STAGE NOTES
The WICA Blog
HUMANITIES
Revisit Whidbey WOW moments, view short films for curious minds, and help us build a community Reading List.
Since 1996, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts has presented events with leading figures in the world of art, film, literature, music, politics, and theatre.
There have been countless lectures and onstage conversations -- and a few surprise performances -- offering diverse perspectives about the forces that impact our culture.
Our Humanities Series is a program designed to continue the tradition of sharing big ideas and to introduce our community to the influencers and thought leaders shaping our society. — Verna Everitt, WICA Executive Director
#READALETTER
Since 2013, Letters Live has been inviting performers to bring letters to life in memorable venues around the world.
BOOK CLUB
Audible has made hundreds of titles completely free to help during coronavirus crisis.
Getty Publications Virtual Library offers more than 300 of its books to read and download for free.
Met Publications (Metropolitan Museum of Art) has 50+ years of publications available to read, download, or search for free.
Sno-Isle Libraries' physical doors may be closed, but their online libraries are always open!
Pandemic Literature: A Meta-List of the Books You Should Read Now
FILM SOCIETY
BBC Ideas: The latest short films for curious minds
SCIENCE
NASA has made its entire media library publicly accessible. It’s 140,000 photos and other resources available for you to see, or even download and use it any way you like.
NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!
National Poetry Month was launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996 to remind us that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters. Learn how we can celebrate together.
WHIDBEY WOW! STORIES
We launched our WOW! Stories in 2012 to celebrate of the extraordinary lives and experiences of the Women of Whidbey. Learn more here.
Tell us what you’re reading and we’ll add it to the list!
YOUR SUPPORT TODAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER
As a nonprofit arts organization, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts relies on support from our community. Please consider the role that art plays in your life and support your center with a gift of any amount today.
MUSIC
Check out streaming events, podcasts, vintage Rural Characters, and help create a community Playlist.
MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
SARATOGA ORCHESTRA, LANGLEY
Local musicians perform daily “mini-concerts” in the orchestra’s Virtual Concert Hall.
BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER, BERLIN
The Berliner Philharmoniker invite you to visit their virtual concert hall free of charge. “We hope that through this initiative we can give pleasure to as many people as possible with our music.
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA, NEW YORK
“Nightly Met Opera Streams” is a free series of encore Live in HD presentations. Programming includes Carmen, La Bohème, La Traviata, and more.
SEATTLE OPERA, SEATTLE
On stage it may be dark, but they are working on lots of different ways to bring you the art form you love. Here's what they have ready so far to enjoy from the comfort of your sofa: Opera Time at the Opera Center, Top Ten Playlist, Opera Talks with dramaturg Jonathan Dean, and Seattle Opera Podcast.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY, SEATTLE
The musicians of the Seattle Symphony have generously volunteered to share free broadcasts with everyone during this time of uncertainty.
#TogetherAtHome Concert Series
The World Health Organization and Global Citizen launched the Together At Home sessions to benefit their Solidarity Response Fund, which is raising money for preparedness and response efforts to fight the coronavirus outbreak. The at-home concerts notably offer music fans stuck at home the chance to gather in a virtual space now that the coronavirus has caused a slew of tour and festival cancellations throughout the world.
YO-YO MA SOLO CELLO #SONGSOFCOMFORT
“In these days of anxiety, I wanted to find a way to continue to share some of the music that gives me comfort.”
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S Virtual Music Lounge
Expedition ethnomusicologist, Jacob Edgar, has curated a series of exclusive, live concerts featuring musicians from the world over. Discover new talent and fresh sounds, or perhaps, see familiar faces.
LET US KNOW IF YOU FIND OTHER MUSICal PERFORMANCES or experiences!
YOUR SUPPORT TODAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER
As a nonprofit arts organization, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts relies on support from our community. Please consider the role that art plays in your life and support your center with a gift of any amount today.
THEATRE
Select plays and musicals to watch from home, queue up stage-to-screen gems, and marvel at "Great Performances."
THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES
ALL THE INTERNET’S A STAGE
A roundup of streaming theater that covers classics and new shows, endearingly DIY webcasts, and slick Broadway extravaganzas.
NATIONAL THEATRE, LONDON
The National Theatre has an incredible archive of cinema-quality recordings of stage plays thanks to its formidable NT Live program. Beginning in April, NT will release a new play every Thursday on YouTube. The productions will be FREE to watch for one week and accompanied by bonus content including Q&As and post-stream talks.
15 BROADWAY PLAYS AND MUSICALS YOU CAN WATCH ON STAGE FROM HOME
While it used to be a rare treat when a Broadway show was filmed live on stage, it’s becoming more and more common today—great news for Broadway fans. Here’s an ever-growing list of productions available to watch wherever you are.
THE 15 BEST STAGE-TO-SCREEN MOVIE ADAPTATIONS
In the 20th century, American theater entered into a golden age not seen since the days of Shakespeare. Audiences flocked to see the latest stage dramas, as did Hollywood producers. Long before the ilk of Hairspray, Shrek, and Legally Blond attracted tourist audiences, Hollywood used to look to Broadway for movie fodder.
“GREAT PERFORMANCES” ON KCTS 9
PBS brings the best in the performing arts from across America and around the world to our living rooms: classical music, opera, popular song, musical theater, dance, drama, and performance documentaries.
SHAKESPEARE FOR FREE | GLOBE PLAYER
Shakespeare's Globe is sharing their productions, original theatre trailers, scenes from the plays, and interviews.
LET US KNOW IF YOU FIND OTHER WAYS TO WATCH A SHOW!
YOUR SUPPORT TODAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER
As a nonprofit arts organization, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts relies on support from our community. Please consider the role that art plays in your life and support your center with a gift of any amount today.
During Economic Highs and Lows, the Arts Are Key Segment of U.S. Economy
“…arts and culture contributes $877.8 billion (or 4.5%) to the nation’s gross domestic product…”
According to data issued by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (March 17, 2020) and the National Endowment for the Arts, the arts remain a vital component of the U.S. economy. As the United States navigates a time of economic uncertainty due to the spread of COVID-19, it is important to recognize and champion the economic contributions of the arts to all 50 states, the U.S. territories, and the nation as a whole.
The sixth edition of the “Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account” (ACPSA) finds that arts and culture contributed $877.8 billion (or 4.5%) to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017. That same year, there were over 5 million wage‐and‐salary workers employed in the arts and cultural sector, earning a total of $405 billion. Complete national findings are available including an interactive infographic and data tables.
Arts and cultural production accounts for $44,302,905,650 and 8.4% of the Washington STATE economy, contributing 167,004 jobs.
The ACPSA tracks the annual economic impact of arts and cultural production from 35 industries, both commercial and nonprofit. The 35 industries that are tracked range from architectural services to sound recording and are considered a distinct sector of the nation’s economy. With the outbreak of COVID-19, many arts organizations and venues like Whidbey Island Center for the Arts — theaters, concert halls, museums, studios, festivals, and galleries — have shut their doors until further notice from public health officials.
“Earned income accounts for a substantial share of the bottom line of most nonprofit arts organizations,” Sunil Iyengar, director of Research & Analysis at the Arts Endowment, said. “During economic downturns, the sector is acutely vulnerable — in terms of earned income, but also in fundraising. Given the lean operating budgets of such organizations, these losses can have an outsized impact, leading to fewer jobs in arts industries, and in the businesses that supply them.”
Key National Findings
As arts venues close, it will be important to monitor the impact on ticket sales.
In 2017, consumers spent $26.5 billion on admissions to performing arts events, including $17 billion on theater/musical theater/opera performances and $3.7 billion on music groups and artists (e.g., jazz, rock, and country music performances).
Arts industries that contribute the most value to the nation’s GDP are also highly reactive to swings in business cycles including:
Performing arts companies
Independent artists, writers, and performers
Arts‐related retail trade (for example museum stores and art galleries)
Even as the sector continues to respond to market forces, it is worth noting that arts and culture contribute significantly to the U.S. economy.
The arts and cultural sector add more to the economy than do construction, transportation, and warehousing combined.
The value added by arts and culture to the U.S. economy is five times greater than the value from the agricultural sector.
Arts and culture added more to the U.S. economy than construction, transportation, and warehousing by $87 billion and $265 billion respectively.
The sector has shown capacity for rapid growth.
Between 2015 and 2017, the arts and cultural sector grew at more than twice the rate of the total U.S. economy—at nearly 4.45 percent, in terms of annual average growth rate.
Among high-growth arts industries are performing arts presenters, arts-related construction, and publishing.
Key State Findings
On a state level, the arts and cultural sector added $72.8 billion to the economies of rural states—i.e., states in which 30 percent or more of the population live in rural areas, equaling 18 states.
Six states significantly surpassed the average national growth rate of 5.6 percent for the period 2015-2017: Washington, California, Nevada, Utah, Georgia, and Massachusetts.
United States $877,809** 5.6%***
Washington $44,303 13.7%
California $230,298 9.9%
Nevada $8,738 9.4%
Utah $7,214 8.6%
Georgia $24,407 7.6%
Massachusetts $25,805 7.2%
** Arts and cultural value added for 2017 (in millions)
*** Average annual growth rate of value added: 2015-2017
SOURCE: National Endowment for the Arts
SUGGESTED READING
Frantic fundraising, relief that can’t meet demand: Artists and arts groups scramble amid coronavirus crisis | Seattle Times, April 21, 2020
Arts and Culture Industry Has Lost $4.5 Billion Due to Covid-19 Pandemic | Barron’s, April 13, 2020
Coronavirus has ravaged the arts. Financial relief is available, but is it enough? | Crosscut, April 06, 2020
Performing Artists and the Financial Fallout of the Coronavirus | The New Yorker, MArch 2, 2020
REPORTS
ArtsFund | COVID-19 Arts Sector Impacts
Whidbey Island Center for the Arts | 2018-2019 Impact Report
ARTICLE | The beginner's guide to Philip Glass
Often regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the twenty-first century, American composer Philip Glass is best-known for his minimalist compositions.
He is a minimalist composer
Minimal music is a modern style of classical music, developed in the early 1960s by the likes of Glass and his contemporaries, Steve Reich and Terry Riley. The minimalist music genre is best categorized by its use of repetitive sounds over long periods, which has a hypnotic, meditative feel. Although his works can be described as minimalist, Glass prefers to describe himself as a composer of ‘music with repetitive structures.’
The hypnotic structures of Indian music inspired many of his works
In the mid-1960s, Glass met Indian musician Ravi Shankar (the man who introduced The Beatles’ George Harrison to psychedelic music). Hired as an assistant, it was Glass’s job to transcribe Shankar’s music in a way that western musicians could play. At the time, Indian music was unfamiliar to many westerners, meaning few had transcribed the hypnotic melodies of eastern music. Immersing himself in the addictive structure of Indian music lead to Glass journeying around India, the Himalayas and North Africa. It was his first trip to India, in 1966 that inspired Glass to create an opera on Mahatma Gandhi. Satyagraha (an ancient Indian word meaning ‘truth-force’) premiered in 1980.
His trilogy of ‘portrait operas’ are like nothing you’ve ever seen before
Throughout his career, Glass has composed more than 25 operas. Out of all his operas, the three ‘portraits’ are some of the best known. The first in the series, Einstein on the Beach, premiered in 1976, pushing minimalism into the mainstream. The opera (as with the others in the trilogy) focuses on a major historical figure, in this case, the famous scientist. The piece has neither dialogue nor a narrative, and Einstein himself is played by a violinist. Four years later, Satyagraha, an opera on a much larger scale, was premiered. This time Gandhi is the focus of the work, specifically his early years in South Africa and his approach to non-violent protest. The non-conventional libretto is loosely based on texts from the Bhagavad-Gita, a scripture in the ancient Hindu language, Sanskrit. Satyagraha was Glass’s first major work to use a traditional orchestral line-up and cast of soloists.
While planning the third part of his “Portrait Trilogy,” Glass turned to smaller music theater projects such as the non-narrative Madrigal Opera (1980) and The Photographer (1982).
He also writes music for films
Glass began composing music for film in the 1970s, when he scored a number of documentary films. In 1982, he worked on American experimental film Koyaanisqatsi, his score plays almost uninterrupted for the duration of the film. Pre-existing and original compositions can be heard in 1998’s The Truman Show. Glass also has a cameo in the film. Have a watch of the video to see him playing the piano whilst Truman sleeps. He is perhaps best known, however, for writing music for the 2002 film, The Hours, staring Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. It was for this work that Glass won the BAFTA award for best film music.