Greater New Braunfels Arts Council

IMPART
July - August - September - 2008

Riverwalk Jazz featured at the Brauntex Theatre

The Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre was jumping the night of March 28, 2008, when the Greater New Braunfels Arts Council hosted a performance by the Jim Cullum Jazz Band. When asked to define jazz, Louis Armstrong said, “Man, if you gotta ask, you’ll never know.”
After more than 35 years of performances, hard work, and fun, The Jim Cullum Jazz Band has defined it very well in major concert halls throughout the U.S.A. with great traditional jazz. Cullum said, “We are all proud of the music we play and enjoy. Our radio show and concerts such as these introduce the great vintage jazz music to those who have never had the opportunity to hear and appreciate it.”
The Stars of “RIVERWALK: Live from the Landing”, Jim Cullum’s nationally broadcast radio show, gave a straight ahead program of America’s vintage jazz. Playing without amplification, they filled the Brauntex with hot, sweet, acoustic music straight from the heart. The show drew a local audience as well as a number of out-of-town visitors who follow the band whenever they can. If you weren’t at the Brauntex that night, you missed a great show.

Poetry Takes Center Stage

At a full house at Circle Arts Theatre, the winners of the 26th Annual Poetry contest read their poems and received their awards on April 29, 2008. William Cullen Bryant wrote, “Poetry is that art which selects and arranges the symbols of thought in such a manner as to excite the imagination most powerfully and delightfully.”
The winning poets should be congratulated for doing just that. After the awards ceremony, these talented local writers were honored with a reception by the Greater New Braunfels Arts Council.

• Fifth and Sixth Grade: Kerrighton Espinoza, First Place; Kaitlyn Anderson, Second Place; Caleb Craig, Third Place; and Linda Drake, Honorable Mention.

• Middle School: Andrew Hardwick, First and Second Place; Emily Jahnsen, Third Place; and Faith Krueger, Honorable Mention.

• High School: Sarah Mosley, First Place, Sophia Sotcheff, Second Place; and Alyssa Jahnsen, Third Place.
  Adult: Suzanne Cole, First Place; and Virginia K. Hughes, Second and Third Place.

• Tricia Stevens received the Lynne M. Elliott Award, presented by Elizabeth Elliott

 
Poetry Contest Winners Left to Right - Andrew Hardwick, 1st & 2nd Place Middle School;
Sarah Mosley, 1st Place High School; Tricia Stevens, Lynne M. Elliott Award;
Kerrington Espinoza, 1st Place 5th & 6th Grade; and Suzanne Cole, 1st Place Adult.

At its May dinner meeting ...

The Greater New Braunfels Arts Council welcomed new Board Members Ann Dearing Hafer and Joyce Marcoe and said goodbye to Tina Bretzke, Bob Karabinus, and Melody Walls. Officers for the 2008/2009 Program Year were elected. They are: Sara Sanderson, President; Adam Fellers, Vice President; Lewis Sarkozi, Secretary; and Anne Hair, Treasurer. The Board will convene in a retreat on Aug. 23 to plan the New Program Year.

Honk!, if you’re looking for fun ...

Circle Arts Theatre’s summer musical, Honk!, is a musical version of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic story, “The Ugly Duckling”, by composer George Stiles and writer Anthony Drewe. Visit the farmyard to find out more about this tale of Ugly, Ida, Drake, Cat, and all of the livestock down on the farm. A reviewer in TIME OUT said of the English National Theatre Production, “Anthony Drewe’s bold songs and book keep children rapt, while intricate food references, hilarious gags, and appalling puns have the adults roaring and groaning by turns.” Check the ARTINERARY for show times and ticket information.

Children will be enthralled ...

By “Masked Marvels and Wondertales”, at the Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre on July 23. International performer Michael Cooper presents a one-man show using storytelling, mime, stilt-dancing, and breath taking hand-crafted masks. He uses prose, poetry, and mime to present vignettes that are both funny and moving. Children will delight in his captivating stories of courage and wonder. Mr. Cooper has performed the show at: The Brooklyn Academy of Music; The Comedy Store in Los Angeles; Hong Kong’s Children’s Festival; The Dublin Theatre Festival; and many other places.

If you’re looking for drama ...

The New Braunfels Theatre Company’s production, Of Mice and Men, will be the show to see in August. Set in the Salinas Valley of California during the Great Depression, the play, based on John Steinbeck’s novela, tells the story of two men, George and Lennie, who join other migratory workers during the 1930’s. Major themes are loneliness, companionship, alienation, mercy, compassion, and the importance of dreams. Lennie is a large, strong man with the intellectual capacity of a small child, and George is a childhood friend who takes responsibility for Lennie after the death of his caregiver. Show times and ticket information are in the ARTINERARY.

NB Community Chorale news

The New Braunfels Community Chorale’s first rehearsal with its new director is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12 at Eden Home’s Friendship Room. Director Perry Dean, of the Smithson Valley High School Music Department, returns to again direct the Chorale.

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