Stephen Sondheim's 1970 musical, "Company," as presented by Shreveport Little Theater on Sat, June 29, was rich of music - Brad Kozak directed the 13-piece orchestra - and filled with wit.
Hilarious riffs were handled with aplomb by deadpan Brian Smith, an electrified Laura Beeman, and masterfully stoned Blake Powell.
Cute and fit leading man Eric Lincoln stripped nicely for a sex scene with the appealing Anna Maria Sparke.
It's an uptown comedy - dated, but in an entertainingly retro way - in which the mirth is the cast's strength.
Special compliments to manic but sharp drummer John Walsh and to Kozak for his turns on marimba and bongos.
Performances
Fri, July 5, 8:00 pm
Sat, July 6, 8:00 pm
Sun, July 7, 2:00 pm
Thurs, July 11, 8:00 pm
Fri, July 12, 8:00 pm
Sat, July 13, 8:00 pm
Sun, July 14, 2:00 pm
Tickets $22. 318-424-4439.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Blog Review: Shreveport Little Theater emphasizes the laughter in Sondheim's musical, "Company;" performances continue through July 14
Saturday, June 29, 2013
SLT's Sondheim: an orchestra and stage full of singers presenting Company
Shreveport Little Theatre tickets
812 Margaret Place
Shreveport 71101
(318) 424-4439
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Rich-voiced, hard-picking solo Mississippian Cory Branan @ Bears Fairfield, Shreveport, Th, June 27, 9 pm
Cory Branan, Pistoleros and Victor Olston Thurs night at Bears Fairfield. $5!
Sound and vision.
Coates Bluff Nature Trail, Shreveport, recently groomed and 'ready for summer use,' says Jon Soul
"The Coates Bluff Trail is ready for summer use," says Jon Soul, initiator and one of several volunteer maintainers of the greenway.
"Much of the trail has been recently groomed and use is the best maintenance.You can park at either The Montessori School for Shreveport (2605 C.E. Galloway Blvd.) or Valencia Park Recreation Center (1800 Viking Dr.) to begin your trek. The loop is a little over a mile in total length."
"Enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells (oxygen levels are way up) of this inner-city sanctuary," continues Soul."You'll be walking through lush riparian forest with an equally rich history (including the site of NWLA's first trading post and post office). Some say it is in fact the "birthplace" of Shreveport.
Be sure to wear lightweight pants and long sleeve shirt or bug spray. Also remember that "vines that are hairy...be wary." Poison ivy is growing on many of the trees that border the trail."
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Chris McCaa, Bucket List, Red Thread, Jazziana and more in Russell Wingfield benefit concert Sun, July 7, Riverview Hall, Shreveport
Russell Wingfield, former Shreveport Symphony Orchestra performer - on bass - and long-time president and business agent for the Stagehands Local 298, has been fighting cancer for months. Currently in hospice care, his friends have organized a concert to defray some of his medical expenses.
Great music and fellowship in Riverview Hall on Sun, July 7, 2 pm to 9 pm.
SWS @ Phoenix Underground, Shreveport, Wed, July 3; with woodwind quartet from Shreveport Symphony Orchestra
Guitarist-songwriter Clyde Hargrove has surprises for Super Water Sympathy fans in the band's show at Phoenix Underground on Wed, July 3. On several numbers the group, known for its creamy pop sound and ever-growing fan base, will be accompanied by symphony musicians under the direction of clarinetist Tom Phillips.
Highly recommended.
Tickets online.
Pou and Bogan in the musical 9 to 5, StageCenter, Shreveport, at MLPfrom June 28 to July 7
Janin Pou, Emma Foreman, John Bogan, Misty Shadd and Cara Derrick belt Dolly Parton's tunes in 9 to 5, the Musical, at Marjorie Lyons Playhouse.
9 to 5 The Musical @ MLP: tickets online at www.stagecenterla.com/buy-tickets or call/text 218-9978.
Fri, June 28, through Sun, July 7.
Fri & Sat 7:30 pm | Sun 3 pm
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Bobby Bland remembered Shreveport as a little more violent than most cities in his concert tours
Bobby Bland passed this week. Rest in peace, sir.
Decades ago I attended one of those long-bill blues shows in Hirsch Coliseum. BB King, Bland and another headliner plus 2 or 3 up-and-coming or on-their-way-down singers.
Near the end of the evening I went out back of the Coliseum; found the Bland tour bus in the dark. No problem getting an interview with the lion in the wagon. I was toting a poor-quality, black cassette recorder that tended to malfunction. The cassette was probably one that had already been used for Allman Bros and Led Zeppelin albums.
I knew something about Shreveport blues history that the average person didn't know. I had harvested stories about Palace Park, a black baseball field in Allendale. There was a frame building on the park property that was used as a nightclub. Called simply Palace Park, the structure may have served many neighborhood functions. See Charles Lovelace' model of the center.
Palace Park, Dale St, Shreveport, has a spot in the history of rock 'n roll. In the 1940's heyday of the joint the singer Roy Brown had developed "Good Rockin' Tonight" at Palace Park.
It was the kind of hall where people paid to reserve the tables near the stage. People brought more than whiskey. Tables groaned, I was told, with fried chicken and potatoes. Folks dressed. Po' people listened to the show while milling around outside.
Bland told me a few non-descript stories about life on the Chitlin Circuit. I'm sure he realized that most of the things he could describe would seem swampy mysteries to me. But he left me with one telling line about the Palace Park era: "When he headed to Shreveport we always knew it was going to be something." Clearing his throat a bit, he allowed that, "Y'know, there was most always a cuttin' or shootin' when we sang in Shreveport."
Having gotten that observation, I shut down the recorder before it could freeze. Backed out of the bus, smiling like a good-hearted white guy. Got my salty story.
Bland remembered Shreveport, albeit as a city that was a little more violent than the average. I still wonder if that was something he told interviewers about their cities.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Sondheim's musical Company @ SLT, with onstage orchestra, July 27 - 29, July 5 - 6, 11 - 13, and more
Eric Lincoln as "Bobby" with Seva May, Anna Maria Sparke, Laura Beeman, Adam Philley, Robert Darrow, Jenny Warren, Jeremy Ringuette, Kelly Powell, Jessica Modica. Sarah Smith-Brown, Jordan A Cole, Brian H Smith and Blake Powell.
Director, Robert Darrow; musical director, Brad Kozak, with a thirteen piece orchestra.
Choral director, Rocky Maddox, keyboard, Robert Young.
$22. (318) 424-4439
Victor Sims photography at Pamoja Cultural Arts Center, 3806 Linwood, 6 pm, Sat, June 22
"Eclectic Perfectionist is not your ordinary photography exhibit," says Brittny Davis.
"This showcase will depict the simplicity and beauty of our surroundings from the view of Victor XslentImages Sims camera lens. So come out and enjoy an evening of art, food, and music."
Saturday, June 22, 6:00pm
Pamoja Cultural Arts Center, 3806 Linwood Avenue Shreveport 71103
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Chris Lyon's documentary on Jeremy Johnson's Toomasooba figures on Thurs, June 20, 7 pm, Neil Johnson's Studio, 1301 La Ave
"Join us for the premiere of the new Toomasooba mini-documentary from Perennial Media Entertainment," says affable creator Jeremy Johnson.
June 20, 2013 • 6 – 8:30 pm. Documentary viewing at 7:00 pm.
Neil Johnson Photography Studio
1301 Louisiana Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71101
Trailer and official press release at toomasooba.com/doc.
"The evening will also feature an all-ages coloring contest, drawing for Toomasooba prizes, snacks & drinks, and the unveiling of new designs & products," adds Johnson.
A portion of sales from the evening will benefit The Renzi Education & Art Center (renzicenter.org).
Above: 2 of my personal favorites from the cast of cute characters created by JJ.
Rambling around a fabulous old river city: Downtown Thursday Trolley Tours on June 20, 5 to 8 pm
Highly recommended adventure.
Still shocking after all these years: River City Rep's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? July 3 - 7, East Bank Theater, Bossier City
A powerful night of theater in June: River City Repertory Theater presents the ribald, harrowing Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
Starring Patric McWilliams, Susan Kirton, Logan Sledge, and Ellen Lindsay under the direction of Robert Buseick.
July 3 - 7, Eastbank Theater, Bossier City
Box office 868-5888
New: online tickets.
Neil Johnson photo: Logan Sledge, clockwise from left, Ellen Lindsay, Patric McWilliams and Susan Kirton.
Notes Wikipedia: "Edward Albee's 1962 play was replete with dialogue that included multiple instances of "goddamn" and "son-of-a-bitch", along with "screw you", "up yours", "great nipples", and "hump the hostess".[2] Opening on Broadway during the Cuban Missile Crisis, audiences who had gone to the theater to forget the threat of nuclear war were instead assaulted by language and situations they had not seen before outside of experimental theater.[3]"
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Freaky holiday: free music on Texas Ave, Shreveport, on Sat, June 22, 11 am to 9 pm
"Fox & Rooster is a collaboration between Shawn Stroope of Foxtrot Studio & James "Rex" Gilcrease of Day Old Blues Records. We work together to present fun events revolving around music for the city of Shreveport and the region," says bass player and producer Stroope.
"I've traveled everywhere, have seen some cool scenes and am aware that Shreveport can have events as cool as those anyplace," adds Stroope.
Their idea is to make a kind of laid back circus, with kids events, vendors and lots of music from the local performers. Their first event takes place under the shady canopy over 800 Tex Ave, the place where Maker's Fair has been presented.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Papa Mali dog paddles in Lake St Dancehall, Shreveport, on Wed, June 19, about 9 pm
Says Papa Mali, in a trippy mood, "I will, in fact 'do' Lake Street Dancehall, 425 Lake St, Shreveport, La tomorrow night, Wednesday June 19. With Shawn Stroope on bass and Jeremy Gibson on drums. So 'drop' on by and trip out on some mind-blowing grooves and face-melting jams. We 'come on' at 9pm."
Keep Shreveport weird: Paranormal Festival offers a theremin full of events, June 20 - 23
Stories, tours and workshops are on the agenda for Shreveport's first Paranormal Festival.
June 20 at 5:00pm until June 23 at 5:00pm
Come experience Louisiana's Weirder Side, says Liz Swaine.
Visit http://downtownshreveport.com/come-as-you-are-get-your-downtown-on/downtown-shreveport-paranormal-festival for festival events, hotel information and speaker profiles.
Purchase tickets here... paranormalfest.eventbrite.com/
The weekend will include tours, ghost hunts, book signings, Spiritist sessions and testing of Electro Magnetic Fields and Electronic Voice Phenomena. Talks will focus on historic (downtown) haunts, So You Want to Hunt Ghosts?, the right equipment for your ghost-hunting job, and how different cultures perceive the paranormal. Other events will include an exhibit of weird art, a Freaky Friday (and Saturday) film at Robinson Film Center, a “spirited’ pub crawl, a cemetery creep and more.
http://downtownshreveport.com/come-as-you-are-get-your-downtown-on/downtown-shreveport-paranormal-festival/
Downtown Shreveport, LA
401 Texas Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
View Map · Get Directions
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Farmer's Market at Provenance neighborhood, Shreveport, open on Sat,June 22, 7 am to noon; downtown Shreveport Farmers Market on hiatus 6.22.13
Provenance presents Homegrown - A Local Farmer's Market on Sat, June 22,7 am - noon at Windrush Park at Provenance.
Fresh local produce from vendors in Louisiana, Southern Arkansas, and East Texas. Live Music, Crafts, Art, Food, and Much More. Face Painting for Kids.
*This is the only Saturday that there is No Downtown Farmer's Market. We have 38 vendors booked from all around Louisiana, East Texas, and Southern Arkansas.
This event is Free & Open to the Public.
Windrush Park in Provenance Community is about 15 minutes from Downtown Shreveport, says Provenance FB. Take I-49 South, exit Southern Loop and turn left, drive about 1.5 miles, take a left on Bridgewater Avenue and drive straight.
318 683 0399
Do not seek ye the Shreveport Farmers Market upon Sat, June 22; yea, the Let the Good Times Roll Festival encampment shall be in Festival Plaza
"Just a reminder, probably one of many this week, that we will be closed on Saturday, June 22, for the Good Times Festival," says Noma Fowler-Sandlin.
"Provenance will be having a market that day. We will be open on Tuesdays from 3 to 6, and will resume our regular Saturday operations on June 29. Sorry for this unfortunate irregularity."
Friday, June 14, 2013
Reading of A Soldier's Play by Mahogany Ensemble Theater at Central Artstation on Mon, June 17, 7:30 pm
Mahogany Ensemble Theatre will present a benefit reading of the award-winning drama, A Soldier’s Play, 7:30 p.m., Monday, June 17, at Central Artstation, 801 Crockett St. in Shreveport.
The event will include a pre-show reception at 6:30 p.m, says Angelique Feaster.
Mahogany Ensemble Theatre will be one of 30 African American theater companies from Los Angeles and New York City to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to present simultaneous staged readings of the same play on the same day. The readings are part of Project 1 Voice’s “1Voice! 1Play! 1Day!” event.
Project 1 Voice is a not-for-profit performing arts organization founded to nurture, promote, strengthen and preserve the legacy and tradition of African American theater and playwrights.
A Soldier’s Play is the 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Charles Fuller that follows the investigation of a murder set in 1944 at Fort Neal, a segregated army camp in Louisiana. A Soldier's Play is described as a tough, incisive exploration of racial tensions and ambiguities among blacks and between blacks and whites that gives no easy answers and assigns no simple blame.
Tickets $25, include the staged reading and pre-show reception.
Reservations (318) 382-2841 or visit www.mahoganyensembletheatre.org.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Affordable art: the undomesticated art world of C Mark Burt available in prints, other merch @ Society6.com
Edgy comfort is yours with a throw pillow imprinted with a luminescent eye ball from the pen of artist C. Mark Burt.
For $20, a piece of Burt's roundly rare world may be lying casually upon your sofa or chair.
Tote bags, $18, T shirts, $22, iPhone cases, $35. They are passionate, uncontrolled images.
Burt has sold work in NYC and exhibited in Texas and Louisiana. Recently a Popeye by Burt appeared in the art magazine Suspect Device, a hilarious mash-up by reprehensible artists riffing on the classic comic characters.
He has a major show coming up in August at Bossier Arts Council. One of his drawing/paintings is 10 'X 4' and seems to be alive.
Sample his cosmic imagery at http://society6.com/CMarkBurt.
"Let the Good Times Roll" festival brings culture, music, and good food to Downtown Shreveport
The “Let the Good Times Roll Festival”, celebrates the 27th
year of the music, art, and food of north Louisiana African-American culture.
It will be held June 21, 22, and 23rd in downtown Shreveport’s Festival Plaza.
30,000 plus festival-goers will enjoy a vivid array of culture, food, arts and
crafts, and gives families and friends an opportunity to come back home and
share with friends. Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Review: In the Heights in Shreveport with Savoy, Gallegos, Gilcrease, Keys, Gerard and Tinsley: performances at MLP Fri-Sat, June 14-15, 7 pm
Six big-voiced, handsome teens were at the center of the energy that radiated throughout the musical In the Heights at Marjorie Lyons Playhouse last Sat night.
Nia Savoy almost stopped the show several times with her booming voice and emotional approach to her role. Yet keeping the production at cue-snapping speed were the voices of Maddison Gilcrease - another possessed of a heart-halting voice - and Thomas Keys - a mister soul-man voice - as well as the pipes of Kaelon Gerard, Meagan Tinsley and Adrian Gallegos.
At the heart of Heights is Daniel Ley's 6-piece orchestra. With both Chris Robinson and Chan Teague on percussion the Latino flavor is well served. Over the keyboards of Ley and Ruben Reyes floated the delicious trumpet of Mike Scarlato.
While Heights told a classic tale of struggle via Spanglish, the choreography by Lauren Ross Wooley supplied the sinew and vibe of the story. Among the dancers - teens in hot mode but not indecently so - were Kellen Hall, Isaiah Jones, Briana Daugherty, Erica Temple, Josh Meyers, Alexis Balbuena and a scene-stealer, Claudia Feliciano.
When high-energy teens have as much training and talent as has this company, the stage lights up with leaping, kicking, city-class entertainment. Hats off to directors Cynthia Whitaker and Wooley of the Academy of Children's Theater and their well-disciplined disciples.
Highly recommended.
$25 / 15
318 869 5242
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Panchromatic: photo exhibit @ Bossier's Gallery Fine Art Center: Rachul McClintic, Jason Pliler, Neil Johnson, Frank Hamrick, Jaime Johnson; reception Tues, June 11, 5:30
Among the hardest-working, most artful photographers in the region in one gallery.
Bossier Arts Council's Leigh Anne Chambers is mixing Shreveport's best - McClintic, Pliler and Johnson - with top photogs from Ruston, Hamrick and J. Johnson, thereby expanding the local art cosmos.
Monday, June 10, 2013
One week of music, June 10 - 14, in the life of Bears on Fairfield, Shreveport
mon.
todays hits/dont forget your dinosaur
tues.
daniel smalley/ the cubs
wed.
buddy flett/ alexandra mccullough
thurs.
bears trivia/ beggin for its/American Jenny
fri. daikaiju/ hwy lions
sat.
american wilderness/ gg earth/ wooden indian burial ground
See more at facebook.com/bears.fairfield
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Into the Woods with SLTA and Steven Sondheim's affecting melodies @ Shreveport Little Theater Aug 1 - 3, 8 - 10, 7:30 pm, Aug 4, 11 at 2 pm
The cast for the SLTAcademy summer production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, directed by Luke Eddy and Emily Heugatter; musical direction by Adam Philley:
Nic Ferguson, Clare Shelburne, Dalton Smiley, Avery Mayes, Chris White, LisaAnn Kemper, Lauren Hollins, Madeline Collier, Zoey Lex, Hunter Todd, Sarah Vallacchi, Julianne Bigham, Joe Bills, Matt Torma, Courtney Ritchie, Leslie Townsend, Harrison Magner, Taylor Wilmore and Patrick Nix
Production -
Aubrey Buckner, Allyson Hannon, Lyric LaPlante, Bethany San Pedro, Rachael Miller, Jayde Barnett, Kameron Hobley.
Thursday, June 06, 2013
Packing tape body casts: a funshop at Artspace Shreveport on Sat, June 8, 12:30 - 2 pm
"Using clear packing tape, the attendees will assemble a full body sculpture, dress it, pose it, photograph it and fool the public with it," says artist Robert Trudeau.
It's all about sculpture in the Artists Expressions workshop at Artspace on Sat, June 8.
Participants will sculpt a bar of soap as either a relief sculpture or a stand alone piece.
In the tape sculpture session, one complete full size figure will be produced by group coordination. See photos of fine arts students in such a project.
Cost: $12.50. Materials are supplied.
Ages 7 and up.
Please register by calling Artspace at 318 673 6535.
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
The ACLU of Louisiana presents the documentary, "Herman's House"
Then in 2001 Herman received a perspective shifting letter from a Jackie Sumell, a young art student, who posed the provocative question:
Herman's House is a moving account of the remarkable expression his struggle found in an unusual project proposed by artist Jackie Sumell. Imagining Wallace's "dream home" began as a game and became an interrogation of justice and punishment in America. The film takes us inside the duo's unlikely 12-year friendship, revealing the transformative power of art.
A Q&A will follow with distinguished panelists including
Robert King, Only Free Member of the Angola 3, Released After 29 Years in Solitary via Skype or telephone
Judge Sheva Sims - Shreveport City Court
Lloyd Thompson- Executive Director of the NAACP Shreveport Chapter
Moderator will be Dr. Edward Ragan- Director of Educational Outreach - Centenary College
Light refreshments will be served.
For more information please contact:
Deborah Allen
northla@laaclu.org
318.219.6099
Chris McCaa at the piano at Celeb Lounge, El Dorado Casino, on Tuesdays, 5:30 to 9:30 pm
"Starting a new house gig: I'll be playing every Tuesday on the grand piano right by the bar at the Eldorado Casino's swank but comfy Celebrity Lounge," says Chris McCaa. "Will you come out and support original music and join me in celebrating life?"
5:30 - 9:30 pm. No cover.
Latest album, the charting and well-reviewed "U R My Everything," 4 sale.
Art and Law Q & A, Tues, 6.11.13, 625 Texas St, 4:30 to 6 pm
Lawyers who care about issues that affect artists will answer questions and offer guidelines at the Shreveport Bar Center.
Sponsored by the Shreveport Bar Assoc and SRAC.
Tuesday eve Shreveport Farmer's Market: 50 - 60 vendors from 3 to 6 pm, Festival Plaza
"The Shreveport Farmers' Market will be open today, Tues, June 4, from 3 - 6 p.m.," says Noma Fowler-Sandlin.
"It is a more intimate setting than the Saturday market; there will be 50 - 60 vendors in the Cafe tent and the East/Spring Street Pavilion. Come enjoy the sunshine and shop for your local, homegrown favorites and other treats!"
Festival Plaza, 101 Crockett Street.
Percussion jam at Rhino Coffee, Shreveport, Tues, June 4, 6 to 8 pm
Index drums and Rhino: "Tuesday evening here is going to be awesome," says Landon Miller.
"Index Drums is hosting a drum circle jam along on our back patio. Free of charge. You may have seen their stuff at the Maker's Fair.
Just come hang out Tuesday evening and try out some of their awesome locally made percussion instruments. Several notable local songwriters will be playing some tunes that everyone can jam along to."
Academy of Children's Theater presents the rockin,' leggy musical In the Heights, Marjorie Lyons Playhouse, June 7,8, 14, 15, 7 pm
Live music, a well-rehearsed teen cast gyrating to the sounds of multi-ethnic NYC: it's the award-winning show In the Heights as choreographed by Laren Ross Wooley, directed by Cynthia Hawkins and musically directed by Daniel Ley.
Highly recommended for its engaging, fast-moving teen cast and its successful directors.
Tickets: 318 869 5242
Monday, June 03, 2013
Slow Food North Louisiana and Wine Country Bistro support Valencia Community Garden; eat lunch or dinner at Wine Country on Mon, June 3
Those interested in change in Shreveport might want to support Slow Food North Louisiana and Wine Country Bistro in their partnership with Valencia Community Garden.
Wine Country Bistro
4801 Line Ave
Shreveport, LA 71106
(318) 629-9463