Laugh In

April 29, 2011 by Festi Team Comments Off

Waiting at a traffic light on my way to lunch today, I happened to turn to my right and see one of those GIGANTIC pick-up trucks.   Sitting in my little Saturn I was of course reminded of that old Dodge campaign where the guy leans out the window and inquires “That thing gotta Hemi?” The actor in the commercial is none other than Jon Reep, the headline performer at the Festival’s Mardi Gras in May special event, May 14th.   Paula Poundstone, who is playing the Festival June 25th, was the headliner at this event three years ago (also the first act I ever booked for the Festival!).

Comedy has played a strong role in the Festival the last few years, in part because it routinely scores high on our audience surveys, but I also imagine  because folks are looking for a respite from the ongoing bad news on the economic front and various natural disasters.  One of my personal favorites working today, and a comedian currently experiencing some long overdue success, is Kathleen Madigan.  Until we can get her here to the Festival,  enjoy this clip of Kathleen to finish off your Friday.

Josh Stoltzfus

Programming Manager

 

Filed under: Behind the Scenes, Festival Ticketed Events

Happy Birthday Billy!

April 23, 2011 by Festi Team Comments Off

Today marks William Shakespeare’s (generally accepted) birthday.

I spent a significant portion of my pre-Festival career working in organizations that produced the works of Shakespeare and learned more than I ever thought possible about the man, the myth, and the legend.  The Bard would be 447 years old, and while school children across the country wish that his entire cannon of work was lost to time, it’s undeniable the influence that Shakespeare continues to have even today.

Year after year books, movies, and plays are produced that retell the stories of Shakespeare’s plays such as “West Side Story” (Romeo and Juliet), “10 Things I Hate About You” (Taming of the Shrew) and even “The Lion King” (Hamlet).

It’s hard to believe, but even George Lucas was influenced by Shakespeare when he created the science fiction world that was Star Wars. Lucas has often said that his epic saga was inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s “The Hidden Fortress.” An influence of several Kurosawa films? William Shakespeare. Want more evidence of how Shakespeare influenced Lucas? There is a great moment in “The Empire Strikes Back” where Chewie holds up C-3PO’s head as if he were Hamlet holding up Yorick’s skull.

Chewie holding C-3PO's head. From starwars.com

If you’re looking to experience terrific Shakespeare here in Howard County you can check out the upcoming season for Chesapeake Shakespeare. Other theatres in the DC and Baltimore area also produce the works of the Bard.

Not in to Shakespeare? Star Wars a bit more your thing? Check out One-Man Star Wars Trilogy at the 2011 Festival.

Diana Fooksman, Fundraising Coordinator

Filed under: Festival Ticketed Events, HoCo Local Arts

Earth Day

April 21, 2011 by Festi Team Comments Off

Tomorrow is Earth Day, and I am reminded of all the great concerts I attended down on the Mall (the Indigo Girls come to mind…might have been 1989? 90?).  After a  quick check of events downtown, it seems the big event staged by the E.P.A. was last weekend.  I am guessing they moved this because of the Easter holiday.  If you are still looking for something to do, the U.S. Botanic Garden has an event tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. If you are waiting for the warm weather to visit, they usually have a free jazz concert series in the summer.  A great place to bring a picnic and enjoy music outdoors.

While we won’t have any of them ready by Earth Day, the Festival has launched several artistic initiatives with environmental themes.  This year’s community art project, Ready Set Grow!, challenges artists to transform a plain wooden planter box into a work of art to be displayed at LakeFest, June 10-12.  A limited number of boxes are still available. Also, Columbia Art Center and the HCC Rouse Company Foundation galleries will have exhibits featuring work created with organic, found and recycled materials.

Lastly, the Festival is partnering with Howard County’s Office of Environmental Sustainability, Riot Creative Imaging and Kendall Hardware for Roll Out The Barrel.  Rain Barrels provided by the county will be artistically transformed by Festival partners and be on to be displayed at LakeFest, June 10-12.  Visit Green Central Station to see how you can get your own free rain barrel for home use.

Josh Stoltzfus, Programming Manager

Filed under: LakeFest Weekend, Visual Arts

Volunteers Make It Happen!

April 15, 2011 by Festi Team Comments Off

Last week, the President declared April 10 through 16 as National Volunteer Week, a week to celebrate all that volunteers do for our communities and non-profit organizations.

As a small organization, it would be nearly impossible for us to present the Columbia Festival of the Arts without the support of our 200+ member volunteer corps. Our volunteers do everything from answering the phones and handing out programs or selling concessions at our ticketed events to managing parking and picking up trash during the free, three-day outdoor weekend in Columbia Town Center.

Our volunteers are vital to what we do, and I know that we can never thank them enough for the support they give us, whether they have been volunteering for just a few months or for the last 23 years.

So, to all of our Festival volunteers, on behalf of the entire team of the Columbia Festival of the Arts – THANK YOU!

If you’ve never volunteered for the Festival before, but are interested, you can go to our website and register.

 

We’d also like to give a special mention to the Volunteer Center serving Howard County. This terrific organization helps to connect potential volunteers with the more than 300 local non-profit and governmental agencies (including the Festival).

Diana Fooksman, Fundraising Coordinator

Filed under: Behind the Scenes, LakeFest Weekend, Uncategorized

No Dance at the 2011 Festival?

April 13, 2011 by Festi Team Comments Off

On facebook recently a friend inquired about the absence of dance at this year’s Festival.

This is a fair question as the Festival has a long and rich history of presenting dance including  everyone from Doug Varone to Mikhail Baryshnikov, and all points in between.  In recent years the performances by Garth Fagan Dance Company & Ballet Hispanico have been a personal highlight, and that is coming from someone with a musical background and two left feet!  For various reasons, including scheduling and funding (dance is routinely the most expensive program to produce) there is not a traditional dance program this year. However,  for those who just have to get their dance fix,  Celtic Crossroads will present a dynamic evening of Irish music and dance.   Don’t miss the chance to get up close and personal with the group during their workshop which will take place at 4:00 p.m. in the Rouse Theater during the day of the show.

The complete schedule of ticketed events for the 2011 Festival is now up and online.   Stop by and check out the new and improved website and the diverse line-up of artists coming to the Festival this year.  Stay tuned to Festi Blog and the Festival website for more programming updates and schedules.

Josh Stoltzfus, Programming Manager

Filed under: Festival Ticketed Events

Welcome to the launching of Festi Blog.

April 5, 2011 by Festi Team Comments Off

Ever since joining the Columbia Festival of the Arts back in the Fall of 2002 I’ve frequently heard that it’s one of the best kept secrets in Howard County.  It’s true, as a non-profit arts organization there’s never enough money to share what we do the way we would like to.  In recent years that has become even more of a challenge as the traditional sources of in-kind media support have been reduced or discontinued as those institutions attempt to regroup in the shifting media landscape.

Fortunately for us, along came a thing called social media.  Hallelujah!

We at the Festival are now adding to our Facebook and Twitter outreach with the addition of Festi Blog.  But, be assured, Festi Blog isn’t just about the Columbia Festival of the Arts, although we will be sharing insider Festi Facts related to what goes on behind the scenes as we research, plan and present a 16-day, multidisciplinary season each June.  There will also be a great deal of Festi Focus on arts news and events locally, around the region, and globally.

So stay tuned for more about the arts to come.

Nichole Hickey, Executive Director

Filed under: From the Executive Director