Arts Alive San Antonio

Good news from the city’s Department of Arts & Culture!

Aware of the hardship experienced by many artists, arts organizations and businesses, our local government is trying to help one more time. “We understand the significant impact COVID-19 has had on our arts community,” says the city’s announcement. These changes have been devastating to the organizations, people and supporters that make our city come alive through art.”

The new assistance effort, SA CARES 4 Art, is inviting nonprofits and individual artists that have suffered business interruption between March 13 and December 30, 2020, to apply for grants. Depending on size and mission, organizations may qualify for up to 15 % of their overall budget while individuals may qualify for up to $5,000. The application deadline is July 30 at 11:59 p.m.

For details and tutorial videos, go to: https://www.getcreativesanantonio.com/Grants

There’s also news from the Overtime Theater. Like so many performing arts producers, the Overtime has put its shows online. Currently streaming is “An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe: The Man, The Myth, The Legend,” written by Derek Berlin, who is also portraying the title character. The show originally premiered in 2019, winning eight ATAC GLOBE AWARDS including Original Script, Original Music, Direction and Lead Actor.

The play starts a week before the legendary writer’s death as he is found wandering the streets of Baltimore, delirious and incoherent. Berlin then takes viewers inside Poe’s “dream state where he narrates his life’s journey.” Considering Poe’s life and oeuvre, that should be fascinating.

The video is on Overtime’s website, available on demand. A single ticket is $10, but the entire family can watch for $20. To get tickets:https://www.showtix4u.com/events/17272/?event=38703&date=106153.

And there’s more news from the Overtime. Through an agreement with the Public Theater of San Antonio, the company will perform at least one of its shows at the San Pedro Playhouse next year, potentially reaching a wider and different audience. (More about that and the Public’s season coming up tomorrow.)

Another video that you may not want to miss is a performance by the wonderful songstress, Azul Barrientos, the star of Noche Azul, a concert series normally hosted by the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. This writer first heard Barrientos’ singing years ago in a dance production at the Carver Center. Her voice was a deep, resonant alto that made a strong impression.  Some years later, she reappeared on the Esperanza stage, singing Mexican and Latin songs, usually presented in the context of a thematic program.

Now, Noche Azul has moved online and added a food component showcasing foods from different regions of Mexico. This Sunday’s program, Noche Azul Sabor de Mexico – Oaxaca, will feature a chef from that region, identified only as Mario, and all the musical numbers will be either traditional Oaxacan songs or songs by Oaxacan composers. However, don’t expect the cooking to be a tutorial. The way it’s described, the chef’s work seems to be incorporated into an overall aesthetic experience.

The show will not be recorded, so there’s only one chance to see it: July 19 at 3 p.m. either on Azul’s FaceBook Page or on Esperanza’s FaceBook page. Also on YouTube. www.facebook.com/azulmusica or
www.facebook.com/EsperanzaCenter/

Last week we told you about the Classic Theater’s virtual community conversation, Amplifying Black Female Voices. We’ve received word that a follow-up is planned for next Wednesday, July 22, 7-8:30 p.m., also via Zoom. Same panel as last week and same facilitator, but the audience will get to ask questions. In fact, it’s referred to as “Audience Q&A.” Go to the Classic’s website and look under”Events.”

More Zoom events: Writing Toward More Socially Just Futures is a poetry workshop led by Texas Poet Laureate Emmy Perez, organized by Gemini Ink. The workshop will examine the poetry of Lucille Clifton, Danez Smith, Ariana Brown, Ross Gay and Gloria Anzaldua, and help participants generate similarly themed work. (July 23, 6:30-830 p.m. $$75-$100.) For details go to https://bit.ly/31LAfLA

And here’s something that’s sure to make you laugh. We all need that!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn8MxJx­_erk