My acting career is 65 years old today. It began at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, which then had a year-round company of actors presenting a new production every two weeks. My first, fresh from my graduation from Cambridge University, was a revival of “A Man for All Seasons”, Robert Bolt’s popular re-telling of Thomas More’s fatal political battle with King Henry 8th. My part was the hero’s son-in-law young Will Roper.
My début was inglorious. After the excitement of my first scene, I went upstairs to my dressing-room to recover, only to hear the stage manager's urgent message on the backstage tannoy system: “Mr. McKellen you are off”, meaning I had missed my entrance for Roper's second appearance. I made it down to the stage level only to discover that my colleagues had completed the scene, effortlessly covering my absence with an imrovisation or two,
I sat disconsolate in the green room after the show. The leading lady Sheila Keith approached the dejected, newest member of the troupe: "Don’t worry, dear. A professional actor is off only once in their career. Aren’t you lucky to have got it over with, so early?"
Carlo Vistoli revives Handel’s Italian castrati in new album with Emmanuelle Haïm
Countertenor Carlo Vistoli shines a spotlight on the celebrated Italian castrati who inspired some of Handel’s finest oratorio writing in his new album, Handel’s Italians.
https://t.co/rXVnFe8TXA
In these days when U.S. sanctions are pushing Cubans to the edge, I'm reminded of a better time for dance in Havana. Here's my interview with Gloria González Negreira Fokine about the beginnings of ballet in Havana, including about Alicia Alonso: https://t.co/9mvmIrSpsA Ph is Gloria Fokine in Fokine's Les Sylphides, 1937
‘Alchemist in Residence’ set to uncover and celebrate Bankside’s unique identity
Kerbside Collective will run sessions at Arch 23 until 27 August, inviting locals to help reveal the area's soundscape, history and overlooked corners
https://t.co/V8vy3XmyCc
Dance was definitely not on the agenda for my recent few days in South Devon. But then I picked up the local newspaper and spotted an exhibition about the dance/film of Ekleido at #HarbourHouse in Kingsbridge. I just had to go along. And a very enjoyable visit it proved too.
For my new online course in dance history @JacobsPillow, we will have guests William Forsythe, Janet Eilber @marthagraham , Michelle Dorrance @dorrancedance and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar of Urban Bush Women, starting Sept 15. No experience necessary. Learn more: https://t.co/IcjA1F9AR5
Time Does Not Exist: WINNDance is giving great dancers a second act
For dancers over 40, retirement is close. A new company, WINNDance, is challenging that assumption.
https://t.co/ws13pFa0wN
💔 Fallece #RicardoPachón, artífice de la revolución del flamenco que coronó #Camarón
Fue el productor que estuvo tras bandas y artistas como Smash, Lole y Manuel, Pata Negra y Camarón de la Isla.
🌐 https://t.co/7KfB2g7SGW
🎶 #FlamencoRadio@iaflamenco@canalsur
"Creativity cannot be…purchased by the yard down at the local creativity shop. Its a mystery. I have a work regime that tends to produce dance. But it's reliant, finally, on just concentration and good luck." — @TrishaBrown@JacobsPillow 1986 https://t.co/7Cuas66dFU