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(08/26/08 4:00am)
As Interactive Theatre Carolina launches into its second year with bold ambitions and new material, organizers are counting on students to audition.
The theater group, sponsored by Counseling and Wellness Services, uses both scripted and improvisational theater to promote health, wellness and awareness of prevalent social justice issues on campus.
"We're looking for strong performers, who also have a passion for health and social justice issues," said Ben Saypol, program coordinator.
"Students of all majors and all schools are welcome and encouraged to attend."
(04/24/08 4:00am)
Audience members were able to experience authentic African dance while learning about the ongoing global HIV/AIDS epidemic Wednesday night at Memorial Hall.
The Spirit of Uganda dance group, which appeared as a part of the Carolina Performing Arts series, is a cohort of the organization Empower African Children. The group tours the United States regularly to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and the 2.4 million orphaned Ugandan children.
(04/17/08 4:00am)
Many Jewish and Muslim students at UNC will aim to overlook international conflicts today through a shared appreciation of art and entertainment.
And to do her part, senior Sophia Malik is looking to comedian Adam Sandler for inspiration.
As part of the fourth annual Muslim-Jewish Arts Festival, Malik will sing an acoustic adaptation of Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah Song" to add some humor to the festival.
"The Jewish and Muslim communities deal with a lot of serious issues, so I decided to do something more entertaining to lighten the mood," Malik said.
N.C. Hillel and the Muslim Students Association have united to host the festival, themed "Living Together is an Art."
"We chose that theme because it fit the event well, as well as the stories behind the two faiths," said Arif Khan, a representative of the Muslim Students Association. "Sometimes living together is difficult, but we wanted to reflect the good things about the communities by showing how they connect and live together through various forms of art."
The festival features 10 local visual artists and 12 live performances that focus on issues of community and peace. Other pieces focus on family, the situation in the Middle East and a work in honor of Eve Carson.
A variety of mediums will be used in the show, ranging from more culturally and religiously focused monologues to calligraphy, photos and tabla drums.
"There is an even distribution of Jewish and Muslim performances," said Stephanie Berman, organizer for Hillel. "This year there are even a few collaborative pieces, songs where Jews and Muslims are performing together."
Organizers from both groups said the goals of the festival are reflected in its theme.
"We want to show how vibrant the communities are," Berman said. "We want to encourage friendships and new relations. Sometimes other cultures are daunting when you aren't familiar with them. These events can help demystify them and encourage positive relations."
Khan and Berman said although in other places around the world Jewish and Muslim communities sometimes express a great deal of animosity, Chapel Hill celebrates a united and peaceful existence.
"We encourage everyone to come out even if they aren't part of the Jewish or Muslim communities," Khan said. "We want to foster people living and working together in peace."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(02/29/08 5:00am)
The cast of "A New Brain," Pauper Players' latest production, aims to promote a simple message:
"You gotta have heart and music to make a song."
The musical production debuts today at 8 p.m. in the Student Union Cabaret and returns March 6 to 9 at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro. "A New Brain" is the group's premiere winter show and one of four productions Pauper Players will put on this season - the most, organizers say, the group has ever put on.
The play centers on the trials of Gordo, a composer who struggles with the competing desires of making money and creating inspirational music. When Gordo has to undergo brain surgery, he is forced to re-evaluate his life with the help of his friends, family and his own conscience - represented by an actor dressed as a frog.
"There are big numbers that are fun and goofy, but they all carry meaning. This show runs the gamut when it comes to emotions," said Abby Manekin, who plays the role of Lisa.
The majority of "A New Brain" takes place in the hospital where a bed-ridden Gordo creates music while cast members assemble at three microphones to sing back-up.
"To me, the themes of this show are heart, time and music. Two of our main songs are actually called "Heart and Music" and "Time and Music," Manekin said. "The main character, Gordo, goes through a tremendous ordeal in order to realize that he has so many songs within him and that he needs to appreciate the things and people around him."
Many of the actors credited the show's director, graduate student Eric Kallin, with bringing a clear, collaborative vision to the show.
"Eric is just a genius when it comes to set and design," said senior Katie Curtis, the show's producer. "He is very interconnected to all the aspects of the show."
The show's choreography was designed to interact with both the audience and the set. Many of the props become a part of the dances, such as the hospital curtains, which are carried on stage and used to facilitate the passage of time and place.
Curtis said such choreography makes the play's message more relevant to the audience.
"The thing I take away from this show every night is how music can affect everyday lives and effect relationships and heal sickness," said junior Sara Abernethy, who plays Rhoda.
"The different people in your life play a part of who you are, and they can shape what you believe in."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(02/14/08 5:00am)
Although the Pulitzer Prize-winning political satire "State of the Union" was written more than 60 years ago, Deep Dish Theater Company is bringing the play back to the stage and into the 21st century beginning tonight.
"State of the Union" takes place in the time preceding the 1948 presidential election, but according to the show's producer Paul Frellick, also Deep Dish's artistic director, it draws several insightful and comedic parallels to the current political landscape in the United States.
"I chose this play because of the current presidential race, although I never imagined the election would be this exciting," Frellick said. "I think it's striking how even a number of the issues were in play then."
"State of the Union," written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, tells the story of fictional presidential candidate Grant Matthews, who is pressured into running for office when the Republican Party is desperate to regain office for the first time in many years and hopeful that Matthews can pull it off.
During the play, Matthews faces battles between his integrity and pressure from handlers, lobbyists and the various political fronts of America.
"Many candidates have to make promises they can't keep," said Susannah Hough, who plays newspaper heiress, Kay Thorndyke.
"They have to appeal to the laborers, the businessmen, the farmers, the foreigners, just to get elected. The play shows that our political process hasn't really changed much, especially the things politicians have to do get elected."
Many themes represented in the play pertain to the process of gaining candidacy and the moral questions that face candidates.
However, the script sets up humorous criticisms for many of the conventions associated with running for office.
"The play takes place in the immediate aftermath of World War II and therefore the question exists of whether we can keep doing things the way we've done them before," Frellick said. "It cuts across the parties to the specific nature of political change, but the call for change is everybody's prerogative."
But while such a call for change has been a hallmark of several presidential campaigns in 2008, Frellick said "State of the Union" is not set up to wave any political red flags, or to reflect certain ideology.
"The playwright is calling for everyone to be a part of the political process; that it isn't in anyone's best interest to sit on the sidelines," Frellick said.
"The play expresses the notion of a call to arms for the public to take a hand in their own future - liberals and conservatives."
Deep Dish Theater is located in University Mall, on South Estes Drive. Visit www.deepdishtheater.org for more information.
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(01/22/08 5:00am)
The Sonja Haynes Stone Center was filled Monday night with people of all backgrounds trying to explore Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy through poetry, music and spoken word.
"He Was A Poem: A Gathering in the Tradition" included performances by musician Bradley Simmons of the Duke University Djembe Ensemble, poet Lita Hooper, and spoken-word artists Kim Arrington and UNC junior Donovan Livingston. Also performing as a part of the musical tribute was Ron Baxter and R-EFFECT, a local five-member jazz band.
The annual event was sponsored by the Stone Center.
Children holding candles filed into the room while Simmons opened the program playing the drums. Stone Center director Joseph Jordan gave opening remarks about the goals of the performance, expressing sentiments to reach out to people of all ages.
"The common theme of the event was to celebrate artistically the life of Dr. King and his work by highlighting the many dimensions of his life beyond the public figure and as an individual who chose to utilize his gifts in ways that still resonate even today," said Ursula Littlejohn, the organizer of the event.
Some artists and organizers said they aimed to create an image of King in their performances that went deeper than his famed endeavors.
"It's challenging to try to speak from the perspective of such a giant historical figure," Hooper said. "I wanted to personalize the piece, to give it depth so that readers could see the man, not just the history maker."
Some artists in the performance spoke about the ongoing pursuit of civil rights young people face in today's world.
While some used more modern forms of performance, such as Livingston's vibrant rap-esque set, others chose to strike a more traditional chord.
Arrington's solo, "Strange Fruit," a song first popularized by early 20th century jazz singer Billie Holiday, was chilling in its message and delivery. The song about lynching in the American South was brought to life through Arrington's haunting and deep voice.
Organizers said they chose the spoken word, poetry and musical mediums for the program in order to express how empowering King himself found spoken word and artistic expression, as well as to ensure that this message continues to impact audiences.
"I'm delighted to see such variety among the planned events," Hooper said. "Luckily, this is a holiday that is not defined by one particular tradition."
Some in attendance also said they found the use of poetry very effective in communicating King's messages.
"I think that poetry is a fuller means of communication than prosaic, less performative, traditional speech," Chapel Hill resident Silas Webb said.
"It's much more effective than being spoken at."
Just as King called for unity among the American people during the civil rights movement, organizers led the audience in an impromptu singing of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," symbolizing a need for unity today.
Questioning what King would be doing if he were alive today, Jordan closed the performance with a statement to the audience that the civil rights movement is far from dead, even in 2008.
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(01/11/08 5:00am)
This weekend a group of UNC students who collaborated with several different professional theater groups will bring a taste of New York to the local stage.
Last semester 16 UNC students moved to New York City as a part of the Burch Field Research Seminar, "Living Theater Live in New York." Students were placed in various organizations to experience the flavor of professional theater life.
The students, in conjunction with the group Ground UP Productions, are presenting "The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek" in Bingham Hall, beginning today.
(11/19/07 5:00am)
In its second year, the Carrboro Film Festival saw larger audiences in attendance and additional awards presented to some of the 27 local films screened Sunday.
The Carrboro Century Center again played host to the festival.
In addition to the original four handmade trophies presented to the best films, eight smaller craft awards were also presented for directing, acting and technical positions.
Everything from satires and comedies, such as "What the Frock!" and "Skip Rogerson, Extreme Walker," to documentaries, such as "First in Victory - North Carolina's Role in the American Revolution," and even some pieces that defied categorization were shown.
"I loved the diversity of the pieces," said Mick Bromage, who attended the festival. "Some of the filmmakers only showed some aspects of their talent. I'm interested to see what more they can do in later work."
The awards, known as the Kay Kyser Awards, were hand-welded out of recycled steel by local sculptor Mike Roig, who referred to his pieces as "modern assemblages."
The awards are named after a local performer known as "the professor," who had a career in film and music.
Each features a small bronze figurine donning a mortar board and gown, holding a camera and a clapboard.
Awards are presented based on the best films in certain age groups and levels of expertise. Best Narrative/Other piece and Best Documentary were voted on by the audience.
In light of last year's sold-out crowd, Jackie Helvey, one of the festival's organizers, said that she was better prepared this year and that she expected a sellout.
"This year we're planning to really pack the place, dragging in a lot of chairs right from the get-go," she said before the curtains opened.
As the festival progressed Sunday afternoon, the Century Center did fill up quickly. But despite the number of chairs in place from the beginning, additional rows were brought in after the first half of the festival and people without seats sat on the floor.
Kelley Katzenmeyer, a 15-year-old who submitted two short films to the film festival, said "the photography was well done" in the first half of the festival.
However, submissions produced by local college students were missing.
"There were not any college submissions this year," Helvey said. "We aren't sure why. Hopefully this will change in the next few years."
Nic Beery, the festival's film chairman, was also baffled by the lack of college interest.
"Last year there were several college applicants," he said. "The film festival impacts local filmmakers in a big way; it's a great venue. How often do you get to show your film to a 300- to 400-person audience that appreciates your work?"
While the festival saw noticeable increases in attendance from last year, organizers say it's the local, intimate charm that brings in audiences.
"It is a film festival for the rest of us," Beery said. "It isn't Sundance or Hollywood - it's homegrown. It's a taste of a real film festival, but it is comfortable, convenient and accessible."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(09/26/07 4:00am)
Chapel Hill and Carrboro communities will join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's celebration of "The Year of Rumi" by offering events that celebrate what would have been the Muslim poet's 800th birthday this week.
The festival, called "Rumi Fest," will kick off at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro at 8:30 p.m. today.
The festival is a part of the Worlds Arts Festival that the ArtsCenter is hosting this year.
The festival is a celebration of the life and works of the 13th-century Muslim poet Mawlana Jalal-ud-Din Balkhi-Rumi, whose teachings emphasize the use of music, dance and poetry as a pathway to inner peace.
The poet's work plays a role in Sufism, a tradition in the Islamic religion. Some Sufis who follow the teachings of Rumi are part of an order known as the Whirling Dervishes.
The Dervishes are characterized by the long skirts they wear during ritual prayers that involve spinning in circles with their arms raised.
"The goal of Rumi Fest is to honor the living traditions passed on by the work of Rumi," said Rodrigo Dorfman, one of the festival's organizers, "and by living those traditions, we continue the spirit of unity and brotherhood and sisterhood, a very universal message of peace and humanity."
Today's event, "A Taste of Rumi; A Mystical Sampler," includes poetry readings in English and Farsi. Islamic studies professor Carl Ernst will offer introductory remarks.
But the presentations will not be limited to just poetry.
The festival will include a variety of Islamic music, both traditional and modern, and a performance by the Whirling Dervishes.
Workshops on sacred music, drumming and traditional movement will also be given throughout the week to spread knowledge of Sufi practices.
"Chapel Hill has a uniquely large Turkish population" said Tess Mangum Oca