Elena Velasco, Convergence Theater, "Talks" Cultural Equity
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Release Date: 06/09/2020
Visual Artist Jean Sausele-Knodt "Talks" Sculptures
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Visual artist Jean Sausele-Knodt appeared on the podcast to talk about her unique sculptural artwork using oil paint, wood, embroidery, metal and even concrete. Find out more about these three dimensional wall pieces that are being shown at the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art, as well as some fun events including an artist talk and Artists Holiday Tour. Also hear how the theme of "fragmentation" relates to all her work and how the pandemic impacted her work.
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Ballston BID CEO Tina Leone "Talks" Holiday Events
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Executive Director of the Ballston BID Tina Leone returned to the podcast to update us on the Ballston business and non-profit community in a post-pandemic world. Also she gave us all the details about their upcoming Ballston Holiday Wreath Market which will be raising funds for several non-profit organizations, and offering entertainment, art projections, a pop-up outdoor bar and an appearance by Santa. Plus get a sneak peek into some fun happenings in 2022 being sponsored by the BID.
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Urban Arias Principals "Talk" About New Commissioned Opera
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Urban Arias' Artistic Director Bob Wood and Executive Director Anne Carolyn Bird appeared talk about the organization's new commissioned opera entitled "Unknown." The productions encompassed five poems set to operative music and depicts personal reflections about the emotions that people int he military experience. Learn how the idea came up for the work, who will be performing, the premiere film event details and more. Also hear about their spring show - a comedy to reopen their live performances again.
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Director Dani Guy "Talks" About Dominion Stage Upcoming Show
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Director Dani Guy gives us all the details about Dominion Stage's upcoming production of "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress." Find out about this interesting show, the actors performing in it, safety protocols for actors and patrons, and whether she agrees that this is a "feminist" show. Also find out what is on her director bucket list and her process for directing shows, including the importance of having the actors involved.
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Newly Named Artistic Director of Signature Theatre Matthew Gardiner "Talks"
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The newly named Artistic Director of Signature Theatre Matthew Gardiner appeared on the "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast and gave us all the details about the upcoming production of "Rent," as well as his goals for the theater. Also get details about the rest of the season, as well as his anti-racism initiatives he is implementing in the theater and goals he has as Artistic Director.
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BalletNova Artistic Director Matthew Powell "Talks" Reopening and New Season
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Artistic Director of BalletNova Center for Dance Matthew Powell returned to the show to give us all the details about their production of "The Nutcracker," including new choreography, costumes and new sets that will surprise the audience from the moment the curtain opens. Also find out how he felt when seeing his students in person again, how they are keeping their dancers safe during classes and performances, safety protocols for patrons and where some BalletNova alum are now professionally dancing.
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Associate Director Scott Brown "Talks" Synetic's "The Madness of Poe"
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The associate director of Synetic Theater's upcoming production of "The Madness of Poe" Scott Brown joined us on "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" to give us all the details about the show, some teasers about some unique props on set, how it felt being back on stage in person with cast and crew and what they have planned for a special celebration on Halloween. Also find out how he got into the theater business and his experiences going on tour with Synetic to the countries of Georgia and Mexico.
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Actor/Director Holly Twyford "Talks" Theater
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Helen Hayes award-winning actor and director Holly Twyford appeared on "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" to give us all the details about her return to the director's chair with Theater J's "Becoming Dr. Ruth." Also hear her laudatory words for her designers, what it felt like for her to be back on stage with cast and crew in person, and her unique experience teaching 90+ year olds theater and what they taught her. Such an entertaining and interesting chat we had!
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Alden MIchels and Paige Rammelkamp "Talk" About TAP Event
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Director Alden Michels and Music Director Paige Rammelkamp appeared on the "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast to give us the details about The Arlington Players' upcoming event "Together At Last: A Musical Revue." Learn how the numbers were chosen, how Paige adapted the songs, the three sections of the song lineup based on how people got through the pandemic, and a teaser of some of the songs that will be performed. Also learn how music and singing helped both of them during the COVID shutdown.
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Daniel Manzoni "Talks" About Festival Argentino
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Daniel Manzoni, Executive Director of the Festival Argentino, updated us with all the details about this upcoming event. Forced to cancel last year's festival, this will be a live, in-person production. Find out which dancers and singers will be performing, including folk singers, tango dancers, rock and roll musicians and pop music singers. Also learn about the safety protocols that will be required for patrons, as well as some interesting insight into traveling to and from Argentina.
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.