News Roundup, May 14, 2021
This weekend, The Classic Theatre of San Antonio is opening its production of the iconic American play “Our Town,” which will be the last show of the 2020-21 season. It is also the final show to be produced during the tenure of artistic/executive director Kelly Roush, who will be leaving the Classic – and San Antonio – at the end of the month. (More about Roush next week).
The Classic became the first – and as far as we know still the only – local thespian company to fight COVID-19 closures by taking its performances outdoors, to the beautiful San Antonio Botanical Garden. Audiences had no objections. A recent performance of “Antigone” that we attended was sold out.
Directed by Mark Stringham, “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, is a moving story of people living in a small town during the first decade of the 20th century. During the course of the play, we get to know them and empathize with them. It is truly an American classic. (May 13-30; Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 7:30 p.m.; San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place, 78209; for info call 210-589-8450, www.classictheatre.org. )
The other theatrical company in town that keeps on producing shows and has returned to live, in-person performances, is the Woodlawn Theater. Known for musicals, it is currently presenting “The Best of Woodlawn Theatre Revue,” featuring a selection of musical numbers from the previous nine years performed by a “stellar cast.” Social distancing reduces the size of the audience to 175 people. (1920 Fredericksburg Rd., 78201; tickets must be purchased online; go to www.woodlawntheatre.org/shows.) They also have new dates for “On Your Feet!” the show that was canceled last year. It’s the winning story of Emilio and Gloria Esteban.
And there’s The Harlequin Theater based at Fort Sam Houston, which produces mostly musical revues. Years ago, it was a dinner theater presenting a variety of shows, including mysteries and comedies, but today, it’s musical revues year-round. The current one, “Classic Rewind” is focusing on the 1970s music. From what we hear, the performances are enjoyable and fun. (Fort Sam Houston Theater, 2472 Stanley Rd., Fridays-Saturdays through June 5; bar opens at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.; for tickets call 210-222-9694.)
Music of a different type will fill the Tobin Center’s grand hall when the San Antonio Symphony takes to the stage to perform its Classics VII pair of concertsFriday and Saturday. They will be conducted by a woman – Lina Gonzalez-Granados – in a program that includes works by Gabriela Lena Frank, Beethoven, Schubert and Sibelius. Violinist Benjamin Beilman will appear as a soloist in Sibelius’ Suite for Violin and String Orchestra. (May 14-15 at 8 p.m. The Saturday concerts will also be streamed. You can watch it for a donation of $21.; for in-person attendance, purchase tickets at boxoffice@sasymphony.org, or tickets@tobincenter.org. You can also call 210-554-1080.)
The SOLI Chamber Ensemble will perform what promises to be a very memorable concert Sunday at 3 p.m. inside The Texas Public Radio’s Alvarez Theater. It will be broadcast live. For their season finale the group has chosen to play “Quartet for the End of Time” by French composer Olivier Messiaen, who wrote the piece while he was imprisoned during WWII. The quartet premiered in 1941 in a prisoner-of-war camp in Gorlitz, Germany (now part of Poland). There is obviously a grave story behind this music. The other piece SOLI players chose to include in their end-of-season concert is Aaron Jay Kernis’ “Elegy for Those We Lost,” which commemorates the victims of COVID-19. To listen, find KPAC on your radio dial at 88.3 FM or online at www.tpr.org.
The Olmos Ensemble’s season finale on Monday, May 17, is “Windscapes,” featuring guest pianist Anton Nel. Members of the ensemble are Mark Teplitsky, flutist and artistic director; Paul Lueders, oboist; Ilya Shterenberg, clarinetist; Sharon Kuster, bassoon player and horn player Jeff Garza. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Laurel Heights Church, 227 W. Woodlawn Ave.; for tickets
send email to olmosensemble@gmail.com or call 210-269-1925.
Vocalist, songwriter and musician, Aubrey Logan, will perform in San Antonio for the first time May 19 at the Jazz TX club, at the Pearl. The jazz & pop singer is a rising star who won the Audience’s Choice Award and the Jury’s First Place Award at the 2009 Shure Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. She also made it to the finals on American Idol that same year. (Jazz TX, 312 Pearl Parkway, Bldg. 6, Suite 6001; 210-332-9386) More about Logan in an upcoming feature on this site.
Poetry Month is over but there is still some literary news to report on. You may remember that URBAN-15 introduced the Gregg Barrios “Precious Words” Award last month, to be bestowed on a poet chosen by the viewers of their poetry readings during Poetry Month. Well, the viewers have spoken and the award was given to well-known local poet Amalia Ortiz. She will be honored at a special awards ceremony which will take place online May 15 & 16 at 7 p.m. To watch the awards ceremony, go to URBAN-15’s website, https://urban15.org. You can also watch the MEGA CORAZON readings on the organization’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
The First Annual Southside Book Fair, scheduled for Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will take place at the Brooster’s Backyard Icehouse, 815 Pleasanton Rd., 78214. Hosted by Live from the Southside Scooby Van of San Antonio and the Icehouse, it promises to be a family-friendly, free event featuring some well-known authors, such as Octavio Quintanilla, Carmen Tafolla, Adrianna Cuevas, and others. Authors will be happy to sign the books you buy. A kids’ writing contest is part of the event.
Speaking of kids, the DoSeum has something special for them this summer. The new exhibit “Voyage to the Deep” is set up to teach children about the world of marine exploration, submarines and all deep-sea things. According to the press release, the exhibition that originated at the Australian National Maritime Museum, was based on Jules Verne’s 1870 classic “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and brings to life the deep-sea adventures of Captain Nemo, and the mythical world he inhabited. The centerpiece is a giant Nautilus where kids can climb aboard and discover how a submarine works. For tickets and info, go to www.thedoseum.org.
The 2021 JOCI Awards are going virtual but will still award $100,000 in scholarships to S. Texas area high school students who excel in the performing arts. Some of you may remember that Las Casas Foundation launched this scholarship program in honor of Joci Straus, the woman who was instrumental in orchestrating the renovation of the Majestic and Empire Theaters. After that huge task was accomplished, the foundation reinvented itself as a scholarship program for talented young people. This year, 25 young performers will each be awarded a scholarship to the university of their choice. Twenty-six high schools participated. To find out how to watch the awards show – and wonderful performances – visit www.lascasasfoundation.org
The Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival is scheduled for Nov. 13 this year. The organizers have issued a call for submissions from artists who would like to participate. The deadline is May 31. In addition to the in-person project submissions, video performances are also requested for a streaming showcase on Luminaria’s website. If you have questions, email grants@luminariasa.com. Apply on www.AnyArtist.org.
There’s always a great deal of activity on the visual art front, but we are going to mention just two things this time. Ruiz-Healy Art is again taking part in the International Fine Print Dealers Association Fair, better known as IFPDA Fair, which this year will take place online and it’s officially opening May 14 and closing May 28. Ruiz-Healy is presenting a solo exhibition by San Antonio artist Ethel Shipton. Shipton has an entire series, “Which Way to Go,” that features highway exit signs bearing names of small towns, such as Eden, Hope and Happy. The prints can evoke a range of emotions and idea, which Shipton knowns how to elicit by her images and sign arrangements. To view IFPDA offerings go to www.fineartprintfair.org/exhibitions
The second thing is the news that Blue Star Contemporary has designed art-making activities for adolescent and young adult cancer patients being treated in the University Health facilities, to help them cope, heal and have hope. Each kit contains three art activities that stimulate and guide the patients through the creative process. Bravo to BSC’s education manager Mari Hernandez who conceived and organized this project.