Critics generally hate the shows, but, if attendance figures are anything to go by, the paying public loves them. Museums have taken notice of the excited crowds, and now, they’re beginning to try their hands at digital showmanship. - The New York Times
Pushkin has been falling rapidly in Ukraine. Since the start of the full-scale invasion last February, more than 30 monuments to the poet have been dismantled. From a western European or anglophone perspective the loathing of a poet who died nearly 200 years ago can seem bewildering. - The Guardian
One of the most intriguing aspects of the celebrated show is the live video recording, with close-ups of the actors and occasional puppetry interludes presented on an attendant screen, which also allows room for subtitles for the invented language spoken by the performers. - ArtsHub
"The Dream Journey aims to promote traditional, Sufi-style music, the popularity of which has declined in recent decades" due to the spread of militant, severe brands of Islamism. "Their channel has amassed over 36 million views and 169,000 followers, and has launched several careers." - The Christian Science Monitor
What led to Nataki Garrett’s resignation after just four years in the post, in which she spent as much or more time handling crises and fielding criticism as programming and making theatre? And what led OSF to the point where they had to put out their hand for help? - American Theatre
These unmissable logos seem designed to engage audiences with the stage quite actively, creating an Instagrammable moment in a space where cameras are mostly frowned upon. - The Stage
"In traditional katajjaq, also known as Inuit throat singing, two women stand face to face and perform a duet that doubles as something of a musical battle. Chanting in rhythm, participants attempt to outlast one another, each waiting for any crack in the pace of her opponent." - Psyche
Sheeran had faced allegations that he copied parts of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” for his 2014 song, “Thinking Out Loud.” Heirs of Ed Townsend — Gaye’s collaborator and song’s co-writer — sued him in 2017, claiming Sheeran copied “harmonic progressions, melodic and rhythmic elements” that are the “heart” of Gaye’s iconic song. - Washington Post
"(In Spanish colonial days,) villagers … filled chapels with elaborate altarpieces made of local wood and varnished with pine sap. Today, threatened by dwindling congregations and fading traditions, some of their descendants are fighting to save these historic structures from literally crumbling back to the earth they were built with." - AP
“People often think about” fatigue “in terms of ‘oh, people are tired all the time.’ But fatigue is so much more pervasive and detrimental than that." - Washington Post
Acquiring Esther Perel's Where Should We Begin? "has shown that Vox Media's podcast ambitions extend beyond the digital media company's brand of publications, which include New York magazine and The Verge, and into a realm that appeals to more than just 'tech and (media) industry nerds.'" - The Hollywood Reporter
My plunge into the world of fantastically realistic counterfeit purses — known as “superfakes” to vexed fashion houses and I.P. lawyers, or “unclockable reps” to their enthusiastic buyers — began a couple of years earlier, in what I might characterize as a spontaneous fit of lunacy. - The New York Times
"A swimmable Seine would be a major turnaround for a busy urban waterway once notorious for its filth, allowing Paris to stage (Olympic) aquatic competition events in one of the world's most famous, photogenic metropolitan riverscapes." Authorities say they can pull it off, though Parisians remain skeptical. - Bloomberg CityLab
The Angkor Dance Troupe in Lowell was founded by refugees from the Khmer Rouge who were determined to keep Cambodian classical dance from being snuffed out. They've always had small budgets, but, thanks to COVID relief funding, they've emerged with both stronger purpose and more resources. - WBUR (Boston)
"The campaign, Save Our Stage, … seeks to raise $750,000 by July 1. The cause for the emergency campaign isn't declining demand but increased costs, as artistic director Khalia Davis Davis acknowledges that the company's budget projections 'miscalculated.'" - San Francisco Chronicle
