Disney's new Rise of the Resistance tops all theme park rides

www.themeparkinsider.com: With four ride systems, enough projections and Pepper's Ghosts to fill the Haunted Mansion, and a 20-minute overall experience time, Rise is as stuffed as Jabba the Hutt. Walt Disney Imagineering attempted to create the most technological advanced attraction in theme park history here, and not only did they succeed, they created a visually stunning experience that will overwhelm every casual Star Wars fans.

The Theater Olympics Bring a World of Drama Together

The New York Times: The event happens in a different city every few years and participants from all over the world are thrilled to take part. Crowds rush to buy tickets for events they might never otherwise see. It was founded in Greece, and international cooperation and good will are high on the list of aims.

The Milwaukee M12 Installation Driver - Your Close Quarters Friend

homefixated.com: There comes a time in every handyperson or mechanic’s life when you have that one fastener that is just out of reach. Or sometimes you can reach it, but just cannot get a good bite on it. Maybe it’s too awkward, or a regular driver won’t fit in the space you have to work with. The Milwaukee Fuel M12 Installation Driver has a knack for tackling those hard-to-reach places.

#PayUpHollywood Poll: 24% of Assistants Report Higher Substance Use

Variety: Around one in four assistants said the entertainment industry’s working conditions have prompted them to increasingly use drugs, alcohol and other substances, according to a #PayUpHollywood survey of over 1,500 support staffers shared exclusively with Variety.

Scientists Are Pushing to Ban Glitter, Say It's a 'Global Hazard'

Parents: All crafting enthusiasts and makeup gurus know there is a price to pay when using glitter. Yes, it is dazzling and theatrical but with one use, comes lots of damage control—expect an impossible-to-clean mess in any inconvenient crevice. So what does that chaos mean on a larger scale? Microplastics—the essence of glitter which consists of small pieces plastic are making headlines as scientist warns of the environmental dangers they present.

An Unexpected Twist on 'A Christmas Carol' at the Playhouse in the Park

www.citybeat.com: I’ve been attending the opening nights of A Christmas Carol at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park for nearly three decades. I did so on Friday, Nov. 30 with every expectation of seeing Charles Dickens’s familiar tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s Christmas Eve conversion from angry miser to loving benefactor, thanks to the visitation of his long-dead business partner Jacob Marley and three ghosts sent to teach Scrooge some important lessons.

Parents of Color and The Need For Anti-Racist Theatre Practices

HowlRound Theatre Commons: I’m at a theatre conference, and I hear the children before I see them. Bubbly giggles erupt from their bodies as they take flight, running for the pure joy of the experience. For a moment I’m lost in thought as I measure the emotional cost of me being here—which is time away from my own children—and what it would mean for them to accompany me into these highly problematic, racist spaces. Confident I made the right decision to leave them at home, I return to the reality of the conference.

Why Parent-Artists and Institutions Need Human Resources Support

HowlRound Theatre Commons: As senior manager of talent at a global NGO, people often ask “why human resources?” the moment they learn about my background in the arts. The answer is advocacy. I was immersed in the world of professional theatre for thirty years before moving into HR. As an arts educator, I advocated for my students to be seen and heard, but as an actor I realized I felt no agency to advocate for myself. That disconnect shaped my decision to seek out opportunities to make a more direct impact on people’s lives.

How dialect coach Nancy McNulty assures accuracy of place and authenticity of sound

Backstage | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper: What does a dialect coach do?
Help shape two major things about an accent: accuracy of place and authenticity of sound. I structure a dialect that will bring everyone together to sound like they are from one world. It’s mostly based on place and geography, but social station is also a factor. There are lots of little nuances to help enrich the difference in characters.

When Department Stores Were Theater

The New York Times: After the hundreds of jobs going poof and the thus-far inadequate discounts, the saddest thing about the closure of Barneys New York is that its signature naughty window displays will recede even further in collective memory.

Review: ‘’Twas the Night Before’ by Cirque du Soleil at Chicago Theatre

Chicago Tribune: Two factors explain the massive crowds this past weekend for “'Twas the Night Before," the new seasonal attraction at the Chicago Theatre. One is the abiding pull of a family visit to the Loop to absorb some holiday atmosphere, a reminder of how, even in this age of Amazon, we’re still attracted to historic urban centers as harbingers of meaningful togetherness. The other is the power of the brand known as the Cirque du Soleil.

Broadway is locking up cellphones because audience members can't control themselves

www.nbcnews.com: Last month, I caught a 10 p.m. performance of the new Broadway musical “Freestyle Love Supreme.” As I was preparing to walk down the aisle to grab my seat, an usher asked me to verify that my phone was silent or off and then placed it in a foam pouch. At first, I thought she was confiscating it. But after she sealed the pouch via an electronic device, she explained that I could hold onto it and have it released from captivity after the show.

"Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance": Inside the new ride at Galaxy's Edge

CNN: "Spaceships and aliens and stormtroopers and lightsabers and droids and all in one attraction."
That's what Scott Trowbridge, a Disney theme park designer known as an Imagineer, told me ahead of riding the highly-anticipated, 18-minute new attraction, "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance" at Walt Disney World.
"[It's] everything that makes Star Wars Star Wars," he said.

This Dancer Spent a Month in Zion National Park

Pointe: For ballet dancers, taking daily class is one of the most natural things they can do.

But taking class in nature is an entirely different story.

Last September, outdoor barre became the new normal for Sarah Longoria during her monthlong stint at Utah's Zion National Park. She lived onsite as an artist in residence, the park's first-ever dancer to be selected for the position.

Muhammad Ali in a Broadway Musical? It Happened

The New York Times: So, as the sportscaster Howard Cosell used to ask great boxers: What went wrong out there, champ?

When the stage musical “Buck White” opened at the George Abbott Theater on Dec. 2, 1969, it had three knockout draws: timeliness, a strong track record and its star, the charismatic heavyweight Muhammad Ali.

“One Night in Miami…” at City Theatre

The Pittsburgh Tatler: After he won the World Heavyweight Championship by roundly defeating Sonny Liston on February 25th, 1964, Cassius Clay celebrated his victory in private with three friends: R & B star Sam Cooke, political activist Malcolm X, and professional football record-setter Jim Brown. There’s no record of what they did together that evening; in One Night in Miami…, playwright Kemp Powers has taken that gap in the historical record as inspiration to imagine what these four friends might have talked about.

Knotfest Mexico Canceled After Barricade Breaks, Fans Storm Stage, Destroy Equipment

Revolver: Yesterday, November 30th, Slipknot were supposed to close out Knotfest México 2019, the latest edition of their hugely successful traveling festival, which recently announced its expansion into the world of metal cruises. However, after a barricade was pushed down during Behemoth's set earlier in the day, and multiple attempts by the festival organizers to fix it failed, the Iowan masked juggernaut canceled their headlining performance due to security concerns.

Jeremy O. Harris Responds To White Woman Who Called "Slave Play" Racist

www.buzzfeednews.com: A Broadway audience was stunned on Friday night when a white woman jumped from her seat and accused a black, gay playwright of being "racist against white people."

Jeremy O. Harris was taking questions in the packed theater following a performance of Slave Play, his new play that's been called provocative, uncomfortable, and thought-provoking. Its story focuses on three interracial couples who are struggling with their sex lives and take part in an Antebellum master-slave role-playing therapy workshop to try and fix their issues.

Broadway Theater Stands Up to Serial Suer And Wins

www.forbes.com: The Ambassador Theatre Group has proven, once again, that the best defense is a good offense.

Last year, Evelyn Castillo sued the Broadway landlord in federal court over its policy blocking guests from bringing outside food into its theaters. She complained that the practice discriminates against individuals with diabetes, and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.

NFTRW Top Five

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

Behind the Museum Walls: 10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Made In PGH: Chances are that if you live in Pittsburgh, you’ve driven past the giant dinosaur statue in Oakland quite a few times, and you’ve at least heard of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. For those of us who grew up here, field trips to the museum were a highlight of our youth (getting out of school to look at fossils and play inside an igloo replica all day…what could be better!?). This museum isn’t just for kids though—it’s one of the top natural history museums in the nation, so you’ll want to take some time to explore it as an adult too. Here are 10 things that you probably didn’t know about the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

Posted by David at 11/29/2019 11:12:00 AM

Circus horror as female acrobat crashes 30ft to the floor in front of screaming families

Daily Mail Online: Families watched in horror as an acrobat plunged 12ft to the floor 'after slipping from her harness' at Winter Wonderland.

The accident happened at the Zippos Christmas Circus Show at 6pm, during a performance of Cirque Beserk at the popular event in London's Hyde Park.

Staff rushed to help the artist, mother-of-one Jackie Armstrong, 35, and the tent was quickly cleared of audience members.

Posted by David at 11/25/2019 10:51:00 AM

Point Park cancels musical due to student concerns over racist content

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Student concerns over racist content in Point Park University’s fall show have led to the cancellation of “Adding Machine: A Musical.” On Thursday, Steven Breese, artistic director of the university’s Pittsburgh Playhouse and dean of the Conservatory of Performing Arts, convened a town hall in the Playhouse’s Highmark Theater, where “Adding Machine” was to have opened Dec. 5. More than 200 students, faculty and staff aired their concerns for nearly three hours.

Posted by David at 11/28/2019 11:04:00 AM

21 Satisfyingly Beautiful Pieces Of Welding Art

canyouactually.com: Welding art is truly an art, I mean seriously, scroll through these pictures below and you’ll instantly get want I’m talking about. Even if you don’t like welding or have absolutely no interest in it it’s hard not to be impressed by these incredible welds.

Posted by David at 11/27/2019 11:04:00 AM

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show canceled in end of bygone era

www.fastcompany.com: Congratulations, consumers of taste. You did it. You killed the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The onetime television staple, which debuted in 1995 and usually airs in November, will not take place this year, according to Stuart Burgdoerfer, CFO of the brand’s parent company, L Brands, who announced the news in an earnings call yesterday. The cancellation follows steadily declining ratings and attempts to “rethink” the show’s image for younger consumers who saw it as outdated.

Posted by David at 11/27/2019 10:57:00 AM