Latest news with #PerformingArts
SBS Australia
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Filipina talent sparkles in Legally Blonde: The Musical
Isabelle Pascua is a 2021 Performing Arts graduate with over a decade of dance training and classical background in violin and piano. She was born and raised in Australia, with roots tracing back to Bacolod and Manila through her parents. As the only Filipino in the cast, Isabelle values representation. Growing up without seeing Filipinos on stage, she sees this role as a chance to bring pride and visibility to her community. SBS Filipino 21/06/2025 35:08 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Watch the moment Idris Elba is given top MOBO honour by Kanya King
A-LISTER Idris Elba made a heartfelt return to his old stomping grounds as he's given top MOBO honour by Kanya King CBE. The 52-year-old was honoured with the prestigious 'Paving the Way' stone outside Barking & Dagenham College — the place where his journey into the arts first began. 8 8 8 8 8 Dressed in all black and flashing a grin, Idris was joined by MOBO Awards founder Kanya, students, and local supporters for a red carpet-style unveiling at the college entrance. His stone is inscribed with his own words: 'Don't get labelled – labels are for cans.' Paving the Way stone honourees are chosen by the award-recipients to be placed in locations that hold deep personal meaning. The event was a full-circle moment for the Luther star, who studied Performing Arts at the London college back in the early '90s. Now a globally celebrated actor, DJ, producer and activist, Elba took the moment to reflect on his roots and the importance of giving back. He said: 'Coming back to Barking & Dagenham College, the place where I first started to shape my creative voice, and being recognised by MOBO in this way is a full-circle moment. MOBO has always stood for more than just music; it's about visibility, opportunity and pushing culture forward. 'To be honoured with a Paving the Way stone here, where my journey began, is deeply meaningful. I hope it stands as a reminder to every student walking through these doors that greatness can come from anywhere." The event also featured the college's state-of-the-art Idris Elba Studio — a professional film and TV facility named in his honour. MOBO CEO Kanya also reflected on the moment, she said: 'Idris is living proof that dreams nurtured in local communities can echo across the world. His journey from this very college to global acclaim shows what's possible when talent meets tenacity. 'At MOBO, we believe in celebrating those who not only break barriers, but who return to build bridges.' 'This show is fire' say fans as Idris Elba series returns for second season of hit TV show Back In December, Kanya announced that she had been diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer and given just six months to live. The diagnosis had been a shock to King as she had been leading a healthy lifestyle which included not drinking alcohol, not smoking and exercising regularly. The music industry pioneer is receiving treatment and said the diagnosis has been a "huge change" to her life as medical scans, treatments, appointments and administration have now become her "new normal". Speaking about the Idris' award she added: " Honouring Idris with this Paving the Way stone isn't just about looking back — it's about lighting the path forward for generations to come.' Elba joins an exclusive list of icons honoured with a Paving the Way stone, including Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sir Lenny Henry, Nicola Adams, Wiley, and Ms Dynamite. 8 8 8
CBC
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
How did Graham Greene become a Canadian icon? Talent, discipline and luck
With hundreds of stage and screen credits to his name, Graham Greene is an undeniable Canadian icon. In 1990, he became one of the most recognizable Indigenous actors in North America thanks to his breakthrough role in the Kevin Costner film Dances With Wolves, which earned him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. Now, the Oneida actor from the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario is the recipient of a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. But before he carved out a prolific career in the performing arts, Greene was a draftsman, a steelworker, a welder and an audio tech — difficult jobs that taught him the importance of discipline and a strong work ethic. In a career-spanning interview with Q 's Tom Power, Greene says he got his first professional acting opportunity while working as a roadie (he mentions he toured with the Canadian band Abraham's Children and did sound for country artists like George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire and Buck Owens). That's when a guy named Doug Rogers asked him if he had ever considered doing theatre. "I said, 'Well, I don't know about theatre. I don't even know what a script looks like,'" Greene recalls. After receiving the script, Greene decided to give it a shot and landed the job. He was pleasantly surprised to find the work really enjoyable. "I changed into the costume and they put me in the shade in a nice chair," he says. "They brought me food and water … and I thought, 'Jeez, I'm living the life of a dog! This is great. I don't have to carry anybody's amplifiers anymore. I don't have to do lights. I don't have to drive halfway across the country for nothing.'" While Greene says it took him a while to get used to acting, he eventually came to the realization that he loved performing and had a talent for it. But as one of a few Indigenous actors in Canada at a time when representation was lacking, talent and discipline could only take him so far — he also needed luck. "I got lucky, I just got lucky," Greene says. "A lot of actors that I know in the business, they had to punch and claw their way to do the stuff, and they had to work very, very hard at what they did to get where they are today. And me? I just got lucky."
Reuters
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Trump to attend 'Les Miserables' at revamped Kennedy Center, where sales have fallen
WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) - Months after orchestrating a conservative takeover of the Kennedy Center's leadership, President Donald Trump will attend "Les Miserables" on Wednesday, his first show at the performing arts facility that has become a symbol of U.S. cultural and political divides. Trump did not attend events at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during his first term, but has taken a keen interest in it during his second. Deriding it on social media for putting on "Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth," he pushed out its former chairman, fired its longtime president and pledged to overhaul an institution he described as being in tremendous disrepair. The fallout has been swift. The musical "Hamilton" canceled plans to appear there, staff left and sales of subscriptions and individual tickets for Kennedy Center shows have dropped, according to two people briefed on the data. Overall subscription revenue was down 36% to $2.8 million as of early June for next season, which begins in the autumn, according to one source. Theater subscriptions, normally a major revenue driver for the center, were down 82%. A Kennedy Center spokeswoman declined to comment about the facility's sales. The center depends on revenue from tickets and subscriptions as well as donations to operate. "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," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement. Trump's appearance at "Les Miserables", a show about citizens rising up against their government, comes just days after he sent U.S. Marines and the National Guard to quell protests against his administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles. Trump will sit in the presidential box overlooking center stage, but he is not guaranteed a friendly reception in the 2,300-seat theater. When Vice President JD Vance attended a Kennedy Center show with his wife earlier this year, the crowd booed. Supportive donors will be present, but tickets for the musical were available for purchase by the public as well, along with regular subscribers. The night is sold out. Trump's appearance is meant to juice fundraising. Donors who pay $100,000 to $2 million get to attend a reception before the show, receive a photo with the president and be seated in good locations in the theater. Vance is expected to attend as well. The Kennedy Center is turning the event into one on par with its signature shows, including the Kennedy Center Honors, featuring a red carpet for high-profile guests with reporters and photographers in place. Under the leadership of Ric Grenell, a close Trump ally and former ambassador to Germany, the Kennedy Center has sought to add more conservative-leaning programming, including a show that Grenell has described as a celebration of the birth of Christ. Meanwhile, while Trump zeroed in on drag shows when he said the Kennedy Center had lost its way, multiple upcoming musicals include characters dressed in drag, such as "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Chicago." Other musicals have pulled out, according to a former Kennedy Center official.
CTV News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘It's a pivotal moment': Plan to modernize Pantages Playhouse unveiled
A design rendering image of the proposed exterior of the Pantages Theatre. (Number TEN Architectural Group) The group hoping to stage the Pantages Playhouse's next act has unveiled plans to transform the vaudeville-era theatre into a modernized concert hall. The Performing Arts Consortium (PAC) and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) released its initial design plan Tuesday, which would reopen the 1,100-seat venue as the Pantages Theatre with a multi-million-dollar refresh. 'We've been on a long journey on this. It's a pivotal moment,' said Curt Vossen, a director with PAC and chair of the WSO. The plan is a culmination of months of work. A team of architects, theatre design and acoustic experts, digital and AV consultants, mechanical engineers and construction management specialists mapped out a design to update the century-old hall to house a modern-day symphony orchestra, as well as professional and community performing arts groups. Pantages Theatre A computer-generated image shows the design plan for the modernized Pantages Theatre. (Number TEN Architectural Group) The proposed design would add a deeper and wider stage, an orchestra pit, stage rigging, and modernized electrical and mechanical systems - all while preserving beloved historical elements of the century-old theatre. 'Transforming a vaudeville theatre into a first-class concert hall is not an easy challenge, but with the highly experienced team of consultants and a visionary client, I'm confident we will achieve that goal,' said Brent Bellamy with Number TEN Architectural Group, which led the design team. Pantages revamp comes with $55 million price tag Bockstael Construction costed the design, estimating it could come with a $55 million to $60 million price tag. PAC and WSO hope half will be paid for between all three levels of government, with the private sector making up the rest. Vossen said they have raised nearly $15 million so far. 'Once we secure $25 to $30 million in overall pledged support, including from government, we will greenlight the project and launch our major capital campaign.' Pantages Theatre The proposed design plan for the Pantages Theatre's lobby is shown in a digitally created image. (Number TEN Architectural Group) The city has already chipped in. It donated $837,500 in January for the renovation through its Downtown Arts Capital Fund. A spokesperson for Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham told CTV News Winnipeg on Tuesday the city is facing significant budget pressures right now, so any major capital investments must be carefully considered alongside other priorities. 'But this is an exciting project for downtown and the local arts community, so the Mayor is willing to consider options for how the city can support it,' the spokesperson said. Pantages Playhouse The Pantages Playhouse in Winnipeg, Man. on June 10, 2025. (Jon Hendricks/CTV News Winnipeg) A backstage look at Pantages' century-plus history Pantages last dropped its curtain in 2018. The city, which has owned the venue since the 1940s, put out a call for proposals for the century-old theatre, which is designated as a national and provincial historical site. It was eventually sold to private buyers in 2019 for $530,000, but by 2022, the building was acquired by PAC. The non-profit was initially formed in the '90s to steward the theatre for community use on behalf of the city. Once it acquired Pantages, the organization assembled a group of benefactors who agreed to support a proof-of-concept for the redesign. WSO also signed a long-term agreement to be the managing tenant of the theatre. It was a familiar role, as the symphony previously managed community usage of the space during its final years of operation. Angela Birdsell Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra executive director Angela Birdsell speaks at a June 10, 2025 news conference in the Pantages Theatre lobby in Winnipeg, Man. (Jon Hendricks/CTV News Winnipeg) Once the new theatre opens, WSO has pledged to rehearse and perform many of its programs there. WSO executive director Angela Birdsell believes Pantages will offer the symphony street visibility to serve the community any time of day or night, while freeing up the Centennial Concert Hall, its current home, to offer a more diverse array of commercial shows. 'Like our five major cultural institutional partners, the time has come for the WSO to have its own home—a right-sized hall and acoustics for our traditional offerings and the many other creative projects we present,' she said. - With files from CTV's Jon Hendricks and Kayla Rosen
