Monster Mash: Removal of ‘pro-labor’ mural prompts outcry in Maine; Patti LuPone sounds off on ‘Gypsy’ movie

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Controversy: Gov. Paul LePage of Maine is under attack after he ordered the removal of a public mural at the request of business leaders who considered the artwork to be too pro-labor. (Reuters)

Letting loose: Patti Lupone offers her unguarded opinions on a ‘Gypsy’ movie that was to star Barbra Streisand. (Theater Jones)

Distracting?: The L.A. City Council has approved an array of lights and graphic displays on the proposed downtown Wilshire Grand towers. (Los Angeles Times)

Brtish arts funding slashed: Hundreds of arts organizations facing ‘agonizing’ government spending cuts aimed at tackling the country’s deficit. (The Guardian)

Star power: Oscar-winner Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas are rumored to be in talks to star in a revival of Harold Pinter’s ‘Betrayal’ in London this fall. The pair played husband and wife in ‘The English Patient’ in 1996. (Daily Mail)

Play ball: Plácido Domingo will sing the national anthem at Thursday night’s opening game at Dodger Stadium. (Los Angeles Times)

Going, going Gauguin: A rare wooden bust by the French artist could fetch millions in an auction. (Reuters)

Chosen: British architect Amanda Levete has been selected to build an extension to the V&A Museum in London. (The Independent)

Silenced: The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra’s board of trustees voted Tuesday to suspend operations due to a shortage of funds, bringing the season to a halt. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Up for sale: A court has ruled that the city of Denver can sell four of the 825 paintings destined for its new Clyfford Still Museum. (Denver Post)

Extreme actions: The trucker who damaged a controversial work of art at a Colorado museum has explained her actions on a website, while also predicting the End of Days. (The Coloradoan)

In memoriam: Broadway theaters will dim their lights Wednesday in honor of the late playwright Lanford Wilson. (Playbill)

Also in the L.A. Times: Music critic Mark Swed reviews Rolf Riehm’s ‘Hawking’; the full Times obituary on screen and stage star Farley Granger.

-- David Ng