Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: December 26, 2021
By: Laura Deni
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SAUDI LAUNCHES MUSIC STRATEGY TO ESTABLISH IMPORTANT MUSIC SECTOR

Despite protests from human rights' groups, Justin Bieber performed the first weekend in December 2021 in Saudia Arabia, prompting the government to offer a plan stage up to 600 percent more concerts. The 27-year-old Canadian pop sensation appeared on stage in a red jersey and athletic leggings in connection with the Formula One Grand Prix, singing a set that included the songs Deserve You; Somebody, and Hold On. Photo: YouTube

Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission has announced the launch of the kingdom’s first ever music strategy, which aims to help the sector contribute over 1 percent to the kingdom’s GDP.

Built on five key principles: Education; Production; Performance, Delivery & Distribution; Advocacy; and Licensing & Intellectual Property Rights, the strategy is set to support the growth of a thriving music sector in Saudi Arabia with more than 60 initiatives.

The commission intends for the sector to equal and exceed the economic contribution of 1 percent of GDP (excluding oil revenues) common in developed markets, and will help create more than 65,000 jobs across the sector by 2030 through its strategy.

“The launch of the Music Strategy represents the beginning of an exciting new era for the Saudi music sector, and we are delighted to be able to share this with the world. The Music Commission has identified the roadmap and initiatives required to build a powerhouse music industry across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And we are implementing the plan through an exciting program of initiatives already underway, creating the pathways for talent to be identified and nurtured, strongly supported by a robust music ecosystem which will enable the sector to thrive,” said Mohammed Al Mulhem, CEO of the Music Commission.

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The newly established infrastructure is set to include more than 130 recording studios and rehearsal facilities across the kingdom, including the world’s largest flagship recording studio in Riyadh.

With domestic, regional and international partnerships a key focus of the strategy, a new partnership with the Ministry of Education will see music education rolled out at every kindergarten and K-12 school in the kingdom.

In addition, a raft of new music institutes – including Music Hubs in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Khobar – will cater to the demand for music education across the Kingdom. This demand is exemplified by the recent uptick in Saudis seeking to learn instruments, with almost 20 percent of 15–24 year olds now owning musical instruments.

Under the strategy, the commission seeks to support the development of an innovative and inclusive sector through initiatives such as the world’s first e-learning virtual academy, which will use augmented and virtual reality technology to expand the horizons of students across 50 music-related modules.

The commission is also working with the private sector to license and open 50 music education centers.

The list of licenses available for training centers and institutes includes licenses to establish institutes or training centers in the sectors of music, visual arts, theater, performing arts, fashion, culinary arts, museums, heritage, film, design, architecture, literature, translation, archaeology, and handicrafts.

The aim of organizing the field of training in the sub-sectors of culture and arts is to promote culture in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

After securing a significant stake in Live Nation last year and hosting performances from Justin Bieber and other artists earlier this month, Saudi Arabia plans to offer up to 600 percent more concerts – compared to pre-pandemic 2019 – in 2022.

Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al Saud revealed the Middle Eastern nation’s ambitious live-music plans for the new year, while speaking at Riyadh’s XP Music Conference. The event also saw Sony Music and Anghami jointly announce the launch of a “boutique record label” called Vibe Music Arabia.

Currently the based in Dubai, Vibe Music Group by iMedia FZ LLC supplies professionally profiled music collections to hospitality and retail outlets across the region.

Joint venture between Sony Music Entertainment Middle East and Anghami aims to provide creative home for Arabic artists of all genres and styles in Saudi Arabia, GCC and Levant.

Rami Zeidan

The wholly independent label will release music across all platforms in all formats. Rami Zeidan has been appointed General Manager to lead Vibe Music Arabia. Zeidan enjoyed a two-year stint as head of TikTok MENA’s video and creative division. Zeidan previously held roles at Anghami, where he ascended to vp partnerships and special projects over a more than four-year run, and global media agency OMD MENA. In a statement, Zeidan said the goal of Vibe Music Arabia is “to be a creative and enabling hub, and to build a dialogue within the community to teach, learn and help young talent grow” while working “towards shaping a new era for Arabic music.”

One of Vibe Music Arabia’s first signees is producer Abdul Aziz Louise, who is known for “reshaping the sound” of Khaleeji music via productions for artists including Balqees (“Entaha”) as well as Bader Al Shuaibi and Haneen al Kendari, whose track Bravo Aleih generated more than 90 million views across platforms and more than 200 million streams overall, according to the release. Also joining the roster is emerging Saudi singer Zena Emad, who boasts over a million followers on Instagram and is working on her first single release for the label.

Shridhar Subramaniam, President, Corporate Strategy and Market Development, Asia and Middle East, Sony Music Entertainment, said: “We are thrilled to announce the launch of Vibe Music Arabia as a new label for independent Arabic artists – combining Sony Music Entertainment’s unrivalled regional teams with dedicated resources and Anghami’s best-in-class services and technology, to help foster long-term partnerships and deliver global success for the next generation of Arabic artist talent. Vibe Music Arabia continues Sony Music Entertainment’s global focus and commitment to local language, domestic repertoire and communities. We believe the creative, community-first leadership team led by Rami and his team are perfectly placed to nurture and develop more artist stories and music and I wish him all the best as he leads this new, independent label in one of the fastest growing regions.”

“At Anghami we are proud of our deep-rooted Arabic origins,” added Eddy Maroun, Co-Founder and CEO of Anghami. “We see so many talented artists and songs emerge daily from this region and believe there is a real opportunity for a boutique label to foster these fast-growing music communities and help develop their craft. Now is the perfect time for Vibe Music Arabia. The team is young and passionate, with a wealth of experience and creativity that will unlock the potential in the Middle East, enrich the independent music scene and most importantly, create original tracks for the whole world to enjoy.”

Mohammed Al-Marhem holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from the College of Industrial Management at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. Throughout his career he has held senior positions in a number of major international companies including Unilever and Pepsi. He joined MBC Group and worked on supporting the company’s strategic transformation into an integrated media group, most recently serving as the Group’s General Manager for Radio, Music and Business Development.

Regarding the Commission’s plans for this sector, Al-Marhem said: The Music Commission has identified the roadmaps and initiatives needed to build a strong music industry throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And we carry out plans through programs of exciting initiatives already underway, strongly supported by a powerful music ecosystem that enables the sector to thrive, and a path to identify and nurture talent. Is being created.“

Under this strategy, the Commission will develop innovative and comprehensive sectors through initiatives such as the world’s first e-Learning Virtual Academy, which will use augmented reality technology to broaden students’ horizons to 50 music-related modules. I’m trying to help. .. In addition to this, the Commission is working with the private sector to approve and open 50 music education centers.

He continued: “The launch of the Music Strategy represents the beginning of an exciting new era for the Saudi music sector, and we are delighted to be able to share this with the world. The Music Commission has identified the roadmap and initiatives required to build a powerhouse music industry across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Under the strategy, the Commission seeks to support the development of an innovative and inclusive sector through initiatives such as the world’s first e-learning virtual academy, which will use augmented and virtual reality technology to expand the horizons of students across 50 music-related modules. In addition to this, the Commission is working with the private sector to license and open 50 music education centers.

Music is a universal language and a powerful means of communication; it enriches lives, unites nations and builds bridges between different cultures. Synonymous with community and sharing, it strengthens society, aids development and provides an outlet for cultural and creative expression. For thousands of years music has been used to share emotions, tell stories and preserve history for future generations. In recognition of music’s myriad powers, the Music Commission is supporting the development of a thriving music sector that reflects the Kingdom’s cultural diversity, nurtures the next generation of Saudi talent and invokes a feeling of national pride.

The Music Commission was established in February 2020 as one of the Ministry of Culture’s 11 sector-specific Commissions. The Commission is overseeing the development of a music sector that provides non-discriminatory access to music education, empowers musical talent and contributes to the local economy. It aims to increase the economic contribution of the music sector through job creation, sector regulation and by building world-class infrastructure. The Commission hopes to discover, develop and empower musical talent by raising awareness of the Kingdom’s rich musical heritage, in turn elevating its musical identity both within the region and beyond.

In Education: Universal access to music education regardless of age, skill and background.
In Production: Nurturing a regional music production hub, driving socio-economic impact and attracting local and international talent.
In Performance, Publication & Distribution: Providing broad access to local and international performances and ensuring the wide distribution of local artists’ work.
In Advocacy: Elevating music as an integral part of people’s lifestyles and as a fulfilling career, enabling it to become a voice for national pride and heritage locally and internationally.
In Licensing: Ensuring world-class protection of the creativity of music professionals and driving the highest quality standards.

The agency envisions "a future where our Nation will be known by its sound, where the power of music inspires confidence and trust, binding our people together, proud of our heritage and faithful in our future and where our voice will resonate in the world as a bridge across cultures."

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This is not your typical, totally boring textbook.

In the pages of How To Earn A Living As A Freelance Writer (the first to be lied to and the last to be paid) you'll find sex, celebrities, violence, threats, unethical editors, scummy managers and lawyers, treacherous press agents, sex discrimination; as well as a how-to for earning money by writing down words.

ART AND ABOUT

YOU CAN OWN

This stamp has never been called beautiful.

a piece of the world's most famous and valuable stamp - the 1c Magenta.

The rare stamp was gaveled down by Sothebys for $8.3 million (US) earlier in 2021. Members of the public can now buy parts of it through fractional ownership - with the stamp being figuratively split into 80,000 pieces.

The unique 1856 1c Magenta from British Guiana was bought at auction in America by rare stamp merchants Stanley Gibbons. "This is more the Mona Lisa of stamps where it might not be the most beautiful but it's certainly the most famous with the biggest history and the best story and it's completely unique," explains George James, Head of Commonwealth for Stanley Gibbons.

The only one of its kind, it was displayed until December 17, 2021 at Stanley Gibbons' flagship store, in London.

"Might not be the most beautiful" is an understatement.

According to the Smithsonian: the stamp "is a bit like looking at a red-wine stain or a receipt that’s been through the wash a few times."

Its humongous price tag compared to its negligible weight - just one twentieth of a gram - makes it gram for gram the most valuable item in the world.

The stamp measures 29 by 26 millimetres and features a three-masted sailing ship along with the motto "Damus Petimus Que Vicissim" which translates as "we give and expect in return".

Now Stanley Gibbons is offering the opportunity for the public to purchase tiny parts of the stamp through a "fractional ownership" scheme, with the stamp being figuratively split into 80,000 pieces which are available through their website.

The British Guiana 1c magenta is regarded by many philatelists as the world's most famous rare stamp. It was issued in limited numbers in British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1856, and only one specimen is now known to exist.

According to the Smoithsonian:
"In 1855, just 5,000 of an expected 50,000 stamps arrived from Great Britain to its colony of British Guiana on the northern coast of South America. Shorted by 90 percent, the local postmaster found himself in a tough spot. If the colony's letters and newspapers were to be delivered, he was going to need some way to show the transaction of postage paid. So he decided to issue a provisional stamp to keep the mail moving until more postage could arrive from overseas. The only place that could create something with enough official cache to do the job in 1850s British Guiana was the local newspaper, the Royal Gazette.

Using moveable type, the printer of the Gazette produced a stock of one-cent stamps (for newspapers) and four-cent stamps (for letters), attempting to imitate the design of government-issued postage, adding a stock illustration of the ship and the colony’s Latin motto meaning “we give and we ask in return.”

"Since the one-cent stamps were used for newspapers, which few people saved, as opposed to the four-cent stamps used for letters, most disappeared shortly after their usage. The existence of the One-Cent Magenta would likely have been forgotten altogether had it not been for a 12-year-old Scottish boy named Vernon Vaughan, living in British Guiana, who found one odd stamp among his uncle’s papers in 1873. By this time the stamp had been postmarked and initialed by a local postal clerk (a common practice at the time to discourage counterfeiters), and appeared well used. The peculiar stamp hardly struck the boy as very valuable, so the budding philatelist soon sold it for a less-than-princely six shillings (about $10 in today’s dollars) and bought a packet of foreign stamps that he apparently found more aesthetically appealing. Thus began the decades-long, cross-continental journey of the One-Cent Magenta," the Smithsonian continued.

The previous 12 owners include a murderer who tried to offer it in return for a reduced sentence at court.

In 1878 the stamp was spotted by Count Philippe la Renotière von Ferrary, who was the owner of what has been called the most complete worldwide stamp collection ever to exist. Arguably the greatest stamp collector in history, Ferrary would have known how unusual the stamp was as soon as he saw it, so he snatched it up in a private sale. As more was learned of the stamp’s provenance, it grew to become a prized item in Ferrary’s collection, which upon his death in 1917, was donated to Berlin’s postal museum, documented the Smithsonian.

Following the World War I, the count’s collection and the One-Cent Magenta was seized by France as part of its war reparations. From there it passed to New York textile magnate and renowned stamp collector Arthur Hind, then to Australian engineer Frederick T. Small, and then to a consortium run by Pennsylvania stamp dealer Irwin Weinberg.

Its most recent owner, who bought the stamp in 1980, was John E. du Pont, the chemical company heir, wrestling enthusiast, and convicted murderer portrayed by Steve Carell in the Oscar-nominated Foxcatcher. An heir to the Du Pont family fortune, he was a published ornithologist, philatelist, conchologist, and sports enthusiast. He died in prison while serving a sentence of 30 years for the shooting murder of Dave Schultz, an Olympic champion freestyle wrestler living and working on du Pont's estate. He was ruled to have been mentally ill but not insane and was sentenced to prison for 13 to 30 years. He died in prison at age 72 on December 9, 2010. To date, he is the only member of the Forbes 400 richest Americans to be convicted of murder.

Before becoming a convicted murderer, du Pont was a passionate philatelist, and paid $935,000 for the One-Cent Magenta, purchasing it from Weinberg at auction in 1980. Following du Pont’s 2010 death in prison, it was put up for sale at auction and sold for $9.5 million—four times more than any other single stamp has ever fetched.

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SWEET CHARITY

THE CARAVAN OF ANGELS FOUNDATION'S ongoing initiative that offers virtual concerts by today’s top Broadway stars to nursing home residents.

The senior community continues to need companionship and support. With self-isolation and social distancing routines going back into effect in many parts of the country, family visits continue to be difficult. In response, The Caravan of Angels broadcast a free holiday concert in partnership with AFA (The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America) as well as Margaret Tietz Nursing Home on December 24th. Many of today’s top Broadway talent have committed to providing at-home content for the program including:

Meghan Picherno: Theatre actress and coloratura soprano opera singer best known for role as Christine Daaé in the US Premiere and 1st National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies. She made her Broadway debut in 2019 in the same role in The Phantom of the Opera’s Broadway production and Rebecca LaChance: Actress, singer and songwriter best known for her Broadway debut in the lead role in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

The Caravan of Angels is a 501c3 non-profit organization based in New York City that brings the theater to those who aren’t able to attend. The foundation’s goal is to enlighten the lives of children and elderly people in hospitals, senior centers and nursing homes through shows, concerts and entertainment by professional performers.

Founded in early 2019 by Italian singer and Off-Broadway performer Francesca Capetta, The Caravan of Angels gained national attention following a live performance on ABC TV. The Board of Directors includes Angelina Fiordellisi (Tony Winner Producer and Broadway Actress) KT Sullivan (Broadway singer and Artistic Director of The Mabel Mercer Foundation), Cav. Josephine A. Maietta, Neil Alumkal, Annalisa Conti and Elisabetta Calello.

PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE were the glam couple attending last month's Royal Variety Performance. which aired last Sunday , December 19, 2021 on ITV.

The event started with a dazzling routine from the cast of Moulin Rouge the Musical. Host Alan Carr welcomed Prince William and Kate to the 150th anniversary night of the Royal Variety Performance. He first addressed Kate, telling the mother-of-three that she looked "absolutely beautiful". Kate was attired in an emerald green gown by Jenny Packham. Then the host quickly explained to her husband: "Sir, I am sure you do not know who I am but I am not hitting on your wife."

That led to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge giggling.

Now to be outdone William made a fashion statement in his dark blue velvet tuxedo jacket with a black slacks and black bow tie. Matilda the Musical star Zoe Simon got the night going by singing the National Anthem. This was quickly followed by a sexy performance from the cast of Moulin Rouge.

There was a performance from Rod Stewart, Years and Years, comedian Judi Love and a heart pounding routine from the Messoudi Brothers.

Among the other performers were James Blnt, Anne-Marie and Ed Sherran. Prince William and Kate Middleton remain big supporters of the arts. Following the end of the program, William and Kate joined in a standing ovation.

The annual Royal Variety Performance event supports the Royal Variety Charity, of which Queen Elizabeth is a patron. The money raised from the show helps hundreds of entertainers throughout the U.K. who need help and assistance as a result of old age, ill-health, or hard times.

The charity also manages its own care home, Brinsworth House in Twickenham, which is a place of safety, peace, and happiness for retired members of the entertainment industry Just before Christmas in 2018, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, visited the home.

SPREADING THE WORD

PRINCE CHARLES AND CAMILLA

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall reading from A Christmas Carol. Photo Clarence House/Fair Use

Prince Charles delivered an animated read from from A Christmas Carol. Photo Clarence House/Fair Use

are celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas by reading Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol along with several of their celebrity friends.

The Prince of Wales, who is Royal Patron of the Old Vic Theatre, kicked off the read-a-thon with an animated reading of Stave One for The Duchess of Cornwall's Reading Room.

Then royal couple have been joined by Sir Derek Jacobi, Miriam Margolyes, Paterson Joseph, Simon Callow, Bridgette Amofah, and Stephen Mangan who will all be taking part during the 12-day event.

The Charles Dickens Museum, where Dickens wrote the classic novel Oliver Twist, has created a PDF version of the novel that can be downloaded for free to read along with those in the Reading Room.

The Duchess of Cornwall's Reading Room was launched in January 2021 after her Reading Lists soared in popularity after she launched then in 2020. Anyone can join the book club which is located on her Instagram account - DuchessOfCornwallsReadingRoom.

Each quarter the Reading Room reads and discusses four different novels.

SIR ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER has canceled Cinderella on the West End until February "or until this thing blows over," he said referring to the Corona virus. The West End show will return "as soon as this wave is licked", the composer and producer said, with a return currently scheduled for February 9, 2022. It is the first major production to be put on ice for such an extended period. Cinderella is one of many plays to have already had UK performances cancelled because of Covid among cast and crew. Mounted at the Gillian Lynne Theatre stage it went dark last Thursday.

"Once again, this wretched virus has put paid to the joy of entertaining audiences, something that I hold so dear," Lord Lloyd Webber wrote on Twitter.

"Sadly this is the right thing to do, not just for the safety of our cast, musicians and backstage crew, but for the quality of the show we give our audiences who travel long distances and make significant investments to come and see us.

"Rest assured, Cinderella will re-open as soon as this wave is licked and we know we can give our audiences the fantastic time they deserve." The opening of the show was also delayed earlier this year.

A separate statement said: "Like so many theatres up and down the country, day after day, we are forced to make decisions (often at short notice) based on the latest round of test results."

It added that producers were "passionately committed to returning sooner if the circumstances improve and we will keep the situation under constant review".

Many theatres across the UK and across the pond in America have been forced to cancel performances. Over last weekend, half of London's major theatres were forced to cancel performances because of outbreaks.

Brodway stages Broadway stages have also suffered the same fate.

Some have suspended shows until the New Year. Wendy and Peter Pan at the Leeds Playhouse and Shakespeare's Globe's Measure For Measure will not return until January 4, while the curtain will stay down on the National Theatre's festive show Hex 5 until January.

Others are attempting to re-open this week-end.

KRISTIN CHENOWETH rings in 2022 in Las Vegas with a performance at the Smith Center.

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW (CES) IN LAS VEGAS has experienced a drop-out thanks to the rapid spread of Covid Omicron.

In a blog post last Tuesday, T-Mobile said that it will still serve as a sponsor for the event but that the “vast majority” of its team will not be traveling to Las Vegas. Twitter and Meta, formerly known as Facebook, announced that they won’t be attending the event in-person at all, and Amazon told Bloomberg that it also will not have an on-site presence. Microsoft also has pulled out. CES will still take place in Las Vegas January 5-8, 2022.

SKELETON CREW written by Tony Award nominee Dominique Morisseau.

Directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson.

The cast features Chanté Adams, Joshua Boone, Brandon J. Dirden, Adesola Osakalumi, and Tony Award winner and five-time Emmy Award nominee Phylicia Rashad.

In 2008 Detroit, a small automotive factory is on the brink of foreclosure, and a tight knit family of workers hangs in the balance. With uncertainty everywhere, the line between blue collar and white collar becomes blurred, and this working family must reckon with their personal loyalties, their instincts for survival and their ultimate hopes for humanity.

The creative team includes Michael Carnahan (sets), Emilio Sosa (costumes), Rui Rita (lighting), Rob Kaplowitz (original music and sound design), Nicholas Hussong (projection design), Jimmy ‘J Keys’ Keys (original songs), Adesola Osakalumi (choreography), Chesney Snow (vocal foley artist), Dave Caparelliotis and Kelly Gillespie (casting), and Kamra A. Jacobs (production stage manager).

Previews begin in the Manhattan Theatre Club's staging of this production at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in New york City.

PASADENA PLAYHOUSE HOSTS the debut in-person event of The Immersive Experience Institute takes place January 7-9,2022.

This three-day gathering draws together the fields of immersive & experiential arts from across creative and technical disciplines. In addition to talks, panels, and participatory salons, attendees will be treated to immersive performances and experiences.

Experts from the fields of the performing arts (theatre and dance), themed & location-based entertainment (theme parks, escape games), virtual & augmented reality, and experiential marketing will be on hand to share their insights, and connect with the emerging leaders in the emerging entertainment experience economy.

Spotlight Sessions will include talks from Jonny Grant Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Dept. Studios (Arkham Asylum, London), Sarah Ellis (Director of Digital Development, the Royal Shakespeare Company), creative leaders at Meow Wolf who will discuss Denver’s Convergence Station, artist Risa Puno (Superblue), the creators of the award-winning augmented reality piece honoring Breonna Taylor called ‘Breonna’s Garden,’forward-thinking technologist Asad J. Malik, CEO of Web3 AR pioneers Jadu, and themed entertainment wizards from Walt Disney Imagineering.

This year also features dedicated focus tracks on the fields of Immersive Gaming, curated by Room Escape Artist, the team behind the premiere escape game industry event RECON: Reality Escape Convention and on the ongoing convergence of XR technology and live performance.

With nearly 40 sessions, including multiple participatory events, and a dozen festival selections The Next Stage is "an intense and intimate event limited to just 300 participants beyond the invited guests. The future of immersive art & entertainment begins at The Next Stage."

The Next Stage is the inaugural in-person event from The Immersive Design Institute, an emerging non-profit.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A MISS EARTH USA COMPETITION? There is. The crowing of Miss Earth 2022 will take place January 6-8 in Orlando, Florida.

The Miss Earth contestants appear to be a brainy and socially conscious lot. A spot check of a few contestants who were Beauties for a Cause Scholsrahip Finalists show:

Mikala Joly - Miss Rhode Island Earth USA
Mikala is a K-12 art teacher / Visual Artist who has a Bachelor’s in in Fine Art and graduated summa cum laude with her Masters in in Art Education from Rhode Island College. Mikala has lived a plant based vegan lifestyle for over 13 years and it Mikala is a licensed skydiver.

Savannah Bethea Miss South Carolina Earth USA
Savannah is a two-time North Carolina All Around State gymnastics champion, Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient, and an Art Fields Festival competitor. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Studio Art where she has blossomed her passion of metal sculpture into an excelled skill of MIG welding. She decreases her carbon footprint by practicing responsible storage and disposal of art materials, buying secondhand clothes and decor and composting.

Danielle Purtell Miss Louisiana Earth USA
Danielle has a Bachelors in Evolutionary Anthropology and is a fourth-year medical student set to graduate in May and begin her three-year residency as a family medicine doctor. After residency, she hopes to pursue a fellowship in geriatrics to fulfill her goal of providing compassionate primary care to elderly and rural populations. Danielle loves decreasing her carbon footprint by raising chickens in her backyard, composting food scraps and growing her own vegetable and fruit garden. With two dogs of her own she created #PawsToPickUp, which inspires and motivates dog owners around the world to pick up litter while walking their dogs. Outside of being a medical student Danielle is an author of an eBook published by Kaplan Grad on the medical school application process and was a presenter at the inaugural Science Accessibility Conference in 2019 on how to navigate medical school with an invisible disability. Something that would surprise you about Danielle is that she can deadlift over 300 pounds.

Emma Loney Miss Oklahoma Earth USA
Emma is a national partner for the National Eating Disorder Association and the founder of "Thrift It”, a social platform to inform others on the importance of thrift shopping and donating used items. As a Law Student and a Plus Model Emma has been inspired inspired by all women challenging stereotypes. With a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and Psychology already under her belt, Emma is in her second year of Law School at Northern Illinois University College of Law. Ultimately, her goal is to obtain her Juris Doctorate and become a District Attorney in her home state. Her biggest accomplishment was receiving an academic scholarship to attend law school and to be featured on the cover of India’s first ever pageantry magazine, P&I Magazine. Emma is a twin, who looks to thrifting as a major means of decreasing her carbon footprint as well as raising her eleven chickens.

Madeline Delp Miss South Dakota Earth USA
Madeline is a TEDx Speaker who gave a powerful speech on how we can create a truly accessible world for all. She has a Bachelors Degree in Business and Foreign Language and is fluent in Spanish and German and is on her way learning Mandarin Chinese. Madeline works as a Marketing Director and the CEO of her Nonprofit Live Boundless where she has traveled through Asia and South America delivering wheelchairs to those in remote areas. She is an advocate for sustainable agriculture and creating food systems that will feed our world for generations to come. You may recognize her from the lead actress in country music star Gabby Barrett’s “Good Ones” music video. At 10 years old, Madeline was crushed in the back of a Honda Civic after a horrible car accident where after waking up from a coma weeks later, doctors told her she would never walk again. Through her long period of recovery, she realized she didn’t want her injury to also paralyze her life and made it her goal to turn tragedy into something beautiful. She continues to push herself, achieve the impossible and is even currently training for the Paralympics. The fearless Madeline has been free diving with sharks, horseback riding up an active volcano and gone BASE jumping off one of the tallest bridges in the US.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

WHAT CITIES SPEND THE MOST ON ENTERTAINMENT A new report from Namechk.com looking at the large U.S. cities whose residents spend the most money on entertainment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) definition of the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector includes establishments that are involved in live performances and events (like theaters and concert venues), those that exhibit objects of educational interest (like art museums and historical sites), and those that provide other forms of recreation or amusement (like theme parks). These sorts of businesses were exactly the type of establishments that consumers spent less on in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. However, different regions of the U.S. show slightly different behavior when it comes to entertainment spending. Researchers ranked the largest U.S. metropolitan areas according to entertainment spending as a share of total spending.

Most of the businesses in this sector rely heavily on patrons paying for admission or other fees associated with the use of a space. But under public health restrictions implemented in response to COVID-19, many businesses were forced to temporarily close or else operate at reduced capacity. As the pandemic continued into 2020 and 2021, ongoing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus kept attendance down, even as state and local governments relaxed capacity restrictions over time. Consequently, overall revenues in the sector dropped from $61 billion in the last quarter of 2019 to $23 billion in the second quarter of 2020. One year later, in the second quarter of 2021, revenues had only recovered to around $49.5 billion.

However, different regions of the U.S. show slightly different behavior when it comes to entertainment spending. The Midwest leads the country in average annual entertainment spending, at $3,368, and in spending on entertainment as a percentage of overall household spending, at 5.6%. Interestingly, this phenomenon does not appear to be strongly connected with income levels: the South and Midwest have similar average pre-tax incomes around $78,000, but Midwesterners spend nearly $1,000 more per year on entertainment than their Southern counterparts.

At the local level, the top entertainment spenders are spread across the country and, like the regions, include both higher-earning and lower-earning areas. For example, a household in Minneapolis and a household in San Francisco spend approximately the same total amount on entertainment, even though the typical income in San Francisco is more than $40,000 higher.

The data used in this study is from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. To identify the major U.S. metros spending the most on entertainment, researchers at Namechk.com calculated total entertainment spending as a proportion of total spending for each location. In the event of a tie, the location with the greater total entertainment spending was ranked higher. Only the largest metropolitan statistical areas with available data from BLS were included in the analysis.

Here are the major U.S. metros spending the most on entertainment.

Metro Rank -- Entertainment Spending As A Share Of Total -- Average Annual Entertainment Spending -- Average Annual Total Spending -- Average Annual Pre-tax Income

1. Houston, TX -- 8.6% -- $6,040 -- $69,872 -- $91,255
2. Anchorage, AK -- 6.7%-- $4,936 -- $73,189 -- $91,537
3. Seattle, WA -- 6.4% -- $5,235 -- $81,728 -- $115,548
4. Denver, CO -- 6.2% -- $4,675 -- $75,760 -- $112,907
5. San Diego, CA -- 5.5% -- $4,579 -- $83,216 -- $110,132
6. St. Louis, MO -- 5.3% -- $3,410 -- $64,389 -- $84,232
7. Detroit, MI -- 5.2% -- $3,278 -- $63,008 -- $89,991
8. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN -- 5.0% -- $4,020 -- $80,046 -- $116,495
9. San Francisco, CA -- 4.4% -- $4,063 -- $91,728 -- $156,851
10. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX -- 4.4% -- $2,742 -- $62,306 -- $91,338
United States -- 4.7% -- $2,912 -- $61,334 -- $84,352

For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Namechk.com’s website

BILLIONAIRE JEFF GREEN CEO of Trade Desk, a software marketing company, has resigned from Mormon church, and donated $600K to LGBTQ group Equality Utah, a civil rights and advocacy group, on behalf of his family's foundation. In Green's resignation letter to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he stated: "I believe the Mormon church has hindered global progress in women's rights, civil rights and racial equality, and LGBTQ+ rights,"according to the Salt Lake Tribune which broke the story.

Green, who now resides in California, he founded AdECN in 2003 to bring programmatic trading to digital advertising. AdECN became the first demand-side advertising exchange service, which he sold to Microsoft in 2007, becoming COO of AdECN Exchange. In 2009, Green co-founded The Trade Desk, a second-generation, programmatic advertising technology company, with fellow former Microsoft employee Dave Pickles.

"Although I have deep love for many Mormons and gratitude for many things that have come into my life through Mormonism, I have not considered myself a member for many years and I'd like to make clear to you and others that I am not a member," Green said in the letter obtained by the Tribune. Green called into question the "more than $100 billion in assets" the church has and the "exploitation" of its members to "build shopping malls and temples." "This money comes from people, often poor, who wholeheartedly believe you represent the will of Jesus. They give, expecting the blessing of heaven," he wrote.

On August 23, 2019, Green sold 288,000 shares of The Trade Desk at an average price of $258.27 per share for a total sale of $74.4 million, and has a net worth published to be $5 billion.

Green is divorced and has three children.

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FINAL OVATION

CARLOS MARIN member of the chart-topping quartet Il Divo died in Machester Royal Hospital in Manchester, England hospital on December 19, 2021. It was reported that the Spanish singer fell ill with Covid-19 on December 7 and was placed in a coma earlier in the week. Marin had been in the intensive care unit and was intubated after having his oxygen "compromised". Reportedly, he was fully vaccinated. He was 53.

The Spanish star, who was reportedly vaccinated, had performed at The Brighton Centre on December 4 with his bandmates David Miller, Sébastien Izambard and Urs Bühler.

The baritone powerhouse had been performing with the band in the UK in December before their tour was postponed "due to illness." The foursome had been due to perform a show in Lisbon and another in La Coruña Spain, which was postponed until July 15, 2022. br>
Marin released 10 studio albums with the group, including three UK number one albums: "Il Divo," "Ancora" and "The Promise."

Marín was married to French-born singer Geraldine Larrosa -- better known by her stage name Innocence -- until 2009.

KENNETH DANZIGER a British actor who charmed audiences in London and regional theaters across the United States for decades, died on December 12, 2021 sy hos home inSanta Monica, CA from cancer. He was 76.

Born in Essex, England, Danziger was brought to Los Angeles in his teens by his mother. He began theater studies at El Camino College. Returning to the U.K. to train at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, he then joined Joan Littlewood's Stratford East Theatre Company.

In a career spanning 50 years, Danziger acted in roles for stage, film and television in London, New York and Los Angeles. He was an accomplished voice artist, working extensively in radio, video games, audiobooks and looping.

For BBC Radio, Danziger played opposite Alfred Molina in A Small Family Business, directed by Martin Jarvis, OBE. He performed in radio plays with L.A. Theatre Works and provided his voiceover talent to such films as 101 Dalmatians; Shrek and the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic.

A veteran of Los Angeles theater, Danziger earned rave reviews in such stage productions as Greek at the Matrix Theatre, Patience at Antaeus Theatre and Duet for One and Ashes at the Fountain Theatre.

For the last 20 years, Danziger devoted himself to the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center, where he became an accredited counselor, supervisor and teacher.

Danziger is survived by Tina Scott, his devoted wife of 42 years.

SALLY ANN HOWES Tony nominated actress whose career on stage, screen, and television spanned over six decades died December 19, 2021 ata hospital in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She was 91.

She is best known for the role of Truly Scrumptious in the 1968 musical film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, opposite Dick Van Dyke.

In 1963, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her performance in Brigadoon.

Howes' first movie came at the age of 12 in 1943's Thursday's Child. She continued to star in movies, TV shows and in stage productions throughout her childhood, including 1948's Anna Karenina opposite Vivien Leigh and 1945's Dead of Night with Michael Redgrave. The actress's career included performing at the White House for Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Some of her most high-profile performances came in the musicals My Fair Lady, What Makes Sammy Run? and Brigadoon. While still in her teens, she made her first musical-comedy stage appearance in Fancy Free. Howes accepted her first professional stage role in the Sandy Wilson musical Caprice, which was followed by Bet Your Life with Julie Wilson, Arthur Askey, and Brian Reece, with whom Howes was also simultaneously on radio.

In 1953, she starred in the West End in the musical Paint Your Wagon with her father, Bobby Howes, which ran for 18 months. It was followed by Summer Song, also in the West End, firmly establishing Howes as a leading musical comedy star.

Then came her critically acclaimed performance in the stage drama A Hatful of Rain.

Howes was offered the part inMy Fair Lady twice before: first, to join the musical's U.S. touring company (which she declined); and second, to replace Andrews on Broadway – which, at the time, conflicted with Howes's commitment to film Admirable Crichton (1957) with Kenneth More. My Fair Lady creators Lerner and Loewe were persistent, though, and Howes accepted the third time, with a year's contract, and at a higher salary than Andrews. Howes was an instant hit as Eliza Doolittle.

In January 1958, Howes married Tony-winning composer Richard Adler. The following December, she appeared in Adler's musical television adaptation of O. Henry's short story The Gift of the Magi (1958), which Adler wrote expressly for her. Adler and Bob Merrill also collaborated on a musical version of W. Somerset Maugham's Of Human Bondage so Howes could play Mildred.

She returned to Broadway in 1961 in the short run of Kwamina, another musical Adler wrote for her, where she starred opposite Terry Carter. Its theme of interracial romance proved controversial at a time when civil rights were hotly contested, and it has not been revived on Broadway since.

In 1962, she starred in a short revival of the musical Brigadoon at the New York City Opera and received a Tony nomination, the first performer to be nominated for a revival performance. She recreated the role in a private White House performance at the invitation of President and Mrs. Kennedy.

In 1964, she starred on Broadway opposite Robert Alda and Steve Lawrence in the musical What Makes Sammy Run?, with over 500 performances.

She returned to familiar territory on TV in 1966 with Brigadoon opposite Robert Goulet, Peter Falk, and some of her Broadway cast; it won six Emmy Awards.

In the 1970s, she toured Britain with The King and I and later the United States with The Sound of Music. After her debut with the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera in 1972 with The Sound of Music, she returned to Britain to star in the stage drama, Lover, which was written specifically for her.

In 1990, she debuted her one-woman show, From This Moment On, at the Edinburgh Festival and at a benefit for the Long Island AIDS Association at the John Drew Theatre in East Hampton, New York.

Divorced from Adler, she was married to Douglas Rae from 1972 until his death in September 2021.

Next Column: January 2, 2022
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