Monster Mash: Smithsonian removes controversial Jesus video; Thomas Kinkade faces personal problems
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Controversial: The National Portrait Gallery in Washington has removed a video work depicting a crucified Jesus covered in ants that certain politicians had criticized. The video was part of the Smithsonian’s ‘Hide/Seek’ exhibition. (The Washington Post)
Populist appeal: Thomas Kinkade, the ‘painter of light,’ is going through difficult financial and personal times. (NPR)
Spidey senses: Producers of Broadway’s ‘Spider-Man’ have reported $1 million in ticket sales so far. (NY1)
Tough sells: ‘Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson’ and ‘The Scottsboro Boys’ will be closing earlier than expected on Broadway, on Jan. 2 and Dec. 12, respectively. (Showbiz411 and New York Times)
Creationist-land? The organization behind the Creation Museum in Kentucky is expected to announce plans for a new creationist-themed amusement park. (MSNBC)
New digs: The Miami Art Museum has broken ground on its new $200-million home in Biscayne Bay. (Miami Herald)
Popular demand: The Signature Theatre Company’s revival of ‘Angels in America’ by Tony Kushner has received another extension and will get a new cast through March 27. (Playbill)
Labor standoff: The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has canceled two additional weeks of concerts after last week’s failed negotiations to end the eight-week musicians’ strike. (Detroit Free Press)
Stepping down: Joan Rosenbaum, the head of New York’s Jewish Museum since 1981, will step down as director at the end of June. (New York Times)
Birthday celebration: Hal Holbrook performed his long-running solo stage show as Mark Twain on the occassion of the author’s 175th birthday in Elmira, N.Y. (Associated Press)
Oops! A man in Canada mistook a $5,000 sculpture for firewood, thinking it was an old pile of trees. (Edmonton Journal)
And in the L.A. Times: Theater critic Charles McNulty on Tennessee Williams’ ‘Vieux Carré,’ which is being reinterpreted by the Wooster Group; art critic Christopher Knight reviews ‘Kim Schoenstadt: Matrix 160’ at the Wadsworth Atheneum Art Museum; Grant Gershon has extended his contract as music director of the L.A. Master Chorale through 2014-15.
-- David Ng
