Audio clip
Anna Van Cura
Less than one month into the new year, area cultural arts organizations are scheduling programs and making changes they believe will prepare them for growth in the coming decade.
The Chattanooga Boys Choir has transferred its headquarters to downtown from the Brainerd community in order to be part of that growing arts scene. The choir's new office is in Second Presbyterian Church on Pine Street.
"I think it is a good thing to be identified with such a strong and vibrant downtown, which holds both a great deal of history and is a significant example of progress,"said CBC director Vincent Oakes. "We are excited to again be a part of the burgeoning arts and community scene downtown."
Houston Museum of Decorative Arts is moving its popular antiques show, now in its 36th year, to Warehouse Row. Adding to the anticipation is the return of a respected vendor to the annual market.
"We're very excited about this move. We think the antiques booths will be even more attractive against that backdrop of Warehouse Row," said Amy Frierson, Houston executive director.
"Elva Needles, the famous Kansas City antiques dealer who was with us for 15 years, is coming out of retirement and will be at our show with her wonderful American antique furniture, coin silver and paintings," Ms. Frierson added.
At Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga, a move is under way to expand the arts education of today's schoolchildren that will prepare them to be the arts patrons of the next generation.
Allied Arts announced this new arts education initiative, "Imagine," in December.
"The goal of Imagine is that by the time Hamilton County elementary students graduate from fifth grade, they will have experienced the arts as presented by a series of local arts agencies. This becomes the minimum, or foundation, of experience all children will have," said Rodney Van Valkenburg, Allied Arts director of arts education.
Mr. Van Valkenburg said that the program launched last month when the system's current second-graders visited "The Nutcracker." About 3,600 second-graders and their teachers saw the ballet, he said.
"Every year, the second grade will go to a performance of 'The Nutcracker.' We'll add at least one arts component by grade level each year. By the time this year's second-graders graduate, they will have been to the symphony, Hunter Museum, 'The Nutcracker,' and Chattanooga Theatre Centre," he said.
Mr. Van Valkenburg said Allied Arts estimates that each component will cost about $25,000. Allied Arts will pay for the students' tickets and their transportation as well as curriculum materials for teachers.
"I think this is a great investment for the future of our arts organizations," Mr. Van Valkenburg said.
"Part of what we hope to accomplish is that students, parents and teachers create relationships with these arts organizations. Studies have shown that students who participate in the arts have four times greater chance of participating in the arts as adults . We are creating the next generation of participants," Mr. Van Valkenburg said.
MARK THESE DATES: AN OVERVIEW OF UPCOMING PROGRAMS
ATHENS, TENN., ARTS CENTER
Nationally renowned Second City visits Athens, Tenn., on March 19 for a night of improv comedy. Second City's alumni is a Who's Who of 'Saturday Night Live' cast members: Bill Murray, John and Jim Belushi, Mike Myers and Tina Fey. The laughs start at 7:30 p.m. Call 423-745-8781 for tickets.
Feb. 16: Glenn Miller Orchestra, 7:30 p.m.
March 6: Arts gala.
BALLET TENNESSEE
On Wednesday, Ballet Tennessee announced it had been awarded two national grants enabling the company to bring the nationally known Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble to the Tivoli Theatre on Feb. 26-27.
Dance Theatre of Harlem will host dance classes for children, master classes for intermediate to advanced dancers and conclude their visit with a performance at the Tivoli Theatre on Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $30.
BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER
Carmen Davis, curator/education director at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, said that in addition to five exhibits and a walking tour, the center is also hosting three summer music festivals.
* Bend Unplugged: June concert featuring the Black Banjo Project, in conjunction with Friends of the Festival
* Wind-down Wednesdays: Noon lunch and listen series on the museum lawn each Wednesday from June to August
* Bessie Smith Heritage Festival: one-day festival in August
CHATTANOOGA BOYS CHOIR
Feb. 14: Edmonia Simmons concert with Chattanooga Choral Society for Preservation of African American Song, Greater Friendship Primitive Baptist Church, 1208 Glenwood Drive, 3:30 p.m., free, but donations accepted for both groups' scholarship funds.
May 15: Spring concert, 7 p.m., Second Presbyterian Church.
CHATTANOOGA GIRLS CHOIR
March 14. Lift High the Cross - Lenten Hymn Festival at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 214 E. Eighth St., 5 p.m.
May 14. Spring concert, First Baptist Church, 7 p.m.
CHATTANOOGA SYMPHONY & OPERA
Feb. 4-5. Rimsky-Korsakov Schherazade, conducted by Mei-Ann Chen.
Feb. 6: The Opera Show, a CSO benefit featuring guest artists.
Feb. 12-13: Big Band Fever, conducted by Clint Schmitt.
Feb. 21: Basically Baroque, 3 p.m. chamber concert in the Silver Ballroom of the Sheraton Read House conducted by Bob Bernhardt.
CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM
The children's museum opened its new exhibit this weekend, "Good for You: Healthy Fun on the Run." The exhibit will run through May 16.
According to CDM staff member Libby Raiford, children will learn about healthy food and movement choices with Ginger, her dog, George, and the Good For You Crew.
In conjunction with the opening of the exhibit, the museum is releasing its first cookbook, "Good for You: Adventures with Ginger and George," written by CDM Programs Manager Lynne Mulligan.
Visitors will listen to their hearts beat, interact with a video wall, climb in Nelson's Treehouse, explore a cave, traverse a rock wall and try out a kayak. They'll also be invited to sample foods and participate in cooking activities in the Culinary Corner, the museum's new teaching kitchen.
Feb. 6 - Chinese New Year
Feb. 13 - Engineering Fun Day. Area adult mechanical, electrical, civil and chemical engineers on hand to share their expertise.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY PLAYHOUSE
A comedy and a favorite family musical are upcoming at the playhouse in Crossville, Tenn. Tickets are $24 adults, $23 seniors, $13 students and children.
"Greater Tuna:" Now through April 9
"Annie:" Feb. 5 - April 19.
EDUCATION, ARTS & CULTURE
EAC announces its first "Watch Me Soar" contest for students in grades 6-8 in partnership with The Challenger Center. The contest includes three categories: essay, visual arts project, and STEM Display (science fair project).
Participants should turn in an entry form to UTC Challenger STEM Learning Center, 855 E. Fifth St., Chattanooga, TN 37403 by Tuesday.
For more information on prizes and contest rules, check the Web site at www.chattanooga.gov.
GEM PLAYERS
"Don't Cry For Me, Margaret Mitchell:" Jan. 29-31, Feb. 4-6, 11-14. $10 adults, $8 children 10 and under.
"Death and Taxes:" April 8-18. $10 adults, $8 children ages 10 and under.
HOUSTON MUSEUM OF DECORATIVE ARTS
36th Houston Museum Antiques Show: Warehouse Row. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 26-27, noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 28; appraisal fair Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. $15 ticket is good for the duration of the show.
If you want first dibs on the selection of antiques, make a reservation for the preview party Feb. 25, 7 p.m. The $75 ticket includes admission to the show.
HUNTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
"Our two big shows will be the summer exhibitions," said Ellen Simak, Hunter's chief curator. "One of them is on Stephen Rolfe Powell, a glass artist based in Kentucky. The other summer show is Transformations 6, which is a group of emerging studio glass artists."
May 7-Oct. 24: "Transformations 6: Contemporary Works in Glass" featuring the work of 28 glass artists who are finalists and winners of the Raphael Founder's Prize.
June 25-Oct. 24: Stephen Rolfe Powell. Solo exhibition of contemporary glass sculptor, Stephen Rolfe Powell, features selections of the artist's work from the last 20 years. Many are new and never before seen. Mr. Powell's work is also featured in "Jellies: Living Art," at the Tennessee Aquarium.
CHATTANOOGA THEATRE CENTRE
* Upcoming Youth Theatre Productions. All show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
"If You Give A Mouse a Cookie:" Feb. 12-28. $7-$9.
"Antigone:" March 5-14. $7-$9.
"Jack and the Beanstalk:" April 30 - May 16. $7-$9.
* In the Circle Theatre:
Festival of New Plays Winner: Fridays and Saturdays, March 26 - April 10. $15 adults, $10 students. 8 p.m.
"Pig Farm:" May 28 - June 12. $15 adults, $10 students. 8 p.m.
"The Book of Liz:" Fridays and Saturdays, July 23 - Aug. 7. $15 adults, $10 students. 8 p.m.
* On the Mainstage. All show times are 7 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays.
"Our Town:" Feb, 5-21. $10-$25 adults, $10-$23.50, students.
"Enchanted April:" April 16 - May 2. $10-$25 adults, $10-$23.50, students.
"The Crucible:" June 18 - July 10. $10-$25 adults, $10-$23.50, students.
"The Producers:" Aug. 13-29. $10-$30 adults, $10-$24, students.
DESTINY THEATRE
"Miss Evers Boys": Feb. 12-28. Loose Cannon Studio, 1800 Rossville Blvd., 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, $18 adults, $16 students and seniors, $20 at the door.
HUMBLE SWAN PRODUCTIONS
"Peter Pan:" March 13-20. Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St.
OAK STREET PLAYHOUSE
Upcoming productions planned at the playhouse in First-Centenary United Methodist Church are "The Bible on Broadway," a musical compiling the selections from "Children of Eden," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," and "Godspell"; and "The Little Mermaid," a puppet production that will include the music of Claude Debussy.
PATTEN PERFORMANCES
Jan. 26: Complexions Contemporary Ballet, 7:30 pm
Feb. 28: The Holly Hofmann/Mike Wofford Quartet, 7:30 p.m.
March 28-29: Romeo & Juliet, The Acting Company
April 6: Red Priest
Performances are held in the Fine Arts Center on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
RIPPLE THEATRE
Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" is planned at the dinner theater on Brainerd Road; dates to be announced.
UTC DEPARTMENT OF THEATER AND SPEECH
"The Water Engine:" Feb. 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13.
"The Proposal:" Feb. 19 & 20.
"The Pajama Game:" April 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10.
-- Compiled by staff writers Holly Leber and Susan Pierce
FOR MORE INFORMATION
* Ballet Tennessee: www.ballettennessee.org
* Bessie Smith Cultural Center: www.caamhistory.org
* Chattanooga Ballet: www.chattanoogaballet.net
* Chattanooga Boys Choir: www.chattanoogaboyschoir.org
* Chattanooga Girls Choir: www.chattanoogagirlschoir.com
* Chattanooga Symphony & Opera: www.chattanoogasymphony.org
* Chattanooga Theatre Centre: www.theatrecentre.com
* Creative Discovery Museum: www.cdmfun.org
* Houston Museum of Decorative Arts: www.thehoustonmuseum.com
* Hunter Museum of American Art: www.huntermuseum.org
Or login with:
New Account