Arts and Humanities

WFPL News covers arts policies and issues, but also of celebrates the joy and richness of the creative arts.

Actors Theatre’s A Christmas Story Tells a Tale of Holidays Past

by Graham Shelby November 19, 2011

In Actors Theatre of Louisville’s new production of A Christmas Story, it’s striking how distinctly the emotions of the characters resonate, while at the same time, the world those characters inhabit feels fundamentally different from the world outside the theatre. The play is largely faithful to the original screenplay, and captures the purity and ferocity [...]

Read the full article →

Measuring the Benefits of an Orchestra

by Gabe Bullard November 18, 2011

Music makes a city. Yes, that’s the name of a documentary about the orchestra, but it’s also a sort of unofficial catchphrase in Louisville. It’s what players, managers and supporters say when the orchestra is in danger. The Louisville Orchestra contract negotiations have reached yet another impasse. Members of the management say they’re done making [...]

Read the full article →

This Month’s Kentucky Opera Performances to Use Pianos Instead of Orchestra

by Gabe Bullard November 17, 2011

Ending weeks of speculation, the Kentucky Opera has officially announced that it will use two pianos and a harpsichord as its musical accompaniment for this week’s performances of the Marriage of Figaro. The opera has used musicians from the Louisville Orchestra for performances in the past, but as the dispute between orchestra management and players has dragged on, the [...]

Read the full article →

Orchestra Musicians Reject Another Contract Offer

by Gabe Bullard November 16, 2011

The musicians of the Louisville Orchestra have rejected the latest contract offer from management. The impasse peaked late last month, when the players declined an offer to sign all the musicians who remained in Louisville but cut the orchestra to 55 members by June 2013. They differed on how many players should be hired up [...]

Read the full article →

Actors Theatre Play Looks at Soldiers Reentering Society

by Brad Yost November 14, 2011

On stage now at Actors Theatre of Louisville is ReEntry, a new documentary play which explores the process – and challenges – of U.S. soldiers returning to their homes from overseas bases and battle zones, and re-integrating themselves back to family and so-called “normal” lives. WFPL’s Graham Shelby speaks here with Emily Ackerman and KJ [...]

Read the full article →

Talks Continue in Orchestra Dispute

by Gabe Bullard November 7, 2011

A week after the Louisville Orchestra management threatened to replace musicians who had not agreed to a final contract offer, talks have resumed. Mediator Henri Mangeot says a new offer has been extended to the musicians. The players are considering it and another meeting is set for tomorrow evening. Mangeot declined to give details of [...]

Read the full article →

Fischer Returns to Louisville Orchestra Talks

by Gabe Bullard November 1, 2011

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer is again involved in the Louisville Orchestra labor negotiations. Earlier this year, Fischer met with management and musicians to try to broker a new contract. After seeing the two sides were far apart, Fischer helped secure a private donation to hire an outside consultant. The consultant was the nationally-known Ralph Craviso. He [...]

Read the full article →

Orchestra Woes Continue, Both Sides Face Difficult Futures

by Gabe Bullard October 31, 2011

Neither side has blinked in the Louisville Orchestra labor dispute, and both the management and the musicians are facing difficult futures and the potential end of the orchestra. The management now plans to follow through on threats to go against union wishes and hire a 50-member replacement orchestra. Finding 50 talented nonunion players will be [...]

Read the full article →

Orchestra Woes Mount

by Brad Yost October 31, 2011

Faced with a 5:00pm deadline today, musicians with the Louisville Orchestra are submitting to management nearly 60 forms today rejecting the offer made last week for 50 orchestral contract positions. Meanwhile, musicians have launched a protest of sorts outside Louisville Orchestra offices at management’s plan to hire permanent replacement workers. WFPL’s Gabe Bullard spoke about the [...]

Read the full article →

Orchestra Management Prepared to Begin Search for New Musicians, Players Plan Holiday Concerts

by Gabe Bullard October 31, 2011

Today is the deadline for Louisville Orchestra musicians to return to work. The orchestra board says it will begin replacing the players if they do not sign on by the end of the day. This comes after a year of talks for a new contract broke down.

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →