Latest news with #PerformingArts
Fox News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Broadway star Patti LuPone says Trump-led Kennedy Center 'should get blown up'
Broadway veteran Patti LuPone lashed out at President Donald Trump for his overhaul of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and called for the building to "get blown up," in an interview published Monday. In February, Trump fired several Kennedy Center board members, including the president and chairman, and replaced them with pro-Trump figures, who then named the president as chairman. In a post to Truth Social announcing the changes, Trump vowed to make the performing arts center "great again," by removing board members who did not share his administration's "vision for a Golden Age in arts and culture." Trump said that drag shows "targeting" children were one example of programming at the Kennedy Center that would end under his leadership. His actions stirred backlash in the theater and film world, with multiple artists resigning from their roles or canceling upcoming performances at the Kennedy Center in protest. LuPone, 76, slammed the Trump takeover in new comments to New Yorker writer Michael Schulman. "She's even angrier at the rest of the country," Schulman wrote. "She told me, more than once, that the Trumpified Kennedy Center 'should get blown up.'" LuPone also told the outlet that she wished that the Trump administration would "Leave New York alone." She has been an outspoken critic of Trump over the years. Ahead of the 2020 election, LuPone said she was considering moving to Ireland if Trump won. On the Tony Awards red carpet in 2017, she said that she would not perform for Trump if he came to one of her shows, "because I hate the mother—." Richard Grenell, president of the Kennedy Center, slammed LuPone's comments in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The far left has morphed into violent extremists. This is completely unacceptable – from the same people who claim to be for tolerance and diversity. Everyone should condemn these radicals," Grenell said. LuPone did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital, "President Trump cares deeply about American arts and culture, which is why he is revitalizing historic institutions like the Kennedy Center to their former greatness."
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Mumbai University Admissions 2025: First UG degrees merit list today at mu.ac.in
Mumbai University Admissions 2025: The University of Mumbai will today release the first merit list for the undergraduate courses. Students who applied for the UG course will be able to check the merit list from the official website– once released. This year, the university has received more than 8.1 lakh applications with students applying for admission to various courses of their choice. Students who had applied for courses like BA, BCom, BSc, BMS, BAF, BMM, BBI, BFM, among others, can now check if they have secured a seat in the college and the course of their choice. Candidates can visit the official college websites or check physical notice boards at the colleges for the merit lists. MU hike course fees after 17 years MU has advised students to ensure they cross-check their names, categories, and percentage accuracy, as any discrepancies must be reported immediately to the concerned college authority. Selected candidates are required to complete the document verification and fee payment process by May 30. Students must carry original documents along with photocopies, including: –Class 12 marksheet –Caste or category certificate (if applicable) –Transfer and Leaving Certificate –Passport-size photographs –Identity proof The second and third merit lists will be important for candidates who could not secure a seat in the first merit list for the Mumbai University. Students will also have the chance to upgrade their college or course preference. The second merit list is expected to be released on May 31 2025, followed by the third and final merit list on June 5. Each list will be followed by a document verification and fee payment window of two to three days. Notably, there are a few courses offered by MU which have received admission applications in single digit numbers. Such courses are Bachelor of Performing Arts, Bachelor of Fine Art, and Bachelor of Engineering in Printing and Packaging Technology. More than 3.80 lakh applications have been received for commerce and allied courses offered by MU and its affiliated colleges. In the science stream, however, the difference in the number of applications between traditional and professional courses is much larger. In the arts stream, fewer than 50,000 applications have been received for the traditional BA course.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
New dinner theatre play coming to Sault Ste. Marie
Northern Ontario Watch Director Megan Wigmore talks about staging the dinner theatre play 'The 39 Steps' at Algoma Repertory Theatre in Sault Ste. Marie.
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The MET Opera's 'The Queen Of Spades' Star Sonya Yoncheva Talks Opera, New York and Travel
"Queen of Spades" star Sonya Yoncheva. Manfred Baumann Superstar Sonya Yoncheva stars in the Metropolitan Opera's upcoming production of Tchaikovsky's 'The Queen of Spades,' opening on Friday, May 23 at 7:30 PM. The Bulgarian native, who now calls Switzerland home, plays Lisa. Yoncheva has played iconic roles at the Met before such as the title role of 'Tosca,' Mimì in 'La Bohème,' the title role of Luisa Miller, and Violetta in 'La Traviata.' She made her Met debut as Gilda in 'Rigoletto' in 2013. Next season at the Met, Yoncheva returns to sing the role of Maddalena in 'Andrea Chénier' and Cio-Cio-San in 'Madama Butterfly. ' I interviewed the operatic star recently about how she prepares for a performance, her favorite restaurant in New York to sit at the bar, and more. My favorite opera that's not my own: My favorite opera not in my repertoire is Richard Strauss's Salome. My pre-performance ritual: Before I sing or perform, I have a ritual: I listen to the sound of flowing water. It doesn't matter where it comes from - my phone, the bathroom, anywhere - as long as I can hear it moving. The sound of water going somewhere soothes my nerves and helps me feel calm. After a performance, I: After every performance, I treat myself to one to three glasses of champagne. My favorite kind of operagoer (does what): I truly appreciate opera-goers who come with the intention of immersing themselves in the full experience, those who approach it like watching a beautiful film, ready to be drawn into the story. I am less fond of those who make comparisons, focusing on whether I sang the version of, if I was like… What I truly enjoy are audiences who come to be part of the journey, to engage with the story, and to share the fun with us. My role model in business is: I like to think of theatres and artists as partners. To me, this is the business model that truly defines our industry. It's not about being employed by someone or working for an institution, it's about institutions and artists building a career together. That perspective completely reshapes the opera industry and how my career can best piece of career advice I've gotten: The best career advice I ever received was to be myself. But in truth, that's also the most challenging advice to follow, because truly understanding who you are is already difficult. And then, being able to present that authentically to an audience, especially on stage, in the most genuine and natural way, that's even harder. Get the most out of an opera by: I do a lot of research. But I also place a strong emphasis on the psychological aspect of my character. I need to understand how a real person would react in those situations. That helps me make sense of the libretto, especially when the story gets complicated. It gives me insight into why certain events happen, why a character responds the way they do. This process also deeply informs my acting, how I respond emotionally on stage. It's really a journey from A to Z. If I have historical or literary sources available, I read as much as I can to thoroughly understand the context. Sometimes, in theater, I have the freedom to shape and reinvent the character. But with opera, the libretto often leads in a completely different direction. So, I try to compare the two approaches. For example, when I was studying Tosca, it was very important to me to highlight that she is very young, deeply in love, and profoundly religious. She's also a diva. These layers helped me shape her in a more nuanced way, not just portraying the arrogant side we've often been shown over the years. That's my approach. The restaurant I love most near the Met is: Bouloud. I really enjoy being there - I even stop by during intermissions or breaks between rehearsals. You'll often find me at the Boulou bar, having a salad and a coffee, and soaking up the sun, if it's out. The morning after a big performance, I: The morning after a performance, I'm usually trying to make sense of what just happened. I'm often completely drained, like a squeezed lemon, because premieres are such an intense emotional experience. The second, third, fourth, and fifth shows get a bit easier, as I settle into the rhythm of the production. But that opening night really takes the biggest toll on the body. By the next morning, I usually have muscle aches everywhere. It's tough - physically and mentally - but there's also a sense of relief. The nerves are gone, and that's when I finally start to enjoy the city. I can go out, meet friends, and have some fun. The destination I love to travel to most for work is: If I could choose a dream location to work, it might be something like a grand, beautiful theater - like the Met - but set on a beach in the Caribbean. That would be incredible! But honestly, I love all the theaters I perform in. I feel truly privileged to work in places like Vienna, Munich, New York, London, Paris, Milan, and Rome, such beautiful cities. Each one has its own unique charm, and I genuinely feel at home in all of them.
New Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Sarawak in talks to bring US artist for exclusive performance this October
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sarawak government is in negotiations to bring a well-known artist from the United States for an exclusive performance in Kuching this October, said Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. In a report published by TVS, Karim said that staging large-scale concerts has had a positive impact on Sarawak's tourism sector, attracting visitors from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Brunei. Kuching and Miri, he added, have now become major attractions for foreign tourists, who visit not only for entertainment but also to enjoy the tourism products offered in Sarawak. "If an event is held in Kuching, particularly if it involves singers or performers well-known in neighbouring countries, we can see a significant increase in the number of vehicles entering Sarawak from the border. Featured Videos "For example, during last year's countdown event, the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex in Tebedu experienced congestion for three consecutive days. "Visitors from West Kalimantan knew that Hetty Koes Endang would be performing," Karim was quoted as saying. He also said that Earth, Wind and Fire will perform at the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2025. "Nevertheless, it is important to feature local artists in every major event as a way to build confidence and strengthen the talents of the local creative industry," he added.
