“However well intended, this experiment is likely to be a waste of money and talent, for it misdiagnoses the reason that Shakespeare’s plays can be hard for playgoers to follow. The problem is not the often knotty language; it’s that even the best directors and actors — British as well as American — too frequently offer up Shakespeare’s plays without themselves having a firm enough grasp of what his words mean.”
James Patterson Wants To Give An Indie Bookstore Worker A Big Bonus
The bestselling author and benefactor of booksellers and libraries announced Wednesday that he will give away a total of $250,000 US, with payments ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Everyone from store owners and managers to authors and patrons are eligible to nominate a current employee by answering the question “Why does this bookseller deserve a holiday bonus?”
How Kickstarter Is Changing How (What) Movies Get Made
“While there’s a pretty diverse range of voices, the unifying factor we’re finding is that all these filmmakers have an independent spirit – these are directors who are making work in their own way, and always have. There’s also a real desire to engage with the audience.”
Study: Male Anger Persuades. Female Anger? Not So Much
“Participants became more confident in their own opinion after learning they were in the majority. But (they) then started doubting their own opinion significantly after the male holdout expressed anger.” In contrast, “when a female holdout expressed anger, participants became significantly more confident in their own opinion over the course of deliberation.”
Plan To Revive New York City Opera Has Creditors’ Backing
“More than two years have passed since New York City Opera filed for bankruptcy, leaving in its wake large debts and a legal battle between two rival groups hoping to revive it. Now one of them has won the backing of an important constituency: the creditors who are owed money in the bankruptcy case.”
As Musicians Grow Frustrated, Philadelphia Orchestra Hires Consultant Michael Kaiser
“As talks continue between the Philadelphia Orchestra Association and musicians over a new labor pact, management has agreed to hire consultant Michael M. Kaiser to assist in addressing chronic big-picture challenges like fund-raising and strategic direction. Musicians have been frustrated in contract talks – not only with the financial details of the deals management has been floating, but also with the financial realities that appear to be underpinning those offers.”