THEATRE

Les Misérables was originally written in French by two Frenchmen, based on a classic French historical novel — and the musical has been wildly popular just about everywhere except France. Yet an updated version of the show at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris might just catch on. - The New York Times

School district officials cancelled Santa Rosa High School's production of Dog Sees God, which depicts the characters of the comic strip Peanuts in high school and deals with themes of bullying, gun violence, and homophobia. A privately-owned theater nearby hosted the production instead. - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)

“Food is a very grounding thing in itself; you want to have a shared experience with people while you’re eating it. When you think about immersive dining, it is very important that that feeling doesn’t get overshadowed by anything else.” - The Stage

“When you create art for a living, sometimes you take for granted how much more art is out there,” says Cody Renard Richard. Still, New York gives him a broad canvas to discover. - The New York Times

Tammy Faye "is getting perhaps the gayest tribute a person can have: a Broadway musical,” one composed by Elton John. - The New York Times

What worked in the past, that is, pre-pandemic, is coming around again - more marketing, more membership drives, more discounts, more repertory theatre. Can it work? - Oregon ArtsWatch

“Art leaves gaps that invite collaborative dreaming. That is one way Shakespeare manages to keep holding the mirror up to nature.” - Los Angeles Times

"What began with … piling the family and their sets into a van and putting on shows for churches and home-school groups has evolved into a performing arts conservatory, a 300-seat theater and a twice-annual residency at the Museum of the Bible just south of the National Mall." - The Washington Post (MSN)

Yes, the future chief of Fox News, fresh off getting Nixon re-elected, took control of a California show called Mother Earth, revamped it (badly) and took it to Broadway, where it flopped. Meanwhile, the show's composer, one Toni Shearer, quit — and ended up fronting one of the 1970s' superstar groups. - Playbill

Satire is just dark comedy’s alibi, a way for critics to render their attraction to the genre compatible with morality and self-respect. - The Point

The dry, landlocked West African nation used to be known for its lively cultural scene; in recent years, the country's stability has been wrecked by extremist militias and their battles with government forces. Solace has come from the festival Récréâtrales, a festival spread across a district in the capital, Ouagadougou. - AP

"It has become possible to spend an evening on Broadway without handling a physical document. Still, it may seem sensational to say that a revolution has taken place. A QR code ticket is still a ticket, isn’t it? But with the decline of documents, something other than information may vanish." - Public Books

"I have written three new plays that are going to be on in different places and I have done that partly because of my sense that I don’t have much time. I am trying to write a lot of stuff while I can." - The Observer (UK)

Go-wan-go Mohawk “decided to write her own roles, ultimately carving out a groundbreaking career in which she told stories onstage about Indigenous people as the heroes of their own lives. She also did it while performing as a man.” - The New York Times

You never know whom you’ll influence - or end up being influenced by, in an artistic collaboration years down the line. - The New York Times