News

72nd Oscars "Beauty"-fied: Dark Drama Wins Five; Spacey, Swank Soar

"Beauty" was more than skin deep at the 72nd annual Academy Awards, presented on Sun., March 26 in a ceremony telecast by ABC. "American Beauty," the dark drama of a dysfunctional suburban family, copped a total of five Oscars including Best Picture, Actor (Kevin Spacey, taking his second Golden Guy ...

Minor Demons

"Minor Demons," presented by Company of Angels at the Company of Angels Theatre, 2106 Hyperion Ave., L.A. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m. (Aug. 24 & Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. only). Aug. 8-Sept. 14. $10-15. (323) 883-1717.

Hartley Ever, Casting Mysteries

Dear Jackie: I heard that casting directors are less willing to Taft-Hartley actors than they once were. I am nonunion, and I was hoping to get into SAG this way, so I am bummed to hear this. Is this true?

State of the Arts

Twenty years from now some expertspredict, the dichotomy of performing arts will have undergone a shift. The two kinds of theatrical companies will no longer be for-profit and non-profit (with the former producing mass entertainment and the latter offering "high art"), but simply big vs. small.

Actors Due for a Hike

Union dues paid by members of SAG and AFTRA will be going up significantly next year, whether or not the two unions consummate their proposed merger, and many performers will be paying higher dues if the merger is defeated, according to the latest pro-merger bulletin put out by leaders of ...

Equity, Western CLO Stages Reach Pact

Actors' Equity Association and the Western Civic Light Opera Association have agreed to a new three-year contract, effective Sept. 8, 2003 through Sept. 4, 2006.

Foundation Giving to Arts Groups Remains Stable

In the wake of Sept. 11, a bleak economy, and a falling stock market, it is indeed unexpected that foundation giving has remained fairly steady, reports Loren Renz, vice president for research at the New York City-based Foundation Center. The latter reviews, makes estimates of, and predicts foundation spending on ...

Juilliard Gets $10M for Student Aid

Juilliard has just received a whopping $10 million grant from the Irene Diamond Fund to increase the amount of financial aid the school offers to students in its Master of Music Program. The grant is one of the largest ever made to The Campaign for Juilliard, a $100 million capital ...