Many members of the UMS staff keep a watchful eye on local and national media for news about artists on our season, pressing arts issues, and more. Each week, we pull together a list of interesting stories  and share them with you.  Welcome to UMS’s Arts Round-up, a weekly collection of arts news, including national issues, artist updates, local shout-outs, and a link or two just for fun. If you come across something interesting in your own reading, please feel free to share!

Arts Issues

• What’s next on the list to download to your ipod? Ballet!
• The use of captions during plays give theaters access to new audiences, including the hearing impaired.
• 2011 Edinburgh International  Festival to focus on Asian culture and influence.

Artist Updates

• World famous composer Philip Glass writes a new opera, to premiere in 2013.
• Alongside 14 others, Yo-Yo Ma is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the country’s highest civilian honor—from President Obama.

UMS News

• Annarbor.com performance review of Stew & the Negro Problem at the old Leopold’s pub. Additional performances on Friday and Saturday!

Local Shout-Outs

• Intriguing exhibit opens at DIA, looking at artist fakes and the detective work used to verify artworks.
• Students host EMU music festival featuring local bands.

Just For Fun

• Check out this circus-like version of “Swan Lake” that has lately been making the rounds on youtube.  Amazing or horrifying? You decide!

Stew is Mark Stewart.
Stew is Mark Stewart’s stage name.
Stew is an artist.
Stew is African American.
Stew is from Los Angles.
Stew is a composer, musician, and poet.
Stew is creative collaborators with bassist and vocalist Heidi Rodewald.
Stew is a two-time Obie winner.
Stew is a 2008 Tony Award winner for his evening-length Broadway musical Passing Strange.
Stew is a co-resident of New York City and Berlin.
Stew is big.
Stew is gentle.
Stew is angry.
Stew is sweet.
Stew is communicative.
Stew is honest.
Stew is smart.
Stew is powerful.
Stew is magical.

Stew says, Black men ski:

Get to know Stew this week when he performs in Ann Arbor.  Discover who Stew is to *YOU* by checking out his artist interview “Post Minstrel Syndrome: A Public Conversation with Stew” this Wednesday, November 17 at 7:00pm at 523 S. Main Street.