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Thursday, May 17, 2012

General / Stage / Art / Film/DVD / Education / Opera/Ballet

Applications being accepted for Big Easy grants

Posted by Will Coviello on Thu, May 17, 2012 at 1:08 PM

Gambit's Big Easy Foundation is accepting applications for grants for projects to support economic development and education in the arts. The foundation makes grants of up to $5,000. Visit here for application details. The application deadline is May 24.

The Big Easy Foundation sponsors the Big Easy Awards for music and theater as well as Tribute to the Classical Arts. Proceeds from those events support foundation grants.

Tags: Big Easy Awards, foundation grants

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Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Stage / Art / Opera/Ballet

The Met and the Mudlark

Posted by Wendy Rodrigue on Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 8:14 AM

“Bring me the big knife; I’m gonna cut my throat!”*

Several nights ago, as we walked in a chilly, blowing drizzle across the street from the Metropolitan Opera, I stopped, even as the crosswalk sign suggested we proceed.

“What are you doing?” asked George Rodrigue, as I explained that I saw Cher in my head, breathtaking, emerging from a New York City taxi to meet Nicholas Cage after sighing that morning, “Where’s the Met?”

“I love two things,” he said (the ‘he’ in my head is George or Cage; take your pick). “I love you, and I love the Opera. If I can have the two things that I love together for one night, I will be satisfied to give up, oh God, the rest of my life.”

The surrealism intensified as we entered the theatre. As the chandeliers ascended into the ceiling, I imagined that I sat in her seat and experienced the Opera for the first time, despite my Viennese immersion during a study abroad program years ago.

“I know!” exclaimed Cher, still in my head at intermission. “I mean, she was coughing her brains out, and still she had to keep singing!”

A Night at the Opera, circa 1985, a painting and silkscreen benefiting the New Orleans Opera Association

George Rodrigue
'A Night at the Opera,' circa 1985, a painting and silkscreen benefiting the New Orleans Opera Association

As Madame Butterfly sings good-bye to her son, portrayed by a Bunraku puppet and three masterful puppeteers, she lifts the knife to her own throat, stabbing herself with both the blade and the pain of love betrayed. The tears covered my face, and I was Cher again, as Mimi and Rodolfo (Puccini's La bohéme) sing of their passionate love, despite Mimi’s wretched illness as she dies of consumption.

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Sunday, May 22, 2011

General / Education / Opera/Ballet

Free dance classes for Orleans Parish children

Posted by Kandace Graves on Sun, May 22, 2011 at 8:09 PM

Orleans Parish children between the ages of 6 and 18 can sign up for free dance classes this summer through the NORDC/NOBA Center for Dance operated by the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) and the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC). The center has offered free dance classes since 1992.

The classes run from June 13 through July 22 and require advance registration. Positions in classes are granted on a first-come-first-served basis, and class times are assigned on the basis of age and proficiency level. Registrants must bring proof of address and family income.

Uniforms for the classes for girls are a black leotard, pink tights and pink ballet slippers. Boys will wear black tights, a fitted white T-shirt, dance belt and black ballet slippers. No baggy sweat pants will be allowed. Children who cannot afford the outfits should talk to their instructor; NOBA has limited numbers of mostly tights and shoes available.

Registration dates and places are below the jump :

Tags: NOBA, NORDC, dance

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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The New Orleanian Abroad / Music & Nightlife / Art / Opera/Ballet

A night at the opera

Posted by Wendy Rodrigue on Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 7:17 PM

It occurred to me as I listened to Sir James Galway (b. 1939) and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra during their performance Saturday night at the Mahalia Jackson Theater that I almost lost this accessible escape. Today, our computerized society tugs at us, leaving little time without interruption. A concert, at least for me, is one of the few experiences that commands an effortless mindfulness, existing without the threat of a waiting message or pressing conversation.

As the perfected tone of Galway’s breath on his golden flute darted like a dragonfly* throughout the concert hall, I scanned the rows and noticed young and old, all of us abandoning cell phones and computers. A petite Irish knight, a veritable leprechaun, brought us together and stunned us with his technical prowess in a contemporary work by William Bolcom (b. 1938) and enchanted us with Danny Boy, a piece by Galway’s favorite composer, ‘Traditional.’

“Pray for Japan, for your country, for your family,” he told us. “And pray with your eyes open. The Bible says nothing about closing one’s eyes. It says ‘watch and pray.’”

I recall specifically the first time a song moved me to such a degree that I retained the echo in my mind for years, revisiting it still today as needed. Puccini’s Chi il bel sogno di doretto as sung by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, launched my still-novice interest in classical music and an on-going passion for opera.

George Rodrigue
A Night at the Opera, circa 1985, a painting and silkscreen benefiting the New Orleans Opera Association

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Food & Drink / Music & Nightlife / Stage / Art / Film/DVD / Events & Festivals / Opera/Ballet / TV News / Gambit / Best of New Orleans™ / General

3-Day Weekend: Nov. 20-22

Posted by Noah Bonaparte Pais on Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 8:23 PM

Paulsen to Bonaparte: "The jig is up!" You won't find it online, but at the end of this week's morning missive, WWL-TV's esteemed senior anchor (Hi Eric!) admitted he, um, actually reads these things:

"So, lots of stuff going on this weekend. You can read about it in Gambit, and if you'd like more information about what's happening around town or the metro area, you can always check out Gambit -- the Web site is Bestofneworleans.com, or pick up a copy of this week's Gambit at spots all over town."

That part he says every week. Today, however, he added conspicuously, "Or you can check out Noah's blog, too, where he's spreading all sorts of rumors about me."

It's no rumor: Paulsen is even taller and more distinguished-looking in person!

MUSIC

Gordon Gano & the Ryan Brothers

10 p.m. Friday, Hi-Ho Lounge

(Gambit pick)

NOIR Fest III feat. Givers, Giant Cloud, Hurray For the Riff Raff and Loren Murrell

10 p.m. Saturday, Blue Nile

(Gambit pick)

FILM

Between the Folds

6 p.m. Saturday, Antenna Gallery

(Gambit preview)

Dance With a Stranger

2 p.m. Sunday, New Orleans-Birmingham Psychoanalytic Center

STAGE

A Raisin in the Sun

8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Anthony Bean Community Theater

(Gambit review)

Roméo et Juliette

8 p.m. Friday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts

(Gambit pick)

EVENTS

Elysian Fleas

11 a.m. Saturday, Chartres Street and Elysian Fields Avenue

(Gambit blog)

New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oak Street

(Gambit feature)

ART

"Congo Square Rhythms," works by Louisiana artists

Closes Friday, Jazz & Heritage Gallery

"The Spirit World," national juried photography exhibit

Closes Sunday, New Orleans Photo Alliance

Tags: Food & Drink, Music & Nightlife, Stage, Art, Film/DVD, Events & Festivals, Opera/Ballet, TV News, Gambit, Best of New Orleans™, General

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Monday, June 8, 2009

Music & Nightlife / Stage / Opera/Ballet / TV / General

Every Stage Has Its Thorns

Posted by Noah Bonaparte Pais on Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 11:08 PM

I probably should be blogging about former New Orleanian David Bologna, the 13-year-old whippersnapper nominated for his role in Billy Elliot. But no. This Tonys blog has absolutely nothing to do with New Orleans, except that with hurricane season starting and the mercury about to top out, perhaps we can all use a good belly laugh. And this is most certainly that.