Carmen will open theatrically in major cities and on Video on Demand on September 23, 2022. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Carmen is perhaps veteran director and accomplished actor Valerie Buhagiar’s most joyous film outing yet. Set in a sun-dappled village in Malta in the 1980s, Natascha McElhone gives a career-best performance as a 50-year-old woman finding a new start in life through romance. Carmen will be released in the US Theatrically in major cities and on VOD in the US and Canada on Friday, September 23, 2022. (Good Deed Entertainment, 2022)
In a small Mediterranean village, Carmen has looked after her brother, the local priest, for her entire life. When the Church abandons Carmen, she is mistaken for the new priest. Carmen begins to see the world, and herself, in a new light. In Malta, it is tradition for the younger sister to devote her life to the church when an older brother enters the priesthood. Inspired by true events, Carmen lives a life of servitude from the age of 16 until 50, when her brother dies. Realizing her own mortality, she leaves the church and makes up for lost time.
Carmen is Buhagiar’s third feature film as a director. She first burst on the scene as a performer in such classic Canadian films as ROADKILL (1989) and HIGHWAY 61 (1991). Other indelible feature performances include EXPECTING (2002), A WINTER TALE (2007), and ADRIATICO MY LOVE (2011). Malta, Canada- 2021, 88 minutes, in English and Maltese. Director: Valerie Buhagiar Starring: Natascha McElhone, Michaela Farrugia, Steven Love.
US Theaters include New York – Cinema Village and Los Angeles – Laemmle Monica with exclusive engagements in Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco (Bay Area), Columbus, and more. US Video on Demand platforms include Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, XFinity Cable, and more.
Good Deed Entertainment (GDE) is an Ohio based independent studio dedicated to producing, financing, and distributing quality entertainment for under-served audiences. Its distribution slate includes recent releases Summertime, Ma Belle, My Beauty, and Lucky Grandma, in addition to the Academy Award nominated, Loving Vincent, and Spirit Award nominated, To Dust.
Peak behind the curtain of The Classic Theatre’s Groundbreaking Season 15. Photo: google
The Classic Theatre of San Antonio’s upcoming 15th season promises to entertain and delight audiences in an exciting new way, as the award-winning theatre takes the performing arts on the road to a variety of unique – and at times atypical – “theatre locations” across the city. A primary goal is to create a new innovative and accessible theatre experience that will change the way people view and engage with theatre productions in San Antonio. (The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, 2022)
Here is what The Classic Theatre is bringing to theater goers this upcoming season:
Roosters, September 8 – 25, 2022 Roosters tells the passionate and symbolic story of a family in the American Southwest. The crux of the play is the battle for supremacy between a father, Gallo, who wants to exploit the family’s fighting rooster, which his son has been looking after, and Hector, his son, who argues that they should sell the animal and use the proceeds for family needs.
The Classic’s production of Roosters will be held outside at La Zona, Centro San Antonio’s newest outdoor placemaking space in the heart of the Alamo City. Tickets are currently on sale via The Classic’s website, classictheatre.org.
A Christmas Carol, December 1-18, 2022 A Christmas Carol recounts the beloved story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. Deftly performed by one talented actor at the beautiful and historic Maverick Carter House museum, this lively production is sure to put patrons in the holiday spirit and will feature musical ambiance from some of San Antonio’s most beloved classical music groups.
Fences, February 9-26, 2023(Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m.) An American classic and moving family drama, Fences, is the story of Troy Maxson, a father struggling with the bitterness of the past while supporting his wife and children in 1950s Pittsburgh. This Pulitzer-Prize winning play depicts the evolving Black experience in America and explores what happens when one family’s dreams are deferred.
The Classic Theatre of San Antonio is proud to partner with The Carver Community Cultural Center to bring a production of August Wilson’s, Fences, to the stage.
Bound By Truth, March 2023 a Second Series production A one time only workshop performance of a new work by local playwright Sheila Reinear. This play tells the story of young Meg Roper, a woman in King Henry VIII’s court. Passion, intrigue, and a matching of wits makes this piece engaging for any history buff. The Classic is proud to present this “Second Series” production to our city featuring local performers and design work from Broadway professionals.
Date and location to be announced.
Measure for Measure, May 2023 – San Antonio’s official Shakespeare in the Park experience. Isabella, a young nun, is asked by a city official, Angelo, to sacrifice her vow of chastity in order to save her imprisoned brother’s life. Measure for Measure is Shakespeare’s most famous “problem play” mixing elements of comedy and extreme drama. This evocative theatre experience continues to ask the viewer to examine what roles women are asked to play in our society.
Dates and location to be announced.
Peter and the Starcatcher, July 2023, Free Summer Musical Tony-winning Peter and the Starcatcher upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be Peter Pan. Peter and the Starcatcher will be free for the public as a gift to our city from The Classic Theatre of San Antonio. A hilarious musical comedy, Peter and the Starcatcher offers, pirates, mermaids, and family fun for all. Peter Pan themed summer camps for kids will be announced in the spring.
Dates and location to be announced.
The Classic Theatre of San Antonio is a nonprofit professional theatre in San Antonio, Texas, committed to producing theatre that is relevant, diverse, entertaining and transformative. We produce five main stage shows a year, as well as our Second Series, a series of smaller productions, partnering with local and national artists. The Classic Theatre of San Antonio was founded in 2008 by Chris Cheever, Asia Ciaravino, Anthony Ciaravino, Diane Malone, Rick Malone, Terri Peña Ross, and Allan S. Ross, and counts among its credits more than 70 Alamo Theatre Arts Council (ATAC) Awards.
Diary of a White Woman ‘Susan Strange’ is available on Kindle through Amazon. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Albert Allen III is a biologist, author, and artist from Oceanside, California. He studied at Loma Linda University and currently lives in Rancho Mirage, California. His short story Diary of a White Woman “SusanStrange” is available on Amazon in Kindle format for $5.99. (Albert Allen III, 2022)
Diary of a White Woman “Susan Strange” is a short story about a white woman named Susan who has reached the edge of dealing with the madness of society. Susan spews on the insanity of Men, War, Religion, Family, Death, and the true meaning of it all. “If you have the letter M on both palms, you likely live outside the matrix, and produce a high Vibrational frequency. Higher intelligence, Heightened senses, and most of the M People have experienced UFO sightings and visits from beings named the “Watchers,” that travel through dimensional portals. The M People are the healers of Earth and direct lineage to Mary, the Mother of Christ, the Son of GOD.”
Fiona Apple Joins Watkins Family Hour On “(Remember Me) I’m The One Who Loves You” From Upcoming Album Vol. II due out August 19, 2022. Vol. II features guests Jackson Browne, Lucius, Madison Cunningham, and many more. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Watkins Family Hour is a collaborative musical project founded by musicians and siblings Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins and traditionally held at the beloved Los Angeles club Largo. Since the first Watkins Family Hour show in 2002, the duo has released three studio albums, debuting with their self-titled album in 2015, following with Brother Sister in 2020, and, most recently, releasing Vol. II in August 2022. Sean and Sara recorded Vol. II at Los Angeles’ East West Studios in early 2022 alongside a stacked roster of longtime and new Family Hour collaborators, including Fiona Apple, Jackson Browne, Madison Cunningham, Lucius, Jon Brion, and more. As with their debut, the band will tour in support of Vol. II, bringing the Watkins Family Hour experiences to stages far and wide. Vol. II will be released August 19, 2022. (Watkins Family Hour, 2022)
The group shared “(Remember Me) I’m the One Who Loves You” from Vol. II; a track that features former Family Hour touring band member, longtime fixture at Largo, and wholly singular artist in her own right, Fiona Apple. Watkins Family Hour’s “(Remember Me)” kicks off with long-time Heartbreaker Benmont Tench’s honky-tonk piano and ends with Greg Leisz’s slinky pedal steel; the two enveloping a smile-inducing performance crowned by Sara, Sean, and Fiona’s three-part blend in the song’s iconic choruses. “I first heard this Stuart Hamblen song while going down an Ernest Tubb rabbit hole,” remembers Sara. “It’s hard for us to resist a country shuffle with attitude like this one. It’s our favorite kind of thing to sing with Fiona Apple.”
Vol. II follows Watkins Family Hour’s sophomore album Brother Sister, which they released as the COVID-19 pandemic began taking hold of the globe and, in turn, shut down the live music industry. That record was, serendipitously, a quieter affair, showcasing the musical interplay between Sara and Sean that keeps the Family Hour heart beating. In many ways, it is also a successor to Watkins Family Hour, the self-titled 2015 album that introduced the band to a broader audience and sent them, along with some of their closest collaborators, out on the road to tour.
As both Sean and Sara continue to work on their own solo music, as well as with their other bands like Nickel Creek and I’m With Her, Watkins Family Hour remains an invaluable resource and respite for them both, offering a familiar but ever-evolving space to test new ideas, meet new collaborators and, most importantly, have a good time doing what they love.
“It’s been really exciting to be part of this thing that is happening and growing and enables us to dig deep into this musical community,” Sean says. “The consistency has been invaluable to both of us, as musicians.” Sara adds, “But also, in life, the Family Hour has been and continues to be a huge part of making us feel anchored in the crazy city of Los Angeles.”
Vol. II track list: The Way I Feel Inside (Ft. Lucius) Hypnotized Pitseleh (Feat. Madison Cunningham) Thanks a Lot (Ft. Jon Brion) The Late Show (Ft. Jackson Browne) Tennessee Waltz (Ft. Benmont Tench) She Left Me Standing on the Mountain (Ft. Willie Watson) We Were Meant to Be Together On the Outside (Ft. Gaby Moreno) (Remember Me) I’m the One Who Loves You (Ft. Fiona Apple) Grief and Praise (Ft. Madison Cunningham)
Catch Watkins Family Hour on tour: August 13 – Lexington, VA – Lime Kiln Theater August 14 – York, PA – Susquehanna Folk Festival September 16 – Cincinnati, OH – Longworth-Anderson Series at Memorial Hall September 17 – Nashville, TN – Americana Fest September 18 – Indianapolis, IN – The Toby Theatre September 20 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark September 21 – Kent, OH – Kent Stage September 22 – Ft. Wayne, IN – Clyde Theatre September 23 – Bay Harbor, MI – Great Lakes Center for the Arts September 24 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk Music September 25 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk Music November 13 – Beaverton, OR – The Reser
Jim Lauderdale’s new album Game Changer will be out August 26, 2022. That Kind of Life (That Kind of Day) is the new single from the album. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In a flurry of steel guitar and raucous drum beats, Americana renaissance man Jim Lauderdale kicks off Game Changer—his 35th full-length album—with “That Kind Of Life (That Kind Of Day),” a rollicking ode to what Jim calls “the sentiment and wishes for others to have a good life.” Lauderdale had the instrumental twin guitar/steel hook in his head when he sat down to write “That Kind Of Life.” American Songwriterpremiered the track and called it “a message of the times, delivered like only Lauderdale can in a blended Americana fuse.” Fans can listen to “That Kind Of Life (That Kind Of Day)” now and pre-order or pre-saveGame Changer ahead of its August 26 release. (Jim Lauderdale, 2022)
In addition to the exciting news of Lauderdale’s new album, he has also just been named a 2022 nominee for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Lauderdale, along with eleven other of his contemporaries, will be celebrated at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala in October where the Class of 2022 Hall of Fame inductees will be announced.
Operating under his own label, Sky Crunch Records, for the first time since 2016, Lauderdale recorded Game Changer at the renowned Blackbird Studios in Nashville, co-producing the release with Jay Weaver and pulling from songs he had written over the last several years. “There’s a mixture on this record of uplifting songs and, at the same time, songs of heartbreak and despair—because that’s part of life as well,” he says. “In the country song world especially, that’s always been part of it. That’s real life.”
At any given time, you are likely to find Jim Lauderdale making music, whether he is laying down a new track in the studio or working through a spontaneous melody at his home in Nashville. If he is not actively crafting new music, he is certainly thinking about it. “It’s a constant challenge to try to keep making better and better records, write better and better songs. I still always feel like I’m a developing artist,” he says. This may be a surprising sentiment from a man who’s won two Grammys, released 34 full-length albums, and taken home the Americana Music Association’s coveted Wagonmaster Award. His forthcoming album Game Changer is convincing evidence that the North Carolina native is only continuing to hone his craft.
Catch Jim Lauderdale on tour: August 13 – Maggie Valley, NC – Songwriting Camp August 26 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry August 31 – Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley album release show September 11 – Bristol, VA – Bristol Rhythm and Roots September 13-17 – Nashville, TN – AmericanaFest September 24 – Nashville, TN – Tommy Emmanuel’s CMA Theatre September 25 – Nashville, TN – Tommy Emmanuel’s Guitar Camp October 7 – Augusta, GA – Summer Series October 8 – Pelham, TN – Cave Fest @ The Caverns October 12 – Jacksonville Beach, FL – Blue Jay Listening Room October 13 – Live Oak, FL – Suwanee Roots Revival 2022 October 21 – Pomeroy, OH – Songwriter Weekend Fur Peace Ranch November 3 – Los Angeles, CA – Outlaw Country West 2022
Potluck Hospitality announces Carriqui opening date for September 2, 2022. Image courtesy of Don B. McDonald Architect, used with permission.
Potluck Hospitality is excited to announce that the highly anticipated 380-seat restaurant Carriqui will be opening to the public at Pearl on Friday, September 2, 2022, offering lunch and dinner service seven days a week. Named after the green jay of South Texas, the flightpath of the carriqui is the inspiration for the menu, which showcases South Texas foodways—from the Rio Grande Valley to the Texas coast and north to San Antonio. Such menu items include fresh seafood from the Gulf, Rio Grande-inspired botana platters, pit-cooked barbacoa and brisket, a masa program, and a robust cocktail and beverage program. (Potluck Hospitality, 2022)
Led by Executive Chef Jaime Gonzales, Carriqui is opening in the historic building formerly home to Boehler’s Liberty Saloon and Liberty Bar. The restaurant features three different main dining spaces: The Carriqui House, The Rock House and Courtyard & Back Porch. Private dining options for large groups and parties will also be available.
Business hours: Open seven days a week Sunday through Wednesday: 11a.m. – 10p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 11a.m. – 11p.m.
Carriqui 239 E Grayson St. San Antonio, TX 78215
Founded in 2022, Potluck Hospitality conceives, operates, manages, and partners on culinary and experiential brands in San Antonio, TX. Potluck Hospitality concepts include Best Quality Daughter, Brasserie Mon Chou Chou, Carriqui, Food Hall at Bottling Dept., Ladino, and Stable Hall (coming 2023). Potluck’s team is made up of chefs, designers, strategists in culture-crafting, brand, and finance that all share a love of food and gathering. Potluck Hospitality’s name pays tribute to memorable experiences with great food, great music, and great company–where everyone has something to contribute. Being together, sharing meals, and communally experiencing music is elemental to what it means to be human.
Taco Cabana celebrates Hatch Chile season with a new limited-time Hatch Chile Margarita and a full platform of new menu items. Photo: Taco Cabana, used with permission.
Launching August 17, 2022, for the first time in the company’s history and in celebration of Hatch Chile season, Taco Cabana is offering all-new Hatch Chile Smoked Pulled Pork menu options at all Taco Cabana locations in Texas. Guests can enjoy Tacos for $3.19, a three-pack of Street Tacos served with Hatch Chile Ranch for $4.99, a Breakfast Bowl for $5.49, and a Crunchy Burrito served with Hatch Chile Ranch and tortilla chips for $8.59. Items are available for a limited-time only and while supplies last. (Taco Cabana, 2022)
Following the launch of Taco Cabana’s Margarita Headquarters, guests 21 years of age or older can enjoy the perfect complement to the new Hatch Chile food items – a refreshing frozen margarita with a kick, the all-new $4 Hatch Chile Margarita. The spicy tequila beverage will be this season’s rotating flavor offered alongside Taco Cabana’s 12 permanent margarita options available for $3 each all-day, every day.
“Hatch Chile season in Texas is a tradition, one that Texans look forward to every year. For the first time in Taco Cabana’s 40+ year history, we wanted to celebrate Hatch season with an exciting new Hatch Chile platform showcasing both food and beverage items. We’re introducing a Hatch Chile Breakfast Bowl, a Crunchy Burrito made with tortilla strips and adding to our recent Margarita Headquarters launch, a one-of-a-kind Hatch Chile Margarita. Guests can also enjoy Hatch Chile flavors with Taco Cabana favorites like street tacos and tacos served on our warm flour tortillas made daily in-restaurant.” – Ulyses Camacho, Taco Cabana’s Chief Operating Officer
Taco Cabana’s limited-time Hatch Chile menu options can be ordered in-restaurant, via online ordering for front counter and curbside pick-up, in the drive-thru, or by mobile order when using the MY TC!® App or ordering online.
Taco Cabana, a subsidiary of YTC Enterprises, LLC, was founded in 1978. The brand specializes in Tex-Mex-inspired food including enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, flautas, tacos, flour tortillas, and a selection of made-from-scratch salsas and sauces. Restaurants feature open-display cooking, a selection of bottled beer and signature tequila margaritas, patio dining, drive-thru windows, curbside pick-up, delivery, and catering. As of August 8, 2022, Taco Cabana operates 143 company-owned restaurants in Texas.
Movie poster for the movie adaptation of ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ by Shirley Jackson Photo: google
Shirley Jackson was one of the most brilliant and influential authors of the twentieth century. She is widely known for her supernatural stories and novels, including the well-known short story The Lottery and the best-selling novel “The Haunting of Hill House.” (Shirley Jackson, 2022)
“We Have Always Lived in the Castle”is a 1962 mystery novel by American author Shirley Jackson. The novel is written in the voice of eighteen year old Mary Katherine ‘Merricat’ Blackwood who lives with her sister and uncle on an estate in Vermont. Six years before the events of the novel, the Blackwood family experienced a tragedy that left the three survivors isolated from their small village. It is the story about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at the estate. The movie adaptation is available to stream on Peacock, Amazon Prime, and Roku, among other services. (amazon, Wikipedia, 2022)
We Have Always Lived in the Castle is an American mystery thriller directed by Stacie Passon and written by Mark Kruger. It stars Taissa Farmiga, Alexandra Daddario, Crispin Glover, and Sebastian Stan. The arrival of a cousin with ulterior motives threatens the claustrophobic and isolated world of two sisters and their uncle.
The television adaptation of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper graphic novel is now on Netflix. Photo: amazon
Heartstopper is a young adult LGBTQ+ ongoing graphic novel and webcomic series written and illustrated by British author Alice Oseman. The novel follows the lives of shy and softhearted Charlie Springs and rugby player Nick Nelson who sit next to each other in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who does not think he has a chance. Nick is struggling with feelings of his own and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works. This coming-of-age story has been adapted into a television series and is now streaming on Netflix. It has received critical acclaim and has already been renewed for a second and third season. (amazon, 2022)
Heartstopperis a British coming-of-age romantic comedy television series on Netflix. Written by Alice Oseman herself, the series primarily tells the story of Charlie Spring, a gay schoolboy who falls in love with classmate Nick Nelson, whom he sites next to in school. Starring Joe Locke, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Corinna Brown, and Kizzy Edgell, it also explores the lives of Tao, Elle, Tara, and Darcy.
Detective Michael Bennett is back in ‘Shattered,’ the new novel in the series. Photo: amazon
James Patterson is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. His books have sold in excess of 375 million copies worldwide. He is the author of some of the most popular series of the past two decades – the Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club, Detective Michael Bennett and Private novels – and he has written many other number one bestsellers including romance novels and stand-alone thrillers. Inspired by his own son who was a reluctant reader, he also writes a range of books for young readers including the Middle School, I Funny, Treasure Hunters, Dog Diaries and Max Einstein series. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops. James O. Born is an award-winning crime and science-fiction novelist with over twenty published novels and a career law-enforcement agent. They are co-authors of the new Michael Bennett novel “Shattered.” In the 14th novel in the series, nothing can tear Detective Michael Bennett away from his new bride, except the murder of the woman who was his partner and best friend. (amazon, 2022)
“Shattered” – NYPD master homicide investigator Michael Bennett and top FBI abduction specialist Emily Parker have a history. Working case after case, each can predict the other’s next move. So when she fails to show at FBI headquarters in Washington, DC, Bennett risks venturing far outside his jurisdiction. The investigation he undertakes is the most brilliant detective work of his career and the most intensely personal. A portrait begins to emerge of a woman as adept at keeping secrets as forging powerful connections. A woman whose enemies had both the means and the motives to silence the real Emily Parker—and her protectors.
SA Examiner 