Stories

In his new position, Rumanes said, he raised “serious and legitimate alarm” over the company’s business practices. As a result, he says, he was “unlawfully terminated,” according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. - Los Angeles Times

The largest survey dedicated to the Renaissance master in the U.S. includes 33 of his paintings and 142 works on paper. About 60 public institutions from 11 countries sent their treasures by the man born Raphael Sanzio da Urbino (1483–1520). Private loans include his two most expensive works at auction. - Artnet

The venue that created a new type of live entertainment has become the highest-grossing arena in the world, with $379 million on 1.7 million tickets sold last year, according to Pollstar. When it opened three years ago, it had all the signs of an impending disaster. - The Wall Street Journal

It’s the sound. - American Theatre

Or was it Kit Marlowe, getting some long-delayed revenge on conservatives in government? - The Atlantic

But not everybody is a Broadway star, wandering down San Francisco’s Pier 39 and singing to the assembled sea lions. - San Francisco Chronicle

"As a librettist, I’m always aware that I’m serving the music. It’s a humbling experience. Coming from the world of theater is a good thing, because theater is all about collaboration and interpretation—you place the work in the hands of others, and it begins to transform.” - Paris Review

But the museum was expecting - even welcoming - the commentary. - Boston Globe

That is to say, the Rocky Balboa statue is no longer on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art - it’s actually inside. Wild, because “when the bronze statue was left on the steps after filming the Rocky movies, the museum fought to have it removed.” - CBS News

But for practical knowledge? Your kids and grandkids know: It’s YouTube. - Slate

The famous Torch Song Trilogy writer and performer: “I try something new every day, and you can try something new every day. … And some of it’s going to be great and some of it’s going to be terrible. But go out and have fun.” - The Guardian (UK)

Haruki Murakami has a new novel coming out, and the narrator is … what? A woman?! - LitHub

“Lego’s appeal, represented by its zillions of plastic blocks and many movies and TV series, transcends nations. It is one of the planet’s top-selling toy brands, and the toy’s singular pixelated appearance is instantly recognizable on any screen.” - Salon

That, basically, is what’s at stake in the low-grade shots fired (culturally speaking) across the internet about Michael. - Wired

“The initial backlash to Cotoye v. Acme being shelved was clearly getting to WBD by November of 2023 when the studio began offering other production houses like Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount (more on this in a bit) the chance to buy the movie’s distribution rights.” - The Verge