All articles tagged with #arts and entertainment
Sheryl Crow releases a new album, 'Pick You Up,' that blends her signature pop-rock with explicit political commentary. The record addresses free speech, environmental destruction, and current societal anxieties, reflecting her long-standing commitment to using music as a platform for resistance and hope.
Aaron Sorkin has returned to Broadway to 'polish' his 1989 play A Few Good Men, treating the production as a new work rather than a revival. Bradley Whitford, who originally played Daniel Kaffee, now stars as Judge Nathan Jessep. The production begins previews on October 8 and opens at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on October 29.
Irish dance star Michael Flatley has publicly mourned the death of his wife, Niamh O'Brien, who died at age 52. The couple were married for 20 years and performed together in major productions. Flatley described her as his 'best friend' and said his 'heart is broken.' Tributes are emerging across the UK and Ireland, though specific details regarding the cause of death remain limited in current reporting.
Gillian Anderson faced online criticism after a viral video showed her telling fans not to sit in the front row of her London West End show, 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.' She later clarified that the women were long-time acquaintances and explained that the intimate venue makes front-row seating distracting for performers. The incident sparked a broader debate about theater etiquette, with mixed reactions from the public and comparisons to similar complaints by other actors.
Gillian Anderson faced online criticism after a video showed her telling fans they were 'distracting' by repeatedly sitting in the front row during her West End performance of 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.' She issued a statement clarifying that the women were long-time acquaintances and emphasized the intimate nature of the venue. The incident highlights a broader trend of actors addressing audience behavior in 2026, including phone usage and recording, while Anderson continues her run at the Soho Place theatre.
Ed Sheeran performed his recent US tour dates without traditional opening acts after all support acts quit in solidarity with Macklemore, who was removed for pro-Palestinian remarks. For his Atlanta show, Sheeran brought in The Fray frontman Isaac Slade as a surprise guest. Slade performed hits and spoke about finding common ground amid the political divide. Sheeran has apologized for the handling of the situation and plans to continue the tour solo until November.
Ringo Starr, 86, continues touring with his All-Starr Band, citing simple habits like eating broccoli and a love for live performance as keys to his stamina. He recently played in Easton, Pennsylvania, and is set to return to Washington, D.C., maintaining a distinct, swing-based drumming style that prioritizes serving the song over technical fills.
The sold-out 2026 reunion concerts of the 2016 Broadway revival of Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, will be broadcast on PBS’s Great Performances series in 2027. The announcement was made onstage at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater on September 27, 2026, during the first of two performances. The concerts feature much of the original 2016 cast, including Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, and Adrienne Warren, alongside new additions like Norm Lewis. Directed by George C. Wolfe and choreographed by Savion Glover, the event is part of the Legacies of San Juan Hill Festival, commemorating the 1921 original’s debut near the site of the now-demolished San Juan Hill neighborhood.
The National Symphony Orchestra began its 2026-27 season at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, receiving a standing ovation before playing a note. This marks the start of a year-long tour across six regional venues after the Kennedy Center’s ongoing closure due to mismanagement under President Donald Trump. Music director Gianandrea Noseda led the ensemble, framing the displacement as an opportunity to connect with local audiences despite logistical challenges.
Following his removal from Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour, rapper Macklemore has announced a new 'Free Palestine' tour with dates in Dublin, Paris, and London in October. The shows, labeled 'Macklemore and Friends,' will direct all proceeds to twelve humanitarian organizations supporting Palestinians. While no supporting acts have been named yet, the move follows a week of intense controversy involving venue bans and accusations of antisemitism.
The original two-part London production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child closed on September 20 after a ten-year run. Producer Sonia Friedman cited a 30-40% rise in operating costs since the pandemic as the reason for converting the show into a single three-hour performance, which reopens at the Palace Theatre on October 9. While the creative team resisted the change, the producers argued that maintaining the two-part format would require ticket prices that are unaffordable for most audiences. The new version retains the core narrative but condenses the runtime, following a similar transition already implemented on Broadway in 2021.
Justin Bieber performed an unannounced acoustic set at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 23, 2026. The event drew a small crowd and went viral on social media. Local officials, including L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, cited the performance as evidence of improved safety in the park, which has faced criticism for drug activity and gang presence. While some viewed the gig as a sign of progress, others questioned the verification of the event and the broader context of public safety efforts in the area.
Dolly Parton’s estate has filed for a restraining order against her nephew, Bryan Seaver, alleging he sent threatening texts to extort money and damage her legacy. Seaver, fired as head of security on Sept. 15, denies the claims, calling them 'rage talk' between grieving friends.
Opera Montana is turning the novella A River Runs Through It into an opera, featuring fly-fishing scenes on the Yellowstone River. To capture authenticity, writers and producers had the cast go fishing together during preparation for the show’s 50th‑anniversary production, with music by Zach Redler; the premiere is in Bozeman before moving to Missoula, exploring themes of family, loss and masculinity.
George Lucas and Mellody Hobson hosted opening-night galas for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Exposition Park, offering invited guests a preview ahead of its public debut. The five-story, 300,000-square-foot museum houses more than 1,300 works across 30 galleries, including Star Wars artifacts and a complete Lucas cinema collection, with inaugural shows like Star Wars in Motion. Mayor Karen Bass praised the project as a storytelling hub, and the museum’s archives span 1971–2012. The museum opens to the public on Tuesday.