Theaters Announce Seasons, New Exhibits… News Roundup, Aug. 6, 2020
Under normal circumstances, arts organizations announce their upcoming seasons in the spring, but COVID-19 has changed that, together with a whole spectrum of other plans and practices. Some companies have outright cancelled the entire fall part of their 2020-21 season, but two of our busiest theaters have found creative and feasible ways to proceed doing what they do best – offer high quality shows to San Antonians who are by now eager to experience them.
The Public Theater of San Antonio recently announced its 2020-202ONE eight-play schedule, which includes contemporary comedies, biographical plays, and dramas. All will be one-person shows, an arrangement that makes production logistics easier and transmission of disease very unlikely. These will be performed either live in the theater – with appropriate social distancing – or live online. (See feature article on this site.)
And now, the longtime silent Classic Theater of San Antonio is finally ready to announce its season as well. The only thing we know about it for sure is that the performances will move outdoors, which is another strategy that helps prevent the spread of COVID-19. The company will formally unveil its specific plans during a special Season Announcement Virtual Cocktail hour Sunday, Aug. 9, 708 p.m., via Zoom. You’ll have to make your own drink, of course, but they will provide instruction via “cocktail creation videos,” which will be followed by the actual information about the company’s 13th season. The directors of the upcoming shows will be in attendance to talk about the season’s theme – We Are the Choices We Make. Tickets are $20. To register, click on the link below.
And there’s more theater news! The talented J. Damian Gillen of the Company Theater is back in action with a new dinner-theater comedy, “The History of Texas… in one darn easy lesson!” You may remember him from his solo performances of “The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)” which were mind-blowing and hilarious. The current show is described as a “hysterical, historical, hyperactive hayride through 500 years of Texas in 5000 seconds by one actor.” Sound promising? We think so!
The single performances will take place in the Big Apple Room at the Little Italy restaurant, Aug. 8; doors open at 6 p.m. Online tickets: https://historyoftexas.bpt.me/ or call 1-800-838-3006. The restaurant is located at 824 Afterglow, 78216.
New Exhibits have opened at the McNay Art Museum and a new outdoor sculpture has been added to the Briscoe Western Art.
The new McNay presentations involve two San Antonio artists, Kelly O’Connor and Ruben Vela. Inspired by the “It’s a Small World” ride at Disneyland, O’Connor’s “Multifaceted Woman,” is described in the press material as a “candy-colored collage featuring iconic movie characters, including Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz, Alice from “Alice in Wonderland” and Veruca Salt from “Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” The large installation presents these beloved characters in a different light.
The other exhibit, “Artists Looking at Art: Ruben Luna,” features three “intimate works” from Luna who is also the McNay’s installation manager. He assembles readily available objects into symbolic portraits that pay tribute to people on his life.
We’ll tell you more about both after we get a chance to see them.
As for the Briscoe’s new sculpture, “The Great Blue Heron Pair,” crafted by Walter Matia in 2001, it will from now on greet visitors and passers-by on the Riverwalk, perhaps inviting them to visit the museum’s entire sculpture garden. It was purchased by the Jack and Valerie Guenther Foundation for the Briscoe Museum and its installation was approved by the city’s Office of Historic Preservation. The museum has 32 outdoor sculptures.
Not much is going on at Artpace in terms of new exhibits, but the staff there is inventive in finding ways to stay connected with the public. One relatively new initiative has been the Reading Red Book Club whose new selection is particularly relevant at this time. The club members will be reading “Creating Their Own Image: The History of African-American Women Artists” by Lisa E. Farrington, which is the first comprehensive history of black women artists from the time of slavery to the present day. Included in the book, are interviews with contemporary artists: Betye Saar, Faith Ringgold, Nanette Carter, Camille Billops and others. To order the book, Artpace sent us this link:
https://bookshop.org/books/creating-their-own-image-the-history-of-african-american-women-artists/9780199767601. The public library has it too, but there may be a waiting list. To register for the club, which is free, go to https://artpace.org/category/community/book-club
Now about something a little different. You already know that arts organizations, and in particular performing arts organizations, have been struggling to stay afloat during the past several months. You can help by contacting your congressional representatives.
Two important bills are being presented to the House and the Senate – the Save Our Stages Act and the Restart Act. If passed, they would provide COVID-19 relief for many arts & entertainment venues and organizations. To submit a letter of support for those bills go to https://www.saveourstages.com/ The page will automatically send your letter to the correct senators and representatives based on your zip code.
And here’s a treat: One of the most beautiful Neapolitan songs, “O Sole Mio,” sung by the amazing young singer Amira Willighagen and tenor Ben Heijmen. Enjoy! www.Youtube.com/watch?v=Te6LGAOTjdk