Tag: Arts and entertainment

OrigamiintheGarden² opens this weekend at the San Antonio Botanical Garden

White Bison by Kevin Box and Robert J. Lang. Photo: sabot.org

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is excited to announce the opening of its newest exhibition, OrigamiintheGarden² this weekend.  It will be on display from Saturday September 19 to Sunday May 9, 2020. Making its Texas debut, this incredible outdoor sculpture exhibition, created by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box, captures the delicate nature of the origami paper art form in museum quality metal. Displayed within beautiful garden settings are examples of typical origami: soaring birds, gliding airplanes, galloping ponies, floating boats and emerging butterflies.  The exhibition features Box’s own compositions as well as collaborations with world-renowned origami artists Tim Armijo, Te Jui Fu, Beth Johnson, Michael G. LaFosse and Robert J. Lang. (San Antonio Botanical Garden, 2020)

There will also be a variety of dedicated programs to get visitors involved with the OrigamiintheGarden² exhibit while abiding by CDC guidelines for COVID-19. These include a curated audio tour, paper-making and origami folding classes and Japanese cooking classes. Distance learning opportunities for school groups and adults will focus on the relationship between origami and engineering, the roles plants play in paper creating, the science of paper-making and the life cycle of the butterfly through the lens of origami.  This is all included with general admission and is free for members.

Opening weekend hours are 10a.m. to 2p.m. and includes guided and self-guided exhibition tours, origami inspired hands-on activities, storytelling by Sue Kuentz on Saturday only, cash bar and food prepared by Jason Dady, shaved ice and more. COVID-19 guidelines are listed online.

General admission: members – free, adults – $15, children ages 3 through 13 – $12, children under age 3 – free, military with valid ID – $13, students with valid ID – $13, Museums for All Discount – $3 (must show SNAP or WIC EBT card with valid ID; per person, up to four people). Tickets are available online.

Open call for 2021 Texas Medal of Arts Awards nominees

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Texas Medal of Arts Awards 2019. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

This week, Texas Cultural Trust (TCT) announced that honoree nominations for the eleventh biennial Texas Medal of Arts Awards (TMAA) are now open. More than ever before, the power of the arts has been magnified as an emotional salve, a way to connect, a universal language, an expression of current events and a symbol of hope. The 2021 TMAA will reflect and look ahead to the role the arts play in our lives and our communities, while celebrating the creative excellence, exemplary talents and outstanding contributions by Texans in selected categories. The honoree nomination form is available on the TCT website and is due by Wednesday, July 15. (Texas Cultural Trust, 2020)

The signature event is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, February 23–24, 2021, at various venues across Austin. Chairs will include Texas Cultural Trust 2019 TMAA Honoree and Texas native Brandon Maxwell, TCT Immediate Past Board of Directors Chair Linda LaMantia and TCT Board of Directors Executive Committee Member Judy Robison. Maxwell, who is the Awards’ youngest recipient, is the first to be recognized for fashion design. He launched his eponymous ready-to-wear label in 2015 in New York City and has since gone on to create awarded collections and custom creations. LaMantia, from Laredo, Texas, joined the Texas Cultural Trust board in 2009, and with her family, has supported arts and education for decades. Robison, former chair and board member of the Trust since 2008, from El Paso, has been a lifetime supporter of the arts and culture with extensive experience working in education and arts advocacy.

Since 2001, TCT has presented 117 medals to Texas leaders and luminaries who have achieved excellence through their creative talents, as well as those whose generosity has opened doors to artistic opportunity for Texans of all ages. Culminating in a star-studded celebration, the TMAA raises substantial financial support, visibility and awareness about the power of the arts to enrich a child’s education and enhance our state’s economy and cultural heritage.

Nominees are considered from the following categories: architecture, arts education, arts patron (individual and corporate), dance, design, film, lifetime achievement, fashion design, literary arts, media/multimedia, music (performance and songwriter), television, theater arts and visual arts.

Texas Cultural Trust is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and increasing access and awareness for the arts across the state. Programs of the Texas Cultural Trust include the Texas Medal of Arts Awards, Art Can, Texas Young Masters, Texas Women for the Arts, Partners in the Arts, and Arts Access. Texas Cultural Trust efforts are amplified by its partners who are instrumental in the success of leading a cohesive voice for the arts in education, advocacy, and economic impact in Texas, spotlighting the artistic excellence of our state.

“I was honored to be a Texas Medal of Arts Award recipient last year and knew I wanted a greater role for the 2021 event. I take pride in helping determine the new class of honorees from our great state who will be joining us in February. These honorees, and the arts as a whole, provide an important role to the healing of our communities, and it is a privilege to be in their company.” – Brandon Maxwell

Hopscotch: Light and Sound art exhibit launches this week

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Infinity Boxes by Matt Elson. Courtesy photo, used with permission. 

In art news: Hopscotch, a new, uniquely curated immersive art experience created by local entrepreneurs Nicole Jensen and Hunter Inman, is debuting in Austin this week as an interactive pop-up located at 6100 Airport Blvd. From February 14 through March 31, Hopscotch: Light and Sound will feature 13 distinctive installations and showcase works from a variety of local Austin artists, as well as a selection of national and international artists. (Hopscotch, 2019)

Each room in the 10,000 square foot space contains a different exhibit with colorful design elements from LED lights to live videos and music. Hopscotch is constructed by various artists, the majority of which are Austin-based. Every art activation within the project requires participation from guests and Hopscotch: Light and Sound invites guests to explore the surreal surroundings in a playful manner.

Interactive experiences range from controlling the clouds and weather via balloons to painting with light through an infrared brush by hand. Olya, presented by the only international artist, invites viewers into an immersive space of complicated multidimensional structures and light. Infinity Boxes by Matt Elson uses color, lights, and mirrors to construct beautiful boxes that draw viewers in; it’s an optical illusion project that asks visitors to take a closer look at human perception and social interaction, much like the public’s relationship to social media.

Hours of operation for Hopscotch are 4p.m. to 11p.m. on Fridays, 1p.m. to 11p.m. on Saturdays and 1p.m. to 8p.m. on Sundays. Additional hours and dates will be added. Tickets are $23 for ages 13 and up, $15 for children ages 4 to 12 and children 3 and under are free. Hopscotch is 18 and up after 7p.m. For this exhibit, Hopscotch has collaborated with local artists, collaboratives, non-profits and creative brands like Deep Eddy Vodka and neighboring Brewtorium. Hopscotch Austin will also have a bar on site and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from Deep Eddy Vodka.

Proceeds from the Light & Sound exhibit will be donated to a local art focused non-profit. Following the limited Austin pop-up series, Hopscotch will be opening in downtown San Antonio for a permanent, new exhibition in late summer 2019 and is set to feature different San Antonio-based artists. More details will be announced at a later date.

Hopscotch
1600 Airport Blvd
Austin, TX 78752

Theater review: ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’

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‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ is playing this month at the Woodlawn Theatre.  Photo courtesy of the Woodlawn Theatre, used with permission. 

‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ opened last weekend at the Woodlawn Theatre and runs until December 23.  It is based on the “coat of many colors” biblical story of Joseph and is completely sung through with limited spoken dialogue.  Joseph was his father’s favorite and that made his 11 brothers jealous and they vowed to get rid of him.  Instead of killing him they sell him as a slave to traveling merchants who take him to Egypt.  Eventually he rises to power and ends up helping and forgiving his brothers despite what they did to him.

The story begins with the introduction of the brothers and their obvious dislike for Joseph for being their father’s favorite, especially after his father gives him a coat of many colors during “Joseph’s Coat.”  This disdain grows as Joseph tells them of his dreams which suggest that in the future they will bow down to him.  Travis Eades does an outstanding job of bringing the character of Joseph to life and his vocals are strong, especially during his poignant solo on “Close Every Door.”  The brothers work well together as a group and play off each other’s strengths during group performances like “One More Angel in Heaven,” “Those Canaan Days” and “Benjamin Calypso.”  The scene stealer of Act II is Trey Hoadley, who plays Pharaoh and gives an “Elvis-like” performance on “Song of the King.”  He even goes down to the audience and gives one of his scarves away while the audience cheers him on.   “Joseph Megamix” wraps up the night as the cast, now dressed in colorful tie-dye outfits, performs a medley of the night’s songs as they dance with the audience and file past them to the lobby.

Overall “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor” is filled with humor, catchy musical numbers and universal themes of family and forgiveness. The cast is big and sometimes the stage looks crowded but the family friendly story line makes it a must see for the season. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m.  Additional show dates are on Wednesday December 21 and Thursday December 22 at 7:30p.m.  Tickets are available online or by calling the box office at (210) 267-8388.

‘The Santaland Diaries’ at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio

 

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John Stillwagon in ‘The Santaland Diaries’ opening this week at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio.  Photo by Kaitin Muse, used with permission.

Opening at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio this week is ‘The Santaland Diaries.’ This one man show is based on the true chronicles of NPR comic genius David Sedaris’ experience as Crumpet the Elf in Macy’s Santaland display. In this cult classic he talks about some of his odd experiences during the height of the holiday crunch. John Stillwagon stars as Sedaris’ not so merry alter ego Crumpet the Elf with Kelly and Bart Roush directing. It opens on Friday December 9 with subsequent shows on December 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. and 7p.m. (The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, 2016)

Tickets are $20 for general admission and may be purchased online or by calling the box office at (210) 589-8450. Group rates are available. There will be a complimentary eggnog reception on opening night Friday December 9. Please note that ‘The Santaland Diaries’ is recommended for ages 14 and over as it contains mature content and language and the secret of Santa is exposed.

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 589-8450

‘All is Calm’ opens this Friday at The Playhouse San Antonio

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‘All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914’ opens this Friday December 2 at The Playhouse San Antonio.  Photo by Daniel D Baumer, used with permission.

Opening this Friday December 2 at The Playhouse San Antonio is ‘All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914.’ It will run until Sunday December 18 in the Russell Hill Rogers Theatre. George Green and Bill Gundry co-direct with musical direction by Nicholas Ponting. Show times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sundays at 3p.m. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling the box office at (210) 733-7258. Prices are $30 for general adult, $23 for military with valid ID, $23 for seniors aged 60 and up, $15 for students with valid ID and $12 for children aged 12 and under. Group rates are available for groups of ten or more. (The Playhouse San Antonio, 2016)

‘All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914’ by Peter Rothstein has musical arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C Takach. It is set in 1914, at the Western Front, where out of the violence comes a silence, then a song. When a German soldier steps into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht” it brings about a night of camaraderie, music and peace. A remarkable true experience, it is told in the words and songs of the men who lived it. This acapella musical highlights the beauty and power of the human spirit during the darkest of days. On December 17 there will be a special double feature of ‘All is Calm’ and ‘A Marcsmen Christmas.’ The performances start at 7p.m. and purchasing a ticket to this night allows for entrance to both performances.

The Playhouse San Antonio
800 West Ashby Place
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 733-7258

‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ at the Woodlawn Theatre

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‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ opens at the Woodlawn Theatre on Friday November 25, 2016. Photo courtesy of Woodlawn Theatre, used with permission. 

The Woodlawn Theatre is wrapping up its current season with the local production of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.’ It being their holiday show, it opens this Friday November 25 and runs through Friday December 23, 2016. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Additional show dates are on Wednesday December 21 and Thursday December 22 at 7:30p.m. Tickets are available online or by calling the box office at (210) 267-8388. Prices are $17 for students and children, $23 for seniors and military and $26 for adults with an additional $3 service fee. Groups of ten or more receive a 20% discount. (Woodlawn Theatre, 2016)

‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ is a musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is based on the “coat of many colors” biblical story of Joseph and is completely sung through with limited spoken dialogue. This musical journey is a mixture of high energy music and dancing with a family friendly storyline, universal themes and catchy music. It stars Travis Eades as Joseph with Michelle Pietri as choreographer and William McGrary as music director. Musical styles range from country-western to calypso, bubble-gum pop and rock and roll. Classic songs include “Any Dream Will Do,” “Benjamin Calypso” and the unforgettable “Go, Go, Go Joseph.”

Woodlawn Theatre
1920 Fredericksburg Rd
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 267-8388