The ballet features Elena V. Munoz Diaz, left, and Hana Johnson as rag dolls; Tajayona Wilson and Belen Pozzolo as boxes; and Shayda Alba Alsalihi and Carmen Everson as candy canes.
On the weekend before Christmas, theater-goers tend to stay home and producers take some time off. That’s not the case this year in Lexington. According to Rich Copley, who covers culture for the Lexington Herald Leader, dancers will be on stage at two venues. Rich spoke with reporter Charles Compton.
Film actor Steve Zahn, who lives in Lexington, plays One-Man-Christmas-Show-Man in Smackdown for the Christmas Crown by The Rep, a theater troupe he and his wife, Robyn Peterman-Zahn, co-founded.
Holiday theater hits a climax this weekend in central Kentucky. Two very different versions of Handel’s “Messiah” are performed.
Kevin Hardesty plays Don Juan and Rachel Lee Rogers is Angelique in the Balagula Theatre's production of Don Juan on Trial.
Performances of “Messiah” are just the tip of the holiday icicle. Arts organizations throughout the region offer numerous events this weekend, including Balagula Theater, the Lexington Vintage Dance Society and the Lexington Philharmonic. Rich Copley, who covers culture for the Lexington Herald Leader, offers this preview. Rich spoke with reporter Charles Compton.
Kentucky’s contribution to the Lincoln legend was not overlooked by the film-makers behind a new blockbuster. “Lincoln” premieres this weekend, with Sally Field playing the part of Lexington-native Mary Todd Lincoln. Rich Copley, who covers culture for the Lexington Herald Leader, previews the film and this weekend’s other events. Rich spoke with reporter Charles Compton.
During an Actors Guild rehearsal earlier this week for November, which opened Thursday, director Bo List, left, had a front-row seat for a scene between Joe Gatton, right, playing President Charles Smith and Jeff Sherr as advisor Archer Brown.
This weekend’s entertainment is certainly seasonal. Holiday movies debut, Lexington’s ice rink opens, and Actor’s Guild of Lexington is staging something for the election. It’s called “November” and here with a preview is Rich Copley, who covers culture of the Lexington Herald Leader. Rich spoke with reporter Charles Compton.
Several performers this weekend in Lexington have re-invented themselves, or at least updated their work. Among them is Huey Lewis and the News and Pauly Shore, which performs at Centre College. With a preview is Rich Copley of the Lexington Herald Leader.
A 50 year tradition of Appalachian arts and crafts is marked this weekend in Berea. The Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen stages a juried art show at the Historic Indian Fort Theatre. Here to preview it and the weekend’s other events is Rich Copley of the Lexington Herald Leader. Rich spoke with reporter Charles Compton.
As the season changes, cultural life in central Kentucky is moving indoors. On this first full weekend of autumn, venues like Lexington’s Singletary Center for the Arts will be busy. Rich Copley, who covers arts for the Lexington Herald Leader, says the concert hall at the University of Kentucky will first host singer-songwriter Andrew Bird. Rich spoke about the American-Roots musician with reporter Charles Compton.
Spin-offs are not exclusive to television sit-coms. A four-year old music festival called Boomslang has prompted multiple spin-offs, all of which take place this weekend in Lexington. Here with a preview of Boomslang and this weekend’s other events is Rich Copley of the Lexington Herald Leader. He spoke with WEKU reporter Charles Compton.
It’s a busy weekend for culture in central Kentucky. Lexington’s symphony and its ballet are in action, as is Studio Players. But, perhaps the most popular events will be the region’s fall festivals. And, Rich Copley, who reports on the arts for the Lexington Herald Leader, says festival goers should experience a beautiful fall weekend.
A story told this weekend at the Balagula Theater in downtown Lexington is about a woman who can’t get away from crazy men. Here with a preview of “Bug” and this weekend’s other events is reporter Rich Copley. Rich, who covers the arts for the Lexington Herald Leader, spoke with WEKU’s Charles Compton.
Chamber music bookends summer in the Bluegrass. The season starts with concerts at Shaker Village and ends this Labor Day weekend with the Chamber Music Festival of Lexington. Rich Copley, who’s an arts reporter with the Lexington Herald Leader, promises he’ll provide gavel to gavel coverage. Rich spoke about the festival with WEKU’s Charles Compton.
It’s a weekend for the vocal arts in Lexington. A classically-trained, but relatively-unknown singer who demolished the competition in a national search has his first concert on Saturday. And, the Bluegrass Opera Company revives a work that’s spent 65 years on the shelf. Rich Copley, who reports on the arts for the Lexington Herald Leader, discussed the opera with WEKU reporter Charles Compton.
Outdoor activities dominate this weekend’s calendar. There’s a concert at Keeneland, and, Rich Copley, who covers arts and culture for the Lexington Herald Leader, says some of the region’s finest art will be on display at Woodland Park. Rich spoke with reporter Charles Compton.
When it debuted on Broadway, “Bye Bye Birdie” was commentary on contemporary life. Today, the musical-comedy is a period-piece about pop-culture in 1960. It’s an attitude embraced by the producers who are reviving “Bye, Bye Birdie” in Lexington. Here with a preview is Rich Copley of the Lexington Herald Leader. He spoke with WEKU’s Charles Compton.
UFOs and alien abductions are the headliners this weekend as Pioneer Playhouse presents “High Strangeness.” Rich Copley of the Lexington Herald Leader says the Danville production is based on an unexplained mystery here in the Commonwealth. Rich spoke about this weekend’s cultural events with WEKU’s Charles Compton.
Recent rains have been a blessing to farmers, but, not to stage managers. Wet weather has forced some adjustment on Lexington’s Summerfest. This weekend, weather permitting, is Tennessee Williams’ “Streetcar Named Desire.” Rich Copley, who’s an arts and culture reporter for the Lexington Herald Leader, says this production’s director makes it remarkable. He spoke with reporter Charles Compton
The Eastern Kentucky University Center for the Arts on Tuesday announced the lineup for its second season and named an interim director while a search committee looks for a successor to Debra Hoskins, who resigned last month. Jill Price, currently the director of conferencing and events with the division of continuing education and outreach at EKU, will serve as the interim director. Price, who is a member of the center's community operations board and the search committee, will not seek the post permanently.
A 1935 opera created by the sons of Russian immigrants about African-Americans in South Carolina is performed this weekend in Cincinnati by music majors from Kentucky. Only in America. Rich Copley of the Lexington Herald Leader previews the Cincinnati Opera’s performance of “Porgy and Bess.” He also talks about the changing nature of summertime arts in the Bluegrass.
UPDATED: Debra Hoskins has resigned as the director of the Eastern Kentucky University Center for the Arts, according to a statement released Tuesday morning by the Richmond university. The EKU release said a national search for Hoskins' replacement will begin immediately.
This Fathers’ Day weekend has several family acts putting their artworks on display in Lexington. The monthly Gallery Hop celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Ann Tower Gallery. On display there are artworks created by the family that founded the gallery. Actors Guild celebrates a family reunion as it presents, “Really You Should Use Bullets.” With an explanation of those stories and a preview of this weekend’s Bruce Hornsby concert at the Kentucky Theater is Rich Copley, who covers culture and the arts for the Lexington Herald Leader.
From New York City to Lexington, this weekend we celebrate musical theater. Three Kentuckians will play prominent parts as the Tony Awards are presented. And, for the 20th summer, the University of Kentucky offers a “Grand Night for Singing.” Plus, the artworks that accompany record albums are the focus of a show in downtown Lexington. Rich Copley of the Lexington Herald Leader takes a survey of this weekend’s events.
