Go Memphis Stories: Stage

Stage Review: Hattiloo successfully tackles 'Fences'

blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:08:00 -0000

When stage and screen actor Charles "Roc" Dutton performed his tribute to the late playwright August Wilson in Memphis last year, he talked about the challenges actors face once cast in his plays. Wilson's language, he said, was like Shakespeare. It's nearly impossible for an actor to ad lib out of a dropped line. "Nobody talks like that in real life," Dutton said of Wilson's singular writing style.

Stage Review: Two plays reflect on past, look ahead

blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:05:00 -0000

Sometimes humanity teeters on the brink of collapse, or appears to. Hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters ravage the world's cities. Manmade wars and enormities happen with such regularity that it's almost as if people were hell bent on destroying themselves. But then comes a spark of hope, or at least the revival of the hope mantra. The cycle begins again, we rebuild, we dream, we leave the past behind.

On Stage: Theater and dance

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:01:00 -0000

"Altar Boyz": Musical theatrical spoof of the boy band industry. 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 21. Tickets: $30 ($20 for senior citizens, students and military with ID); $15 children under age 18. The Circuit Playhouse, 1705 Poplar Ave. 726-4656. playhouseonthesquare.org.

Casino Scene: Steel meets silk in the art of 'Jungua'

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:19:00 -0000

More than 2,000 years of Chinese culture comes alive in "Jungua: Descendants of the Dragon," "the Kung Fu Cirque"-style production show this weekend and next at Harrah's Event Center in Tunica. Modeled on modern, theatrical circus-style productions like Cirque du Soleil, "Jungua" combines two of China's oldest performance traditions as embodied by the Imperial Acrobats of China and the Shaolin Disciples martial arts troupe.

Patti Austin honors jazz legend in 'For Ella' Memphis concert

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:31:00 -0000

When a great artist performs the work of a great artist, it’s an event to make you sit up and pay attention. And Patti Austin is one to get your attention. This Saturday, the powerhouse singer will be performing works once made sublime by Ella Fitzgerald, but Austin will be putting her own assured mark on them backed up by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. The program “For Ella” bears the same name as Austin’s album of Fitzgerald songs released in 2002, a project done in honor of the late jazz legend’s body of work. “I like to describe it as going into her closet,” Austin said in a phone interview this week.

Review: 'Facade' takes MSO into the peculiar

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:13:00 -0000

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra takes infrequent trips to the absurd. Friday night, however, it took an energetic journey to the peculiar in its performance of William Walton's "Facade" in the latest performance of the Paul and Linnea Bert Chamber Orchestra Series at the Buckman Center.

Cheng channels energy for Memphis Youth String Orchestra

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:02:00 -0000

For 30 years, some of the area's finest string musicians have developed their skills under the baton of Pak Chung Cheng. The longtime conductor of the Memphis Youth String Orchestra will once again lead the group of about 60 young players in a concert Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on the University of Memphis campus. During the last rehearsal before Sunday's concert, he is, as always, unflappable and fully focused on the task at hand.

On Stage: Theater and dance

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0000

"Back at One": Ballet on Wheels Theatre of Dance concert, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary's School, 60 Perkins Ext. Call 870-4348 for ticket information. Online: balletonwheels.org. Ballet Flamenco José Porcel: Spanish dance, 7 p.m. Sunday at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre, 1801 Exeter, Germantown. Tickets $30, $40 and $50. Call 751-7500. GPACweb.com.

Organist bad boy: Prying loose the chokehold of tradition

blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:54:00 -0000

If there's such a thing as a bad boy of the pipe organ, Cameron Carpenter just might be the first person to get his face on a fan poster. It's not merely that he's a handsome, 27-year-old Juilliard grad who takes his fashion cues from Liberace, Tallulah Bankhead and glam rock. It's that he wants to liberate organists from the tyrannical chokehold of tradition. One of the big problems with the organ as an 'institution' is that it comes with so many boundaries and rules," he said from his home in New York City.

From Blytheville to Hollywood, George Hamilton looks back in memoir

beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:05:00 -0000

Conceived at The Peabody, born in Memphis, raised in Blytheville, Ark., and since then a citizen of Hollywood and the world, movie and TV star George Hamilton returned to his home town last week to promote his new book, a witty and self-deprecating memoir titled "Don't Mind If I Do," published two weeks ago by Touchstone/ Simon & Schuster.

Drummers try to beat world record

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:50:00 -0000

If Mid-South neighborhoods were a little more peaceful Sunday afternoon, it was because a sizable portion of the local drumming community had come out of its garages and bedrooms/practice rooms to hole up at the Mid-South Fairgrounds and try to make history. More than 140 percussionists of all ages and experience levels gathered at the fairground’s Arena Building Sunday to attempt to set the record for the world’s largest drumming ensemble. The effort was organized by the Memphis Drum Shop in conjunction with Five Star Drum Shops, an association of independent drum shops across the country.

Concert review: Soprano Mary Wilson shines at IRIS performance

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:25:00 -0000

It was a celebration mixing the old and the new at Saturday night’s concert by the IRIS Orchestra at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre. There were luminous performances throughout, but the brightest was Ned Rorem’s “Songs Old and New,” a song cycle commissioned by IRIS and presented in its world premiere just days after the composer turned 85.

"Firebird" is fine, feathered ballet

blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:44:00 -0000

In its first mainstage performance of the season, Ballet Memphis trotted a menagerie of animals into the Orpheum Saturday night. Fish, fowl and fantasy united for a dance program that tickled the funny bone and tugged at the heartstrings.

RiverArtsFest: Alive and well on South Main

blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 05:05:00 -0000

Combining the entertainment of a neighborhood street festival and the high-end art sales of a giant gallery opening, RiverArtsFest takes over the South Main Arts District on Saturday and Sunday. It's only the second year for the free public festival, but organizers aren't fretting about who will show up to the juried art exhibition. Police estimated that 40,000 people attended the inaugural event, which was helped by ideal fall weather.

Review: Opera Memphis takes no chances

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 05:00:00 -0000

Opera Memphis' staging of "La Traviata" takes a popular choice and plays it safe.

Stage review: 'Sweeney Todd' supplies gore galore, musical mayhem

blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:02:00 -0000

A few years back, Theatre Memphis caught on to what audiences wanted in their fall theatricals: Dying leaves, shorter days and chilly nights put folks in a funereal mood. Since then we've had a bloody good time chasing vampires in "Dracula" and getting swallowed whole by man-eating plants in "Little Shop of Horrors."

Very scary events

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:53:00 -0000

From the 'Zoo Boo' to 'Nightshade Manor' to 'Costume Twilight' at Elmwood Cemetery, here's a host of Halloween events for you to discover around town.

Stage Review: 'Irma Vep' is pure fun

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:45:00 -0000

"The Mystery of Irma Vep" requires a little background before you see it. You should, for example, have seen enough wheezy thriller cinema to know your mummies, vampires, werewolves, overwrought actors, obsessed explorers, conniving servants, randy handymen, bewildered brides, absurd plot contrivances, disguised intentions ...

'Connections': Ballet Memphis' sumptuous menu of dance and edible treats

blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:48:00 -0000

"Ballet Memphis' "Connections: Food" demonstrates that the same adjectives used for taste can also be applied to dance. Saturday's performance at BRIDGES Inc. was a flavorful treat for those who could get a place at the table.

Book Folks Audubon winner to speak

koeppel@commercialappeal.com (Fredric Koeppel) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:18:00 -0000

Richard Louv, author of the best-selling book "Last Child in the Woods," will deliver the keynote address for "Conservation through Art" at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre. The event is free and open to the public, but it is recommended that those wishing to attend call Bonnie Shelby at ArtsMemphis, 578-2787, or e-mail bshelby@artsmemphis.com to reserve a seat.