ASC 2013 Summer/Fall Magazine

SUMMER/FALL 2013 SEASON ANNOUNCED 10ASC MEMBERS EXPERIENCE THE ARTS IN CUBA 28

ARTPLAY: HEALING THE SOUL, MIND, AND BODY 38

VOLUME 2 » ISSUE 1 » SUMMER/FALL » 2013

MAGAZINECENTER

X | THE CENTER MAGAZINE

UAB BRANDING AD

There are those who turn science into an art. There are those who have art down to a science. Both possess the power to change the world. And at the heart of that power is knowledge.We applaud that.

uabmedicine.org

There are those who turn science into an art. There are those who have art down to a science. Both possess the power to change the world. And at the heart of that power is knowledge.We applaud that.

uabmedicine.org

Two beloved individuals whose lifelong generosity transformed lives and our entire

community. From Ms. Fairley’s leadership gift in the conceptualization and construction

phases of UAB’s Alys Stephens Center to her most recent estate gift to ArtPlay

and the ASC, Ms. Fairley was inspired to give back so that others, too, could

enjoy the vibrancy and transformative power of the arts.

Mr. Engel was a champion for the arts and the Birmingham community as evidenced by

his leadership gift to establish the ASC’s Engel Plaza and by the lasting legacy he leaves

through the establishment of UAB’s Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts.

In their 95 and 92 years of life, respectively, Ms. Fairley and Mr. Engel inspired all those

around them with their generous spirits. Our organization is deeply appreciative.

The arts, UAB, and Birmingham are enriched because of Ms. Fairley and Mr. Engel.

Claire H. Fairley & Marvin R. Engel

THIS ISSUE OF THE ASC CENTER MAGAZINE IS DEDICATED TO

It has been a terrific spring at UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Thank you for joining us

for so many stellar performances by world-class artists whom we’ve brought to the ASC. It has been

an extraordinarily exciting time for us as we’ve worked to develop and present innovative and creative

performing arts programming such as our presentation of Light Dreams – an ASC-curated event using

a combination of technology and light to transform the face of our building into a phenomenal wash

of light, sound, and storytelling. It was a dream come true for us, as we brought local artists, UAB

faculty and students, and the community together to create a celebration of artistry and technology

and true innovation in the arts. It was also great fun and rewarding to see hundreds of people gathered

to enjoy this incredible event.

Partnership and collaboration are important aspects of measuring our success in programming at

the ASC. We are proud of the work we are doing to collaborate with faculty, staff, and students in

the departments of Music and Theatre at UAB and with other departments across campus. We are

also proud of our continuing relationship and several significant collaborations with the Alabama

Symphony Orchestra. Also, we are pleased with our partnerships through ArtPlay to make arts

education available to children and seniors across the Birmingham area.

As you peruse the latest edition of this magazine, we hope you will enjoy the broad array of arts from

all genres that we are bringing to the ASC this summer and fall. It continues to be our goal to create

and showcase programming that allows you to enjoy and experience all that the performing arts have

to offer at UAB’s Alys Stephens Center.

Thank you for your amazing support. Please come and enjoy this extraordinary place and allow the

arts to transform you.

.p

Shirley Salloway Kahn, Ph.D. UAB Vice President for Development, Alumni, and External Relations

Theresa Harper BrunoASC Corporate Board Chair

welcome back

ASC Membership and Support ..................... 34Donors, Sponsors, and Board Members .......... 36ArtPlay Fall 2013 Class Schedule ...................... 48ASC Partners and Their Schedules .................. 50UAB Students and Employees ....................... 52All About the ASC ....................................... 53Parking and Directions ................................ 54Seating Charts ........................................... 55Subscriptions and Ticket Order Form .............. 56Season at a Glance ........................................ 59

From world-renowned medical solutions for international epidemics to thought-provoking celebrations of the arts, UAB and UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (ASC) are changing the world, one milestone at a time. Long-standing leaders in human rights, UAB and the ASC have joined forces with the City of Birmingham and other local organizations to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement in a campaign titled, “50 Years Forward: We Commemorate ‘The Movement That Changed the World.’”» Established in 1969, UAB has a wide-ranging impact on local and global communities in human rights, the arts, research, and medicine. As one example of using its resources for the betterment of mankind, UAB has been a leader in disease control and prevention. UAB’s Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) opened in 1988 as one of seven centers established by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to stimulate and advance HIV/AIDS research and conduct clinical trials. The same year, UAB opened its 1917 Clinic to provide comprehensive care to patients infected with

HIV. Today, UAB remains at the forefront of HIV/AIDS research and care as it works toward a shared vision for a healthier and more prosperous city, state, nation, and world. » Closer to home, UAB has leveraged its resources to elevate thought and action toward human rights, research, and the arts. In September 2013, in commemoration of 1963, the ASC is presenting a series of performances and educational events designed to uplift hearts, encourage souls, and stimulate conversation as we look back on the past and toward the future. » Friday, September 13, will be an afternoon of stimulating conversation with city native and former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, who will share with a community-wide audience her incredible journey from the Titusville neighborhood of Birmingham to the steps of the White House. Dr. Rice – who is also an accomplished pianist and author – will discuss how discipline in the arts served as a springboard to her success in education and politics. She will take questions from the audience, which will predominantly comprise students. » On Sunday, September 15, a special performance of the moving play 4 Little Girls will mark the 50th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. ArtPlay, the ASC’s home for arts education and outreach, has been selected as one of two venues worldwide to perform this piece. » The week continues Thursday, September 19, as guitarist Eric Essix performs songs from his landmark 20th recording, titled Evolution, which musically charts the spiritual growth and healing of Birmingham 50 years after the events of 1963. A guitarist with personal connections to the subject matter, Essix for more than a decade has produced and recorded songs that have a direct correlation to the Civil Rights Movement. “With this project,” he says, “I definitely wanted to, of course, acknowledge the past but also highlight the amazing progress we’ve made over the past 50 years.” The performance features 5 Men on a Stool and Tracy Hamlin. » The week culminates Saturday, September 21, with A More Convenient Season, commissioned by philanthropist Tom Blount and the ASC. Composer Yotam Haber will present the world premiere of his original composition, whose title references a line from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” encouraging individuals to no longer wait for justice. A More

Convenient Season features the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, a chorus, four soloists, and film and archival recordings, including audio clips from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s Oral History Project. » UAB and the ASC join the community in celebrating the pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, the state, and the nation, whose strength and determination continue to change the world. In looking toward the next 50 years, UAB and the ASC remain committed to the ideals that fueled their fight for dignity, equality, and human rights.

changingthe world

ALYSSTEPHENS.ORG | 27

BUILDING A CULTURAL CORRIDORClustering the arts disciplines to foster collaboration 4

SUMMER/FALL PERFORMANCESThe ASC’s 2013 Season offers something for everyone 10

CHANGING THE WORLDUAB and the ASC are making an indelible mark globally 26

ASC MEMBERS VISIT CUBATrip provides educational opportunities, interaction with artists 28

HEALING POWER OF THE ARTSArtPlay program takes therapeutic art into healthcare settings 38

ARTPLAY GETS PROFESSIONAL

Preparing students for a career in the arts 42


BUILDINGACULTURALCORRIDOR

CORRIDOR

By clustering the arts disciplines into acentralized arts district – a cultural corridor – UAB intends to foster collaboration and a

sense of community both within theuniversity and in our community.

Dr. Shirley Salloway Kahn, UAB vice president for development, alumni, and external relations BUILDINGACULTURALCORRIDOR

» “Ideally, art and culture are present in every aspect of life and our environment, but having an area where people can experience and appreciate it in large doses is really valuable,” says Erin Wright, chair of UAB’s Department of Art and Art History. He’s talking about UAB’s burgeoning cultural corridor, anchored by UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (ASC) and soon to be augmented by the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA). Dr. Howard Irving, chair of UAB’s Department of Music, calls it “the premier destination for the people to whom art and music matter.” » The proximity is full of promise. “By clustering the arts disciplines into a centralized arts district – a cultural corridor – UAB intends to foster collaboration and a sense of community both within the university and in our community,” says Dr. Shirley Salloway Kahn, UAB vice president for development, alumni, and external relations. » Dr. Kahn and Theresa Harper Bruno, chair of the ASC Corporate Board, have been key proponents of the concept of a cultural corridor for UAB. “The Alys Stephens Center, the Hulsey Center, and the soon-to-open AEIVA are the perfect complement of entities to showcase the university’s commitment to arts education, cultural programming, and community enrichment,” Bruno says. » The ASC is home to UAB’s Department of Theatre, while the Hulsey Center houses the Department of Music. When completed in fall 2013, the AEIVA will be the permanent home of the Department of Art and Art History. The three departments already work together, but a desire for increased interaction among them has spurred the development of a centralized arts district on campus. » In fact, that aim was central to the recent reorganization of the entire university. According to Dr. Robert Palazzo, dean of UAB’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), the cultural corridor will be a kind of proving ground for cross-disciplinary education. » “When we established the CAS, one of our primary goals was to create an ecosystem for exchange,” Palazzo says. “At its best, the corridor will be a platform for the collision of ideas in experiential learning. We want to provide opportunities for students to get beyond their own disciplines.” » UAB was founded as a medical center, so it makes sense that the sciences have taken center stage for most of the university’s history.

» “If the sciences reflect a society's quest for knowledge, the arts would represent its desire to be in touch with its soul,” Wright says. “The arts and culture reveal our humanity.” » Palazzo concurs, adding that the arts are central to UAB’s growth into a truly comprehensive university. Creating a cultural corridor “makes sense if we’re going to compete on a national – or even global – level,” he says. » Wright suggests that it’s the relative brevity of UAB’s history that makes this a decisive moment for the university. Although UAB has earned an international reputation in various fields of medicine and scientific research, ample opportunity remains for the 44-year-old institution to define itself in many other disciplines. “By making a commitment to art and culture,” he says, “UAB is showing its commitment to being a great university in medicine, science, and the arts.” » UAB also demonstrated its dedication to the arts in 1997 with the purchase of 32 pianos designed by the esteemed manufacturer Steinway & Sons, becoming Alabama’s first All-Steinway School. » Looking toward the future, Palazzo envisions the AEIVA as a powerful complement to UAB’s Alys Stephens Center. » “With the ASC, we have an outstanding performing arts venue with significant academic components utilized by multiple departments – Music, Theatre, and Computer and Information Sciences,” he says. “The AEIVA should provide equivalent opportunities for the Department of Art and Art History, but we expect it to also become a hub for the campus and the community at large.” » As is the practice at UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, the emphasis at the AEIVA will be on education, even as the faculty and staff work to position it as one of the region’s primary venues for experiencing innovative programming in the visual arts. The AEIVA will provide gallery space of the highest caliber for exhibits by UAB students as well as artists from around the world. » “One of the things that distinguish a university gallery from a commercial one is its mission to educate and illuminate as well as challenge,” Wright says. “We are not in the business of selling art. We are in the business of defining it. By doing so, the galleries will contribute to that rich environment where creativity will thrive.” » And it’s not only students who gain and grow in such a setting,


summer series

Wright says. A seat of creativity on the UAB campus can make a significant impact on the cultural landscape of the city at large. » “UAB is inextricably linked to the city of Birmingham, and as UAB grows and develops, the benefits of its programs are felt not only by the students but also throughout the entire community,” he says. » After all, the Alys Stephens Center has made the transformative power of a performing arts venue evident for almost 20 years. Kelly Allison, chair of UAB’s Department of Theatre, describes the place as a beacon for the arts in the Birmingham metro area. » “If we’re building an arts corridor, the ASC is already the cornerstone for it,” he says. “It’s a draw for the community, for current UAB students, for local high school students already thinking of college or careers in the arts. I don’t think we can overstate what it has meant for our students and for the community at large to have access to the caliber of performers who have come through the Alys Stephens Center.” » The ASC may already be the hub of cross-disciplinary collaboration on the UAB campus. Students from the Department of Art and Art History work with theatre students on set design. Music students immerse themselves in computer and information technology training in the new AVID System 5 Fusion Console. The point of collaborative learning, says music professor Dr. Henry Panion III, is to provide students with the richest possible opportunities. » “UAB was one of the first schools in the U.S. with an accredited music technology program,” Panion says. “That alone doesn’t necessarily mean much, but what makes our program unique is that the focus has never been on tweaking the knobs as it is on making sure that UAB musicians are able to incorporate technology into their music-making.” » Allison insists that such a diversified learning strategy – emphasizing the interrelatedness of sciences, technology, and the arts – can dramatically alter a student’s overall experience at UAB. » “The more we can foster cross-pollination with other departments – theatre with music, visual arts with computer and information technology, all of them in combination – the more powerful the whole university becomes, student by student,” he says. » Theatre, Allison argues, may be the most cross-disciplinary art of all. “Drama

is the core,” he says. “Add set and costume design, and you’ve got the visual arts. Increasingly, we’re seeing theatre become a multimedia art with the inclusion of film and other technology. In musical theatre, music and dance become part of the mix.” » With colleagues in the theatre department as well as members of the music faculty, Allison is one of several faculty members who have spent the past few months developing a new musical theatre major, which will comprise 70 requisite courses. Currently, theatre majors may select a performance concentration or a design and technology concentration, but there’s sufficient coursework – not to mention student interest – for a musical theatre concentration, too. » However, this new major had to be structured differently from its non-musical counterpart because more rigorous training is required to prepare students for a professional career. » “A musical theatre performer has a limited professional life span,” Allison says. “That is, a musical theatre performer has to be viewed more like a dancer. Someone may be able to act for decades and sing for decades, but he or she is not going to be able to dance for decades.” » The physical demands of professional musical theatre performance are such that you don’t see a lot of professionals over age 40, Allison says. That limited interval makes it necessary for the department to have incredibly high standards. A student must be able to handle an intense program to have any hope of professional success. » Of course, having access to UAB’s Alys Stephens Center – as performers or audience members – is an integral part of a theatre student’s learning experience. Students have the opportunity to see performances by world-class artists, and performers give their time by offering master classes or conducting Q&A sessions. » “The more exposure students can get to working professionals, the better off they are,” Allison says. » Maybe the same is true for discourse among the disciplines: each may be improved by interaction with others. “The departments of Music, Theatre, and Art and Art History – we’ve always co-existed, but we haven’t always collaborated,” Allison says. “Whenever we do work together, though, it’s worthwhile for everybody involved. The more collaboration we can make happen, the better.”

6 | THE CENTER MAGAZINE

The Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA) under construction

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Renasant Bank is proud to sponsor the Summer 2013 Series for UAB’s

Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. We are committed to supporting the

arts and other civic organizations that contribute to an enriched quality of life and a vibrant economy for this

community. The arts have the power to educate, energize, and bring people together. Renasant Bank salutes UAB’s

Alys Stephens Center for its quality programming, education and outreach,

and its mission to make the arts accessible to our community.

ASC favorite Josh Ritter returns with the release of his new recording, The Beast in Its Tracks. It is the sixth full-length album from Ritter, who has been named one of the “10 Most Exciting Artists Now” by Entertainment Weekly and among the “100 Best Living Songwriters” by Paste magazine. Of the record, the artist says, “In the year after my marriage ended, I realized that I had more new songs than I’d ever had at one time. Far from the grand, sweeping feel of the songs on So Runs the World Away (his 2010 release), these new songs felt like rocks in the shoe, hard little nuggets of whatever they were, be it spite, remorse, or happiness.” Ritter & the Royal City Band will appear at the ASC as part of their North American tour. Opening for the headliner will be The Milk Carton Kids, a contemporary folk duo praised for its delicate vocals and tight harmonies.

Enjoy a beverage during this show served in an ASC theatre cup.

june 29saturday » 7:00pmSIROTE THEATRE » $34.50

joshRITTER& the Royal City Bandwith THE MILK CARTON KIDS

2013 SERIES

UAB’S ALYS STEPHENS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

PRESENTS THE RENASANT BANK

SUMMER


ASC Nite Market and the “Hayseed Project” are made possible in part by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama,Bottega Restaurant and Café, Good People Brewing Company, Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, and Lydia and Taylor Pursell.

july 20saturday » 4:00-7:00pm

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Susan Werner presents the Hayseed Project, a collection of original songs that celebrate the language, livelihood, characters, and concerns of American farmers and the people who love them. The Lied Center for Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska commissioned Werner to write this concept album about farming and food sustainability. She has a deep connection to the issue, having grown up on a family farm in eastern Iowa, where her parents still farm. The result is a recording of beautiful, meaningful songs about the American food experience. Edwin Marty, EAT South executive director and Alabama Sustainable Agricultural Network board president, will open the event with comments about what’s developing with Alabama farms and sustainability today. Leading up to Werner’s performance, we also will screen the documentary CUD andhear from White Oak Pastures’ Will Harris.

ARTPLAY Clinic, 3:30pm » Werner discusses the Hayseed Project and her songwriting style.

Check your market purchases @ the door before the show.


july 20saturday » 7:30pm

SIROTE THEATRE » $32.50ENGEL PLAZA » FREE COMMUNITY EVENT

susanWERNER

ASC nite market

You can browse tents and buy produce from local farmers markets including Pepper Place Saturday Market, Jones Valley Teaching Farm, and the UAB Wellness Veggie Cart; enjoy live music by the Jason Bailey Trio; and attend “seed planting” talks by local craft brew makers, coffee roasters, innovative growers, and others pushing the field forward. Get a bite to eat from a local company leading the way in sustainable practices, Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q. Plus, sample craft brews from Good People Brewing Company, taste delicious foods and help us celebrate our state’s farmers and farming community. Play bocce ball or croquet, compliments of Green Central Station. Kids can create garden collages, edible sculptures, and learn about plant and animal species in their watershed in the ArtPlay Kids’ Courtyard!

ARTPLAY Garden Art Workshop, 1pm » Watch your work of art grow. Fun for all ages. Families welcomed!

ASC Nite Market is followed by the“Hayseed Project.”

Hayseed Project

august 23friday » 8:00pm

JEMISON CONCERT HALL » $42.50

BLACK jacket SYMPHONY

Legendary singer, composer, and actor Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musician fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel, and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down barriers. Lovett has appeared in 13 feature films and on stage and television. Among his many accolades are four Grammy Awards and the Americana Music Association’s inaugural Trailblazer Award, and he recently was named the Texas State Musician. Dubbed by Garden & Gun recently as “one of America’s most beloved singer/songwriters,” Lovett will perform songs from his newly released CD Release Me, which was No. 1 for several weeks on the Americana charts. Join us for an unforgettable evening with one of music’s most vibrant and iconic performers.


july 24wednesday » 8:00pmJEMISON CONCERT HALL » A $68.50 B $59.50 C $49.50

lyleLOVETT& his Acoustic Group

For years we’ve been discussing with The Black Jacket Symphony what would be the perfect album to perform at the ASC, and we came to the conclusion that a standard album just wouldn’t cut it – we needed something bigger than they’ve ever done before ... a double album ... The White Album by The Beatles. Experiencing this album performed by the amazing Black Jacket Symphony in the acoustically superb Jemison Concert Hall will be an unforgettable experience for any music fan. The Black Jacket Symphony offers a unique concert experience through re-creating classic albums in a live performance setting. A selected album is performed in its entirety by a group of handpicked musicians specifically chosen for each album, with no sonic detail being overlooked – the musicians do whatever it takes to musically reproduce the album. The performance is separated into two sets – the first highlights the album as a true symphonic piece, and the second delves into the selected artists’ greatest hits.


presents The Beatles’ White Album

The White AlbumTH

E


august 29thursday » 7:00pmARTPLAY PARLOR » Wine & hors d ’oeuvres included $37.50

cicelyPARNAS

PATTY McDONALD presents the ARTPLAY PARLOR MUSIC SERIES featuring YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS

cellist

The ASC is highlighting the beauty and complexity of the cello with a series of presentations and educational events. Our first featured artist is Cicely Parnas, First Prize Winner of the 2012 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and granddaughter of the illustrious cellist, Leslie Parnas. The younger Parnas began playing the cello at age 4 and made her concerto debut at 11 with the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra. She has been winning numerous prizes since age 13, including the 2011 Artistic Excellence Award and First Prize in the Cello Concerto Competition at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where she earned an Artist Diploma. Parnas, who performs on a 1712 Giovanni Grancino violoncello, has been heard on NPR’s Performance Today series and recently made her Carnegie Hall concerto debut. For her ArtPlay concert, Parnas is set to perform Beethoven’s Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69, Janáček’s Pohadka (Fairy Tale), Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise, and Shostakovich’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, Op. 40 (program is subject to change).

THE RESIDENCY IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE ANNALIESE SOROS EDUCATIONAL RESIDENCY FUND OF YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS.

ArtPlay Meet the Artist School Show » Thursday, August 29, 10am, Jemison Concert Hall

This performance is made possible by the support of Patty McDonald and Sterne Agee, Inc.

A true cultural center for our city and state, UAB’s Alys Stephens Center continues expanding its boundaries while remaining true to its mission. Our commitment to present you the best in all genres of the performing arts while curating innovative arts experiences has never been more apparent than through our Summer Series. We are delighted to showcase our classical roots through a series featuring the cello, beginning with Young Concert Artist Cicely Parnas. We enjoy bringing the community together to spark important conversations through the arts as evidenced by the curated ASC Nite Market and Hayseed Project, where sustainable living will be discussed, local farmers supported, and music from Susan Werner enjoyed. All the while, our children and families can explore their creativity and enhance their knowledge of the arts through hands-on experiences such as ArtPlay’s Garden Workshop. This summer, and every season, the ASC will continue to present arts that change your world.

Dr. Condoleezza Rice, a Birmingham native, has broken several racial and gender barriers in her distinguished

career. She was the first African-American woman to be named U.S. Secretary of State, serving under President

George W. Bush from 2005 to 2009. As America’s chief diplomat, she focused on engaging U.S. partners

around the world to promote stability, good governance, and democracy. She was also the first woman to serve

as National Security Advisor, appointed to the post by President Bush in 2001. Earlier in her career, in 1993,

she became the first woman and first African-American to serve as provost of Stanford University in California. During her six-year tenure, she served as the university’s chief budget and academic officer. Rice joined Stanford in 1981 as a political science professor – a position she

has held for more than three decades – and

returned to the university in 2009. She also serves on the faculty of Stanford’s Graduate School of Business as the Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy, and is the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution. Rice’s barrier-breaking has not been confined to her professional life. In August 2012, she became one of the first two female members of the Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club, which had been an all-male organization for nearly 80 years. As part of the ASC’s and the City of Birmingham’s commemoration of 1963, Rice will discuss her trailblazing career, the obstacles she overcame, and the impact of the Civil Rights Movement on her life. After her remarks, Rice – who has authored and co-authored numerous books – will participate in a Q&A session with the audience.

» JEMISON CONCERT HALL « » For ticket information, please call the ASC Box Office at 205.975.2787. «

friday » september 13 » 4:30pm

dr.CONDOLEEZZArice


» JEMISON CONCERT HALL « $38.50

» ArtPlay Meet the Artist School Show: Friday, September 20, 10am, Jemison Concert Hall «

ericESSIXthursday » september 19 » 7pm

Evolution is the title of the landmark 20th CD by Eric Essix, which musically charts the spiritual growth and healing of

Birmingham 50 years after the events that energized the Civil Rights Movement in 1963. The local native and Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame member will debut Evolution as part of the Alys Stephens Center’s September 2013 commemoration of those

historic events – including the bombing of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church – which forever changed our nation.

On this recording, Essix’s guitar fronts contemporary jazz arrangements supported by traditional jazz instrumentation

throughout most of the set. Along with six new compositions – all written by Essix – are covers of a handful of well-known

songs by various popular artists. “With this

project, I definitely wanted to, of course, acknowledge the past but also highlight the amazing progress we’ve made over the past 50 years,” says Essix, who is also co-founder of the annual Preserve Jazz Festival in Hoover. “Birmingham is my home. I have seen the segregation of the past and the tremendous growth of this city firsthand, and I’m proud of where we are today and of the strength and resolve of the people here.” When Essix is not on stage, he serves as artist coordinator at UAB’s Alys Stephens Center and an instructor of jazz studies and music technology in UAB’s Department of Music. Joining Essix for this concert will be the dynamic ensemble 5 Men on a Stool and vocalist Tracy Hamlin. You won’t want to miss this evening of remembrance, celebration, and healing.

premiering EVOLUTION featuring 5 MEN ON A STOOL and vocalist TRACY HAMLIN


» JEMISON CONCERT HALL « A $56.50 B $47.50 C $37.50


» ArtPlay Composers Workshop: Monday, September 16, 4pm, Jemison Concert Hall «» ArtPlay Meet the Artist School Show: Thursday, September 19, 10am, Jemison Concert Hall «

saturday » september 21 » 8pm

“Every word spoken or sung will be words from the movement. Words from the Birmingham Civil Rights

Institute’s Oral Histories, words from FBI files and police records … words of the time,” says Yotam Haber,

a Guggenheim fellow and accomplished composer commissioned by philanthropist Tom Blount and UAB’s

Alys Stephens Center to commemorate the events of 1963. Haber continues, “I’m not coming here to tell

Birmingham and Alabama their own story. They know it far better than I do. I’m creating a work of art through

the filter of my own experiences of growing up in Europe and Israel and immigrating to America from Africa. I’m

listening and learning – not to be a historian, but an artist.” The culmination of Haber’s listening to

oral histories, learning from foot soldiers,

speaking with historians, and browsing through files and artifacts in the Birmingham Public Library archives has resulted in the world premiere of A More Convenient Season. The title, inspired by a line from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” encourages individuals to no longer wait for justice. The performance features the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, four of Birmingham’s most talented youth soloists, a chorus, film, archival recordings, and electronic music by Philip White. In spring 2014, the Alys Stephens Center will premiere thiswork on the West Coast in a performance featuring the CalArts Orchestra at REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theatre). Please join us for this commissioned work that not only commemorates the events of 1963, but also showcases the beauty of Birmingham today.

yotamHABERworld premiere of A MORE CONVENIENT SEASON

commissioned by PHILANTHROPIST TOM BLOUNT

This performance is made possible by the support of Tom Blount, Betty and John McMahon, Friends of Cornerstone School, UAB Medicine, Birmingham Jewish Foundation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Jehri and Brad Crowe, Mary Catherine Crowe,

Iberia Bank, Karen and Joel Piassick, Gail and Jeffrey A. Bayer, Sheryl and Jon Kimerling, Southern Jewish Life magazine,Valerie and Steve Thomas, and Vulcan Value Partners LLC.



NATALIEmerchantfriday » october 18 » 8pm

UAB’s Alys Stephens Center and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO) present this amazing vocalist in concert. Over Natalie Merchant’s 30-year career, she has earned a

distinguished place among America’s most respected recording artists with a reputation for being a prolific songwriter with

a compelling artistic vision and a unique and captivating performance style. Her latest album, Leave Your Sleep, debuted

at No. 17 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. With it, she has embarked on a new artistic path, creating songs from literary

inspiration that are composed for expanded musical ensembles and orchestras. Merchant is best known as lead vocalist and

lyricist of the alternative-rock band 10,000 Maniacs, releasing two platinum and four gold records between 1981 and 1993.

Together with such artists as R.E.M., the group

defined college rock and created the first wave of alternative-rock bands and what became known as the alternative-rock format on FM radio. On the heels of the group’s success, Merchant soon began her solo career with a self-produced debut album, Tigerlily (1995). She followed with Ophelia (1998), Natalie Merchant Live (1999), and Motherland (2001). In 2003, she independently released an album of American and British folk music, The House Carpenter’s Daughter, on her own label, Myth America Records. In 2005, she curated a collection of her own work for a double album, Retrospective, and another for her former band, Campfire Songs. Join us for this incredible performance as Merchant sings her familiar hits, plus new works, with full symphonic accompaniment by the ASO.

with the ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAJAMES BAGWELL, CONDUCTOR


» $75 VIP ticket. Super-fun pre-performance reception beginning at 6:30pm. Includes performance ticket, complimentary beverages, snacks, and a meet-and-greet with Gallagher. Limited availability. «

Birmingham native and local favorite Rickey Smiley returns to the ASC with an evening of hilarious

stand-up (as himself ) and sketch comedy – as his most outrageously funny character yet, Minister

Joe Willie, joined by the Deuteronomaires. Known for making millions laugh for 20-plus years as a comedian, TV host, and nationally syndicated

radio personality, Smiley has taken the world by storm with his unique blend of comedy and

originality. With the ability to take everyday observations and turn them into comedic gold, he is a standout in the entertainment world and one

of the few “clean”comics among the upper echelon of contemporary stand-up acts. He is the only

comedian who has had the honor of hosting

BET’s Comic View for two seasons. In 2007, Smiley became host of the Atlanta-based Rickey Smiley Morning Show, reaching more than 60 radio markets nationwide. He has released eight comedy CDs featuring hilarious prank phone calls, church announcements, and parodies. In addition, Smiley released his DVD special, Open Casket Sharp, which premiered on BET in fall 2011 and debuted at No. 1 on iTunes. He also co-created The Rickey Smiley Show, a sitcom airing on cable and satellite channel TV One, which stars Smiley in a role loosely based on his own life. It also stars former ArtPlay student and Make It Happen Performing Ensemble alumna Ajona Alexus. Smiley’s show at the ASC is sure to be a sellout, so get your tickets early!

rickeySMILEYfriday » october 25 » 8pm

featuring JOE WILLIE AND THE DEUTERONOMAIRES

AN EVENING WITH



globalFEST» november 6-8 »

UAB’s alys stephens center presents

The Jig Is Up! The Masterful Artistry of Irish DanceWEDNESDAY » NOVEMBER 6 » NOON

Featuring Members of the Drake School of Irish DanceExplore the phenomenon that is Irish Dance as we join Birmingham’s Drake School of Irish Dance for an afternoon of movement

and discussion. Topics include the history of Irish dance, costuming, the use of Gaelic language, and more.

The Art of Indian DancesTHURSDAY » NOVEMBER 7 » NOON

Featuring Dr. Pia Sen, founder and director of Notinee Indian Dance in Birmingham & Sheila Rubin, founder and director of Natyananda Dance of India in Birmingham

Through a combination of lecture and demonstration, learn about the beauty and intricacy of Indian dance. From the specificity of the hand gesture, to the vivid color of the costume, each element plays an integral role in this art form that tells stories

through dance. Don’t miss today’s 7pm performance by sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar. See details on Page 20.

Un Voyage Aux FrancesFRIDAY » NOVEMBER 8 » NOON

Featuring instructor Margaret Bond and Associate Professor Dr. Catherine Daniélouof UAB ’s Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures

Take a trip to France with members of UAB’s faculty for a mini French language lesson and a fun discussion on French food,wine, and culture. You will even have the opportunity to sample French cheeses and pastries from local shops and restaurants.

These programs are made possible by the support of members of UAB’s Alys Stephens Center.


Sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar is one of the leading figures in world music today. She is deeply rooted in Indian classical music, having studied exclusively with her father, the legendary Ravi Shankar, from the age of 9.

Thriving as a composer, she has been exploring fertile ground in the crossover between Indian music and a variety of genres

including flamenco, electronica, jazz, and Western classical music. Twice nominated for a Grammy Award, Shankar in 2006 was the first Indian musician to perform at the

Grammy Awards when she was nominated for Rise. This was soon after becoming the youngest-ever nominee and the first

woman nominated in the world music category, for her album Live at Carnegie Hall in 2002. Born in London, and raised

between there, New Delhi, and California, Shankar

made her performance debut in 1995 at the age of 13. Two years later, she was accompanying her father at his concerts worldwide. At 16 she signed an exclusive recording contract with Angel/EMI and released three classical recordings between 1998-2001, all to great critical acclaim. After finishing her schooling, Shankar put all of her focus into following her musical pursuits and began touring in earnest, developing a solo career as a classical sitarist, whilealso continuing to accompany her father. In 2011 she signed with the prestigious classical music label Deutsche Grammophon Records and released Traveller, an exciting exploration of two musical traditions: Spanish flamenco and Indian classical music. Come and enjoy the hypnotic offerings of this talented and eclectic artist.

thursday » november 7 » 7pm

anoushkaSHANKAR


» ArtPlay Clinic, Thursday, November 7, 1pm, Jemison Concert Hall «Members of Shankar’s band will demonstrate the instruments, scales, and rhythms

that give Indian classical music its unique and beautiful sound.

This performance is made possible in part by Adams and Reese LLP, Dr. and Mrs. Sanjay K. Singh, and Rejuvenation Wellness LLC.


thursday » november 7 » 7pm


» Book-signing Following the Performance «

davidSEDARISfriday » november 8 » 8pm

One of the ASC’s favorite artists of all time is back! Join Grammy-nominated humorist, playwright,

and author David Sedaris for a most entertaining and intellectually provocative evening as he celebrates

the release of his ninth book, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls. This new collection of essays from the

No. 1 New York Times bestselling author takes readers on a bizarre and stimulating world tour. From the

perils of French dentistry to the eating habits of the Australian kookaburra, from the squat-style toilets of

Beijing to the particular wilderness of a North Carolina Costco, we learn about the absurdity and delight of a curious traveler’s experiences. Whether railing against

the habits of litterers in the English countryside or marveling over a disembodied human

arm in a taxidermist’s shop, Sedaris takes us on side-splitting adventures that are not to be forgotten. Sedaris, who has been called the “rock star of writers,” came to prominence on December 23, 1992, when he read on National Public Radio his essay titled SantaLand Diaries, about being an elf at Macy’s department store during Christmas in New York City. A huge hit with listeners, he began recording a monthly segment for NPR based on entries in his personal diary. He soon signed a book deal with Little, Brown and Company. After the publication of his first collection of essays and short stories in 1994, his next five books became New York Times Best Sellers. Whether you’re a longtime Sedaris fan or a newcomer testing the waters, you’re guaranteed to have a fun evening!


Yo-Yo Ma’s multi-faceted career is a testament to his continual search for new ways to communicate with

audiences and to his personal desire for artistic growth and renewal. Whether performing new or familiar works

from the cello repertoire, coming together with colleagues for chamber music, or exploring cultures and musical

forms outside the Western classical tradition, he strives to find connections that stimulate the imagination. Ma’s discography of 75-plus albums (including more than 15

Grammy Award winners) reflects his wide-ranging interests. Ma – who plays two instruments, a 1733 Montagnana

cello from Venice and the 1712 Davidoff Stradivarius – has made several successful recordings that defy categorization.

Across this full range of releases, he remains one of

the best-selling recording artists in the classical field. In fall 2009, Sony Classical released a 90-disc box set to commemorate Ma’s 30 years as a Sony recording artist. With an interest in exploring music as a means of communication, Ma in 1998 established the Silk Road Project, a nonprofit arts and educational organization that takes its inspiration from the historic Silk Road trading routes as a modern metaphor for multicultural and interdisciplinary exchange. The Juilliard-trained and Harvard-educated Ma was born in 1955 to Chinese parents living in Paris. He began to study the cello with his father at age 4 and soon came with his family to New York, where he spent most of his formative years. The ASC is thrilled to present this acclaimed virtuoso to a Birmingham audience!


friday » december 6 » 8pm

» A VIP package is available. For more information, please call 205.934.6196. «

A N I N T I M A T E E V E N I N G W I T H

An Intimate Evening with Yo-Yo Ma is made possible in part by Jemison Investment Co., Inc.


take6sunday » december 15 » 7pm

A cappella sensation Take 6 is a perfect representation of what Duke Ellington called “beyond category.” Take 6 has earned the distinct honor of “the most Grammy-

nominated vocal group in history” and is truly unique in its sound: six angelic and refined voices united in crystal-clear harmony, against a rip tide of syncopated rhythms,

ornate arrangements, and funky grooves that bubble into an intoxicating brew of gospel, jazz, R&B, and pop flavor.

The Take 6 story began in 1980 at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Ala., when Claude McKnight formed a quartet

known as the Gentleman’s Estate Club. When tenor Mark Kibble heard the group rehearsing in

the campus bathroom, he joined in the harmonies and performed on stage with the group that same night. Mervyn Warren joined shortly after, and the group briefly took the name of Alliance, performing locally for several years, as older members graduated and new voices arrived on campus. In 1987, the group signed with Warner Bros. and changed its name to Take 6. Its self-titled debut album, released the following year, scored two Grammy Awards and landed in the top 10 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz and Contemporary Christian charts. Take 6 has garnered 10 Grammys, 10 Doves, a Soul Train Award, and two NAACP Image Award nominations.


THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

» ArtPlay’s Take 6 Community Sing @ 3pm, Jemison Concert Hall « Everyone is invited. Take 6 will lead us on an exploration of jazz, gospel, and a cappella music, its trademark four- and six-part harmonies, and a call-and-response sing-along that will be the hit of your holiday season.


yuletideINdogtown

The dogs are back in town for this “ArtPlay Presents” holiday favorite! Join Spike, Fifi, Scotty, and Beauregard

on this interactive musical adventure created by local playwright – and the ASC’s very own – Jerry Sims, as his

pups learn what the holidays really mean. » Sims hasa real knack for making interesting characters come to

life. He has written a number of “ArtPlay Presents” originals. With takes on classics such as Alice’s Adventures

in Wonderland, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and A Christmas Carol, his shows have offered families

december 20 & 21friday » 7pm

saturday » 10am, 1pm & 7pm

» ArtPlay Meet the Artist School Shows: Thursday, December 19, 10am & 1pm, Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall «

REYNOLDS-KIRSCHBAUM RECITAL HALLADULTS $10 KIDS $8

PRESENTS

not only a delightful time at the theatre, but also a fun and fulfilling educational experience. There is theatre where you simply sit back and watch, and then there are shows like Dogtown that are interactive and really get the audience involved. Now … are you ready to go to the dogs? » Join us for this yuletide performance, but be sure to stick around after it’s over. There will be an opportunity for your family to shake … well, uh … paws with these pups immediately following the show! What a “pawfect” treat for the holidays!


changingthe world

From world-renowned medical solutions for international epidemics to thought-provoking celebrations of the arts, UAB and UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (ASC) are changing the world, one milestone at a time. Long-standing leaders in human rights, UAB and the ASC have joined forces with the City of Birmingham and other local organizations to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement in a campaign titled, “50 Years Forward: We Commemorate ‘The Movement That Changed the World.’” » Established in 1969, UAB has a wide-ranging impact on local and global communities in human rights, the arts, research, and medicine. In one example of using its resources for the betterment of mankind, UAB has been a leader in disease control and prevention. UAB’s Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) opened in 1988 as one of seven centers established by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to stimulate and advance HIV/AIDS research and conduct clinical trials. The same year, UAB opened its 1917 Clinic to provide comprehensive care to patients infected with

HIV. Today, UAB remains at the forefront of HIV/AIDS research and care as it works toward a shared vision for a healthier and more prosperous city, state, nation, and world. » Closer to home, UAB has leveraged its resources to elevate thought and action toward human rights, research, and the arts. In September 2013, in commemoration of 1963, the ASC is presenting a series of performances and educational events designed to uplift hearts, encourage souls, and stimulate conversation as we look back on the past and toward the future. » Friday, September 13, will be an afternoon of stimulating conversation with city native and former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, who will share with a community-wide audience her incredible journey from the Titusville neighborhood of Birmingham to the steps of the White House. Dr. Rice – who is also an accomplished pianist and author – will discuss how discipline in the arts served as a springboard to her success in education and politics. She will take questions from the audience, which will be predominantly comprised of students. » On Sunday, September 15, a special performance of the moving play 4 Little Girls will mark the 50th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. ArtPlay, the ASC’s home for arts education and outreach, has been selected as one of two venues worldwide to perform this piece. » The week continues Thursday, September 19, as guitarist Eric Essix performs songs from his landmark 20th recording, titled Evolution, which musically charts the spiritual growth and healing of Birmingham 50 years after the events of 1963. A guitarist with personal connections to the subject matter, Essix for more than a decade has produced and recorded songs that have a direct correlation to the Civil Rights Movement. “With this project,” he says, “I definitely wanted to, of course, acknowledge the past but also highlight the amazing progress we’ve made over the past 50 years.” The performance features 5 Men on a Stool and Tracy Hamlin. » The week culminates Saturday, September 21, with A More Convenient Season, commissioned by philanthropist Tom Blount and the ASC. Composer Yotam Haber will present the world premiere of his original composition, whose title references a line from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” encouraging individuals to no longer wait for justice. A More Convenient Season features the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, a chorus, four soloists, a film, and archival recordings, including audio clips from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s Oral History Project. » UAB and the ASC join the community in celebrating the pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, the state, and the nation, whose strength and determination continue to change the world. In looking toward the next 50 years, UAB and the ASC remain committed to the ideals that fueled their fight for dignity, equality, and human rights.


ON APRIL 24-MAY 1,

MEMBERS OF UAB’S

ALYS STEPHENS CENTER

EXPERIENCED THE TIMELESS

BEAUTY & FASCINATING

CULTURE OF THE HISTORICAL

NATION OF

art is everywhere you turn in the

rich, natural surroundings -

continually inspiring you.

CU BA

For seven life-enriching days this spring, members of UAB’s Alys Stephens Center (ASC) basked in the lively arts scene of this picturesque island, while participating in a full-time educational program of people-to-people interactions organized by the Cal-Cuba Arte Project. The travelers were immersed in the nation’s vibrant atmosphere, delectable culinary offerings, dynamic music scene, and soulful arts community while engaging in meaningful interactions with locals along the way. “Art is everywhere you turn – whether it’s in the shape of the street or the style of the building – while the rich, natural surroundings continually inspire you,” says ASC member Lydia Pursell. » Day 1 of the educational adventure began with a breathtaking, scenic drive to Trinidad – known as Cuba’s “Museum City” – where travelers checked in to the charming Iberostar Grand Hotel. The group enjoyed a delicious meal of local fare, while Cal-Cuba Arte Project program coordinator Fabiola Ortiz gave an overview of the educational program for the week. Ortiz has been providing cultural and artistic travel programs to Cuba since 2001. One of the goals of the ASC is to continue to provide excellence and innovation in the arts by bringing unique experiences to our members. Ortiz’s expertise and personal connections coincide with that goal and provided rare access

to this vivacious, colorful community. » Day 2 began at the historic center of town, Trinidad’s Plaza Mayor. Buildings surrounding the square date from the 18th and 19th centuries. “Although I have read about Cuba being frozen in time, this image and statement became a reality for me,” says Erica Liebelt. Travelers continued their remarkable experience by receiving an educational overview of the splendid Brunet Palace. Built in 1812 by a wealthy family, it now houses the Romantic Museum, which still boasts its original marble floor, expressive frescoes, and neoclassical decoration. “One of my favorite things about the entire trip,” Liebelt says, “was walking around the streets of Trinidad and observing and interacting in the daily lives of the individual Cubans with whom we engaged – observing the children walking to school in their uniforms and displaying the Cuban flag, women selling coffee in the streets from a little stand, several people selling Cuban sandwiches for breakfast in doorways, men working on repaving the streets. It was an amazing experience.” The travelers also received an overview of the region’s historical relationship with sugar cane while at the Valle de los Ingenios, or Valley of the Sugar Mills, a series of three interconnected valleys about 7 miles outside of Trinidad. This region at one time was the center of Cuba’s sugar production. The day concluded with a festive dinner at Sol Ananda, a restaurant housed in a mid-18th century mansion built by a leader of militia forces who fought against invading British troops.

CU BA


The diners also enjoyed live music by a group of young singers from the Beny Moré School of the Arts. This exchange provided a unique opportunity for the travelers and the art students to learn about one another. The school, located in the city of Cienfuegos, was named for a popular Cuban singer, composer, and bandleader of the 1940s and ’50s. » Speaking of Cienfuegos, that’s where Day 3 of the trip took the travelers. They enjoyed a wonderful overview of this stunning city, which is one of Cuba’s chief seaports and a center for the sugar, coffee, and tobacco trades. Founded by French immigrants in 1819, Cienfuegos boasts several neoclassical buildings that are still very much intact. “When we first arrived I was amazed at how I immediately felt at home,” says Rebekah Elgin-Council. “The locals were so welcoming, and the island is truly enchanting. The landscape itself is art – infused with the natural surroundings of the emerald sea, the brilliant white sand, and lush vegetation.” The group explored the city to the rhythm of bongo drums, which underscored the lovely tunes sung by native birds hopscotching from tree to tree. A highlight of the day was an interactive people-to-people exchange with some young artists and professors from the Taller de Grafica (Graphic Society of Cienfuegos) to learn how to make serigraphs, or silkscreen prints. These instructors often lead workshops for children with disabilities, and students volunteer to teach painting and drawing to children with Down syndrome. “The creativity of these professors and their student artists was so inspirational,” Elgin-Council says. “Their attention to detail on the serigraphs was uncanny.” Before the day ended, it was time to leave Cienfuegos for the capital city of Havana, where the travelers checked in to the famous, elegant, and eclectic Hotel Saratoga, built in the 1880s. This is where they would lodge for the remainder of the trip. The group enjoyed dinner at La Guarida restaurant, which is featured in the Cuban film Fresas Y Chocolate. “That dinner was one of the most enjoyable and surprising events of the trip,” says Dr. Chivers Woodruff, who was accompanied by wife Susie Hoopes. La Guarida also houses art works by Esterio Segura, one of the artists whom the group soon would visit. » On Day 4, a Saturday, the travelers participated in an interactive discussion with one

of Cuba’s most respected diplomats and educators, Dr. Carlos Alzugaray Treto, a professor at the University of Havana’s Center for Hemispheric and United States Studies. “Dr. Treto’s lecture on Cuban politics, its economy, and its fragile relationship with the United States was both very informative and educational,” says Sharrie Jones Viars. The travelers were able through the open dialogue to gain a unique perspective on current Cuba-U.S. policy issues. After an afternoon meeting with local artisans and shop owners, participating in an informative architectural overview of portions of the city, the group enjoyed dinner and a reception at the private residence of artist Kadir López Nieves. “The evening was full of meaningful interaction sparked by Nieves,” Viars says. “It was truly magical.” Nieves is skilled in watercolors and acrylics, but is also known for the creativity and individuality of his installations. In 2011, he was named by The Huffington Post as one of the top 10 artists to watch. » Day 5 began with an interesting and educational visit to the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts). The museum’s collection is housed in two separate buildings, both close to Parque Central. The Colección de Arte Universal (International Collection) is housed in one of the most beautiful buildings in the city and comprises a wide collection of Asian, Italian, Greek, Latin, and North American art. The Colección de Arte Cubano (Cuban Collection) offers the world’s best collection of Cuban art. Unique, unforgettable concerts are held in the intimate theatre there. The group made a quick visit to the stately Colección de Arte Universal to see Dusk, one of four magnificent, large paintings by French artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau that represent the times of day. Dawn, from the same series, is a centerpiece of the Birmingham Museum of Art’s (BMA) permanent collection. BMA Curator Ron Platt pointed out that members of the ASC group are among the lucky few to have seen both works in person. The day’s artistic motif continued with a visit to the studio of Esterio Segura, a graduate of Havana’s prestigious Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), known for his use of humorous imagery to address the socially and politically charged themes in Cuban history. His works are collected by the Museum of Modern

X | THE CENTER MAGAZINE


Art in New York City and the Tate Modern Museum in London. The evening was topped off with a tremendous performance by the National Ballet. » On Day 6, architecture was the theme of the morning as the travelers engaged in an interactive historical discussion with renowned architect, urban designer, and critic Mari Coyula-Cowley about the colonial city’s restoration project and urban planning design. Coyula-Cowley then led the travelers on an architectural overview through modern Havana. “His knowledge and passion for these stunning buildings provided a perspective I never would have recognized on my own,” says Dr. Sanjay Singh. “It was very informative to learn about the diverse cultural blend of African, European, and North American designs that reflect the varied demographic composition of the island.” The group was invited to meet with members of the ISA, which comprises the Escuela de Música (School of Music), Escuela de Ballet (School of Ballet), Escuela de Baile Moderno (School of Modern Dance), and Escuela de Bellas Artes (School of Fine Arts). Later, ASC members spent time at the studio of visual artist Yoan Capote. Dubbed “The Bunker,” the studio gave the group an opportunity to see firsthand how this sculptor’s refuge provides the perfect environment in which to work with the heavy materials he uses, such as steel, concrete, and iron. “I am in love with Capote’s work!” Elgin-Council exclaims. This people-to-people exchange was equally meaningful for the Cuban artist, as Capote was able to learn about the artistic background and interests of the travelers as well. » Day 7 began with a historical overview of Ernest Hemingway’s relationship with and impact upon Cuba during a visit to the American writer’s home, Finca Vigía – which now houses a museum. Built on a hilltop in 1886 and purchased by Hemingway in 1940, the house is located in the Havana suburb of San Francisco de Paula. Later in the afternoon, the group participated in a people-to-people exchange in the home of photographer Cirenaica Moreira, an ISA graduate whose black-and-white photography has been described as spellbinding. Much of her work is from the perspective of a woman enveloped in a predominantly male world. “Absolutely my favorite part of the

entire trip was our visit to the home of Cirenaica Moreira,” Liebelt says. “The opportunity to interact with the photographer in her own home – discussing her amazing works in her bedroom, on her bed, with a view of the sea out her window – was an amazing and somewhat intimate experience. I had never heard of this photographer, yet I felt like I knew a little about her thoughts and the ideas behind her photographs.” As the group prepared to say goodbye to the captivating island on their final evening, they enjoyed a meaningful farewell reception at the private residence of artist Damian Aquiles and his curator wife, Pamela Ruiz. Dinner was hosted on the rooftop of Atelier, one of Havana’s premier restaurants. » ASC members who participated in the Cal-Cuba Arte Project (License No. CT-2012-297556-1) arrived home with a great appreciation for the unique vision and voice of the Cuban cultural community. “Everything about Cuba is so rich with the history of the art, the food, the music – it engulfs and inspires you,” says ASC Advisory Board and Circle Club member Rae Trimmier. “We made many new friends and learned so much about the country and about the lives of those individuals with whom we interacted. It was an unforgettable trip that I would not have taken without the guidance of the ASC. I’m very grateful this organization continues to provide cultural experiences that go beyond the usual expectations. I will always treasure my educational journey to Cuba.”

“ It was an unforgettable trip that I would not have taken without the guidance of the ASC. I’m very grateful this organization continues to provide cultural experiences

that go beyond the usual expectations. I will alwaystreasure my educational journey to Cuba.”

Rae Trimmier, ASC Advisory Board and Circle Club member

Upcoming ASC Circle Club member trips include a second excursion to Cuba in November 2013 and a trip to Los Angeles in early 2014to see the West Coast premiere of “A More Convenient Season.” For details, please contact Lili Anderson at 205.934.6196.

Images: Pg. 28 Top to bottom – ASC travelers in Old Havana Plaza de la Catedral La Habana Viejo; city of Havana » Pg. 30 Left to right – City of Havana National Capitol; art by student of Instituto Superior de Arte » Pg. 31 Top from left to right – City of Trinidad; Sol Ananda and young singers from the Beny Moré School of the Arts; city of Trini-dad; Cienfuegos street market; Valle de los Ingenios, or Valley of the Sugar Mills; Cuban National Ballet; Instituto Superior de Arte » Pg. 32 Top from left to right – Catedral de San Cristobal in Old Havana; Valle de los Ingenios, or Valley of the Sugar Mills; schoolchildren in Old Havana; city of Cienfuegos; hat store in Trinidad; artwork by Damian Aquiles; photographer Cirenaica Moreira; dinner at the private residence of artist Kadir López Nieves; Ernest Hemingway’s fishing boat,“Pilar.”Photographs by: Rebekah Elgin-Council and Bryan Council, Erica Liebelt, Debra Robinson, Dr. Sanjay Singh, Sharrie Jones Viars

ART CHANGE

YOURWORLD

Becoming an ASC member is makingan investment in your community thatyields dividends for generations to come …

ASC membership dollars have never had a greater impact than this year. In early 2013, the ASC Advisory Board voted for membership dollars to be dedicated to Global Fest, a weeklong celebration of culture that opens

with Grammy-nominated sitar player Anoushka Shankar. In addition to an evening performance, the ASC will host a free clinic for high school and

college students to learn more about the instruments, scales, and rhythms that define Indian classical music. As longtime ASC member April Deal says,

“Art is one of the greatest ways to transcend cultural and social boundaries.” Be a part of art that changes our world – become an ASC member.

that will


For the VIP experience:Become a Circle Club member, our highest level of membership – the ASC’s inner circle and our most loyal supporters.($500-$10,000)

For the entire family:Join the Family Circle to enjoy great benefits and arts experiences that will create alifetime of fond memories.($60-$499)

Delight family and friends with a gift they’ll remember forever. ASC memberships are perfect gifts for any occasion. For more information about membership with UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, please contact Jennifer Foster at 205.996.6113 or [email protected].

For the young professionals:Join the ASC Junior Patrons, a dynamic group of young professionals who enjoy live performances, social events, and giving back to the community.($40-$175)

For those who love the arts:Become a Friend of the ASC to help further the ASC’s mission of bringing the best in presented and curated events.($60-$499)

The support of ASC members allows us to reach deep into our community and school systems to make the arts available to everyone, while pursuing excellence in arts programming, arts education, and curated events. The enhanced community outreach initiatives of ArtPlay, such as Meet the Artist school shows, master classes, residencies, and workshops, directly correlate to membership dollars.


UAB's Alys Stephens Center thrives because of the many individual and corporate donors listed below.

These visionaries are building on Alys Robinson Stephens’ artistic legacy.

BIRMINGHAM-SHUTTLESWORTHINTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Jemison InvestmentCompany

Mike and Gillian Goodrich

Foundation

Mr. Tom Blount

Ms. Jane Stephens Comer

Betty and John McMahon

Friends ofCornerstone

School

Mr. and Mrs.M. James Gorrie

Mr. and Mrs.M. Miller Gorrie KBC, LLC

Pauline Ireland

the Thomas E. JerniganFoundation

Mr. and Mrs. Harold L. Abroms » Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Bayer » Birmingham Mountain Radio » BLOOM » Bottega Restaurant and CaféBradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP » Mr. and Mrs. William Brooke » Mrs. Susan Carswell » Good People Brewing Company

Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Hire Jr. » Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC » Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q » Patty McDonaldKaren and Joel Piassick » Lydia and Taylor Pursell » Rejuvenation Wellness LLC » Dr. Jacquelyn S. Shaia and Mr. Leo A. Shaia

Dr. and Mrs. Sanjay K. Singh » Sterling Capital Management » Mr. and Mrs. C. Stephen Trimmier Jr. » Weld

Alabama State Council on the Arts » Birmingham Chapter of the Links, Inc. » Birmingham Chums » Mr. and Mrs. David A. BoutwellMr. and Mrs. Philip J. Carroll III » Ms. Caroline L. Clark » Commercial Refrigeration, Inc. » Mr. and Mrs. Wiley H. Cooper IV » Jehri and Brad Crowe

Mary Catherine Crowe and Les Adams » Mr. and Mrs. David D. Dowd III » Dr. and Mrs. Frederick J. Elsas » Frost Cummings Tidwell Group LLCMrs. Betty Allenberg Goldstein » Mr. and Mrs. Braxton C. Goodrich » Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Hess » Ms. Carol Ann Hobby and Mr. Mark White » Hoffman Media LLC

Mr. and Mrs. D. Paul Jones Jr. » Maynard Cooper and Gale, PC » Omega Realty Group » PayScape Advisors » Red Mountain Law » Robins and MortonRoyal Cup, Inc. » Servis1st Bank » Ms. Emma M. Taylor » Valerie and Steve Thomas » Dr. and Mrs. Ray L. Watts » Mr. and Mrs. J. Lee Williams

Mr. and Mrs.Charles Goodrich

Sheryl and JonKimerling

Mr. and Mrs.James T. Stephens


UAB’S ALYS STEPHENS CENTER BOARDS

DIRECTORS CIRCLEMs. Kim Morgan and Mr. H. Corbin Day

DIAMOND CIRCLEMrs. Marvin R. Engel Mr. and Mrs. William M. FergusonMs. Susie Hoopes and Dr. Chivers R. Woodruff Jr.Ms. Pauline Ireland Dr. and Mrs. James K. Kirklin Patty McDonald Mr. and Mrs. Joel B. Piassick

PLATINUM CIRCLEMrs. William B. DealMr. and Mrs. Paul F. EarleMr. and Mrs. Alan Z. EngelMrs. Foster EtheredgeMs. Betty Allenberg GoldsteinMr. Leo KayserMr. and Mrs. W. Davis Malone IIIMr. and Mrs. C. Caldwell MarksDr. Charles A. McCallum Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. McCallum Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Taylor PursellMs. Kaye M. McWane Rosse and Mr. Mark Rosse

Dr. and Mrs. Sanjay K. SinghMs. Sara R. SistrunkMr. and Mrs. C. Stephen Trimmier Jr.Dr. and Mrs. Ray L. WattsMs. Bea Tatum Wright and Mr. Anthony Wright

GOLD CIRCLEMr. and Mrs. Harold L. Abroms

Mr. and Mrs. Errol C. CulpepperMs. Phyllis DavisMr. and Mrs. R. Alan DeerDr. Eva V. Dubovsky and

Dr. Jiri DubovskyMr. Robert M. Gambrell Jr.Ms. Karen GearhartMr. Mike GilesMr. and Mrs. Charles GoodrichMr. and Mrs. T. Morris HackneyMr. and Mrs. Thomas L. HambyDr. Keecha S. HarrisDr. Mary T. Hawn and Dr. Eben L. Rosenthal

Ms. Debbie JonesMs. Rebecca LangnerMrs. Robert H. LoebMr. and Mrs. R. Barry LutherMr. and Mrs. Shelby S. MackeyMr. John MarkusMr. Christopher W. MetcalfMs. Dottie MitchellMr. and Mrs. J.M. Morgan Jr.Ms. Tisha Morris and Mr. Dan Cannon

Mr. Joey PiersonDr. and Mrs. Richard PowersMs. Gia M. RabitoDr. and Mrs. Henry P. Robson IIIMs. Marianne M. SchoelMr. and Mrs. John SellersDr. and Mrs. Chandler H. SmithMr. and Mrs. William F. SwogerMr. and Mrs. Donald V. Watkins Jr.Mr. and Mrs. J. Lee Williams Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. John C. AsburyMr. and Mrs. Charles BagbyMrs. Adriene Balton-Topping and Mr. W. Frank Topping

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. BayerMr. and Mrs. Nelson BeanMs. Lea BoneDr. Tara Bryant and Dr. Jim BryantMs. Jennifer M. Buettner and Mr. Ernest F. Bates

Mr. and Mrs. Philip J. Carroll IIIMr. Jonathan CollierMr. Mike CookeMr. and Mrs. Charles W. DanielMr. and Mrs. Christopher H. DanielDr. and Mrs. Richard O. DavisDr. and Mrs. Alan R. DimickMrs. William F. EdmondsDr. Susan H. Eiland and Dr. C. Morgan Eiland

Ms. Rebekah Elgin-Council and Mr. Bryan Council

Mr. and Mrs. Paul ElkourieDr. and Mrs. John Durr ElmoreMr. and Mrs. John FaulstichDr. and Mrs. I. William FernianyDr. and Mrs. Winfield S. Fisher IIIMr. Charles Foshee Jr.Judge Debra H. Goldstein and Mr. Joel Goldstein

Mr. and Mrs. Joe E. HawleyMrs. S. Richardson Hill Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Hire Jr.Dr. Jeanne Hutchison and Dr. John C. Mayer

Mr. and Mrs. James M. JohnsonMr. and Mrs. D. Paul Jones Jr.Ms. Stein Jones and Mr. Don JonesDr. Donald KernDr. and Mrs. Kent T. KeyserMs. Margaret MacLeodMr. and Mrs. James W. MayMr. and Mrs. John James McMahon IIIMr. and Mrs. Allen MontgomeryMr. and Mrs. Howard W. NeiswenderMr. and Mrs. Jay OglesbyDr. Valerie Pasche

and Dr. Boris PascheMs. Martha J. PezrowMr. and Mrs. Michael F. PizitzMs. Elberta G. ReidMr. and Mrs. Ed RobinsonEmily and Hugh RushingMs. Rachel K. RussellMr. and Mrs. James Wylie Shepherd Sr.Mr. James A. StroudMr. Mark J. TarrDr. and Mrs. Steven J. ThomasDr. and Mrs. David WarnockAmy WehnerMr. Jon WhetsellMs. Jane Fulton WilliamsMs. Cynthia Woods

SILVER CIRCLEDr. Juanita BaltonMr. and Mrs. Norman M. BerkDr. and Mrs. Joseph R. BloomerMr. Thomas W. Bowron IIMr. and Mrs. Charles A. Collat Sr.Mr. and Mrs. Bart T. Crawford

CORPORATETheresa H. Bruno, ChairHarold L. AbromsJane Stephens ComerH. Corbin DayM. James GorrieShirley Salloway KahnFred J. McCallum Jr.Charles D. McCraryJames T. McManus IIKatherine J. NielsenG. Ruffner Page Jr.Charles D. Perry Jr.

Ray L. Watts

ADVISORYJudy AbromsJohn C. AsburyAdriene Balton-Topping

Gail L. BayerJennifer M. BuettnerKaren N. CarrollWillie N. ChriesmanAnna F. ComerBarton T. CrawfordMary Catherine CroweNeil E. DavisApril A. DealCarl A. ExfordMonique Gardner-WitherspoonDebra H. GoldsteinKeecha S. HarrisWyatt R. HaskellGaynell H. HendricksPauline IrelandRonald A. LevittJennifer R. McCainConnie K. McCallum

Patty McDonaldLesley McRaeAllen MontgomeryKim MorganPeggy MorganDorothy D. PakMatthew I. PenfieldKaren P. PiassickCarole Marcus PizitzLydia D. PursellGia M. RabitoCarla S. RobersonEd D. Robinson IIIRachel K. RussellJacquelyn S. ShaiaSanjay K. SinghSara R. SistrunkJulie M. StephensMark J. Tarr

Rae Wade TrimmierChay C. WatkinsDonald V. Watkins Jr.Bea Tatum Wright

JUNIOR PATRONSRussell M. Cunningham IV, ChairMeredith R. CalhounIvy Watson CardwellMegan Reed CottleLewis W. Cummings III Anna Grier DonaldJay M. EzelleDavid K. GermanyLillian M. GlassCrystal K. GoodmanAlexandra Dauphin GoodrichDaagye HendricksBrian K. Hoffman

MEMBERS

Eric W. HoffmanHowell B. Holland Jr.L. Waymond Jackson Jr.Sarah K. JohnsonT. Devon Laney Brandy Murphy LeeJennifer LylesNick A. MussoOmar NagiNatasha L. RogersRahul ThadaniGeorge C. Thompson Jr.Justin P. WeintraubJ. Lee Williams Jr.


healing

Sunny Davenport with EPIC School student


healingChances are, you already know most of the things you need to do to have a healthy lifestyle – eat right, exercise, and get enough sleep, for starters. But has it ever occurred to you to add singing, dancing, or painting to that list? Imagine how your life might be different if attending a drawing class were as routine as hitting the gym. » “I firmly believethat art should be a regular part of healthcare,” says Sunny Davenport, music therapist-in-residence at ArtPlay,the headquarters of education and outreach for UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (ASC). “Art – includingmusic, visual art, spoken word, or creative writing – is already a part of everyone’s lives, whether they realize it or not.” » Davenport provides adaptive music lessons to children and young adults with special needs at ArtPlay, local schools, and senior-living facilities. “Most of my students who take adaptive music lessons have been diagnosed with either Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder,” she explains. » ArtPlay, an exquisitely restored Victorian house on Birmingham’s Southside, provides a professional yet homey environment that’s extremely conducive to creativity. » “There is something magical about that house,” Davenport says. “The space is beautiful and elegant, yet comfortable and very peaceful. I teach my students in the annex behind the house, which gives us total privacy and prevents distractions during our lessons. With windows across one entire wall, it almost feels like we’re outside. I couldn’t come up with a better setting for music therapy if I tried.” The moment he gets out of the car, one of Davenport’s young students skips down the sidewalk to his guitar lesson. His mother says, “His smile has never been so bright, nor has he talked so much at dinnertime. The impact of his music lessons with Sunny spills over into the rest of his life.” » As part of ArtPlay’s ArtCare outreach program, Davenport also provides group sessions in music therapy for geriatric residents at various local assisted-living facilities. Thanks to a sponsorship from Pauline Ireland, DST Health Solutions, Rachel K. Russell, UAB, and Viva Health, ArtCare is slated for significant expansion this year, broadening its reach into other healthcare

Sunny Davenport

ARTSin the


settings such as UAB and Children’s of Alabama hospitals. » The initiative has the full support of Dr. Shirley Salloway Kahn, UAB

vice president for development, alumni, and external relations. “The arts are integral to the healing of the mind, body, and soul,” Dr. Kahn says,

“and I am proud that UAB and the Alys Stephens Center are about the business of helping people in need. The healing and transformative

power of the arts is truly amazing.” » With the ArtCare expansion, Davenport, visual artist Kim McKenzie, and other ArtPlay teaching

artists will offer programs specifically designed to engage older adults in health-improvement and life-enhancing activities through the arts. » “In

assisted-living facilities, I’m working with people of retirement age and older. They have a lot of worry in their lives,” McKenzie says. “But I have

seen painting restore youthfulness and creativity. In a way, I’m teaching meditation, although my students don’t necessarily realize that at first.

They just think they’re painting.” » Belief in the power of art to change lives is one of the driving forces in all of the outreach programs initiated by ArtPlay and the ASC. Kimberly Kirklin, director of ArtPlay and director of

education and outreach for the ASC, says the mission has always been to educate, inspire, and nurture creative growth and self-expression in people of all ages. » “With all the outreach the ASC has done in the last decade, we realized a few years ago that we hadn’t engaged seniors as we had other populations in our community,” Kirklin says. “We had seed money from Protective Life and a wealth of research about how the arts could impact

seniors’ lives for the better. People at any age can have their lives powerfully impacted when they find new modes of creativity,” Kirklin says. “But

taking this to older people has been an extraordinary opportunity – for us and for them.” » Under Kirklin’s leadership, Davenport, McKenzie,

and other ArtPlay teaching artists worked to tailor their classes to take on the road. The ArtCare outreach programs currently include classes in movement, theatre, storytelling, music, and art, taught at eight assisted-living facilities throughout the greater Birmingham area. » “They are

singing, dancing, performing – they’re doing these things they probably never thought they’d be doing once they were in an assisted-care facility,”

Kirklin says. “We tell them all the time, ‘This isn’t something we’re doing so you can create a pretty or perfect picture. This is a way to get your feelings out.’” » Davenport says that one of the things she loves about her job is

how every day is different. Students, like all artists, may have different

people at any age can have their lives

powerfully impacted when they find new modes of creativity.


challenges from one day to the next. Adding the variables of age, experience, and a variety of health conditions means more challenges – and greater discoveries. » “For the geriatric population, sometimes they have health problems that prevent them from doing certain movements or using certain extremities,” Davenport says. “As a board-certified music therapist, I have been trained to teach clients how to make quick adaptations to exercises so they still benefit from the activity. This work also challenges me to see music in a completely different way. It has taught me that music is not just about achieving a perfect result during a performance – it’s more about the learning process and seeing what non-musical goals can be addressed along the way.” » Research shows that regular participation in arts programs helps minimize age-related physical and cognitive impairments, and contributes to better physical, intellectual, and emotional health. Some successful programs use the arts to address issues and work with individuals who suffer from Alzheimer’s, dementia, and depression. » “What we discover over and over again is that making art provides a healing, restorative way for people to bring quiet into their lives,” McKenzie says. » McKenzie teaches “process arts,” keeping the focus on the creative process rather than the finished product. She explains that older students often start out as resistant to art-making, even experiencing some anxiety about whether they are good enough to attend classes. » “People may have spent years of their lives saying, ‘Oh, I can’t draw,’ or ‘I’m not an artist.’ For some people, it takes coaxing, but once they get started, the process begins to mean so much to them,” she says. » McKenzie cites with pride a transformation she witnessed in one particular student – a New Orleans transplant who came to live at Birmingham’s Highland Manor after Hurricane Katrina.“She was so happy to have a creative outlet that she started giving me money to buy her own art supplies in order to work outside of class,” McKenzie says. “Art is something that has come back into her life from a long time ago, and she found it meaningful enough to spend her own money to create a home practice.” » The kind of relaxation her students achieve never ceases to amaze McKenzie. » “When you’re facing paper and paint, other thoughts just naturally stop,” she says. “They get tothis wonderful place of concentration. I never make any kind of rule aboutno talking during class, but at some point in every class, the room is silent while everyone is working so hard. When the class ends, people are sometimesshocked. They say, ‘What? We just started!’ That’s how deep their concentration gets.” » It’s because of that deep concentration that McKenzie compares painting and other art-making to meditation. “When you focus on painting, music, or dance, you get to experience stillness in the moments between your crazy thoughts,” she says. “And when you have that stillness – even for 30 seconds – you can experience healing.” » Art is no cure-all, but the creative process holds so much promise: It’s guaranteed to make you feel better. Davenport says she sees that promise fulfilled nearly every day through the ArtCare programs. “Art can make you feel hopeful, loved, and whole,” she says, “when nothing else – even medicine – can.”

Images Top-Left to Right: ArtCare senior student drawing; ArtCare senior student with watercolors; EPIC School students learning rhythm with instruments; Sunny Davenport accompanies ArtPlay voice student; ArtCare senior dance class; EPIC School student singing in music therapy class; ArtCare senior painting project.


“I’ve been working with young people for all of my professional life,” says William-Michael Cooper, founding director and principal choreographer of ArtPlay’s Studio Ensemble. Cooper has a storied career, including performing with professional companies in Cincinnati, Tokyo, and New York. He thinks of himself as a problem-solver. » “In dance, you have to be able to think critically,” he says. “You have to be a mathematician and a physicist as well as a choreographer and a coach. Everyone’s body is so different. Every dancer comes in with a different set of problems and a different set of assets, and I have to figure out how to make it all work. I try to figure out how to make each dancer work best as an individual and how to make them all work best together.” » A ballet master at ArtPlay, Cooper is also the only modern dance

instructor in Birmingham working in the Martha Graham-Lester Horton technique. Under his leadership, the ArtPlay Studio Ensemble made its stage debut on April 21, 2013, with Play, a contemporary piece melding modern dance with classical ballet. The seven-member company who performed Play included three teenage

students. Their participation taught them how to be a professional in a dance company by watching how other professionals acted as company members. » According to Cooper, the opportunity to do outreach was his main attraction to ArtPlay. » “I wanted to work in an environment that was giving back to the community,” Cooper says. “Dance is often at the very bottom of arts education, but we have an opportunity to expand dance in this city – not only for students and dancers but also for the audiences.” »

ArtPlay students, directed by Cooper, in their performance of “Play”

ArtPlayArtPlay pupils have

unparalleled access

to big opportunitiesgets


Most importantly, Cooper wants his students to find out early that a dance career need not be truncated by age. Even though professional dance careers start early, getting older doesn’t have to mean giving up dance. » “We start early,” Cooper says. “Most dancers start their training by age 8. It’s an athletic art form, and your body is only going to allow you to have a professional career for a limited time. The peak comes early. » “Dance is a little different from some of the other arts in that you don’t expect someone who is 21 years old to begin having gallery openings or publishing novels, and you don’t think of a cellist aging out of the orchestra,” Cooper says. “But a 21-year-old dancer may already be in an apprenticeship or a member of a professional company. » “Instead of aging out, I want my students to have a career that will last them their entire lives,” Cooper says. “Performance may be primary, but there can be choreography, directing, teaching. Since I first came to ArtPlay, I’ve been able to connect students to opportunities they had not previously imagined.” » Like Cooper, actor, producer, and casting agent Dave Clemmons believes that early exposure to professionalism can make a big difference in the career trajectory of an aspiring artist. » “People often think that if they sing, act, or dance well enough, that those things alone are enough to start their careers,” Clemmons says. “But they aren’t. Your résumé, headshot, how you’re dressed for an audition – those are the things that indicate to somebody that you are willing to prepare. You have to show in an audition that you’ll bring that willingness to prepare with you to rehearsal every day. So part of teaching auditioning skills is teaching students how they need to show what they need to show.” » Clemmons is scheduled to be in residency at ArtPlay four times in the next 10 months, teaching classes in audition preparation, song interpretation, and performance technique, among other offerings. His workshop program, geared toward students ages 8 to 18, will conclude with selected students traveling to New York City to meet with casting directors and audition for professional positions. » “It’s a fee-based program, but there will be scholarships available for students in need,” Kirklin says. » Clemmons emphasizes logistics and preparation in his stage instruction. Call it real-world make-believe or serious storytelling – the point is that making art demands just as much discipline as it does inspiration. Students have to learn professional processes if they have any hope of advancement. »

“In the theatre, we are storytellers,” Clemmons says. “That’s what we do, and it’s the whole point of the enterprise. I work to train my students in getting what it takes to stand on stage and hold an audience inside a story. To stand on stage and hold an audience is a skill, but auditioning is a different skill. It’s about preparing physically and mentally, going into a sterile environment and showing casting directors what they need to see – that what you’re going to bring to rehearsal and production is a vital energy and commitment.” » Clemmons says his approach to students varies

depending on what their needs are. » “I don’t know in advance what level of performance experience these kids are bringing to the stage,” he says. “A kid can walk into the room and be really talented, but one challenge for me is to bring him or her to a level of connecting to the story. My primary role as a teacher is to help them understand the logistics of what they’re trying to do at the various points of the process – in auditions, in rehearsals, on stage in performance.” According to Clemmons, auditioning is the key to working in the arts. » “You can have all the talent in the world and be a terrific performer, but if you have no audition skills, you have no career,” he says. » And yet Clemmons insists that auditioning is often built up as more intimidating than it actually is. By guiding his students to high levels of preparedness, he works to lessen the terror that so many young actors feel when starting out. » “Auditioning is not a big, scary monster,” he says. “Or at least it doesn’t have to be.” » In the end, collaborating with professionals at ArtPlay gives students a chance to “work the work,” as Cooper puts

it. They get a pretty stunning means of entry to a broad range of creative opportunity. » “We hope it’s going to prove to be wonderful access for these students – an essential element for their professional careers,” Clemmons says. “Not everybody gets access like this.” » Dr. Shirley Salloway Kahn, UAB vice president for development, alumni, and external relations, applauds the efforts of the Alys Stephens Center and ArtPlay to provide professional training opportunities for young people. » “These initiatives are an innovative, yet natural, extension of the comprehensive educational experience that UAB aims to provide. The education and outreach programs offered by the ASC and ArtPlay fall right in line with UAB’s mission to serve not only our students, faculty, and employees, but also the local and regional communities at large.”

William-Michael Cooper performing in “Play”

Dave Clemmons


FOR THE

In the days leading up to Lux Somnia: Light Dreams, Theresa Harper Bruno and the staff at UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (ASC) were watching the weather. Rain wouldn’t

be a dealbreaker – it probably wouldn’t even dampen the spirits of the two-

dozen local artists slated to participate in the ASC’s digital art and music festival.

Still, Bruno and team wanted clear skies. On May 2 and 4, the forecast called for the ASC’s southern facade to be transformed into a canvas for digitally projected artworks, or “light dreams.” In a way, Bruno herself was dreaming of light – enough to make

sure a group of innovative Birmingham artists could make their dreams visible for all to see. » “Light Dreams was an event curated by the ASC as a gift to the Birmingham community, and it was a tremendous challenge to plan, organize, and execute,”

says Bruno, chair of the ASC Corporate Board. “But we did it successfully because we have an incredibly talented and capable team – from programming to operations and tech, from marketing and creative design to education and outreach, from

development to every other aspect of our organization. And, of course, we managed to assemble a group of the city’s most talented and innovative artists to participate in this spectacular festival.” » As ASC programming consultant, Jessica Simpson

was charged with procuring the participating local artists. » “When we were still in the brainstorming stages, one artist’s name kept coming up again and again,” Simpson says, noting that similar light festivals have been happening in Europe for years.


Point of Light installation “Lumatron” by Christophe Nicolet

“Every time we mentioned a light festival, the response would be, ‘Listen, I know the guy you have got to get!’” » Much to Simpson’s surprise, the vaunted virtuoso turned out to be a Birminghamian: French artist Jean-Jacques Gaudel has lived in the Magic City for more than 30 years. His surrealist fantasy, “Artista Somnia,” combined light, music, illustration, and animation, and served as the conceptual core of the festival. Not long after he began his composition process, news about the festival spread throughout the Birmingham arts community and other local artists began approaching Simpson to get involved. Meanwhile, ArtPlay – the ASC’s home for education and outreach – offered several different programs to challenge local musicians to create new light-themed music and local filmmakers and artists to create “Point of Light” installations. » “It really happened organically,” Simpson says. “This digital art and music festival marked the first time the ASC has curated something that was 100 percent local.” » She says one of the first artists to sign on was Véronique Vanblaere, who owns Naked Art Gallery in the Forest Park neighborhood of Birmingham. » “She is from Belgium, and she grew up going to light festivals in Europe,” Simpson says. “She immediately got what we were trying to do and was eager to get involved.” » Randy Gachet, another accomplished Birmingham artist and an instructor at the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA), not only created a “Point of Light” installation, but also engaged more than a dozen ASFA students in a semester-long collaboration to be included in the festival. They used light, recycled plastic water bottles, and a variety of found objects to create a mixed-media work titled “Aquatic Luminaries.” » ArtPlay offered a VJ’ing class for teens in late April. The eight teenagers who participated in the class then had the opportunity to work alongside professional VJs during Light Dreams, making their individual visual dreams a shared reality by projecting them onto the side of the ASC building. Other highlights of Light Dreams included a piece choreographed by Mary Foshee, combining electroluminescent wire with the artistry and grace of dance, and pulsating live music from Blue Galaxy String Project and Juka Tribe featuring Eric Essix, Sharrif Simmons, and Erynias Tribe. » “One of the things I am most proud of is how Lux Somnia: Light Dreams brought together so many different entities from across campus,” says Dr. Shirley Salloway Kahn, UAB vice president for development, alumni, and external relations. “By including music, visual arts, technology, and other components, the ASC managed to interconnect several different disciplines and extend those connections into the community.” » According to Dr. Robert Palazzo, dean of UAB’s College of Arts and Sciences,

cross-disciplinary collaboration has always been one of the great strengths of the ASC. » “Patrons come from across the city because of the appeal of national and international performers,” he says. In other words, innovative programming makes the ASC a world stage and a community hub. It’s a campus hub, too. “With the ASC, we have an outstanding performing arts venue with significant academic components utilized by multiple departments – Music, Theatre, Computer and Information Sciences,” Palazzo says. » Festival organizers worked to make Light Dreams as interactive as possible, with a digital graffiti wall and a giant, interactive video game created by UAB’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences. » With light as the primary medium, the festival had professional artists of all ages working alongside college and high school students. And audience members became artists simply by showing up. “This amazing technology created so much collaboration,” Simpson says. » Light Dreams followed a number of unique curated arts events held at the ASC in the past few years. In 2010, the building became an instrument when MASS Ensemble created an Earth Harp with 1,000-foot strings. The following year saw dancers from Project Bandaloop bounding off the building during a piece called Outside/In, which began outside on the Engel Plaza and concluded inside the Jemison Concert Hall. Two cultures combined when the Quiltmakers of Gee’s Bend, Ala., and the Bogolan Makers of Bamako, Mali, had a shared residency at the ASC in November 2011. Called Common Threads, the weeklong showcase of textile traditions from West Africa and West Alabama allowed the two groups to learn about each other’s work and to draw in diverse Birmingham audiences. In September 2013, MASS Ensemble returned for an indoor/outdoor curated event called Cirque Alys Aerial Music. » In recent years, curation and collaboration have been hallmarks of how the ASC operates. » “I am so grateful that Dr. Kahn, UAB President Dr. Ray Watts, UAB Health System CEO Dr. Will Ferniany, and others at the university are so supportive of the ASC’s developing and curating original programming,” Bruno says, “and that they share the vision to take the ASC to a level of national prominence as a performing arts center. Collaboration among all the arts entities on campus is key to making UAB a magnet for cultural arts programming in the future – on the national and international stages.” » When artists from worlds apart share space in a collaborative environment, the community reaps the greatest benefit. Every curated event held at the ASC has an associated education component through ArtPlay. » “When we produce arts events that are free and interactive – that are either the result of or lead to an educational experience – that has

“I am so grateful that Dr. Kahn, UAB President Dr. Ray Watts,UAB Health System CEO Dr. Will Ferniany, and others at the university

are so supportive of the ASC’s developing and curating originalprogramming and that they share the vision to take the ASC to

a level of national prominence as a performing arts center.”Theresa Harper Bruno, chair of the ASC corporate board


a far more lasting impact in the community than bringing an act to perform just one night on stage and be gone the next day,” Simpson says. » But even the ephemeral qualities of curated events give a power to the place where they are staged. “Curating and creating site-specific works is incredibly meaningful,” Simpson says. “This is art being created for Birmingham, that will happen and be seen only in Birmingham, only one time. That’s incredibly special for our city.” » Bruno and Simpson both have regular dialogue with administrators at performing arts centers nationwide. Their counterparts sometimes express surprise at the number of innovative site-specific works that are happening at the ASC. » “I’m not sure everyone in our own community realizes how unique this is,” Simpson says. “But viewed from afar, it’s obvious that what we’re doing at the ASC is really extraordinary.” » What’s more, the innovation has its own unique momentum. In other words, innovation gets done here because innovation has been done here already. “The conversation was a lot different five years ago,” Simpson says. “Now the ASC has begun to build a reputation for hosting innovative acts and events, so booking agents approach us with programming prospects that would have previously been out of our reach.” » Over time, all this collaboration has begun to change the role of the ASC in the community – for audiences and artists alike. “The outcome of these curated works is that we’re almost developing an artists’ colony at the ASC,” Simpson says. “All these people want to get involved.”

Curated works for the 2013 season include singer-songwriter Susan Werner’s “Hayseed Project”; “Evolution” by the ASC’s own Eric Essix, a member of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame; and “A More Convenient Season,” a Birmingham-inspired work by internationally acclaimed composer Yotam Haber.

Images: Pg. 44 – “ET Bot Dreams” by UAB’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Enabling Technology Laboratory. Pg. 47 Top to bottom from right – “Palladio’s Dream” by Jean-Jacques Gaudel and ASC ’s Tech Team; “In This Dream We Fly” by Randal Crow; Light Dreams Artistic Team; Jean-Jacques Gaudel ’s “Artista Somnia” and Deedee Morrison’s “Charm” ; “Cosmo Pod” by Randy Gachet.

ArtPlayFALL 2013 CLASSES

My Journal: The Musical » Ages 10-14 » Sept. 10-Nov. 26 Tues. 5:30-6:30pm » Mary Elizabeth Neal » $150 » Students will work together to construct a story and compose lyrics and music for a three- to five-song musical based on an exceptional day in the life of a typical (pre)teen. Original songs will be recorded in our state-of-the-art media lab. Students will premiere their work in the last class.

Ballet 1 » Sept. 14-Dec. 7 » Sat. 1-2pm » William-Michael Cooper » $150 Students continue study of classical ballet, fundamental positions, and movements of classical ballet derived specifically from the Russian/ Vaganova Method.

Ballet 2 » Sept. 10-Dec. 5 » Tues & Thurs. 4-5pmWilliam-Michael Cooper » $250 » Students will continue to study classic ballet technique derived from the Russian/Vaganova Method.

Modern Dance for Young Dancers » Ages 10-13 » Sept. 10-Dec. 6 Mon. & Fri. 4:30-5:30pm » William-Michael Cooper » $250 » This class will focus on the Horton and Graham techniques of modern dance.

Hip Hop Dance » Ages 10-14 » Sept. 11-Nov. 27 Wed. 4:30-5:30pm » Antonio Mincy » $150 » Students will love getting physically fit while learning the latest dance moves in this fun and age-appropriate hip hop dance class.

Adventures in Visual Art Section A » Ages 6-9 Sept. 10-Nov. 26 » Tues. 4:30-5:30pm » Carrie McGrann » $170Section B » Ages 10-12Sept. 12-Dec. 5 » Thurs. 4:30-5:30pm » Carrie McGrann » $180Section C » Ages 13-15Sept. 12-Dec. 5 » Thurs. 5:30-6:30pm » Carrie McGrann » $190 Students will experiment in a variety of visual arts genres – drawing, painting, mixed media, and mosaics. Price includes materials.

Motion Picture Appreciation for Youth » Ages 9-12 » Sept. 11-Dec. 4 Wed. 5-7pm » T. Marie King » $150 » For the budding filmmaker or actor in your family, this class offers a chance to discuss and dive deeper into motion pictures through viewings and class discussion. A wonderful intro into this beautiful art form. Age-appropriate film discussion.

High School & AdultThe Acting Studios for Young Actors » Ages 14-18Sept. 9-Nov. 25 » Mon. 5:30-6:30pm » Susan McCain » $160 The class follows legendary Lee Strasberg’s design, beginning with sensory work – the heart of the Method – followed by scene and character development to empower the actor.

Adventures in Visual Arts » Ages 13-15Sept. 12-Dec. 5 » Thurs. 5:30-6:30pm » Carrie McGrann » $190Students will experiment in a variety of visual arts genres - drawing, painting, mixed media, and mosaics. Price includes materials.

Ballet » Ages 16-adult » Sept. 10-Dec. 6 » Tues. & Fri. 7-8:30pm William-Michael Cooper » $300 » Students will learn and demonstrate the essential and fundamental positions and movements of classical ballet derived specifically from the Russian/Vaganova Method. *

Pre-KMe & You & Paint & Glue » Ages 18 months-3 years + Guardian Sept. 14-Nov. 23 » Sat. 10-10:45am » Alley Bulka » $120 » Join Ms. Alley as you create new masterpieces. These simple projects will help your child develop the artist inside and have fun while creating with you … & glue.

Visual Arts Alive! » Ages 3½-6 » Sept. 14-Nov. 23 » Sat. 11-11:45am Alley Bulka » $120 » This enchanting visual arts class will give your pre-K artist a wonderful introduction to visual arts and the tools they’ll need to become the next Picasso.

Creative Movement » Ages 3-5 » Sept. 9-Nov. 25 » Mon. 10-10:45am Melissa Turnage » $150 » Students will use their imaginations to bring stories and characters to life through movement set to music and rhythms. Class activities will promote body and sensory awareness, physical fitness, and self-esteem.

Beginning Ballet » New Students » Ages 5-6 » Sept. 14-Dec. 7 Sat. 9-10am » William-Michael Cooper » $150 » Beginning students are introduced to classical ballet, fundamental positions and movements of classical ballet derived specifically from the Russian/Vaganova Method.

First Steps in Music » Guardian & Child » Sept. 14-Dec. 7Section A » Birth-12 months » Sat. 10-10:45amSection B » 1-2 years » Sat. 11-11:45amSection C » 3-4 years » Sat. 12-12:45pmTommy Thompson » $175 for one child & guardian » This parent-centered class is based on curriculum developed by music educator Dr. John Feierabend and uses simple rhymes, songs, and age-appropriate movement activities to foster development of pre-music literacy skills.

Elementary & Middle SchoolArtPlay Elementary Choir » Ages 7-11 » Sept. 9-Nov. 25 Mon. 4:30-5:30pm » Mary Elizabeth Neal » $150 » Students will learn a repertoire of 15-20 works, including patriotic, sacred, secular, and educational pieces. Instruction will focus on tone production, rhythmic reading and performance, basic vocal technique, and knowledge of composers and music history. Class will culminate in a choral concert.

Acting Out Theatre WorkshopsSection A » Ages 7-9 » Sept. 14-Nov. 23 » Sat. 10-11amSection B » Ages 10-12 » Sept. 14-Nov. 23 » Sat. 11:10am-12:10pmDarrell Revel » $120 » Students will learn theatre games, improvisation, monologues, scene work, stage make-up application, theatre terminology, and voice & diction.

Intro to Musical Theatre » Ages 10-14 » Sept. 11-Nov. 27 Wed. 5:30-6:30pm » Red Mountain Theatre Co. » $150 » Students will learn the foundations of musical theatre including beginning acting technique, song interpretation, rhythm, basic dance steps, and staging directions.


Modern Dance » Ages 16-adult » Sept. 9-Dec. 6 » Mon. & Fri. 5:30-7pm William-Michael Cooper » $300 » Students will learn modern technique based on Graham and Horton, including the Graham floorwork. *

African Drumming » Sept. 10-Oct. 22 » Tues. 7:30-8:30pm John Scalici » $150 » Discover the joy of learning the language of the djembe drum from an internationally recognized artist. African drumming classes are a great way to reduce stress, quiet the mind, have fun, and get energized.

Playwriting » Sept. 10-Nov. 26 » Tues. 5:30-7:30pm » David Roby » $200 Through class assignments and analysis of modern plays, students will learn the basic elements of playwriting. In 12 sessions, students will complete a monologue, a scene for two, a 10-minute play and an outline for a one-act or full-length play.

Acting for Adults: Take One » Sept. 12-Dec. 5 » Thurs. 6-8pmDavid Roby » $200 » Learn the basics of acting, including theatre terminology, voice & diction, improvisation, character development, and more, through acting games, lessons, and exercises. Participants will come away with a prepared monologue for auditions.

Acting for Adults: Take Two » Sept. 11-Nov. 27 » Wed. 6:30-8:30pm David Roby » $200 » In this scene-development workshop, students will be able to build on their basic foundation and further develop their technique, learn to establish realistic relationships with a scene partner, work with a director, and use positive expectations to work toward a goal.

Improvisational Comedy » Sept. 11-Oct. 30 » Wed. 5:30-7:30pm Brian Barrett » $180 » This class will teach the fundamentals of long-form improv, including how to create strong characters, play at the top of one’s intelligence, and build strong comedic scenes together out of thin air.

The Acting Studios » Sept. 9-Nov. 25 » Mon. 6:30-8:30pm Susan McCain » $250 » This class follows legendary Lee Strasberg’s design, beginning with sensory work – the heart of the Method – followed by scene and character development to empower the actor.

Motion Picture Appreciation for Adults » Sept. 12-Dec. 5 » Thurs. 6-8pm T. Marie King » $200 » Go beyond just watching a movie. Join Marie as she guides you through awareness and understanding of the motion picture as a cultural art form through viewings and discussion.

Visual Art Appreciation » Sept. 12-Dec. 5 » Thurs. 6-7:30pm Sarah Heath » $150 » Gain a stronger knowledge of styles, genres, movements, techniques, and themes. This class includes visits to local galleries, as well.

Beginning Knitting » Sept. 12-Oct. 17 » Thurs. 6-8pm » Mary Kaiser $130 + supplies » Beginning knitters will learn all the common knitting stitches while creating a unique beginner’s project. Students will learn skills to follow knitting patterns and develop their own designs. **

Advanced Knitting: Garment Construction » Oct. 24-Dec. 5 » Thurs. 6-8pm » Mary Kaiser » $130 + supplies » Students will knit a custom-fitted cardigan or pullover sweater. The class will cover shaping techniques, set-ting in sleeves, and finishing techniques including buttonholes and pockets. Students can bring a pattern of their choosing. For intermediate knitters. **

Yarn/Fabric Dying Workshop » Oct. 5 » Sat. 1-5pm » Mary Kaiser » $50 This one-day dye workshop will use vinegar-activated acid dyes on wool yarn and/or silk or rayon fabric. The workshop will include immersion dyeing, dip-dyeing for a graduated color range, and hand-painting with dye for variegated effects.

Beginning Bookbinding » Sept. 10-Nov. 26 » Tues. 5:30-7:30pm Trent Thomas » $200 + materials » Book arts are all around us in the form of journals, cookbooks, sketchbooks, and more. You will first learn how to construct a book out of a single sheet of paper and then how to make your own unique journals, sketchbooks, or scrapbooks.

Mixed Media for the 21st Century » Sept. 9-Nov. 25 » Mon. 5:30-7:30pm Trent Thomas » $200 + materials » Inspire new work and working methods via hands-on experience with new painting media and applications. Back for its second successful semester.

Intro to Drawing » Sept. 10-Nov. 26 » Tues. 5:30-7:30pm John Lytle Wilson » $200 + materials » Students are introduced to a variety of classic drawing materials and techniques. Projects include sketching, still-life drawing, drawing from nature, portraiture, and more.

Sculpture: Mold Making and Casting » Sept. 9-Nov. 25 » Mon. 6-8pm Sarah Heath » $225 » This beginning sculpture class focuses on the mold-making process by exploring a variety of techniques. A portion of this class will take place at Sloss Furnaces, where you will create bonded-sand molds for your own iron casts.

Private InstructionArtPlay offers private instruction in a variety of instruments and artistic disciplines through partnerships with local instructors and music organizations. Lessons range from 30-60 minutes, depending on the age and preference of the student. Instructors are available at varying times throughout the week.

Current Teacher Roster » Pat Bowman Billups, Piano » William-Michael Cooper, Ballet and Modern Dance » Sunny Davenport, Music Therapy/Piano & Voice for varying abilities » Karen Krekelberg, Piano Diane McNaron, Voice » Carlos Pino, Guitar » Ray Robinson, Drums/ Percussion » David Roby, Acting

Partnership with the UAB Department of Music » Through a partnership with UAB's Department of Music, ArtPlay is able to offer additional private instruction in trumpet, trombone, clarinet, flute, saxophone, euphonium, French horn, piano, guitar, and voice. Instructors in this program are UAB students extensively trained in music education and performance in the instrument they teach. These students are advised and guided by UAB Department of Music faculty. For instructional fees, teacher availability, and more information, please call ArtPlay at 205.975.4769.

Please check ArtPlayASC.org for up-to-date class & workshop information.

* A dance card with 12 lessons is also available for $180 and can be used for both ballet and modern.

** Sign up for both Beginning and Advanced Knitting classes for a discounted rate of $200.


UAB’s Alys Stephens Center is proud to have unified partnerships in the strong and growing arts community of Birmingham. Together, with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and UAB’s departments of Music and Theatre, we bring you some of the most diverse and highly acclaimed artists, events, and shows in the world. We are constantly looking for new and innovative opportunities to inspire and educate through the power of the arts. Make plans now to witness firsthand all the sights and sounds of this exciting new season, which promises to be among the finest in our history.

PARTNERS

Alabama Symphony Orchestra The Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO) has entertained audiences for more than 90 years, playing a variety of classical and popular music and hosting performances by some of the finest guest musicians in the world. Performing concerts for 100,000 people annually, the 54 talented musicians of the ASO bring to life some of the world’s most treasured musical masterpieces and introduce listeners to exciting new works and composers. For the ASO’s full schedule, visit www.alabamasymphony.org.

“Great acoustics are only one of the many reasons why we consider ourselves fortunate to call the ASC the ‘Home of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.’ It is a pleasure to work with the dedicated and professional ASC team to bring great musical performances to our community each season.” – CURT LONG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

ASO 2013 FALL SCHEDULEASO performances are presented in the ASC's Jemison Concert Hall unless otherwise noted.Contact the ASC Box Office for tickets.Thurs.-Sat., Sept. 12-14Justin Brown Conducts Schubert Fri.-Sat., Oct. 4-5Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 Maximiano Valdes, Conductor; Rafal Blechacz, PianoFri.-Sat., Nov. 1-2Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade Danail Rachev, Conductor; David Aaron Carpenter, ViolaFri.-Sat., Nov. 15-16Schumann’s Piano Concerto Cristian Macelaru, Conductor; Stephen Hough, Piano

Celebrating the best in POPS, Broadway, Jazz & more!Fri., Sept. 27 The 3 Broadway Divas (Samford’s Wright Center)Fri., Oct. 18 Natalie Merchant with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, co-presented with the ASCFri., Nov. 8The Music of Ella Fitzgerald with Patti Austin (Samford’s Wright Center)Fri., Dec. 6 Swingin’ Holiday Pops with Michael Andrew (Samford’s Wright Center)

UAB’S ALYS STEPHENS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

UAB DEPARTMENTS OF MUSIC AND THEATRE


» For more information and to purchase tickets to these events, visit AlysStephens.org or call the ASC Box Office at 205.975.2787 «

UAB Department of MusicThe UAB Department of Music (DOM), with 16 regular and 28 adjunct faculty, offers high-level music learning and performance experiences within a liberal arts curriculum. Additionally, the DOM serves the entire UAB and greater Birmingham communities by providing more than 70 performances annually, many of which occur in the world-class venues of the ASC. Currently, about 170 music majors and minors are enrolled at UAB. For more information, visit www.uab.edu/music.

“Students and faculty enjoy the privilege of performing in the ASC’s world-class venues, which adds to the inspiration they receive from the world-class artists who appear there.” – PAUL MOSTELLER, ASSOCIATE CHAIR, UAB DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

UAB DOM 2013 FALL SCHEDULE DOM performances are presented in the ASC's Jemison Concert Hall unless otherwise noted.

Sat., June 15, 11:30am Summer Music Camp Final Concert*Thurs., July 4, 7:30pm UAB Summer Band Independence Day concert (UAB's Bartow Arena)*Sun., July 28, 7pm Gospel Choir conducted by Kevin TurnerFri., Aug. 23, 7:30pm Marching Blazers Band Camp Show (UAB's Campus Green)*Tues., Oct. 1, 7:30pm Faculty Recital featuring James Zingara, trumpet (UAB's Hulsey Recital Hall)*Sun., Oct. 6, 4pm Piano Series concert (ASC's Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall)

Thurs., Oct. 17, 7pm UAB Choirs conducted by Brian Kittredge (Southside Baptist Church, 11th Ave. S. at 19th Street)

Tues., Oct. 22, 7pm Wind Symphony & Symphony Band Conducted by Sue Samuels *Free

UAB Department of Theatre The UAB Department of Theatre (DOT) is a production-oriented program in a liberal arts context. The DOT offers a BA degree with General, Performance, and Design/Technology concentrations within a comprehensive academic curriculum. Its mission is to expand cultural and aesthetic awareness, develop research and communication skills, and foster critical thinking, discipline, and collaboration among students through the study and practice of the art and craft of theatre. For more information, visit www.uab.edu/theatre. “The Department of Theatre is proud to perform in the ASC, where great performancesare on the bill nearly every night of the year. Our students, faculty, and staff want to thankyou, our patrons, for supporting the next generation of performing artists!”

– KELLY ALLISON, CHAIR, UAB DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE

UAB DOT 2013 FALL SCHEDULEWed.-Sat., Oct. 16-19, 7:30pm / Sun., Oct. 20, 2pm Big Love (ASC's Sirote Theatre)

Wed.-Sat., Nov. 13-16 & Wed.-Fri., Nov. 20-22, 7:30pm / Sat., Nov. 23, 2pm Twelfth Night (ASC's Odess Theatre)

Thurs., Nov. 7, 7:30pm Brass Chamber Ensembles (UAB's Hulsey Recital Hall)*Mon., Nov. 11, 7pm Percussion Ensemble Directed by Gene Fambrough*Thurs., Nov. 14, 7pm Faculty Recital featuring Denise Gainey, clarinet & Yakov Kasman, piano (ASC's Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall)*Mon., Nov. 18, 7pm Gospel Choir conducted by Kevin Turner: 18th Anniversary Fall Concert & Live RecordingThurs. & Fri., Nov. 21-22, 7:30pm UAB Opera presents La finta semplice by Mozart, directed by Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk (ASC's Sirote Theatre)

Mon., Dec. 2, 7pm Christmas at the AlysSat., Dec. 7, 3pm Middle School Honor Bands Concert*Sat., Dec. 14, 3pm High School Honor Bands Concert*


Student Discounts Student tickets are available in advance on select performances. Groups of 10 or more students may be eligible to receive an additional discount.

UAB Student Pack Receive four tickets to ASC Presents shows for $10 each. Offer available to current UAB students only. Redemption limit of two tickets per show.

Freshmen Arts Card All UAB Freshmen receive this card, which allows freshmen free admission into two ASC Presents shows.

Get Involved Build your résumé and gain valuable experience as an intern or part-time employee at the ASC. Contact Bryan Jones about available positions at [email protected].

Tell Us What You Want Who do you want to see perform at YOUR performing arts center? Tell us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

www.facebook.com/AlysStephensPerformingArtsCenter @ASCbham #ASCbham

Enjoy the UAB Family Discount If you are a UAB employee, student, or graduate, then you are eligible for 10% off single tickets plus an additional 5% discount on the It’s Your Choice package.

Discounts may not be available for special events, such as fundraisers or galas. Call the Box Office for more information at 205.975.2787.

To bring you the very best in entertainment and educational opportunities, the ASC is working very closely with UAB Student Affairs to tap into theUAB community and find out exactly what students want. The ASC offers students discounted tickets, opportunities to get involved, and the optionfor first-year students to see shows for free using the Freshmen Arts Card. Here’s to bringing you the best entertainment and experiences on campus!

ascLOVESuabYOUR CAMPUS, YOUR CENTER


Café ASC Enjoy fresh sushi, salads, sandwiches, pastries, fruit, and Starbucks Coffee at Café ASC! Open Monday-Friday, 9am-2pm, during the school year, Café ASC is located in our downstairs lobby. Join us for breakfast, lunch, and snack breaks. Great for the UAB community and open to the public, Café ASC accepts BlazerBucks, cash, and all major credit and debit cards. A full Café ASC menu is available on the UAB Campus Restaurants menu page at www.uab.edu/dining. Hours are subject to change.

E-Club Keep up with the latest happenings and events through weekly e-mails that feature performance reminders and special discounts. Sign up at AlysStephens.org.

Get Connected Like, tweet, snap, and post your ASC experience on all of our social sites for exclusive discounts, promotions, and giveaways.

Like us at www.facebook.com/AlysStephensPerformingArtsCenter Follow & tweet us @ASCbham Follow & tag us #ASCbham

Help Us Fill Seats If you are unable to attend a performance, please notify the ASC Box Office prior to the show. We make it easy for you to return your tickets so that someone else may use them. While no refunds will be given, you may exchange your tickets for another ASC Presents performance or receive a tax credit for the value of your tickets.

Group Savings We welcome all groups of 10 or more by offering a special discount. Call 205.975.2336 for more information.

Speakers Bureau Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the performing arts by inviting a speaker to your next group meeting. The Speakers Bureau offers a variety of topics and tailor-made presentations free of charge. Call 205.975.5662 to schedule.

Gift Cards An ASC gift card makes a perfect present for family, friends, clients, and coworkers. You may place any denomination on your card. Just call the Box Office at 205.975.2787 for more details.

Special Seating We are pleased to accommodate requests for special seating. Just notify our Box Office at 205.975.2787.

Volunteer Interested in ushering, becoming an ASC Ambassador, or other volunteer opportunities? Please e-mail Bryan Jones at [email protected].

UAB’s ALYS STEPHENS CENTERALLabout


to I-65 8th Ave. S / University Blvd.

10th Ave. S

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*Additional parking for select performances available at

UAB Highlands, located in the 1100 block of 13th St. S.

PARKINGP

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ASC Preferred Parking

PARKING As a friendly reminder, below are the options available for patrons attending events at the ASC. For specific parking options for an event, contact the Box Office at 205.975.2787.

DAYTIME PERFORMANCES Daytime parking options during the week may vary based on the event, but do include Lot 15D and a combination of other lots as available. Street parking is also available.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING INFORMATION During performances and evening rentals, the metered spaces between the ASC and UAB’s Spencer Honors House will be restricted to those with handicap permits. The upper and lower circle driveways may be used as a drop-off for patrons with disabilities. The gated lot next to the ASC is available for sponsors and Circle Club members at the Gold level and above, as well as designated supporters of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.

PREFERRED PARKING The 12th Street Deck and Lot 15D provide easy access to the ASC via connecting sidewalks. Round-trip shuttle service may be available for select events.

DIRECTIONS TO THE ASCINTERSTATE 65 NORTH: Exit #259 onto University Boulevard/8th Avenue South. Turn right onto 13th Street South. Turn right onto 10th Avenue South. The ASC will be on your right.

INTERSTATE 65 SOUTH: Exit #259B onto 4th Avenue South. Turn right onto 13th Street South. Turn right onto 10th Avenue South. The ASC will be on your right.

HIGHWAY 280 EAST or WEST (ELTON B. STEPHENS EXPRESSWAY): Exit onto 8th Avenue South/University Boulevard and turn right. Turn left onto 13th Street South. Turn right onto 10th Avenue South. The ASC will be on your right.

asc PARKING&DIRECTIONS

to I-65 8th Ave. S / University Blvd.

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NORTH

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Lot 15RP

Lot 15F

Members Lot

Lot 15L

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Lot 15G Lot 16A

Athletic Fields

*Additional parking for select performances available at

UAB Highlands, located in the 1100 block of 13th St. S.

PARKINGP

Sidewalk

Alys Stephens CenterHandicap Parking

ASC Preferred Parking


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ASC BOX OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday, 9:30am-6pm For Saturday and Sunday performances, the ASC Box Office opens at noon and closes after the last intermission.

ASC BOX OFFICE PHONE: 205.975.2787 or toll-free 877.278.8457ADMINISTRATION PHONE: 205.975.9540 » E-MAIL: [email protected] » WEBSITE: AlysStephens.org

SEATINGchartsUpper Jemison Concert Hall

SIROTE THEATRE

ARTPLAY PARLOR SEATINGGENERAL ADMISSION

1006 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205


yourit’s

choice

PURCHASE THREE OR MORE SHOWS & GET PREFERRED SEATING.

» Season Subscriptions Available Monday, June 17, 2013 «» Individual Tickets On Sale Monday, July 8, 2013 «

Subscriptions Are Processed In The Order Received. Act Now To Receive The Best Seats Available!

Subscribing Makes All The Difference

Summer / Fall 2013 Ticket Order Form

When you purchase tickets to three or more performances at once, you will receive 15%* off your order. In addition, you will enjoy all the benefits of being a season subscriber, including preferred seating and advance purchase opportunities to all the hottest ASC Presents shows before tickets go on sale to the general public.

After purchasing your It’s Your Choice package, should you decide to purchase additional performance tickets throughout the season, you will be able to apply the 15% subscriber discount. Just identify yourself as an ASC Subscriber when you call the Box Office, and the discount will be applied.

Continuous Subscribers who purchased tickets to three or more performances in our previous season will be given priority to receive the best seats for our Summer/Fall 2013 season.

ORDER ONLINE » AlysStephens.org

CHARGE BY PHONE » 205.975.2787 or toll-free at 877.278.8457

CHARGE BY FAX » 205.975.2958

COMPLETE THIS ORDER FORM AND MAIL TO » Alys Stephens Center Box Office1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-1261

ORDER IN PERSON » Alys Stephens Center Box Office1200 10th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205

ORDERING YOUR TICKETS IS EASY!

Coming July 1UAB’s Alys Stephens Center is proud to announce our transition to a new ticketing platform

effective July 1, 2013. Look for great new features and enhanced patron functionality, including print-at-home tickets, online patron accounts, subscriber seat ownership, and much more.

*UAB Discount: If you are a UAB employee, student, or graduate, you are eligible for an additional 5% discount on the It’s Your Choice package. Also, UAB employees, students, and graduates receive 10% off single tickets. Please include a copy of your current UAB ID or alumni card to receive the discount. Payroll deduction for UAB employees is available through the ASC Box Office.


A

Presents The Beatles’ White Album

Use the information in this section to build your own It’s Your Choice package. PURCHASE TICKETS:

Event Date Time Seating A Seating B Seating C Ticket $ Value Total

4 274

$8.00

Step 1: Add the prices above for your Ticket Subtotal:

Step 2: If purchasing tickets to three or more shows, subtract 15% to determine Discounted Ticket

Subtotal and enter it here (otherwise, proceed to Step 3):

Step 3: Please note our Handling Fee:

Step 4: Add Handling Fee to Ticket Subtotal or Discounted Ticket Subtotal for your Ticket Total:

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE:

ASC EVENT June 18 8pm $68.50 x $59.50 x $48.50 x

Josh Ritter June 29 7pm $34.50 x

Susan Werner July 20 7:30pm $32.50 x

Lyle Lovett July 24 8pm $68.50 x $59.50 x $49.50 x

The Black Jacket Symphony Aug. 23 8pm $42.50 x

Parlor Music Series Aug. 29 7pm $37.50 x

Eric Essix Sept. 19 7pm $38.50 x

Yotam Haber Sept. 21 8pm $62.50 x $51.50 x $39.50 x

*For ArtPlay Presents performances,

please mark the time you’d like to attend.

Cicely Parnas

Natalie Merchant Oct. 18 8pm $76.50 x $67.50 x $58.50 x

Rickey Smiley Oct. 25 8pm $63.50 x $53.50 x $41.50 x

Anoushka Shankar Nov. 7 7pm $55.50 x $44.50 x $31.50 x

David Sedaris Nov. 8 8pm $61.50 x $52.50 x $41.50 x

Yo-Yo Ma Dec. 6 8pm $85.50 x $65.50 x $45.50 x

Take 6 Dec. 15 7pm $54.50 x $45.50 x $35.50 x

ArtPlay Presents Dec. 20 7pm (adult) $10 x (child) $8 xYuletide in Dogtown* Dec. 21 10am

1pm 7pm

Hayseed Project

at ArtPlay

Performing EVOLUTION World Premiere

A More Convenient Season World Premiere

with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

An Evening with

An Intimate Evening with

Ticket Total $ Membership Total $

ASC FAMILY CIRCLE: Ovation $250+_____ Bravo $100+_____ Applause $60+ _____

FRIENDS OF THE ASC: Ambassador $250+_____ Supporter $100+_____ Advocate $60+ _____

Please Note: In order to best serve you, we request that all personal information below be complete and accurate. It is easier for us to locate you in our database if we have all of the information listed below. We use this information to issue your tickets, make exchanges, send newsletters and event postcards, and contact you personally if a performance is cancelled. This information also provides ticket insurance in case tickets are lost.

MEMBERSHIP TOTAL $

thank youfor your support

Title: Mr. Ms. Mrs. Miss Dr.

First Name: ____________________ Spouse: ______________________

Last Name: ____________________

Street Address: City: State: ZIP Code:

Day Phone: ( )__________________________ Evening Phone: ( )______________________________ Email:

Please check all that apply: Renewing my subscription Becoming a new subscriber Purchasing single tickets UAB employee interested in payroll deduction

Please charge my tickets: Visa MasterCard American Express Discover Enclosed is my check payable to UAB’s Alys Stephens Center

Name on card (please print) Card number

Expiration date ___ Signature

Great care is taken to accommodate your seating preferences. Requests will be filled in the order received. Your seating preference:

_____________________________

To be seated with friends placing a separate ticket order, please submit your order forms together in the same envelope and list all names here:

______________________________

Do you have any special needs that the ASC Box Office should be aware of when selecting your seats? If yes, please explain:

______________________________ _

To pay for your membership in monthly or quarterly installments, please call 205.934.6196.

GRAND TOTAL $

Support The Future Of This Wonderful Facility! UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting, developing, and advancing the

best in the performing arts and arts education in Alabama. In order to continue serving the community, we must maintain and care for the beauty of this performing arts center. Please note that each ticket price includes two dollars for the Alys Stephens Center Preservation Fund, which

ensures the future of this facility for years to come. Thank you for your continuing support.

For more info on becoming a member, call 205.996.6113. For more info about the corporate membership program, call 205.934.6196. Choose from the following membership levels:

BECOME A MEMBER

CIRCLE CLUB MEMBERSHIP: Director’s Circle $10,000+_____ Diamond Circle $5,000+ _____ Platinum Circle $2,500+ _____ Gold Circle $1,000+ _____ Silver Circle $500+ _____

JUNIOR PATRONS MEMBERSHIP: Dual Contributor $175+_____ Individual Contributor $100+_____ Dual $75+ _____ Individual $40+ _____

I would like to be invited to Family Events.*I would like to be invited to Junior Patrons Events.*

*Valid only for Circle Club members and Family Circle members at the Ovation level.

seasonATaGLANCE

David SedarisNovember 8 Friday, 8pm » pg 21

The White Album

The Black Jacket Symphony presents The Beatles’ White Album

August 23 Friday, 8pm » pg 12

Parlor Music Series Cicely Parnas

August 29 Thursday, 7pm » pg 13

An Intimate Evening with Yo-Yo MaDecember 6 Friday, 8pm » pg 22

Dr. Condoleezza RiceSeptember 13

Friday, 4:30pm » pg 14

Take 6The Most Wonderful Time of the YearDecember 15 Sunday, 7pm » pg 24

ArtPlay Presents Yuletide in DogtownDecember 20 & 21 Friday, 7pm Saturday, 10am, 1pm & 7pm » pg 25

Eric Essix premiering Evolution

September 19 Thursday, 7pm » pg 15

Josh Ritter& the Royal City Band

June 29 Saturday, 7pm » pg 10

Natalie Merchant with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra October 18 Friday, 8pm » pg 17

An Evening with Rickey Smiley October 25 Friday, 8pm » pg 18

ASC Nite Market July 20

Saturday, 4-7pm » pg 11

Anoushka ShankarNovember 7 Thursday, 7pm » pg 20

Lyle Lovett July 24

Wednesday, 8pm » pg 12

Susan Werner Hayseed Project

July 20Saturday, 7:30pm » pg 11

Global FestNovember 6-8Wednesday-Friday » pg 19

Yotam Haber’s World Premiere of A More Convenient Season

September 21 Saturday, 8pm » pg 16

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UAB–proud supporter of the Alys Stephens Center

At UAB, knowledge expands by leaps and bounds… songs and measure…



UAB'S ALYS STEPHENS PERFORMING ARTS CENTERDR. SHIRLEY SALLOWAY KAHN, UAB Vice President for Development, Alumni & External Relations

THERESA HARPER BRUNO, ASC Corporate Board Chair

AMBER ALLEN-PARSONSMEGAN MARRCHUCK EVANS » KATRINA WATSONGLENNY BROCK » CHUCK EVANSSTACEY TORCHELLE DANIELLE » BRYAN COUNCILREBEKAH ELGIN-COUNCIL » LARRY O. GAY MICHAEL GRIFFIN » TIM JONES » NIK LAYMANERICA LIEBELT » ANDI RICE » CLARK SCOTTDR. SANJAY SINGH » SHARRIE JONES VIARSMICHAEL WADE » STEVE WOOD

Creative DirectorGraphic Designer & Production Manager

Contributing EditorsContributing Writers

Contributing Photographers

THE CENTER MAGAZINE STAFF

OPERATIONSBRYAN W. JONES, Director of Operations

BOX OFFICESubscription & Group Sales Manager

Daily Operations ManagerShift Supervisors

Ticket Agents

MONICA DENTMICAH LOGGINSKATIE DUNNE » DANIEL HARDEGREENOAH ANDREWS » KYM BOWEN » LINDSEY CULVERJASMINE GOODEN » ALETHEA JAMES » ALICE JONESDON McFALL » RACHEL MURIE » WILL RAINER

TECHNICALTechnical Director

Stage ManagersADAM STERMERKENNY CRAYTON » TERRY LeBRUNDANA PHARO » AMANDA VANDERSTELT

HOUSE MANAGEMENTCatering Coordinator

Catering Associate General House Events Manager & Volunteer Coordinator

Associate House Events ManagerHouse Management Assistants

MELANIE S. MARTIN LINDA DANSBY JERRY D. SIMSDEREK PURIFOY JOHN BRYAN » TERRIE ENTRUPKIM MITCHELL » LINTON WRIGHT

Artist CoordinatorHospitality Coordinator

Hospitality Associate Programming Consultant

PROGRAMMINGERIC ESSIXLANNIE GUSTER JR.JOSÉ PERRY JR.JESSICA SIMPSON

FINANCIAL AFFAIRSLAURA KELLY, Director of Financial Affairs

Intermediate Accountant Financial Associate

ROMIKA GODWIN MICHELE THORNTON

DEVELOPMENTLILI ANDERSON, Director of Development

Development OfficerDevelopment Assistant

Development Associates

JENNIFER FOSTERERICA MILLERCHERRY JOHNSON » MELISSA STRANGE

CREATIVE / MARKETING

Publications SpecialistGraphic Design Consultants

Marketing AssociateMedia Relations

Social Media Associate

CHUCK EVANSMEGAN MARR » JOEY SEALESJASON PAULINSHANNON THOMASONLINTON WRIGHT

AMBER ALLEN-PARSONS, Creative Director KATRINA WATSON, Director of Marketing

ARTPLAYKIMBERLY KIRKLIN, Director of Education & Outreach /ArtPlay

Associate Education DirectorEducation Coordinator

HEATH MIXONJENNY HAYES

ADMINISTRATIVEExecutive Assistant to the Director

Administrative AssistantCHUCK EVANS CATHY CATALANO





Non–Profit OrgUS Postage

PAIDPermit 1256

Birmingham, AL

mailing address:ASC1720 2nd Avenue SouthBirmingham, AL 35294–1261

physical address:1200 10th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35205

Documents

ASC 2013 Summer/Fall Magazine