Registration for Youth Performing Arts Conservatory Now Open

Photo courtesy artscenterlive.org

The ArtsCenter is now accepting applications for the Fall 2009 Youth Performing Arts Conservatory!

The Youth Performing Arts Conservatory offers a variety of classes for aspiring young actors of all ages. There are classes for children and teenagers in the first through twelfth grades.  Students will participate in  improvisation  exercises, theater games  and short plays to help them develop well rounded theater skills.

In addition to building  theater skills, students will have opportunities to build self-confidence, communication and teamwork skills.

Registration is open to all who are interested. No previous experience or auditions are required.

Classes are taught by the Conservatory’s staff of theater professionals. Staff members have diverse backgrounds in theater, television and education. Many are active in the Triangle theater community and several teach performing arts at other schools.

Classes begin in mid-September and run through December. Meeting days and times vary by class. For more information on specific classes, schedules and fees visit the Youth Performing Arts Conservatory page on the ArtsCenter’s website.

Classes start soon and space is limited so reserve your spot today by turning in an application!

John Howie Jr.

I didn’t think I was going to make it, but I did get some shots of the John Howie Jr. show today. Here are some pictures of the show and showgoers:

John Howie Jr. and Billie Feather joke around between songs during their performance Thursday.

Concert-goers relax between sets.

Audience members dance to Howie's music.

Audience members tap their toes to the beat of Howie's songs.

John Howie Jr. sings during his concert with Billie Feather and Nathan Golub.

Preview: John Howie Jr.

John Howie Jr., formerly of the Two Dollar Pistols, will perform in the ArtsCenter's parking lot Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

John Howie Jr. will perform his “good old fashioned country-rock and honky-tonk for the 21st century” Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in the ArtsCenter parking lot. It’s the second-to-last show in the 300 East Main Summer Concert Series on the asphalt, which ends with Great Big Gone next month.

Judging by what I’ve found online, you should wear your cowboy hats and spurs to this show. Howie sang and wrote songs for the (defunct) Chapel Hill-based Two Dollar Pistols and played the Grand Ole Opry. He usually performs with his band the Rosewood Bluff, which includes musicians from Patty Hurst Shifter, Fontana, and the New Town Drunks.

And now I will overload you with even more links:

*Click here to visit John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff’s Myspace page and listen to their music.
*Click here to see what the News & Observer has to say about them.
*Click here to read an interesting interview with Howie from Helium.
*Click here to read an (out of date) article from the Independent Weekly about Howie and the Two Dollar Pistols.

Thursday, 4:30, 300 E Main Street parking lot!

Bowerbirds and Megafaun

I usually do a bit of an introduction for these posts, but there’s not much to say here–it was a great show, and I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed shooting them!

Raleigh's Bowerbirds perform in front of a sell-out audience Saturday night.

Bowerbirds' Phil Moore plays guitar and sings.

Megafaun's Brad Cook, playing acoustic bass, and Bowerbirds' Mark Paulson perform during Bowerbirds' set Saturday night.

Bowerbird Beth Tacular plays accordian.

Megafaun members Phil Cook, Joe Westerlund and Brad Cook are lit by an audience member's camera flash as they open for Bowerbirds.

Brad Cook plays bass and sings during Megafaun's set.

Megafaun members Phil Cook, a friend of the band and Brad Cook perform acoustically during Megafaun's set.

BeauSoleil

BeauSoleil performs its unique blend of cajun and zydeco music Saturday night.

BeauSoleil, a Grammy award-winning cajun band, came to the ArtsCenter Saturday night.

Formed in 1975, the band has released 22 albums.

Jack Wolf gave a dance lesson before the show.

More photos are below!

Audience members dance during BeauSoleil's performance.

Michael Doucet of BeauSoleil plays the fiddle.

Couples practice dancing before BeauSoleil takes the stage. Jack Wolf, pictured third from the left, taught audience members basic steps before the show.

Paperhand Puppet Intervention

A puppet sun is part of the Paperhand Puppet Intervention's display in the ArtsCenter's main lobby.

A flaming whale, an ox and the sun have invaded the ArtsCenter!

Giant colorful puppets made by the Paperhand Puppet Intervention from recycled materials are on display now in the main lobby of the ArtsCenter.

The local puppeteering group will put on their annual puppet show at Chapel Hill’s Forest Theater for four weekends in August and September. It will also put on two performances at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh.

This year’s show is called “The Living Sea of Memory.” The Paperhand Puppet Intervention’s website says the show “investigates and celebrates the richness and complexity of our inner life, our dreams, and our connection with all that is; using giant puppets, painted cardboard, masks, stilts, shadows and more, all performing to live music by the Paperhand band.” For show times, click here.

For more information on what the Paperhand Puppet Intervention is all about, click here.

More photos of the display are below. Visit the ArtsCenter at 300-G West Main Street in Carrboro to get the full experience!

Two puppets in the display.

Hand-crafted puppets made by the Paperhand Puppet Intervention sit on display in the ArtsCenter.

A summer camper walks past a flaming whale puppet, part of the Paperhand Puppet Intervention's puppet display in the main lobby of the ArtsCenter.

A closeup of the recycled burlap sacking used in making three of the puppets on display.

All photos shot by Lisa Pepin.

Preview: OdysseyStage: A Spell of Cold Weather

Photo courtesy of artscenterlive.org.

An OdysseyStage production of the award-winning children’s play, A Spell of Cold Weather by Charles Way. A Spell of Cold Weather tells the story of Betty and Bob, a farm couple who have let all the fun go out of their lives. When their niece Holly arrives for a visit, she meets the farm’s mischievous fairy Tomos Trickman. Together this dynamic duo rejuvenates Betty, Bob, and their farm.

OdysseyStage’s A Spell of Cold Weather is coming to the ArtsCenter at University Mall Saturday, August 15 and Saturday, August 22, 2009, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets to the show are $5!

Welcome!

Welcome to the brand new ArtsCenter Photoblog! We’re still getting things set up, but check back here to see photos of ArtsCenter performances, classes, exhibits, camps, and concerts, and to preview upcoming events. Thanks for visiting the ArtsCenter Photoblog!