Monster Mash: Breaking news and headlines

-- Los Angeles County Museum of Art proposes a merger with financially troubled Museum of Contemporary Art. Director Michael Govan, right, discusses plans.

-- Veteran theater director Peter Brook to step down in 2010 as head of Bouffes du Nord.

-- Gregory Maguire, the author of “Wicked,”  writes an original Christmas tale for NPR, scheduled to air in three parts starting today.

-- International arts festivals brace for cost cuts amid recession fears.

-- "Skin Deep," a new operetta about cosmetic surgery, set to open in London. 

-- Iraqi officials seize ancient artifacts, some looted from Iraq's National Museum, which smugglers intended to take out of the country.

-- London website launches a theater ticket resale service.

-- "Empire the Musical," a show about the creation of the Empire State Building that had a run in L.A. in 2003, builds a case for a Broadway run.

-- Frank Gehry recommits to Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi. 

-- Should theater bloggers be considered equals to print critics? Debate rages over theater Critic-O-Meter.

-- Marilyn Monroe photographs, taken for Vogue magazine, sell at auction for $150,000.

-- Dominic Cooper ("The History Boys") is set to star opposite Helen Mirren in "Phedre" at London's  National Theatre.

-- Lisa Fung

Photo credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times