Monster Mash: Breaking news and headlines

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--About 450 people lined up Sunday to support the Museum of Contemporary Arts, which is weighing options to keep its doors open. Many heard about the event through a Facebook group called MOCA Mobilization, which now boasts more than 1,500 members.

--Developers, citing the global economic woes, scrapped plans for the Norman Foster-designed 118-floor Russia Tower in Moscow.

--’Terror Texts,’ a new musical production at a college in Iowa, revolves around scary Bible stories that include rape, cannibalism and the mauling of a child by a bear.

--The financially strapped Orchestras of Pasadena named Paul Jan Zdunek (right) to the position of chief executive.

--The I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art is set to open in Qatar.

--The Donmar Warehouse took all the top acting awards in the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Chiwetel Ejiofor won best actor honors for his portrayal of Othello, beating out Kenneth Branagh, whose Lear was critically acclaimed. Both productions were staged by Michael Grandage, who won best director honors.

--On Saturday, Italian tenor Marcello Giodani performed two major roles in a single day at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, tackling the title role in Berlioz’s ‘La Damnation de Faust,’ then filling in for an ailing colleague a few hours later as Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton in ‘Madama Butterfly.’

--In an effort to give a boost to the arts, London’s mayor will announce plans to add to Oyster transportation cards an electronic pass that would provide free or cheap entry to events and venues.

--The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opens its annex in New York City Tuesday.

--The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra named 37-year-old Chicago businessman Trey Devey as president.

--’Young Frankenstein,’ the Broadway musical based on the Mel Brooks film, and ‘13,’ the Jason Robert Brown show that had its world premiere at the Mark Taper Forum, will close on Jan. 4. They join ‘Hairspray,’ ‘Spring Awakening’ and ‘Spamalot,’ all of which have posted January closing dates. The revival of David Mamet’s ‘American Buffalo,’ starring John Leguizamo, Cedric the Entertainer and Haley Joel Osment, closed a week after opening. Overall, Broadway box office was down last week.

--Baltimore Opera Company‘s season remains in doubt, and the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra cancels activities as the city’s arts community wrestles with sagging ticket sales.

--Pinchas Zukerman has been named principal guest conductor at London’s Royal Philharmonic.

--Lisa Fung

Top photo: Lines at MOCA rally. Credit: Diane Haithman / Los Angeles Times