Wichita Eagle: The Arts

New Cabaret Oldtown revue celebrates rock divas

Bob Curtright — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:18 CST

For more than a year, Cabaret Oldtown veterans Christi Moore and Angela Geer have been lamenting that there wasn’t a show that would let them showcase all the female pop and rock classics that they liked.

“We’d done several jukebox revues at Cabaret, like ‘One-Hit Wonders’ and a country show, but not one with all women,” says Moore, co-owner — as well as frequent director and sometimes star — of the intimate downtown theater. “We wanted to celebrate the women of rock ’n’ roll that inspired us.”

Adds Geer, a powerful belter and balladeer who has performed at Cabaret Oldtown since it first opened more than two decades ago: “We thought it would be cool to do divas.”

Guest Gallery: Arnold Graef

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:15 CST

Today’s guest photographer is Arnold Graef, 59, who works at Spirit AeroSystems. He developed an interest in photography while documenting his travels in the Navy.

“I just like to photograph the places that I have been so that I can later print them and see those places all over again,” Graef said.

Visit kansas.com/photos to see a gallery with more of Graef’s photos.

‘Mamma Mia!’ stars are ABBA fans

Bob Curtright — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:05 CST

Chloe Tucker wasn’t even a gleam in her father’s eye when the Swedish pop group ABBA ruled the airwaves and disco dance floors in the 1970s and 1980s with hits like “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo” and “Super Trouper.”

But the Los Angeles native discovered that when she auditioned for “Mamma Mia!,” the romantic musical named after ABBA’s 1975 chart-topper and built on 22 repurposed ABBA classics, she already knew all the music.

“At first, I didn’t know why I knew the music, then I realized it was everywhere, from TV commercials to grocery stores,” says Tucker, 21, who plays Sophie, a starry-eyed bride-to-be who wants her father to walk her down the aisle — if she can determine just which one of her single mother’s former suitors he is.

‘A Show of People’ celebrates commonality

Joanna Ramondetta — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:09 CST

There is something familiar about the faces in Dale Strattman’s photographs.

Looking at each face, you feel as if you have seen that person before – maybe it is someone you know or have seen out and about. Then you look at the location where the photograph was taken and do a double take: Moscow, New Zealand, Central America, Venice. And you realize that it only reminds you of someone you have seen.

Through the years – and through many travels – Strattman has become a master of capturing the essence and equality of people in his photographs. Whether it is a child with huge, soulful brown eyes from Ecuador or a decadently dressed street performer from New Orleans, Strattman’s 70 black-and-white photographs on display at CityArts capture emotion and the basic humanity in everyone.

Up Close and personal

Joanna Ramondetta — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:37 CST

Throughout history, we have seen faces painted on ancient Roman walls, formal Renaissance-era portraits of aristocracy and expressive representations of the “every man” in the colorful impressionist paintings.

Today, the tradition of portraiture is carried on by the celebrated and well-known portrait artist Chuck Close.

The Wichita Art Museum is hosting “A Couple of Ways of Doing Something,” an exhibition of approximately 42 works by Close. Although Close is primarily a painter and photographer, this exhibition will feature daguerreotypes (the earliest form of photography), tapestries and photogravures, as well as corresponding poems by his friend Bob Holman.

Donna Tucker to perform at Prairie Pines

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:35 CST

Chamber Music at the Barn

Jazz singer Donna Tucker is bringing her musical talents to Prairie Pines, 4055 N. Tyler Rd., Maize, accompanied by several Wichita classical musicians.

She hopes to merge the two genres to create the perfect atmosphere for a Valentine’s concert. The proceeds from the show will go to summer music programs for kids.

New Globetrotter following in Lynette Woodard’s footsteps

Denise Neil — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:44 CST

Globetrotters aren’t usually girls.

It’s not unheard of, though. The first-ever female Harlem Globetrotter was Wichita native Lynette Woodard, who joined the team in 1985. But there’ve been only seven others since then – until now.

Fatima “TNT” Maddox, who joined the team five months ago, is the ninth female Globetrotter ever and the first to play on the team since 1993.

‘Il Trovatore’: Vengeful, hateful, beautiful

Alice Mannette — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:53 CST

Editor's note: Wichita Grand Opera has announced that American tenor Michael Wade Lee will star in the title role of Manrico in Saturday’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Il Trovatore.” Click here to read an update about the change.

Internationally renowned opera stars, magnificent costumes and larger-than-life sets will breathe life into one of Giuseppe Verdi’s greatest operas — “Il Trovatore.” Wichita Grand Opera leaps into its 10th main stage season with a magnificent crowd-pleaser, rife with spectacular music, intrigue and passion.

“Verdi goes right for the jugular, from the beginning to the end,” said Steven Mercurio, who will conduct “Il Trovatore” for Wichita Grand Opera. “It terrifies you in a way that makes you stop and think and gives you goose bumps.”

Gallery crawl schedule (01-27-12)

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00 CST

Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd. (“In-Visible Light” by David Sim)

Pea Pod Consignment Gallery & Home At Last, 1646 E First St. (sculptures and pottery by Debra Winter); Springpark Gallery, 3555 E. Douglas (recently acquired works by Kansas and New Mexico printmakers; works by George Bair and others)

CityArts, 334 N. Mead (black-and-white photography by Dale Strattman; ceramics by Ron Michael); Gallery Xll, 412 E. Douglas (“Kansas!” photographs by Bob Benson; guest artist Wint Harris); Vintera Gallery, 412 E. Douglas (studio artists and Bonnie Tymeson)

Final Friday: Focus on photos

Jason Dilts — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00 CST

This month’s Final Friday has developed into a photographic affair.

Tangent Lab in Old Town and The Midwest Center for Photography in the Douglas Design District will be hosting juried photo contests during the popular monthly art crawl.

“It’s our visual world through the photographic process,” Tangent Lab gallery owner Brad Ruder said. “The exhibit gives viewers the opportunity to view contemporary interpretations of what surrounds us.”

Guest Gallery: Deborah Hauserman

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:35 CST

Today’s guest photographer is Deborah Hauserman, 63, a Wichitan and retired Cessna employee. She often goes to the Kansas Humane Society to photograph their animals.

Hauserman says what she loves about photography is “Capturing the beauty of landscapes, flowers, animals and people. I love to see the end result.”

Visit kansas.com/photos to see a gallery with more of Hauserman’s photos.

Performing a diverse musical lineup, Time for Three plays with Wichita Symphony Orchestra

Alice Mannette — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:30 CST

It’s time for a toe-tapping, foot-stomping, wild time with the symphony.

The Wichita Symphony Orchestra has invited the celebrated Time for Three trio back to Wichita.

“They were so wildly successful last year; we invited them back,” said Daniel Hege, the music director and conductor for the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. “They are just so entertaining.”

Russian violinist, WSU professor has high expectations for music students

Joe Stumpe — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:58 CST

Alla Aranovskaya is out to shake up music education in the United States, and she’s starting in Wichita.

The Russian emigre and first violinist for the St. Petersburg String Quartet doesn’t hold back when discussing what she sees as the failure of this country to adequately prepare youngsters for careers in music.

“They come to study music, but they have no tools to play," Aranovskaya, a member of the Wichita State University faculty, says of music majors in American colleges.

Wichita Art Museum director Steiner to be ‘a difficult act to follow’

Alice Mannette and Lori O’Toole Buselt — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:49 CST

The Wichita Art Museum is in the midst of a search for its new director, someone board members hope will leverage the venue as a community resource, emphasize its educational opportunities and broaden its horizons in terms of exhibitions, said Jeff Kennedy, board of trustees chairman.

The board met Jan. 3 about the search, Kennedy said, and will make a decision about whether to hire a firm to assist with the search within the next 30 to 45 days.

“Initially, we’re going to see what comes to us through the fairly widespread knowledge in the arts community – both locally and nationally, for that matter – that we have the opening,” said Kennedy, managing partner at the Martin Pringle law firm.

‘Steel Magnolias’ is joyous entertainment

BOB CURTRIGHT — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:16 CST

Crown Uptown’s revival of “Steel Magnolias,” Robert Harling’s 1987 celebration of the Southern women in his life and the steel beneath their delicate magnolia veneers, is an evening of joyous and satisfying entertainment.

It’s full of smiles, chuckles and even some out-right guffaws through Harling’s smart dialogue, such as “an ounce of pretention is worth a pound of manure.”

But it also has some heart-touching moments of conflict and tragedy that give it depth and weight. It rings true as it explores — and exposes — various relationships from friendship to marriage to parenthood. Directed with subtlety and affection by Matthew Rumsey, it achieves a cozy intimacy that welcomes us into the ladies’ inner circle to sit a spell and take a load off.

Wichita Symphony weaves tales, rhythm in latest performance

Alice Mannette — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:25 CST

Fiery virtuosity mixes with magical fairy tales during the next Wichita Symphony Orchestra performance. “Scheherazade” and the overture to “Russlan and Ludmilla” by Russian composers Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Mikhail Glinka will share the stage with an orchestral work by American-born George Gershwin.

Grammy-nominated pianist Terrence Wilson will perform the challenging solo in Gershwin’s Concerto in F. The symphony will accompany Wilson as he performs this piece by one of America’s legends.

“It’s very complicated for both the orchestra and the pianist,” guest conductor Eckart Preu said. “Gershwin was extremely inspired when he wrote it. It digs at your emotions. You can hear the loneliness. You can hear the bluesy-ness.”

Painting ‘to entertain’ also makes artist happy

Jason Dilts — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:09 CST

Larry Stephenson embodies what it means to be a working artist. He has an office he goes to every day; it just happens to be a well-crafted studio in the basement of his Andover home. He travels to grow his business, and the empire of his creativity is expanded at art shows across the country. Moments on the road foster inspiration. They color canvases that eventually line living rooms and workplace spaces. He knows how to turn creative intuitions into appealing products.

“I paint to entertain,” Stephenson said. “When you buy my work, it’s like buying a ticket to see a movie. It pleases you. It makes you happy. You get entertained. That’s what art is all about.”

Stephenson focuses on watercolors. Vintage toys, rustic landscapes and fly fishing are his main subjects.

‘Steel Magnolias’ brings together sweet, sassy Southern women

BOB CURTRIGHT — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:16 CST

After all the exhausting glitz of the holiday season, Crown Uptown’s Matthew Rumsey figures that audiences are ready for a change of pace to ease into the new year.

That’s why he selected “Steel Magnolias,” Robert Harling’s 1987 comedy-drama about the bonding among a group of quirky Southern women, as the next offering for the theater. The show — the only non-musical of the season — opens Friday night.

“We wanted to do something smaller and more intimate to take a break after all the flashy holiday fare. ‘Steel Magnolias’ seemed a perfect choice because it’s full of laughs but with heart-touching moments,” said Rumsey, who will direct the show.

Functional, abstract on display at Fiber Studio’s ‘7 Ceramic Viewpoints’ show

Jason Dilts — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:21 CST

The Fiber Studio will hold the closing reception for its “7 Ceramic Viewpoints” as part of the Final Friday monthly art crawl. The show features multiple functional and abstract pieces from area artists. Gallery owner Marilyn Grisham says it’s an opportunity to offer a high standard of artistry at affordable prices.

“The show is a nice assortment. It’s quite diverse,” she said. “We’ve got wild designs to hang on your walls and mugs to drink your coffee from. There are some very talented folks showing, and you can see the quality and care they put into their work in each piece.”

Seven artists, all originally from Wichita, are exhibiting and selling. They include Chris Arnsdorf, Andrea Corcoran, Dan Gegan, David Long, Heather Meeds, David Self and Bruce Van Osdel. All but Gegan have previously shown at the Fiber Studio, mostly as part of group exhibitions. The display opened last month and had over 150 individual works. Grisham said it was one of her best selling shows all year.

Sitting pretty: The beauty of simple objects

Jason Dilts — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:10 CST

Sitting down is now an artful affair at Old Cowtown Museum.

At least that’s what organizers of the new display, “Have a Seat: Historic Chairs 1825-1895,” are aiming for. The show, which opened last week in the Empire Hall Exhibit gallery, showcases ornate, intricate and crafty chairs from yesteryears. Many of the styles can be traced to fashion trends today.

“Beauty can be found in a lot of different things. I think it’s interesting that something as ordinary and utilitarian as a chair can have inherent beauty,” said Cowtown Executive Director David Flask. “We sit on ordinary chairs all the time. Over the centuries, people have designed something as plebian as the chair with a certain style, though.”