ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

THEATRE

The Theatre Entering Public Domain This January

In the world of theatre, this means that not only are vintage stage works no longer subject to royalties, but they can be repurposed, remixed, revised and reinterpreted as today’s theatre artists see fit, no longer subject to the approval of creators’ estates. - The Stage

Why Are So Many Theaters Making Curtain Times Earlier? Let These Directors Tell You.

Not only have start times been changing from the traditional 8:00 pm to 7:30 or even 7:00, but more weekend matinees are being added and weeknight shows moved. These five directors and producers from the San Diego area say this is all about audience demand. - The San Diego Union-Tribune (MSN)

An Expanding Inequality In The Theatre World

The 2000s, as economic inequality in the nation has gone from bad to worse, the theater world has become more profoundly unequal. No one these days seems to be thriving, but less commercially oriented companies have been left to fend for themselves in the urban wilderness. - Los Angeles Times

Has The Job Of Artistic Director Of A Theatre Company Simply Become Impossible?

"This year has seen several high-profile exits from that position, often after unexpectedly brief stints in charge. Questions have been raised about the viability of this supposedly 'impossible job' – and several theatres are doing away with it entirely. Should we be … concerned that (the position's) no longer fit for purpose?" - The Guardian

Britain’s National Theatre Appoints Its Next Director: Indhu Rubasingham

"(The appointment marks) the first time that a woman and a person of colour has taken on the biggest role in British theatre. Rubasingham, who has been artistic director of the Kiln theatre since 2012, will take over from Rufus Norris in spring 2025, when his second term ends." - The Guardian

Why Indhu Rubasingham Is An Ideal Choice To Lead Britain’s National Theatre

"Those who dare say she got the job because of her gender should take a closer look at her accomplishments. … (She) has more than enough experience for this job. … She's by all accounts well-respected and well-loved … (and) too talented and experienced to sacrifice quality for any risk she takes." - The Guardian

Limelight Was A Church, Then A Disco, Then A Mall, Then A Pizza Joint, Then A Gym. Now It’ll Be A Theater.

The de-sanctified sanctuary was Manhattan's hottest nightclub for a while in the 1980s. Shifting fashion and excessive drug use eventually shut the club down, and nobody has yet managed to run a successful business out of the oddly-positioned but landmarked building. Will it work as a theater? - MSN (Curbed)

A Comedian Performs Three Secret Shows To Help His Hometown Theatre

Peter Kay "broke off from his current mammoth arena tour to appear at Bolton's 390-capacity Octagon theatre on Sunday, raising £80,000 for the venue." - BBC

After Vegans Protest, A British Panto Removes A Song

So, vegans are "annoying, anemic, and gassy"? That was what Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre claimed in one of its Mother Goose songs. - BBC

When A Small, Underfunded Theater Company’s Show Misfires, Should A Critic Review It Honestly? Yes.

"A year and a half ago, when I wrote a critical review of a show by (a) small company, a theater colleague asked me why I’d persisted with the project. … Whom does such a review serve, especially for a show that draws such small audiences?" Lily Janiak offers an answer to that question. - MSN (San Francisco Chronicle)

How Drag Queens Are Fighting Performance Bans In Texas

Earlier this year, Brigitte Bandit became one of five plaintiffs in a lawsuit that challenged Texas Senate Bill 12, which criminalized some drag performances if they occurred in the presence of minors. - The New Yorker

Cleveland Play House Hires A New Artistic Director

"Michael Barakiva … is an Armenian-Israeli American director and writer whose work has been seen at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Syracuse Stage and the Hangar Theatre, where he served as artistic director. … The moves come after more than a year of change at the 108-year-old company." - Ideastream (Cleveland)

A New Harlem Renaissance

Even with a general climate of crisis in the theatre industry at large, Harlem organizations are expanding in both literal and metaphorical ways: embarking on ambitious renovations, celebrating landmark seasons, and uprooting traditional modes of storytelling. - American Theatre

How A Brussels Theatre Remains Relevant To Its City

“We represent the city – we are a city theatre. We want to be a crossroads where people can meet and share emotions and talk and be free.” - The Guardian

Chinese Standups Overseas Have Developed An Entire Comedy Circuit In The Diaspora. Even There, They Watch What They Say.

It's not just that they fear that authorities back home are keeping eyes and ears on them. Among most of the comedians themselves, there are topics that are considered inappropriate to broach: politics, censorship, Xi Jinping, and anything that might make China look bad. - AP

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