Arts Alive San Antonio

We don’t get many opportunities to see Shakespearean plays these days but the Classic Theater of San Antonio has something truly special for us: a new production of Macbethto be performed outdoors in park settings. It opens tomorrow, Oct.2, at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, where it will run Friday-Sunday through Oct. 11, and then continue for six more shows at The Espee, the place formerly known as the Sunset Station downtown.

The Bard’s tale of a hero who succumbs to blind ambition that destroys many around him, including ultimately himself and his wife, endures through the centuries and continues to fascinate audiences. New York director Joe Goscinski is directing the new production with John Stillwaggon as Macbeth and Carolyn Dellinger as Lady Macbeth. For tickets go to www.classictheatre.org. You are encouraged to bring your own chairs or blankets. (See feature story, Sept.30, on this site.)

The Classic has programmed the entire 2020-21 season as Theater in the Rough, meaning all shows will be performed in outdoor venues.

The Luminaria organization has been quiet for quite some time since its director, Kathy Armstrong, announced her departure months ago, but it has come back to life with the just-announced Luminaria Artist Foundation Fall Series featuring the work of the 2020 Artist Foundation grant recipients: Mark McCoin, Pamela Martinez, Octavio Quintanilla, Jenelle Esparza, Raul Rene Gonzalez, and Violeta De Leon Davila.

“An experiment in how art is presented and experienced, the Luminaria Artist Foundation Fall Series aspiresto get these artists’ works into the hands, eyes, ears, hearts and minds of everyone,” says the press release. With that in mind, Luminaria has forged partnerships with the San Antonio River Authority, the San Antonio Public Library, the Majestic Theater, the San Antonio Botanical Garden and VIA, all of which have offered help in the practical realization of the project.

For instance, Quintanilla’s “visual poems” called “frontextos” – which are drawings & paintings combined with text – will be displayed by the library online and through contact-free programs. Quintanilla is an outstanding poet and the immediate past San Antonio poet laureate. (For more on him and frontextos, see The Interview Express with Octavio Quintanilla on this site.)

Interdisciplinary artist, Mark McCoin’s project, Isolated and On Display, will consist of multiple glass cases in which individual performance artists will depict stylized aspects of isolation, destabilization and the need to be seen. These cases are going to be placed at the site of another partner, Devil’s River Whiskey Distillery.

Another example is Davila’s contemporary dance project, They Taught You Wrong: Matanoia. The piece wants to draw attention to the existence of widespread domestic violence in Mexico. To see her piece, you can stop by the Majestic Theater’s box-office and watch a video introduction to her work.

The artworks will be on display from Oct.21 through Oct.30. For more information, go to www.luminariaSA.org

Hispanic Heritage Month continues with more events and celebrations. This Saturday, Oct.3, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center will stream Viva Mi Cultura, a program featuring the Guadalupe Dance Company and the resident mariachi ensemble, the Mariachi Azteca, performing dances and songs of different regions of Mexico. The fun starts at 6 p.m. The event will also include a special presentation by Enrique Guerra on “History Through Art” sponsored by the Briscoe Western Art Museum, and a presentation by Luminaria on the connecting power of art. To watch go to TVSA, the city website or its YouTube channel.

The Guadalupe is also starting a new crop of art classes in salsa, ballet & Lyrical jazz, and folkloric dance. Find them on the center’s website www.guadalupeclturalarts.org

Another Hispanic Heritage Month virtual event, a concert showcasing several groups, is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 4, also at 6 p.m.  Named Sunday of Music (Domingo de Musica), the concert will showcase performances by the Soli Chamber Ensemble, YOSA, Las Texicana Mamas, and Conjunto Heritage Taller. It’s definitely worth tuning in, especially to hear the fabulous trio, the Texicana Mamas. Also, on TVSA and https://www.getcreativesanantonio.com

For information you may call the city’s Department of Arts and Culture at 210-206-ARTS.

The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts forwarded an invite to spend An Evening of New York Songs and Stories with Suzanne Vega scheduled to be live-streamed from the Big Apple’s Blue Note Jazz Club on Oct. 7 at 9 p.m. EDT. The Grammy-winning artist will be celebrating the release of her new, career-spanning album titled, in fact, “An Evening of New York Songs and Stories.” She will be accompanied by guitarist and producer Gerry Leonard, and other musicians. Tickets are $20, https://go.seated.com/events/40269c3d-1d65-4c00-8800-29d7003e9f4b/info

And we want to remind you about the Musical Movie Marathon at the Tobin that we told you about last week. Coming up are Chicago on Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Moana, a kids’ musical, at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are only $5; tickets@tobincenter.org. You can also buy tickets in-person or call 210-223-8624

Next Wednesday, Oct. 7 is the last Zoom poetry workshop with Laura Van Prooyen presented by the Gemini Ink Writing Arts Center. Titled Line, Voice, Story: Let the Poetry of Larry Levis Be Our Guide, the workshop involves reading Levis’ work and “writing in response together,” followed by independent writing by each participant. Materials will be provided in advance when you register. Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online: www.geminiink.org

And another reminder: Red Dot Art Sale is still going on at the Blue Star Contemporary until Oct.4. You may want to see what is still available. If you are interested in contemporary visual art, this might be an opportunity to buy an artwork for your home or office. www.bluestarcontmporary.org.  If you prefer to see the art in-person, call 210-227-6960 to make an appointment.

URBAN-15’s October Hidden Histories episode, “The Gift of Vision: San Antonio Youth Cinema 2006-20016” delves into the rich local culture of youth media education. One young filmmaker who died in 2006 inspired the annual Josiah Media Festival, one of the longest running youth film festivals in the world. The Hidden Histories episodes premiere on the first Monday of each month and are repeated every Monday throughout that month: www.urban15.org

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