The Arts Fuse Newsletter, April 9
Short Fuse Podcast with Tyler Wetherall, Reviews of Big Ears, Two Boffo Broadway Shows, Boston Lyric Opera's "Carousel", Two Kids' books on the Dangers of Book Banning, and the New Mekons Album
From The Editor's Desk:
The Trump administration is coming for arts and culture. Will it meet any opposition?
“Restrictions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives are already directly affecting national institutions including the Smithsonian,” reports Artnet, “while other orders could lead to further challenges for artists seeking grants, sourcing materials, and looking to collaborate or exhibit across borders. Meanwhile, DOGE, helmed by Elon Musk, has made deep funding and staff cuts to key agencies that support museums and other arts initiatives.” In Massachusetts, Mass Humanities learned that its current grants with the NEH have been terminated. The result is a loss of more than $1.3M in funding, nearly 35% of its annual revenue. WBUR reports that the cuts mean that libraries across the state “are worried about how they’ll provide vital services such as interlibrary loans, e-books and access to databases.”
Individual artists are protesting, and The Theater Offensive is among the groups suing the NEA over its new draconian restrictions. But Boston’s big media and arts organizations have pretty much been mum, at least so far. Boston’s major arts groups aren’t even daring enough to carry such ‘rebellious’ banners as “Defend Democracy” or “Save Library Services” on their websites. This week the artistic director of the American Repertory Theater, Diane Paulus, hosted a “virtual fireside chat at the Harvard Chan Studio about the power of shows like Waitress, Jagged Little Pill, and Night Side Songs to illuminate critical public health challenges.” Was treating the cancer of authoritarianism mentioned? Probably not. Still, Paulus must have been cautious about what she opined: Robert Kennedy Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services was no doubt monitoring the confab for mentions of fluoride.
Around this time, some arts groups announce next year’s season. I just received Lyric Stage Company’s chirpy email about what’s coming up. The troupe advises Bostonians to relax: “Live in the Moment. Let in the Joy”. Concerning its upcoming lineup: “Every story, a love letter to the human spirit.” The Trump administration is attempting to establish its own fear-leveraged version of Mao’s Cultural Revolution. The arts should not obey in advance by sticking their heads into the quicksand of bromidic business-as-usual.
—Bill Marx, Editor-in-Chief
Archive: From the Editor's Desk
Theater Review: “Carousel” — One More Spin of the Wheel
By Robert Israel
Despite all the Boston Lyric Opera pageantry and talent, Carousel‘s trip to the 21st century turns out to be bumpy.
Short Fuse Podcast #71: Reading the City with Tyler Wetherall
By Elizabeth Howard
In this conversation, Elizabeth Howard engages with Tyler Wetherall, focusing on how she connects with the literary community in New York City through her Substack newsletter, “Reading the City.”
Festival Review: Ten Highlights from Big Ears 2025
By Noah Schaffer
Despite – or maybe because of – all the global turmoil, an awful lot of compelling music was heard at Big Ears.
Children’s Book Reviews: The Freedom to Read
By Cyrisse Jaffee
Kudos to Delacorte Press for publishing not one but two middle-grade books about the dangers of book banning.
Theater Reviews: “Operation Mincemeat” and “Buena Vista Social Club” Reflect a Banner Year for Broadway Musicals
By Christopher Caggiano
A clever British import and a soulful Cuban music-fest reflect a season that delivers the full range of musical storytelling Broadway’s been missing.
Album Review: The “Horror” of the Mekons
By Steve Erickson
The apocalyptic overtones of the Mekons’ music come across as alarmingly real as ever.
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Editor-in-Chief
Bill Marx
wmarx103@gmail.com
