Posts Tagged Arts

Wasserstein award for emerging female playwrights may be given out after all

I wrote on Monday about the decision not to award any of the nominated emerging female playrights the $25, 000 Wasserstein prize.

An uproar in response to their decision ensued, including an online petition with almost 1,500 signatures.

The Theatre Development Fund, who administers the prize, responded and decided to come up with a new evaluation for this year’s prize:

That day [Monday], TDF announced it would reexamine its selection process over the next two months. “Mindful of the concerns of this year’s nominees and the deadline facing the funder as it considers whether or not to renew funding in 2011, we have decided to accelerate the refinement process rather than postpone it to next year ...

I wrote on Monday about the decision not to award any of the nominated emerging female playrights the $25, 000 Wasserstein prize.

An uproar in response to their decision ensued, including an online petition with almost ...

Emerging female playwrights told that none are deserving of Wasserstein Award

The Wasserstein Award is an annual award given to an emerging female playwright who has yet to receive recognition for their work. Nominations were solicited for the award, but this year, the committee rejected all of the nominees because, in their words, none were “truly outstanding.”

Anna Clark at Isak shares an open letter from Playwright Michael Lew to the committee charged with giving out the award. Michael says:

This decision can only be interpreted as a blanket indictment on the quality of female emerging writers and their work, and is insulting not only to the finalists but also to the many theatre professionals who nominated these writers and deemed their plays prize worthy. ...

The Wasserstein Award is an annual award given to an emerging female playwright who has yet to receive recognition for their work. Nominations were solicited for the award, but this year, the committee rejected all of the ...

The Obama’s boogie-down diplomacy

There is so damn much to love about this moment, starting with the fact that Michelle Obama, and to a lesser extent, her partner, Mr. President, seem willing to take a risk on being spontaneous and playful at a time when the media landscape is packed with pundits waiting to pounce on every breath they take. I’m sure there are a dozen different ways that someone trying to fill 24 hours of news might twist this wonderful moment into something else. But no matter. The First Lady embraces the opportunity for exchange through dance, with a big smile on her face. As they say, “You can’t fake the funk,” and First Lady Obama has got it aplenty.

There is so damn much to love about this moment, starting with the fact that Michelle Obama, and to a lesser extent, her partner, Mr. President, seem willing to take a risk on being spontaneous and playful ...

Nicole Krauss and Cynthia Ozick together

Last night J. Courtney Sullivan, co-ed of Click and author of Commencement, and I went to see Nicole Krauss and Cynthia Ozick read at the 92nd Street Y. The first thing that I noticed, as I settled into my seat and took a deep breath, was that I rarely go hear people read anymore, especially from novels. The act of sitting there and simply listening–with no visual entertainment, no humor or hijinks–is something I don’t do enough. It requires a certain level of attention that I want to keep cultivating.

My one irritation of the night, I have to say, was Nicole Krauss’ false modesty. She came out on stage and immediately talked about how surely everyone ...

Last night J. Courtney Sullivan, co-ed of Click and author of Commencement, and I went to see Nicole Krauss and Cynthia Ozick read at the 92nd Street Y. The first thing that I ...

The Obama’s boogie-down diplomacy

There is so damn much to love about this moment, starting with the fact that Michelle Obama, and to a lesser extent, her partner, Mr. President, seem willing to take a risk on being spontaneous and playful at a time when the media landscape is packed with pundits waiting to pounce on every breath they take. I’m sure there are a dozen different ways that someone trying to fill 24 hours of news might twist this wonderful moment into something else. But no matter. The First Lady embraces the opportunity for exchange through dance, with a big smile on her face. As they say, “You can’t fake the funk,” and First Lady Obama has got it aplenty.

There is so damn much to love about this moment, starting with the fact that Michelle Obama, and to a lesser extent, her partner, Mr. President, seem willing to take a risk on being spontaneous and playful ...

The Heretics

“We have to do it ourselves.”

Nothing sums up the documentary film, The Heretics, or the world of feminist art that it depicts, so poignantly than these six words. Joan Braderman went to New York City in 1971, wide-eyed with dreams of becoming a filmmaker. She stumbled upon the women’s movement come alive in the form of a feminist art collective called The Heresies Collective. Together they would sit around various cramped living rooms and artist studios and discuss the state of the world, art, gender, and revolution.

The film follows Braderman as she tracks down various members of the collective to see what they’re doing now and how they think about their time in the second wave collective. It’s a ...

“We have to do it ourselves.”

Nothing sums up the documentary film, The Heretics, or the world of feminist art that it depicts, so poignantly than these six words. Joan Braderman went to New York City in ...

The Heretics

“We have to do it ourselves.”

Nothing sums up the documentary film, The Heretics, or the world of feminist art that it depicts, so poignantly than these six words. Joan Braderman went to New York City in 1971, wide-eyed with dreams of becoming a filmmaker. She stumbled upon the women’s movement come alive in the form of a feminist art collective called The Heresies Collective. Together they would sit around various cramped living rooms and artist studios and discuss the state of the world, art, gender, and revolution.

The film follows Braderman as she tracks down various members of the collective to see what they’re doing now and how they think about their time in the second wave collective. It’s a ...

“We have to do it ourselves.”

Nothing sums up the documentary film, The Heretics, or the world of feminist art that it depicts, so poignantly than these six words. Joan Braderman went to New York City in ...

The Art of Power: An exploration of class and gender

Lately I have been on an independent film kick. Although, I think it’s important to stay in tune with films that end up reaching millions, I also think that it’s necessary to discuss films with less exposure that raise important questions about race, class and gender. This is why The Art of Power a film that recently premiered in Detroit, Michigan caught my eye. Full Disclosure: I have also previously done some freelance work for the music sector of the company that produced the film. While the film and music sector are different entities within First Element Entertainment, just figured I’d put that out there.

Beyond any ties I have to the company, the storyline is provocative: An interracial couple ...

Lately I have been on an independent film kick. Although, I think it’s important to stay in tune with films that end up reaching millions, I also think that it’s necessary to discuss films with less exposure ...

Load More