News Roundup, Oct. 19, 2023
Performing artists/groups include The Magik Theatre, URBAN-15, Ballet Folklorico Sol de San Antonio, and musicians such as Los Texmaniacs featuring Flaco Jimenez, Mariachi Las Coronelas, Buttercup, and Patricia Vonne & The Infidels. Where to park? There is a parking garage at Hemisfair, but it may fill quickly. (Oct. 21, 6 p.m. to midnight; free access)
Now let’s look at everything else going on in the city.
LUMINARIA, the annual outdoor festival of contemporary arts, has been moved from November to Oct. 21 this year, probably because it was so very cold last year when it was held in November. The fest has also returned to the Hemisfair Park, where it started in 2008. Originally imagined as a festival of light, it has eventually embraced all art forms, from visual light installations to poetry, dance and film. Last year some 200 artists participated.
This year’s fest will have two live-music stages, five large-scale digital art projection areas, a gallery of fine art, indoors, at the Mexican Cultural Institute, sculptures and various installations. A spoken word stage will be at UNAM San Antonio. In fact, our editor will be part of a poetry reading at UNAM. Though most artists are from San Antonio and this area, a number of them are traveling to San Antonio to take part in Luminaria, including a person from Gwanju, South Korea.
The Olmos Ensemble will present an evening of 20th century chamber music with the guest duo of Marta and Ani Aznavoorian, sisters and highly accomplished musicians. Marta is a pianist and Ari is a cellist. On the program are works by Ravel, Cahuzac, and Olivier Messiaen’s famous piece “The Quartet for the End of Time,” which he wrote while he was a prisoner of war in Germany. The piece premiered in 1941 for an audience of prisoners and guards. The Aznavoorian sisters will join the Olmos’ members Eric Gratz and Ilya Shterenberg. (Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Shepherd King Lutheran Church, 303 West Ramsey Rd., 78216; 210-344-5881; for more info visit www.olmosensemble.com; free with a suggested donation)
The Agarita Chamber Players will perform a concert at the Motherhouse Chapel on the campus of the University of the Incarnate Word, playing works that accentuate the church’s acoustics. The Chapel’s amazing organ will also be incorporated into the performance as well as a harpsichord made by local builder Gerald Self. On the program: Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, movement 2; Jessica Mayer’s “But Not Until,”; Hans Krasa’s “Tanec for String Trio,” and works by Brahms, Shostakovich and Christopher Cerrone. It sounds very enticing! (Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m.; Motherhouse Chapel, University of the Incarnate Word campus, 4503 Broadway, 78209; free and open to all.)
San Antonio Mastersingers will start their 79th season with “Sacred Echoes” featuring Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” to be conducted by Yoojin Muhn. Other pieces on the program are Eriks Esevnalds’ triumphant “Trinity Te Deum,” and Nick Strimple’s “Franciscan Canticles.” The Mastersingers are a mighty choir that used to collaborate with the San Antonio Symphony in years past. For this concert, they will be joined by the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio. (Oct.22 at 3 p.m.; Alamo Heights United Methodist Church, 825 E. Basse Rd., 78209; tickets are $10-$60; To purchase go to https://tickets.chorusconnection.com/sam/events/836)
YOSA – Youth Orchestra of San Antonio – will play a concert in the park, presented by the King William Cultural Arts Committee. The program consists of film music from movies such as “Star Wars” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” These young people are accomplished musicians. (Oct.22 at 5:30 p.m.; Beautify San Antonio Park, 801 S. Main Ave., 78204; bring blankets or lawn chairs; free for all ages)
The many fans of Johnny Cash may be puzzled. Just what is this show titled “Johnny Cash – The Official Concert Experience.”? The production promises to bring the songs and stories of Cash to the stage in a novel way. As video from the famed Johnny Cash TV Show plays on a projection screen, real, live musicians play in sync with the original recordings. According to reports, Cash’s son and estate caretaker gave his blessing to the show. (Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m.; Majestic Theater; 224 E. Houston St.; tickets are $29-$180 at www.majesticempire.com/events)
Multi-platinum selling Grammy winners, Casting Crowns, are on tour, which will stop at the Majestic Theater Monday. It’s being promoted as a “Live Symphony Experience” because the group will be accompanied by a live orchestra. All the favorite songs will be performed: “Only Jesus,” “East to West,” “Praise You in this Storm,” and others. (Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.; doors at 6; Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston St. tickets are $44-$104 at www.majesticempire.com/events/castingcrowns)
Over at the TOBIN Center you have a chance to see Kansas: 50th Anniversary Tour. The classic rock band from Topeka released its first album back in 1974, and they are still going strong. Two of the original band members are still with it: guitarist Richard Williams and drummer Phil Ehart. (Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m., Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets are $59.50 – $315 at box office, 210-223-8624 or online www.tobi.tobincenter.org)
But here’s a more intriguing show, also at the Tobin: “The Music Critic.” John Malkovich slips into the role of the evil critic who believes that music by Beethoven, Chopin, Prokofiev and other great composers of the last several centuries is “weary and dreary.” According to reviews, it’s a very entertaining show.
(Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Tobin Center; address and ticket info above).
The Espee is a relatively new concert location, owned by the same company that runs the Majestic and Empire. Kody West will perform there Friday. (Oct. 20 at 8 p.m.; tickets are $25 at www.theespee.com)
If you are a fan of Tejano music, there’s a big event for you this weekend: The 43 Tejano Music Awards;
(Oct. 21 at 7 p.m., Boeing Center at Tech Port; tickets are $30-$40, tables $100-$130; www.techportcenter.com, tickets at etix.com.
A show not to be missed is DANCE AFRIKA at the Carver Center. This company of superb dancers is devoted to the tradition of stepping, a polyrhythmic percussive dance that also borrows moves from contemporary dance. (Oct. 20 at 8 p.m., Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry; tickets are $36 at the box office 210-207-7211; www.thecarver.org.
Step Afrika company
The theater front is still a bit shaky. It appears, however, that the situation at the San Pedro Playhouse is improving. The two partner companies, The Public Theater and the Classic Theatre, have announced a season, but first they will have a major fundraising event this Friday, Oct 20: the Co-Gala named “Curtain Up.” According to the press release “this enchanting evening will feature captivating performances, catered food, and an opportunity to mingle with the stars of the San Antonio theater scene.” The evening starts with a happy hour, and continues with a gala performance, and a post-show dancing party. Being a fundraiser, it’s a little pricey: single tickets are $175 at https://ciovationtix.com/35749/production/1178354. The season starts with “On Golden Pond” Nov. 2-19.
The small Overtime Theater appears to be healthy and active, and staging new shows all the time.
Its next offering is “That Night” by Catie Carlisle which will open next week. So, more about it in the next NEWS ROUNDUP. Here, we just wanted you to know that the Overtime is definitely a place to visit. Start with the website: https://overtimetheater.org
Another busy theater is the Magik, a children’s theater, currently presenting “Carmela Full of Wishes” based on the book by the same title by Matt de la Pena and illustrated by Christian Robinson. If you have kids, that’s the place to take them. (Oct. 10 – Oct. 26; Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo, Hemisfair; 210-227-2751, www.magiktheatre.org)
On the visual arts front, there’s always news.
The beautiful fiber art exhibit, TEXtiles: a Celebration of Texas Fiber Arts, is closing in two days. It’s worth making an effort to see it. (Kelso Art Center, University of the Incarnate Word campus, 4301 Broadway; 210-829-6000.)
PhotoSA will be holding its 11th annual Photography Tournament at Confluence Park this Sunday. It is open to photographers of all skill levels and ages 12 and up. Five of the previous eight tournaments were won by amateurs, not pros! There are 15 categories that photographers will compete in. Winners will be determined by a panel of judges at the event. Participants are asked to arrive at 8 a.m. to get the rules and categories. After that you can roam around the park to find what you want to photograph. (Oct. 22, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Confluence Park, 310 W. Mitchell, 78210; 210-224-2694; to reach PhotoSA call 210-825-8374; https://www.saphotoevents.com)
Are you familiar with the Bloom sculptures that can been found in several local parks and along the River Walk?? These are sponsored by the city and designed by artist Leticia Huerta. They are large and colorful and brighten the spaces they are in. Now, there are three new Bloom sculptures in the city. The new additions are at Blossom Park, in district 9.
The San Antonio Museum of Art has been awarded $800,000 as part of Art Bridges Foundation $40 Million Nationwide “Access for All“ Initiative. The goal is to reduce barriers to visiting museums across the country by having more free-admission days, as well as community outreach initiatives. Participating museums are in 36 states and Puerto Rico. We think it’s an excellent initiative. Bravo to the Art Bridges Foundation!
The McNay Art Museum has hired its first curator of Latinx art. She is Mia Lopez, described as an expert in working with living artists. She will work in many curatorial areas and collaborate cross-departmentally to expand representation of Latinx artists throughout the museum.
Just as we were wrapping up the NEWS ROUNDUP, we received an email from the city’s Arts & Culture Department about “Little Amal.” To begin with, she’s not little. In fact, she’s an 11-ft tall puppet that was first constructed by the British company Handspring Puppet Company, using cane, carbon fiber and other similarly light materials. The animatronic giant puppet represents a Syrian refugee girl used as the centerpiece of a performance project called The Walk. Well, she will visit San Antonio Oct. 20, stop at several places and even appear at the Luminaria Festival with the URBAN-15 group. Her name “Amal” means “Hope” and she is intended to send a message of all displaced children. “Don’t forget About Us.”