The Arts

Saudi Arabian Pop Star Sings ‘God, Rid Us Of Men’ In Viral Hit

Saudi Arabian pop star Majed Al-Esa shook her country’s deep-seated patriarchy with the lyrics and video of her new feminist song, “Hwages” or in English, “Concerns.” Posted on YouTube Dec. 23, the video now has almost 2.5 million hits. The women in the music video sing phrases that roughly translate to “If only God would […]

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Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

U.K. Singer Says She’ll Perform for Trump—with a Caveat

As names, including Elton John and Celine Dion, have reportedly turned down the opportunity to perform at U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony, an unlikely name has revealed she is up for the gig—under one condition. U.K. singer Rebecca Ferguson, who appeared on the 2010 season of singing competition The X Factor, tweeted Monday she

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

‘Sleeping Beauty’ delights in Jerusalem

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM — Once a year Israel’s classical ballet comany puts on a performance of a traditional ballet. This is intended mainly for the entertainment of children during the Chanukah/Christmas holiday season. For me, however, this is a golden opportunity to enjoy a very special aesthetic and artistic treat. When I was growing

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘Europa’ — a guidebook to help migrants and refugees navigate Europe

The thick, colorful book titled, “Europa: An Illustrated Introduction to Europe for Migrants and Refugees,” aims to broaden the perspectives of Europe’s newest immigrants, with plenty of historical photos, maps and individual accounts and factual information. That’s according to Alia Malek, a Syrian-American journalist who was one of the book’s editors. Overall, the guidebook tries

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International

“M.A.S.H” fans are mourning one of the show’s most beloved actors, William Christopher

PASADENA, Calif. — William Christopher, best known as the calm-voiced Father Francis Mulcahy on “M.A.S.H.,” has died. He was 84. His son, John Christopher, told KABC his father died of non-lung small cell carcinoma. RELATED: On New Year’s Eve, someone from Mariah Carey’s team asked an embarrassingly obvious question William Christopher played the role of

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Song Meaning Of NYE Tune ‘Auld Lang Syne’

Aside from lots of booze and cute appetizers, there’s something very familiar about New Year’s Eve: “Auld Lang Syne.” While the famous song is almost always played at the stroke of midnight, not everyone knows what it means– and they certainly don’t know the words to it. In “Harry Meets Sally,” Billy Crystal’s character Harry

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher to be buried together

Debbie Reynolds and her daughter Carrie Fisher will have a joint funeral and are to be buried together in Hollywood, according to Reynolds’ son. Todd Fisher said no date had been set for the funeral, which will be private. Carrie Fisher’s body was released to her family on Friday. The actress and writer who starred

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Tyrus Wong, artist whose paintings inspired Disney’s ‘Bambi’ and other films, dies at 106

LOS ANGELES—In the late 1930s, when few doors were open to the son of a poor Chinese immigrant, Tyrus Wong landed a job at Walt Disney’s studio as a lowly “in-betweener,” whose artwork filled the gaps between the animator’s key drawings. But he arrived at an opportune moment. Disney’s animators were struggling to bring “Bambi”

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Obscure English comedy sketch is huge hit in Europe on New Year’s Eve

This New Year’s Eve, just before midnight, millions of revelers will do the same thing they do every year. They will pause their celebrations to watch a short piece of comedic English dinner theater that hardly anyone in Britain has heard of. More than 50 years ago a German television channel made a recording of

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International, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

“Cinderella” opera written by 11-year-old Briton takes Vienna by storm

She is only 11 but already words like “genius” are being used to describe the musical talents of London schoolgirl Alma Deutscher, who has just wowed the crowd in Vienna with the world-premiere of her self-penned opera “Cinderella”. She played violin and piano during the performance and was rewarded with a standing ovation. It is

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

R.I.P. to Barbara Tarbuck, a television legend best known for her work on “General Hospital”

Barbara Tarbuck, a stage and screen actress who played Jane Jacks on “General Hospital” and Mother Superior Claudia on “American Horror Story: Asylum,” has died. She was 74. Tarbuck died Monday at her Los Angeles home, said her daughter, producer Jennifer Lane Connolly. Tarbuck suffered from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disorder, a rare, degenerative brain disease, Connolly said

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘A Man and a Woman’ singer Pierre Barouh dies aged 82

French songwriter, composer and singer Pierre Barouh, who penned and sang the international hit “A Man And A Woman” from the eponymous 1966 film, died Wednesday aged 82, his wife … Barouh, who had been in hospital for five days, died following a heart attack, Atsuko Ushioda told reporters. Raised in the western Paris suburbs

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast