“Right now, Thomas is starring in the Canadian Opera Company’s latest production of Otello in Toronto. In the past, the role has received criticism for casting white actors who have had their skin darkened to play the part. But as a black opera singer himself, Thomas says that outrage is misplaced. He joined host Tom Power in the q studio to share his perspective on why banning blackface won’t get at the root issues of the genre’s lack of diversity.” (audio) – CBC
How Doris Day Connected With America
Todd Purdum: “Doris Day, who died Monday at 97, was always underrated—the girl next door whose peaches-and-cream good looks, 1,000-watt smile, and sinuous, molten singing voice were so often taken for granted. Her huge commercial power—and the bad management of her third husband, Martin Melcher—meant that she seldom had material worthy of her talents, in records or on film. But when she did, watch out.” – The Atlantic
What Dance Criticism Really Needs Is Outsiders (Says A Veteran Dance Critic)
“Bring on the outsiders! The writers and journalists who can’t raise their legs to their ears but can ask a brand-new, real good question and keep asking until it gets answered with clarity.” Eva Yaa Asantewaa (who was something of an outsider, in more than one way, when she started) makes the case. – Dance Magazine
Mel Gibson Is Playing A Character Called ‘Rothchild’, And Folks On Social Media Aren’t Having It
In the movie in question, titled Rothchild and currently being pitched to buyers at the Cannes marketplace, Gibson is to play the patriarch of an extremely rich New York family. The similarity to Rothschild, the name of a wealthy European Jewish family that has been the target of anti-Semitic invective for centuries, has (one might say) not gone unnoticed or unremarked-upon online, given Gibson’s history of (one might say) unfortunate utterances. – The Guardian
33 Things You’d Benefit By Knowing As An Artistic Director
Sean Daniels passes on a Joe Haj list constituting a recipe for being a successful artistic director of a theatre. Some are common sense (don’t be an asshole). Others reflect a bit more psychology: “Everyone who works with you is firmly placed in the center of their own lives. You must collect their dreams and include them in a shared idea of the future, or pay the penalty of a disconnected and disaffected staff.” – The Awkward Stage
Comedic Sidekick Tim Conway Dies At 85 After Fight With Dementia
“Conway’s breakout role was on the 1960s sitcom McHale’s Navy, as a bumbling ensign in World War II. On The Carol Burnett Show he played Mr. Tudball, a heavily-accented boss perpetually annoyed by his slow-moving secretary. On the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants he voiced a frustrated superhero sidekick called Barnacle Boy.” – NPR