Elena Velasco, Convergence Theater, "Talks" Cultural Equity
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Release Date: 06/09/2020
Artistic Director for 1st Stage Alex Levy "Talks" New Season and More
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Alex Levy, the Artistic Director for 1st Stage caught us up on his theater in this podcast interview. Find out about their planned 2021 season, his priorities for offering live performances again, the organization's commitment to take action on the cultural equity front, their unique Logan Festival for Solo Performances and a lot more. Also find out why the theater was named 1st Stage. We applaud Alex and his staff for all their work on the theatrical and diversity fronts.
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Natalie Graves Tucker's Wide Ranging "Talks"
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Founder of Blackstage DC, Executive Director of Artomatic and Social Media "Phenom" Natalie Graves Tucker gives a wide ranging interview on so many interesting issues. Learn about why she founded Blackstage DC which highlights the successes and career of artists of color, the multicultural marketing services provided by her company NGT Consulting, the largest pop-up art festival in DC ARTOMATIC and her interesting career journey. Also find out which famous person show would like to portray.
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Laura Connors Hull "Talks" About Creative Caudron
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Producing Director of Creative Cauldron Laura Connors Hull updated us on all the exciting programming her theater is offering during the pandemic. From outdoor cabarets to online Learning Theater Program (with an interesting twist) to recordings of live music, there is a lot going on. Also find out the wonderful news about the original musical "On Air" and her unique views on a positive change in the DC theater industry due to the shutdown.
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Pryalal Karmakar "Talks" About Prio Bangla
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Executive Director of the Bangladesh heritage group Prio Bangla Pryalal Karmakar imparts some historical information about the Bangladesh community in northern Virginia, as well as background on the organization he founded. What was his goal and mission for Prio Bangla? Why did so many Bangladeshis land in northern Virginia? What event from the annual multicultural festival might still be conducted this fall? Find out the answers and much more in this interesting interview.
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Social Media Senior Manager Lyndsey McFail "Talks" Successes
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Social Media Senior Manager Lyndsey McFail imparts tons of advice on running a successful social media campaign in this podcast. From film, TV, music and print media, Lyndsey has a multitude of experience. Hear about her successes on the Maury Povich show to ESSENCE Magazine to BET and so much more. Also hear about her phenomenal nomination for a Webby award for her "Emoji That Track" Youtube series. Plus learn about her DJing career and company. So many accomplishments already in her career!
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Theater Alliance Artistic Director Raymond Caldwell "Talks" Theater During Pandemic
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Artistic Director of Theater Alliance Raymond Caldwell joined our podcast for a wide-ranging interview. Hear how the theater inspires conversation about important social issues, how he picks shows, his specific decision to use the theater to respond to his community's needs during this pandemic, and how the Black Lives Matter movement might change the industry for good. Also get some scoop on the Theater's upcoming season, and entertaining story about Raymond directing himself in a one-man show.
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Artist Sarah Hardesty "Talks" Abstract Art
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Visual Artist Sarah Hardesty appeared on the Embracing Arlington Arts Talks podcast to talk about her work, how she became an artist, how the pandemic and shutdown might impact her future pieces and more. Also learn how what most impacts the type of art she exhibits at different openings, her ideal exhibition, and how she knows when a piece of art is "done." Very interesting look inside the head of a creative visual artist.
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Jeanne Kelly "Talks" About Chorale for Older Adults
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Founder of the organization "Encore Creativity for Older Adults" Jeanne Kelly enlightens us in this podcast about her entity, the benefits of music (bot listening to and singing) for older adults, upcoming fall programs being offered and her views on when live chorale performances will happen. Also find out the results of a NEA-commissioned study on the effects on older adults when given the opportunity to perform choral activity under a professional conductor. So many benefits identified!
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Sound Impact Co-Founder Danielle Cho "Talks" Benefits of Music
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Co-Founder of Sound Impact Danielle Cho talked to Embracing Arlington Arts about the work her organization is doing to use music as a platform for social change and how they are bringing music to marginalized communities in the US and in Latin American countries. Find out how they are helping students and incarcerated youth by exposing them to music and classes, as well providing them with instruments. Also hear about their education series "Time Travel Through Music" being offered for free this fall.
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Jason Tamborini, Prologue Theatre "Talks" About "Bike America" Play
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Artistic Director of Prologue Theatre Jason Tamborini talked about a project his organization will be pursuing - a reading of the play "Bike America". Originally intended as a live performance, the theater had to transition to an online production. Find out the questions they asked when making their decision to not perform live, the "virtual mile challenge" being held in conjunction with the reading, and his ideas for enhanced online productions. Definitely a group that is looking outside the box.
info_outlineElena Velasco, the Co-Founder of Convergence Theater and passionate advocate for cultural equity and diversity in the performing arts arena explained how today's dual challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown, coupled with national protests in support of Black Lives Matter are impacting theaters, and why she considers this a moment of reckoning. Also learn more about how Convergence is dealing with the shutdown, as well as the developments at the American Alliance of Theatre and Education (AATE) on whose board she sits. Definitely lots of important issues to think about and discuss in this interview.