http://www.gomemphis.com/news/arts/?partner=RSSGo Memphis Stories: Artsen-usartshttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/20/news-in-the-arts-web-site-steps-up-profiles-of/?partner=RSS, the area's most active Web site and collaborative network for the promotion and production of local art, music and film, launched or revived several projects recently that document the work and personalities of artists in the Mid-South. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:58:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-166166-733731arts/visual-arts/newsJohn BeifussMemphis, TNNews in the Arts: Web site steps up profiles of area artistsGo Memphisnews-in-the-arts-web-site-steps-up-profiles-ofurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-166166-733731Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/20/abstract-works-offer-emotional-immediacy/?partner=RSS"I love the hunt," Memphis artist Jeri Ledbetter says about the thought process that goes into her boldly abstract canvases. "When I go anywhere, I look for the interesting part of where I am," she says. "And it's never the whole. There's always a corner or something hidden, especially places that most people don't go to look for beauty." Her solo show at L Ross Gallery runs through Nov. 30. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:00:05 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165915-733731arts/visual-arts/newsBill EllisMemphis, TNJeri Ledbetter's abstract works offer emotional immediacyGo Memphisabstract-works-offer-emotional-immediacyurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165915-733731Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/20/accent-on-uncertain-voyage-in-seafarer/?partner=RSSWhen I first moved to Memphis from Florida, I arrived in a city of wonderful accents. I gleefully began studying them, learning that there was no such thing as a generic "Southern" accent. One would think that this knowledge of variable accent acquisition would have aided my viewing of "The Seafarer" at Circuit Playhouse, a darkly comic play set on a Christmas Eve in Dublin, Ireland. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165939-733731arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNStage Review: Accent on uncertain voyage in 'Seafarer'Go Memphisaccent-on-uncertain-voyage-in-seafarerurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165939-733731Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/18/different-angles-fill-mso-program/?partner=RSSThis weekend’s Memphis Symphony Orchestra engagement offers a diverse trio of hefty works by John Adams, Beethoven and Dvorak. It’s also a chance to check out guest conductor Mei-Ann Chen, the third of three candidates to audition for the job held by retiring music director David Loebel. The popular Dvorak Cello Concerto, to be performed by guest artist Julie Albers, was already set when Chen got the guest conducting assignment. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:04:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165790-733729arts/stage-newsJon W. SparksMemphis, TN‘Different angles’ fill MSO programGo Memphisdifferent-angles-fill-mso-programurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165790-733729Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/18/mso-conductor-candidate-drawn-orchestras-chemistry/?partner=RSSMei-Ann Chen sees great things ahead for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and would like to be the one who helps shape its future. Chen, 36, is one of three candidates for the job of conductor and music director to replace the retiring David Loebel. This weekend, the assistant conductor with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra leads the Memphis Symphony through a diverse trio of hefty works in concerts Saturday and the Sunday. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:41:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165773-733729arts/stage-newsJon W. SparksMemphis, TNMSO conductor candidate drawn by orchestra's chemistry, reputationGo Memphismso-conductor-candidate-drawn-orchestras-chemistryurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165773-733729Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/17/tyler-perry-play-tour-laugh-keep-crying-canceled/?partner=RSSThe tour of Tyler Perry’s play “Laugh to Keep from Crying”, scheduled to run at the Orpheum Feb. 25-28, 2010, has been canceled, local promoter Fred Jones said today. Refunds for tickets are available at the point of purchase. The tour of the musical comedy began in early October and included Perry's regular cast of characters, except the popular Madea. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:19:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165621-733728arts/stage-newsStaff WriterMemphis, TNTyler Perry play tour "Laugh to Keep from Crying" canceledGo Memphistyler-perry-play-tour-laugh-keep-crying-canceledurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165621-733728Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/16/denk-captures-essence-of-schumann/?partner=RSS "Schumann was a nut," cracked pianist Jeremy Denk, an accurate assessment, but offered with true affection. Denk, after all, knows a thing or two about the German composer, as splendidly evidenced by Saturday night's performance of Schumann's Piano Concerto with the IRIS Orchestra. The brilliant, rolling and poetic composition was thrillingly rendered by Denk who played with shimmering fluidity. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:05:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165424-733727arts/stageJon W. SparksMemphis, TNConcert Review: Denk captures essence of SchumannGo Memphisdenk-captures-essence-of-schumannurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165424-733727Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/13/news-in-the-arts-handy-awards-honor-green-for/?partner=RSSMemphis jazz man Dr. Herman Green will be presented the Lifetime Music Achievement Award on Sunday at the 13th annual W.C. Handy Heritage Awards at the Holiday Inn Select near Memphis International Airport. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:07:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165075-733724arts/visual-arts/newsStaff WriterMemphis, TNNews in the Arts: Handy Awards honor Green for life's workGo Memphisnews-in-the-arts-handy-awards-honor-green-forurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165075-733724Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/13/cirque-where-daredevil-feats-meet-holiday/?partner=RSSReligion never stopped Neil Goldberg from appreciating the trappings of the holidays. "Even though I'm Jewish, I've always been a fan and collector of Christmas ornaments," he said. It's a theme that Goldberg and his troupe of aerialists, contortionists and acrobats hope will make the first national tour of "Cirque Dreams Holidaze" a successful one. The show arrives at the Orpheum in Memphis on Tuesday. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164857-733724arts/stage-newsChristopher BlankMemphis, TN'Cirque', where daredevil feats meet holiday mirthGo Memphiscirque-where-daredevil-feats-meet-holidayurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164857-733724Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/12/images-invite-participation-in-visiting-cultural/?partner=RSSIf the tantalizing images in Leslie Hewitt's photography-based work have specific back stories, she's not telling. The juxtaposition of an African-American man posing in a park against Walter Cronkite broadcasting the news, for example, could be read in any number of ways as could a picture of generic neighborhood sprawl that gives way to an out-of-focus snapshot of family members watching television. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:30:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164851-733723arts/visual-arts/newsBill EllisMemphis, TNImages invite participation in visiting cultural memoryGo Memphisimages-invite-participation-in-visiting-culturalurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164851-733723Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/12/shuttling-through-the-arts-district/?partner=RSSNot since counter-culture legend Ken Kesey hit the road with the Merry Pranksters have so many artistic types been so eager to get on a bus. On Tuesday night, the first 40 riders showed up across the street from Playhouse on the Square and climbed aboard what they hope will be a new way to get around town: a shuttle loop that could benefit locals trying to avoid parking issues and tourists wanting to explore beyond the core. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164792-733723arts/stage-newsChristopher BlankMemphis, TNGroups explore bus route linking Midtown, Downtown arts sceneGo Memphisshuttling-through-the-arts-districturn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164792-733723Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/11/pianist-jeremy-denk-brings-works-schumann-iris/?partner=RSSRenowned classical pianist Jeremy Denk will perform this weekend with the IRIS Orchestra, and one work, Schumann’s Piano Concerto, is a piece he has loved since he was a child. “It’s one of the pieces I enjoy playing the most,” he says, “because it’s perfectly Schumann: incredibly romantic and playful.” This is Denk’s first guest appearance with IRIS, although he was in town last year performing with violinist Joshua Bell. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:22:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164762-733722arts/stage-newsJon W. SparksMemphis, TNPianist Jeremy Denk brings works of Schumann to IRISGo Memphispianist-jeremy-denk-brings-works-schumann-irisurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164762-733722Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/11/stage-review-toymakers-apprentice-and-narnia/?partner=RSSPlayhouse on the Square and Circuit Playhouse are already gearing up kids for the holidays nearly two months before Christmas, as if children need the prep time. The first to open, on Halloween weekend at Circuit, was a kid’s show called “The Toymaker’s Apprentice.” It’s a sweet little gift for parents of 3- to 7-year-olds; the gift being a run time of 40 minutes and a tale that parents haven’t heard a hundred times before. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:11:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164754-733722arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNStage Review: Early holiday kids' plays delightful, even for Scrooge-y critic Go Memphisstage-review-toymakers-apprentice-and-narniaurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164754-733722Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/09/conductor-exhibits-charm-style/?partner=RSSFriday night's Memphis Symphony Orchestra concert was a brisk and refreshing mash-up of style and substance. The chamber music performance at Buckman Performing and Fine Arts Center was the first public appearance of conductor Thomas Wilkins, one of three candidates for the job of retiring maestro David Loebel. While all ears were tuned to the orchestra, all eyes were on Wilkins, an assured, elegant presence whose program was varied and fascinating. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:09:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164233-733720arts/stageJon W. SparksMemphis, TNConcert Review: Conductor Wilkins exhibits charm, styleGo Memphisconductor-exhibits-charm-styleurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164233-733720Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/09/mcmahons-gifts-evident-in-wizard-of-oz/?partner=RSS Let's get the dubious honor portion of this dance review out of the way before digging into the unexpected delight that is Ballet Memphis' "The Wizard of Oz." blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164366-733720arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNReview: McMahon's gifts evident in 'Wizard of Oz'Go Memphismcmahons-gifts-evident-in-wizard-of-ozurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164366-733720Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/06/separate-shows-conjoined-in-truths/?partner=RSS Having exhibitions by two very different sorts of artists "helps educate patrons," said David Lusk, owner of David Lusk Gallery in Laurelwood. "They generally like it. The space is big, and they can always turn a corner and see something else." There will be a reception tonight, from 6 to 8, for the exhibitions "From Peace Mountain," by local artist Don Estes, and "Connected," by Anne Siems from Seattle. koeppel@commercialappeal.com (Fredric Koeppel)Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:12:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163786-733717arts/visual-arts/newsFredric KoeppelMemphis, TN'Separate shows' conjoined in truthsGo Memphisseparate-shows-conjoined-in-truthsurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163786-733717Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/06/words-speaks-to-past-present/?partner=RSSPay close heed to Thomas Wilkins' first Memphis concert, for it has a message. "It's a look at how more recent composers look back at older composers or styles to reference or synthesize their styles," Wilkins said in a recent telephone interview. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163800-733717arts/stage-newsJon W. SparksMemphis, TNMemphis Symphony's 'In Other Words' speaks to past, presentGo Memphiswords-speaks-to-past-presenturn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163800-733717Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/05/classical-vision-of-a-classic-trip-to-oz/?partner=RSS It wasn't an assignment he would have chosen for himself. Steven McMahon, Ballet Memphis dancer, got word from his boss that his first big-time ballet as a choreographer would be "the great American fairy tale." The young Scotsman wondered if she'd made a mistake. He? Choreograph "The Wizard of Oz"? When his ballet adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" debuted in 2007, it helped establish McMahon as the company's go-to guy for in-house choreography. McMahon has reworked "The Wizard of Oz" for its revival at the Orpheum this weekend. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:37:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163811-733716arts/stage-newsChristopher BlankMemphis, TNClassical vision of a classic trip to 'Oz'Go Memphisclassical-vision-of-a-classic-trip-to-ozurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163811-733716Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/05/actors-distill-stories-pour-emotional-gist/?partner=RSSFor some people, getting onstage and telling a personal story -- then having a troupe of actors play it out in front of them -- might sound like something out of a nightmare. And for others, it's a way to get in touch with the soul of a community. Playback Memphis, a new theater company staging one of its improvisational performances Friday and Saturday, is part town hall meeting, part group therapy, and part entertainment. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163804-733716arts/stage-newsChristopher BlankMemphis, TNActors distill real stories through Playback MemphisGo Memphisactors-distill-stories-pour-emotional-gisturn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163804-733716Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/03/thursday-night-events-offer-art-music/?partner=RSSRegional artists flaunt their colorful wares in a big way on Thursday. A reception from 6 to 8 p.m. for an Artists Group show at Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry, will feature professional and student dancers in excerpts from the Children's Ballet Nutcracker, said Mary Roudnev, artistic director of the Children's Ballet & Dance School. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:03:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163518-733714arts/visual-arts/newsBill EllisMemphis, TNTrio of art exhibitions planned for Thursday Go Memphisthursday-night-events-offer-art-musicurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163518-733714Change733714Usable