News Roundup, Nov. 16, 2023
NEWS ROUNDUP, November 16, 203
Let’s start with “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the powerful musical that composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist, Tum Rice created back in 1971. It was a huge success, as were all of Lloyd Webber’s musicals. Difficult to believe in retrospect, is that the creative pair had a hard time finding a producer willing to produce it. It was considered too daring. Webber’s “rock opera” tells the story of the last seven days of Jesus’ life. What changed the mind of producers was the Gold Record album that people clearly loved and bought. As we know, the musical became a huge success.
And now, there’s a new production that celebrates the musical’s 50th anniversary. Helmed by director Timothy Sheader and choreographed by Drew McOnie, this new production won the 2017 Olivier Award NEWS for Best Musical Revival in Britain. Of course, all the great songs are still there. At least we hope so. The reviewer for The Guardian described the show as “gorgeous, thrilling heavenly musical.” (Nov. 17 at 8 p.m., and Nov. 18 at 2 and 8 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets are $39.60 -$99.50; at the Tobin box office in person or by calling 210-223-8624, and at tickets@tobincenter.org)
Three music stars have united for a tour: Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin and Pitbull are touring across the U.S. together on their “Trilogy Tour.” They stop in San Antonio for a show at the Frost Bank Center.
(Nov. 19 at 7 p.m., Frost Bank Center, 1 AT&T Parkway; tickets are $110-$599, at Ticketmaster.)
The Carver Community Cultural Center is hosting the country/blues/Americana artist Nicky Diamond Friday in the Little Carver, behind the main Carver Theater. (Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.; tickets $25 at www.ticketmaster.com)
Tejano music’s Intocable group is stopping at the Majestic Theater as part of its Evolucion Tour. They will perform new music and their classic hits. (Nov. 22 at 8 p.m., Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston; tickets are $49-$129+, at www.ticketmaster.com)
Jazz lovers may want to check out the Jazz Series at the Buena Vista Theater, featuring Steve Oliver.
(Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.; Buena Vista Theater, 501 W. Cesar Chavez, 78207; 210-458-3288; tickets $40-$55 at www.buenavistalive.showare.com.)
Now, let’s look at what the Alamo City’s musical artists are offering.
The Heart of Texas Concert Band has a great program for its “Gems from the East” concert Sunday. This will be their 150th performance. The band will present music composed by three Czech composers, all of whom “gave voice to the musical legacy of their homeland.” The concert will open with Bedrich Smetana’s musical portrait of his country’s best known and celebrated river, Vltava. The piece is often referred to in America by the German version of the name, The Moldau.
The other two composers are Julius Fucik (pronounced Fuchik), and Antonin Dvorak. Dvorak’s beloved Symphony No. 8 will close the program. Featured soloist is Tessa Gartin, who will perform Carl Maria von Weber’s Concertino for Clarinet. (Nov. 19 at 3 p.m., Sonia Sotomayor High School Auditorium, 12801 Tall Timber Lane, 78254; suggested donation is $10. No tickets are needed. To see more about the band go to https://heartoftexasconcertband.org)
The UTSA Lyric Theater is presenting,”Epigrams,” a new stage production featuring five different mini operas, including premieres of three brand-new works and two rarely performed works. Represented composers are: Wesley Uchiyama-Penix, William Henry Squires, Christian Stevens, Nell Shaw Cohen and Darius Milhaud. Sounds intriguing! (Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m., UTSA Recital Hall; Rhoderick Key Circle, 78249; tickets are $5 for students and $15 general admission, at https://colfa.utsa.edu/music/tickets.html)
San Antonio songstress, Azul Barrientos, will present another concert, this one dedicated to corridos, songs that were popular during the Mexican Revolution. The songs told tales about the revolutionary figures and their exploits. (Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 19 at 3 p.m.; Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, 922 San Pedro, 78212; $7 at the door, or www.Esperanza.eventbrite.com)
The Lonesome Rose will celebrate its fifth anniversary with week-long activities. The lineup of festivities includes a karaoke night, dance lessons, musical performances, and drink specials. You can see the full list of events atwww.prekindle.com/calendar/LRanniversary.
The Children’s Chorus of San Antonio – all seven of its choirs – will have a showcase concert Saturday, Canciones del Mundo. They will perform folk songs, and new compositions in several genres and languages. (Nov. 18 at 4 p.m., University Methodist Church, 5084 De Zavala Rd., 78249; tickets are $8.50 for kids, $15 for adults; 210-826-3447; www.childrenschorissa.org/concerts)
The AGARITA Chamber Players will perform two of their Humble Hall concerts Sunday. Those are outdoor, free concerts, with the musicians performing from the back platform of a truck. The first one is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at Pearsall Park, in District 4, to be followed that afternoon at 1 p.m. with a performance in Roosevelt Park, in District 5. The four AGARITA members will be joined by guest violinist, Aimee Lopez. At the Roosevelt Park they will be preceded “on Stage” by the young Instrumentalists of the Junior Tuesday Musical Club. (Open to all; bring lawn chairs or blankets.)
SOLI Chamber Ensembles’s annual Open Mic is scheduled for Nov. 19. That’s when amateur, but highly skilled, musicians get a chance to perform in public. Like the SOLI Ensemble, they will perform new music, created after 1970. The SOLI will also perform. (Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.; Texas Public Radio, Alvarez Theater; free but registration required: www.solichamberensemble.com)
Obviously, music is alive and well in San Antonio, but let’s also take a look at developments elsewhere.
Not much dance right now until “The Nutcracker” versions crowd the theaters, but there is a dance event associated with the Diwali Festival, India’s most important holiday of the year, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. The Southern Indian classical dance called Bharatanatyam is cultivated by Indians here in San Antonio. The dance show to be performed by the local Natya Yoga Dance group is well worth attending. It’s a very disciplined style of dance with strong foot work. (Nov. 28 at 2 p.m.; Collins Garden Library, 200 N. Park Blvd, 78204; for info call 210-207-9120.)
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is getting ready to host the inaugural Santa Cecilia Mariachi Festival, led by Mariachi Azteca de America. (Nov. 19, 12-9 p.m. with food and drinks available for purchase. (Plaza Guadalupe, 1327 Guadalupe St. For more go to https://www.facebook.com/events.
Other mariachi groups will also participate.
If you haven’t seen, Alice Aycock: Moving Through Time, exhibit at the McNay Museum, you should do so. The exhibit is on view until November 26. This a survey of the artist’s work over five decades, and it complements the museum’s recent commission of a major sculpture by this artist. That sculpture is outdoors on the lawn and it is beautiful. The exhibit is organized by the McNay’s curator of modern art, Lyle W. Williams. The image included here, “Drakness Visible 2019: #7 Texas Twister, 2019” It’s an inkject print and hand-painted watercolor on paper.
The San Antonio Art League & Museum (SAALM) wants you to know that Nov. 17 is the last chance you have to submit work for the upcoming exhibit Lone Star Horizons, Texas Landscapes Past, Present and Future, which will open in January. Only SAALM members can participate, so become a member if you want them to consider your submission. The juror is Harold Joiner from Houston. He will also determine the awards of merit – $600, $400 and $200; https://www.saalm.org/lonestar.html .
Art Gallery Prudencia has a new show: “This and That” featuring the work of Lon Brauer. It is describedas “a hodgepodge concept of individual work that comes from a single source.” Bauer is a figure and plein air landscapeartist. (The show will be on view through De, 16, 2518 N. Main Ave., 78212).
On the literary front: The City’s Arts and Culture Department is seeking nominations for the next Poet Laureate of San Antonio. The chosen person will serve in that capacity from 2024 to 2027. The selected person will receive an honorarium of $3,500 a year. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 31, 2024. To submit go to www.getcreativesanantonio.com)
We recently celebrated the 32nd GLOBE AWARDS that recognize achievement in San Antonio theater, and the Carver Center, where the Awards Show was held, was bursting at the seams with enthusiasm and excitement. San Antonio theaters are getting more active and that’s great but there’s a way to go to bring back a version of the pre-pandemic scene.
One of the most active companies is the Magik Theater whose productions are aimed at youngsters. Currently, the Magik is presenting “The Velveteen Rabbit” through Dec. 24.; lots of performances to choose from. A sensory-friendly show will be offered Dec. 2. (Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo, Hemisfair;
210-227-2751; www.magiktheatre.org).
Coming up at the Public Theater of San Antonio is a new production of “A Christmas Carol” which opens in a couple of weeks. Will tell you more about it at that time.
And here’s something a bit different. The Science Mill in Johnson City will present “The Spectacular Science of Light” during the Thanksgiving week, with special hands-on activities about the science of light and sound. You can call it the light art but it’s all scientifically correct. Another attraction is The Music Visualizer, which allows the visualization of sound waves from various music selections, as frequency and amplitude create unique shapes and patterns. In addition, there will be a demonstration that shows how white light is a combination of the 7 colors in a rainbow. This sounds like learning through fun. (Science Mill, 101 S, Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City. Tickets can be purchased at
www.sciencemill.org)