Blumenthal Arts’ Post

Our book's first review is in the New England Theatre Journal written by Alesondra Christmas (Ohio State University) Here's a snippet (for the full review, check out the most recent edition of the New England Theatre Journal or simply message me): "Contemporary Black Theatre and Performance effectively meets its mission of outlining rebellion, activism, and solidarity in Black performance by advocating for the intentional revolt against the cis-hetero-patriarchal-white-supremacist underpinnings of the theatre industry and greater American performance landscape. By implicitly and explicitly centering Black people and their artistic praxis, it provides a grounded counternarrative to white-dominated theatre and performance scholarship. In doing so, Black people, Black logic, Black imaginations, Black sensibilities, Black histories, and Black futures are interwoven into a living theory that propels anti-oppressive activism, joy, and rest. Black artists of the present root themselves in their ancestry while encouraging cultural and societal change. Black artists are and have always been those who push the boundaries of what is accepted and propel society forward in the U.S. and elsewhere. Black performance often obligates predominantly white viewers to contend with the oppressive logic and behaviors of white culture that fuel systemic injustices despite any white fragility, discomfort, and backlash. This book disrupts the white hegemony of the theatre industry that seeks to erase or subjugate Blackness, while positioning whiteness as universal, American, and the standard of humanity This book is unapologetically Black and defines itself as contemporary in a cyclical and codependent relationship to Black artists' ancestors. Throughout the anthology, themes of community action, social transformation, and accountability surface time and again in the authors' analysis of performance and the creative process. Placing Blackness at the center of theatre production, rhetoric, and scholarship changes how power and justice are represented in culture and performance. Contemporary Black Theatre and Performance: Acts of Rebellion, Activism, and Solidarity is essential theory and should be a staple text for educational institutions and performance companies, collectives, and troupes nationwide."

With a frightening lack of focus on the importance of an arts education the consequences will hit us for decades. Government policy needs to move swiftly and distinctly to support creative education in schools, colleges and Universities as a matter of urgency. This is not just about having ‘stories’ to tell. It is about nurturing and recognising the importance of these creative skills in business and corporate environments too. We need smart people in positions of authority and power - in all organisations. Time for change.

Check out the collaboration CRUX Technology and Security Solutions were able to provide for Mansfield ISD. 🎭 Elevating Performances with the Right AV Equipment! 🎬 As we continue to celebrate the magic of the performing arts, it's crucial to acknowledge the pivotal role that state-of-the-art Audio-Visual (AV) equipment plays in creating unforgettable experiences. 🎶🎥 🌟 Unparalleled Immersion: Imagine being transported into a different world, where every note resonates crystal clear and every visual element is showcased in stunning detail. The right AV equipment transforms a regular performance into an immersive masterpiece, captivating the audience's senses and leaving them spellbound. 🔊 Crystal Clear Acoustics: In the heart of any performing arts center, impeccable sound quality reigns supreme. The perfect harmony of audio elements enhances the emotive power of live performances, ensuring that every whispered dialogue, crescendo, and thunderous applause is heard with utmost clarity. 🎨 Visual Spectacle: From intricately designed stage setups to larger-than-life projections, visual storytelling is taken to new heights with cutting-edge AV equipment. Lighting, projections, and displays work in tandem to create captivating visual narratives that resonate with the audience on a profound level. 💡 Technical Precision: Behind the scenes, the right AV equipment empowers performers, technicians, and directors to bring their creative visions to life with precision. Seamless integration of technology minimizes disruptions, allowing the focus to remain solely on the artistry unfolding on stage. 🚀 Elevating Talent: Just as a painter needs the finest brushes and a writer requires the perfect pen, artists thrive when they have the right tools at their disposal. The right AV equipment empowers performers to unleash their full potential, pushing the boundaries of creativity and leaving audiences awestruck. 📈 Attracting Audiences: In today's digitally connected world, word travels fast. A high-quality performing arts center equipped with top-tier AV infrastructure not only delights existing patrons but also becomes a magnet for new audiences seeking extraordinary cultural experiences. Let's continue championing the arts by investing in the right AV equipment. Together, we can cultivate an environment where performances transcend the ordinary and venture into the realm of the extraordinary. Here's to a future where technology and artistry coalesce, enriching our lives through shared moments of beauty and inspiration. 🎉🎭 #PerformingArtsExcellence #AVTechnology #ArtistryUnleashed #UnforgettableExperiences

MS: That's the danger of today too... TC: Because there's an answer to everything? MS: There's an answer. There is, understandably, a sensitivity; which has to be balanced with art somehow. Because the Art should be free. A fascinating interview with the master Martin Scorsese. How do we apply his philosophies in musical theatre education: The importance of developing a young adult's artistry within MT story telling? Directing their actions (dancing, singing, acting) in order to help a student's own understanding of themselves and the characters they portray, in order to bring their artistry to the foreground? (With some great anecdotes about NYC too!) Worth having a watch.

73% of SDRs aren’t hitting quota 🥲 According to Operatix and Pavilion. And guess who 🌶️Arthur from Chili Piper interviewed to talk about this? Becc Holland!!! She’s Founder and CEO Flip the Script, and she's taken companies that average a less than 1% response rate and got them to 20% . And this is part of her secret sauce: A framework to educate and inform the target audience around problems that they didn’t know existed. Becc’s framework consists of 5 steps: 📝 ☑ Mobilize buyer - help them understand something they didn’t know beforehand ☑ Widen the buyer’s perspective of the problem  ☑ Educate by way of an industry stat or first-party data Check out all 5 steps in the comments! 🌶️

I have discovered a new form of team builder:

WARNING: My curiosity and concern probably WILL ruffle feathers. Just to let you know, I am accustomed to living in discomfort. Here we go... I'm exploring the state of the #arts, particularly #theatre, where I first found #acceptance, #trust, and real #collaboration. Historically, the pendulum has swung in one direction for far too long. Naturally, it will swing in the opposite direction as a response, and eventually, something in the middle will emerge. It's not right, but life tells us repeatedly that it doesn't care. I am listening to the voices of the pendulum swing. Of course, they have had enough because the old guard became bloated and less about the art and the stories being told. Many of the old guards participated in check-the-box DEI, completely #pejorative and uninformed, pandering to butts-in-seats over quality stories. However, when did some forms of #activism become the #newMcCarthyism? The current swing is more a #cull of anything resembling the old guard. When did an art form dependent on #freespeech, with the intent to hold up a mirror to society, become required to #succumb or be #eliminated completely? I'm disturbed and concerned as it's no longer a place of #acceptance and true #collaboration. We were finally at the point of letting more diverse people tell their stories from their perspectives. New stories and a dialogue on what the future could be. Maybe the show shouldn't go on this time. We need real dialogue across the board where everyone [yes, everyone!] gets to participate. For your reading [dis]pleasure:

Develop those skills

In 2007, Joshua Bell, one of the world's most renowned violinists, took his prized Stradivarius violin worth 3.5 million dollars to a Washington D.C. subway station. He was dressed casually and unassumingly, blending in with the bustling commuters who passed him by without a second glance. He began playing one of the most intricate pieces ever written, but the commuters rushed by, barely sparing him a glance. Despite his immense talent and the value of his instrument, only a handful of people stopped to listen. It was a stark contrast to the previous night when he had performed in a Boston theatre, selling out seats at an average of $100 each. The experiment aimed to illustrate an important lesson about the perception of value. Something that may be invaluable in one context may be ignored or undervalued in another. This lesson extends to businesses and their offerings - no matter how great their products or services are, they need to be perceived as valuable in order to succeed. The key lies in effective branding and marketing that can shape the perception of value. #Rudra #Diamonds #MarketingLessons  #PerceivedValue  #Branding  #CreativeMarketing  #BusinessTips  #JoshuaBellExperiment  #BrandValue  #AuthenticMarketing  #BrandStrategy  #EffectiveCommunication