THE GLOBAL LIFE OF NEW ZEALANDERS

From Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM | 29 July 2011 | #137 | New York City

NZEDGE.COM publishes daily on Facebook and Twitter. This newsletter presents a selection of New Zealanders appearing in the world’s media in the last week.

Lee Tamahori says depraved Uday Hussein “50 times worse” than Devil’s Double portrays – WSJ

Alan Broadbent, LA’s greatest living jazz pianist, packs up for New York – Los Angeles Times

Zoe Bell, most sought after stuntwoman in Hollywood, face first in heels – WSJ

Liam Finn cures post-tour blues with album FOMO aka Fear of Missing Out – Coolum News

Sleepy Age’s disco-inspired single Décor, one of best tracks on earth in July – Guardian

Bret McKenzie to star in rom-com Austenland with US siren Keri Russell – Paste Magazine

Marcella, Fashion Distraction blogger; the “Holy Grail of outfit inspiration” – StyleCaster

New Zealand once had its own Vogue; retrospective on at Te Papa – Vogue

New Zealand tech talent scouted by renowned venture capitalist Peter Thiel – Business Spectator

Steve Williams and Tiger Woods part after 13 majors, 72 tournament wins – Washington Post

NZRU has no qualms with England wearing Cup black strip; McCaw unfazed – Guardian

Sam Meech, sailor, 19, is the Laser Standard Youth World Champion – Sail World

Kim Bowden, China Daily intern, proclaims benefits of Beijing on bike – China Daily

Paekakariki, site of fatal WW2 beach-landing, biggest tragedy in coast’s history – GazetteNet

Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan, pioneering female MP; “genuinely great NZer”, dies, 79 – Stuff

See all stories and a 7,000 story archive of international New Zealand news 2000-2011 at NZEDGE/MEDIA.

Fundraising appeal: Rebuilding Christchurch’s Court Theatre

Christchurch is renowned for its “three C’s”: the Cathedral, the Crusaders and The Court Theatre. Regrettably all three institutions sustained significant damage following February’s devastating quake, reducing the options for Cantabrians to both pray and play. The Court Theatre’s home in the Arts Centre was deemed uninhabitable following but patrons are desperate to bring quality theatre back to the city.

Following the quake The Court Theatre surveyed over 400 patrons, asking whether they would like to give Christchurch a chance to rebuild the theatre. 94 percent of people indicated that they wanted The Court Theatre back as soon as possible, with many describing the famous company as “vital to the fabric of Christchurch.” Since securing new premises in Addington, The Court has been hard at work raising the $4.6 million required to turn their new home dubbed “The Shed” into a true theatre. The former grain warehouse is to get a whole new look, being transformed into an acoustically insulated auditorium with the feel of Court One but with larger, more comfortable seating and a slightly larger stage.

Since the campaign kicked off in April, The Court Theatre has nearly reached the $1 million mark thanks to public donations and a generous grant from Pub Charity. To achieve their goal of re-opening by Christmas this year, the company faces the massive task of raising nearly $1 million per month. The Court is running a series of fundraising events in coming months, including Host dinners where people anywhere in the world invite friends over for dinner and ask for a donation to the theatre in return. Around 100 dinners are already being organised throughout New Zealand and the world. Click here to download more information if you would like to host your own dinner for The Court Theatre.

A range of other fundraisers are planned, including an online auction and ‘Fill The Court’, where you can become part of The Court’s online audience and be first to know about new things at the theatre. Keep an eye out for their dedicated fundraising site www.icanhelpthecourt.com which will launch soon. Visit this site to make an online donation, find out more about the campaign or to contact The Court with offers of practical assistance. Click here for more information about the campaign to get Christchurch’s favourite theatre back up and running.

International Datebook

Sydney, 31th July, Don McGlashan, multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter (Mutton Birds, Blam Blam Blam), The Basement, Circular Quay.

Leipzig, Germany, 1-6 August, Dame Gillian Weir gives Master classes at the European Organ

Academy on the organ works of Liszt, Reubke,Mendelssohn. She also performs Brahms as part of the Thomanerkirche’s Summer Organ Festival.

Pingtung, Taiwan, 3 August, Moana Maniapoto and the Tribe, continue their international

tour with performances at the Global Indigenous Peoples Performing Arts Festival.

Source: Arts Foundation of New Zealand www.thearts.co.nz