Hubbard Street’s Unboxed spills Nutcracker tea; Final Bow for Yellowface builds a dance incubator.
Act two: a flute trill hurries over a plodding bassoon, chased by string pizzicato, a merry sound that sounds “fun,” “festive,” and “not authentically Chinese”—in this way, not unlike your average takeout, particularly in the rapidity of its delivery. At just about a minute long, Chinese Tea is the shortest divertissement in The Nutcracker.…Read More
Ballet dancer Jacques d’Amboise (pictured in 1977) has died at 86. | Sun-Times file
The New York City Ballet performer was compared to Michael Jordan for his high-flying leaps.
Jacques d’Amboise, who grew up on the streets of upper Manhattan to become one of the world’s premier classical dancers at New York City Ballet and spent the last four and a half decades providing free dance classes to city youth at his National Dance Institute, has died at 86.
His death was confirmed by Ellen Weinstein, director of the institute. She said the dancer and teacher had died on Sunday at his home from complications of a stroke. He was surrounded by his family.
Plucked for stardom at NYCB as a teenager by its legendary director, George Balanchine, d’Amboise performed with the company for about 35 years before retiring, just before turning 50, in the early ’80s.
In 1995, he was celebrated at the Kennedy Center Honors, where Chicago ballerina Maria Tallchief noted his high-flying leaps and said, “The only person who can compare to Jacques is Michael Jordan of the Bulls.”
He famously appeared in Hollywood films including “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” But his real love was for ballet, where he was known for iconic roles like Balanchine’s “Apollo” and the Gershwin-scored “Who Cares?”
“Jacques was a life force.” said Weinstein, who worked for some 40 years with d’Amboise, meeting him as a student at SUNY Purchase. “Jacques knew first-hand the joy and transformative power that the arts can bring to the lives of children and he dedicated the last 45 years to ensuring that every child has access to quality arts education. His impact is immeasurable and everlasting.”
D’Amboise founded National Dance Institute In 1976, while still a principal dancer with NYCB. The institute says it has reached over 2 million children over the years.
In an interview with The Associated Press in 2018, d’Amboise described the moment he decided to end his dance career.
“I was almost 50, there were only a few roles left that I could do,” he said. “I was waiting to go onstage, and I suddenly thought, ’I don’t want to go on.’ I danced, came off, took off my ballet shoes and quit.”
Amazon Prime Video will become the exclusive home of the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” package a year earlier than originally anticipated.
Amazon and the league announced Monday that Prime Video will take over the entire package in 2022, which will make it an 11-season deal through 2032. It was originally supposed to begin in 2023 when the league’s new media rights deals kick in.
This is the first time a streaming service has had the full rights to an NFL package.
“This expedited deal is an immediate differentiator for us as a service, as it gives Prime members exclusive access to the most popular sport in the United States,” Marie Donoghue, Amazon’s vice president of global sports video, said in a statement.
Prime Video will carry 15 regular-season games on Thursday night along with one preseason game. Games will be available on stations in the markets of the participating teams, which is the same practice when they are on ESPN and NFL Network.
NBC has the opening game of the season and also Thanksgiving night, and there is no Thursday night match in the final week of the schedule.
Amazon has partnered with the league to stream 11 Thursday night games since 2017, but it will take over the entire package from Fox, which has had it since 2018. Amazon streamed a Week 16 Saturday game between the 49ers and Cardinals last year that was seen by an estimated 11.2 million total viewers and had an average minute audience of 4.8 million. That was the largest audience to stream an NFL game.
Fox and NFL Network will broadcast “Thursday Night Football” this season. The league will announce the schedule on May 12.
NFL Network, which has carried games since 2006, will still have seven regular-season games, most likely on Saturday late in the season.
Amazon’s $13.2 billion agreement with the league is a part of what will be $113 billion coming to the NFL under the new rights agreements negotiated in March. That is an increase of 80% over the current deals.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — President Joe Biden spoke about the COVID-19 vaccination being safe, Prince Harry advocated for vaccine distribution everywhere and Jennifer Lopez embraced her fully-vaccinated mother on stage during one of the largest concert gatherings in Southern California since the pandemic rocked the world more than a year ago.
Celebrities and political leaders gathered Sunday night to talk about the importance of vaccine equity at Global Citizen’s “Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World” at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The taped fundraising event will air May 8 on ABC, ABC News Live, CBS, YouTube and iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations.
The concert included performances by Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin and H.E.R.
Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, Jimmy Kimmel, Sean Penn and David Letterman appeared as special guest speakers.
Everyone in the audience was fully vaccinated. Media and production staff needed to show a negative COVID-19 test before entering the stadium.
“The vaccines are safe. I promise you. They work,” said Biden, who was accompanied in a video message with first lady Jill Biden. Both appeared as part of the “We Can Do This” initiative to increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.
“We’re working with leaders around the world to share more vaccines and boost production to make sure every country has the vaccines they need,” the president continued. “If we get this done, we won’t have to miss another moment.”
The event was part of a growing chorus seeking wider, more equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
Global Citizen said $53.8 million in philanthropic and corporate commitments helped procure nearly 10.3 million doses, exceeding the goal for the Vax Live campaign.
Prince Harry said providing vaccines across the globe is imperative, particularly those in the poorest countries. He said that he is standing solidarity with India, who is experiencing a “devastating” second wave of the virus.
“The vaccine must be distributed to everyone everywhere,” the Duke of Sussex said. He along with his wife Meghan are leading an effort to raise money for the vaccine-sharing program COVAX, which hopes to produce $19 billion to pay for the vaccines for medical workers.
“We cannot rest or truly recover until there is fair distribution to every corner of the world,” he said. “The virus does not respect borders and access to the vaccine cannot be determined by geography.”
The event also highlighted first responders and health care workers efforts during the pandemic. Host Selena Gomez called essential and frontline workers “reliable” and “brave.”
“Many of us had to stay home, but you all didn’t have a choice,” the singer said. “You set an example for all of us, both in how you stayed on the job and that we need to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”
Each musical performance made things seem almost like normal with attendees standing at their seats side-by-side while others danced with their masks on. Some hugged each other with enthusiasm.
H.E.R. performed on a small stage outside the stadium with a group of people playing guitars.
Before Lopez’s performance, she told the audience that she was unable to spend Christmas with her mother. The singer went on to invite her fully-vaccinated mom on stage, then the two sang their rendition of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.”
“When I was thinking about what song to sing tonight, I remembered the song she used to sing to me as a baby,” said Lopez, who later performed her 2016 hit single “Ain’t Your Mama.”
Eddie Vedder said the concert was the first “taste of the life we’ve all been missing” for more than a year.
“This is a feeling we have not had in some time,” he said. “There’s a microphone, a crowd. It feels good.”
Foo Fighters rocked on with AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson during a performance of the rock anthem “Back In Black.”
“We ain’t out the woods yet. But let me tell you, I’m a firm believer in the idea that music should be shared with people,” Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl said. “Let’s work as hard as we can to make sure we can do this every night.”
Hugh Evans, founder and CEO of Global Citizen, said he wants to keep the momentum going.
“What were trying to highlight is the obvious that we should be fighting for equity,” he said. “It’s something that shouldn’t require any arithmetic. It is absolutely bleeding obvious.”
There’s a new quarterback in the Windy City. Welcome Justin Fields to the ChicagoBears with some brand new gear.
The Chicago Bears got their guy in the first round of the NFL Draft. Da Bears traded up to select Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields with the 11th overall selection.
Fans are – understandably – excited. Fields is the best quarterback on the roster today, and might just be the best signal caller in Chicago since ol’ Smokin’ Jay Cutler.
That’s high praise for a player who hasn’t taken a professional snap yet, sure. But Fields has been on the upper end of draft boards for months – and at one point was the consensus No. 2 QB in the class.
Which is why you’re going to want to get some new Justin Fields gear. Check some out below.
BreakingT
Daaaa Fields
There’s a new QB in the Windy City. It’s Daaaa Fields! Officially licensed by the NFLPA.
BreakingT’s got some really fun designs, but that isn’t even the best part. BreakingT shirts are incredibly comfortable and soft. Plus, they fit great. (Note: Sizing is unisex, so men should size up and women should size down).
Justin Fields is definitely QB1 in the Windy City. Officially licensed by the NFLPA.
BreakingT’s got some really fun designs, but that isn’t even the best part. BreakingT shirts are incredibly comfortable and soft. Plus, they fit great. (Note: Sizing is unisex, so men should size up and women should size down).
Justin Fields brings hope for the quarterback position with him to the Windy City. Officially licensed by the NFLPA.
BreakingT’s got some really fun designs, but that isn’t even the best part. BreakingT shirts are incredibly comfortable and soft. Plus, they fit great. (Note: Sizing is unisex, so men should size up and women should size down).
This is a special event item. Orders containing this product will be shipped separately. This item will be shipped no later than Friday, June 25th. Numbers will be finalized and printed once Fields has selected a number.
Available in orange (pictured), white and navy blue.
This post contains affiliate links, where we may receive a percentage of any sale made from the links on this page. Prices and availability accurate as of the time of publication.
Legislation backed by teachers unions would require the Illinois Department of Public Health to create regulations before in-person instruction would be allowed at all public, private and parochial schools. State control would replace local control.
If Illinois’ largest teachers unions get their way, in-person instruction at all Illinois public, private and parochial schools will be contingent on meeting new requirements to be devised and enforced by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Illinois House Bill 2789, which originated with the Illinois Education Association and is endorsed by the Illinois Federation of Teachers, passed the Illinois House of Representatives April 22 on a vote of 70-42, with almost all Democratic members voting for the bill and all Republicans present voting against it. The bill is now pending in the Illinois Senate.
Premise: In a last-minute attempt to salvage the relationship between father and college-bound daughter and engage in some family bonding time, an admittedly “weird” family go on a cross-country road trip. But when a Silicon Valley inventor’s latest technological AI advancement goes haywire, the Mitchell family take on the mantle of heroes fighting against a robot apocalypse.
Behind-the-Scenes: Produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the visionary duo behind other animated all-timers like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The LEGO Movie, and the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Sony originally had theatrical distribution plans in mind but sold off the movie to Netflix last year. Michael Rianda and Jeff Rowe are the credited writer-directors. Rianda also voices the younger Mitchell son.
The Good: As good an animated film as we’re likely to see in 2021. It’s heartfelt, deeply hilarious and – just like Into the Spider-Verse – inventively animated, blasting with color and atypical designs. The script is certainly of-the-moment, chock full of Internet memes and all the latest technological obsessions. The jokes and plot developments keep one-upping each other as the movie goes along. The voice cast runs deep with talented comic actors, with Beck Bennett and Fred Armisen getting a ton of laughs as dysfunctional, human-identifying robots. Like the best Pixar movies, The Mitchells will make you cry both tears of emotion and from laughing so hard. If anything, it’s weirder and more absurd than Pixar, and that’s a GREAT thing. Lord & Miller’s involvement practically screams quality at this point.
The Bad: At close to 2 hours, it probably could have trimmed a few minutes in the middle stretch.
Should You See It?: Absolutely. Will entertain and offer something for everyone in the family – dads, moms, and kids of all ages. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see this one on the big screen, as it warrants watching on the biggest screens possible. An immediate front-runner for Best Animated Feature at next year’s Oscars and an instant classic.
Star Rating: ***** out of 5 stars
Better Than: Soul, Wolfwalkers
Worse Than:Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
* * *
For more movie/TV commentary and other mischief, follow me on Twitter: @Hammervision and on Letterboxd: @Hammervision
Hammervision is movies. Hammervision is TV. Hammervision is the creative byproduct of a marriage built on a mutual love of all things popular culture. John and Julie Hammerle have been watching movies together since Face/Off was in the theaters. John is an attorney at a Chicago law firm. Julie is not. They have two kids and a dog named Indiana.
Bobby Unser holds three fingers aloft after winning his third Indianapolis 500 in 1981. Unser died of natural causes at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on May 2. He was 87. | AP
Unser died Sunday at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, of natural causes, the Indianapolis Speedway said Monday. Unser won the Indy 500 in 1968, 1975 and 1981.
Bobby Unser, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and part of the only pair of brothers to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” has died. He was 87.
He died Sunday at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, of natural causes, Indianapolis Motor Speedway said Monday. Unser won the Indy 500 in 1968, 1975 and 1981.
His younger brother, Al, is one of only three four-time Indy 500 winners in race history. Al Unser won the race in 1970, 1971, 1978 and 1987. The Unser family tradition stretched to Al Unser’s son, Al Unser Jr., who won the Indy 500 in 1992 and 1994.
“Bobby was a ferocious competitor on the track, and his larger-than-life personality made him one of the most beloved and unique racers we have ever seen,” said Roger Penske, the current owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway but the team owner for Unser’s 1981 Indy 500 winning car.
“Beyond his many wins and accomplishments, Bobby was a true racer that raised the performance of everyone around him. He was also one of the most colorful characters in motorsports.”
Bobby Unser was born Feb. 20, 1934, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and moved with his family as a child to New Mexico. His father owned a garage along Route 66 and he his brother grew up tooling around in old jalopies before he began his racing career in 1949 at Roswell New Mexico Speedway.
After two years in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1955 — a stint for which he was always proud — Unser turned to racing full time and became one of the greatest racers in Indianapolis Motor Speedway history.
He was one of just 10 drivers to win the 500 at least three times and Unser and Rick Mears are the only drivers to win the 500 in three different decades. Unser was one of six members of the Unser family to race in the Indianapolis 500.
His final Indy 500 victory in 1981 came in a Penske entry in one of the most contentious outcomes. Unser won from the pole and beat Mario Andretti by 5.18 seconds, but officials ruled Unser passed cars illegally while exiting the pit lane under caution — drawing a penalty that docked him one position and moved Andretti to winner.
Penske and Unser appealed and after a lengthy process the penalty was rescinded in October of that year. It was the 35th and final victory of Unser’s career.
At Indianapolis, Unser produced 10 top-10 finishes in 19 career starts. He led led in 10 races for a total of 440 laps, which to this day ranks 10th on the all-time list. He won two poles, in 1972 and 1981, and had nine front-row starts.
“When you mention icons in racing, and particularly the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Bobby Unser was a legend,” said Doug Boles, president of the speedway. “He could drive, and win, in any type of car and on any type of track. And he was magical at Indy.”
After his driving career, Unser moved to broadcasting and won an Emmy Award as part of the ABC Sports broadcast team for “Outstanding Live Sports Special” for its coverage of the 1989 Indianapolis 500.
Unser is survived by his wife, Lisa; sons Bobby Jr. and Robby; and daughters Cindy and Jeri.
People sit in on a cafe terrace, in the Monastiraki district of Athens, with the ancient Acropolis hill in the background, Monday, May 3, 2021. Cafes and restaurants have reopened in Greece for sit-down service for the first time in nearly six months, as the country began easing coronavirus-related restrictions with a view to opening to the vital tourism industry in the summer. | AP
The improving picture in many places contrasts with the worsening disaster in India.
Air travel in the U.S. hit its highest mark since COVID-19 took hold more than 13 months ago, while European Union officials are proposing to ease restrictions on visitors to the continent as the vaccine rollout sends new cases and deaths tumbling in more affluent countries.
The improving picture in many places contrasts with the worsening disaster in India.
In the U.S., the average number of new cases per day fell below 50,000 for the first time since October. And nearly 1.67 million people were screened at U.S. airport checkpoints on Sunday, according to the Transportation Security Administration, the highest number since mid-March of last year.
Las Vegas is bustling again after casino capacity limits were raised Saturday to 80% and person-to-person distancing dropped to 3 feet.
EU officials announced a proposal Monday to relax restrictions on visiting the 27-nation bloc this summer, though the final decision is up to its member countries.
“Time to revive EU tourism industry and for cross-border friendships to rekindle — safely,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “We propose to welcome again vaccinated visitors and those from countries with a good health situation.”
In Greece, restaurants and cafes reopened their terraces on Monday after six months of shutdown, with customers flocking to soak up the sunshine. In France, high schools reopened and a ban on domestic travel was lifted.
But with more-contagious variants taking hold, efforts are underway to boost vaccination efforts. In Detroit, officials began going door-to-door to persuade residents to get immunized.
Brazil, once the epicenter of the pandemic, has has been overtaken by a surge in India that has overrun crematoriums and made it clear the p andemic is far from over.
As the U.S. and other countries rushed in aid, India reported nearly 370,000 new cases and more than 3,400 deaths Monday — numbers that experts believe are vast undercounts because of a widespread lack of testing and incomplete reporting.
In Germany, Bavarian officials canceled Oktoberfest for a second year in a row because of the safety risks. The beer-drinking festivities typically attract about 6 million visitors from around the world.
And in Italy, medical experts and politicians expressed concern about a possible spike in infections after tens of thousands of jubilant soccer fans converged on Milan’s main square Sunday to celebrate Inter Milan’s league title.
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Associated Press writers Krutika Pathi in New Delhi; Ken Ritter in Las Vegas; Samuel Petrequin in Brussels contributed to this report.
Vickie Savell looks at the remains of her new mobile home early Monday, May 3, 2021, in Yazoo County, Miss. Multiple tornadoes were reported across Mississippi on Sunday, causing some damage but no immediate word of injuries. | AP
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
YAZOO CITY, Miss. — Multiple tornadoes were reported across Mississippi on Sunday, destroying homes and uprooting trees before the storm system moved into Atlanta, prompting residents Monday to seek shelter in Georgia’s largest city. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Just south of Yazoo City, Mississippi, Vickie Savell looked at the remains of her brand new mobile home, where she and her husband had just moved in eight days ago. It was her first new home in 40 years, and it had been lifted off its foundation, moved about 25 feet and was completely destroyed.
“Oh my God, my first new house in 40 years and it’s gone,” she said Monday, amid tree tops strewn about the neighborhood and the roar of chainsaws as people worked to clear roads.
Savell had been away from home, attending church, but her husband Nathan had been driving home and hunkered down in the front of his truck as the home nearby was destroyed. From there, he watched his new home blow past him, he said.
Nearby, Garry McGinty recalled being at home listening to birds chirping — then dead silence. He looked outside and saw a dark, ominous cloud and took shelter in a hallway, he said. He survived, but trees slammed into his carport, two vehicles and the side of his house.
A line of severe storms rolled through the state Sunday afternoon and into the nighttime hours. Late Sunday, a “tornado emergency” was declared for Tupelo and surrounding areas. Meteorologists urged residents to take cover.
“Damage has been reported in the City of Tupelo,” the mayor’s office said in a Facebook post just before 11 p.m. “Emergency crews are currently assessing the degree of damage. Please do not get out and drive.”
Photos retweeted by the National Weather Service in Memphis showed several downed trees and power lines. Tupelo Middle School sustained some damage, as well as houses and businesses.
There were multiple reports of damage to homes on Elvis Presley Drive, just down the street from the home where the famed singer was born. Presley was born in a two-room house in the Tupelo neighborhood but there was no indications that the historic home sustained damage. It’s now a museum.
But just down the street on Elvis Presley Drive, a tornado tore the roof off the home of Terrille and Chaquilla Pulliam, they told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. About 10 family members took shelter inside the house, and “we got everybody inside in time,” Terrille Pulliam said.
Calhoun County Sheriff Greg Pollan said Calhoun City also “was hit hard tonight.”
“Light poles have been snapped off. Trees in a few homes. Trees on vehicles. Damage to several businesses. Fortunately we have had no reports at this time of injuries,” Pollan posted on Facebook, asking people to stay off the roads. “Emergency personnel are working feverishly to open the roads as quickly as possible.”
News outlets also reported tornados near Yazoo City, Byram and Tchula earlier in the day. The National Weather Service in Jackson shared several images of funnel clouds across different parts of the state.
As the system moved east, a tornado watch Monday covered large parts of Alabama and Georgia. A tornado warning prompted residents of Atlanta to seek shelter late Monday morning.
Atlanta police late Monday morning were responding to a call of a tree down on a house on the city’s west side, Atlanta police spokesman Anthony Grant said. There were no immediate reports of injuries there, he said.
Atlanta firefighters responded to multiple calls of trees down, Atlanta Fire Rescue said in a statement late Monday morning. The agency was not aware of any significant injuries, but asked residents to be on guard as falling trees and limbs still posed a threat.
Georgia Power reported about 3,000 outages in the southwest part of the city. GreyStone Power reported more than 3,000 outages in Douglas and southern Fulton counites.
A warm, moist air mass was in place as an upper-level disturbance moved across the area, touching off the storms over Mississippi, said Mike Edmonston, National Weather Service meteorologist in Mississippi.
“The ingredients were just enough for the development of severe storms,” he said. Three survey teams from the weather service were preparing to assess the damage in Mississippi, he said.
More storms are in store for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia on Tuesday, forecasters said. Tuesday’s storms could bring wind gusts of up to 70 mph and hail to the size of golf balls, said the National Weather Service in Jackson, noting that “tornadoes are likely Tuesday into Tuesday evening” in parts of Mississippi.
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Associated Press writers Jeff Martin in Marietta, Georgia; Jeff Amy in Atlanta; and Julie Walker in New York City contributed to this report.
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