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(04/23/08 4:00am)
Through discussions, photo exhibits, performances and other media, UNC's arts community spent the year exploring issues of capital punishment in society.
The dialogue was brought about by the Creative Campus Innovations Grant, which was awarded to the University and seven other schools in the country.
And to close out this year's project, Creative Campus will bring "Witness to an Execution," presented by PlayMakers Repertory Company, to Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre. The production premieres today and runs until April 27.
(04/11/08 4:00am)
Instead of offering his play to Broadway, actor and playwright Tim Robbins offered "Dead Man Walking" to schools and universities throughout the nation.
Adapted from Sister Helen Prejean's book of the same title, UNC's Department of Dramatic Art will present the play, which focuses on the death penalty and other major social issues in a five-day run at the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre.
(01/25/08 5:00am)
Those who've dominated "Guitar Hero" will get a chance to rock out, emulating the same moves - minus the guitar.
The Carolina Union Activities Board is hosting its first Air Guitar Championship at 8 p.m. today in Gerrard Hall.
Drawn up by CUAB's Fun Committee Chairwoman Amanda Kao, the championship is the culmination of a three-part event, which also featured a screening of "Air Guitar Nation" and a lecture by air guitarist Dan Crane, aka Bjorn Turoque.
Kao accepted entries until yesterday without requiring an audition.
"I don't want to reject people because everyone has an air guitar," she said.
Hosted by Bjorn Turoque, 10 contestants will perform in front of a panel of judges, which includes Student Body President Eve Carson, CUAB's Music Committee Chairman Tom Allin and The Daily Tar Heel's Diversions Editor Bryan Reed.
"They're judging the participants on technical merit, stage presence and something called airness - the most obscure and if not the most important criteria," Kao said.
Airness is the level of how well the contestant imitates the visuals of playing a guitar. The more accurate the performance is, the more airness the contestant receives.
Sophomore Brady McReynolds said he decided to compete after seeing "Air Guitar Nation".
"My friends took me to see the video the other week, and I thought it was kind of fun," he said. "So I decided to compete even though I'm kind of an air guitar virgin."
McReynolds, who will portray "Mystery Meat" in the championship, said he has watched many YouTube videos and made a playlist of songs on iTunes to prepare for the competition.
"I've been working on thumbing through the songs, but I'm trying to avoid carpal tunnel," he said. "I made a Facebook event to have my friends come see me. I'm hoping for a good turnout."
The competitors, battling for a $100 Visa gift card, will have to make it through the first round before making it into the three- person showdown.
"In round one contestants play a 60-second excerpt of a song of their choice, and if they make it to round two, they must play and improvise a secret 60-second song," Kao said.
Freshman Michael Johnston, who is on CUAB's Fun Committee, plans to perform Metallica's "Seek and Destroy" in round one.
"To prepare I've watched Metallica on YouTube," he said. "I'll practice a routine - otherwise I'll be winging it."
McReynolds said he plans to make his performance as realistic as possible.
"I plan on whipping out my standard air Fender with the oxygen tremolo modification for this championship," McReynolds said.
"And I plan on buying a real guitar soon."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(01/22/08 5:00am)
Although time zones and teaching schedules have kept six professors from across the country from rehearsing, the friends and band mates said they'll rely on experience and improvisation to make the first "Jazz Faculty Jam" a success.
Conjured up by a faculty member of the UNC music department, the professors will perform in the "Jazz Faculty Jam" today in Hill Hall.
"The group is made of colleagues and friends who play in different settings," performer and UNC music professor Stephen Anderson said.
(01/11/08 5:00am)
Everyone owns an air guitar, but it takes a special kind of person to be an air guitar champion.
Amateurs looking to learn how to rock out in their own style will get to see the pros on the big screen.
Today the Carolina Union Activities Board will show the documentary "Air Guitar Nation," which showcases some of the greatest air guitar players in recent years.
(11/27/07 5:00am)
With soft gestures as fluid as each of her explosive notes, soprano Kathleen Battle sang in the holiday season to a filled Memorial Hall on Monday.
Accompanied by pianist Joel Martin, the two were presented by UNC's opera director Terry Rhodes.
Rhodes explained to the audience that Cyrus Chestnut, who was originally slated to accompany Battle, would be replaced by Martin. Their performance was a part of the Carolina Performing Arts Series.
"This is a beautiful program of well-loved holiday music, carols, spirituals and some unusual pieces such as a Chilean carol and a West Indian Christmas spiritual," said Rosemary Holland, director of artistic affairs for CPA.
The program opened with several of those "unusual pieces," as well as "Ave Maria," as Battle was positioned on a nearly bare stage next to the piano wearing simple attire.
Martin said he only recently met up with Battle in New York and began rehearsing a few weeks ago.
"Six to seven hours of rehearsal had been standard," he said.
And Monday night, six rehearsals later, Battle and Martin meshed their two different genres of music to produce a unique sound that resonated throughout Memorial Hall.
Kris Ford, a biomedical engineering graduate student who attended the performance, said he saw releases with information about Battle's concert online and decided to attend.
"I've always been big into piano music having played the saxophone," he said.
Lauren Schultes, a Kenan Music Scholar, said she enjoyed Battle's musical expressions at the concert.
"She expresses each piece with such great emotion that she's able to connect with the audience," Schultes said.
Junior Chase Beck said he had seen Battle on television and jumped at the opportunity to see her perform.
"I've never attended an opera concert, and this seemed to have been a great starting point into the exposure of the opera scene," Beck said. "To have her in our own backyard was an opportunity I couldn't pass up."
After intermission, Battle returned wearing a golden shawl to close out her performance with new and favorite holiday tunes.
"It gave me goose bumps to hear a beautiful ring come out of a beautiful lady, simply accompanied by one instrument," Beck said. "This concert gave me a new light on operas and the classics."
Audience members began to bob their heads and hummed along as Martin's musicality energized the hall. He played interludes that transitioned into the next song and showed off the pianist's interpretation of each song.
These piano transitions were highlighted in the final Christmas carol medley, which included "Away in a Manger," "Silent Night," "The First Noel," "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "O Holy Night."
Following a standing ovation, the audience was treated to an abbreviated, solo performance by Martin, which featured his "jazzical" style.
Emil Kang, UNC's executive director for the arts, said this concert was the prelude for Battle's concert at the Kennedy Center.
"This was a great way in showing that Chapel Hill is an important location," Kang said. "And a great way to send her off to the Kennedy Center."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(11/26/07 5:00am)
Carolina Performing Arts Series opens its holiday series with a new program of traditional holiday music as soprano Kathleen Battle welcomes the season tonight in Memorial Hall.
The five-time Grammy winner will be accompanied by pianist Joel Martin, who is known for his "jazzical" style - the explosive union of classical composition and jazz innovation.
The duo's repertoire includes holiday favorites - some dating from as early as the Baroque era - and the N.C. premieres of two pieces, "The Real Meaning of Christmas" and contemporary Christian songwriters Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene's "Mary, Did You Know?"
Battle has performed internationally alongside noted artists and orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic.
In recent years, Battle has not publicly performed as frequently, but her previous collaboration with Emil Kang, UNC's executive director for the arts, made it easier for Carolina Performing Arts to facilitate the concert.
Rosemary Holland, director of artistic affairs for Carolina Performing Arts said she expects Battle's renown to attract a full house.
"Over 1,000 tickets have already been sold for this concert, and we are just now beginning to advertise and promote it," she said.
Terry Rhodes, UNC's opera director and professor, will be introducing Battle and plans to attend the performance with some of her students.
"It's spirituals and Christmas songs - it seems like a great way to start the season," she said.
Rhodes said she looks forward to hearing Battle perform her aria, which she heard on one of Battle's CDs she recently purchased.
"She has a really gorgeous voice - it's light and agile," Rhodes said. "She has great pitch and sense of style."
Holland said Battle's performance works with Carolina Performing Arts' mission of bringing in the very best of the performing arts spectrum.
"For me the highlight will be the spirituals. Kathleen Battle is renowned as a great interpreter of spirituals, and some of these are particularly moving," Holland said.
"There is something otherworldly in the quality of her voice that makes this music very special."
And a performance by Battle, especially in recent years, is an event Holland said does not happen frequently.
"This is a rare opportunity to see one of the great performers of vocal music," Holland said.
"Kathleen Battle's voice is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world, and the emotion she inspires is very powerful."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(09/21/07 4:00am)
In January, Memorial Hall audiences were treated to popular Broadway hit-turned-film "Rent." Nine months later, the venue is offering the classic Italian opera that inspired the musical.
Giacomo Puccini's "La Boheme" - the 19th century opera that served as the basis for "Rent" - will be presented by the Washington National Opera in a live simulcast at 2 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Hall.
The free presentation will broadcast to 19 universities and high schools throughout the nation from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Emil Kang, UNC's executive director for the arts, said the Washington National Opera contacted him in May to participate in the simulcast.
"They called us, which is a great indication," Kang said. "We are just grateful."
He said as part of the arrangement, WNO offered two orchestra-section tickets to each of the participating schools.
Most schools will be represented at the opera by the schools' presidents and deans, but UNC chose to select others for the opportunity.
"We thought it would better in sending someone who might benefit from the experience," Kang said.
UNC will be represented by Terry Rhodes, a professor and opera director, and Lauren Schultes, one of four Kenan Music Scholars.
Schultes, a freshman, said she is most excited about meeting Placido Domingo, WNO's general director.
"As a young performer, this will be the most life-changing experience," Schultes said. "Just to be able to meet him and speak with someone of such stature is going to be so invigorating."
Schultes said she received a voice mail from Rhodes, inviting her to the performance in class last Thursday.
"I started jumping up and down in front of my friends because I just found out I was going to D.C. next Sunday to see the opera," Schultes said.
Rhodes said she expects the performers' youth to have an impact on Schultes.
"It's all about these young, up-and-coming singers who are not necessarily stars, but they have been quite impressive," Rhodes said. "These artists that are not much older than she is - 25 or so. That's not much different. I think that part will strike her."
Kang said that for those attending the simulcast, any chance to see the opera in a large format will be exciting.
"I'm bringing my 4-year-old because it's not so intimidating," he said. "There's no commitment here."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
ATTEND "LA BOHEME"
Time: 2 p.m. Sunday
Location: Memorial Hall
Tickets: Free
Info: carolinaperformingarts.org
(08/27/07 4:00am)
Shimmies, hip bumps, snake arms and temple arms were among the belly-dancing techniques five young girls and their instructor taught to a group of parents and visitors at Kidzu Children's Museum on Saturday.
The girls, ages 3 to 11, performed for about 25 audience members alongside instructor Terri Allred, stage name Sadiya, as part of Happy Hips Youth Oriental Dance Troupe.
Sadiya means "Happy" or "Lucky," Allred said.
"Most Oriental teachers select a stage name, and I wanted one that people were able to pronounce, especially for my younger students," Allred said. "And I give my students a stage name, if they want one."
She said Happy Hips was inspired by her 7-year-old niece.
"She had a birthday party, and I performed for the children and saw that they enjoyed it. From there, I decided that I was going to impact the lives of young girls."
The belly dancers began the 30-minute program introducing the basics of belly dancing, including the sound effects used to accommodate certain moves, such as the hissing sound made when the dancer performs snake arms - a wave beginning with one wrist and moving through the shoulders to the other.
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro group consists of 10 members and debuted at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade last year.
"It was freezing cold out, but the kids didn't seem to care," she said, adding that the dancers were having so much fun they didn't even notice the judges. The troupe was awarded for being the "most original."
Saturday's Kidzu performance began with Sadiya's solo, followed by the Happy Hips girls doing individual improvisations.
Yana Levy, 5, was the only one of the group whose choreography included the belly roll - a difficult move for some dancers.
Levy, who starts kindergarten today, has been belly dancing for about a year.
"I was able to do the belly roll before belly-dancing class," she said. "It isn't very hard for me when I learned it in class."
Sadiya and Happy Hips concluded by teaching the audience how to belly dance while wearing a hip scarf, a translucent, silklike fabric with bells and other trinkets attached.
Six-year-old Emily Rowan saw Allred perform at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro, where she taught classes. The experience sparked Rowan's own interest in belly dancing.
"I like belly dancing because Sadiya teaches belly dancing," Rowan said. "And I like the belly roll the most."
Tina Clossick, director of operations and programs at Kidzu, said the troupe matches Kidzu's mission.
"We asked Sadiya and Happy Hips to perform because they are a great organization that cares about working with kids and have great intentions like us," she said.
Clossick said Sadiya had performed a duet with a fellow belly dancer, Seher, at Kidzu before.
"Happy Hips has grown in popularity so much that we have been turning people away when they ask for us to perform," Allred said, "but we wanted to perform at Kidzu because we enjoy working with children."
Clossick said there was a bigger turnout to Saturday's performance than with other Kidzu events "because kids love to watch other kids perform."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(08/21/07 4:00am)
From "Romeo and Juliet" to "The Little Prince," UNC's PlayMakers Repertory Company's new season is one of its largest yet.
PlayMakers, the oldest theater company in the Carolinas, expects an exciting upcoming year with the addition of a second-stage series in the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre, PRC2, alongside its main-stage shows in the Paul Green Theatre.
According to Jeffrey Meanza, PlayMakers' education and outreach director, the focus of PRC2 is to bring "powerful and challenging works of theater to the audience."
Each show will be followed by post-show discussions led by facilitators with relevant backgrounds, in which the audience will be given the chance to discuss themes from the play in relation to current issues.
Dee Reid, spokeswoman for the College of Arts and Sciences, said she hopes for diverse and open discussion.
"We want to have different views and all perspectives considered as everyone gets a chance to participate," Reid said.
PRC2 will feature three solo performance productions, including the season's opener Sept. 12, "When the Bulbul Stopped Singing," a personal story of a Palestinian man living in Ramallah.
"'When the Bulbul Stopped Singing' is selling very well and our patrons have responded resoundingly well to the introduction of PRC2," Meanza said. "There has been a lot of buzz surrounding this play and the entire season."
Joseph Haj, PlayMakers' producing artistic director, will star in the one-man show, which follows his character day-by-day through experiences in Palestine during the Israeli occupation.
The second solo, "2.5 Minute Ride," will be performed by Lisa Kron from Jan. 9 to Jan. 13.
In April UNC alumnus Mike Wiley will conclude the solos with his new play, "Witness to an Execution."
Meanza said Wiley's play will be part of the campuswide arts initiative surrounding capital punishment.
PlayMakers' main-stage series will include the classic "Romeo and Juliet," "Crimes of the Heart," "The Little Prince" and "Amadeus."
UNC students can purchase the "Incredible Student Pass" for all PRC main-stage shows for $54.
Prices for individual shows range from $10 to $27 for students. General admission is upwards of $20 depending on the night of the show.
"The expansion of the season, both on the main stage and with PRC2, allows us to do more work - to do a broader range of work and to provide a more inclusive artistic space that reflects the diversity of this community," Meanza said.
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(04/20/07 4:00am)
Members of the Pauper Players production of the musical "Urinetown" said they think the play will appeal to those with even the silliest sense of humor.
"Urinetown," a musical characterized to parody the likes of "West Side Story," will hold its debut performance at 8 p.m. today in the Student Union Cabaret.
Subsequent performances will be staggered. This weekend's run will be held through Monday. The group then will take a break for exams and conclude the show's run May 12.
The musical takes place in the future after an epic drought forces all private toilets to be outlawed. To use a toilet, a fee must be paid to an evil, monopolistic company.
Those who cannot afford the fee are sent to Urinetown, where hero Bobby Strong revolts against the company.
Producer Kate Finneran said the show can satisfy all expectations of a typical musical.
"In a word, it's brilliant," Finneran said.
The group's head administrator and a pianist in the show, Ben Rumer, was recruited into Pauper Players as a music director via e-mail three years ago.
"'Urinetown' was chosen based on the strength of the proposal turned in by (director) Sean Casserly," Rumer said. "We felt that Sean's proposal for 'Urinetown' was most complete and would provide us with a very successful spring show."
Junior Rebecca Martin, who plays 7-year-old Little Sally, one of the play's two narrators, said of her character, "She knows what's what and she doesn't take any guff from anybody, including the other narrator - Officer Lockstock."
Ryan Tumulty, a sophomore drama major, characterizes Lockstock as a corrupt officer who works to prevent people from using the toilet for free.
"He's also the narrator and serves as a bridge between the audience and the ridiculous events of the play," he said.
Martin, who has worked with Pauper Players in the past, said she has enjoyed meeting and working with the new young production crew.
"They have wonderful energy, and their dedication to this show is truly inspiring," she said.
"We have become one big, happy, evil corporation-busting family."
Tumulty said it was that devotion - and the group's talent - that allowed the cast and crew to work so well together.
"Usually it takes a week or so for people to get comfortable with one another before things really start to roll," Tumulty said. "But this cast has been so open, so welcoming and friendly that none of us feels the least bit self-conscious."
Still, there were many challenges for those involved in the play.
"I'm 5'7" and I am playing a character that is very young," Finneran said. "It has been a challenge and loads of fun getting myself into that character."
Finneran also said the cast and crew have helped make "Urinetown" a memorable dramatic experience for her.
"The Urinetown crew is an utterly incredible group of people, the most talented conglomeration of persons from all parts of the theatrical spectrum I've ever worked with."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(02/20/07 5:00am)
During the next month, Carrboro will be imbued with the luck of the Irish as the first Celtic Concert Series begins at the ArtsCenter.
Starting today with Northern Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, the series will feature four performances until its March 29 conclusion.
The idea for the event emerged from past Irish performances at the ArtsCenter that took place around St. Patrick's Day.
The ArtsCenter decided to expand the tradition, making the holiday celebration longer than usual.
The series kicks off in time for Mardi Gras, which means the audience will receive lots of colorful beads while listening to Brady's intimate guitar sound.
Brady's music is characterized as country-and-western, soul and Irish traditional music with influences from the '50s era swing and jazz.
The four major performers, selected by the ArtsCenter's concerts and facility director, Tess Mangum Oca
(02/14/07 5:00am)
Love is in the air this Valentine's Day as the Carolina Union Activities Board plans to host a special screening of the famed fairy tale "The Princess Bride" tonight in the Student Union.
The showing of the cult classic will kick off the four-day Carolina Comedy Festival, which is hosted by CUAB. The 1987 film, based on William Goldman's 1973 novel, is a comedic love story that tells the story of two young lovers as they overcome fantastical obstacles.
The adventure-filled love story follows the kidnapping of Princess Buttercup, played by Robin Wright Penn, who is set to marry Prince Humperdinck. Buttercup's childhood beau and stable boy, Westley, played by Cary Elwes, attempts to rescue her as a show of his admiration for the fair princess.
CUAB President Erika Stallings said that, though the film screening is not part of CUAB's Valentine's Day tradition, she is nonetheless excited about it.
"'The Princess Bride' is a very cute love flick," she said.
Stallings said the film is a great love story because of its humor toward fairy tale stories and its element of romance.
"It's the traditional fairy tale story, but it's like 'Shrek' - making fun of fairy tales - but yet still romantic," she said.
Sophomore Allie Maupin said she enjoys the film for its humorous elements.
"I loved this movie when I was little, and I still enjoy it today," Maupin said. "It's a good love story without being too sappy."
Throughout the film, Westley attempts to win Princess Buttercup's love, often complying with her outrageous demands with a simple, "As you wish," which for him translates to "I love you."
Stallings said she and her boyfriend have seen "The Princess Bride" many times, mostly because it's their favorite movie. "It's something we share," she said.
She said her favorite part of the film takes place when Buttercup pushes Westley, under the guise of a bandit, down a hill only to realize who he actually was.
"As Westley rolls down the hill, he yells, 'As you wish!'" she said. "Buttercup immediately responds with, 'Oh my Westley! What have I done!'"
Stallings said she enjoys the scene because she often says "as you wish" to her boyfriend.
The movie has many components that appeal to all audiences, one of the many factors that has contributed to its timelessness.
Junior Chris McEachran said he likes "The Princess Bride" for many reasons, mainly because of its happy ending.
"It's a great movie because it's an adventure, it's funny and the guy gets the girl," McEachran said.
"And it's quotable."
Maupin said she doesn't think there's a better way to ring in Valentine's Day than what CUAB is doing. In addition to showing the movie in the spirit of the holiday, CUAB will hold an event from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., in the Union Art Gallery where students can make their own Valentine's Day cards.
"Not only is the movie wonderful, but the soundtrack is phenomenal, with great love songs perfect to set the mood for Valentine's Day," Maupin said.
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
WATCH THE MOVIE
Time: 7 p.m. today
Location: Union auditorium
Info: www.unc.edu/cuab/events.shtml