Latest news with #Alice'sAdventuresinWonderland
Chicago Tribune
23-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: Chicago's Joffrey Ballet pirouettes to stability and growth
Arts organizations often have money problems and the cuts flowing from President Donald Trump's administration have only made them more acute. Dance companies typically struggle more than most. But in Chicago, there's a ballet company with an impressive record not just of creative success but financial stability. Consider. Like many ballet companies, the 70-year-old Joffrey makes its annual bones on 'The Nutcracker.' Last year, Christopher Wheeldon's adaptation, set during Chicago's 1893 World's Fair, brought in more than $7 million in ticket sales and played to more than 50,000 people. Since its debut in 2016, that annual production alone has grossed more than $30 million. This spring, the exceptionally well-managed Joffrey risked more than $3 million on a new Wheeldon production of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.' It paid off. It grossed $2.69 million in ticket sales just on this first go-around. 30,000 people bought tickets over the course of the 14-performance run. Most performances sold out; no mean feat for a venue with 3,520 seats. All of that goes someway toward explaining why the Joffrey, which is run by artistic director Ashley Wheater and President and CEO Greg Cameron, has an annual operating budget of about $29 million and employs about 300 full- and part-time people in Chicago, does not carry a deficit, or struggle with debt. Over the past 10 years, with the help of its board of directors, it has built up a total endowment of $32 million. Ten years ago it did not have any endowment at all. There's another factor too: smart consolidation, a rarity in the arts. On Wednesday, the ballet company told us it was extending its lease at the Lyric Opera House for seven more years through 2034, continuing an agreement that began in 2020 when Joffrey made the smart decision to move its main performance venue from the Auditorium Theatre. This has been a win-win situation for both the Lyric and the Joffrey, creating a dynamic combination operating within a historic building that's a pivotal cultural anchor on the western edge of Chicago's Loop. Opera audiences are not as large as they once were, so runs are not as long and thus the Lyric had empty weeks, especially during the holiday period between the fall and spring opera seasons. Joffrey got the benefit of a massive stage, a grand auditorium with a huge capacity and an aesthetically pleasing environment. The combination of ballet and opera in the same building is common in Europe (it occurs with the Royal Opera House and the Royal Ballet in London, among many others) but less so in the United States. Yet it makes perfect sense, not least because there is a big overlap between ballet and opera audiences. Not only can each company market to the other, they can share the heavy costs of live production, virtually year-round. Tough as they have been for most peers, the last five years have been phenomenally successful for the Joffrey. This Chicago company is a balletic model for the nation.
New York Post
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash' trailer unveiled: New sequel features freaky new villain, Na'vi civil war
The giant blue aliens are back. And this time, they're battling a sexy, non-human baddie. The first trailer for 'Avatar: Fire and Ash,' the third chapter in director James Cameron's 16-year-old science-fiction franchise that hits theaters Dec. 19, was unveiled to the press on Monday at Disney's offices in New York and LA. Advertisement 4 Neytiri is back to fight again 'Avatar: Fire and Ash.' 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS And the movie's most striking addition is a freaky character named Varang, voiced by Oona Chaplin ('Game of Thrones'). Decked out in a spiky red-and-black headdress that brings to mind the Queen of Hearts from 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,' she's the leader of the Ash Clan, a race of Na'vi that live up in the mountains around volcanoes. Advertisement Varang walks through a hot, gray landscape lit by magma and wields what looks like a flamethrower. Appearing to hold Jake and Neytiri's daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) hostage in the promo, Varang evilly hisses at the girl who has a special connection to the spiritual being Eywa, 'Your goddess has no dominion here.' The wicked remark suggests that some Na'vi clans worship different entities — or none at all. Venomous Varang would be the first full-on Na'vi villain in the 'Avatar' franchise, which has so far pitted the citizens of Pandora against violent earthlings. Now, it's the 10-foot-tall aliens that are at each others' throats. Advertisement 'Varang is the leader of a people who have gone through an incredible hardship. She's hardened by that,' Cameron told Empire. 'She will do anything for them, even things that we would consider to be evil.' 4 While called 'Fire and Ash,' the movie doesn't forget the oceans of 'Way of Water.' Dylan Cole The trailer also hints at generational change. Young warrior Lo'ak (Britain Dalton) has seemingly grown close to Tsireya (Bailey Bass), the daughter of the sea clans leaders Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) and Ronal (Kate Winslet) that he was smitten with in the second movie. Advertisement Tsiereya touches his heart and says, 'The strength of the ancestors is here.' What a flirt. His parents Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), meanwhile, exchange parental sideways glances. 4 The Ash People live in a barren, volcano-filled landscape, as shown in this concept art. 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS Despite its title, 'Fire and Ash' also returns to the oceans of 'The Way of Water.' The whale-like Tulkun creatures are back. And so, of course, are the scaly flying Ikran. A cool new mode of aerial transport we haven't seen before is revealed in the trailer — giant jellyfish-esque sky-ships that are pulled along by floating hippos. It's unclear when the 'Fire and Ash' trailer will drop publicly, but Disney has a major wide release coming this weekend with Marvel's 'Fantastic Four: First Steps.' 4 The trailer also reveals cool Na'vi air-ships, as seen in this concept art. 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS 'Fire and Ash,' out Dec. 19, is one of the most hotly anticipated movies of the year. The first two chapters are respectively the No. 1 and No. 3 highest grossing films of all time — having raked in $5.2 billion at the worldwide box office. Advertisement Both were nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture, and the series spawned a successful theme park at Disney World's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. Cameron currently plans two more 'Avatar' films after 'Fire and Ash,' due out in 2029 and 2031.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Callooh! Callay! 20 Jabberwocky words from Alice in Wonderland that still galumph, chortle & snark through English
O frabjous fourth! Every July 4, Alice in Wonderland fans flash Cheshire grins, chase White Rabbits down imaginary holes, hold tea parties and tip their 'Mad Hatter' hats to Charles Dodgson—better known as Lewis Carroll. After all, the fantastical tale was born on a legendary 'golden afternoon' on this very day in 1862. The ever-curious Alice was inspired by Carroll's young neighbour, Alice Liddell, a precocious five-year-old, who became his muse. During a leisurely boat trip along the Thames, Dodgson—a mathematician —improvised the story to entertain her. Lured down the rabbit hole, Liddell begged him to write it down. Two years later, she received the first manuscript, Alice's Adventures Under Ground, complete with Dodgson's illustrations. The Alice in Wonderland series includes two books Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass (1971). Though 160 years have passed since its publication, Alice's magic only grows 'curiouser and curiouser.' Like the ever-accommodating rabbit hole that keeps Alice intrigued no matter her size — she keeps shrinking and shooting up — the story's colourful metaphor, fabulous imagery, and linguistic whimsy continue to captivate readers of all ages and from all walks of life. The childhood classic has become a cornerstone of English literature. This July 4th, we celebrate the novel's linguistic genius, its nonsense words and playful phrases, some of which have even made it to dictionaries. Aishwarya Khosla is a journalist currently serving as Deputy Copy Editor at The Indian Express. Her writings examine the interplay of culture, identity, and politics. She began her career at the Hindustan Times, where she covered books, theatre, culture, and the Punjabi diaspora. Her editorial expertise spans the Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Online desks. She was the recipient of the The Nehru Fellowship in Politics and Elections, where she studied political campaigns, policy research, political strategy and communications for a year. She pens The Indian Express newsletter, Meanwhile, Back Home. Write to her at or You can follow her on Instagram: @ink_and_ideology, and X: @KhoslaAishwarya. ... Read More
Elle
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Victoria Beckham and Daughter Harper Share a Chic Fashion Moment at the Ballet
On Saturday, Victoria Beckham shared a photo with her daughter, Harper Beckham, enjoying a mother-daughter date at the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ballet in London. The designer posted the pic in her Instagram Stories, taken Friday in a box at the Royal Ballet and Opera house. The designer wore a gray pencil skirt and a black top layered with a black cardigan featuring three quarter sleeves. Her 13-year-old daughter wore a long silky slip dress, showing how she takes after Victoria when it comes to fashion. Over the image, the former Spice Girls singer wrote, 'Special night at the ballet. I love you Harper.' Shortly after, Victoria began sharing a number of new pics of her kids and their father, David Beckham, to celebrate Father's Day, including images of Harper. It seems like the spaghetti strap look is a favorite of the young teen at formal events, as seen in photos of her smiling by her dad's side. The couple has a lot to celebrate lately, as David was recently given his knighthood, leading the King's Birthday Honors list. Victoria shared a picture of herself hugging David as he leans back towards her with a big smile, writing in the caption, 'You've always been my knight in shining armour, but now it's official. Sir @davidbeckham!!! What an honour, I couldn't be prouder of you. Your dedication to the things that matter most—your country, your work, your passion, and most of all, your family—has never wavered.' She continued, 'The way you've touched so many lives over the years with kindness and humility speaks volumes about the man you are and continues to inspire us everyday. But above all else, I'm so, so proud to call you mine. I love you so much xxxx.'
Daily Mirror
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Victoria Beckham breaks cover with Harper as Brooklyn's snub plunges new depths
Brooklyn Beckham has failed to publicly congratulate his dad on his knighthood after saying he 'chooses' his wife Nicola amid the family feud Victoria Beckham has been seen for the first time since her husband was knighted in the King's Birthday Honours. The former Spice Girl singer turned fashion designer, 51, took daughter Harper on a girls' night at the ballet. Victoria, who is now Lady Beckham, attended the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ballet in London with her Harper. The mum described their trip as a 'special night' as she and Harper, 13, took photos in the their box at the Royal Ballet & Opera house. The sweet mother and daughter trip came hours after dad David was made a Sir for his services to sport and charity. In a post shared on Saturday on Instagram, Lady Beckham said: 'You've always been my knight in shining armour, but now it's official. Sir @davidbeckham!!! What an honour, I couldn't be prouder of you. Your dedication to the things that matter most — your country, your work, your passion, and most of all, your family — has never wavered. The way you've touched so many lives over the years with kindness and humility speaks volumes about the man you are and continues to inspire us everyday. 'But above all else, I'm so, so proud to call you mine. I love you so much xxxx.' The football star, who was formerly appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003, responded to the post by expressing his love for his family, mentioning each of his children and adding 'I love you all'. David has since been inundated with congratulations from his famous friends and former teammates from Gordon Ramsey to Gary Neville. But one person notably absent from the celebrations has been his eldest son Brooklyn. Brooklyn is said to be embroiled in a feud with his family after moving to Los Angeles with wife Nicola Peltz. He was also not seen at his dad's 50th birthday celebrations last month. The eldest of the Beckham boys alarmed fans when he posted that he was 'choosing wife Nicola' and described her as his 'whole world '. It has since been reported that Brooklyn has 'cut all ties' with the Beckhams and only learned of his dad's knighthood when he read about it in the press. Despite the fallout, David appeared to offer an olive branch to his son when he said he wanted to share the emotional moment with his family. In a statement to the PA News Agency, Sir David said: 'Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. 'To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career and literally a boyhood dream come true. 'Off the pitch I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Britain around the world and work with incredible organisations that are supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation. 'I'm so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I'm grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment. 'It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I'm immensely proud and it's such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.'
