:: propagandART ~ march 8, 2004 ::

i hope all is going well in your corner of the universe.
mine has been focused on getting 'midsummer night's dream' all figured out.
whew...this stuff is hard work. but i love it. :-)

i know there's a tendency to hibernate during the winter,
but spring light is breaking through the bleakness and it's time to venture out
and reconnect with some friends you haven't seen in a while.
use some of these great events as an excuse to give someone a call...

:: a midsummer night's dream ::

bob hall absolutely knows how to put together fantastic shakespeare productions. he knows how to help his actors communicate the messages in the text better than anyone i've seen. this production is no exception. and what makes this even more remarkable is that he's got some great shakespeare veterans in the cast to start out with. i'm a newcomer to shakespeare and have found this to be an incredible learning experience around such great talent.

this is truly a high-wattage production of one of the bard's most celebrated comedies. i'm absolutely thrilled to share this with shakespeare aficionados and neophytes alike. this is a delightfully amusing and charming telling of a rich script. shakespeare's message that the course of true love never runs smoothly is brought to life by fairies (laurence mota, jim hopkins, melissa lewis), lovers (matthew landis, andrea swartz, laura kendall, ivan lovegren) and 'mechanicals' (steve gaines, dick nielsen, tom crew).

midsummer opens friday, march 12 at 7:30pm
and runs thursdays-sundays until march 27 (thurs-sat: 7:30 & sun: 2pm)
at the haymarket theater (803 p street) ~ box office: 477.2600
or call and take part in the special gala night on thursday, march 11!

:: Smokey Joe's Cafe ::

Leiber and Stoller, as much as anyone, virtually invented rock 'n' roll and now their songs provide the basis for an electrifying entertainment that illuminates a golden age of American culture. In an idealized '50's setting, the classic themes of love (won, lost and imagined) blend with slice-of-life emotions. Featuring nearly 40 of the greatest songs ever recorded ("Ruby Baby," "Kansas City," "On Broadway," "I'm A Woman," "Hound Dog," "Stand By Me," "There Is a Rose in Spanish Harlem"), SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE isn't just great pop music - it's compelling musical theatre.

Contact the LCP Box office to make reservations: 489-7529

PreShow Talk: The Careers of Leiber and Stoller
Sunday, March 14, 2004 ~ 1:30 p.m. in the Gallery Theatre

Come early to the Sunday, March 14, matinee performance of SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE at the Lincoln Community Playhouse for an informative half hour with musician Tom Larson, who teaches history of American jazz, history of rock music, and jazz piano at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music. His pre-show talk will begin at 1:30. His talk for SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE will provide an overview, complete with musical examples, of the prolific careers of Leiber and Stoller.

Tom Larson studied music composition at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and at UNL. He has composed the scores for several documentary films, including "In Search of the Oregon Trail" for PBS and "Ashes From The Dust" for the NOVA series. His first book, The History and Tradition of Jazz (published by Kendall Hunt), and his first CD of original jazz compositions both debuted in 2002. He has performed with Paul Shaffer, Victor Lewis, Dave Stryker, Claude Williams, Bo Diddley, the Omaha Symphony, the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra, the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, and the University of Nebraska Jazz Quintet.

*The 2:00 p.m. performance on Sunday March 14 will be interpreted for the deaf and hard of hearing by request only. If you will require the services of a sign language interpreter, please call DeAnna at 489-7529 no later than March 1, 2004.

:: omaHome Art Exhibit ~ Omaha ::

The 13th St. Gallery art exhibit: "FSBO...American Dream" which runs March 6-28. The show features the art of Eddith Buis and Tom "Swanee" Swanson, plus 13th St. Gallery artists and omaHome artists. The gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays from noon-4pm. Several omaHome artists will be on hand during those hours each weekend of the exhibit. Opening Reception is Saturday, March 6, 6-10pm. There will be teaser performances by omaHome participants Mary Kelly, Kristin Pluhacek and Christine Schwery.

Also in conjunction with omaHome, Nicholas St. Gallery presents “David Hansen: In and Out of Home,” also running March 6th-28th and opening Saturday March 6th, 6-10 pm. Nicholas St. Gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays from noon-4pm.

13th St. Gallery is an Omaha art scene tradition, located at the Hot Shops Art Center. The artists in this gallery cooperative strive to push the art envelope with a focus on experimentation. Money raised by the event will be used for new gallery renovations.

For more information contact Roxanne Wach in Omaha at 402-457-6160 or roxwach@aol.com.
See also the omaHome Theater event. Read the press release to get the complete scoop on the omaHome project.

:: 3rd Annual ARTrageous Evening Of Art ::

State of the Art presents an art auction of lithographs, engravings, etchings, watercolors, silkscreens, giclees, cartoon cels, original oils and various mixed media all magnificently framed. Come enjoy a wide array of complimentary hors d'oeurves, desserts and spirits while viewing a stunning collection of affordable art by many international artists. The auctioneer will conduct an informative and entertaining event. Come early, browse, mingle and enjoy! Cash, checks & major credit cards accepted.

Saturday, March 13, 2004
Preview at 7:30/Auction at 8:30
$5 in advance/$7 at the door
Congregation Tifereth Israel (3219 Sheridan Blvd.)
'Take A Second Look' Sunday, March 14 from 10am to 12:30pm

Send advance payments to: Barbara Kenyon; 6229 Barbara Lane; Lincoln, NE 68512

:: Sound of Music ::

Set amidst the splendor of the Austrian Alps, Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved classic has won the hearts of audiences the world over. THE SOUND OF MUSIC is the enchanting story of Maria, a spirited young novice who, unsure of whether the monastic life is her true calling, leaves the abbey to become a governess. Endearing herself to the family of seven motherless children and warming the heart of their stern widowed father, Maria discovers that the power of music and the magic of love may be all she needs to find her way. THE SOUND OF MUSIC is the true story of their budding romance and the family's daring flight from Nazi rule. Ever popular with young and old alike, the delightful and inspiring story of the Trapp Family Singers features a glorious score including My Favorite Things, Do Re Mi, Climb Every Mountain,The Sound of Music, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, So Long, Farewell, The Lonely Goatherd, and many more unforgettable tunes. With its heartwarming story, wonderful music, and charming cast of characters, THE SOUND OF MUSIC will always be one of our favorite things.

Friday, March 12, 2004 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 13 - 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 14 - 1:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

Tickets: $45/40/35 ~ Students/Youth: $22.50/19.50/17.50

:: Robin and Linda Williams ::

Robin and Linda Williams and Their Fine Group have thrilled folk, bluegrass and country audiences for more than twenty years. From their many appearances on "A Prairie Home Companion" and the Grand Ole Opry, their music reaches deep into American traditions and encompasses all that's best in music. They will be joined by Their Fine Group. After all these years, they continue to showcase their outstanding vocal harmonies and tight musicianship. For more about Robin and Linda, hit their website: http://www.robinandlinda.com/

Saturday, March 13, 2004
Loft at the Mill (800 P Street) at 7:30
Information, reservations, on-line ticket purchases at http://lafta.nebraska.edu or 580-8656.