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THEATRE

Who Should Next Run The Royal Shakespeare Company?

If I were to have an absolute dream nomination, it would be a director who has conquered the fields of theatre, television and film, an Oscar and Olivier award-winning titan whose every work is a magnificent exercise in must-see spectacle — and who also built up his name at his own theatre, too. - The Critic

Beyond The-Scottish-Play-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named: Theatre Superstitions Continue To Thrive

Never wish an actor "Good luck."  (That's why they say "Break a leg.") Never bring mirrors onstage.  Don't wear green.  (We didn't know about that one.)  Alexis Soloski speaks with several performers now on Broadway about which superstitions and rituals they observe. - The New York Times

How About An Actor In Charge Of The Royal Shakespeare Instead Of Another Director?

Why, for once, should the company not be led by an actor rather than a director – someone who combines a passion for Shakespeare with an ability to attract lustrous colleagues? - The Guardian

Exquisitely Elongated Time In Noh Drama

"Attending a performance, the first thing you might notice is the way time itself immediately slows down and takes on a stretched-out quality. You suddenly have time to notice all kinds of things. Like how long it takes the actor to walk toward center-stage from the curtain." - 3 Quarks Daily

A Brooklyn Theatre’s Idea About Reinventing Subscriptions

“It got me thinking about, essentially, what would a theatre company look like that could break with the traditional modes of arts funding? You have the not-for-profit models, you have the sort of high-capitalization corporate commercial models like Broadway and big tours.” - American Theatre

More Evidence That Shakespeare Was An Inveterate Plot-Stealer

"A rare 16th-century book offers 'compelling evidence' that William Shakespeare's Cymbeline was inspired by a now-lost play by Sir Thomas North, an Elizabethan courtier and writer, new research claims." - The Guardian

Comedy Dying? I Think Not, Says Jon Stewart

“Comedy survives every moment.” And good thing it does, Stewart said, because “comedy doesn’t change the world, but it’s a bellwether. We’re the banana peel in the coal mine. When society is under threat, comedians are the ones who get sent away first.” - Washington Post

Need A Laugh? Head To The Library Of Congress

That's where you'll find the papers of Neil Simon: "7,700 manuscripts, letters and other material that Simon’s widow, Elaine Joyce, has donated to the Library of Congress." - Washington Post

Who Gets To Decide How A Theatre Audience ‘Should’ Act?

Critic Marty Hughley responds to an opinion piece by the artistic director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and he's fine with audiences quieting the heck down. For instance: "Why is the shushing rude, but the intrusive sound that precipitates it isn’t?" - Oregon ArtsWatch

COVID Postpones Tony Awards Nominations

But - so far! - not the awards themselves. - The New York Times

Royal Shakespeare Co. Artistic Director Gregory Doran Steps Down For Good

Doran, who has worked with the RSC for 35 years and was its leader for nearly a decade, has been on personal leave since his husband, actor Antony Sher, was diagnosed with terminal cancer last September and passed away in December. - The Guardian

Creator Of “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812” Sues Producer For Unpaid Royalties

"Dave Malloy, who wrote the book, music and lyrics for the show, has filed a petition ... (saying) he is owed 'hundreds of thousands of dollars' for productions of the musical that took place in Japan in 2019 and in Korea in 2021." - The New York Times

France’s Top Stage Awards Underscore The Massive Divide Between State-Funded And For-Profit Theatre

"The Molières were designed to bridge the gap between (the) two opposing production models. ... The distinction has long structured French theater and shaped its aesthetics," with commercial theatre tending toward light entertainment and state-funded companies more intellectualized and experimental work. The gap, however, hasn't been bridged. - The New York Times

Standup Comedians Say Audience Behavior Just Keeps Getting Worse

"There's something in the water,” said Nish Kumar. ... "I've had a few conversations with other comics and there's a sense that something doesn't quite feel right."  And while the shift seems more noticeable since the pandemic, COVID lockdowns don't seem to be the sole explanation. - The Guardian

Edinburgh Fringe Is Becoming Untenable Because Lodging Is Just Too Expensive, Warn Producers

Francesca Moody, who produced at the festival the original stage version of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag, is one of several frequent participants who said the entire Fringe enterprise could "collapse" if the cost of accommodations in Edinburgh for artists and visitors can't be brought under control. - The Stage

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