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Click the photo on the left to check out select arts and entertainment events in SW Louisiana in an interactive calendar. Or click here to see a comprehensive list of all events sorted by category and venue. |
Soldier wraps film produced by his own company
Posted February 4, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Filed Under Film | 2 Comments
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By ANGELA HAUSER
AMERICAN PRESS
LEESVILLE — U.S. Army Major David Noble just wrapped production on “The Disagreement,” a film about Wonder Woman and Catwoman fighting over a man.
Noble graduated from the University of Tampa with a degree in communications and an undergraduate degree in film. He joined the military in 1992.
Noble published his own fan filmzine, Fan Films Quarterly, until he was deployed to Iraq for a year in 2007.
Noble is now stationed at Fort Polk and has established a film company, Stormfront Entertainment.
“We’re now in a position to stand up as a small independent company,” said Noble. “We have five working projects, all short films. We just wrapped on “The Disagreement,” which we hope to release later this month.”
The film is about a dispute over a man between two women, Catwoman and Wonder Woman.
“We filmed in Baton Rouge over the Martin Luther King weekend,” said Noble. “There is a lot of unsung talent, and I hope this sparks an interest in the local community.”
Noble said film participants came from Leesville, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
While he cannot pay people for now, they are compensated for gas and meals. But that is what independent film is all about, he said.
Noble’s interest began in high school and college with the help of friends.
“You discover what it takes with development to a script, talent, production, post-editing and marketing,” said Noble. “You learn the various aspects of total production and get better over time.”
The focus is on short films, but the goal is a feature-length film.
Noble cited “Paranormal Activity,” a film made for $11,000 that grossed millions through word of mouth by fans.
“That proves it is possible,” said Noble.
Noble set up a Web site last fall with an open call for actors. He is searching for two male actors ages 18-30 for “Hidden Friend,” a Transformers fan film.
There are several films to be cast including “Zydeco,” a horror movie.
Noble stressed the films are a group effort in not only acting but also production skills, photography and music.
Noble said New Orleans musician Billy Iuso is providing the music for “The Disagreement.”
“We are looking for talent willing to come up to Leesville for a one-day shoot on the weekends,” said Noble.
Noble said he is looking at going to Afghanistan in a few months, and expects to stay at Fort Polk for about 18 months.
For more information, go to www.stormfrontentertainment.com.
Domingo sings baritone lead in Met’s ‘Simon Boccanegra’
Posted February 4, 2010 at 5:37 pm
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BY MARY RICHARDSON
SPECIAL TO THE AMERICAN PRESS
Placido Domingo should be very happy. He’s about to turn 69. But instead of taking it easy, he’s singing the main role in the opera “Simon Boccanegra” and getting rave reviews! His birthday party should be one for the books.
“Simon Boccanegra” will be transmitted live at noon Saturday, Feb. 6, to Cinemark 14 at Prien Lake Mall as part of the excellent “The Met: Live in HD” series. Tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and $16 for children at participating theater box offices and www.cinemark.com.
Placido plays a pirate who became the Doge of Genoa by popular acclaim in the 14th century. It’s a part that comes with really great robes and crowns, and the luscious sets are from the1995 production when grandiosity was still in fashion. Still, at the end he has to die. One does that in opera.
This opera is from Giuseppe Verdi’s second tier of operas. It has never been as popular as, say, “Aida” (no elephants), but it is filled with lovely music and some spectacular arias and duets. It’s also filled with love, deception, betrayal, intrigue, curses (as in spells, not bad language — although it is in Italian so who really knows) and murder.
It’s the second time Placido has been a part of this opera. Fifteen years ago he sang the tenor role of the young lover. But his voice has deepened and for the first time at the Met he sings baritone in the part of the tortured Doge of Genoa. The New York Times says he brings “vocal charisma, dramatic dignity and a lifetime of experience to his portrayal.” James Levine conducts and the same reviewer says the “somberly beautiful, nuanced playing he drew from the orchestra” makes it obvious he reveres the score. No wonder the ovations have been stupendous.
The plot of “Simon Boccanegra” is convoluted and twisted. The basic story: A pirate loves a young girl and they have had an illegitimate daughter. The young girl’s father is a nobleman who says the pirate will “never” have her hand; just to make sure, he keeps her locked up in his castle. But political dissidents are plotting to take over the government and they incite the crowd to nominate the pirate for Doge.
The pirate couldn’t care less about politics, but he sees that if he were king he might have enough clout to marry his girl. Meanwhile, the girl dies, but only her father knows it. The baby mysteriously disappears. The pirate is acclaimed Doge just as he discovers the body of his lover. And that’s just the Prologue.
Here are the characters for the Prologue: Simon Boccanegra, pirate; Fiesco, nobleman and father (jailer) of the girl; Paolo and Pietro, leaders of the People’s Party of Genoa.
The real story starts 25 years later, and things have changed. In Act I, the characters are:
• Simon Boccanegra — Now Doge of Genoa.
• Amelia Grimaldi — The grownup baby who disappeared 25 years earlier. She is the daughter of Boccanegra (see above), and granddaughter of Fiesco/Andrea (see below), but no one knows it. She is living as a ward of the Grimaldi family.
• Gabriele — A nobleman who loves Amelia. He is a political hothead and has been plotting with Fiesco, now called Andrea Grimaldi (see below), against Boccanegra (see above).
• Fiesco/Andrea Grimaldi — Grandfather of Amelia. Out of fear of the Doge, he has been keeping a low profile at his palace 20 miles out of town. Fiesco has renamed himself Andrea (see above).
• Pietro — Former dissident and now courtier to the Doge. He’s untrustworthy.
• Paolo — Courtier to the Doge who wants to marry Amelia. He is the real villain of the opera.
Act I takes place at the Grimaldi country palace. It starts with a melodious aria by the beautiful Amelia (”Come in quest’ora bruna”). Amelia (sung by Adrianne Pieczonka) is recalling her happy childhood when she hears the voice of her lover, Gabriele (tenor Marcello Giordani). She is upset because she knows Gabriele is plotting against the Doge, but he tells her to fugettaboutit. They sing a loving duet.
The Doge arrives! He wants to arrange for Amelia to marry Paolo, his favorite courtier. The Doge finds out that Amelia is really his daughter and they sing the musical highlight of the opera, “Figlia! a tal nome io palpito” (”Daughter! At that name I tremble”). This is considered one of the finest father-daughter duets ever written. There are several versions on YouTube — just type in “Simon Boccanegra.”
Now that Boccanegra knows that Amelia is his daughter, he tells Paolo to forget about marrying her. The Genoans pick this time to decide to wage war on the Venetians. Boccanegra sings the impressive aria “Plebe! Patrizi” which loosely translates as “Can’t we all just get along.” The vengeful Paolo plots to kidnap Amelia, seeing as Boccanegra no longer wants them to marry. Gabriele and Fiesco/Andrea get arrested for murdering the person who was doing the kidnapping. Boccanegra sees through the superstitious Paolo and tricks him into cursing the “real” kidnapper — Paolo! Paolo sings “Sia maledetto!” as the curtain falls.
ACT II gets nasty. Paolo is stressed over cursing himself (”Me stesso ho maledetto”). Really mad, he pours a slow acting poison into Boccanegra’s water. He enrages Gabriele by claiming that Amelia and Boccanegra are having an affair (at this point neither man knows the Doge is her father) and Gabriele vents his fury in a very fine aria “Sento avvamper nell’anima.” Amelia gets her father to pardon Gabriele, and he agrees. But then he drinks the water! He falls asleep but is able to rouse himself when his enemies (including Paolo and Fiesco/Andrea) riot outside. The chorus sings a great climax as the newly bonded Simon and Gabriele prepare to fight.
Act III takes place in the ducal palace. The riot has been quelled and Genoa is celebrating with song. Paolo, the villain, confesses to Fiesco/Andrea that he is the one who poisoned the Doge. Fiesco is horrified. Boccanegra enters, very ill by now (listen for the somber chords from the orchestra). Fiesco/Andrea reveals his identity as Simon’s old enemy and they forgive each other.
In another musical highlight, Simon tells Fiesco/Andrea that Amelia is his granddaughter. Then Boccanegra sings a final duet with Fiesco, “M’ardon le tempia,” which means “My temples throb” (as well they should!). The Doge blesses the young couple and with his dying breath orders the senators to crown Gabriele as the new Doge. The opera ends with bells tolling as the people chant a prayer for Simon’s soul.
Curtain calls begin and Placido rises from the dead. Ovations all around.
Placido Domingo, one of the greatest tenors in history, has just triumphed as a baritone! And turned 69! And it’s his birthday!
I’m sure there’s cake.
Mary Richardson is director of the McNeese Banners Cultural Series and an opera fan.
Student artists interpret ‘The Road Not Taken’
Posted February 4, 2010 at 5:36 pm
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By ELONA WESTON
AMERICAN PRESS
LEESVILLE — Some area art students have been exploring their imaginations for an assignment that will be on display in Leesville throughout February.
“Art and Poetry: The Road Not Taken” is on display through Feb. 27 at Gallery One Ellleven, 111 Third St.
An opening reception will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.
The show will feature art from students at Leesville Junior High School, Leesville High School, Pickering High School, and the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in Natchitoches.
Tony McDonald, gallery coordinator, said for the show, students were asked for their interpretations of Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken.”
Some students interpreted the poem onto canvas literally, and some took a more abstract path.
“It’s about the decisions you make in your life,” McDonald said.
McDonald said since the gallery began, it has been the goal of artists to educate young people about art. He said the gallery’s first student show is the “first step” toward that mission.
“I hope it becomes an annual thing,” he said.
McDonald said the students will be invited to the opening reception.
“It will be great. Interacting with other artists will help them, I think,” he said.
Isabelle Massart-Bursh, art teacher at Leesville Junior High School, said 26 pieces from her students will be in the show.
She said most of the works are in pastel.
She said students read the poem first and discussed it before painting.
“I was really pleased with their work,” Bursh said. “It turned out to be a good step for them to learn the difference between realistic and abstract.”
Ramona Lambert, art teacher at Pickering High School, said the show has encouraged her students to do more “outside-of-the-box” thinking.
Lambert said her students will be showing a variety of mediums, including pen-and-ink.
Jeff Edwards, Leesville High School art teacher, said his students also worked in several mediums, including pastel and acrylics.
“This assignment is one of the rare ones where they get to do what they want to do, so they enjoyed it,” he said.
Chris King, art teacher at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, said the assignment helped his students find their artistic voice.
“I asked students to reflect on things in their life. I can teach them skills, but they have to find their voice,” he said.
For more information, call McDonald at 337-718-3344 or visit www.galleryoneellleven.org.
The gallery is open 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
McNeese hosts Ensemble Ilusis in guest recital with pre-concert talk
Posted February 4, 2010 at 5:35 pm
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McNeese Performing Arts will present a guest recital featuring Ensemble Ilusis at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, in Ralph Squires Recital Hall.
A pre-concert talk will be at 7 p.m.
Ensemble Ilusis is a collective performance ensemble project from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond and is directed by three composer/performers: Jeremy Sagala, Jay Batzner and Philip Schuessler. The ensemble is dedicated to the presentation of contemporary music and is performing at McNeese as part of its inaugural tour.
Ilusis will be joined by pianist Kenneth Boulton and saxophonist Richard Schwartz. Each of the composers will perform acoustic and electro acoustic works as well as discuss the program’s music in pre-concert talks.
The program will include Batzner’s “Blue Jaunte” for fixed media, “Miniatures” for piano and fixed media, and “Calling” for tenor saxophone and drone; Sagala’s “Stratum” for fixed media, “les cloches isolees, la vuit vide” for cello and electronics and “le parallele est devenu oblique” for alto saxophone and piano with electronics; and Schuessler’s “Interruptions II” for solo piano and “Void Chapel” for fixed media.
Ensemble Ilusis consists of a mutable instrumentation involving professional soloists, composers and students of new music. Through community outreach programs involving concerts, talks, lectures and master classes, the group hopes to open the ears of the public to the richly varied music of our time and support the growth of young composers and musicians.
Admission is $5.
For more information, call 475-5028.
Elton starts Mardi Gras revelry with annual run for children
Posted February 4, 2010 at 5:33 pm
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By DORIS MARICLE
AMERICAN PRESS
ELTON — Just like their adult family and friends, children will be chasing chickens throughout the back roads of this rural Jeff Davis Parish community on Saturday.
It is all part of the seventh annual Elton de le T-Monde Mardi Gras Run.
Nearly 40 children dressed in traditional Mardi Gras costumes and masks will spend the morning going house to house dancing and begging for gumbo ingredients and chasing chickens.
Known for its century-old tradition of an all-male adult Courir du Mardi Gras Run, organizers began a children’s run seven years ago.
“We just want to teach our children the tradition of Mardi Gras and to keep that tradition going by starting them off young,” organizer Theresa Fontenot said.
The run is open to children ages 3-12 who have preregistered for it.
The run begins at 9 a.m. at the Elton Town Park where children will load up on a trailer to ride the countryside, followed by a caravan of other vehicles.
The group will follow a route that will include four stops to dance, chase chickens and have a good time.
The first stop will be at the Murphy Hollingsworth Jr. residence on Hollingsworth Road.
From there the group will go to Pearl Shuff’s residence on Powell Road for a second chicken toss. The caravan will then travel to Edna Shuff’s residence on Ray Shuff Road.
The final stop will be at the Paul Young residence on Bel Oil Road, before the group makes its way back to the Town Park, between 12:30-1 p.m., where gumbo will be served free to Mardi Gras participants. Spectators can purchase a bowl of gumbo for $1.
Each stop will last about 30-40 minutes with several chicken tosses planned at each stop.
An adult Mardi Gras Run is planned for Saturday, Feb. 13.
Vinton kicks off season with parade, gumbo
Posted February 4, 2010 at 5:33 pm
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VINTON — The Vinton Mardi Gras celebration will start with a parade at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.
The parade will feature horseback riders — some in traditional masks and costumes — as well as floats and music.
The parade will start at the corner of Grace and Horridge streets and end at the Town Hall parking lot, where there will be gumbo and king cake for everyone.
Music will be provided by Big Daddy’s DJ.
“Last year we had one of the largest crowds we have had,” said Rebecca Johnson, spokesman for the town.
She said a number of people from other states traveling along Interstate 10 stopped by, and for some it was their first Mardi Gras experience.
Since it’s one of the first Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana events, it left the travelers hungry for more.
“They expressed that they were anxious to continue their journey on to the next community to see all that Southwest Louisiana and the state had to offer,” Johnson said.
For more information, call 589-7453.
Lake Arthur Mardi Gras ready to run
Posted February 4, 2010 at 5:31 pm
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By DORIS MARICLE
AMERICAN PRESS
LAKE ARTHUR — Mardi Gras revelry is off to an early start this weekend across Southwest Louisiana.
Festivities kick off on Saturday, Feb. 6, with the 11th annual Lake Arthur Mardi Gras Run and Parade.
Organizer Ann LeBouef said the Lake Arthur Mardi Gras event is known as a family-oriented event.
“The run is known as a fun, family-oriented event where families can ride horses and have a good time with the chicken throws or throwing the beads,” she said. “The children can come out and spend the whole day with their parents. It’s just a time for everyone to come out and have fun.”
Although runners are encouraged to wear costumes and decorate their vehicles, it is not required.
The fun begins at 9 a.m. at the Lake Arthur Park where revelers will gather to begin the jaunt through the countryside, stopping at designated spots along the route to chase the chickens.
There is no charge to enter the run or parade.
The krewe welcomes horses, wagons, floats and ATVs to join in the 12-mile run.
“Everyone is welcome even if they don’t have a horse or a float,” LeBouef said. “They can follow us in their car.”
LeBouef said last year’s run was the biggest event Lake Arthur has ever had.
“We had about 30 floats, 96 horseback riders, three wagons and 20 ATVs,” she said. “That is the biggest one we have ever had and I think we are gonna be bigger this year.”
LeBoeuf said the Lake Arthur run will not be competing with the Gueydan run this year, which should allow for more participants from the neighboring parish.
“We have a lot of fun and a good time because it doesn’t cost anything and anyone came come,” she said.
Runners are also encouraged to bring beads, cups, doubloons, candy, stuffed animals, soft toys and T-shirts to throw during the run and parade.
Runners will follow a route that includes several opportunities for all to chase chickens and have a good time.
“It’s always fun to see everyone chasing chickens,” she said.
The first stop will be at the Red Rose for a chicken throw. The route continues down Trailer Town Road with a stop at the home of Faye Cormier.
From there the group will go to La. 26, making its way to Andrus Cove Cemetery Road where they will stop at the home of Carmelita Fisher for a second chicken toss.
The route continues to Fox Road for lunch.
Participants can bring their own lunch or buy $5 tickets at the line-up for a burger, chips and water.
After lunch, the riders will join the Lake Arthur Mardi Gras Parade at 2 p.m. Line-up for the parade begins at 1:30 p.m. on Seventh Street and will travel down Arthur Avenue to the park.
After the parade, there will be more chicken throws for children, ages 5-10, in the park with cash prizes and other treats. An adult throw is also planned.
For more information, call LeBoeuf at 337-658-7468; Thomas Deshotel at 337-764-1148; or the Lake Arthur Town Hall at 337-774-2211.
LCLT shoots the ‘Moon’ with romantic comedy
Posted January 21, 2010 at 2:36 pm
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By LAURA HELLER
AMERICAN PRESS
Do you like romantic comedies? How about coming-of-age dramas? Something the whole family can enjoy? Lake Charles Little Theatre’s “Moon Over the Brewery” gives you a taste of all those genres — and even throws in an imaginary friend to boot.
The play, which has a cast made up of half LCLT actors and half McNeese State University theatre students, opens on Saturday, Jan. 23, for a three-weekend run.
It’s about a coal-town waitress and aspiring artist, Miriam, (Jo Ann Hanks) and her 13-year-old daughter, Amanda (McNeese student Kelley Landry), whose relationship becomes complicated when Miriam and the mailman, Warren, (John Bevil, in his LCLT debut) begin a romance. Making matters even worse is Amanda’s imaginary friend, Randolph (Levi Arens), who helps to sabotage her mother’s new relationships.
“It’s a charming romantic comedy,” said Joy Pace, the play’s director. “It’s a coming-of-age story about a daughter in search of a father figure and how we all deal with struggles and loneliness.”
Meanwhile, the imaginary Randolph — who can be seen by the audience, but not by Miriam or Warren — takes on the characteristics of whatever book Amanda happens to be reading at the time. Randolph works with Amanda to sabotage her mother’s potential suitors.
“It stirs the imagination and it’s fun to watch two people not seeing one of the characters on stage,” Pace said. “Also, there is a point in time when we realize that we are capable of hurting our parents and when we realize they are human with feelings. It makes you grow up almost instantly.”
Pace, who is also head of the McNeese theatre program and an LCLT board member, hopes the LCLT-McNeese collaboration will broaden theatre horizons in Lake Charles.
“We want to build a stronger relationship between McNeese and Little Theatre,” she said. “It’s fun to work with different people.”
A major set piece is would-be artist Miriam’s, one of which she paints for Warren. These moonscapes were painted in real life by Heather Ryan Kelley, local artist and a McNeese art professor.
Also involved in the production are set dresser James Johnson, LCLT’s senior active director, and stage manager William Lormand, a McNeese undergraduate. Alexandria Lee helps make up the backstage crew and JoAnn Rigney is costume designer.
Also, Pace self-designed the interior-exterior set and Paul Land is in charge of lighting.
LCLT, co-founded by Rosa Hart in 1926, is one of America’s longest-running community theaters. “Moon Over the Brewery” is part of its 83rd anniversary season.
The production dates for the show are Jan. 23-24, 28-31 and Feb. 4-7.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students.
Get tickets online at www.TheLCLT.com or leave a voicemail at 433-7988.
McNeese Bayou Players stage Ibsen classic ‘A Doll’s House’
Posted January 21, 2010 at 2:35 pm
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McNeese Theatre Bayou Players will present Ibsen’s classic, “A Doll’s House,” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3-6 and 2 p.m. Feb. 7 in Ralph Squires Hall, Shearman Fine Arts Center.
“A Doll’s House” was considered scandalous when it premiered in the late-19th century. Nora Helmer, a vibrant young housewife, suffers from a crippling dependency on her husband, Torvald, who is a Victorian male chauvinist. She forges his signature on a document to spare him shame, but when he finds out, Torvald punishes her with verbal abuse and accusations that she’s morally unfit as a wife and mother.
When Nora slammed the door in the last scene, she not only provided a historic moment in modern drama, but she also gave the women’s movement a pioneer heroine.
Several of Ibsen’s plays have been on stage at McNeese. This production is a premiere of “A Doll’s” House” as a part of McNeese Theatre’s 70th Anniversary.
Charles McNeely III is director.
Tickets are $15 for adults; and $10 for McNeese faculty/staff, seniors and K-12 students. McNeese students are admitted free with a current ID.
Box Office hours are 6-8 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays.
For reservations, call 475-5043 or visit www.mcneese.edu/theatre.
McNeese Art opens juried student show
Posted January 21, 2010 at 2:34 pm
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McNeese Art will host the opening of the Annual Juried Student Exhibition 6-8 p.m. today, Jan. 22, at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, 204 W. Sallier St.
The exhibition runs through Feb. 19.
Karyn Murphy, an independent curator from New Orleans, has selected for recognition more than 60 student works from McNeese visual arts studio areas of painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, graphic design, illustration and ceramics.
Murphy will give a gallery talk at 7 p.m. on the showcased artworks.
Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information, call 475-5060.
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