The South Will Rise Again…At Least For The Day

Welcome back to The Expressionist Magazine

The Civil War may long be over, but for certain history buffs, it never ended.  The infamous battle between the North and the South continuously gets played out over and over each year throughout various states.  Florida is no exception to Civil War reenactments.  Men and women throughout the “Sunshine State” take the historical reenactments very seriously, many making them part of their lifestyles instead of just being a hobby.  Some reenactors spend hundreds, even thousands each year on Civil War attire, accessories, weapons and camping gear.  They learn just what it was like to live in the days when the Yankees and Confederates were at war.  Reenactors dedicate their time to learning how the soldiers and their families spoke, what they spoke about, and also study authentic Civil War recipes and music.  And each year these reenactors visit various sites, performing mock battles to entertain and educate the public.  Typically at each event site, crowds can witness the infamous battle scene and walk around the campsite, learning about how the soldiers lived back in the day.  Sometimes there will be handmade goods for sale, such as soaps and clothing.

I recently caught up with Brooksville resident Bill Penkava, a Civil War reenactor and historian.  “I started four or five years ago doing living histories of Florida pioneers of the 1840s-1890s at the annual Pioneer Days celebration at Ft. Cooper, and the Chinsegut Hill Manor House.  Then, two years ago, I started Civil War reenacting at the Brooksville Raid (one of the largest reenactments in Florida),” says Penkava.

Penkava states that he became interested in reenacting simply because he is a “history nut.”  For years he has been studying various historical events throughout time, as well as geneology.  In addition to Civil War reenacting, Penkava belongs to the Seminole Wars Historic Foundation, the Hernando Preservation Soceity, and the Friends of Chinsegut Hill.  As a reenactor, Penkava says he started in the infantry, and has participated as both a Confederate and Union soldier at various Tampa Bay historical events.  “We try to realistically portray life in the Civil War camps, and follow the military drill and formations of that time.  I am in a unit that represents an actual unit raised in Hernando County in July 1861, Company C, 3rd Florida.  I now act with another man as a Provost Marshall and perform military police duties in the authentic Civil War camp,” explains the reenactor.  Penkava further goes on to say that his Civil War group, Company C, 3rd Florida, was once known as the Hernando Wildcats.  In addition to the infantry and provost jobs, Penkava says there are women in his group who dress in period clothing, while others serve as the medical corp.  Other Civil War units provide artillery and cavalry.  Company C, 3rd Florida is hardly the only Civil War reenactment group in the state.  If you are looking to join a Confederacy unit, there are many choices such as the 3rd Battalion, 5th Florida, Company B, 2nd Florida Infantry, 2nd Florida Artillery, as well as a listing of others.  Union groups include the 4th Brigade District of Florida, 8th U.S. Colored Troops, and the USS Ottawa, just to name a few.

Penkava says he does about six “battles” a year, but also takes part in other local events such as the Brooksville Christmas parade, history demonstrations at the Heritage Museum and at Chinsegut Hill.  Penkava also mentions that in November he will be participating in the first annual Veteran’s Day celebration in Brooksville.  “There will be about 1,000 reenactors from the Seminole Wars through today’s conflicts that will participate.”  Penkava attends reenactments all throughout the Tampa Bay area, however, he claims that some members will go to events all over the state and even elsewhere in the country, like Gettysburg.  Penkava has done the Brooksville Raid and the Crystal River Raid twice each, and has also done several smaller local skirmishes such as the Pioneer Village in Dade City.  The reenactor says he will be doing the Parrish Train Raid this year as well.

So, why do people choose to reenact?  According to Penkava, reenacting is the accurate representation of the way soldiers lived and fought during the Civil War.  People do it now to honor the sacrifices of those who served, and they enjoy sharing the history they are preserving.  And if you choose to reenact and become a history preservationist, what qualifications must you possess in order to join a unit?  Penkava tells me that nothing more than interest in the history of the period is needed, plain and simple.  Historically influenced clothing, accessories and weapons aren’t required before joining, but borrowing from other members and purchasing new items are necessary once becoming involved.  Penkava says he owns a Confederate uniform along with several different hats, leather belts, brass buckles, shoes, ammo pouches, a bayonet, musket, revolver, canteen and more.

Having many accessories and gear is definitely important as a reenactor, however, it can also be a hardship.  Penkava feels that there are physical challenges of carrying around all the heavy and cumbersome Civil War gear, as well as having to wear the hot wool uniform in the Florida heat, along with uncomfortable period shoes.  I’m sure some of the female group members have similar complaints of their own, regarding their heavy dress fabric and awkward, large hoopskirts.  As a native Floridian, I have endured many sweltering, hot summers and I honestly don’t know what I would do without my cotton tank tops, loose fitting shorts and cloth flip-flops.

But despite the difficulties that come with reenacting, especially in a state such as Florida, the joys of belonging to a Civil War group are far greater.  Penkava says that being  able to help teach history to those who attend these events is the best part of being a reenactor.  Many people, especially the younger generation, do not know our nation’s rich history, including that of the Civil War.  These kinds of reenactments help us to learn and understand history unlike any book or classroom teacher can.

So, will the South rise again?  It just depends on the day; perhaps on Saturday, but most likely the Confederacy’s win will be short-lived.  For on Sunday, while munching on a bag of sweet and salty kettle corn, the Yanks fight back… at least until the next event.

For more information on how to become a reenactor in Florida, and to find out more about other Civil War units in the state, visit www.floridareenactorsonline.com.

The Chocolate Nutcracker

What do you think of when Christmastime is near?  Colored lights, pine trees, traditional carols, crowded malls, and snow covered streets?  Perhaps you conjure up the delight of fres

hly baked cookies, spending time with family and waiting for Santa’s arrival.  For me, the ever classic tale of The Nutcracker always comes to mind.  I remember one of the first times I saw the ballet. I was a little girl, and my mother took me to see it.  I loved the costumes, the dancing and of course, the beautiful music.  For many Christmas seasons to follow, my mother would continue to take me to see the performance.  As an adult, I continue to look forward to the beloved ballet.  The story is timeless and continues to be a part of my holiday tradition today.

Originally written in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffman, the popular dance production was called The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, and was considered to be quite mor

bid, not exactly something recommended for children.  It was later on revised to a more child friendly version with the help of the French writer, Alexander Dumas Pere.  Pere sparked the interest of Marius Petipa, the senior ballet master of the Russian Imperial Ballet. In 1891, he commissioned Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to compose the score for a full length version of The Nutcracker.  It debuted the following year in St. Petersburg, Russia. The ballet stayed until 1934, when it appeared in London.  Six years later, it was introduced to the United States in a shorter version.  Then in 1954, choreographer George Balanchine created his famous and well known version of The Nutcracker for the New York City Ballet.  Although the ballet is not as dramatic or scary as it first was written to be, it still embraces the original story.  A little girl’s favorite Christmas toy (the Nutcracker) comes to life and takes her away to a magic, fairy tale land populated by dolls after defeating the evil Mouse King.  This is a tale where reality is lost and imagination prevails.  Sugarplum fairies sparkle, and toy soldiers don red candied cheeks.  It’s make believe, happy and wonderfully written for all ages to enjoy.  However, it is a well known fact that nearly every version of ballet production consists of mostly all Caucasian performers.  LaVerne Reed wanted to change that.

Reed, who grew up in South Philly in the 1950s, studied dance and took on small roles in The Nutcracker in the Pennsylvania Ballet throughout the years.  Reed was always a very talented dancer, but was never cast as Claire (or  Clara), the lead character in the production.  Reed said that when she got older she was going to create and direct her very own version of the classic tale where the dancers could all be of different colors; a multicultural Nutcracker production.  This was Reed’s vision, her dream.  She went on to study dance and theatre at Howard and George Washington Universities, and then later on lead a national dance touring company.  At the age of 39, Reed set out to remake The Nutcracker… her way.  This African-American inspired modern take on the original holiday classic would be called The Chocolate Nutcracker.

Reed’s narrative loosely follows the original version, but unlike the original more Victorian version, the opening party scene is set in 1950s Harlem.  And this is just the first change to the version we all know.  The lead dancer, Claire, has to fight off vicious snakes instead of battling the notorious Mouse King and his army.  Traditional snowflakes are replaced with twinkling starlight generated by a hidden disco ball.  And if you remember the original Nutcracker, there are magical lands including that of the Snow Queen and Candy Land.  In Reed’s version, little girl Claire stops off in more realistic places such as Africa, Egypt and Brazil.  She even visits a street corner where a jazz bassist and saxophonist play a duet.  However, there still is magic involved in each of these places.  Claire explores the “Magical Rainforest,” a place called the “Land of Funk” and “Jazz Land.” The little girl and the Chocolate Nutcracker explore these faraway lands in a dream.  With all their global travels, the duo is introduced to a variety of musical dance genres such as gospel, hip-hop, jazz, modern, tap and ballet.  According to Reed, the whole idea was to incorporate cultural touchstones that would better resonate with minority audiences and incorporate more popular dance styles than just the traditional pointy-toe ballet.

The Chocolate Nutcracker came to life in 1994 on the campus stage at the University of Southern California, and it has been exciting audiences ever since.  Performed throughout the country, the ballet production is selling out to large crowds.  It’s not just the popularity of the show that has grown, but also the amount of dancers involved.  When The Chocolate Nutcracker first got started there were only about 75 dancers, mostly all youngsters.  Today, there are over 200 dancers from the ages of six to twenty-five, along with over 120 adult volunteers.  Quite a few of the children involved with the ballet over the years have endured personal struggles.  Some haven’t had much to go home to.  They may live in high poverty situations or come from broken homes. Instead of getting involved with crime such as using drugs or hanging out on the streets, these children have overcome the odds and taken to dance.  In fact, dancing is their life.  When these youngsters perform, they use every ounce of their heart and soul. Their passion and drive is amazing and it truly emanates in each one of their performances.  In addition, the production is not exclusionary, meaning white children can participate and many ending up doing just that.

The end result of Reed’s dream is nothing short of energetic, fun and different.  It’s a refreshing twist to the original version we all know so well.  Sometimes it is hard to embrace change, but in this case, change is a good thing.  The Chocolate Nutcracker has everything and more that the classic tale does.  So, if you haven’t seen it, be sure to do so this holiday season.

The 12th anniversary show will be shown at the newly renovated Mahaffey Theater in downtown St. Petersburg, FL, the weekend of December 4-5th, 2009.  For more information, contact www.mahaffeytheater.com.

Mahaffey Theater

401 1st St. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701

727-892-5798

Chelsea Peretti on World’s Dumbest TruTV

Usually when one may become a comedian later in life, it’s fairly obvious at an early age.  The typical M.O. of a future comedian would be the typical “straws up the nose” gig at the cafeteria during lunch, or the produced bodily noises during the silence of the teacher’s lecture. It’s all for a laugh; it’s what makes the class clown.  Yes, comedians often start at an early age, usually popular through school for their antics, and one you don’t want to turn your back on because you never know if there will be a sign stuck to it.  For Chelsea Peretti, she didn’t fall into that category at an early age, she did come out of her shell in the 8th grade, she was destined to make a mark on the world.  “I figured out being funny was a good survival skill in school.”

However, like anything good, you can’t rush it. It takes time to brew and get to perfection before its grand reveal, and that is exactly what happened to Peretti.  Her “class clown” phase didn’t start till she was in 8th grade when she really started to joke around with her classmatesl, but despite her funny side, Peretti really wanted to be an actress; comedy was the cherry on the cake.

It wasn’t until college when she realized how free you are in comedy.  For instance, you don’t have to wait to be told what to do; you have the ability to take the bull by the horns, and with comedy you have more freedom of expression.  Finally, a friend convinced her to try an open mic night at a local New York club called the Parkside Lounge and from that point on, her destiny was carved in stone.  Like it or not, she was a comedienne.

All in all, Peretti has performed on many a great stage doing stand up comedy, but still falls in love with the smaller, more intimate venues.  Making people laugh, breaking the vicious cycle of drama in people’s lives, helps inspire this comedienne to keep doing what she loves best.  Peretti is a skilled artist.  Her canvas is the stage on which she stands.  The paint Peretti uses is a colorful collection of her many jokes.  And her masterpiece?  Making you laugh till you have your drink blow out of your nose.  Ah, the special moments that only a comedienne can treasure.

World’s Dumbest on TruTv

Chelsea Peretti is probably best known right now for her cameo role on TruTv’s hit series, World’s Dumbest.  The series, “in a nutshell,” has videos captured by real people doing, well, dumb things.  The show’s categories include partiers, drivers, and criminals.  As the video plays, celebrities get on and mock the people by making witty observations.

The clips really sell themselves, but these celebrities enhance them even more so with their observations.  Sometimes the funniest part of the video is something they see and point out that we, as viewers, didn’t even catch.

When Peretti originally did the spot, she wasn’t supposed to be on there as permanent, but after only one taping, the show’s producers asked her to come back… and I’m glad they did.

Peretti’s expressions, mixed with her sarcastic tone, helps make World’s Dumbest a success and she’s one of my favorite personalities to watch on the show.  Peretti isn’t alone on the hit show.  There are other celebs such as Danny Bonaduce, Todd Bridges, Leif Garrett, Judy Gold, Tanya Harding and more, and when you get them together, it’s an hour of pure craziness.  Just be sure not to drink anything while watching this show because it very well may come out your nose.  Okay, you’ve been warned.

The episodes run on Thursday nights at 9PM.

Other Projects from Chelsea Peretti

Peretti created a series called All My Exes, a web based video series where she sits down with her ex-boyfriends and interviews them like Barbara Walters. What you get is a hilariously awkward video where she makes these guys squirm with questions that would make your mama blush.  Peretti dives deep and personal, describing why she broke up with them and pursuing their answers for why they behaved like they did.

The series doesn’t actually portray her real life ex-boyfriends, but watching the videos you’d swear they were.  According to Peretti, the reason behind the series is, “ I can’t find a decent, lasting relationship to save my life. I thought it would be fun to poke fun at it.” It makes you wonder though if these scenarios are real or not… but we’ll let that be Peretti’s little secret. {wink wink}

You can see this series at www.myspace.com/chelseaperetti

Peretti also created Black People Love Us, a website that hilariously satirized a white couple using black people ”to be cool.”   To check that out go to www.blackpeopleloveus.com

Melissa Gilbert Reprises Little House On The Prairie

Laura Ingles Wilder wrote some amazing stories about her life in rural Iowa, growing up in the late 1800s.  The stories told of survival, and how families worked together to get things done.  It was a simple time in American history captured in some wonderful editions by Wilder that kids of all ages can enjoy reading about.  The main books in the set are Little House on the Prairie and Little House in the Big Woods.

In 1974 Little House on the Prairie came to life on television. Michael Landon starred as Pa, and Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingles.  The show was a family time tradition. Everyone would come home from work or school, do their chores, eat dinner then sit down together in front of the television to watch this amazing show.  Little House on the Prairie ran from 1974 to 1983, in which time we watched Melissa Gilbert grow and blossom.  She played the role of Laura flawlessly, branding her forever as the lovable character, despite her playing some dramatic roles on Lifetime Television.

Set to hit Broadway, Melissa Gilbert will once again show off her 19th century garb and join this big stage version of Little House on the Prairie.  This time however, she will portray Ma in the play, mainly due to her age. It would be very hard for her to pull off girlish Laura at the age of 45.

I doubt this will be a smash hit for Broadway, but the play will be wholesome and family friendly as the television show was.  It will be nice seeing Melissa in the story again, one that she helped make into a household name in the mid-70s.  I think this would be a show I would go to see, if it came to my area. I grew up watching it on television. I read the entire series of books from Laura Ingles Wilder and truly believe in the message they tell that family comes first even back then.  It’s a history lesson in a fun way that will benefit people of all ages.

Veronica Kole: Heart and Soul

Back when I was fifteen-years-old, I wasn’t doing too much to be perfectly honest.  Sure, I was going to school and hanging out with my friends, but there really wasn’t much more.  Okay, so maybe I had some dreams of what I wanted to be one day, and I tried not to be late for class or skip school.  I was friendly, made good grades and respected my elders.  In retrospect though, I was pretty boring. Then there’s Veronica Kole, who at fifteen, is a singer, actress and youth ambassador.  Geez, I didn’t even belong to a school club when I was this age.

Kole didn’t just recently stumble upon her talents.  She has been performing since she was just a toddler.  Kole started with dancing, and then gymnastics by the age of five.  While in elementary school, she discovered singing.  ”I found my way to music through dance,” states the young performer.  Kole began developing her voice through school and church choirs.  In 2004, Kole’s dance group got her to perform at Disney World.  It wasn’t long after that that this talented singer and dancer began touring. Kole has been performing since at numerous festivals, music venues and amusement parks.  Kole has graced the stage at the famous Apollo Theater, and has made her mark at Carnegie Hall.  She also has performed at The New York Comedy Club  and several times has wowed audiences at the well known New Jersey venue, The Stone Pony.  Kole even has appeared on The Today Show with the St. Bart’s Choir.  Kole’s amazing vocal ability has even taken her outside of the United States.  The fifteen-year-old got to travel to Italy to take part in the 2005 Italian Tour, which covered six cities and consisted of eight concerts.

As a pop singer, Kole describes her target audience to be mostly pre-teen and up.  Many of her songs are similar to those sung by Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and even Lady Gaga.  Kole further goes on to say her music has something of a fun, uplifting beat; something you could dance to.  Kole’s young, hip and fresh sound translates well into her exciting stage presence.  ”I like to involve my audience with my music and be interactive,” explains the performer.

Having listened to Kole, I must say I am quite impressed with her vocals.  Strong, mature and soulful are three words to describe Kole’s impressive talent.  It’s almost hard to believe that after hearing Kole sing, that she is only a sophomore in high school. And everyone knows that behind every good singer there is an amazing vocal coach.  Kole’s coach is Don Lawrence, who also has worked with Christina Aguilera.  There is no doubt that Kole is following closely behind in the famous singer’s footsteps.

In addition to singing, the New Jersey resident, who was originally born in Brooklyn, New York, is also an actress.  Kole has starred as an extra in the movie The Clique, and has appeared in various theater productions and on several television shows including Teen Nickelodeon.

It is quite obvious that this talented, young woman has met some famous faces, and has performed in many famous places, but there is one place that Kole has never gotten to try out.  ”I would love to perform at Madison Square Garden.  It would be the greatest honor ever,” states Kole.

With all of Kole’s singing, dancing and acting, it’s hard to imagine the teenager still must turn in homework and go to class. Kole, who is half Ecuadorian and half Italian, says it’s important to have a very loving and supportive family.  In addition, she admits her school has been accommodating and understanding when it comes to her busy schedule.  Even though Kole is very passionate about her performances, she realizes the extreme importance of a good education.  Well spoken and mature, Kole seems way beyond her teenage years in her ideals and what she wishes to achieve.

With all of Kole’s hardwork and passion, it’s no surprise she may have an album out as soon as November.  To be an accomplished recording artist and performer is a dream come true for Kole.  And if she didn’t go down the record contract road, Kole says that she would continue to stay with music and perhaps become a vocal teacher.  In addtion to her amazing singing ability, Kole writes her own music and has even composed some of her songs by guitar and piano.  She is also bilingual and sings some of her songs in Spanish.  It seems as though this young lady’s talent is never ending!

Kole doesn’t just have skills, she has lots of heart.  Fundraisers are most important to the performer. “I love helping people.  I love being inspired,” states Kole.  She has worked on several fundraisers as a performer, including one for Haiti and also for The American Cancer Society.  Not only that, but she is the Youth Ambassador of the American Diabetes Association.  Quite an impressive honor and Kole is very proud of her title.

With all of Kole’s incredible talent, heart and soul, it is certain we will be hearing and seeing a lot more of this performer in the future.  Veronica Kole is definitely making her mark in the music world, and we couldn’t be more excited.

To visit Veronica Kole’s website, please go to:  www.veronicakole.com

You can also find more on Kole at:  www.myspace.com/veronicakole1, www.myspace.com/veronicakole013

To listen to the singer’s amazing voice, go to:  www.youtube.com/verok01

If you are interested in booking Kole, contact:  jkoleshnick@yahoo.com

Want to become a Veronica Kole fan?  Join the club at:  Veronica Kole Fan Club, P.O. Box 6814,

Freehold, NJ, 07728

Theater Evolution

Theaters have come a long, long way since the earliest ones that sprung up across America.  For many Americans the theater was the only form of live entertainment, so coming to the theater was a big deal.  Theaters came in many different shapes and sizes, from cheaply built ones to grand masters across our nation; the evolution of these buildings is not only interesting, but a work of art.

Obviously in the 1800s the East Coast had much more sophisticated examples of then modern day theaters than the West did, mainly because of money and supplies available.  The West, however, was not going to lose their ability to have live shows just because of their location.

BIRD CAGE THEATER

Let’s look at the Bird Cage Theater in Tombstone, Arizona as an example of early western theaters.  The Bird Cage Theater had a stage and single wooden chairs spread across the main floor.  There was nothing acoustic about it, that’s not how it was designed.  The Bird Cage was just a quick and dirty place to watch a show.  Due to the lack of sophisticated materials, this wooden theater was nothing much to look at and probably uncomfortable, but it was a traveler’s town so it was meant to give those passing through a good show and not the comforts of home.  This place housed Vaudeville, Burlesque and musical shows throughout its life.

You probably wouldn’t have wanted a luxurious theater there anyway.  There were many outlaws that would come to a show and shoot their guns off, destroying the architecture.  Where they were, gold panning all day, the patrons were not very clean which would ruin fine theater chairs.  The  small gold mining town did not have a lot of places to hold a gala or party of sorts, so the theater, being able to accommodate, could easily have the chairs stacked and turned into a dance floor.  These theaters in places like the “Old West” could also stand for town meetings if the church was unavailable.

If you visit Tombstone today, you can see this amazing structure as it still stands abandoned.  Downstairs was an old poker and “play” room that Doc Holiday supposedly used with his girlfriend when he stayed in Tombstone, plus the Bird Cage Theater is said to be haunted.

FORD’S THEATRE

On the east coast of the United States we have a good example of a period theater with more amenities than the Bird Cage Theater, and just as much history.  This theater is the Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Unlike the Bird Cage Theater, it has two tiers surrounding the three walls of the theater, stopping at the stage.  There is also a “state box” where the president would sit with his guests.  It’s that box that Lincoln was assassinated.  Ford’s Theatre had fixed theater chairs and carpeting on the floor, unlike the Bird Cage Theater.  It resembled the theaters you would find in Europe with period architecture.

Ford’s Theatre was used for the same events as the Bird Cage Theater was, which shows the diverse look and feel each one had despite the fact they were both built around the same period of American history.

However, a change came to America that would revolutionize theaters forever.  In the early 20^th century, around 1914 to 1919, we would be introduced to movies.  At the time they were silent films, where a pipe organ would have to play music to add in drama.  Many theaters would have to be renovated in order to accommodate, or they would not be able to show motion picture movies.  This movement completely split the performing arts all together with live shows taking a back seat and eventually fading away.

In the early 1900s, a Romanian born architect named John Eberson came to America and settled in Missouri.  Eberson would revolutionize the art of the theater with his designs that incorporated live and motion picture performances. In 1915, Eberson worked in construction when he designed his first theater masterpiece in America called “The Paramount Theatre” in Austin, Texas.  That theater still stands today.  America loved his designs, because he brought the European feel to the theaters while maintaining the high standards necessary to theater enjoyment.  Each one was a Victorian work of art, now termed Gothic by some.  Eberson’s standard of design for theaters took off, and soon made him in high demand.  If he put a theater in your city, you were on the map.

Eberson designed many theaters around the U.S. which included:  (* = no longer exist)

The Paramount Theatre (Austin, Texas), Austin, Texas, 1915

*The Majestic Theater (Dallas), Dallas Texas, 1921

Orpheum, Wichita, Kansas, 1922

Olympia Theater, Miami, Florida, 1926

Tampa Theatre, Tampa, Florida, 1926; listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1978.

State Theater, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1927

Capitol Theatre, Flint, Michigan, 1927

The Louisville Palace, Louisville, Kentucky, 1928

Uptown Theater, Kansas City, Missouri, 1928

Stanley Theater, Jersey City, New Jersey, 1928

*The Palace Theatre, Marion, Ohio, 1928

*Loew’s Akron, Akron, Ohio, (now Akron Civic Theater), 1929

*Loew’s Paradise Theater, The Bronx, New York, 1929 (one of the five Loew’s Wonder Theaters, which were Loew’s flagship theaters in the New York City area)

*Loew’s Valencia Theater, Queens, New York, 1929, another of the 5 Loew’s Wonder Theaters

Paramount Theatre, Anderson, Indiana, 1929

Majestic Theatre, San Antonio, Texas, 1929

The Warner Theatre, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1931

*Lakewood Theater (Dallas), Dallas Texas, 1938

Bethesda Theater, Bethesda, Maryland, 1938; listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1999.

Silver Theater, Silver Spring, Maryland, 1938

*The Woodlawn Theatre, San Antonio, Texas, 1946

Theaters would forever model themselves after his work from the 1940s to the 1970s but could never compare.  Many new theaters removed the stage because live acts were just not common anymore, therefore not needed.  Finally, motion picture and live performances split, which gave two venues “Performing Arts Theatres” (where you would find those live acts), and movie theaters.  Many of Eberson’s theaters went into ruins because of the new multiplex theaters, except some places refused to let these works of art go into ruins and still maintain shows today.

Eberson’s work took second stage to these new multiplexes that showed multiple movies at one time.  They had better views, no longer had balconies, and removed a lot of the ambiances his theaters once had.  It remained like that till the mid to late 90s when we started to see luxurious stadium reclining seats and cup holders, and large HD screens with powerful Dolby Surround Sound. In some places they even have a fine dining bistro inside, with seats in the theater where you are served by a waiter prior to the show.

It’s amazing how the art has been removed from the theaters, but the luxuries still remain today and change with the times.  If you truly want to see a work of art, stop by any of John Eberson’s theaters; we have one right here in Tampa today.

Metal Gypsy- Body Language

In the Middle East, Turkey, and even Italy, belly dancing is a way of life for some.  It’s popular all over the world, including Brazil and other South American countries, however, in the United States some people believe this to be a taboo form of dance.  Belly dancing has received a bad label because of the exotic form which is branded “seductive” and also the exposing outfits.  I know this dance is just misunderstood.

For Jennifer, a.k.a. Metal Gypsy, belly dancing is her passion, a passion that started when she was very little.  She first saw the dance at a Renaissance Faire and it was love at first sight.  Since then she has performed for live audiences and now teaches this romantic dance of the gypsy.  We had a chance to interview Jennifer so she could explain what belly dancing is all about, and tell her story for all to read and maybe, just maybe, take the negative tags off this ancient dance.

Besides belly dancing, what other forms of dance have you learned and performed?

I have performed ballet since the age of six, then after ballet during that same time frame, saw a gypsy show at the Renaissance Faire that had many other forms of dancing.  So I went to a class called “Ms. Linda’s.”  (Ms. Linda teaches jazz, tap, and ballet, however, Jennifer “Metal Gypsy” knows and is fluent in swing dancing, but learned elsewhere.)  Right now what I am doing professionally is belly dancing. I started off at the Renaissance Faire, and I performed at other local places, then the word got out and now I do it all over the place. Plus, I love doing it.

Give the history behind belly dancing.  A lot of people misinterpret it, when really it’s an ancient dance that tells a story with your body movement.

Going back further than the Sultans who these women danced for, it was known as a maternity dance as well.  People take it today on a different level as it should be… their fantasy.  Belly dancing, however, is an expression just like any other dance should be.  It became popular around the turn of the century when it became more glitzy and glamorous, and it was used in movies.

Despite the form of belly dancing, there are many unique styles to the dance.  There is Turkish and Bedoan which started being popular in the 20s, and gypsy dancing.  I prefer the Fusion which is a collaboration of each.

There are so many different movements in the art, like gypsies are more open and expressed freely.  Egyptian belly dancing is more finer movements, and many of the watchers may not have the appreciation of it because the movement is refined  and unnoticed.  However, the intense concentration and control needed over your body really makes it the standard for all belly dancing.

In belly dancing, correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t everything from the movements down to the costumes tell a story?  What does it mean?

The costuming today in the theatrical world is more glitz and glam; each style has it’s own style.  Bedoan, for example, has a head dress and dress from head to toe, so they don’t show skin.  It’s not about sexuality, but about performance and expression.  Every single form has costumes, from Tunics who have pants under their skirts. Tribal has Tibetan and Moroccan with different jewelry, and bras with metal going across the front. In cabaret there are more beads and perfect shiny jewels. It just shows that each one has it’s own story and style. In America we’ve made it more sexual with the glitz and glam. Really it’s like back in school, categorizing the jocks from the preps and so forth.

How much discipline goes into this dance form?

Oh, I would say it’s a lot of discipline.  If you don’t already have the natural talent for dancing, it’s best to take classes on the different forms of dancing to try to round yourself to know your body.  For instance, like lifting your arm and really feeling intensely each muscle when you do a snake arm, and doing a body anglation, chest hips then chest hips down. It’s different for each person, and can take a few weeks to master to many years.  Nobody can say they are professional with one class.  Once you can master the dance, then you must also have fun with it just like any theatrical performer.

Do you teach belly dancing?

Yes, I do. I teach children at a very young age to advanced students.  I try to teach them to understand the different styles, and how to coordinate with their body, as well as how to perform.  They must pretend that you are in the audience, and how will they feel when you perform.  You want it to be a clear message; you want to connect with them even if it’s a sad message.  I try to clarify the difference between a “dancer” and a “performer” when I teach.  Anyone can be a dancer, but only those who really want to perform are the performers, but anyone can perform if they want it.

Where have you performed?

I’ve performed my belly dancing at 8:00 theater and then I tried to pursue acting. I was in a movie produced by Andrew Allan.  I go to different restaurants and see if they need a belly dancer there as well, so you may see me in a local restaurant that you favorite.

How did you come up with Metal Gypsy?

I wanted a screen name and I wanted to be unique.  I was a huge metal fan; I love metal music and I’m a gypsy so I coined the name “Metal Gypsy” and that’s what it shall be.

What is your definition of what a gypsy is?

There are two definitions. My alter ego, Sereena, is a character in a band of gypsies that travels around and performs for anyone that wish to drop a couple coins in her hat, as well as try to be the show-off of the group.  In reality gypsies do travel around, and they tend to steal to avoid starving, but they are not evil.  Gypsies can be dangerous, but I am not dangerous.  Well, maybe a little… no, just joking.  I would never trick someone; I would never steal because I am a performing gypsy.

If you want to get to know this wonderful “gypsy” and have her perform her magical theatrical belly dancing moves, check her out at www.myspace.com/metalgypsy or www.deaddollsociety.com

Faith Prince In Broadway’s Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid opened to packed houses at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on January 10th 2008 and is booked till August 2009. Walt Disney’s musical – The Little Mermaid tells the story of Ariel the daughter of King Triton. She is not happy underwater and longs to discover humans. She and her father quarrel about these fish eaters. Then Ariel meets Ursula the sea witch and asks her for help.

Based on the story by Hans Christian Anderson, The Little Mermaid is a big hit with young and old a like. The play is directed by Francesca Zambello and choreographed by Stephen Mear. The songs such as Part of Your World, Kiss the Girl, Under the Sea feature in the musical. The current show features Sierra Boggess as Ariel, Heidi Blickenstaff as Ursula, Sean Palmer as Prince Eric and Norm Lewis as King Triton.

Faith Prince would take over from Heidi Blickenstaff as Ursula from the 7th of April. Faith Price has won many accolades in Broadway. Winner of the Tony Award for the role of Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, she is planning to become the evil sea witch. The sea witch is half woman and half octopus and the role is quite demanding. Sherie Rene Scott, the originator of the character won a nomination from the Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance as Ursula. The role requires Faith Prince to don a frightful wig and multi tentacled costume. The character sings the famous number Poor Unfortunate Souls in the play.

Faith Price is a very renowned actress and has proved her talent in many ways. The winner of Tony Award, she was again recently nominated for the award for her performance in A Catered Affair. She has Drama Desk and Drama League nominations for her spectacular performances on stage.  Films and television also take quite a bit of her time. She would be seen soon in the film – Our Very Own. She has been a familiar face on television appearing in Spin City for five seasons and also in Now and Again.

Her Tony Award winning performance as Adelaide also won her the Best Actress Award in Outer Critics Circle and the Drama Desk. She also is the owner of two other Tony Award nominations for her portrayal of Ella Peterson in Bells are Ringing and Jerome Robbin’s Broadway. She bagged the Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations for these, as well.

Faith Prince is an accomplished singer. She has worked with Utah Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, The Boston Pops and many other bands. Her Australia show titled Moving On earned her a reputation as a rare and gifted singer. The show earned great reviews.

We wish Faith the very best and hope to see her as Ursula and maybe bag a few awards and nominations for her portrayal of the sea witch. Certainly the character would receive justification if the role is played by Faith Prince. There are no doubts as to her ability to perform but expectations are high and a spectacular performance is expected.

http://www.reedstickets.net/little-mermaid-tickets.html Little Mermaid Tickets and Resources. Little Mermaid tickets and resource web site covering all of New York City with reviews and venue resources.

Ralphie May – Tastes Good, In My Mouth

It’s been a little over a year since Ralphie May came to Tampa. Last time he was here he sold out three days at Side Splitters Comedy Club in Tampa and left to a standing ovation. He came back again this March, selling out four days Thursday to Sunday, with the 9:00 PM show over sold by 41 seats.

If you ever have seen his show you’d understand why he sells out. Ralphie May is a master of turning obvious,everyday occurrences into a “pee your pants” laugh. He’s tons of fun, literally, at almost 400 pounds.  May incorporates his appetite and love of food into a hilarious act.

He is also known for his over the top rendition of sexual comedy.  May can make a porn star blush and he does it with almost no shame in his face. Only a true comedian can do that because the rest of us have a hard enough time repeating those kinds of jokes without getting embarrassed. Politically correct is something May is not and that makes the other half of his routine just as shocking. While your drink spews out your nose you might shout out, “Oh no he didn’t!”

May is a long time veteran of comedy, but the world really got their chance to know this amazing comedian only a few years ago. It was then that May appeared on the hit TV show on Comedy Central called “Last Comic Standing.” May was the second runner up in the very first season of the show (2003), and from that day on he never looked back.

Since his television victory, he has appeared on HBO and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, in addition to Comedy Central. May also has a few DVDs out called Ralphie May-Girth Of A Nation, Ralphie May-Prime Cut and Ralphie May-Just Correct, and he is about to release his new album/DVD, Austin-Tatious.   All of his DVDs and CDs have become best sellers and I can easily predict Austin-Tatious will follow in the tradition.

May has seen both sides of the success pendulum. He started out in clubs traveling across the nation, playing in front of 25 people or less and doing shows in sold out theaters in front of 21,000 people. I got a chance to spend some time with the comedian while he was at Side Splitters Comedy Club in Tampa and I asked him what his most memorable show was. Without a flinch, May was quick to reply, “I have played shows in front of thousands and in front of a handful, but either way my shows are memorable. Just because it’s not a large crowd doesn’t mean it’s a bad show; some of my best shows were in front of small crowds. My best show, however, is always my last show.”

May also took the time to lend some advice to aspiring comedians; advice that anyone can apply to their dreams of success. This advice comes from a man who worked hard to get himself where he is today, and it’s a proven formula for success. “ To succeed in comedy you must write material, go to all open mic nights you can, and practice, practice, practice. You won’t be good at first, but the more practice you get, the better you are. Nobody gets on a bike and rides it perfectly the first time. Nobody does anything perfect the first time, so don’t be afraid to have a bad show; comedy is no different. You will never get anywhere in life if you sit around waiting for things to fall in your lap; everything you do takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Success comes with time and the more effort, the sweeter the success.”

In addition to putting on a great show, May loves his fans. He credits them for his success and says he would be nowhere without them. He always brings merchandise to his shows, but stresses that if it comes down to buying something from him or tipping the wait staff well, do the latter of the two. He always has some free stuff available for his fans such as a handshake, a photo opportunity, an autograph or even a hug after the show. May will please his fans at all costs which is refreshing coming from a popular television personality. Instead of charging for the simple things, he gladly gives them to you for a smile.

I had a blast watching him perform live, and getting a one on one interview (which is also a podcast on our magazine) with him. I learned a lot, I laughed a lot, and can honestly say he is well worth the night out. If you want to see if May coming to your town, go to www.ralphiemay.com/myspace. You can also visit the comedian, buy his merchandise or see his schedule on www.raphiemay.com. If you want to see some of the free stuff, visit him on YouTube by  just searching Ralphie May!

The Final Bow

On February 28, 2009, a legendary act took the stage for the final time in a dramatic fashion that led to a standing ovation.  That night, Siegfried and Roy officially ended their spectacular career in Las Vegas where it all started.

Throughout the years, Siegfried and Roy amazed their audience with magic and wild animals.  The biggest thrill of their show was the fact there was no barrier separating the jungle beasts from the audience.  Siegfried and Roy’s stage performances have left people speechless for nearly 20 years.

In 2003, Roy Horn was brutally malled by the Bengal tiger used in their act. The horrendous spectacle not only shocked the audience, making them realize the danger of the show and their own vulnerability to something going wrong, but it also ended the limelight for Roy Horn.

After plastic surgery and five years of therapy and rest, the illusionists last performance was nothing shy of perfection.  Roy Horn limped slowly on stage dressed in a black robe, his face concealed with a mask.  The stage was covered in mist, and Roy steadied himself on his partner’s shoulder.

They performed a signature illusion where Siegfried, dressed in a white robe and mask, stood inside a cage while it was concealed with drapes.  Roy removed the drapes and Siegfried appeared across the stage, the Bengal tiger replacing him in the cage.

With that, Las Vegas forever lost one of their most prominent and acclaimed acts.  In turn, Siegfried and Roy went down in the history books, and there they shall remain.  Despite their retirement, they will be talked about for generations to come regarding some of the most impressive illusions ever to emerge from the desert.

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