Fame or Famine

March 31st, 2008

“Enlightened Patronage:” Mr. Shen Shows How to Save the Arts

It worked for the Medicis & Michelangelo. It even worked for Laurie Anderson and Larry Ellison, I believe. It’s a system of supporting the arts that is not public-funded, and therefore not subject to the vagaries and whims of the hoi-polloi.
It’s the literal term “patron of the arts,” meaning not so much someone who just […]

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March 29th, 2008

Artists Change the World

A Los Angeles based film production company has recently collaborated with a non-profit artist org, United States Artists, to work on a new video program featuring artists and their artwork throughout the U.S. The latest video streaming through the Web features Choreographer and Artistic Director of LINES Ballet in San Francisco, Alonzo King.

In an […]

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March 26th, 2008

Alvin Ailey Celebrates the 50th Year of Dance With…a LOT!

AAADT: NEWS FROM THE ROAD AS 50TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR IS SET TO LAUNCH: On a 27-city tour, the company has critics raving “The Ailey troupe is one of few companies constantly capable of attracting viewers new to dance, and making converts of them.” Click for the AAADT North American Tour Schedule.
AILEY II GEARS UP […]

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March 26th, 2008

The Short-Lived Dance Career of Penn Jillette

I can’t be right all the time. In fact, apparently in this case I’m not right any of the time - I had thought that Penn Jillette would last longer than Adam Carolla, but it was not to be. Last night in the elimination round of Dancing With the Stars, Penn and his partner Kym […]

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March 25th, 2008

While We’re Poppin’: Gavin Lee Reports on Two Broadway Years

I realize that I may seem a little obsessed about Mary Poppins right now, strange during Dancing With the Stars season, but it is necessary. I’m crestfallen at Penn Jillette’s abysmal scores, his massive feet not as fleet as I’d hoped. There is some satisfaction at Adam Carolla’s similarly abysmal performance, but it doesn’t quite […]

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March 24th, 2008

A Rare Reunion: Julie Andrews & Dick Van Dyke Reprise Poppins

Don’t get your hopes up, as I did. It was just a backstage benefit/tribute honoring Disney Studio executive Robert Iger and star Annette Bening. The focus was entirely on them that night at the Geffen Playhouse in Chicago.
Still, there is something very poignant and wonderful about Julie Andrews (who chaired the event) and Dick Van […]

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March 22nd, 2008

The Reviews are in: My GF’s Awesome in PULP!!

Just gotta gush a little here: a while back I mentioned that my girlfriend is singing lead in a lesbian musical called PULP put on by StageQ.
Well, the excellent writers over at Dane101.com have gone to the musical and have given their own review. And with apologies to my content editor, who hates it when […]

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March 22nd, 2008

Broadway? Nah, Let’s Use a Bathroom!

In what has got to be the oddest venue I’ve ever heard of, a group of actors are performing an award-winning play in the Bethesda Terrace bathrooms in Central park.
The appropriately-named Ladies & Gents, by Irish playwright Paul Walker, is actual more topical than it had expected to be. It’s about pious politicians who dally […]

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March 20th, 2008

I Sing the Theatre Eclectic

The Windy City has a strange batch of theatrical bedfellows coming up in the new season of the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Located on the historic Navy Pier in the shadow of the famous ferris wheel, the season is titled “A Season of Rivalry and Revelry.”
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From […]

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March 20th, 2008

American Idol Mentors: Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, and more!

While my attention is happily distracted by the joy of Dancing with the Stars (it’s interesting! It’s exciting! I can like Bruno and Carrie again!) there is some news from the original reality/talent show American Idol:
 
MARIAH CAREY, DOLLY PARTON, NEIL DIAMOND AND ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER TO MENTOR FINALISTS AND PERFORM ON “AMERICAN IDOL”
Whaddaya mean, “mentor”?
Apparently […]

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