Kentucky Arts and Culture

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.

Hundreds of classic automobiles and thousands of people gathered over the weekend at the Keeneland Race Course for the annual Concours d’Elegance.  Besides celebrating the history, engineering and artistry of vehicles like the Packard, the event was a fundraiser for Kentucky Children’s Hospital.  Staffing the first aid tent was pediatric physician Erich Maul. Maul says the funds will buy high tech mannequins that can be used in training exercises.

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.

This weekend Lexington offers the high brow, the low brow and chamber musicians who have intentionally left the chamber.  Rich Copley, who’s an arts and culture reporter for the Lexington Herald Leader, previews a musical based in a trailer park, a performance of Shakespeare in a park, and a clever promotion of next month’s Chamber Music Festival of Lexington.

Half a dozen Kentucky State Resort Park lodges are turning 50 years old this year.   Parks spokeswoman LaDonna Miller says special events are planned at each resort to commemorate the milestones.  “The parks are actually older than that but this was a great building expansion in 1962,   So these lodges this year turn 50”The first anniversary event is set for early August at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park in western Kentucky.

The last phase of a two million dollar restoration project at the Kentucky Military History Museum begins later this month.  The museum closes to the public after Saturday, July 28th, and will remain closed until next March.  Marketing Coordinator Chelsea Compton says extensive renovation work will be done, inside and out.

The World Choir Games open Wednesday and groups from around the globe are arriving for the eleven-day event. Su Pavit is with the Chulada Choir of Chulalongkorn University Demonstration Secondary School from Bangkok, Thailand. He says the high school-age group is excited to be here and is feeling the pressure of competition. 

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.

FRANKFORT – Kentucky State Parks are putting the finishing touches on their July 4th festivities. There will be plenty of firework displays, cookouts, entertainment and more. Some parks are having weekend events, while others are hosting events on Wednesday, July 4. See the list below for event dates and descriptions. To make lodging or camping reservations or to learn more about Kentucky State Parks, visit www.parks.ky.gov, according to a state parks news release.

It’s another record breaker for a summertime music program at Eastern Kentucky University.  This is the 77th consecutive year for the Stephen Foster Music Camp, ranking it among the oldest in the nation.  Ben Walker is director of the music camp program.  “This is not only, you know, we’re the second oldest…this is also our largest camp ever in our history of camps,” said Walker.