As a continuation of Modern Movement, I wanted to share a personal experience of the final pieces my peers and I shared. I do not want to influence you with my perspectives… so watch with your artistic ears. Enjoy!
Inspired Orginality
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A Theater is More than JUST a Theater
Crossroads Theater is more than home to Tony Award winning Crossroads Theater Company, the nation’s premiere African American theater company in downtown New Brunswick, NJ, it also serves as an artistic platform for a plethora of organizations in the community.
This past weekend Crossroads Theater was the location for Black NJ.com’s first Gospel Game Lounge (www.blacknj.com). “The Gospel Game Lounge is a monthly Christian social event that encourages fellowship outside of the church in an upscale environment.” The debut event displayed an elegant collection of your home-style board games, cards and more, with a twist of divinity and class. Black NJ.com creatively utilized the venue with a Wii game setup, lounge area, and numerous games such as: Dominos, Scattergories, Connect Four and Pictionary. Patrons also enjoyed a competitive game of ‘Name that Tune’ in the audience chamber. The event even offered a massage station, DJ, and a signature non-alcoholic bar.
CHECK OUT THE PICTURES! http://gospelgamelounge.com/photos.php
Theaters can be utilized as more than just a theater; especially how Crossroads Theater has been the venue for a number of unique rental events. Some rentals include: independent film screenings, baby showers, fashion shows, poetry readings, dance recitals, acting camps, board retreats, wedding rehearsal dinners, gospel plays, networking mixers, inaugural and retirement dinners, birthday parties, and charitable fundraisers. The list goes on; let’s just say, “What hasn’t been there?”
Call to book your next event in an artistic environment, 732-839-4447 or http://www.newbrunswickarts.org/
Check out the website for the Crossroads Theater Company’s upcoming season: http://www.crossroadstheatrecompany.org/
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Modern Movement
As a rising senior at Rutgers, I have the pleasure of taking classes that I enjoy that are outside the curriculum required of my major. So, this summer I enrolled in Modern Dance I with T. McCree. In the small intimate dance studio at Mason Gross, the evening’s burnt orange sunlight beamed across the wooden floors. Six students shyly circle up and whisper generic facts about ourselves. A blur of six weeks later we enjoy the connection of our partners in totally comfort through an exercise; contact improvisation. CI is inspired by Steve Paxton‘s Magnesiu (1972) and has become evolutionary due to the strength and grace of Nancy Stark Smith. The once awkward rough house style has transformed into a powerful cohesion of dance and science; sensitivity of neurons and touch of the skin, the physics of movement and momentum and the emotional connection to one’s partner.
Smith and her partner’s work is abstract yet inspiring. At first we wrinkled our nose at the idea of constant touch and lifts and throwing our bodies at a partner. After a short documentary we embarked on our own CI journey; we went for it! Seated on the floor, back to back, feeling the breath of our partners, letting the air shape our backs into one another. From the movement of the air filling our lungs, raising our chest, and exhale. Eyes closed, we rocked, swayed and moved together, learning the essences of our partners. With the beat of the live drum, we followed the rhythm of our partner. With no predetermined destiny, we moved, reshaped, became airless, and bared the weight of one another. The exercise of movement, touch and physics created something fresh and innocent.
Explore the world of contact improvisation:
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An Unordinary Sunday Afternoon
Date nights are usually reserved for Friday or Saturday nights, but not this summer. Check out the Zimmerli Art Museum for an unordinary Sunday afternoon. I encourage you to enjoy the closing exhibit of Out of the Ordinary:Garry Winogrand and Larry Clark’s redefined documentary photography of the 1960s-70s American social landscape. This exhibit is not recommended for children; so hire a baby-sitter, grab lunch at Old Man Rafferty’s, an early down south dinner at Delta’s Restaurant or international eats at Evelyn’s Restaurant or Sapporo Sushi and Steak house. Indulge yourselves; there is no reason not to! Admission is only $3!
Exhibit hours: noon-5pm
Last showing of the season!
http://www.zimmerlimuseum.rutgers.edu//exhibitions/?id=84
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World Cup Craze!
Well, if you don’t consider yourself to be a fanatic sports fan, you rather paint a ball then kick one, or even if you classify art as body paint at the super bowl, one thing you can’t deny is the World Cup Craze! This 2010 summer has united the global people over the game of soccer… fútbol! In my daily comb through the internet, I came across a fantastic marriage of sport and art. The New York Times did wonderful coverage: “To Those With Nothing, Soccer Is Everything.” The story is covered by the photographer Jessica Hilltout, documenting villagers’ love of soccer across Africa.
Please check out this wonderful work of photojournalism:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/08/arts/design/08photos.html
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/07/07/arts/design/20100708-afsoccer-ss.html
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Concrete Gallery
For the past 11 years, I do what most mid-westerns do; I head out to Chicago for the Fourth of July weekend. I enjoy the windy city and its independence celebration: Navy Pier, The Taste, Millennium Park, and of course the fireworks. Sadly, even the economic disparity has affected a 30 year tradition–This year’s spectacular show was on a tight budget… but that didn’t stop the artist from capitalizing on the influx of visitors. Even after a decade of visiting the streets of the city, I never noticed to this capacity how much art is all around us! Maybe this blog has ignited the inner artist.
The city streets are filled with musicians, graffiti, and even human art. My first question to you is how do you define art? Is it limited to fine art: ballet, Picasso and Beethoven, or can it encompass scenes of the city? If you close your eyes (not too long if you are alone in the city :) ), but if you close your eyes and breath in the sounds of the city, you can feel it’s rhythm. The beauty is that each city lives to its own beat. These street artists do just that. At the Navy Pier, across from Oprah’s house, there was a live statute. A well dressed man in a classy fourth summer suit, legs crossed, hand on luggage, frozen to perfection. Even his blinks seemed to be frozen in time. For the young and dangerous at heart, there was a street gang of acrobatic stunt dancers. The called themselves, in unison, “we are the concrete entertainers, don’t try this at home.” If I could provide an adage: clap and donate if you are entertained. And for sure we were! Their talents of strength and crowd involvement were well crafted.
I challenge you to take a look around. I bet you’ll see some form of wonderful street artist all summer long.
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A Fresh Start
Well HELLO New Brunswick! I am your latest New Brunswick Cultural Center blogger. Stay tuned for upcoming events in the arts around the city; live music, comedy and even special events. Check back often for fresh discussion on the arts and beyond. I invite you to listen to the art around you. Ahh, sounds limiting huh? First cerebral tickle; The Chinese character for listening includes the characters for ear, eyes and heart. Listening not only with your ears, but with all of your senses will help you reach a more intellectual perceptive. Let’s get this started: The Art World according to Viveca
Creativity awaits you!
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What’s the Buzz?
Check out this Broadway Buzz article on Broadway’s Kathleen Marshall directing the upcoming George Street Playhouse show!
Kathleen Marshall Signs On for Calvin Berger, High School Musical Version of Cyrano
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FREE Program for College Students
Here at the State Theatre we present a variety of free programs for different ages as part of our mission to better serve and enrich the lives of the surrounding community. We do everything we can to make sure people know about these programs. So, with that said, below is some information from our Education department on a FREE program that we offer to college students. If you are a college student or if you know any, please read or pass this on.
Thank you for supporting the arts!
Are you a college student? Do you like free food, entertainment, and social networking? Then be sure to check out Scientists Exploring the Arts, a unique program inspired by the relationship between performing arts and science. Although you may be wondering what these two seemingly different disciplines could possibly have in common, there are actually several elements that are essential to both: creativity, innovation, problem solving, teamwork, and process. As a way to celebrate and explore these similarities, the State Theatre has partnered with National Starch, LLC. to bring college students Scientists Exploring the Arts. “National Starch is excited to be co-sponsoring this unique event with the State Theatre. The pre-performance lectures and the shows have been outstanding and have provided a memorable evening for all,” commented Joseph Light, Head of Global Development, Customer Solutions & Product Innovation Groups for National Starch and State Theatre Trustee. “I like to think of it as left brain meets right brain…Who says the arts and sciences can’t work together?!” added State Theatre President & CEO Wes Brustad.
The program is totally FREE and open to college students (both graduate and undergraduate) majoring in the one of the following: food science, molecular gastronomy, nutrition, chemistry, chemical engineering, statistics, environmental science, food sensory evaluation, material science, business (finance, sales), marketing, computer science, and communications. The program includes a ticket to the performance at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, a pre-performance “Exploration” with an arts educator, and a pre-performance dinner, where there will be opportunities for networking with National Starch employees and other students. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so apply early to reserve your spot! Contact Jennifer Cunha at 732-246-7469, ext. 545 or check out www.statetheatrenj.org/education/scientistsexploringarts.asp to guarantee your space in this incredible program.
Posted in State Theatre Tagged arts, college, dance, education, music, New Brunswick, New Jersey, rutgers, science, science majors, State Theatre, theatre, university Leave a comment
SNL Alumnus to Star in George Street Playhouse Comedy
Rachel Dratch of 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live fame (remember Debbie Downer, the lovable sad sack whose depressing statements were punctuated by the wah wahhh of a trumpet?) is set to star in George Street Playhouse’s upcoming production of A. R. Gurney’s Sylvia! Check out this great article on her from Playbill.com:
“Saturday Night Live” Star Dratch Will Play Title Role in George Street’s Sylvia
Photo by Mary Ellen Matthews from Playbill.com
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