March 2011

Imagination and Identity
The assumption is that only women can really write about women, African Americans about African Americans, and so on, discounting (in fact, demonizing) any attempt by anyone "outside" to employ imagination as a tool for crossing boundaries because someone from the "outside," by definition, cannot be authentic and, therefore, cannot get it "right."
Michael Bettencourt

The Academy Awards
To many people, worldwide, the American Academy Awards is the most important and prestigious event of its kind. Important? No question… an Academy Award is worth a small fortune, before and after taxes. Prestigious? Define prestigious
Arthur Meiselman

The Isle Is Full of Noises
The Tempest provides many opportunities for music and movement.  This month, a selection from a suite of incidental music for The Tempest. 
Nathan Thomas

It's All Anna Nicole!
There has been a court trial involving a domestic partner and a physician.  There have been magazine and newspaper articles written about her.  An opera has debuted in London inspired by her life.  And all of this has transpired just in the last several weeks.  We must remember, Anna Nicole Smith died in 2007 but her hold on the public imagination has not diminished.  It's all Anna Nicole all the time.  And that's just as she would have wanted
Les Marcott

Rainy Day
It seems that in order to get past this, I'm going to have to face another demon. Why did I suddenly stop desiring to sing? I used to just open my mouth & out it came. The technique could use some work, but the desire was always simple. No longer. If that is a question with no answer, so be it.
Claudine Jones

A Brief But Quirky History of he Arts January 2011 Click Here The Rising Fall of the Arts January 2010 Click Here The One January 2009 Click Here What Is Art? / 2008 January 2008 Click Here View of the Arts/2007 January 2007 Click Here The Art of Sex in the Arts February 2006 Click Here State of the Art of the Arts October 2005 Click Here

IN THIS ISSUE

The Sticker Tree

Originally titled "Best of Friends", the play received four productions on two coasts in the 1970's, 80's and a national theater award from La Pensee Theater, Seattle.

by
Grace Cavalieri

Read the Play

FILM (Reviews)
The Fighter
Blue Valentine
True Grit

...based on a true story, The Fighter represents an extreme version of the working-class experience, and it has some interesting things to say about the hearts that beat under rough, even threatening exteriors.
Miles David Moore

OPERA
Nixon in China

John Adams' first opera Nixon in China, an engaging four-hour work at the Metropolitan Opera where the composer led the orchestra and baritone James Maddalena sang Nixon, a role he developed in the opera's 1987 Houston Grand Opera premiere.
Karren Alenier

MUSIC (Book Review)
Feast for the Senses

Brings to mind the Renaissance: A Medici prince, let's say, with a vision and a train of musicians moves from castle to castle, feast to feast, meeting and inviting along artists and artisans..
Renate Stendhal

ARTS OF THAILAND
Somdej Ya
A Woman of History

It was not easy for a common Thai woman to marry a Thai prince. The man who fell in love with her was a first year student at Harvard medical school. That man was the son of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).
Janine Yasovant
คลิกเพื่ออ่านบทความนี้ เป็นภาษาไทย

Steiny Road to Operadom
A Trinity of Influence

Gertrude Stein
Paul Bowles and
Allen Ginsburg,
how connected and antithetical these
writers are.
Karren Alenier

La Femme
La Mujer La Donna
A Work of Fiction

She will have some be a force that will keep national security our number one priority. She will show the average man and woman that we have not abandoned them and that success is possible if they continue to sacrifice and work hard. She will tell them how they will be saved.
Lia Beachy

Life Among
the Heffalumps
The Eew Of You:
Bio - Why-O?
I'm happy to reveal that I'm a slob; I love being campy; but hate camping in tents in the woods; vegetables and I struggle to be friends; I procrastinate doing things I don't like; I talk too much; I repeat myself; I'm never as empathetic as I should be; and just last week I ate two babies for lunch (kidding).
Kathi Wolfe

COMICS
My Old Man!
On the Loose
A new series by Scene4's resident mad cartoonist
Elliot Feldman

THEATRE OF RUSSIA
Anna Yablonskaya
Terra Incognita

On 24 January 2011 Anna Yablonskaya was killed by a bomb blast in the "Domodedovo" Moscow airport.
Grigor Atanesyan

POETRY
White Wolf

Deep in the arctic snows 
She waits for me
Great White                 
Griselda Steiner