Ryan Donovan
@ryandonovan.bsky.social
Author | BROADWAY BODIES and QUEER APPROACHES IN MUSICAL THEATRE
Assistant Professor of Theater Studies | Duke University
ryan-donovan.com
Assistant Professor of Theater Studies | Duke University
ryan-donovan.com
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
crickets from the free speech crowd, of course
FAMU can't use the word Black on anything posted around campus related to Black History Month, to stay in compliance with Florida state laws against DEI. Black students can't use the word Black at their Historically Black College during Black History Month.
February 8, 2026 at 3:35 PM
crickets from the free speech crowd, of course
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
the Washington Post effectively blew up its arts section today, dismissing its books, TV, music, and theater critics, features writers, and several editors. (I'm also guessing the vacant film critic position will stay that way.) Just an insane loss of talent and a huge self-inflicted wound.
February 4, 2026 at 9:46 PM
the Washington Post effectively blew up its arts section today, dismissing its books, TV, music, and theater critics, features writers, and several editors. (I'm also guessing the vacant film critic position will stay that way.) Just an insane loss of talent and a huge self-inflicted wound.
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
Biden, Obama, Bush, Clinton. All former cabinet secretaries. All need to speak up. Why are they silent at this moment? Why is up to ordinary Americans to lead in this crisis?
January 24, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Biden, Obama, Bush, Clinton. All former cabinet secretaries. All need to speak up. Why are they silent at this moment? Why is up to ordinary Americans to lead in this crisis?
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
If you're living somewhere outside the USA, one thing you can do is pressure your leaders to boycott World Cup and Olympic events here.
January 24, 2026 at 8:29 PM
If you're living somewhere outside the USA, one thing you can do is pressure your leaders to boycott World Cup and Olympic events here.
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
American survived without ICE from 1776 to 2003
January 24, 2026 at 9:47 PM
American survived without ICE from 1776 to 2003
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
December 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
As an alum and former part-time faculty member, it is heartbreaking to see this happen. Not mentioned here is that the institution has upwards of 80% part-time faculty, which is depressing enough--and a sign that the university has been in bad fiscal health for decades.
Falling Enrollment, Money Woes: The New School Seeks a Path to Survival
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:37 PM
As an alum and former part-time faculty member, it is heartbreaking to see this happen. Not mentioned here is that the institution has upwards of 80% part-time faculty, which is depressing enough--and a sign that the university has been in bad fiscal health for decades.
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
And btw Whipple burns every bridge when he walks away unlike access journalists in DC who can never tell the whole story. He then has to start all over again for his next story
December 18, 2025 at 5:10 PM
And btw Whipple burns every bridge when he walks away unlike access journalists in DC who can never tell the whole story. He then has to start all over again for his next story
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
December 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
Happy 100th Birthday Dick Van Dyke, and thank you for the joy!
December 13, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Happy 100th Birthday Dick Van Dyke, and thank you for the joy!
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
Saddest thing is that Neeson’s late wife Natasha Richardson was a AIDS advocate and AmFAR spokesperson and now he’s palling around w anti-vaxxers and AIDS denialists.
SCOOP: Academy Award-nominee Liam Neeson narrated a recent anti-vaccine documentary that glorifies RFK Jr.’s rise to power.
In the film, Neeson—a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador—calls the COVID-19 vaccines “dangerous experiments.”
www.importantcontext.news/p/liam-neeso...
In the film, Neeson—a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador—calls the COVID-19 vaccines “dangerous experiments.”
www.importantcontext.news/p/liam-neeso...
Liam Neeson Narrates Anti-Vax, Pro-RFK Documentary
The Taken actor can be heard calling mRNA COVID vaccines “dangerous experiments.”
www.importantcontext.news
December 11, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Saddest thing is that Neeson’s late wife Natasha Richardson was a AIDS advocate and AmFAR spokesperson and now he’s palling around w anti-vaxxers and AIDS denialists.
Fantastic piece about one of the all-time great dances
Fall for Modern Dance With This Masterpiece
www.nytimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Fantastic piece about one of the all-time great dances
Anyone have favorite or iconic backstage photographs from 1960s/1970s Broadway musicals?
Maybe a snapshot from the wings or a dressing room
Maybe a snapshot from the wings or a dressing room
December 6, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Anyone have favorite or iconic backstage photographs from 1960s/1970s Broadway musicals?
Maybe a snapshot from the wings or a dressing room
Maybe a snapshot from the wings or a dressing room
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
Streisand's voice is her instrument; Midler's audience is her instrument. She plays on us and we bring her to life, or at least she makes us feel that we do. (1980)
December 5, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Streisand's voice is her instrument; Midler's audience is her instrument. She plays on us and we bring her to life, or at least she makes us feel that we do. (1980)
Before the 1919 formation of Chorus Equity Association, "chorus girls" normally rehearsed weeks on end without pay. The union aimed to reduce this to 4 weeks without pay.
December 5, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Before the 1919 formation of Chorus Equity Association, "chorus girls" normally rehearsed weeks on end without pay. The union aimed to reduce this to 4 weeks without pay.
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
Giving the world Dinesh D'Souza and Laura Ingraham is no longer the worst thing Dartmouth has ever done.
My employer, Dartmouth College, today boasts it's 1st Ivy "to launch AI at an institutional scale." It is doing this by partnering--"more than a collaboration"--with Anthropic, a company that stole the books of many faculty, me included, which many of us are suing.
December 4, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Giving the world Dinesh D'Souza and Laura Ingraham is no longer the worst thing Dartmouth has ever done.
The final callbacks for EVITA are chock full of intriguing What Ifs?
December 4, 2025 at 10:44 PM
The final callbacks for EVITA are chock full of intriguing What Ifs?
The best news!
Helen Shaw Joins Culture | The New York Times Company
www.nytco.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The best news!
Came across this gem today. Must've been so frustrating to lose so many parts to Lansbury. And to not get out of your own way...
Love Elaine Stritch? Thank the Parts She Didn’t Get (Published 2019)
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Came across this gem today. Must've been so frustrating to lose so many parts to Lansbury. And to not get out of your own way...
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
Universities are assembling larger and larger teams to deal with academic integrity issues--mostly focused on AI--while simultaneously holding AI "writing" contests, AI-themed events, "hey, come play with these fun tools!" The messages are so mixed, it's criminal. Because AI is bloated with money.
November 28, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Universities are assembling larger and larger teams to deal with academic integrity issues--mostly focused on AI--while simultaneously holding AI "writing" contests, AI-themed events, "hey, come play with these fun tools!" The messages are so mixed, it's criminal. Because AI is bloated with money.
Who said this and when?
November 24, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Who said this and when?
Dance Magazine October 1971
November 23, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Dance Magazine October 1971
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
TRUMP they still have that Phantom of the Opera musical on Broadway
MAMDANI it's an immersive theatrical experience now. it's called Masquerade
TRUMP that Phantom's a jerk, isn't he
MAMDANI it's an immersive theatrical experience now. it's called Masquerade
TRUMP that Phantom's a jerk, isn't he
November 21, 2025 at 9:51 PM
TRUMP they still have that Phantom of the Opera musical on Broadway
MAMDANI it's an immersive theatrical experience now. it's called Masquerade
TRUMP that Phantom's a jerk, isn't he
MAMDANI it's an immersive theatrical experience now. it's called Masquerade
TRUMP that Phantom's a jerk, isn't he
Reposted by Ryan Donovan
I can’t believe how stupid everything is
November 17, 2025 at 11:27 PM
I can’t believe how stupid everything is
Did Roger Sterling write this? It's like a parody of MAD MEN
November 6, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Did Roger Sterling write this? It's like a parody of MAD MEN