Monster Mash: Joffrey Ballet dealing with labor standoff; opera canceled over gay references

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

Jeopardy: Chicago’s famed Joffrey Ballet has cut the beginning of its 2011-12 season as a result of unresolved negotiations with the dancers union. (Chicago Tribune)

Controversial: An opera featuring primary-school performers has been canceled after the writer refused to remove references to a gay character’s sexuality. (BBC News)

Nominated: Cate Blanchett and productions of ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Love Never Dies’ are among the nominees for Australia’s Helpmann Awards, the country’s equivalent of the Tonys. (Sydney Morning Herald)

Temporarily grounded: Broadway’s ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark’ experienced technical difficulties with flying scenes on Thursday, forcing the show to offer refunds. (Broadway World)

Mega-production: Choreographer Matthew Bourne will cast amateurs in his ‘Lord of the Flies’ ballet scheduled for 2013. (The Stage UK)

Religious art: The story behind the numerous outdoor depictions of the Virgin of Guadalupe across L.A. (Los Angeles Times)

Big day approaching: The Barnes art collection is in its final days at its home in suburban Philadelphia before moving to the Center City area. (Reuters)

Kindred spirits: Andrew Lloyd Webber says he once considered casting Michael Jackson as the title character in a film version of his musical ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ (Sydney Morning Herald)

Also in the L.A. Times: Theater critic Charles McNulty reviews a revival of Harold Pinter’s ‘Betrayal,’ starring Kristin Scott Thomas, in London.

-- David Ng