Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children’s publishing, education and media company, has named Mary Beech as its chief marketing & transformation officer, effective January 1, 2022. Based in New York, Beech will assume a new role for the company and be charged with creating greater customer centricity, data-driven activations with a focus on digital, and connectivity throughout Scholastic to better serve educators, caregivers and children. She has been an independent director on Scholastic’s Board since 2018 – from which she will resign in advance of her new position which reports directly to CEO and president Peter Warwick. Beech has most recently served as the CEO of Sarah Flint, a direct-to-consumer, luxury footwear brand for women, where she was responsible for the growth of the brand and business. Prior to joining Sarah Flint in February 2020, Beech was the principal of MRB Brand Consulting, having also served as EVP and chief marketing officer of Kate Spade New York for seven years, where she was responsible for all aspects of marketing and communications for the brand. From 2000 to 2013, Beech held various management, marketing, licensing and brand management positions at The Walt Disney Company, including responsibility for the launch and growth of the Disney Princess brand. Her leadership at Disney culminated in her role as SVP, global licensing and marketing for Disney/Pixar Animation….
Review: Director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”
It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Oh, she may have been vengeful and scary in "The Wizard of Oz." But something changed — like, REALLY changed — on the way from the yellow brick road to the Great White Way. Since 2003, crowds have packed nightly into "Wicked" at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises up on her broomstick to belt "Defying Gravity," that enduring girl-power anthem.
How many people have seen "Wicked"? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have "Wicked" the movie, director Jon M. Chu's lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie — Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.
Before we get to what this movie does well (Those big numbers! Those costumes!), just a couple thornier issues to ponder. Will this "Wicked," powered by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a sprightly, comedic, hair-tossing Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?
Tricky question. Some people just don't buy into the musical thing, and they should be allowed to live freely amongst us. But if people breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love "Wicked," well then, you will likely love this film. If it feels like they made the best "Wicked" movie money could buy — well, it's... Read More