Large and small venues alike were shrinking before our very eyes. Concern grew that the fabulous invalid, as the theater has long been dubbed, might be down for the count. But brilliant work will not be denied. And there was enough of it to buoy our flagging morale. - Los Angeles Times
Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Pig is "the first professional stage production to merge two great traditions: Jewish storytelling and festive panto. … And the crossover, it transpires, is richer and more obvious than one might first imagine." - The Guardian
"Assimilation to the United States’ Christian-majority culture has played a role in Hanukkah’s modern transformation. That said, the story of how Hanukkah came to have the commercial, kids-and-gifts focus that it has in the U.S. today is a bit more complicated." - The Conversation
A judge approved a stipulation that the organization pay $300,000 it owes musicians for 2022's Christmas show. But this year's holiday program is performed by the No Name Pops, the group formed by the stiffed players, and the Philly Pops still owes the Kimmel Center back rent. - MSN (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
The half-dozen troupes for whom Amy Hall Garner has been making dances in the past year or so include Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, and New York and Miami City Ballets. Yet she herself went from Juilliard straight to Broadway and even performed for a time as a Rockette. - The New York Times
"In an astonishingly prolific career that spanned more than six decades, Lear created or developed some of the most seminal comedies in television history, including All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, (and) One Day at a Time, ... tackling hot-button issues long considered taboo." - NBC News
"The 78% yes result in voting that began Nov. 13 and ended Tuesday was a far cry from the near-unanimous approval and widespread enthusiasm members of the writers guild gave to the deal that ended their strike in September." - AP
"Darling is a 41-year-old Oxford-born, Berlin-based multidisciplinary artist working across sculpture, video, drawing and performance; he also released a collection of poetry, Virgins, last year. His Turner Prize-winning exhibition is an installation that places viewers in a custom-built environment evoking chaotic city streets and industrial barriers." - CNN
When the Guggenheim raised the price for adult admissions to $30 from $25 over the summer, it cited a lack of visitors and declining membership at a moment when expenses have skyrocketed because of inflation, increased labor costs and insurance, as well as rising shipping fees. - The New York Times
The destruction of dozens of majors and careers at West Virginia University, which serves many working- and middle-class students, raises a fundamental question in public higher education: If you’re a bright kid of modest means, which opportunities do you deserve? - The Atlantic
Director and choreographer Adam Shankman has been named chief creative officer of DanceOne, a new brand from TZP Group. DanceOne will serve as the world’s largest dance holding company, featuring the nation’s leading dance education and competitions. - Variety
"Something struck me forcibly as I was trying to fulfill the New York Philharmonic’s 9/11 commission: America had no contemporary musical work that could express national trauma. We Americans seem to have a popular song for just about every emotion, but in the immediate aftermath of tragedy only classical music seemed able to fill the void." - New Yorker
His desire to create extraordinary pieces of work burned fiercely to the end. A cultural polymath, Byrne traversed a number of genres throughout his illustrious career, with successes as a playwright, painter, screenwriter, set designer, costume designer, illustrator, muralist and printmaker. - The Conversation
Contrary to some beliefs, introducing AI as a technology can support and enhance creativity in educational settings. For example, generative AI tools can be used to promote divergent thinking, challenge expertise bias, assist in idea evaluation, support idea refinement and facilitate collaboration. - The Conversation
"The AMI media association, … a group representing 83 Spanish media outlets has filed a 550 million euro ($600 million) lawsuit against Facebook owner Meta Platforms, citing unfair competition in the advertising market in a case that could be replicated across the European Union." - Reuters
