Monster Mash: Breaking news and headlines

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-- Good news for a change: Shepard Fairey’s Obama poster designs win the 2009 Brit Insurance Design of the Year award.

-- Range of talent: Charles McNulty remembers the daring choices made by actress Natasha Richardson, 45, who died Wednesday of injuries suffered in a ski accident.

-- Honoring the actress: Broadway to dim its lights tonight at 8 in memory of Richardson, who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Sally Bowles in 1998 in ‘Cabaret.’

-- Hoping to swipe him away: Rome Opera extends an offer to Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s music director designate Riccardo Muti.

-- Recuperating in hospital: Actor Stacy Keach suffers a mild stroke. No word on when he’ll return as Richard Nixon, in the touring production of ‘Frost/Nixon’ at the Ahmanson Theatre.

-- Objection: City of Chicago challenges appellate court’s ruling on ‘vagueness’ of historic landmark law.

-- Pot of gold: James Conlon, music director of Los Angeles Opera, wins a $1-million tax ruling in Germany.

-- Another victim of the economy: Atlanta Symphony announces $1.3 million in budget cuts and cost-saving measures, including executive pay cuts, furloughs and a hiring freeze.

-- ‘Homophobic’ environment?: ACLU sues high school in Orange County over cancellation of student production of ‘Rent.’

-- Big move: Sarah Ruhl’s ‘In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play’ moves from Berkeley Rep to Broadway.

-- Two Santa Monica buildings nominated for landmark status.

-- Lisa Fung