Atlanta’s arts scene is vibrant and exciting, and Encore Atlanta is proud to be a part of it. Here you’ll find news bits about and ruminations on The Scene.
Designers strut their stuff at Actor’s Express
Can’t get enough of those eager fashion designer hopefuls on “Project Runway”? Check out Atlanta’s Project Expressway, an ode to the hit TV show. On March 6, the designers — all Bauder College fashion graduates — will compete before a panel of celebrity judges (including actor and restaurateur Mitchell Anderson and television and radio host Holly Firfer) at La Fais do-do.
Hosted by Actor’s Express Artistic Director Freddie Ashley, in the role of Tim Gunn, and local actress Park Krausen, as co-host Heidi Klum, the event will be the culmination of months of work from designers Tian Justman, Sharrod Woods and Shenelle Evans. And much like the show, video highlights will recap the creative process and each designer’s personal journey to the runway.
The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. and includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and live and silent auctions. All funds raised from the event will benefit Actor’s Express Theatre. For more information, including video interviews with the designers, a Project Expressway trailer and tickets, visit actors-express.com/pe.
The Rembrandt of the Rodeo
From Jan. 16 through May 22, a very special exhibition will be on display at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Ga. Featuring 50 oil paintings and sculptures of the West and its inhabitants, “Kenneth M. Freeman Legacy Exhibition-Artist at Work” gives patrons a very special glimpse of a lifetime of work by Kenneth M. Freeman (1935-2008), a man nicknamed the “Rembrandt of the Rodeo” by members of the Arizona media, who viewed him as a local treasure and source of pride.
Central to the exhibit is a re-creation of the artist’s studio. “It’s a great way for people to understand how an artist makes a living,” says Bonnie Adams, curator of the Kenneth M. Freeman Legacy Collection. “It shows how he painted and what was in his environment. People can see the [Old Masters] technique he used. He painted a picture three times. First, he put a full drawing on canvas. Then, on the same canvas, he laid down the full value painting in one color: burnt umber. Then, he laid down the same painting in color. There are also lots of artifacts that Ken used in his paintings. Having [the studio] there, we hope you’ll feel Ken and his magic.”
Because the exhibit opens on Martin Luther King weekend, Adams chose to include several of his Buffalo Soldiers paintings and sculptures. Freeman and many of his models were members of the re-enactment group, the Ninth Memorial Arizona Buffalo Soldiers calvary. “People think all the Buffalo Soldiers were black, but the officers were white,” Adams explains. “There are a lot of under-told and unappreciated stories about them. The Buffalo Soldiers were sent to the toughest and most remote areas of the West.”
Although Freeman’s Western-themed paintings hang in the collections of the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress’ Legacy Collection from Arizona, he painted portraits of Western legends such as John Wayne and Waylon Jennings, and he illustrated many Louis L’Amour books, he was an unlikely cowboy painter. Raised in Chicago, Freeman was brought up in a traditional Jewish family and had a very successful 20-year career as an illustrator that began with an apprenticeship with Haddon Sundblum, best known as the creator of Coca-Cola’s iconic Santa Claus ads.
But his childhood dream was to be both an artist and a cowboy. “When he was 43 years old, he decided Chicago was too cold and it was time to pursue the other part of his dream. So he moved to Arizona and took his camera and went to powwows, rodeos and cattle drives. He’d be herding cattle and photographing all at the same time. Then he’d come home with those photographs and bring those models to life on his canvas.”
While in town during the exhibit’s opening, Adams will also be accepting a posthumousa award for Freeman. “Western Artists of America is awarding him their lifetime achievement award for his body of art, and from here on in, it’s going to be called the Freeman Award,” she says.
For more information, visit the Booth Museum Web site.
A Cappella Competition – call for submissions
Have you and your group ever thought about performing on the Tony Award winning Alliance Theatre stage? What about the opportunity to record a professional demo? Here’s your chance!
In honor of their latest show, the a cappella Doo Wop musical Avenue X, the Alliance Theatre is proud to present our “Sing Your Soul” A Cappella Competition, and they would love to see your entry! Visit http://alliancetheatre.org/contest for all the details!
Record a video with at least three people singing an awesome a cappella song and upload it to YouTube. Fill out an application and email it to lindsey.hardegree@woodruffcenter.org. Then tell everyone you know to come and vote!
Each week during Avenue X, they’ll be picking a semifinalist based on the highest rated YouTube video. Each weekly semifinalist will then open that Friday evening’s performance of Avenue X before a packed Alliance house.
It gets better!!!
The three semifinalists will be then be judged by 3 all-star judges:
- Jody Feldman, Associate Producer and Casting Director for the Alliance Theatre
- Nick Spangler, Season 13 winner of “The Amazing Race” and cast member of Avenue X
- Christine Pullara, host of WXIA-TV’s “Atlanta & Company” (a live, studio-based weekday show featuring Atlanta businesses, food, arts, events and more)
The ultimate winner will receive professional studio time to make a recording! So what are you waiting for? Grab your friends and a video camera and get to singing!
Get away to the islands this weekend
Looking for a way to escape this holiday season? Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6, the U.S. Virgin Islands will be hosting an island party weekend at Lenox Square Mall. Amenities will include complimentary Caribbean-inspired cuisine, mock jumbie dancing, live Caribbean music and a vacation giveaway. The event is free and open to the public, and if you get swept away — there will be people to assist you in booking travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands on-site. Visit VisitUSVI.com for more information. — Mollie Nichols
Mollie Nichols is an 11th grader at Milton High School who recently completed her internship with Atlanta Metropolitan Publishing.
Happy birthday Nutcracker!
It’s hard to believe, but the Atlanta Ballet is celebrating a half-century of performing The Nutcracker this December.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary, Atlanta Ballet will recognize all past dancers during the opening night performance on Dec. 11. The Atlanta Ballet Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s timeless score opening weekend only, Dec. 11 through 13. Performances will continue Dec. 16 through 27, accompanied by same high quality recording in use since 2006.
Tickets as low as $20 are on sale now. To purchase, visit Atlantaballet.com, The Fox Theatre Box Office or call the Ticketmaster Arts Hotline at 800-982-2787. Groups of ten or more may contact Atlanta Ballet Group Sales at 404-873-5811, ext. 207.
Second City extended …
It’s official. Second City: Peach Drop, Stop and Roll, now playing at the Alliance Theatre, has been extended. The cast will be performing its blend of sharp satirical comedy and improv for eight shows a week until Dec. 27th.
There will be no shows on Thanksgiving Day or Dec. 24th and 25th. Two-for-one and student rush tickets are still available. Visit Alliance Theatre’s Web site for more information.
Cavalia gallops into Atlanta
The tent at Atlantic Station screams “Cirque du Soliel,” and the mastermind behind Cavalia is one of that group’s founders, but the equine-based show is more than just acrobats on horseback. The show does have moments that feel cirque-like, but the real stars are the horses, who are constantly onstage, whether live or by proxy in stunning full-wall projections evoking cultures that have worshiped the majestic creatures, starting with the Celts and ending with Native Americans.
Some of the numbers will disappoint viewers seeking non-stop adrenaline highs, because they put the emphasis on the horses’ ability to perform with precision rather than on whether or not someone will be able to leap on and off while in mid-gallop (although those moments are there, too). To horse-lovers or anyone who’s worked with horses, however, the “quiet” moments are quite astounding, because it is incredibly difficult to train horses, especially stallions, to behave in that way.
If you’re looking for breathtaking moments, there are several. Some of the highlights include an Arabian-themed number that combines aerial dance with men on horseback, and a rodeo-inspired sequence with a number of men and women doing death-defying tricks on galloping horses. Some of the quieter moments are quite beautiful, as well.
Cavalia has a stable of 58 horses, 29 of them stallions, and several very gifted trainers and performers. Catch the show before it closes on Nov. 29.
Vulgamore to depart the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
After 16 groundbreaking years at the helm of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, President and Chief Executive Officer Allison Vulgamore informed the ASO Board of Directors that she would not be renewing her contract when it expires in July 2010.
“This was an extraordinarily difficult decision for me,” Vulgamore said at the Sept. 21 board meeting. “I have a deep and abiding affection and respect for my colleagues both onstage and off. We have created great musical and institutional accomplishments together. This is a personal decision, after 16 years, to launch a new chapter in my life.”
The board asked Vulgamore to reconsider her decision, but was unsuccessful. “Allison has played a pivotal role in building the Atlanta Symphony into one of America’s preeminent orchestras and the premier cultural institution in the southeastern United States,” ASO Board Chairman Ben Johnson said. “She has skillfully guided us through times of crisis and to expanded audiences, venues and creative excellence. We look forward to finding appropriate ways to celebrate her time and achievements with us over the coming weeks and months.”
Under Vulgamore’s leadership, the ASO has doubled its endowment, increased its budget from $15.8 to $45.6 million, opened the 12,000-seat Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta, raised $114 million in pledges for a new Symphony Hall and increased ASO music education programs for African-American and Latino student-musicians. Perhaps one of her greatest contributions, though, was the formation of the Creative Partnership, established in 2001 between the ASO, Music Director Robert Spano and Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles. The partnership has led to long-term relationships with a new generation of composers, new concert formats for audiences, annual recordings and outstanding artistic merit, which has garnered the ASO international invitations to perform as well as Grammy awards.
Spano said, “In the world of symphonic music, Allison Vulgamore is a giant. During her tenure, her tireless efforts on behalf of the ASO have raised it to new heights. She has been a marvelous colleague, and I will sorely miss her.”
Runnicles added, “It is simply inconceivable for me that Allison will no longer be at the helm of this wonderful organization. It has been my privilege and honor to work and to dream with this remarkable woman — with my creative partner.”
Vulgamore will begin initial work as president of the fiscally troubled Philadelphia Orchestra early next year, helping them find a music director, plan budgets and hire for open positions. A search committee is being established to identify a successor for the ASO.
Welcome back, Chris!
Tuesday night, at the premiere of Theater of the Stars’ final season show, I was delighted to see Chris Manos giving the curtain speech after a long hiatus. Wearing what he claimed was a 35-year-old “lucky suit” and giving an update on the Detroit-Minnesota baseball game, he looked spry, fit and full of good cheer. I think people were applauding his recovery from surgery as much as they were his news of how generous audience members had chipped in a little extra to support TOTS through this rough year.
In line during intermission, I heard some subscribers talking about how sad they were that the 57th season was over. The good news is that if they subscribe now for TOTS’ 58th season, they’ll be eligible to win a trip to Chicago this spring to see the premiere of a couple of musicals Manos has invested in, including The Adaams Family, which is from the creative teams that produced Jersey Boys and The Wild Party.
Twyla soars at the Alliance
Through Oct. 11, something magical is taking place at the Alliance. And if you’re wise, you’ll secure a ticket to see Twyla Tharp’s muscular and exuberant new dance/theater hybrid Come Fly With Me before it leaves town and hits the road.
The music of Frank Sinatra is used to underscore the journey four couples take during a single (wild) evening at a nightclub. There are the young lovers (Laura Mead and Charlie Neshyba-Hodges), the jaded but elegant older couple (Holley Farmer and John Selya), the on-again-off-again wildcats (Karine Plantadit and Keith Roberts) and the eccentric loners (Rika Okamoto and Matthew Dibble). Over the course of one night, they meet, fall in love, fight, kiss, make up, shed clothes and have one halcyon moment of clarity before hitting the streets.
Instead of hiring a Sinatra sound-alike, the show uses actual Sinatra vocal tracks that are accompanied by a live band. Songs are alternately sung by Sinatra and a female jazz singer, who at one point even duets with Ol’ Blue Eyes.
Delightful moments abound, from the slapstick mating dance of gifted physical comedians Mead and Neshyba-Hodges (in “Makin’ Whoopee”) to Farmer’s power over men (highlighted in “Witchcraft”) to the bittersweet, complex love affair between Farmer and Selya that erupts violently in “That’s Life.” A strong ensemble cast provide plenty of eye candy and competition for the main characters’ affection.
Tharp’s choreography is elegant and sophisticated one minute, savage the next, but always compelling. The mastery of the dancers is breathtaking to watch as they’re swung, flung and spun across the stage, over the heads and under the legs of their dancing partners. It’s a jubilant hybrid of swing dance, modern movement and classic ballet, and the overall effect will make you laugh, tear up and long for those nights you thought would never end.
