms and some previously off-limits areas, including the Theatre Manager’s office.

WWIT to showcase new plays and music by women+ in June

DC Theater Arts: Washington Women in Theatre (WWIT) celebrates its 20th anniversary with a showcase of new plays and music by diverse women+ on two weekends in June at American University in the Katzen Arts Center’s Studio Theatre. WWIT promotes theater and music projects from the perspective of women+ giving voice to women+ writers and composers of the DC area and beyond.

Green Hippo and Prase deliver Hippotizer video-to-surface training

LightSoundJournal.com: Italian audio, video, digital signage and control solution distributor Prase Media Technologies has delivered its first Hippotizer training sessions, in collaboration with Green Hippo. The two-day course was designed to showcase some of the world-class features of the Nevis+ and Boreal+ MK2 Media Servers and the new Hippotizer 4.8 software.

Overlooked: Who Was Shut Out of the 2023 Tony Award Nominations?

Playbill: Broadway is busy celebrating another year of Tony Award nominations, a list that saw lots of first-time nominees alongside artists finally receiving nods after long careers. And as per usual, theatre fans have lots of opinions about who did—and did not—make the list this year.

'Some Like It Hot' Musical Leads 2023 Tony Award Nominations With 13

onstagepittsburgh.com: Some Like It Hot scored a leading 13 nominations in the voting announced Tuesday, May 2. The musical based on the classic comedy about two musicians who go on the lam, disguised as women, is loaded with old-timey razzle-dazzle:starry performances, big dance numbers and beautiful practical sets. Next, with nine nominations each, were Some Like It Hot’s competition in the new musical category, & Juliet, Shucked and New York, New York.

8 Reasons To Work In Audio

SoundGirls.org: Look around the audio industry and you’ll find an abundant number of people who are passionate, motivated, inspired, dedicated, hardworking, and often obsessed with their craft! What are some of the reasons that make working in audio so great, and worth dedicating a career and a substantial amount of your life’s hours to?

The Glitterbox is set to convert a West Homestead garage into a queer, DIY theater space

Pittsburgh City Paper: After a lengthy hiatus, Pittsburgh’s favorite queer DIY theater space has found a new home in West Homestead. But the group behind it, which, since 2017, has organized numerous events throughout the city, needs public support to make the move a successful one.

Reflecting the United States Latinx Experience on Stage

HowlRound Theatre Commons: Award-winning director José Luis Valenzuela has been a visionary and an advocate for Chicanx/Latinx Theatre for over thirty years. He is the artistic director of the Latino Theater Company and the Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) and served as head of the MFA directing program at University of California, Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television. José Luis was one of the eight theatremakers who gathered in 2012 and created the Latinx Theatre Commons (LTC). Nidia Medina is a freelance theatre producer and artist based in New York City. She currently serves as the associate artistic director at INTAR Theatre. The two leaders from opposite coasts met on Zoom and shared their respective trajectories in the field, how it has changed over time, and the mentors who guided them.

Shelley Maxwell: the soul-stirring master mover who makes superheroes dance

Stage | The Guardian: When the couples took to the dance floor in Kingston, Jamaica, they had their eyes on quite the prize: flights to England. But one contestant didn’t have a holiday in mind. Shelley Maxwell had secured a place for a master’s in choreography at London’s Trinity Laban conservatoire and couldn’t afford the travel. Here was her chance to waltz away for free.

Exclusive interview with costume designer Allisa Swanson on Firefly Lane

theenvoyweb.com: Known for her work in The 100 (2014), The Snow Walker (2003), When Calls the Heart (2014), and now Firefly Lane (2021), Allisa Swanson has had an illustrious career with awards and accolades aplenty. She has designed, created, and consulted for not just TV and films but also the 2010 Winter Olympics, among other things.

How does Southern Europe's largest Company Event Provider pamper its hard-working team?

www.eventindustrynews.com: It was the first company annual meeting trip after Covid-19; this was the ideal setting to mark the start of a new brand communication strategy. The Portuguese company reunited its 113 employees for four days to promote team spirit, wrap up a successful 2022, and outline the objectives for this year.

Writers Strike Impact: Makeup Artist Says Remember Below-The-Line Workers

Guest Column – Deadline: Let’s start by saying that I, like the huge majority of my fellow crew members, support the WGA if they strike to get fair compensation. We below-the-line members would just like to be considered in the conversation. I believe what the writers are asking for is more than fair, but I know we will be the ones left in crippling debt after the smoke clears, with no celebration dance at the end for us.

Tony Awards announce 2023 recipients of Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre

www.broadwaynews.com: The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced the recipients of the 2023 Honors for Excellence in the Theatre, which acknowledge individuals and organizations who, while not eligible in established Tony Awards categories, have made significant contributions to the theater industry.

Yellowjackets’ Liv Hewson Passes on Emmys Over Gendered Categories

IndieWire: Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” has a large ensemble of actors worthy of Emmy consideration, from established stars like Melanie Lynskey and Christina Ricci to up-and-comers like Jasmin Savoy Brown and Sophie Nélisse who play their younger counterparts. But one cast member, Liv Hewson, has removed themselves from contention, due to the gendered categories of the Television Academy’s awards.

What Is an EGOT? A Detailed History of Its Origins and Winners.

The New York Times: Common would be the first to admit that he has an EGO — that is, an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award and an Oscar — making him just a Tony Award shy from securing the coveted EGOT, the achievement of winning all four major entertainment awards. Eighteen other people have done so, including the “Frozen” songwriter Robert Lopez, the only person to do it twice. The most recent addition was the actress Viola Davis, who earned a Grammy in February for the audiobook of her memoir, making her one of six women to have an EGOT.

From 'Not Asian Enough' to Broadway Choreographer, JoAnn M. Hunter is in Charge Now

Playbill: JoAnn M. Hunter was a young actor sitting in her dressing room when her director made a disturbing, yet sadly common, remark: “You’re the best actress I’ve seen in this role, but you’re just not the right type.” Hunter, who is Japanese-American, could not help but feel his critique was based on her identity. “And then he went on,” Hunter recalls: “If I didn’t know your talent, and someone showed me your picture, I would have said no.”

Winners of the 2023 Theatre World Awards for Broadway and Off-Broadway debut performances

DC Theater Arts: The Board of Directors of the Theatre World Awards – first presented in 1945, and the oldest awards given for Outstanding Broadway and Off-Broadway debut performances – has announced its 77th Annual Awards winners.

Adlib supplies L-Acoustics K Series for George Ezra's European Tour

LightSoundJournal.com: After accomplished musician and BRIT award-winner George Ezra completed his third album, Gold Rush Kid, last year, he embarked on an exciting UK arena tour at the end of the year. This was followed by a European leg, which started at the beginning of February and finished in April at The O2 in London. Adlib, one of Europe’s leading event technology partners, designed and supplied the PA system, which featured the L-Acoustics K Series, including the industry benchmark K1 and the ‘lightweight heavyweight’ K2.

Everything We Know So Far About the 76th Annual Tony Awards

www.broadwayworld.com: Broadway's biggest night is back in 2023! The Tony Awards, Broadway's most beloved tradition, returns this June, honoring theater professionals for distinguished achievement in the 2022/2023 Broadway season. What can you expect this time around? We've got the scoop!

‘Oliver!’ Returns, With Darker Twists Intact

The New York Times: It was 10 a.m. on a recent morning in a rehearsal room at New York City Center, and nine boys scurried around the space, clutching parasols of red and white lace, tin cups and jaunty pocket squares. “OK, everyone!” said Lorin Latarro, the choreographer of the show, a new staging of “Oliver!,” the Lionel Bart musical opening at City Center on Wednesday for a two-week run as part of the Encores! series. “Today we’re going to work on ‘I’d Do Anything.’”

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Picks Erie Arts leader Patrick Fisher as New Leader

onstagepittsburgh.com: Patrick Fisher, who most recently served as executive director of Erie Arts & Culture, was announced on Monday as the successor to Mitch Swain, who has served as CEO of the Arts Council since 2005, when the organization was created by a merger of ProArts and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Alliance. Swain will officially leave his position when Fisher begins his new role on June 1.

Jimmy Awards announce recipients of 2023 Inspiring Teacher Award

www.broadwaynews.com: The Jimmy Awards, celebrating high school musical theater performers from around the country, have announced the two teachers who will receive the 2023 Inspiring Teacher Award. As previously announced, the 14th annual ceremony will take place at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre on June 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Men's Style Inspiration From Movies

Cool Material: I remember in high school a group of boys became obsessed with the film Reservoir Dogs. So much so, they began wearing ill-fitting suits to school and never took their sunglasses off. It always stuck with me how much the film must have impacted them to create their entire sophomore year persona around a film from 1992.

Sky-High Hollywood Exec Pay Is Target in WGA Strike: ‘Workers Who Write Their Shows Can’t Afford Rent’

www.thewrap.com: Hollywood executives’ pay has become a significant topic of conversation in the wake of the writer’s strike, after the WGA was unable to reach a deal in contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Mastering the 'greatest weakness' question in job interviews

www.welcometothejungle.com: First and foremost, recruiters aren’t out to “destabilize, trick, or confuse you,” says Schnoebelen: “Their aim is to find the right person for the job.” If they ask you to talk about your weaknesses, it isn’t a trap—after all, nobody’s perfect—but “a way to assess the candidate’s level of self-knowledge,” insists the expert.

Stability AI And DeviantArt Ask Court To Dismiss Artists’ Silly Lawsuit Against Generative Art

Techdirt: Earlier this year you may have heard that there were a few lawsuits filed over generative AI platforms, with two big cases targeting Stability AI, makers of Stable Diffusion, in particular. I’d been meaning to write about these cases, and why they’re so problematic, but things have been busy and I didn’t get a chance. Though, now, in the first case, filed by some artists, Stability has filed its motion to dismiss (and an anti-SLAPP motion) against the plaintiffs, and it highlights many of the points I would have raised in the article anyway. So let’s just dig into that.

Generative AI Brings Efficiency to the Production Process

Variety: Generative AI already surpasses human creative capabilities with existing tools in two key respects: speed and cost of production. One of the first major benefits of introducing gen AI to production pipelines is its ability to unlock substantial new efficiencies for content creation, in effect translating to greater productivity, time saved and lower costs.

Cinespace Studios Toronto launches Cinecares Workforce Training Program

Reel Chicago News: Cinespace Studios announced the launch of the CineCares Workforce Training program in Toronto to recruit, train and offer meaningful paid work placements on productions filming at Cinespace Studios Toronto to bring new and qualified crew members to the film and television sector in the region.

Power Tool Manufacturers and Who Really Owns Them - 2023

www.protoolreviews.com: Ever wonder who owns Craftsman tools? How about Milwaukee, Mac Tools, or Skilsaw? It may surprise you to know that only a handful of power tool companies own your favorite tools. That’s right, most tool brands fall under a parent company that also controls additional power tool manufacturers and brands. We break it down for you…with charts!

Lumber Prices Fall As Home Sales Slump, Industry Looks for Supply Balance

markets.businessinsider.com: Lumber prices fell toward multi-year lows on Thursday, falling 4% to $382 per thousand board feet as the industry continues to seek a balance in supply and demand.

Prolight + Sound 2023: Day One

Prolight + Sound 2023: Day One: Last international trade fair event with the season already started (or perhaps never finished) with Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt, which, despite the great absence of many players in the audio sector, is expressing a large amount of content, new formats and a massive presence of companies from the lighting world that have not spared themselves at all in terms of world premiere in often crowded stands full of innovations.

Prolight + Sound is back on the growth track

LightSoundJournal.com: A powerful statement for events and entertainment: After four days full of innovative presentations, exciting conferences and emotional encounters, Prolight + Sound 2023 closes with a significant increase in visitor numbers. More than 27,500 professionals from 113 countries attended the leading trade fair for the entertainment technology industry from April 25 to 28, 2023. Current topics such as the implementation of sustainable events or the increasing demand for specialists and young talents were discussed – in this regard, the Prolight + Sound conference programme offered numerous future-oriented approaches and solutions.

Broadway Season Closer Quiz

New York Theater: How well were you paying attention to the theater in April, 2023, the end of the Broadway season? Answer these ten questions — and one doozy of a bonus question — to find out.

A rarely revived Lorraine Hansberry play comes to Broadway

NPR: In 1959, playwright Lorraine Hansberry rocketed to stardom with "A Raisin In The Sun." Five years later, she had another Broadway production, "The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window." That show has rarely been revived, but it's back now. It opened last week with a celebrity cast, including Oscar Isaac of "Star Wars" fame.

ProLight + Sound 2023: Day Four

LightSoundJournal.com: The well-known company specialising in solutions for the over IP control of DMX and DALI signals presents its new products CueCore3, Purple Cloud and RdmRelay in Frankfurt.

(Re)Casting the Shakespearean Mold: In Conversation with Jamie Robinson and Walter Borden

www.intermissionmagazine.ca: To say that Jamie Robinson and Walter Borden are fans of the Bard would be an understatement. The two accomplished actors and theatre artists actually met at the Stratford Festival in 2003, and have maintained a friendship ever since.

WGA Tells Members to Be Ready to Picket if No Deal is Reached

Variety: The Writers Guild of America told members Sunday to be ready to hit the picket lines if no agreement is reached by midnight on Monday. In an email, the guild asked members to fill out a “picketing survey,” providing their preferred time and location to join in, by noon on Monday.

The Finally, Finally, Finished Regency Straw Bonnet

The Sewing Goatherd: Years ago, when I made my white Regency dress I planned, and began, a Regency bonnet to go with it.

Prolight + Sound 2023: Day Three

LightSoundJournal.com: Many world premieres launched in Frankfurt by Claypaky with a series of products focused on outdoor use and power. One above all is the new SKYLOS, an ultra-versatile, weatherproof search light with incredible light output. We had the opportunity to see it in action inside an empty pavilion at the fair, and the effect was truly amazing.

Aideen Malone | Your Interviews

Women in Lighting: My name is Aideen Malone, a UK based independent lighting designer working in both the entertainment and architectural industries. Growing up in Ireland with a large family, creativity was always encouraged. Initially, this happened through music, where every time people gathered for an occasion.

At a Carbon Neutral Music Festival, We Gain More Than We Lose

consequence.net: Before you arrive at a music festival, you might spend hours in a long line of cars inching towards the bored parking attendants who organize lots so large they’re visible from low orbit. After walking through the long maze of vehicles, you’ll arrive at your first garbage receptacle, perhaps already piled high with plastic water bottles, each made with fossil fuels (about 8% of the world’s petrochemicals go to plastic), and most of which could have been recycled but won’t be. Recycling is expensive — just getting everything off the ground and bagged is hard enough — and so even more-sustainable aluminum cans are likely headed for the trash heap.

WGA Warns of Impact on Streamers, Networks as Potential Strike Looms

The Hollywood Reporter: The guild, which represents more than 11,500 writers of film, television and streaming media, is currently in active negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, but the current contract expires May 1 and a new agreement has not yet been reached. Moreover, close to 98 percent of WGA members have voted to authorize a strike if a new deal is not reached by that date.

Inside U2's Boundary-Breaking Immersive Vegas Show

WIRED: When U2 launched its Zoo TV tour in 1991, it revolutionized live music. Over the course of 157 shows, the tour—which was in support of their album Achtung Baby—was almost an embarrassment of overwhelming sights and sounds, with cutting-edge visuals (for the time), a lighting system that was encased partially in Soviet-era Trabant cars, and a leather-clad Bono at times portraying a character named MacPhisto. It was a big swing for the group—and it worked. The group reportedly took in more than $151 million in ticket sales, and the tour is still hailed as one of the most artistically successful of all time.

What They're Wearing: Costume Designer Susan Tsu Outfits 'Young Americans' at the Public

onstagepittsburgh.com: Susan Tsu, the award-winning costume designer and Carnegie Mellon professor, had just administered a final exam when her face popped up in close-up, a Zoom call. You could hear the students bustling in the background.

Audience Rewards announces return of Tony Awards Challenge

www.broadwaynews.com: The Tony Awards, in partnership with Audience Rewards, has announced the 2023 Official Tony Awards Challenge. Broadway fans have the opportunity to predict the winners of this year’s Tonys for a chance to win prizes.

Final Tony Admin Decisions Leave Some Scratching Their Heads

www.broadwayworld.com: Tomorrow is the big day--the Tony nominations. That means last week brought us the last eligibility decisions. Let's peek behind the curtain at some of the main things we learned.