Archive: August, 2010

NOW SEE THIS: Brat Productions' trailer for Carrie

POSTED: Thursday, August 5, 2010, 3:00 PM

Filed Under: Now See This Theater

From Brat's blog:

It's official - casting is complete for our upcoming production of Erik Jackson's gender-bending take on Stephen King's classic horror novel, "Carrie." Leading the cast of nine is New Jersey-based actor, drag performer and musician Erik Ransom (currently featured in off-Broadway's My Big Gay Italian Wedding), who will play the iconic (and telekinetic) outcast, Carrie White. Other Philadelphia notables in the cast include: Jess Conda as Norma Watson Colleen Corcoran as Miss Gardner Bethany Ditnes as Chris Hargensen Justin Jain as Billy Nolan Mariel Rosati as Sue Snell Leah Walton as Margaret White Bradley Wrenn as Tommy Ross Jarrod Yuskauskas as Mr. Morton Pre-production has already begun, and rehearsals start in early September.

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 3:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Poster for Night Catches Us debuts, gets release date

POSTED: Thursday, August 5, 2010, 2:00 PM

Filed Under: Movies

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Movieline gives us the first glimpse of Tanya Hamilton's Philly-set/shot movie about a former Black Panther (The Hurt Locker's Anthony Mackie) who returns home after a 10-year exile. They also report that Night Catches Us will be available for OnDemand viewing starting Oct. 29 and hit theaters Dec. 3, courtesy of distributor Magnolia Pictures.

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 2:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: Nerdy is always good

POSTED: Wednesday, August 4, 2010, 9:10 PM

Filed Under: Shopping Fashion

Neighborhood Watch finds Philly's most fashionable.

For Erika S. (19), punk music feeds both her soul and her style. Her choice of dark colors and feminine pieces were the perfect elements of soft grunge. The Art Institute student says, "I shop in the men's section way more than women's." She adds that her gray acid wash tee was a men's shirt from H&M that she simply cut. Her multi-color pocketbook was definitely made for the ladies, though; it's a vintage piece passed down from her great-grandmother. The Maryland native loves Marc Jacobs because "he's edgy and takes a lot of risks with his designs" and Harry Potter's Emma Watson. "She models for Burberry, which I love," says Erika about Emma. Erika lives by the rule: wear what you want and don't worry about what other people are wearing.

West Philly girls Natasha W. (18, left) and Kathryn R. (18, right) had an agenda of their own when I bumped into them on 18th and Chestnut. They were out searching among Philly's eccentric crowds for their blog, homegrownphi.tumblr.com. Kathryn's classic pieces — oversized cardigan, high-waist skirt and snakeskin Cole Haan flats — make for a timeless look. "Less is more," she says. "I like to let the clothes speak opposed to my accessories." Natasha, on the other hand, boasts soft pastels and colorful accessories. Her knit tunic is from H&M and triple tier necklace is from Urban Outfitters. She says, "Make everything your own. Any piece you have, wear it and be unique, never generic." Both girls share an equal love for celeb stylist Rachel Zoe. "Her look is boho-hippy but still glamorous," Natasha says. "Her personality speaks through her style."

Nyidera Edwards

Cara P. (25) says she woke up feeling "hippie-ish" on this bright Tuesday. Her floor-length, tiered skirt was purchased at Target and her leopard disk necklace is from a thrift shop. The Pittsburgh psychologist, who recently relocated to NoLibs says, "Buffalo Exchange and UO are my favorites. The thrifts and Goodwill are great for accessories." However her motto is: "Always take one thing off before you leave the house so you won't overdo it." Cara says she dig the Olsen twins for their "hobo-chic" look and her top designer is Marc Jacobs. "His style is sort of casual and a little dorky," Cara says. "Nerdy is always good."

Curran S. (23) is one of the few guys that has caught my eye for Neighborhood Watch. His use of daring, bold colors and mod pieces equate a look of pure distinction. Hailing from Mt. Airy, the stylist and event planner simply says, "I dress according to my mood." Judging by his pairing of bright coral and royal blue, someone was clearly feeling good this morning. Complementing his choice of color is a white YSL belt and Alfred Sargent lace-up loafers. Curran notes his favorite store as his father's "eclectic and preppy" shop, Kamouflage (2385 Cheltenham Ave.) and is quite fond of designer Paul Smith for his use of stripes, colors and polka dots. In style, he admires Outkast's Andre 3000. "He's always been labeled as 'different' and I can relate to that," says Curran. "My nickname is Three Stacks."

Posted by Nyidera Edwards @ 9:10 PM Permalink | 1 comment

Lawn Chair Drive-In screening series bids farewell to NoLibs, looks toward the future

POSTED: Wednesday, August 4, 2010, 7:28 PM

Filed Under: Movies screening

Courtesy of Lawn Chair Drive-In

Patrick Swayze in Skatetown, U.S.A., the only Lawn Chair Drive-in screening to take place at Liberty Lands Park this year.

The Lawn Chair Drive-in, the outdoor screening series that had made its home at Liberty Lands Park for the past 15 years, has been conspicuously absent this summer. Founders Dave Amodei and Todd Kimmell usually mount a 10-week series of always-on-film movies that can be loosely, and lovingly, described as classics. But they were were silent this year until Kimmel annouced that Lawn Chair would only screen one film — Skatetown, U.S.A., aka Patrick Swayze's debut — at Liberty Lands next Wed., Aug. 11 before heading out northwest to Chestnut Hill. More specifically to the Water Tower park on Ardleigh Street near the Water Tower Rec Center. Kimmell says the park has "a good spookumville feeling to it," where the Lawn Chair-ers will screen Elaine May's A New Leaf on Fri., Aug. 27. But that's not permanent. Next summer, Kimmell and Amodei plan to move again to Pastorius Park (Abington Avenue and Lincoln Drive). Kimmell is thrilled with the change of venue. "It's breathtaking," he says of the proposed new location. "The first time I walked over there, I looked like the Iron Giant smiling, grin from hinged ear to hinged ear." It doesn't hurt that Kimmell feels that he's gotten more support from the Chestnut Hill Neighborhood Association since he and Amodei decided to move than he ever did from the Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association. Kimmell says he ignored most of the griping that goes hand-in-hand with neighborhood associations but was disheartened to learn that his plea to seek out arts grants to provide a stipend for he and Amodei were not passed onto higher-ups. Problems came to a head last summer when he wouldn't let an NLNA member "pass the hat" for donations at an early screening. Amodei had just dropped $1000 out of pocket on a new projector for the series and both felt any donations collected should go to compensating Amodei. Because Kimmell and Amodei were only given money to cover costs — meaning they weren't paid for hosting the event, nor for their year-long curatorial efforts to program 10 weeks of film — they didn't feel it was fair to ask the audience for more money to go to the NLNA. "From that point forward, they decided to just vote us away," says Kimmell. The NLNA told Kimmel and Amodei late last fall that they were seeking bids for their replacement. "Todd had a done a terrific job for many years. They were growing and so is the neighborhood," says NLNA President Matt Ruben, who says he was no part of the committee that decided to go with a different film screener. "Given the scope and scale of the undertaking, we wanted to see what was else was out there. I think Todd did an amazing job in creating that. We just thought that bidding it out would be a good in the neighborhood's juncture." He adds, "I personally really enjoyed the variety of films that he showed. I would hope to get up to Chestnut Hill to see what he's doing up there." Kimmell is sad to leave Liberty Lands' and its audience but feels that he and Amodei are filling a niche in Chestnut Hill. "There is nothing like what we're offering," he says. While Pastorious is the plan, Kimmell and Amodei are thinking beyond outdoor screenings. It's their dream to set up a brick and mortar cinema, that would "leave room for more modern film but lean toward the classics," says Kimmell. "There is no cinematheque in Philadelphia where you walk into the place and feel excited," says Kimmell. "There is no place where you think you've stepped into this groovy bijou dream." Kimmell, who says his main fault is being too optimistic, thinks he and Amodei could have their dream theater up in a year, but admits realistically its at least a couple of years away. Still, they have spaces in mind and a board tentatively in place. "I'm not a filmmaker," says Kimmell. "I'm a guy who shows films and loves films. That's how I like to bring people together."

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 7:28 PM Permalink | Post a comment

BOOK REVIEW: Role Models by John Waters

POSTED: Wednesday, August 4, 2010, 6:18 PM

John Waters is getting older. At 64, with his fangs filed down, his cÃ©lÃ¨bre co-opted by tween drama nerds, his films embraced by the Academy and a sad dearth of creative output, the Baltimore filmmaker and professed Pope of Trash more closely resembles a loose-screwed uncle than the dangerous parody of human vice he once was. But if 2004's A Dirty Shame was the cinematic blowback of Waters' wrestling match with his growing obsolescence, his newest book, an autobiography entitled Role Models, represents his acceptance of that fact. Of course, the upside of admitting to that obsolescence is that you get the chance to write your own artistic legacy. And by chronicling Waters' relationships, personal and otherwise, with those who have informed his lifework, Role Models does just that. Some chapters discuss various figures important to the development of his aesthetic, a list that includes Bad Seed actress Patty McCormack and an "outsider" pornographer named Bobby Garcia. Waters is, de rigueur, often hyperbolic in his admiration in these chapters, with exclamations like "I Wish I Were Johnny Mathis" and "Tennessee Williams Saved My Life." I suppose Mr. Waters did always depend on the kindness of strangers. But relationships can be tough, and many of the figures depicted have a conflicted authorial connection. Waters' regard for the animalistic power of Little Richard's music is somewhat complicated by actually meeting the man. And the best chapter, "Leslie," is a complex, though doleful, look at his friendship with a murderer named Leslie Van Houten. Other figures in Role Models seem to come up for the sole purpose of allowing Waters to deconstruct their work and, in the process, equate his own brand of trash art to theirs. Rei Kawakubo's assaultive clothing designs are likened to the thrift store wardrobes he and lifelong friend Divine assembled during the '70s. One chapter, "Roommates," is devoted entirely to interpreting a few of the artworks Waters owns, all of which were purchased for the brilliance that arises from their dubious simplicity, banality and/or tastelessness.

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And though Waters a tendency to stretch it, admittedly, he often has a point. His analysis of the works of Cy Twombly is, frankly, brilliant. But it still seems like a lost cause. No one who doesn't already think the Singing Asshole in Pink Flamingos is art will be persuaded here to deem it otherwise. In this respect, Role Models contains few surprises but nevertheless stands as a funny, at times poignant, portrait of a few key ingredients in the making of an American artist, with plenty of accompanying goodies for diehard fans. But I'll be damned if there isn't something much more astute at work in Role Models. Whether consciously or not, the breadth of the selections and the interpretive depths to which they're plumbed yield something greater than their cold sum. In laying bare the varying relationships Waters has to all these models, sentient and inanimate, Role Models ends up exposing, and charmingly musing upon, different concepts and problems surrounding the notion of a role model itself. Without putting too fine a point on it, Waters' candid and open discussions explore the intersection of the artistic and the personal, and how that impacts our relationship to those we admire (Little Richard); role models as schematics of a worth-living life (Tennessee Williams) or as objects against whom we define ourselves (Johnny Mathis); and even as inanimate objects (Charm City dive bars, kinky novels). It is this aspect of Role Models that informs the brilliance of "Leslie." Van Houten is a former member of the Manson Family cult and repentant murderer, whose infamy is parodied in Waters' Multiple Maniacs. The chapter is a penance of sorts — it largely deals with the discrepancy between how Waters viewed Van Houten before he met her (as an object of camp) and how he viewed her once they grew close (as an empathetic being). As such, "Leslie" deals with, in a very personal way, the power of objectification to negate the pathos of a role model, the various conflicts that can arise from that and the way our appreciation of role models tends to evolve as we come to better understand them. Of course, even if he has turned into an old fuddy-duddy, Waters desperately doesn't want you to know it. Sections of prose pop up throughout the book that are salty enough to ruddy the cheeks of even the most stygian pervert. And he still revels in shameless jokes like "I was one of the few who voted for Obama because he was a friend of Bill Ayers." Real cute. But it's all histrionics, considering he follows it up hastily with "That doesn't mean I don't support the U.S. troops." Moments like these show that, despite his desire for outrage, John Waters has started caring about whether or not you got that joke. RELATED >> Muddy Waters: Cult director and pop culture fanatic John Waters trashes Bryn Mawr College.

Posted by Eric Henney @ 6:18 PM Permalink | Post a comment

THE CURATOR: PAFA's suprise, Mad Decent sounbites and folkers

POSTED: Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 11:30 PM

Filed Under: Music | The Curator Visual Art

Every Tuesday, Critical Mass pokes around the blog world so you don't have to.

masonporter.com

Mason Porter

— PAFA's Summer Surprise exhibit, a collection of visual art from 11 contemporary African American artists offers vividly realized scenes of three wise man and a rhinestone enameled portrait of a temptress who refuses to strip down. Curious? That's only a snapshot. Check out this detailed recap of the show on ArtBlog. — You might of missed the sweat-soaked, rub-up -on-each-other action of the Mad Decent Block Party this past weekend. That's okay. Philebrity salvaged some gem soundbites from the messy day. — Make Major Moves caught up with the three fellas from folk trio Mason Porter, who'll offer a good ol' mandolin-n-bass bluegrass twang to the Philly Folk Fest later this month. They're all about jam circles and campgrounds. Plus, they'll be offering up a limited edition 10-track collection for the occasion. Grab those birks!

Posted by Will Stone @ 11:30 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Barrymore Award nominees announced, read what we said about the honorees

POSTED: Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 6:58 PM

Filed Under: Arts Theater

From Wilma Theater's Becky Shaw

Sixty-five theater educators, administrators, and artists have voted, and the nominees for the 16th Annual Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater have officially dropped. As usual, there are heavy favorites and dark horses. At the top of the heap is Walnut Street Theater's revival of Fiddler on the Roof, which received, like, a million-billion nominations (okay, 13). Left in a dusty second with 10 noms is Philadelphia Theater Co.'s rendition of The Light in the Piazza. Other popular shows include Lantern Theater Co.'s The Breath of Life (8) and Wilma Theater's Becky Shaw (6). Winners will be announced in October, so in the mean-time, check out the comprehensive list of categories and nominees, as well as some CP reviews after the jump. Outstanding Play Becky Shaw, Wilma Theater The Breath of Life , Lantern Theater Co. The History Boys , Arden Theatre Co. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie , Arden Theatre Co. Welcome to Yuba City , Pig Iron Theater Co. Outstanding Musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Walnut Street Theater Fiddler on the Roof , Walnut Street Theater The Light in the Piazza , Philadelphia Theater Co. The Story of My Life, Act II Playhouse Sunday in the Park with George, Arden Theatre Co. Outstanding Direction of a Play Gabriel Quinn Bauriedel, Welcome to Yuba City, Pig Iron Theatre Co. James J. Christy, Rabbit Hole, Arden Theatre Co. Walter Dallas, Blue Door, Arden Theatre Co. Madi Distefano, A 24-Hour The Bald Soprano, Brat Productions Anne Kauffman, Becky Shaw, The Wilma Theater Outstanding Direction of a Musical Joe Calarco, The Light in the Piazza, Philadelphia Theatre Co. Bruce Lumpkin, Fiddler on the Roof, Walnut Street Theatre Bud Martin, The Story of My Life, Act II Playhouse Kimberly Reilly & Matt Silva, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Devon Theater Richard Stafford, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Walnut Street Theatre Outstanding Music Direction Patrick Brady, Closer Than Ever, Bristol Riverside Theatre Eric Ebbenga, The Light in the Piazza, Philadelphia Theatre Co. Eric Ebbenga, Sunday in the Park with George, Arden Theatre Co. Douglass G. Lutz, Fiddler on the Roof, Walnut Street Theatre Collin Maier, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Devon Theater Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play Jeremy Bobb as Max Garrett, Becky Shaw, The Wilma Theater Tony Braithwaite as Sam, Fully Committed, Montgomery Theater Keith J. Conallen as Stephen, The Long Christmas Ride Home, Azuka Theatre Scott Greer as John, Shining City, Theatre Exile Steve Pacek as Mouse, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Arden Theatre Co. The Charlotte Cushman Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play Grace Conglewski as Becca, Rabbit Hole, Arden Theatre Co. Patrice Johnson as Veronica, Coming Home, The Wilma Theater Ceal Phelan as Madeleine, The Breath of Life, Lantern Theater Co. Mary Elizabeth Scallen as Winnie, Happy Days, Lantern Theater Co. Cheryl Williams as Frances, The Breath of Life, Lantern Theater Co. C. Kelly Wright as Pearl Johnson, Black Pearl Sings!, InterAct Theatre Co. Garfield Refining Company Award for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical Ben Dibble as Freddy Benson, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Walnut Street Theatre Mark Jacoby as Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof, Walnut Street Theatre Steve Pacek as Seymour, Little Shop of Horrors, 11th Hour Theatre Co. & Theatre Horizon Hugh Panaroas Fagin, Oliver!, Walnut Street Theatre Paul Schoeffler as Lawrence Jameson, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Walnut Street Theatre

Garfield Refining Company Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical

Janine DiVita as Nancy, Oliver!, Walnut Street Theatre Sherri L. Edelen as Margaret Johnson, The Light in the Piazza, Philadelphia Theatre Co. Liz Filios as Narrator, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Devon Theater Maggie Lakis as Audrey, Little Shop of Horrors, 11th Hour Theatre Co. & Theatre Horizon Marty Martello as Golde, Fiddler on the Roof, Walnut Street Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play

Peter DeLaurier as Kent, King Lear, The People's Light & Theatre Co. Andrew Kane as Hotspur/Ensemble, Henry IV, Part I, Lantern Theater Co. Kes Khemnu as Simon/Rex/Jesse, Blue Door, Arden Theatre Co. Stephen Novelli as Gloucester, King Lear, The People's Light & Theatre Co. Pete Pryor as Mickey, Any Given Monday, Act II Playhouse & Theatre Exile

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play

Brooke Bloom as Becky Shaw, Becky Shaw, The Wilma Theater Kim Carson as Cordelia, King Lear, The People's Light & Theatre Co. Janis Dardaris as Susan Slater, Becky Shaw, The Wilma Theater Charlotte Ford, Welcome to Yuba City, Pig Iron Theatre Co. Sarah Stanford as Wendy, Hunter Gatherers, Theatre Exile Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical Nick Dalton as Perchik, Fiddler on the Roof, Walnut Street Theatre Charles Pistone as Signor Naccarelli, et al, The Light in the Piazza, Philadelphia Theatre Co. Fran Prisco as AndrÃ© Thibault, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Walnut Street Theatre Matthew Scott as Fabrizio Naccarelli, The Light in the Piazza, Philadelphia Theatre Co. Marcus Stevens as Motel, Fiddler on the Roof, Walnut Street Theatre Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical Whitney Bashor as Clara Johnson, The Light in the Piazza, Philadelphia Theatre Co. Jennie Eisenhower as Julie, Show Boat, The Media Theatre Rita Markova as Tzeitel, Fiddler on the Roof, Walnut Street Theatre Mary Martello as Muriel, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Walnut Street Theatre Gianna Yanelli as Hodel, Fiddler on the Roof, Walnut Street Theatre Outstanding Set Design Michael Fagin, The Light in the Piazza, Philadelphia Theatre Co. David P. Gordon, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Arden Theatre Co. Dave Jadico, The Foocy, Delaware Theatre Co. Mimi Lien, Becky Shaw, The Wilma Theater Mimi Lien, Welcome to Yuba City, Pig Iron Theatre Co. Peco Award for Outstanding Lighting Design Jack Jacobs, Fiddler on the Roof â Walnut Street Theatre R. Lee Kennedy, The Light in the Piazza, Philadelphia Theatre Co. Thom Weaver, Blue Door, Arden Theatre Co. Thom Weaver, The Breath of Life, Lantern Theater Co. Thom Weaver, The Foocy, Delaware Theatre Co. Earl Girls Award for Outstanding Costume Design Colleen Grady, Fiddler on the Roof, Walnut Street Theatre Mark Mariani, The Breath of Life, Lantern Theater Co. Rosemarie E. McKelvey, Snow White, The People's Light & Theatre Co. Rosemarie E. McKelvey, Sunday in the Park with George, Arden Theatre Co. Richard St. Clair, Golden Age, Philadelphia Theatre Co. Clear Sound Award for Outstanding Sound Design Christopher Colucci, The Breath of Life, Lantern Theater Co. Christopher Colucci, The Long Christmas Ride Home, Azuka Theatre Jorge Cousineau, The History Boys, Arden Theatre Co. Mark Valenzuela, The Story of My Life, Act II Playhouse Ryan Rumery, Golden Age, Philadelphia Theatre Co. Outstanding Original Music Christopher Colucci, The Breath of Life, Lantern Theater Co. Christopher Colucci, Rabbit Hole, Arden Theatre Co. Tim Harbeson, Cabinet of Wonders, An Impossible History, Gas & Electric Arts Robert Kaplowitz, Blue Door, Arden Theatre Co. Michael Ogborn, Snow White, The People's Light & Theatre Co. Outstanding Choreography/Movement John Bellomo & Tony "Hitman" Stetson, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, InterAct Theatre Co. John Bellomo, Hunter Gatherers, Theatre Exile J. Alex Cordaro, Henry IV, Part I, Lantern Theater Co. Michelle Gaudette, Fiddler on the Roof, Walnut Street Theatre Angela Pomo, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Devon Theater Independence Foundation Award for Outstanding New Play Any Given Monday, by Bruce Graham, Act II Playhouse & Theatre Exile Cabinet of Wonders, An Impossible History, by Kira Obolensky, Gas & Electric Arts Grace, or the Art of Climbing, by Lauren Feldman, Nice People Theatre Co. Welcome to Yuba City, by Pig Iron Theatre Co. & Deborah Stein, Pig Iron Theatre Co. When We Go Upon the Sea, by Lee Blessing, InterAct Theatre Co. Outstanding Ensemble in a Play A 24-Hour The Bald Soprano, Brat Productions Becky Shaw, The Wilma Theater The Breath of Life, Lantern Theater Co. The History Boys, Arden Theatre Co. Welcome to Yuba City, Pig Iron Theatre Co. Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Montgomery Theater Fiddler on the Roof, Walnut Street Theatre Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Devon Theater The Light in the Piazza, Philadelphia Theatre Co. The Story of My Life, Act II Playhouse The Brown Martin Philadelphia Award Black Pearl Sings, InterAct Theatre Co. Language Rooms, Wilma Theater Nathan the Wise, People's Light & Theatre Co. The Ted and Stevie Wolf Award for New Approaches to Collaborations Enchantment Theatre Co. & The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Firebird InterAct Theatre Co. & Mural Arts Program, City of Numbers Lantern Theater Co. & DaVinci Art Alliance, Henry IV, Part I Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service Award 1812 Productions, 1812 Outreach B. Someday Productions, Of Mythic Proportions Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Annual Playwriting Festival F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Theatre Artist James Ijames Steve Pacek Sarah Sanford Amanda Schoonover Thom Weaver Special Recognition Award Pete Pryor, Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship recipient

Posted by Eric Henney @ 6:58 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Philly's art big wig blogs for HuffPo

POSTED: Monday, August 2, 2010, 11:27 PM

Filed Under: Arts Arts News

Gary Steuer, the city's Chief Cultural Officer, joins the hallowed likes of Rahm Emanuel, Azar Nafisi and Alec Baldwin as a blogger for news aggregator site Huffington Post. In his first post today, G. Stew rebloggged The Greatest Challenge Arts Workers Face, a piece that originally appeared on his Arts, Culture and Creative Economy site where he's already a blogging machine, posting about once a week. Congrats, Gary. When we read your pieces, we will try not to be distracted by the copious amounts of space HuffPo dedicates to celebrity breasts each and every day. RELATED >> Reaching for the Czar: Q&A with Gary Steuer

Gary Steuer

Posted 2010-08-03 13:47:32

Thanks for the congrats!Huffington Post just recently added an arts "channel" and asked me to come on board. Besides providing a platform for writing about issues I care about, it also creates an opportunity to reach a national audience about some of the exciting things happening here in Philly.

Joan Myerson Shrager

Posted 2010-08-03 14:03:39

Hooray for Gary Steuer and his support of the Philly art scene. I partner with a friend, Paula Mandel in running a stained glass project. Philly kids from the after school program of the First United Methodist Church of Germantown created 18 stained glass windows for a school in Ngcolosi South Africa. These are students from Germantown High School who gave of their time for kids in Africa. Gary Steuer came to the exhibition and gave us his time and his support. Pretty unusual for a city official to do that. His posts on facebook and his blog are meaningful to artists like me and so I say good for the Huff Post and good for us that we have Gary Steuer on our team, the art team.

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 11:27 PM Permalink | Post a comment

THE SHOWDOWN: Glockenspiels and everything

POSTED: Monday, August 2, 2010, 9:26 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

A concert a day keeps the doctor away.

Monday: When the Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" soundtracked the trailer to Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are last summer, it reminded everyone just how epic these Canadians songsmiths can be. They make the kind of big-drama, emotionally charged music that should fill up Fairmount Park on a summer night — huge harmonies, string movements, glockenspiels and everything. The band's new LP, The Suburbs, doesn't drop until tomorrow (you can stream it here), but tonight should provide a good preview. Oh, and there's this awesome opener (some guys called Spoon or something?), so arrive on time. W/ Spoon, 7:30 p.m., $29.50-49.50, The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Avenue, Fairmount Park, 215-878-0400. Tuesday: Show a little hometown pride for the best of the best in up-and-coming jazz musicians. The Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra, composed of the top high school and college jazz players of the greater Philly/Jersey regions, will perform in Center City tomorrow night for a little homecoming after touring Italy. 7-10 p.m., $5-10, Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St., 215-568-3131 Wednesday: When comparisons to artists like Erykah Badu and the sorely missed Lauryn Hill get tossed around, ears perk up, interests are piqued. That's been the case with lauded new voice in hip-hop and soul, Nneka. OK, so she's not that new, just new to us. The Nigerian-born, German-based musician has been putting out records since 2005, but only recently made her U.S. debut earlier this year with the socially conscious compilation Concrete Jungle. W/ Nikki Jean, 9 p.m., $12-13, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684. Thursday: The Followill boys always seem to elicit some kind of fervor these days. They're either the butt of the joke, the sorry receiving end of a Pitchfork review or the internationally beloved rock revivalists. Indifference just doesn't seem to go with post-Only By The Night Kings of Leon. If you lean towards the gotta-have-'em side of the spectrum, head over the bridge to hear Caleb howlin'. Indie veterans Built To Spill kick off the show. Their mix of jammy strumming, meandering solos and Doug Martsch's sweet whine couldn't be further from the Kings arena-rock swagger. Everyone leaves happy, right? W/ Built To Spill & The Stills, 7:30 p.m., $36.50-61.50, Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, NJ, 856-365-1300. Friday: Rising R&B songstress taragirl (yes, all lowercase) is a local lady, and runner-up of 2007's Philly Sound Clash. W/ Markeisha Ensley, 10 p.m., $15, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400. Saturday: Post Post has a new EP coming out? Awesome. And they're throwing a release party? Even better. The Bryn Mawr-and-Haverford-bred foursome will be dropping Residents this Saturday, and based on a brief MySpace listen, it's not likely to disappoint. Combining the best elements of female-fronted indie pop (Camera Obscura comes to mind) with the tight, glimmering finish of reverb-swathed synth-rock, these folks are worth celebrating.W/ Pet Milk, 7:30 p.m., $5, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919 Sunday: End your weekend with some smooth and easy jazz, courtesy of Pennsylvania native (and current New Mexico resident) Rachelle Ferrell. Early in her long career, she's sang backup for the likes of Vanessa Williams and Patti Labelle, but now stands alone as a reputable jazz vocalist who toes the line with pop music. W/ Vivian Green, 7:30 p.m., $45, Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside, PA, 215-572-6750.

Posted by Julia Askenase @ 9:26 PM Permalink | Post a comment

How will American Idol deal with the judging problem during auditions?

POSTED: Monday, August 2, 2010, 8:31 PM

Filed Under: Music | TV Idol Hands

Despite being a predictably hilarious audition city during season 7, Philly was once again not chosen as a stop on this year's American Idol Tour of Televised Humiliation. Producers skipped our fare berg as an audition city, with East Rutherford, NJ as the closest destination, probably because you can jam pack more people waiting to have their hopes and dreams crushed into the new Meadowlands stadium than whatever the Wachovia Center is going to be called. The East Rutherford auditions are scheduled to take place tomorrow happening tomorrow. But how do you hold auditions without judges? Even the American Idol unfaithful must be aware of rumors Ellen and Kara left/were given the boot from the hallowed table, with J. Lo and the human large-mouthed bass that is Steven Tyler circling their spots (although, Fox execs at the Television Critics Association said nothing was set in stone except for E-dog's departure). Simon Cowell, of course, left at the end of last season. EW's Popwatch has the answer:

Every year, the show holds a series of cattle-call auditions across the country where a good 10-15,000 folks show up at a massive stadium and sing in front of an Idol producer or vocal coach. If the audition is good (or train-wrecky) enough, the singer then returns for a callback approximately one month later, where he or she performs in front of the Idol judges. [snip] According to sources close to the show, callbacks in front of the season 10 judging panel won't happen till September at the earliest.

::Wipes sweat from brow:: Thank the television gods for lying to us every week about the audition process. But if they have any power left, they should keep Kara at the table. Yeah, yeah, she has bitchface but she was the strongest judge last season, giving strong advice that the stuttering Ellen, the apathetic Simon and the opinion-less Randy were not able to.

Ted Caine

Posted 2010-08-03 10:04:18

Right on!

Lori Hebert

Posted 2010-08-12 21:09:12

I agree that Kara should stay...she seems to know what the (bleep) she is talking about. Elton John, yes a good choice. Harry Connick Jr.....he was so entertaining and educational and fascinating..he should be a judge. (He is Randy, Paula and Simon all rolled into one).

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 8:31 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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