Julie Taymor gives some great talks. And TED hosts some great talks (check out the YouTube channel). And now, TED hosts one of Taymor's great talks, and puts it on the internet.

She makes some really beautiful statements about what's so great about theatre and says a few stunning things about watching media on screens. Even if you didn't cry at The Lion King, this one's definitely for you.

Okay, okay, here's a bit from his bio ...

In 2007 the Village Voice, Time Out, and The New York Press named Taylor Mac one of New York's best.

... and his artistic statement ...

I consider myself a theatre artist working in the genre of pastiche (but isn't all theatre the genre of pastiche). This is a fancy way of saying I do a lot of different things. I'm a playwright, an actor, songwriter, director, visual artist, and activist. I create work for others that I don't perform in, perform in other artist's work, create performance art parties and huge theatrical extravaganzas (with at least a dozen performers, puppets, and musicians), perform solo, and sometimes squish all of these hats together and come up with what most people in academic circles would call a postmodern theatric.

Okay ... here's a video. (And you may need to have been in a NYC subway since 9/11 to get this, but hopefully that's enough of a clue to help out.)

Wasn't that great? See more here.

Also, that video is part of the HERE Arts Center's YouTube channel, which has lots more great stuff, and is here.

I'll be back to tell you more about my experiences as part of 4 of the 5 Cincinnati Fringe Festivals. For the moment, let Jeff Syroney, one of my favorite people in the world tell you why he "Won't Live In a City Without a Fringe Festival."

For more Fringe coverage, you can check out official coverage at The Conveyor, or tons of reviews at City Beat. (I wouldn't recommend our review, though. It ain't pretty.)

Central Europe's most famous self-deprecating intellectual humanist is still capable of producing the absurdist vignettes that were his trademark long before he was thrust on to the world stage.

Havel's new play, the title of which translates to Leaving, opened in Prague this past weekend. at Divadlo Archa. Kate Connolly reviewed it for the Guardian and had little but praise for the production, which received an enthusiastic response from the audience.

Here's hoping Havel continues to create the art that has made him so important to his country.