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(04/23/08 4:00am)
Carolina Performing Arts' presentation of "Spirit of Uganda" today will use dance and music to promote awareness about Uganda's ongoing civil war and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The performance is part of a tour presented by Empower African Children, a nonprofit organization focused on assisting the 2.4 million Ugandan orphans displaced by AIDS, war and poverty.
"The dance they perform is all authentic," said Alexis Hefley, who founded the group in 2006.
"Everything we represent is very real, and it shows the different areas of east African culture and the richness of dance."
(03/27/08 4:00am)
The complicated issue of the death penalty in North Carolina will be presented in theatrical form through the play "Still.Life," which opens today in Swain Hall.
The play is presented by activist theater group The Justice Theater Project, and uses interviews from people throughout N.C. who have been impacted by the death penalty. These include family members and victims, as well as attorneys, prison guards and people who are on death row.
"We want to use performances as a catalyst for conversation," said Reed Colver, project manager for the UNC Death Penalty Project.
Last year the N.C. Medical Board ruled it unethical for doctors to participate in executions, which is required by law, creating a de facto moratorium. This and other ongoing issues were catalysts that led to the creation of "Still.Life."
Many members of the cast also participated in the writing of the play, such as UNC doctoral student in communication studies, Deb Royals, who interviewed family members of those affected by the death penalty and also worked on the script.
"Still.Life's" director, Joseph Megel, said that while he's directed several other pieces about the death penalty, this particular play will be different because it's about real people.
"The play puts a face on people who are directly involved in the experience in the death penalty, whether they are family or people on death row," he said.
"There's a mother of someone on death row who might even be there in the audience. You have this incredible additional responsibility to represent these people's stories - a piece of their soul is being represented."
Megel also said "Still...Life" also might hit close to home for many affected by Student Body President Eve Carson's murder.
"We've now been hit personally and we're all thinking about justice and the death penalty and what are the elements of our system that need to deal with violent crime," he said.
And similar to other projects presented by The Justice Theater Project, "Still.Life" doesn't focus as much on providing answers as it does on fostering a dialogue between audience members.
"Just as with all of our events this year, this is an issue that has so many layers, and issues within issues that make up this conversation," Colver said.
"'Still.Life' is another opportunity to step back and see what those issues are and start to reflect on them."
While Megel said the play has many critics who think it promotes an anti-death penalty message, the director said that's not the case.
"It presents a human face to people on the death penalty, which is hard," he said. "This isn't reality TV; it's just reality. It's still a piece of art, and a piece of art that examines a very important issue."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(02/26/08 5:00am)
Alice McDermott, author of several New York Times best-sellers and recipient of the 1998 National Book Award, will give a public reading at 7:30 p.m. today in Hill Hall auditorium as UNC's 2008 Morgan Writer-in-Residence.
McDermott will also participate in a weeklong series of events involving readings and classroom workshops.
"She is an excellent writer and very admired by the faculty here," said Susan Irons, the English department's director of special programs.
(02/19/08 5:00am)
CORRECTIONS: Tuesday's pg. 3 story "Eighth annual improv festival begins today" contained multiple reporting errors.
Horatio Sanz did not perform at last year's festival as he had emergency surgery, and comic Louis CK performed in his place.
John Reitz's title is director of Chips.
(01/31/08 5:00am)
Dirty South Improv doesn't care today if you've never done improvisation comedy. In fact, the less experience you have, the better.
At 8 p.m. DSI will kick off its second Improv Comedy Jam, an open event that brings improvisation artists from across the state to Carrboro, and also allows anyone who shows up the chance to try their hand at sporadic sketch routines.
The Jam was hosted for the first time in 2006, and this year it will precede DSI's Improv Festival, which begins Feb. 19 and is the largest of its kind in the country.
"DSI has tried to bring all these North Carolina groups to get people hyped-up and realize that they don't have to go to L.A., they don't have to go to Chicago - they can drive five minutes and see improv," said Zach Ward, owner and executive producer of DSI.
In addition to members from Chapel Hill Players and DSI, groups from cities across the state will attend the event, creating the potential for about 150 improvisers to perform.
"The format is up to the people who come out," said Ward. "I have a skeleton structure planned out, but a lot of people have e-mailed me and made suggestions."
The Jam will consist of both long- and short-form improvisation. Short-form improvisation resembles the popular sketch comedy TV show "Whose Line is it Anyway," while long-form involves a narrative and more complex story lines.
During the Jam, groups of five or six people improvise for up to 10 minutes and create a group of scenes that resembles a one-act comedy.
"We hope to bring the appeal of improv past 'Whose Line is it Anyway,' past the fun and easy stuff," said Mano Agapion, a UNC senior and a member of DSI and the Chips incubator program.
"It's not about the performance so much as about the getting all the improvisers out and celebrating the art form," he said. "It's less about putting on the show and more about inviting everyone, so people in the improv community get to know each other better."
Agapion said if newcomers to improvisation are introduced to the form in a relaxed setting, such as the Jam, they will feel more comfortable participating in future DSI events.
And Ward said improvisation can teach students unexpected lessons that might help them later in life.
"If students want to get better at interviewing, what better place to learn those things than to take a comedy class," Ward said.
In addition to assisting in post-graduation skills, Ward said the classes can relieve stresses students might feel while still in school.
"Once you get people to laugh at you, you want it to happen again and again," he said. "The Jam really gets people to understand that doing improv is a huge release."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(01/18/08 5:00am)
When visitors enter the Studio Six Theater in Swain Hall, they will see a dozen wedding dresses hanging from the ceiling but no actors.
This weekend's performance of "Suspension/Belief" is an installation piece without actors, and instead of sitting down and watching the show, audiences will participate in the interactive production.
"Suspension/Belief" is co-produced by UNC's Wordshed Productions and Untimely Productions.
(11/16/07 5:00am)
Audience members will get a little bit of everything at the Carrboro Film Festival. The event, which debuted last year, will feature comedies and dramas, documentaries and music videos.
"It's almost like a variety show," said Nic Beery, chairman of the festival. "You'll be touched by a documentary about Doctors Without Borders and then you'll get to watch a light comedy."
Twenty-seven films will be shown, nearly all of which were created by local filmmakers.
(10/15/07 4:00am)
Although "Sometimes I Cry" is a one-woman show, the play attempts to relay the stories of many women suffering from AIDS through the single voice of actress Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Tonight, Ralph will show the many faces of AIDS in "Sometimes I Cry," a play the actress wrote and directed, which is based on true stories about women living with the disease.
Marie Monroe, performing arts chairwoman for Carolina Union Activities Board, said although Ralph is not HIV positive, the actress has been personally affected by AIDS.
"Sometimes I Cry" is being sponsored by several organizations, including CUAB and the Kappa Omicron chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, and also by Counseling and Wellness Services and the Carolina Women's Center.
Ralph herself is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, which is one of the reasons why CUAB and Delta Sigma decided to bring the performance to campus.
"Delta Sigma Theta wasn't able to fund the event by themselves, so that's when we decided to help," Monroe said. "We thought the play was a good way to inform the campus about the issue of HIV and AIDS."
Monroe said so far there has been a large response to the show, not just from members of Delta Sigma Theta but from other sororities as well.
"We want everyone to be able to experience this, which is why we made it free for students," said Robert Gurdian, CUAB president. "The idea was brought to us by Ashley Heilprin, the president of Delta Sigma Theta, and we really liked it."
Monroe said more than half of the tickets, which are free for students and $5 for nonstudents, have already been sold. The organizations have reserved the main floor of Memorial Hall for the event, which seats more than 900.
Ralph takes on a diverse range of characters during the performance to show that AIDS can affect people of all ages.
Her roles range from a small child to a grandmother who is HIV positive. The actress also wrote the show in hopes of alleviating some of the stigma that surrounds those living with AIDS.
Ralph will participate in a question-and-answer session with the audience after the performance, and campus wellness services will be handing out information about HIV and AIDS before the show.
Ralph has been actively involved in AIDS advocacy for more than a decade.
In 1990, Ralph founded the Diva Foundation, which raises money through music and entertainment in memory of the friends she lost to AIDS.
"Sometimes I Cry" has been running since 2005, when it made its debut during World AIDS Week. The play has also been performed in major cities and on college campuses.
In addition to her humanitarian work, Ralph has been recognized for her role in the original musical cast of "Dreamgirls" and TV show "Moesha."
"We want to bring events to campus that aren't always high ticket sales type of events," Gurdian said. "I'm really glad we got involved with this."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
ATTEND "SOMETIMES I CRY"
Time: 7 p.m. today
Location: Memorial Hall
Info: www.unc.edu/cuab/events.shtml
(09/24/07 4:00am)
Duke is hoping that the introduction of the part-time position of vice provost for the arts will get both students and community members more involved with the arts.
Scott Lindroth, who took the job on July 1, is the first to fill this position. But in addition to his new job, Lindroth will continue his other role at Duke as a music professor.
The vice provost for the arts aims to make arts a more noticeable part of Duke's campus. It also strives to raise awareness about the arts in the surrounding community.
That task isn't always easy in Durham, which has a reputation for weak relations between Duke and community members - a relationship that has been noticed nationally.
In the Princeton Review's 2008 Best 366 Colleges Rankings, Duke fell third in the category of most strained town-gown relations.
"One of my goals is to organize community outreach in the arts," Lindroth said.
UNC named Emil Kang as its first executive director for the arts in 2004 and since has seen a large interest in the Carolina Performing Arts both from students and the surrounding community.
Duke Performances, similar to UNC's Carolina Performing Arts, hosts 40 to 50 events each year and also will be part of the goal to strengthen the relationship with the community. Duke's program often brings artists with local ties to campus.
Currently running is "Following Monk," a series which celebrates the 90th anniversary of N.C.-born jazz musician Thelonious Monk.
The event runs until mid-October and will bring jazz artists from around the country to perform in Durham.
Since vice provost for the arts is a part-time position, Duke has begun its search for a director of Duke Performances.
Aaron Greenwald has been serving as the interim director since the retirement of Kathy Silbiger in June 2006.
"I think Duke Performances will be a powerful ambassador," Lindroth said.
"We put an insert in The New York Times to advertise for the Monk series - a lot of people are talking about Duke Performances this year."
Public schools in Durham already take students on tours of Duke's Nasher Art Museum, and the school has a program called ArtsConnect, which offers creative workshops to Durham students.
But it's not only students Lindroth is looking to reach out to.
"A number of the shows in the Nasher will also be appealing to the African-American community in Durham," Lindroth said, noting an upcoming exhibit featuring realistic portraits by Barkley Hendricks.
Stephen Jaffe, chair of Duke's music department, said there are already some events on the campus that have a strong community following.
"Different events might reach different audiences," he said.
"But the symphony orchestra and the jazz series both are typically very well-attended by students and by community members."
Jaffe said the events that interest the community are usually ones that have a component of outreach, such as the university symphony's annual concert to benefit the Keyserling Cancer Center.
"There already is a very good arts community - I know this as somebody who's been at Duke for 17 years," Lindroth said.
"We need to make it known both on campus and beyond."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(09/12/07 4:00am)
This season PlayMakers Repertory Company doesn't just want audiences to be engaged during a performance, but it wants to keep their attention afterward, too.
The company's first offering, "When the Bulbul Stopped Singing," aims to present plays that deal with world issues and then follow them with post-performance discussion as part of a new series titled PRC2.
"It's a way to explore a situation that's in a newsreel and then put a human face to that part of the story," said PlayMakers' Producing Artistic Director Joseph Haj.
The play is a one-man show starring Haj, which follows the life of human rights lawyer and writer Raja Shehadeh, who kept a diary of the events after the Israeli army occupied the Palestinian city of Ramallah in 2002.
"I thought it was important for PlayMakers to be able to explore some of the challenging events of our time," Haj said. "As a Palestinian man married to a Jewish woman, it's a situation that I have been interested in."
The play will portray the weeks of the siege and explore the aftermath of the invasion of the city.
In addition to this week's performance, there will be two other PRC2 plays in January and April 2008. Each will be followed by a post-show discussion led by a mix of both panelists and artists.
"The discussion will show that we can all learn from one another," Haj said. "It's a place for dialogue."
Tonight will be the first U.S. production of the play, which briefly ran in New York in 2005, but was produced by a British theater troupe.
Director Ellen Hemphill said presenting the play's subject through only one actor had its challenges.
"You have to bring out the inner images of his world, and the diary format makes it more challenging," she said. "It's really rewarding to see how one person morphs into a character, and you're forced to look past the collective."
Hemphill also said it's important that art proposes questions, and she and Haj have worked to create a production that is both entertaining and thought provoking.
"Students should be involved with these issues," Hemphill said. "And this way is a little more interactive; it's not just another lecture or just another class."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
ATTEND THE SHOW
Time: Various times, Sept. 12-16
Location: Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre
Info: www.playmakersrep.org
(09/10/07 4:00am)
Twenty-two minutes, and not a second more.
That's how long improvisation teams have to impress audiences at a Dirty South Improv CageMatch, a competitive show that is held biweekly year-round at the comedy theater located in Carrboro.
"It's like a professional pay-per-view wrestling event, except for crazy steroid wrestlers you have hilarious comedians," said DSI producer and artistic director, Zach Ward.
During CageMatch, improvisation groups go up against one another with 22 minutes on stage to impress the audience before the next competitor takes their place.
At each show, a new challenger will take on the previous week's champion, and the winner will return to compete next week.
"CageMatch is just like any popular vote," Ward said.
"If you're going to come out and want to win, you should probably bring friends - the local team gets an edge."
Although DSI has been hosting CageMatch since April 2006, the event itself has been around for nearly 10 years.
The CageMatch concept started in Chicago, then made its way to the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City.
"I think Chapel Hill is a great place to be creative, said CageMatch director Ted Hobgood.
"There wasn't a lot of opportunities for people to see comedy until DSI came along."
Hobgood was, coincidentally, a pro-wrestling announcer for six years.
"I love anything that's over the top, and it's a fun show to watch because it's so high-energy," he said.
Hobgood said that in the past, CageMatch took place every week, but it was changed to every other week so more effort could be put into each production.
Previously, CageMatch shows have featured performances such as 'Al Gore Memorial High School,' Aaron Ross' one-man sketch-comedy show about high school experiences.
Ross, whose show has been touring along the East Coast, involves audience members as he alternates among the roles of parent, teacher and student.
Ross hails from Portland, Ore., and Ward said that in the past, teams from as far as Toronto have competed in CageMatch.
"Anybody is free to participate in CageMatch," Hobgood said.
"Anybody who wants to can put up a team."
Beginning this month, DSI will temporarily change the CageMatch format from what the group has been using for years to the "Dual Duel" tournament.
"Dual Duel" tournaments, in which fixed two-person comedy teams go up against one another, will begin Thursday.
The last night of the "Dual Duel" tournament will lead into DSI's "24 Live Marathon," which is scheduled for later this fall.
"DSI is like the Cat's Cradle of comedy," Ward said.
"There's always going to be something you'll have fun seeing; you just have to check the schedule."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(08/21/07 4:00am)
Madeline Walter was hoping that after she graduated, she would get a chance to relax. Instead, she spent her summer preparing for the largest multi-arts festival in the country.
"Mary Brigit Poppleton is Writing a Memoir," written by Walter, was part of the New York Fringe Festival, an event which selects more than 200 companies from all over the world to perform at 20 different venues in New York City.
"I found out I was selected just a few days before graduation - so I had to just hit the ground running," Walter said.
"I sent it in and forgot about it; I was planning on taking a break this summer."
"Mary Brigit Poppleton is Writing a Memoir" was performed last semester at UNC under its original title "I Am Writing a Memoir. "
The play centers on 17-year-old Mary Brigit, who wants to write her own memoir, but feels her life is not yet interesting enough to do so. She decides to make it more exciting through events such as faking her own pregnancy and running away from home.
"Part of the big challenge of the Fringe Festival is figuring out how to stand out in a festival of over 200 performances," Walter said. "You wonder how to get people to notice your play."
Walter's first step was to change the title, which was suggested at one of several marketing and advertising meetings Walter had to attend.
But the title wasn't the only change.
"The biggest part I worked on was the ending - it's much more developed now, but before it sort of left everyone hanging," she said. "The changes had a lot more to do with making a better script, not necessarily a New York script."
Several new scenes were also added to the play to help with clarity.
In addition to making changes, Walter also had to find a new director, a new cast and a rehearsal space, which isn't an easy feat in the Big Apple.
The play was performed at The Connelly Theater in the East Village, but the cast never had a chance to perform in that theater before their sold-out opening night.
"The scariest part of the Fringe Festival is when you get into the festival," Walter said. "It means you have a theater to put your play in, and your play will be advertised, but everything else is up to you."
To be considered for a spot in the festival, applicants have to submit a script, a recording of a complete performance and a biography of all the actors in the play. And although 200 applicants were accepted, more than 800 applied.
Although Walter's play has a new director, the play's lead, UNC junior Allison Altman, is the same. Two other UNC students, Russell Johnson, and Daleelah Sada Johnson are also part of the cast.
"One of the neatest things about doing this festival is having a bunch of UNC people work on it," Walter said.
"Madeline called the day after classes ended and asked me if I wanted to be a part of the festival," Altman said. "It wasn't even a choice for me - I said 'Yes, I'm doing it,' and changed my summer plans immediately."
Altman said Walter had wanted the entire cast to come to New York, but not everyone was able.
While the Fringe Festival is one that primarily honors playwrights, it also allows actors to get their names out.
"I was nervous because we had professional actors who were in the same cast as us," Altman said.
"We had a different director and different set designer - we went into it knowing it was going to be a new play. But that's the thing about theater, nothing's ever the same, every night's different."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(04/20/07 4:00am)
As SpringFest makes its return to campus this afternoon, students can participate in an obstacle course, go down a water slide and listen to the sounds of acoustic rock band Carbon Leaf all at the same location.
Today's celebration at the Ehringhaus Recreation Field will be the first since the early '90s, when a similar event known as Jubilee was canceled because of problems such as excessive alcohol use and a crowd that was too large to manage.
The event, which costs a total of $14,000, is co-sponsored by student government, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Carolina Union Activities Board, Residence Hall Association and mtvU.
Hilary Marshall, who served this year as chairwoman of the executive branch's student life committee, said security has been increased. SpringFest also was moved to an earlier time of 4 p.m. to lessen the chance of similar issues occurring.
"We're hoping that students don't come and ruin it for the future," Marshall said.
But the big attraction of the event remains the music. Although Carbon Leaf, which was booked for $5,000, has played in local venues such as Cat's Cradle, today is the first time the band will play at UNC.
"We love doing university shows in any town we can get," lead singer Barry Privett said.
"Between the five of us there's a lot of different influences - we try to mix it up and think as if we were fans going to see a band."
But before Carbon Leaf takes the stage, two UNC students will have a chance to showcase their talents.
Sophomores Shannon McArthur and Andrew Rooney were selected as two separate opening acts for the Richmond, Va.-based band.
Both McArthur and Rooney said they are looking forward to the exposure that SpringFest will offer.
"I don't really get my original music out there as much, but this is another way for people to hear me other than MySpace," said McArthur, who describes his music acoustic pop with a conversational tone.
He said he plans to play covers and original work, a combination he doesn't often get to perform.
"I usually play more around the frat and sorority scene, and there's a lot more cover songs," he said.
McArthur recently put out an album titled This Little Hill.
"It's kind of about Chapel Hill and how students get so caught up in what they want to be, but they forget to be thankful for what they have," he said.
As a rap artist, Rooney, who performs under the name Apollo, said he uses some of his lyrics to dispel myths about hip-hop stereotypes.
"There's a lot of value to rap, and why people turn it off is because of stereotypes," he said. "I try to make it so the songs sound nice and people can bob their head, but I want them to listen to the message."
Christie Wise, a member of the student life committee, said the opening acts were selected after the committee listened to about 20 demo tapes.
"We tried to find performers who we felt would bring in different audiences," Wise said.
"We selected those two because they had a very distinct style."
Wise said the combination of acts will make for a performance that will appeal to all audiences. Carbon Leaf members said they hope to capitalize on that diversity.
"Our band has a lot of influences," Privett said. "Our goal is not to be afraid to try different things."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
ATTEND SPRINGFEST
Time: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today
Location: Ehringhaus Field
Info: slice.unc.edu
(04/13/07 4:00am)
Aretha Franklin will try to show a UNC audience why she's called the "Queen of Soul" in September when she opens the Carolina Performing Arts 2007-2008 season.
The series, which begins Sept. 13 and consists of 35 performances through May, will be rolled out officially today.
More than 15 different countries are represented in this year's lineup, and Emil Kang, executive director for the arts, said the group made it a priority to book as many international artists as possible.
(03/26/07 4:00am)
"It's just what we need right now," jazz composer Wynton Marsalis said when he announced that he would open his Sunday night performance with Duke Ellington's "On the Sunny Side of the Street."
A sold-out crowd arrived in Memorial Hall to see jazz legend Marsalis and members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra just minutes after UNC lost to Georgetown.
"Whatever may be troubling you, you'll feel better soon," Marsalis said assuredly.
And 14 songs later, the audience certainly felt more at ease as Marsalis and the orchestra performed a series of well-known arrangements, from "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" to "My Favorite Things."
The orchestra consisted of a bassist, a pianist, a drummer and a mix of trombones, saxophones and trumpets.
Sunday was not the first time the Grammy award-winning Marsalis has appeared at Memorial Hall.
Last year he only directed, but did not perform, during his "Congo Square" show, which celebrated the culture of New Orleans.
This year, Marsalis' tour was titled "Songs That We Love."
"It's a more conventional concert but it's one that we're not treated to very often because there's usually a big occasion or a new piece being premiered," music professor James Ketch said.
"Tonight is more of standard literature for jazz orchestra, 75 percent of the audience will know the tunes."
The audience didn't hold its applause for the end of each arrangement. Instrumentalists performing solos during each song were sometimes applauded before they even had a chance to sit back down.
Marsalis then acknowledged soloists at the end of every arrangement, during which they received even heartier applause.
"When great musicians play music that you know, it's not only accessible but it elevates the music to a level of expression so detailed and nuanced that it creates a greater connection," Ketch said.
"The audience may find themselves thinking, 'I've played this before.'"
Andrea Sorce, a sophomore music major, said Sunday night's performance was the first time she was able to see such a popular jazz artist.
"The solos are the best part of the experience," she said.
Emil Kang, executive director for Carolina Performing Arts, said Marsalis could be one of the most important artists in America today.
"He's become an icon because he reaches beyond traditional roots and has a willingness to try new things," he said. "If you're not awed by it, something's wrong."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(02/28/07 5:00am)
Returning to the town that gave them their start, music legends George Hamilton IV and John Loudermilk strummed their guitars while they sang, reminisced and poked fun at each other Tuesday in front of a packed Hill Hall auditorium.
Loudermilk and Hamilton performed and discussed their music as part of celebrating the decision to donate their personal and musical memorabilia to the Wilson Library.
"We're interested in preserving their items because a lot of things get lost, or their family may decide not to keep them," said Steve Weiss, director of the Wilson Library Southern Folklife Collection. "It's about the local connections, but it's also about achieving national success and the whole aspect of going from the microcosm to macrocosm."
Hamilton, 69, and Loudermilk, 72, gained fame after collaborating on the hit 1956 pop single "A Rose and a Baby Ruth."
The song, written by Loudermilk and sung by Hamilton, was recorded in Swain Hall after Hamilton signed with Colonial Records, the first independent record label in Chapel Hill.
"I'm glad I was from Durham because they understand music out there," Loudermilk said.
After the single proved to be a success, Hamilton went on tour with big name artists such as Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers.
"They didn't know what to do with me - I wasn't a hillbilly and I wasn't rock 'n' roll, so they put me on tour with Buddy Holly and The Crickets," Hamilton said.
Hamilton reflected on his years spent touring, and he discussed at length his memory of performing in the former Soviet Union.
"They told me it was the first time a country singer performed behind the Iron Curtain," he said.
Loudermilk downplayed his own successes and joked about how he was more laid back than the traveling Hamilton.
"I wanted to stay home with the family," Loudermilk said. "There's nothing wrong with being comfortable and happy."
But Loudermilk also went on to work with acclaimed artists, writing songs for Stonewall Jackson and, more recently, Norah Jones.
"There's two layers of show business," Loudermilk explained to the audience. "There's the kind that produces it and there's the kind that brings it to the public."
And Loudermilk and Hamilton each brought their talents to both the public and students as they sang hits written by Loudermilk, such as "Tobacco Road" and "Break My Mind."
Hamilton was joined on guitar by his son George Hamilton V, while Loudermilk was accompanied by son Mike Loudermilk. Each of their sons also has experience in the music industry, and the country duo made a point of calling out all their family members that were in the audience.
"Introducing family is part of a traditional country performance," said music professor Jocelyn Neal, who served as event moderator and required her "Introduction to Country Music" class to attend.
She said the comedic banter the duo engaged in throughout their performance was a recreation of the standard country performance seen years ago, when artists would start telling jokes in the middle of a song.
"They've already been at the peak of their career," Neal said. "They're more interested in connecting with fans."
The lecture was part of a sort of homecoming for Loudermilk and Hamilton, who will perform at the University Baptist Church tonight to support Habitat for Humanity.
"This is like coming home for us musically," Hamilton said. "Music is a glorious gift - it's a bridge builder in a land of walls."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(01/31/07 5:00am)
An impressive roster of high-profile musical acts have been selling out Memorial Hall during the past few months.
It seems big-name acts have been cycling through campus all year, but how is UNC affording to land them?
On Monday, the Carolina Union Activities Board announced that alternative rock outfit Mae had been booked for a late February performance.
It was the latest in a series of announcements and another signal of CUAB President Erika Stallings' yearlong effort to provide quality over quantity.
Keeping it cheap
(01/26/07 5:00am)
When students at Thursday night's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender-Straight Alliance meeting were told that this year's production of "The Vagina Monologues" almost didn't happen, gasps of astonishment could be heard throughout the room.
The play has been performed at UNC in the past as a part of V-Week, an event that focused on female sexuality and sought to raise awareness about violence against women.
"The Vagina Monologues," written by playwright Eve Ensler, consists of 10 stories, each of which is told by a separate woman. The stories celebrate the female body and tackle heavier issues such as rape, but also include humorous anecdotes about sex and love.
The two students in charge of V-Week, Jenny Boos and Katie Joyner, graduated this past spring, and the V-Day organization could not find anyone willing to take their place.
When junior Lori Mannette, a dramatic arts major, discovered that the absence of V-Week would mean that there would be no production of "The Vagina Monologues," this year, she decided to direct the play herself, with the help of the GLBTSA.
"Even if V-Week has died, we'll still try to resurrect one part of it this year," Mannette said. "So many people were upset when they found out it wasn't happening."
Mannette also said a V-Week might be possible next year.
But before she could prepare for the performance, Mannette needed to ensure that a campus organization could sponsor the event.
GLBTSA, she said, was the perfect group to sponsor the play due to its commitment to equal rights and empowerment, which are two themes that are explored in the play.
Robert Wells, a student on the executive board of the GLBTSA, said he was disappointed when he was told that "The Vagina Monologues" wasn't going to be performed this winter.
"My friends and I were eating lunch the other day, complaining about how it wasn't happening," he said.
"Then we realized that we're theater students and could do something about it."
"The Vagina Monologues" was well-received last year, selling out two of its three performances and donating proceeds to the Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County and the Orange County Rape Crisis Center.
Mannette said she expects this year's performance to be just as successful.
"I don't think the monologue or performance will be different at all," said Mannette, who has worked with both the GLBTSA and "The Vagina Monologues" in the past.
"I plan on doing the exact same things that have been done before."
Auditions for play will be held Tuesday, and the cast will have only two weeks to prepare for the performance before its Feb. 16 premiere.
"Rehearsals are going to be very intense," Manette said.
"The Vagina Monologues" will be performed Feb. 16 and Feb. 17 in Manning Hall, with two 8 p.m. shows and a 4 p.m. Saturday matinee.
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(11/30/06 5:00am)
It's not always easy for families to reconnect during the holidays.
The communication studies department will explore that theme tonight with the premiere of "The Christmas Letters" in Swain Hall's Studio Six Theatre.
The musical follows three generations of women who keep in touch through a series of letters during the holidays after drifting apart over time.
"You don't have to be a woman to enjoy it - the ideas of family and trying to stay in touch are universal," said Andrea Powell, who plays Mary Pickett Copeland, one of the play's female protagonists.
The performance is a 70-minute adaptation of the original musical, which is based on the novel by renowned Southern writer and N.C. native Lee Smith.
"We wanted to be able to stage a play for two groups of people instead of just one," said director Paul Ferguson, a professor of performance studies at UNC.
All profits from the show will go to the North Carolina Children's Hospital and DooR to DooR, a program that brings visual and performing arts to hospital patients.
"It's important that every student knows that by attending the show, they'll be contributing to something larger," Ferguson said. "I believe in using performing arts as a tool for social change and for giving back to your community."
Ferguson said the opening night performance will be open to students with a valid OneCard for $1.
"We've seen that high prices can put productions out of reach for students and the community," he said. "Almost anywhere you go . there's going to be a production of 'The Nutcracker' or 'The Christmas Carol,' but it's less likely that there will be another smaller production more oriented toward adults."
"The Christmas Letters" takes place from 1944-1991, and the characters are seen at nearly every stage of their lives.
The performance will follow Powell's character from childhood to middle age, focusing on her struggles as a mother.
Powell said she enjoys playing a character who isn't perfect.
"As an actor it's a great thing to be able to play somebody who makes mistakes and is just very real."
Allan Maule, who plays the role of several male characters, including Mary's brother Joe Pickett, said the musical also is about the unpredictability and chaos of life.
Pickett is drafted to Vietnam and after he returns, his family has difficulty keeping in touch with him.
"Joe comes home from the war internally changed and struggles to fit back into family life," Maule said.
Powell said the characters in "The Christmas Letters" are very complex and that the audience is able to see both the realities of their lives and what they choose to write in their letters.
"I hope after watching this people will pick up the phone and call their family and just appreciate the fact that we're coming into the holiday season."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(11/17/06 5:00am)
The South long has been known for producing an extremely diverse spectrum of music, ranging from the Memphis blues to the songs of James Taylor.
"Carolina Breakdown," a weekly radio show that made its debut on WXYC 89.3 Friday, showcases Southern musicians and celebrates the many musical genres that come from the region.
Hosted by UNC graduate student John Hubbell and Tess Magnum-Oca