The Grammy Awards, ‘Wonderful Life’ and more

Time to empty the notebook:

–The Grammy Award nominations have been announced and while pop singers get a lot more
attention, I’d like to point out how regionally diverse the top five are for Best Classical Album. Represented are the
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Boston Symphony, the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestra
of the Mariinsky Theatre in Russia. Who says everything worthwhile in the arts comes from New York? Details here.

–John Leguizamo’s latest one-man show, which had an in-progress performance
at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, at last has a name. It’s being called “John Leguizamo’s Diary of a Madman.”
Latest stop: San Diego. Details here.

–In the mood for one of the greatest films of all time? Sure you
are. Tonight, UA Circle Centre will be screening “It’s a Wonderful Life” tonight (Dec. 3). Pre-show festivities
include appetizers, games, and a trivia contest hosted by your’s truly. Tickets are only $5, with proceeds going to
Downtown Indianapolis beautification. Details here.

–Go see "The Fantastic Mr. Fox."

–Hope Baugh,
a frequent poster here, raised an interesting question on her Indy Theatre Habit blog recently. What do you do when a fellow
audience member’s laugh drives you to distraction. Read the post, part of her review of “Chicago,” here.

–I encourage theater professionals and those interested in the marketing of the arts to
take a look here.
It’s actually a commentary from the always-reliable Clyde Fitch Report on another article, in the Guardian. Both concern the
state of stage photography.

My question: How much should the images released to media or used in ads or on websites
reveal about the shows themselves? I think that many of the amateurish images sent by some local theaters would actually repel
potential audiences rather than attract them, but there are exceptions.Can you recall a time when photography from a play
made you want to see it?

Your thoughts?