The Playhouse District Association and Boston Court Performing Arts Center present ARTTalk, a multidisciplinary art festival on Saturday, March 20th from 11 am until 5 pm at Boston Court Performing Arts Center, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. The event is free and all ages.
Dubbed as one of San Gabriel Valley’s largest spoken word events, ARTTalk is sure to rattle the literary senses. This unique festival features avant guard performances showcasing award-winning performers, literary authors, storytelling, music, dance and more. ARTTalk represents a cross-section of artists exploring the spoken disciplines featuring some of Los Angeles most established and emerging performers all tied to the theme of “Communication.”
“Boston Court is thrilled to co-present ARTTalk once again. This year we have opened up both stages and will offer an even more diverse selection of performances that will no doubt please everybody regardless of age,” says Boston Court Performing Arts Center Executive Director Michael Seel.
A highlight of this year’s event is the addition of American Sign Language (ASL) to the program. Two new performers that will debut the ASL performance spectrum are Deaf West- ASL Story Time, a popular children’s theatre group and Elaine Muray, a children’s folktale storyteller.
Author readings at this year’s event are Los Angeles playwright and author, Luis Alfaro, local Pasadena anthropologist, Roberta Martinez, and Los Angeles Times best selling author, Jervey Tervalon.
The raconteur of song and story Clark Branson and Grammy award-winning folk artist, Ian Whitcomb, will share their celebration of words and music in a traditional storytelling style.
Dance troupes set to perform at ARTTalk include the Pasadena’s leading contemporary dance company, Lineage Dance who will perform “Brain” a dance which moves effortlessly between the right and left brain—playing intuition off rational thinking and back again. As well as, award-winning flamenco group, Mojácar Flamenco who will energize the crowd with their rhythmic dance pieces.
The music portion of the program will include performances by Los Angeles-based women’s folk chorus group Nevenka who will perform songs from Eastern Europe.
The festival will also include the return of Japanese style drumming, Taiko and Wicked Literature, a Halloween inspired theatrical experience that you will never forget. Wicked Lit involves the creation of new stage adaptations of classic literature in the thriller genre.
In all attendees will experience a six-hour performance marathon with over a dozen top quality performances all for free.
A complete performance schedule is below.
11:00 am Clark Branson ~ Storytelling
Clark Branson, “Raconteur of Song and Story” will start off the program with a celebration of words and music in a traditional storytelling style.
11:30 am Jasmine Orpilla
Filipina-America performance, artist Jasmine Orpilla presents excerpts from her vocal series “TAPAT,” in a musical dialogue between one’s self-identity and the preservation of the cultural tradition. Featuring Henry Bermudez on guitar.
12:00 pm Taiko Center of Los AngelesPerformers from the Taiko Center of Los Angeles will share both traditional and contemporary Japanese pieces combining the the discipline of martial arts and Japanese taiko music.
12:30 pm Felicia Taylor E.
Actress-Singer Felicia Taylor E., shares the story of Historical character Madam C.J. Walker, Inventor, Businesswoman and Self-made millionaire. Become a part of this Interactive Journey and learn how Madam Walker turned a Dream and self-determination into a successful business empire!
1:00 pm Nevenka
The Los Angeles-based women's folk chorus group will perform songs from Eastern Europe.
1:30 pm Ian Whitcomb
America's Foremost Tin-Pan Alley Man,Ukulele Virtuoso,and Grammy Award-Winning Recording Artist, Ian Whitcomb will be doing selected readings from his recently released book, Letters from Lotusland: An Englishman in Exile.
2:00 pm Lineage Dance ~ Brain
Lineage Dance presents: The Brain in Motion. A dancing journey into the art and science of the mind See the latest contemporary dance work by Artistic Director, Hilary Thomas and her acclaimed contemporary dance company, Lineage Dance. With original music composed by musician John Guth, the dance moves effortlessly between the right and left brain, playing intuition off rational thinking and back again.
2:00 pm Roberta Martinez
Roberta Martinez presents and signs her latest books, Latinos in Pasadena and Pasadena 1940 – 2008.
Complete with over 200 vintage photographs, Latinos in Pasadena chronicles the legacies of Mexican Americans and other Latino men and women who lived and worked in Pasadena. The Latino community has been an integral part of the San Gabriel Valley, and here is a book that gives it its rich due.
2:30 pm Mojacar Flamenco
Mojácar Flamenco presents a powerful new flamenco work – “Farruca/Tangos de Málaga.” Established as a flamenco dance by the legendary flamenco dancers artists Vicente Escudero, Antonio Gades and José Greco, the Farruca and Tangos de Málaga continue to resonate with artists and audiences worldwide. Explosive dancing and guitar playing highlight the powerful message of this work – No empleéis la violencia/don’t use violence.
2:30 pm Carla Valentine
Actress Carla Valentine will portray Biddy Mason whose life story began in 1818 in the slave-holding state of Georgia. Biddy Mason was the first black woman to own property in early Los Angeles, she used some of her resources to assist local charities. Though her generosity and that of her family, they made a difference by providing food and shelter to those in need, visiting prison inmates and helping to found and finance L.A.’s first black church.
3:00 pm Elaine Muray
Elaine Muray’s Embodied Voice StoryArts explores the sue of synthesis of art forms in storytelling, including music and magic.
3:00 pm Jervey Tervalon
Author of All the Trouble You Need, Understand This, and the Los Angeles Times bestseller Dead Above Ground. An award-winning poet, screenwriter, and dramatist, will do readings from selected works.
3:30 pm Deaf West
American Sign Language (ASL) Story Time with Troy Kotsur performing well-known and much-loved children’s stories in ASL (with voice translation). A parent friendly and enjoyable experience for all.
3:30 pm Luis Alfaro
Performing family-friendly poetry and spoken word focusing on his past works and personal history.
4:00 pm Mona Jean Cedar
4:30 pm Wicked Lit
Halloween theatre readings focused on the adaptations of classic literary thriller readings to include an adaptation of The Body Snatcher by Robert Louis Stevenson and adapted by Paul Millet. First public presentation of this piece.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment