The Playbook: A Story of Theater, Democracy, and the Making of a Culture War by James ShapiroReviewed by Steven G. Kellman For four heady, embattled years, 1935-1939, the United States indulged in an audacious artistic experiment – a government-sponsored network of cutting-edge theatrical productions in cities and towns throughout the country. Conceived during the Depression, as part of the …
NEWS ROUNDUP 6,20, 2025 This week’s Roundup will be short. Let’s start with visual arts events. The summer exhibition at the McNay Museum is a comprehensive survey of Jody Folwell’s career. The press release says: “Encounter the merging of tradition and innovation through iconic pottery in “O’ Powa O’ Meng: The Art and Legacy of Jody Folwell.” A contemporary potter …
The arts scene is getting quieter now that summer is almost upon us. But let’s see what is going on. The Inaugural Concert of The North East Wind Symphony, titled “The First” will be full of fanfares, big grand works and world premieres, as the ensemble is introducing itself to the public. Conducted by founder, Matthew Ramirez, and associated conductor, …
NEWS ROUNDUP, June 5, 2025 The arts scene is getting quieter now that summer is almost upon us. But let’s see what is going on. The Inaugural Concert of The North East Wind Symphony, titled “The First” will be full of fanfares, big grand works and world premieres, as the ensemble is introducing itself to the public. Conducted by founder, …
“ENDLING” by MARIA REVA Reviewed by Steven Kellman During the current Sixth Mass Extinction, two million species are, according to a study published in 2023, in imminent peril. Pity the endlings, the last survivors of species on the verge of disappearing. Pity poor humanity, largely responsible for the accelerated extinctions that endanger it as well. At the outset of …
A Tribute to ABBA, The Ultimate ABBA Tribute will feature the big hits like “Mama Mia.” “SOS“Waterloo,” “Dancing Queen’ and others. (June 5 at 8 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing ArtsYou can get tickets by calling 210-223-8624 or at tickets@tobincenter.org; also tobi.tobincenter.org) Jazz Meets Classical, an evening where two musical worlds “collide in perfect harmony.” The concert brings together …
The San Antonio Philharmonic is closing its season with the powerful Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. “Resurrection,” conducted by Music Director Jeffrey Kahane and featuring the wonderful San Antonio Mastersingers and soloists Erica Petrocelli, soprano and Josefina Maldonado, mezzo-soprano. According to the press release, Kahane has described this monumental work as one that changed his life the first time he heard …
Remember the opening of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park back in 2017? It was good news for San Antonio both for practical reasons and as a place to come for a walk, in pleasant surroundings, with original art on the cliffs. Now, all the construction is done and it’s time to celebrate. The grand finale event took place May …
Eternal Summer by Franziska Gänsler Reviewed by Steven G. Kellman The grand spas of Europe provide elegant settings for wondrous human collisions in works by Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Thomas Mann, and others. But Bad Heim, the German resort town in Franziska Gänsler’s sizzling debut novel is extraordinarily hot – in the sense not of trendy but scalding. Wildfires …
NEWS ROUNDUP, 5/9/2025 Lots of good music coming our way!The San Antonio Philharmonic is ready for its season finale and is inviting music lovers to “Phil the Hall” for the last concert of the season. On the program: Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection,” conducted by Music Director Jeffrey Kahane and featuring the mighty San Antonio Mastersingers and soloists Erica Petrocelli …
