An interview with the new director:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>New Theater Sure To Test New Director</B><P>STEVE METCALF, The Hartford Courant<P>One thing can be said right away: It's a new day, sartorially speaking, at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><a href=http://www.ctnow.com/scripts/editorial.dll?fromspage=AE/genListing/genListing.htm&categoryid=146&only=y&bfromind=352&eeid=4448348&eetype=article&render=y&ck=&ver=2.8 target=_blank>More...</a><p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited April 25, 2001).]

Another article on the new director:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Bushnell Harvests New Director From For-Profit Field</B><P>FRANK RIZZO And STEVE METCALF, Hartford Courant<P>David R. Fay, a 49-year-old executive in the powerhouse entertainment conglomerate SFX, is expected to be named the new executive director and chief executive officer of the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts today.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><a href=http://www.ctnow.com/scripts/editorial.dll?fromspage=AE/genListing/genListing.htm&categoryid=146&only=y&bfromind=352&eeid=4449252&eetype=article&render=y&ck=&ver=2.8 target=_blank>More...</a><p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited April 25, 2001).]

More speculation:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Many Challenges Ahead For Bushnell's Director</B><P>FRANK RIZZO, Hartford Courant<P>There was a lot of talk this week about "The New Bushnell" surrounding the naming of David R. Fay to succeed Douglas C. Evans as executive director and chief executive officer of the Hartford arts center. But it's really a whole new world of arts presenting in America, and, as board of trustee President Arnold Greenberg articulated, "The arts are going to be a'changing."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><a href=http://www.ctnow.com/scripts/editorial.dll?fromspage=AE/genListing/genListing.htm&categoryid=146&only=y&bfromind=352&eeid=4475318&eetype=article&render=y&ck=&ver=2.8 target=_blank><B>More</B></a><P>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited April 29, 2001).]<p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited November 11, 2001).]

I don't think this bodes well for Hartford. The University of Connecticut presents a much more interesting season than the Bushnell (unless you're a Broadway fanatic, but then if you really are, and you live in Hartford, why not go see the real thing in NYC?)... unfortunately UConn's venue is pretty poor... inadequate flyspace for many touring companies... <P>At the moment, the Bushnell's website events listings <A HREF="http://www.thebushnell.org/events/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.thebushnell.org/events/</A> <BR>returns "no events listed" when you click on "Dance"<P>By contrast, here's the fare at the Jorgensen: <A HREF="http://www.jorgensen.ct-arts.com/event_listing.cfm?sortID=byseries" TARGET=_blank>http://www.jorgensen.ct-arts.com/event_listing.cfm?sortID=byseries</A> <P><BR>While this guy's predecessor raised his annual salary from under 6 figures to $300,000, the Hartford Ballet went belly up, unable to get decent dates for it's Nutcracker (unless you like the two weekends before Thanksgiving).<P>[This message has been edited by Amy Reusch (edited May 09, 2001).]<p>[This message has been edited by Amy Reusch (edited May 09, 2001).]

Hey, Amy, welcome! Long time no see. Thanks for the comments on Bushnell. I see what you mean about the dearth of dance. In another thread, someone else -- Basheva or BabsLights I think -- suggested writing to local promoters and tell them what you want. Perhaps this is one promoter who needs to be told what they should host.

Alas, Azlan, I'm afraid my requests would fall on deaf ears at the Bushnell... they're clearly Broadway bound -- no wait... perhaps financially bound to Broadway road tours? I'm only surprised that they have changed directors, as it sounds like their direction has not changed.

Yeah, that is interesting. They talk about a new director and a new center and a new direction... but it's more of the same.

Almost done:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Many Changes Ahead On Theater Landscape Around Connecticut<P>FRANK RIZZO, Hartford Courant<P>The construction transforming The Bushnell into the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts is in the home stretch (the opening of the new 910-seat Belding Theater is set for November). And although this is one of the highest-profile theater projects in years - demonstrating that at least something is going up in downtown Hartford - other regional theater projects around the state are progressing with their own construction projects, or, in the case of Hartford Stage, rethinking long-term building strategy.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><a href=http://www.ctnow.com/scripts/editorial.dll?fromspage=AE/genListing/genListing.htm&categoryid=146&only=y&bfromind=352&eeid=5059503&eetype=article&render=y&ck=&ver=3.0 target=_blank>More</a>

How exciting!<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>New Theater Debuts With `Hard Hat Concert'<P>DONNA LARCEN, Hartfor Courant<P>The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts took its new Belding Theater out for a test drive Friday night and, despite a few bumps, found the new vehicle works just fine, thank you.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><a href=http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/stage/hc-hardhat1110.artnov10.story?coll=hc%2Dheadlines%2Darts target=_blank>More</a>

The virtual tour:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Curtain Rises On A New Bushnell<P>Hartford Courant<P>The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts unveils its new 907-seat Belding Theater November 26. Discover the history of its construction, take a guided tour of the new hall, find out what the new space means to other arts presenters and how architects created the new hall's acoustics.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><a href=http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/stage/hc-specialpackage-bushnellexpansion.special?coll=hc%2Dheadlines%2Darts target=_blank>More</a>

Cool:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Bushnell Begins Its Next Stage<BR>VIPs Get First Look At Belding Theater<P>DONNA LARCEN, Hartford Courant<P>It's always a good idea to throw a party if you want to get the new house ready for prime time.<P>That's just what the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts did in Hartford Monday night as it officially launched its new 907-seat Belding Theater.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><a href=http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/stage/hc-bushnellgala.artnov27.story?coll=hc%2Dheadlines%2Darts target=_blank>More</a>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Time For Some `Cow' Talk<P>Frank Rizzo, Hartford Courant<P>Watching the twists and turns among arts groups during the past few weeks over holiday booking conflicts at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts raises a common-sense question: In building a multi-million-dollar arts complex, shouldn't someone have bought a wall calendar?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><a href=http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/stage/hc-stage0324.column?coll=hc%2Dheadlines%2Darts target=_blank>More</a>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Opera Delay Adds To Bushnell Booking Brouhaha<P>FRANK RIZZO, Hartford Courant<P>The fat lady has sung. Connecticut Opera has postponed its December 2002 production of "Cosi Fan Tutte" at the Belding Theatre at Hartford's Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. Maria Levy, managing director of the company, says because of a tough financial year, it was prudent to postpone the show until the 2003-04 season.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><a href=http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/stage/hc-ticker0411.artapr11.story?coll=hc%2Dheadlines%2Darts target=_blank>More</a>

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Hmm: