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a14 people & arts
Monday 12 october 2020
ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus pens support for Day of the Girl Child

By LOUISE DIXON see it at home.
Associated Press They could see it close up.
LONDON (AP) — ABBA's Agnetha (Fältskog) was an
Björn Ulvaeus grew up in at extremely strong woman
a time when his education who I was married to first in
was valued more than his ABBA. And my present wife,
sister's, and he wants it to Lena, since, many, many
be different for girls around years back, she's also very
the world. strong."
That's the approach he And when it comes to his
took with his daughters, six granddaughters and the
drawing inspiration from next generation of young
the women in his life. girls, he has some optimism.
"I've been surrounded by "For them as human beings,
women, strong women for I'm very optimistic because
a long time," Ulvaeus said, they are very open. They
speaking about the need are not afraid of saying
to empower female voices what they feel."
ahead of Sunday's Interna- Ulvaeus has also taken
tional Day of the Girl Child. some positives from his
The day "it should be a months of self-isolation and
cause for celebration, but believes he will travel less
the sad thing is that this when the global pandemic
girl child deserves so much In this Dec. 13, 2017 file photo, Bjorn Ulvaeus poses for photographers in a recreation of the Polar is over.
more than the old men recording studio in London. Associated Press "It's been in a way very, very
who rule the world are pre- calm and very good for
pared to give her," Ulvaeus and address the challeng- but a world where they no good reason," he said of me, because there's been
wrote in a piece to support es girls face around the wouldn't exist." his viewpoint shift he had time for reflection. There's
the day that he first shared world. Ulvaeus said growing up, when he was about 30. "So been time for all kinds of
with The Associated Press. In his piece, Ulvaeus writes his father "thought it was I think that's why and when things that you don't have
The piece begins: "Take a about how these powerful more important that I got I became more or less a time for when you rush be-
look at the old men who men are "afraid of the girl an education than my sis- feminist without even say- tween airports."
rule the world. With few ex- child" because "she repre- ter" and then started his ing it that at the time." ABBA will celebrate its 50th
ceptions their powers rest sents a threat to their pow- early career in an all-male On his later career he ex- anniversary in 2021 and for
on cultures, religions and er Iike none other." group, plains, "Most of the projects fans awaiting the promised
ideologies that suppress "You could see it with Gre- The Hootenanny Singers. I've done, like 'Mamma new music from the band,
women." ta Thunberg," he told the But he says he was always Mia,' have been, you know Ulvaeus remains tight-
Ulvaeus said he was in- AP, speaking about the "very inquisitive and very basically, female projects lipped and philosophical.
spired to write about the teenage Swedish climate skeptical and honest." with me in it." "I've been saying things
need to support Interna- change activist. "They got "There's nothing really that And for his three daughters, about it and it's been
tional Day of the Girl Child. so ridiculously mad and ir- says that men and women there have always been wrong, so I would much
In 2011, the United Nations ritated and, you know. And should have these roles strong female influences. rather not say anything
declared Oct. 11 as the In- it is because the girl child that we read about. Early "They never knew of any right now, but it'll be there
ternational Day of the Girl is such a strong symbol for on, I could see through other future than an equal eventually. That's all I can
Child to promote girls' rights equality, for a better world, that. And I could see there's one because they could say."q
Broadway shutdown due to virus extended again until May 30

try once we raise our cur- into the pandemic, our Man," "Flying Over Sunset,"
tains again," said Charlotte nation still lacks a coher- "Caroline, or Change,"
St. Martin, president of the ent national strategy for "Plaza Suite," "American
Broadway League, which masks and testing which Buffalo" and "The Minutes."
represents producers. could help bring the virus Within hours of the an-
The latest delay was en- under control." Broadway nouncement, the musical
dorsed by Actors' Equity As- theaters abruptly closed based on Michael Jack-
sociation, which represents on March 12, knocking out son, called "MJ," pushed
51,000 theater actors and all shows — including 16 back its performances to
stage managers. that were still scheduled September. q
"Today the Broadway to open — and scrambling Solution Sudoku
League made the difficult the Tony Award schedule,
Broadway posters outside the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New but responsible decision to with nominations this year
York on May 13, 2020. put the safety and health of set for Oct. 15. Producers,
Associated Press their workers and audience citing health and city au-
AP Entertainment Writer has yet to be determined, first. This is a deeply painful thorities, previously extend-
NEW YORK (AP) — Fans Broadway producers are time for everyone who de- ed the shutdown to June 7,
of Broadway will have now offering refunds and pends on the arts for their then again to Sept. 6 and
to wait a little longer for exchanges for tickets pur- livelihood," said Mary Mc- again to Jan. 3. The new
shows to resume — until at chased for shows through Coll, executive director for timeframe may compli-
least late May. Although May 30. "We are working Actors' Equity Association. cate a clutch of show that
an exact date for various tirelessly with multiple part- "We are at this moment had planned to open in the
performances to resume ners on sustaining the indus- because, seven months spring, including "The Music Puzzle on Page 13