Monster Mash: Cirque founder sues; arts audience declining; more on OCMA art sale; new Mahler blog

Bolton ColburnControversy continues: Director of Laguna Museum of Art seeks chance to acquire plein air paintings quietly sold by OCMA to a private collector.

Bad news, good news: Audience for the arts continues to decline, but the Internet offers hope, according to study by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Unflattering depiction: Cirque du Soleil founder
sues to halt bio depicting him as a bed-hopping scoundrel with an
inexhaustible appetite for sex, drugs, and a rock 'n' roll lifestyle.

Moving east: Erik Ehn leaving CalArts to head playwriting program at Brown University.

Angry over job loss: Architect Richard Rogers claims "abuse of power" and "unconstitutional" behavior by Prince Charles in London residential project.

Honoring composer: Universal Edition launches a Gustav Mahler blog (via The Rest Is Noise)

Big-name directors: Film director Jonathan Demme and Tony-winner Joe Mantello to stage shows at MCC Theater.

Flat-out change: Site of architect Norman Foster's planned 118-floor Russia Tower in Moscow now set to become a parking lot.

This is a publicity stunt: Edinburgh Fringe announces contest for best publicity stunt.

At long last: PBS to air "Chess" concert production, featuring Josh Groban and Adam Pascal on Wednesday. (See preview, find time slot here.)

Looking for laughs: John Leguizamo hits the road with tour of "John Leguizamo Live!"

More on Twitter: The venerable Royal Shakespeare Company starts Twittering. (Shameless plug: Follow us on Twitter: @culturemonster)

– Lisa Fung

Caption: Bolton Colburn, director of Laguna Museum of Art, in 1998 photo. Credit:  Los Angeles Times



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