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Amazing (And Rare) Turnaround: “Funny Girl” Revival Makes Back Its Investment

Michele, whose reputation had been tarnished by allegations that she had behaved poorly to co-workers on “Glee,” worked tirelessly to transform the way people saw both her and “Funny Girl,” and became the toast of the town. - The New York Times

Maybe We Ought To Expect More Complexity In Our Theatre?

The problem arises when melodramatic simplicity makes its way into a play without elaborate spectacle, and instead claims to present a realistic view of society. That’s when people start complaining about being “lectured at” or “hit over the head.” - Theatre Ideas

The Many Ways AI Will Upend Publishing

In publishing, too, the technology has the potential to reshape nearly every aspect of the work that goes into producing a book — even the act of writing itself. - The New York Times

The New Intensity Of Concert Experiences This Summer

Concerts have always been spaces where like-minded fans can gather to discover connection, but now this brand of togetherness has transformed concertgoing into an urgent pilgrimage, drawing the faithful in record numbers and providing near-ecstatic experiences. - The New York Times

Buffalo’s Albright-Knox Museum Reopens After a Refresh. Here’s A Look

The once-in-a-generation refresh, the work of architect Shohei Shigematsu at design firm OMA, reestablishes the modern art museum as a friendlier neighbor with easier access and more admission-free gathering spaces. - Bloomberg

The Republicans’ War On Libraries

Attempted book bans in libraries and public schools have proliferated in Republican states, complaints made on grounds of history, race, gender, LGBTQ+ rights and more. Attempts to ban titles by high-profile authors (Maya Angelou, Amanda Gorman, Art Spiegelman) have attracted national headlines. - The Guardian

Some Real Talk About AI In Music

Production music, aka commercial music, will likely be AI’s victim number one. Production music is rarely the music you’d choose to listen to all by itself (excluding great film scores). - Shelly Palmer

Getting Navajo Culture Right On TV

George Joe consulted family to help with accuracy, since they all lived through the time and place depicted on Dark Winds. Then, language: "On the northeast side of the reservation, the Navajo word for 'snow' or 'coffee' is different from the other side of the reservation." - Los Angeles Times

What’s The Point Of The Met Museum’s New Collaboration With A Virtual Reality Company And The Game Roblox?

Maybe this: "I realized I was paying more attention to historical objects and works that I otherwise might not have given a second glance to." - Hyperallergic

Artificial Intelligence Programs Seem To Threaten The Profession Of Architecture

"In terms of strategic thinking and real-time analysis, AI is already way beyond what human architects are capable of. This could be the final nail in the coffin of a struggling profession." - The Guardian (UK)

Global Investment Firm KKR May Buy Simon And Schuster From Paramount

"The possibility that a private equity firm could buy Simon & Schuster has made some publishing executives nervous over the past three years, concerned it could lead to staff cuts and fewer book titles." - The New York Times

How Global Investment Firm KKR Is Making Public Libraries Far Worse

In 2020, a global investment firm bought the company that provides ebooks to nearly all libraries in the US, and quite a few in other countries as well. That is not good news for libraries - or their patrons. - Nine Lives

Asian American Writers Have A Conference Despite The Smithsonian’s Weaseling Out At The Last Minute

The Asian American Literary Collective got their "Ghosted World" conference together quickly after the Smithsonian canceled its huge and popular event. One organizer: "This is a healing. It is bittersweet. It is empowering." - NPR

What Joyce Carol Oates Owes To Oprah

We can't really say "feminism," but if it's feminist to start thinking of your mom as a person when she's 84 years old, then that's what Oprah did for JCO. - LitHub

The Existential Crisis Of Being A Writer And Parent To Kids Who Don’t Love Reading

A writer parent, tasked with teaching her kids in the early days of the pandemic, realizes it's not just that they don't love it - they're dyslexic. And so: "To try and salvage their enjoyment of literature, I divorced the notion of story from the printed word." - LitHub

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