At the Majestic Theater on Broadway, a Memorial Tribute to Gerald Schoenfeld

NYTimes.com: "The line to enter the Majestic Theater is always long — “The Phantom of the Opera” plays there, after all — but Monday the line stretched much farther than usual, as more than 1,500 people arrived for a memorial tribute to Gerald Schoenfeld, the influential theater owner and producer who died at 84 in November."

Pan Asian Rep Announces Line-Up for New Works 09 Festival

Playbill News: "The four-week event, running March 16-April 11 at the West End Theatre, will showcase full-length plays, solo works and musical acts from the Asian-American arts community and beyond."

Playwright Robert Anderson dies

Variety: "Playwright Robert Anderson, author of such Broadway hits as 'Tea and Sympathy' and 'You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running,' died of pneumonia Feb. 9 in Manhattan. He was 91."

Memorial honors Gerald Schoenfeld

Variety: "The late Gerald Schoenfeld received an affectionate sendoff from the legit community Monday afternoon at a memorial service held in honor of the former chairman of the Shubert Organization, the Broadway landlord and producing company."

Met announces new season, cuts

Variety: "The lineup for the Metropolitan Opera’s 2009-10 season will include eight new productions -- but lack a few previously discussed revivals that were trimmed in the fallout of the economic downturn."

Canadian theater takes a hit

Variety: "It may have taken a bit longer than it did in the U.S., but the legit industry in Canada has begun to show signs of vulnerability to the current economic downturn.
Theaters have begun canceling shows, reducing seating capacities and slashing prices in an attempt to survive a situation whose full extent probably hasn't yet been felt."

Signature dominates Hayes Awards

Variety: "The 25th anniversary of D.C.'s Helen Hayes Awards looks to be bountiful for the Signature Theater in Arlington, Va., as its musical-laden sked picked up 39 nominations and dominated many categories."

Schwartz is a natural for Rodgers Award

Post Gazette: "When weeks-long productions of 'Wicked' sell out in the Cultural District, Pittsburghers who delight in the music and songs are acknowledging the work of composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz, who honed his craft at Carnegie Mellon University and who is the 2009 recipient of the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theater."

Choreographer hopes 'Romeo' reaches young, old

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "French choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot believes dance cannot express everything.
All he aspired to convey in his interpretation of 'Romeo et Juliette' is 'this very specific energy you feel when you have your first love and your heart is beating so strong, when you cannot think of anything else and are ready to go to the end of the world for what you feel.'"

Burlesque in World Premiere ‘Minsky’s’ Mirrors Today’s Troubles

Bloomberg.com: Arts and Culture: "If “Minsky’s,” the new musical by composer Charles Strouse (“Bye Bye Birdie,” “Applause,” “Annie”) that opened Friday night in a world premiere at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles, aspires to anything, it’s to be a show for these desperate times."

Ticketmaster Sued in Canada for Scalping Tickets to Shows

Bloomberg.com: Canada: "Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc., the biggest ticketing company in the world, was sued in Canada for selling popular tickets at inflated prices, in violation of provincial laws."

Think Laterally

Stepcase Lifehack: "Lateral thinking is a phrase coined by Edward de Bono as a counterpoint to conventional or vertical thinking. In conventional thinking we go forward in a predictable, direct fashion. Lateral thinking involves coming at the problem from new directions – literally from the side."

Play the Virtual Broadway Investment game today! Win an iPhone!

PRODUCER’S PERSPECTIVE: "We're all going to play a simple game called Will It Recoup?, to give us all a chance to get in on the Broadway investing and Broadway producing game, without risking a dime."

7 Table Saw Jointing Jig Plans: Straight Edge, No Jointer

ToolCrib.com Blog: "Getting that first straight edge on your working board spawned a class of power tool known as the jointer (and way way back when it spawned the jointer plane, but we don’t get very galoot ’round these parts ;) Luckily for those who need straight edges on rough lumber - and whose space or cash allowance don’t cover new power tools - there are at least 6 jigs out there that keep you on the straight and narrow."

Another ‘Coraline’ Waits in the Wings

NYTimes.com: "“Coraline” the movie opened on Friday; “Coraline” the musical is in the works. MCC Theater has just announced a bit of unconventional casting news for its stage adaptation of the graphic novel by Neil Gaiman."

Cultural Trust warily cuts jobs, programs

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Despite ending 2008 with a budget surplus, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is cutting its budget, reducing programs and eliminating 16 full-time positions including a top administrator."

Chenoweth, Boggess Make Kern’s Silly ‘Music’ Sing

Bloomberg.com: Arts and Culture: "“Music in the Air,” opening this season’s laudable Encores! Series at Manhattan’s City Center, boasts three stars of the first magnitude: Douglas Sills, aka Scarlet Pimpernel; Sierra Boggess, aka Little Mermaid; and Kristin Chenoweth ... well, always gloriously Chenoweth, the Name Above the Title."

After Broadway Awakening, Sheik offers Whisper

Reuters: "Now, Sheik is returning to his own music with 'Whisper House,' released January 27 on Victor Records/Sony. The set is not only his first pop CD since 2006's 'White Limousine,' but it's also the score for his next theatrical endeavor."

Will Ferrell on George Bush

NYTimes.com: "So far six audience members have stormed out midperformance of the Broadway show “You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush,” the comedian Will Ferrell’s lampooning of the 43rd president, according to those keeping count at the Cort Theater. But they haven’t been leaving after a particular Ferrell quip."

Writers Guild of America Awards Presented Feb. 7 in Los Angeles and New York

Playbill News: "The Writers Guild of America Awards will be presented in simultaneous ceremonies Feb. 7 in Los Angeles (at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel) and New York (at the Hudson Theatre)."