Often regarded as the beginning of the modern civil rights movement, Rosa Parks’ famous refusal to give up her bus seat is commemorated in this world premiere of John Clayton’s piece “Suite Rosa.” Be the first to hear the soulful sounds of pride and dignity as the CJO showcases the movement that helped inspire some of your favorite jazz legends such as John Coltrane and Max Roach.

Choreographed by Alexis Wilson and restaged from “Rosa,” Clayton’s masterpiece celebrates the courage of this American hero and her upcoming 100th birthday in a fantastic presentation of spiritual swing music.

“Most of my work is musically oriented but not all of it,” says Bashaw.  Michael admits to being “all over the map” in terms of what kind of artwork he makes or pursues.  Not only is his work all over the map, he’s created installations and performed all over Ohio, the United States, even in Bosnia.  Whether he’s inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water or simply the materials in front of him, Michael’s inspiration, or “juice” as he calls it, makes him an intensely versatile artist.

Though most focus on his massive, hand built instruments called “sound sculptures”, and rightly so, the part of his artistic career that might leave the most lasting mark is his work as an educator.  Michael has been lending his creativity to future generations of artists as an artist in residence in the Ohio schools for 20 years.  If only we all had a teacher that interesting!

“You know, I walk down the street sometimes in the summer time and all of a sudden they’re [students] like “Hey there’s that crazy man!”, says Bashaw with a giggle. “You know they’re excited to see me because they had this great experience.”

“I think students really want to be a part of something. Something larger than themselves. For me, that’s really rewarding.” imparts Bashaw.

Michael continues to perform, inspire, and live in Dayton, OH.

Temperley’s piece explores Florence Foster Jenkins unrelenting pursuit to become a well-known singer. She meets a struggling yet highly skilled musician and persuades him to be her accompanist. However, there is one major problem…Florence can’t sing! Despite her accompanist’s subtle hints, she truly believes she possesses a phenomenal voice. As Florence’s popularity with the public increases, the two partners discover themselves at Carnegie Hall.

Steven C. Anderson directs this hilarious and heartfelt production. Souvenir runs from November 22-Decemeber 11, 2011 at Riffe Center Studio Two Theatre. More about Souvenir at CATCO

In cooperation with the South Korean edition of The Big Issue, the global newspaper on homelessness, the Seoul Ballet Theater now offers weekly ballet classes to the newspaper’s vendors, according to a report from South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.

The purpose of the ballet program is to help Big Issue vendors develop confidence. In addition to priming the physical body, each class gives participants a forum in which they imagine themselves at work in their dream jobs – then move around the ballet studio as though they’ve already landed them. And, according to Big Issue sales team manager Byung-hun Ahn, the classes give the vendors much-needed community:

By talking with tutors, volunteers and fellow vendors, participants get the feeling someone is out there cheering for them, which can be a huge driving force for pressing on with life.

Since The Big Issue arrived in South Korea in 2010, several participants in the weekly ballet classes have transitioned off the streets and into homes.

And as if that’s not reason enough for celebration, some of the vendor-dancers will perform in the Seoul Ballet Theater’s production of The Nutcracker this December.

Read more: For Homeless Men, Ballet Becomes a Dance To Embrace Life (Yonhap News Agency)

You wouldn’t normally think that complex math and contemporary dance go together.  Actually, you wouldn’t normally think about algorithms, luminosity and motion sensors, or computer networking because it makes your head hurt.  At least for this reporter.  However, choreographer CoCo Loupe and OSU math student Robin Baiyda combine their powers to create an innovative, interactive, and incomparable event.

What is that event? Well you could say that it’s an interactive dance performance influenced by audience members and technology, or you could say that it’s an environment where dance and technology intersect with the audience.  Mostly you could say it’s difficult to describe but engaging to experience.

Loupe and Baiyda connected through the Fuse Factory, a local art & technology initiative, and fed off of each other’s ideas.  Coco had become interested in interacting with the world through social media, and how dance can be a part of that.

“Coco and I felt that we were both going to do something we had never done before,”  says Baiyda.

The Trials and Tribulations of Wrangling Technology

Projectors, chat rooms, video sensors, and a room full of creative types.  CoCo and Robin had their hands full, but they succeeded in creating an inviting environment that utilized the technology, rather than focused on it.

Robin was using a program called PureData, which is  referred to as “a real-time graphical programming environment for audio, video, and graphical processing.”  Essentially you can make anything interact with something else if you’re smart enough to program it, like Robin.  For instance, he had a video camera focused on the dancers, and made it act as a motion sensor so that the live feed of video could interact with the comments coming in through the chat room.  Of course the technology is much more complicated than that.

“I spent many sleepless nights,” Baiyda said with a half-smile on his face, “but I think what carried me through it…was the visual product was so stimulating.”

Don’t Just Stand There, Type Something!

Viewers in this interactive wonderland were encouraged to comment on the dancers; by doing so they influenced the path of the performance.  Able to type in a comment like, “red”, or “blahblah”, whatever they wanted, the word would technologically interact with a live video of the dancers.  Baiyda reflects that “there were some people just typing in the chat room what other people were yelling out.”  This really was not your typical dance performance.

Coco wanted the audience to feel like they were “entering into a really live space, an integrated space which made me really happy it made me feel like we had succeeded in blurring the boundaries between the different components of the event.”

“People said that  they felt immersed by the entire idea.  And that’s what I really wanted…an environment you can really feel.”

In 1982, Actors’ presented Midsummeras their first show in the park which makes it an ideal selection for the anniversary season. Thirty years later, this imaginative tale of intricate relationships, mischievous fairies, and unexpected surprises still captivates Schiller Park audience members.

This celebratory production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is co-directed by Beth Kattelman and Dee Shepherd. They decided to utilize animated puppets to serve as fairies and to bring humorous theatrical moments to life.

“The puppets are so colorful and interesting in the way that they interact,” says Kattelman.

She acknowledges the challenges an actor experiences when handling a puppet. In her opinion, the most effective puppeteers fully immerse themselves in their task, allowing their puppet to elicit response from the audience.  For Midsummer,Kattelman provided many first-time puppeteers with essential advice:

“Make sure the emotion goes down your arm and into the puppet.”

Kattelman possesses a variety of puppets in her collection, including her personal favorite, the delightfully entertaining Arts Cat.

In addition to being a co-director, Kattelman designed and constructed the puppets. She also incorporated puppetry into Actors’ 2009 well-received performance of As You Like It (co-directed with Artistic Director John S. Kuhn). The production’s success inspired Kattelman and Shepherd to incorporate puppets into A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Kattelman adds that Midsummer “is such a favorite…one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies.” She especially enjoys the moment when “[the boastful Nick] Bottom’s head turns into a donkey’s head…we’ve done that with a puppet.”

The actors’ comical reactions to the transformation invite several slap-stick antics, and the puppets add a memorable component to the overall production.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs every Thursday-Sunday until July 31 (all performances at 8:00pm). The performances are located at Schiller Park in German Village (1000 City Park Ave, Columbus, OH 43206). No need to purchase tickets. It is free and open to the public, although donations are greatly appreciated. Bring a blanket or chair, a picnic and drinks, and enjoy William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

It’s perfect summer fun for all ages!

To learn more about Actors’ Theatre you can visit their website or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

The 13th Annual Heritage Music Concert Series
July 7 – August 26
King Arts Complex (map)
Th King Arts Complex will host musical live entertainment every Thursday in July and August with several local and national artists scheduled to perform throughout the summer. More information at: thekingartscomplex.com.

North Market Food and Ohio Wine Festival
July 8-10
North Market, Arena District (map)
The North Market will host a Food and Ohio Wine Festival with all of the wine vendors coming from Ohio wineries. The festival kicks off Friday July 8th with a preview party scheduled from 7-10. More information at:northmarket.com.

Westerville Music and Arts Festival
July 9-10
Heritage Park, Westerville (map)
The Westerville Music and Arts Festival now in its 38th year will be held at Heritage Park. This will be the 8th year the festival has been held at Heritage Park after previously being held on the campus of Otterbein College. The Festival will feature arts and crafts as well as a Heritage area were colonial and American crafts are exhibited and demonstrated. There will also be a Youth Art Exhibit for artist 3-18 to display their work. More information at:westervillechamber.com.

Shamrock Club Music Festival
July 15-16
The Shamrock Club, South Columbus (map)
The Shamrock Club Music Festival will be held at the Shamrock Club Grounds in south Columbus. Activities will include an Irish session led by Bardic Circle and a mini celi sponsored by the Columbus Celtic Dancers. Artists scheduled to perform include The Mickey Finns, The Kells, Mossy Moran, The Hooligans and the Drowsy Lads. More information at: shamrockclubofcolumbus.org.

Bike Columbus Festival
July 15
City Hall, Downtown (map)
The Columbus Bike Festival now in its fourth year is a multi-day festival started to promote bicycling as a mode of transportation within the city of Columbus. Highlights for the festival include the mayors twilight ride, the Steve Barbour memorial tour as well as other family friendly events. More information at: bikecolumbusfestival.com.

Dublin Art Fair
July 15-16
Sells Middle School, Dublin (map)
The Dublin Arts Fair now in its fourth year will be held at Sells Middle School in Dublin’s Historic District. The Dublin Arts Fair promises a diverse selection of art from area artists.The festival will feature live entertainment, food and a new art project activity tent. Artists scheduled to perform include Avalon Nine, Flutasia, Joey Hendrickson and the In Full Swing Big Band. More information at: dublinartfair.org.

Gardening and Arts Festival
July 16
Scioto Gardens, Delaware (map)
This festival will feature free gardening workshops, a palm reader, arts and crafts, food and live music. Scheduled to perform are Three Day Weekend, Rusty Strings, Walkin’ Cane and Doug Wood. More information at:sciotogardens.com.

Kidzfest
July 16-17
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (map)
Kidzfest will return to the Columbus Zoo for its second straight year. The festival will include activity stations, entertainment, keeper talks and appearances from Dora the Explorer and Diego. More information at:columbuszoo.org.

Shadowbox Live Sketch Comedy Festival
July 19-20
Easton Town Center (map)
The third annual Shadowbox Live Sketch Comedy Festival will feature Sketch Comedy Troupes from across the nation. Troupes will compete in this two-day competition judged by the audience and a panel of celebrity guest judges. Among the celebrity guest judges will be original Saturday Night Live cast member Garrret Morgan. More information at: shadowboxlive.org.

Lancaster Festival
July 21-30
Lancaster, Ohio (map)
This years Lancaster Festival will feature over 75 events. Events will include an artwalk, a 5k race and street painting. Artists scheduled to perform include the Lancaster Festival Orchestra, Unforgettable Fire, Celtic Fire and The Beach Boys. More information at: lanfest.org.

Jazz and Rib Festival
July 22-24
Arena District (map)
The Jazz and Rib Festival will once again be held in the Arena District. Mcferson Commons and North Bank Park will play host to regional and international jazz artists. Rib-burners from ten states and Canada will set up along Spring and Long Streets to compete for “Best Ribs” bragging rights. More information at: hotribscooljazz.org.

Lazy Daze of Summer Festival
July 23
Grandview Library (map)
The 18th annual Lazy Daze of Summer Festival will take place on the front lawn of the Grandview Library and surrounding streets. This festival will include crafts, food and music. More information at: ghpl.org.

Serbian Festival
July 23
St. Stevan of Dechani Serbian Church, East Side (map)
The Serbian Festival is expected to feature several ethnic dishes which will include pig sarma, salata strudel and wood fire roasted lamb. This event will also include Kolo dancing and a performance by the Lira Orchestra. More information at: ststevanofdechani.org.

Pickerington Violet Festival
July 27-30
Pickerington, Ohio (map)
The Pickerington Festival is a four day festival that is expected to include a car show, parade, carnival rides, a 5k run and live entertainment. Artist scheduled to perform include Hotel California, British Invasion and Eddie Money. More information at: violetfestival.org.

A smash hit off-Broadway in 2009, The Understudy is about two rival actors who compete for a coveted role in a newly discovered Kafka play. Written by Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck, the play weaves together themes of high angst and high humor, says director Christina Kirk. Kirk is also a professor of theatre at Otterbein University.

WOSU’s theater critic Joy Reilly talks with director Christina Kirk.

“It’s just perfect summer fare,” says Kirk.  ”Audiences laugh out loud.”

“You take this existential angst-ridden theme,” says Kirk, referring to the work of Franz Kafka, best known for his writing about the grotesque alienation of man in an unintelligible or indifferent world, “and you put it in the hands of three crazy people.”

Kirk says that Otterbein’s summer season (which includes Nunsense in July), is not to be missed because of the quality of the cast and crew.  “I don’t feel like I’m working with students in this cast,” she says, “I could put this on Broadway and feel very proud of it.”

The Understudy
June 23 – July 2
Campus Center Theatre
100 W. Home St. Westerville, Ohio (map)

More information at http://www.otterbein.edu/theatre or by calling 614.823.1109.

Read More:

• Otterbein’s Summer Season (Press Release)
• Theresa Rebeck (personal website)

Creekside Jazz and Blues Festival
June 17-19
Gahanna, Creekside area (map)
The Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival, now in its 13th year, was started in 1999 as a way to celebrate the renovation of the olde Gahanna Creekside area. This year’s festival will include more than 50 local and national musicians, with featured artists including Watermelon Slim and Super Chikan on the Blues stage and Pharez Whitted and Liquid Crystal Project on the Jazz stage. For more information go to creeksidebluesandjazz.com.

Pride Festival
June 17-19
Goodale Park, Victorian Village (map)
The Columbus Pride Festival will once again take place at Goodale Park. Highlights of the festival include the Columbus Gay Pride Parade, Pride Brunch (at the Columbus Athenaeum) and several local and national entertainers including Levi Kreis, Eric Himan, Namoli Brennet and Chely Wright and Band. For more information go to columbuspride.org.

Juneteenth Festival
June 17-19
Franklin Park (map)
The 21st annual Juneteenth Ohio Festival will take place at Franklin Park. Juneteenth commemorates President Lincoln’s signing of the Emancipation Proclamation to free slaves in conferderate states. Although Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, the last slaves didn’t get the news until General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston Texas and read the order on June 19, 1865 (two and a half years later). Highlights of this year’s festival include a city-wide talent show, a 3-mile unity walk and a Father’s Day tribute. Entertainers scheduled to perform include David Ruffin Jr. and K’Jon. For more information go to juneteenthohio.net.

Worthington Art Festival
June 18-19
Olde Worthington Village Green (map)
The Worthington Art Festival, sponsored by the Olde Worthington Business Association, will take place in Olde Worthington on the Village Green located at the Route 23 and 161 intersection. The Worthington Art Festival is now in its 19th year and is expected to feature more than 150 artists ranging from painters and photographers to musicians and craftmen. For more information go to owba.net.

London Strawberry Festival
June 23-25
Downton London, Ohio (map)
Started in 1983 as the London Marigold Festival, the London Strawberry Festival, as it was renamed in 2001, is now in its 28th year. Highlights of this year’s festival will include the Strawberry Shortcake Tent, Mr. and Miss Shortcake Contest, Pie in the Face Contest and the Queens’ Parade. Artists scheduled to perform include British Invasion, Change it up Charlie and Austin Hicks. For more information go to londonstrawberryfestival.com.

Comfest
June 24-26
Goodale Park, Victorian Village (map)
Comfest, short for Community Festival, is now in its 39th year. The volunteer-run festival uses no corporate sponsorship. This event features educational workshops, local artists, food and vendors. Comfest also features performances on six stages. Artists scheduled to perform at this year’s Comfest include The Ark Band, The Jazz Poetry Ensemble, Doctah X and the Tony Monaco Trio. For more information go to comfest.com.

Easton Art Fair
June 24-26
Easton Town Center (map)
The Easton Art Fair, now in its 12th year, is expected to feature about 100 artists. Artists are expected to line the streets of Easton Town Center with exhibits that will include paintings, photography, sculptures and jewelry. On Sunday, the Art Fair will feature a Kids Corner, which consists of hands-on activities for children of all ages. For more information go to eastonartaffair.com.

Powell Festival
June 24-25
Downtown Powell, Ohio (map)
Historic downtown Powell will host the 15th annual Powell Festival in the Village Green Park. Festival Highlights will include rides, games, animal visits and a fireworks display. Acts scheduled to perform include Six Pack Theory, Sharp Circle Band and Farrel and Stephenson. For more information go to visitpowell.com.

“I thought that we were really focusing on a group of very sort of 20- to 30-somethings, but we rolled it out and I found lots of sort of closet Evil Dead supporters,” Steven Anderson, the Contemporary American Theatre Company, or CATCO’s creative director of the new musical, Evil Dead told WOSU’s theatre critic, Joy Reilly.

Evil Dead is about five college students who go to an abandoned cabin in the woods and unleash demons, Anderson said. The demons then pick off the students one by one. The hero, Ash Williams, must then save humanity from the demons.

At one point in the musical, a character’s hand is demon-possessed. Anderson said blood squirts everywhere when the character saws off his hand.

For moments like these, Anderson said there is a splash zone where “safe blood” hits the audience. The blood is made of chocolate.

“It’s an experience,” Anderson said.

Although Anderson said the show had been selling out in many other markets, he did say the show was not suitable for all ages.

“There is a certain amount of words that your mother would not allow you to say,” Anderson said. “So the strong language and, of course, the completely funny blood aspects of it would not make me say, ‘Oh, this is the perfect opportunity for my 10 year old.”

Evil Dead: The Musical runs from June 1 through 19 at the Riffe Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Read More:

• CATCO: Evil Dead – The Musical (CATCO)
• Deadites Online: The fan’s official source for Evil Dead (Deadites)