The Week in ReviewNew York City Opera Threatens to Cancel Season: The endlessly beleaguered New York City Opera, having decamped from Lincoln Center, slashed its budgets, and drastically reduced its production schedule, now finds that such economies are not enough. Key quote: "'The company's been living on the edge and hand-to-mouth for a number of years, and we've gotten through our own share of financial troubles,' George Steel, the company's general manager and artistic director, said in a telephone interview last week. 'We've had balanced budgets for the last two years, and we've been doing, I think, incredible work onstage. But we can't forge ahead without a significant infusion of capital.'" That cash infusion comes to $20 million. This comes as the company is about to open the hotly anticipated new opera Anna Nicole, which was very well-received in its London debut. The whole sad story can be found at: http://plasa.me/00750. Henry Hewes Award Winners Announced: Congratulations to this year's Henry Hewes Award winners for their contributions to last year's New York theatre season. They include Mimi Lien for the immersive environment of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812; Ann Roth, for the impeccably tailored 1930s-era clothing and gleefully tawdry burlesque costumes of The Nance; Jane Cox, whose lighting added much to the grimy atmosphere of The Flick; and Peter Nigrini, who provide cascades of video images that were a key part of the nightclub environment of Here Lies Love. All of them are first-time winners -- even Roth, whose first Broadway design credit was earned in 1958. For the full list of nominees, go to http://plasa.me/147nl. A Designer at Home: This Sunday's Times took at a look at the apartment of set designer Derek McLane, who, following a divorce, took a West Village space and redid it with industrial lamps in a way that will be familiar to fans of his work. The piece also reveals that his upcoming projects include Beautiful, the new musical about Carole King, and NBC's live presentation of The Sound of Music, starring Carrie Underwood. For the story, go to http://plasa.me/ccqsf. Here and There: Congratulations to the architecture firm Ennead Architects for winning the 2013 Outstanding Historic Theatre Award from the League of Historic Theatres; the award is for the firm's work on the stunning renovation of New York's City Center ... New York Theatre Ballet is suddenly in need of a new home, having been forced to leave the office and studio space it has occupied for over three decades. "We're in a crisis," said Diana Byer, artistic director of NYTB. "I don't know if we're in danger of closing. I'm just reaching out to everybody to see what will come about." ... Here's a sign of the times: The last two carbon arc followspots on Broadway were retired this past week at Phantom of the Opera. They were Super Troupers ... Kudos to Canada's Shaw Festival, whose 2013 ticket sales exceeded the previous year. The company took in $15 million versus $13.8 million last year ... The Times reports that Sergei Filin, artistic director at the Bolshoi Ballet, who was grievously wounded in an acid attack, is coming back to Moscow after receiving treatment elsewhere. No word on when he might resume his duties ... ![](/std_images/blank.gif)
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