Stories

The New Artistic Director Of Richmond Ballet Steps Smoothly Into Position

“Ma was named associate artistic director in 2020, with the intention that he would learn the ropes and be given new responsibilities throughout the four-year period before succeeding Winslett. … The directorship change has been more of a mentorship process than a ‘taking over.’” - Pointe Magazine

The Year Of Celebrating America’s Favorite Fighting Frenchman

Two hundred years ago, Lafayette arrived for a year-long tour of the country he helped create. The guy who has played him for years at Colonial Williamsburg is prepared for 13 months of celebrations, including a triumphal visit to Manhattan. - The New York Times

In Rome, Racist Graffiti Defaces A New Mural To An Olympic Champion

The mural, in which a vandal spray-painted pink skin onto a Black athlete, “featured Egonu, who spearheaded Italian women’s volleyball’s first-ever gold medal win at the Paris Olympics, as she jumps to hit a ball with the words ‘stop racism.’” - The Guardian (UK)

A Second-Century Roman Mosaic Has Been Discovered In England

“The decorated floor covering depicts stylized dolphins and several species of fish. It was located in a home likely owned by a wealthy and powerful family,” which was remodeled in the 3rd or 4th century CE, ensuring the mosaic’s survival. - ARTnews

Americans Love Free Speech, Survey Finds — Until They Think About What’s Being Said

"Large majorities of Americans passionately uphold free speech as a cornerstone of democracy. But fewer of them are supportive of free speech when faced with specific controversial speakers or topics. Yet The First Amendment is not an à la carte menu." - The Conversation

Another Bay Area Theatre Meets Its Fundraising Goal, But Plans To Downsize Anyway

Despite raising $500,000 in emergency funds, Aurora Theatre in Berkeley “has shed five full-time workers, including one co-managing director and its entire marketing and development teams.” - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)

The True Crime Producer Who Documented His Own Horrifying Illness And Descent

As freelance TV jobs disappeared, John Balson felt lucky to be working 18 hours a day, across three time zones. Then something happened that he couldn’t control, only document. - The Guardian (UK)

What Do You Get When You Cross “Waiting For Godot” With An Escape Room? This.

"Escape From Godot … is a play where audience members become participants, the game requiring patrons to hop on the dials and interact with props to propel the narrative forward. Puzzles are hidden in the script, ensuring that the players become actors and are in abstract communication with the performers." - Los Angeles Times (MSN)

Longtime Curator Resigns From The Mütter Museum

Anna Dhody “is used to people associating her with the Mütter Museum, where she has been the face of the macabre medical history collection that contains more than 6,000 specimens. But a few months ago, she quietly left her post.” - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)

Yet More Turmoil At Nashville’s Arts Funding Agency As Three Senior Staffers Resign

"One by one, Metro Arts' Communications Manager Daryn Jackson, Public Art Manager Jessica Ingram, and Finance and Operations Director Christiana Afotey announced their resignations. The commissioners barely reacted. … That leaves the department without key staff members at a moment when the future of its grant programs is up in the air." - WPLN (Nashville)

The Pay Equity Model At The Heart Of The Movie Sing Sing Could Change Hollywood

“'We built a model on parity,’ says Sing Sing director Greg Kwedar. ‘Everyone on our movie, the core cast and crew — from the star of the film, all the way through — we all worked for the same rate. And we all collectively own the movie.’” - KCRW

Raygun, The Professor B-Girl, Earned Her Spot On Australia’s Olympics Team Fair And Square

After her zero-points performance in Paris went viral and spawned a thousand memes, a bunch of skeptics on social media — who ultimately submitted a rather ugly petition on Change.org — insisted that Rachael Gunn's presence as a competitor must have been the result of corruption. Well, it just isn't so, and here's why. - Vox

How San Francisco Symphony Plans To Makeover Davies Hall (If It Ever Has The Money)

"Despite its budget deficits and a well-publicized falling out with acclaimed conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, the San Francisco Symphony is moving forward with plans for a full makeover of Davies Symphony Hall." (Which is to say, it submitted drawings to the city planning department before a deadline.) - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)

Manfred Honeck On What Makes A Great Bruckner Conductor

"Technically, from the baton, how you beat, Bruckner is very easy. It’s not like Stravinsky’s Sacre or Mahler. … You have to understand that the tempo comes automatically if you understand the context in which it was written, the spirituality that was in the man and his music and to understand that spirituality." - Bachtrack

Talk About Bucking A Trend: The Onion Has Gone Back Into Actual Ink-On-Paper Print

Or, "The Onion: ‘Americans Demand New Form of Media to Bridge Entertainment Gap While Looking From Laptop to Phone’ - The New York Times

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