:: propagandART ~ december 7, 2005 ::

i've been completely overwhelmed by some positive experiences lately...

i got to help conduct part of a national survey of arts/entertainment patrons recently,
this means i got to have 60 minute conversations with individuals who love the arts.
i came away completely reenergized as an arts advocate.
i'm sure that many of the little nuggets of wisdom i learned will creep into
these emails over the next few weeks.

but today i'm totally fixated on a phone call i got from a friend and former boss/colleague.
he's been given a harsh dose of life recently. i hadn't heard from him for 5-6 years.
but the conversation we had touched me deeply.
the details aren't mine to share, but basically he took this knock and felt an
understandable amount of anger and frustration about it.
then one night, "as luck would have it" the universe re-delivered a letter that
helped him turn things around. one minute he was filled with pain and pessimism...
the next, he felt compassion and optimism. all because of a letter he'd received
a long time ago resurfaced at the most opportune time.

as i sit and my keyboard ruminating on these (and other recent) events i recognize
a common thread: we as individuals grow stronger by experiencing life with others.

whether it's taking a friend to a show or talking to a long lost buddy about
something personal...the bond that is formed by sharing our life's experiences
with each other can have unexpectedly profound effects on everyone involved.
when you buy a non-theater-goer friend a ticket to a concert/play/musical/whatever,
you may end up giving a gift that transcends one night of entertainment.
you may end up exposing them to a new avenue for expression.
you may end up exposing them to one of life's nuggets of wisdom.
like a (new) friend of mine said during that research project:
"i never expected my life to be changed by going to [that show]. but it did."

dare to make an impact in the lives of your loved ones.

:: Learned Project ::

The immensely talented Vince Learned has assembled a stable of outstanding musicians to hit the town in various formats and various venues. Some nights will be a pared down assemblage of unplugged instruments and vocals, some night he'll crank the electricity for a full-blown rock and roll outfit. You just never know what you're going to get or who you're going to hear from. But with his name on the marquee, you know it's going to be lively and damn good.

This Friday and Saturday is the first public foray of the group. It will center around Vince's piano and voice with plenty of guest instrumentalists and vocalists. Planned appearances will be made by: Matthew Landis, Tom Roth, Jon Appleget and Stanley ___. But you can be sure there will be plenty of surprises each night, so drop in, order some good food and keep your eyes/ears peeled.

Friday & Saturday, December 9-10 ~ 6-10pm
Krem Le Bistro ~ The Creamery Bldg in the Haymarket 7th & P
Read the Ground Zero Article about Krem from a couple weeks back.

:: The Clean Part Reading Series and Tugboat Gallery Present a Poetry Reading ::

Brave the cold this Thursday for an evening of inventive and fun poetry as the second installment of The Clean Part Reading Series brings poets Anthony Hawley and Amanda Nadelberg to read in Lincoln. You can read full bios of the readers and samples of their work at www.thecleanpart.blogspot.com.

The Clean Part Reading series seeks to bring vibrant and innovative poets to Lincoln. This is the second installment of The Clean Part Reading Series. Get in FREE - And have a chance to win a terrific prize. For more information contact Zachary Schomburg or Mathias Svalina at thecleanpart@excite.com.

Thursday, December 8, 2005 ~ 7:00pm
Tugboat Art Gallery ~ 1028 O Street
(alley entrance behind Gomez Art Supply)
The reading is Free! (peanuts will be provided at no cost)

:: Liz Phair ::

Liz Phair calls herself "an upper-middle-class cute girl with smart parents singing dirty words" -- an accurate self-summation from one of the smartest operators in indie-rock. The adopted daughter of an art professor and a chief of infectious diseases at Northwestern Hospital, Liz attended Oberlin College and got her break with influential label Matador, which picked her up on the strength of her unrefined Girly Sound demo tapes, now infamous. Her first album "Exile In Guyville" was released in 1993 to almost universal critical acclaim: rock critics' interests were piqued by her alarmingly frank writing about sex, relationships and modern life, and by the brash claim that her debut was a track-by-track response to the Rolling Stones classic "Exile On Main Street". While Liz's follow-up Whip Smart (1994) failed to reach its predicted gold status, it certainly confirmed her reputation for offsetting searing subject matter with her own quirky and distinctive sound. Aware as anyone of her limitations as a mainstream act, Liz holds tight control over her music, remaining humble in her production values and even directing her own modestly budgeted videos.

Thursday, December 8, 2005 ~ 8:00PM
Sokol Auditorium ~
Tickets: $20 on sale here

:: Brian Mathers' 8th Annual Christmas Cabaret ::

This annual peek into the holiday "frame of mind" is always fun and packed with surprises! Joining Brian Mathers will be Kate Burger, Kim Moore,
Pat Tetreault, Baby Needs Shoes, Greg Gregerson and Tamrny Meneghini.

Friday & Saturday, Dec. 9-10 ~ 7:30pm
Loft at the Mill ~ 8th & P
$10 General/$5 Students & Seniors

:: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever ::

The bullies at school don’t hold a candle to the Herdmans – the worst kids in the history of the world, who lie, and steal, and smoke cigars. When the Herdmans decide they want to participate in the church’s annual holiday pageant, Christmas takes on a whole new meaning.

Thursday, December 8 - 7 PM
Friday, December 9 - 7 PM
Saturday, December 10 - 2 PM & 7 PM
Sunday, December 11 - 2 PM & 7 PM

Thursday, December 15 - 7 PM
Friday, December 16 - 7 PM
Saturday, December 17 - 2PM & 7 PM
Sunday, December 18 - 2 PM & 7 PM

Lincoln Community Playhouse
2500 S 56th St. ~ www.lincolnplayhouse.com
Ph: (402) 489-7529

:: Godspell ::

“Godspell,” a musical story based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, is coming to the Nebraska Wesleyan University stage in December. The show utilizes various theatrical traditions including clowning, pantomime, charades, acrobatics, and vaudeville to tell the story about the life of Jesus. The play is being directed by senior Kally Duling of Lincoln.

December 1-3 ~ 7:30pm
December 4 ~ 2pm
December 7-10 ~ 7:30 p.m.
McDonald Theatre ~ 51st and Huntington .

Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and students 12 and older, and $7.50 for children under 12 years. Tickets can be reserved by calling the theatre box office at 402.465.2384.

spread love...
-m@