SYZYGY Director Paul Kaufmann Writes About Directing Terry Roueche's TWEETERS for The Jasper Project

Paul Kaufmann directs TWEETERS by Terry Roueche for SYZYGY: The Plays Thursday, August 17th at 7 and 10 PM 

Paul Kaufmann directs TWEETERS by Terry Roueche for SYZYGY: The Plays Thursday, August 17th at 7 and 10 PM

 

I got involved in Syzygy because Patrick Kelly emailed to ask me.  I immediately jumped on board.  I think the production of new plays is vital to making a more complete theater scene in Columbia.  Trustus's Playwrights Festival, which has been happening now for many years, has paved the way.  I have always believed that event should be expanded to include readings and stagings of other new works.   

 

Tweeters is, at least in part, about looking for something, someone, anyone to follow.  It's a short, funny take on the seriously disturbing use of social media by our country's leader. [Playwright] Terry Roueche has hidden some real commentary in what seems, on the surface, to be a short farce.  So I'd say it's a satire.

 

I have three extraordinary actors in my show.  Hunter Boyle plays Murdock, Eric Bultman is Fisher, and Tristan Pack plays Jones. This cast of three boast two actors who have earned MFA degrees (Boyle and Bultman). Pack is an excellent young actor who grew up performing in Sumter and who has done several plays in Columbia and at USC.  He's also a contractor to my company and has worked as an actor for me in Montana and elsewhere. Their chemistry as a trio is exciting.

 

We've had such a fun time exploring the levels and depths of this short piece. The brevity of the play has allowed us to run it more times than usual in each rehearsal, which really helps develop rhythm, comedy, and pace. I'm very happy with the work the actors have put into it.  We still have a few more rehearsals scheduled before Thursday.

 

I'm most eager to see how these actors will respond to having an audience and to see the audience's reaction to this Absurdist comedy. This type of play really speaks to the difficulty of finding the appropriate way to react to the political and social craziness of these times -- what other real choice to we have except to acknowledge the breakdown of dialogue, the lack of clear and controlled communication and the fear that permeates our current culture?  Yes, all that in ten minutes!

 

I want people to come so they can see local teams of theater people creating new work.  In and of itself, that's reason enough to attend The Syzygy Plays.  And no matter what one's taste in entertainment may be, I think these ten minute plays are a great way to see and sample work by dedicated artists.  I've not seen or read any of the other pieces, but I'm sure it will be an evening of varied and stimulating shows.

 

 

Paul Kaufmann is a Columbia-based stage and film actor, writer, voiceover artist, acting coach, visual artist and director. Directing credits include The Magical Medical Radio Hour, which he also wrote, funded in part by the Duke Endowment and Ho for the Holidays (also written by Kaufmann), The Testament of Mary and Season’s Greetings for Trustus Theatre. Most recently, he appeared in Trustus Theatre’s production of Hand to God as Pastor Greg.  In November/December 2016, he played The Actor in FUSIONS by Nic Ularu at LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club in New York, his fourth role there after The Cherry Orchard Sequel (NY Times Critics’ Pick), The System and Hieronymus (title role), all for Mr. Ularu’s UniArt Productions. Internationally, he’s performed in Wales and Romania with UniArt, in Australia with The Salvage Company and in Sicily with Florida State University. Recent Trustus credits include dialect coaching Grey Gardens and acting in Peter and the Starcatcher (Black Stache), Marie Antoinette (Revolutionary) and The Restoration’s Constance (Reverend Harper.) Other favorite shows there include: Assassins, Next to Normal, Dirty Blonde, I Am My Own Wife, August: Osage County, Side Man, Spinning Into Butter, Touch, Gross Indecency, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Santaland Diaries, When Pigs Fly and The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told. Theatre South Carolina: King Lear, The Real Thing, The Illusion and The Country Wife. Pacific Performance Project/East: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mizu No Eki. Co-founder of HIT SEND Studio Theater with Marybeth Gorman. A founding company member of SC Shakespeare Company, he’s proud to have played Iago opposite his late best friend Greg Leevy’s Othello among other roles. He’s proud to have provided voiceovers for several productions at Columbia Marionette Theatre, including Snow White and The Wizard of Oz, in which he plays Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and the Flying Monkeys.  He also does voiceover work for radio stations across the US. Film/television/web series: Preacher Feature, The Girl from Carolina, Season 2: God Bless New Dixie, Third Reel, Junk Palace and Campfire Tales. Paul is founder of a company that contracts actors utilized in scenario-based training for the FBI and other federal and state agencies across the country. He is a proud former student of Jim Thigpen, his life-changing high school theater teacher.

Tickets are available at Tapp's Arts Center https://www.tappsartscenter.com/event/syzygy-the-solar-eclipse-plays/

Tickets are available at Tapp's Arts Center

https://www.tappsartscenter.com/event/syzygy-the-solar-eclipse-plays/

Cassie Premo Steele Talks with Syzygy Poetry Open Call Winners Ann Humphries & Maggie Olszewski

 

Interview with Ann Humphries and Maggie Olszewski

 

Jasper asked Cassie Premo Steele, who adjudicated the Syzygy New Voices of the Eclipse poetry contest for new and emerging writers, to talk to the winners about their poetry and processes.

 

Maggie Olszewski, whose poem, “The Nature of Shadow,” was chosen as the contest winner, was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and she is 16 years old. She has been writing ever since the age of 6, when she wrote her first piece—a Harry Potter fanfiction. This year she is attending South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, where she will further pursue her craft.

 

Ann Humphries is also from Columbia, where she studied poetry with Nikky Finney and Ed Madden at USC. Her poem, “An Eclipse and A Butcher,” was chosen as the honorable mention in the contest. She has also earned Ultimate Outsider status for visiting all 47 state parks — as the only blind person to finish. She has a guide dog and tree named in her honor.

~~~

Cassie: Since this was a contest for new and emerging writers, can you tell us a little about why you entered the contest and how it felt? This might be helpful to others who may be hesitant to submit their work.

 

Maggie: This prompt really hit home for me. As someone who is deeply invested and interested in the science behind the upcoming eclipse, the idea to convey my feelings towards it artistically hadn't occurred to me. It felt great to take the prompt and shape my own thoughts around it. 

 

Ann: I loved this prompt. I became deliciously lost in the research. I spun five poems about the eclipse. 

 

Cassie: Can you say a little about what the process of writing poetry is like for you?

 

Maggie: I usually sit down with a rough idea of where I want to go or end up—often a first line, a theme, or a story. I get my thoughts onto paper and revise in a couple of days.

 

Cassie: When you have a specific assignment, such as you did for this poem about the eclipse, is your writing process different?

 

Maggie: Yes. When I have a specific assignment, I don't wait to revise. I plan the structure of the poem before I start and make sure I have a stronger sense of what I'm trying to accomplish. 

 

Ann: I appreciate deadlines. I played in the research, asked myself what would be a unique perspective. What I especially admired about this contest is its intersection of science, visual art, poetry, even plays, culture, history, and technology. This contest took me to fresh reservoirs of writing.

 

Cassie: What's your sense of the poetry and arts scene in Columbia?

 

Ann: Bursting with life! And Jasper is a nexus for collaboration across the genres. By the way, I searched the country for comparable contests. All I could find were readings and plays in Oregon and Illinois. Good for Jasper! Bravo to the SC Humanities Council.

 

Maggie: I know quite a few actors and artists through my father, but not as many as more established writers might (obviously). From what I can tell, everyone seems to know everyone, and there's an immense amount of collaboration and supportiveness that goes on. It seems like a really cool thing to be a part of. 

 

Cassie: And if you could wave a magic wand and make something happen in the city, what would it be?

 

Ann: Bring back the Book Festival - or fully support Deckle Edge. I savored every morsel, would have pitched a tent. If only we could have clones to attend all the events.  

 

Maggie: Hm. That's a good question. I'd probably clear the city of litter. It's not too bad in my little corner of Columbia, but I've driven through areas that could really do for a cleanup. Maybe we could get all the artists together to clean up the city and make an art project from it!

 

Cassie: I love that idea! Anything else you'd like to share?

 

Ann: I'm becoming a Jasper Guild member.

 

Maggie: And I’m really grateful for this opportunity.

 

Cassie: Thank you both.

~~~

Jasper thanks Cassie for all her efforts in this project - from adjudicating the open call to participating as a poet in the Syzygy Poetry Invitational.

If YOU'D like to become a member of the Jasper Guild like, Ann (and thank you, Ann!), just click on "Store" at this website's main page.

Look for Ann and Maggie's poems in the Fall 2017 issue of Jasper Magazine.

Join us on Thursday, August 17th at 3 pm in the first floor auditorium of Richland Library to hear Ann, Maggie, Cassie, and a spectacular cast of South Carolina's most elite poets read their poetry in response to the eclipse at SYZYGY: The Poetry (free). Then join us at 7 pm or 10 pm at Tapp's Arts Center for the performance of SYZYGY: The Plays ($10).

 

Cassie Premo Steele is the author of 14 books of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, including Earth Joy Writing (2015) and Beautiful Waters (2016).  She has recently completed a novel about mindfulness called The Lessons of Birds and is working …

Cassie Premo Steele is the author of 14 books of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, including Earth Joy Writing (2015) and Beautiful Waters (2016).  She has recently completed a novel about mindfulness called The Lessons of Birds and is working on a poetry collection called Tongues in Trees. She works as a writing coach with women from around the world and lives in Columbia with her musician/web developer wife and laughter-inducing daughter. 

Poets Join Panel on Race and Inclusivity in the Columbia Arts Community Thursday Night

Poets Monifa Lemons and Jennifer Bartell to Serve on Jasper Project Panel on Inclusivity Following Preview of Black Super Hero Magic Mama Thursday Night

Also recognized as SelahthePoet, Monifa Lemons began in Columbia, SC in the late 90s. Both Spoken Word Artist and Host at various venues for 18 years, she's now Co-Founder/Director of The Watering Hole Poetry Organization, which creates Harlem …

Also recognized as SelahthePoet, Monifa Lemons began in Columbia, SC in the late 90s. Both Spoken Word Artist and Host at various venues for 18 years, she's now Co-Founder/Director of The Watering Hole Poetry Organization, which creates Harlem Renaissance spaces in the contemporary South. She also facilitates workshops on writing and intentional creation. Her work can be found in The African American Review (July 2016) and African Voices (Winter/Spring 16/17). 

 Jennifer Bartell received the MFA in Poetry from USCarolina. Her poetry has been published in Callaloo, PLUCK!, Blackberry: a magazine, decomP, As/Us, Fall Lines, The Raleigh Review, the museum americana, andKakalak, among …

 

Jennifer Bartell received the MFA in Poetry from USCarolina. Her poetry has been published in Callaloo, PLUCK!, Blackberry: a magazine, decomP, As/Us, Fall Lines, The Raleigh Review, the museum americana, andKakalak, among others. She also has work forthcoming in Scalawag. She is a Callaloo Fellow, The Watering Hole Fellow, and The Teachers Guild Fellow. She teaches at Spring Valley High School in Columbia. (photo credit Lester Boykin)

Buy Your Ticket Here - $15 includes reception, art opening, play, and panel and benefits

(regular cost will be $25 for the rest of the play's run)

The Jasper Project  

https://squareup.com/store/the-jasper-project/

Corey Davis and Thomas Washington

Tomorrow night, Thursday, August 3rd, The Jasper Project will present the first east coast preview of the new play Black Super Hero Magic Mama by Inda Craig-Galvan, accompanied by an art exhibit curated by visual artist Cedric Umoja comprised exclusively of art by Black artists from Columbia, SC, and followed by a panel presentation, moderated by poet Joy Priest, addressing the state of inclusivity in the Columbia arts community.

Among the artists exhibiting and participating in the panel are Dogon Krigga, Sarah Macklin, Thomas Washington, Asia Ca, and Corey Davis. Poets Monifa Lemon and Jennifer Bartell and play director Stan Brown will also participate in the panel which will immediately follow the presentation of the play in its entirety.

The Columbia Arts Community Should Look Like the Greater Columbia Community At Large - We will all benefit from a more inclusive community of artists! 

The event starts with a reception for the artists at 6:30, with the play at 7:30 and the panel following the play. Tickets are $15 inclusive, (non-preview tickets will be $25), and are available at www.jasperproject.org. Everything takes place at Trustus Theatre.

We've spent the past few days highlighting the above artists and all they bring to our culture. Today we're focusing on Corey "Roc Bottom" Davis.

 

An ink and pencils maestro, Roc Bottom has garnered praise from hundreds for his stylistic and innovative approach to his craft. His creative works have been featured in The Underwire Magazine with his creator-owned comic, “Lion’s Den Revolution,” the first comic to ever be presented in digital desktop format. Other comics credits include, “Trenchcoats,Cigarettes, and Shotguns” for Conquest Comics, “Queen of Sin” and “Master’s Devils” for Legion Studios, and “803” for 803 Studios. Roc is also a member Truthful Comics, where his titles include, “Order,” “Shadowclub Karma,” and “Jet Boy: Dawn of K.R.O.N.O.S. ,” a comic/animated series. Roc also has his hand in the fashion world as co-owner of One Cloth1ng and his new line, Johnny Rocketz, which features custom shoes and t-shirts.

An ink and pencils maestro, Roc Bottom has garnered praise from hundreds for his stylistic and innovative approach to his craft. His creative works have been featured in The Underwire Online magazine with his creator owned comic, Lion's Den Revolution, the first comic to ever be presented in digital desktop format. Other comics credits include, Trenchcoats,Cigarettes, and Shotguns for Conquest Comics, Queen of Sin and Master’s Devils for Legion Studios, and 803 from 803 Studios. Roc is also a member Truthful Comics where his titles include, Order,  Shadowclub Karma, and Jet Boy: Dawn of K.R.O.N.O.S. , a comic/animated series. Roc also has his hand in the fashion world as co owner of One Cloth1ng and his new line Johnny Rocketz which features custom shoes and t-shirts.

 

Mission Statement: I draw my inspiration from animation pioneers, fashion designers, comic artists, even poets. The key to my works is to “Think outside the Box.” My focus is to not become a carbon copy of what’s already out there. I design t-shirts, I do art on shoes, I co-direct animation, all while writing and drawing comics. With that said, my working knowledge in each of these fields make it easy for me to mix and match these worlds to create an entirely new world of my own, setting myself aside from other artists.

Corey Davis

Thomas Washington

Dogon Krigga

Sarah Macklin

 

Black Super Hero Magic Mama Director Stan Brown to sit on Panel Following Play Preview

USC's Stan Brown directs Black Super Hero Magic Mama - 

Winner of the Trustus Theatre Playwrights Festival

Preview with gallery opening and panel presentation Thursday, August 3rd

to benefit The Jasper Project

Actor, director, professor - Stan Brown

Actor, director, professor - Stan Brown

As part of our panel presentation on inclusivity in the Columbia arts community on Thursday night we are honored to have Stan Brown. Stan Brown is a Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at USC, and is a voice specialist in both the Graduate Professional Actor Training Program and the Undergraduate Actor Training Program, but he is also director of the Trustus Playwright Festival winning play, Black Super Hero Magic Mama, by Inda Craig-Galvan.
 
Stan earned his MFA in Acting from the University of South Carolina in 1989.  While at USC, Stan was named a graduate acting fellow at the Shakespeare theatre in Washington D.C., where he received the core of his classical actor training. 
 
Stan began his work in university teaching at the University of Warwick in  Coventry England where he taught acting and was a post graduate researcher in Contemporary Shakespearean Performance (exploring concepts, interpretation and development in director Peter Brook's body of work, with the Royal Shakespeare Company, as intentional artistic responses to relevant social, political, and cultural realities).  
 
In the UK Stan was invited to work with the Voice Department at the RSC by Cicely Berry, RSC Director of Voice.  This training and experience initiated Stan's ongoing explorations into perceptions and impacts of 'culture' on voice and speech training for the actor.  He maintains an active professional relationship with the RSC's voice department and, specifically, Ms. Berry's work in voice.
 
Apart from his work as a teacher, voice/dialect coach and director Stan has worked as a professional actor both here in the US and in the United Kingdom in theatre, film, television and radio for 30 years.  Some of his credits include featured roles on NBC's Homicide: Life On the Street, and recurring roles on In the Heat of the Night and the critically acclaimed I’ll Fly Away.  In film, Stan co-starred in Robby Benson's Modern Love and appeared opposite Calista Flockhart, Matthew Perry, Dave Chapelle, and Christine Baranski in the cult film, Getting IN, the directorial debut of Doug Liman (Director of Swingers, Bourne Identity, Mr & Mrs Smith).

Brown also played the title role in the 2015 film, the Bespoke Tailoring of Mister Bellamy, for which he won Best Actor in a Short Drama at the 2016 Breckinridge Film Festival.

Tickets https://squareup.com/store/the-jasper-project/item/black-super-hero-magic-mama-jasper-preview-night

Featuring Cedric Umoja - Curator for Thursday Night's Exhibit and Panel

Visual Artist Cedric Umoja

Visual Artist Cedric Umoja

On Thursday, August 3rd, The Jasper Project will present the first east coast preview of the new play Black Super Hero Magic Mama by Inda Craig-Galvan, accompanied by an art exhibit curated by visual artist Cedric Umoja comprised exclusively of art by Black artists from Columbia, SC, and followed by a panel presentation, moderated by poet Joy Priest, addressing the state of inclusivity in the Columbia arts community.

Among the artists exhibiting and participating in the panel are Dogon Krigga, Henry H. Henderson, Sarah Macklin, Thomas Washington, Asia Ca, and Corey Davis. Poets Monifa Lemon and Jennifer Bartell and play director Stan Brown will also participate in the panel which will immediately follow the presentation of the play in its entirety.

The event starts with a reception for the artists at 6:30, with the play at 7:30 and the panel following the play. Tickets are $15 inclusive, (non-preview tickets will be $25), and are available at www.jasperproject.org. Everything takes place at Trustus Theatre.

Over the next few days we’ll be highlighting the work of some of these exciting artists whose work you’ll get to see on Thursday night. Today we’re featuring Cedric Umoja who curated the exhibit and invited panelists.

Cedric Umoja was born in San Francisco, California, but is based out of Columbia, South Carolina. He has been influenced by the likes of Dondi White, Sam Keith, Max Beckmann, Amedeo Modigliani, Rammellezee, Ernie Barnes, Sun Ra and Hans Hoffman. The elements of Graffuturism, Neo- Expressionism, Afro- Surrealism, Comic sequential art, Japanese manga and Afrofuturism have played a role in his artistic development and can also be found in his work.

Cedric Umoja developed his style under the instruction of Tony Cacalano, a Yale MFA and veteran Fine artist, whose own teachers included Jack Tworkov, one of the founders of the now Famed New York school.

 

Artist Sarah Macklin Shows Her Work Thursday Night at the East Coast Preview Premiere of Black Super Hero Magic Mama

The Jasper Project presents the preview of Black Super Hero Magic Mama, along with an art exhibit curating by visual artist Cedric Umoja containing art exclusively by artists of color.

There will be a reception honoring the artists at 6:30, followed by Inda Galvin-Craig's play in its entirety at 7:30, and a panel presentation following the play which addresses issues surrounding the forging of a more diverse and inclusive arts community in Columbia, SC.

On Thursday, August 3rd, The Jasper Project will present the first east coast preview of the new play Black Super Hero Magic Mama by Inda Craig-Galvan, accompanied by an art exhibit curated by visual artist Cedric Umoja comprised exclusively of art by Black artists from Columbia, SC, and followed by a panel presentation, moderated by poet Joy Priest, addressing the state of inclusivity in the Columbia arts community.

Among the artists exhibiting and participating in the panel are Dogon Krigga, Henry H. Henderson, Sarah Macklin, Thomas Washington, Asia Ca, and Corey Davis. Poets Monifa Lemon and Jennifer Bartell will also participate in the panel which will immediately follow the presentation of the play in its entirety.

The event starts with a reception for the artists at 6:30, with the play at 7:30 and the panel following the play. Tickets are $15 inclusive, (non-preview tickets will be $25), and are available at www.jasperproject.org. Everything takes place at Trustus Theatre.

Over the next few days we’ll be highlighting the work of some of these exciting artists whose work you’ll get to see on Thursday night.

Artist Sarah A. Macklin says she primarily works with pencil and ink but she’s “trying to do this whole digital thing.” Looks to us like she’s doing pretty well! Check out Sarah’s work below and see more of her art Thursday night at this very special event.

Macklin also has her own Youtube channel where she she demonstrates her work -- find her at https://www.facebook.com/pg/SarahMacklinartist/videos/ and check out how she achieved the color for layering the skin tones in the piece above. "Misty Knight" is based on the outfit from the end of Luke Cage.

Dogon Krigga this Thursday as part of Black Super Hero Magic Mama Arts Event

Multi-discipline Arts Event Picks up Conversation About Inclusivity in the Columbia Arts Community - play preview, arts opening, panel presentation

On Thursday, August 3rd, The Jasper Project will present the first east coast preview of the new play Black Super Hero Magic Mama by Inda Craig-Galvan, accompanied by an art exhibit curated by visual artist Cedric Umoja comprised exclusively of art by Black artists from Columbia, SC, and followed by a panel presentation, moderated by poet Joy Priest, addressing the state of inclusivity in the Columbia arts community.

Among the artists exhibiting and participating in the panel are Dogon Krigga, Henry H. Henderson, Sarah Macklin, Thomas Washington, Asia Ca, and Corey Davis. Poets Monifa Lemon and Jennifer Bartell will also participate in the panel which will immediately follow the presentation of the play in its entirety.

The event starts with a reception for the artists at 6:30, with the play at 7:30 and the panel following the play. Tickets are $15 inclusive, (non-preview tickets will be $25), and are available atwww.jasperproject.org. Everything takes place at Trustus Theatre.

Over the next few days we’ll be highlighting the work of some of these exciting artists whose work you’ll get to see on Thursday night.

Dogon Krigga is an Afrofuturist who also works in Pineal Porn and Collage.

His bio reads as follows:

From humble beginnings - the college dropout turned entrepreneur, Dogon Krigga, began making digital art with a distinct purpose. As a self-trained artist, Krigga set out to provide unique and original designs for independent businesses and recording artists. Seeking an outlet to further express his ideas, he founded Makrigga Media in 2011 as a creative entity to address the public and share ideas in a visual format. The visionary aspect of his creations are an amalgamation of culture and esoteric reference. He utilizes his particular sense of synesthesia to transmute sound into an image that invokes a sense of wonder and reflection on the human being’s cosmic, aboriginal, and omni-dimensional nature. Raising humanity's vibrations through visual art is the purpose.

Congratulations to the Winners (and aren't we all really winners?) of the Summer Lovin' Lip Sync Battle to Benefit the Jasper Project

On Friday night, July 7th, a dozen intrepid members of the Columbia arts community brought their A games to the stage of the Tapp's Skyline Room and lip synced their hearts out all for the good cause of supporting this organization, The Jasper Project.

Congratulations to top winners Raven Black, Summer Lovin' Lip Sync Battle Champion, and Renee Bonet, Summer Lovin' Lip Sync Battle People's Choice winner. Pats on the back also go out to Kayla Cahill, championship first runner-up, and Abby Ludwig, people's choice first runner-up.

Thanks to our sponsors, Christopher Cockrell and Steve Wyatt, Wade Sellers & Coal Powered Filmworks, and J. Britt and Magnolia Productions, as well as to all our competitors, volunteers, and everyone who came out and cheered our performers on.  And special thanks to our emcee, Tony Tallent, aka Libba Rae Shun and photographer Kamila Melko!

Summer Lovin' Lip Sync Champion Raven Black

Summer Lovin' Lip Sync Champion Raven Black

Summer Lovin' People's Choice Winner Renee Bonet

Summer Lovin' People's Choice Winner Renee Bonet

Kayla Cahill - Runner Up, Championship

Kayla Cahill - Runner Up, Championship

Abigail Ludwig - Runner up, People's Choice

Abigail Ludwig - Runner up, People's Choice

Emcee, Libba Rae Shun

Emcee, Libba Rae Shun

O. Maya Gawdy

O. Maya Gawdy

Abi McNeely

Abi McNeely

Jennifer Hill

Jennifer Hill

Lee Snelgrove

Lee Snelgrove

Ashley Hayes

Ashley Hayes

Mark Ziegler

Mark Ziegler

Nancy Marine

Nancy Marine

Jordan Lawrence

Jordan Lawrence

Tiffany James

Tiffany James

Intern Jenna

Intern Jenna

Kamila and Abi

Kamila and Abi

Libba Rae Shun

Libba Rae Shun

Guitarist/Composer George Fetner Plays Tapp's Songversations Series

Jasper Intern Bradley Dountz Learns More about Guitarist and Composer George Fetner leading up to his July 11 Appearance at Tapp's Songversations Series

George Fetner originally started to play piano when he was a kid, then his family moved and that was when he decided to pick up the guitar.

“I had a summer where I just didn’t know anybody so I taught myself a bunch of stuff,” Fetner said.

This got him to start studying the techniques of musicians like The Dave Matthews Band, but it was his piano origins that still clung to his musical sensibilities. Fetner has a strong affinity for classical, chamber, and orchestral music, which has led him to compose more classical pieces on the guitar and in other outlets even as he pursues “popular” music at the same time.

“It’s always a balance for me; that’s just a big balancing act between wanting to do the rock stuff or focus more on composing,” Fetner said about his musical direction.

It wasn’t until he went to the University of South Carolina, when Fetner got to study under and become influenced by composers like John Fitz Rogers and Reginald Bain, that he really hit his stride.     

“In different ways, they’re very concerned with timbre and orchestration,” Fetner said. Rogers does more classical music while Bain does more electronic music, but Fetner connected with both, and the diverse lessons helped him grow as a musician. He has composed both classical and electronic music for musicians to perform in such far-flung places as the Netherlands and Italy.

“It was cool to go over there and work with musicians, most of them were American who had come over, too,” Fetner said about his time working in Europe. 

This past March Fetner released his latest album Some Things We’ll Change, a cozy booklet of acoustic folk ballads that call back to greats like Paul Simon and James Taylor. Fetner recorded the whole album by himself, a process which helped his perspective on music as a whole grow in a new way.

“It takes a lot of objectivity, a lot of cleansing your ears, your palate, to kind of go back and go ‘What am I listening for? Does my voice actually sound good? Is my timing right?,’” he explains. “I’m sure if I listened to it now I would find so many mistakes in it.”

This isolated way of working, of personally trying to be so many different elements to the recording process was something Fetner was glad to do, but he thinks he knows what truly makes music so important to so many people.

“Music is collaborative in general; I have been classically-inspired [and composition-driven], but music is meant to be performed, it’s meant to be heard. Up until 100 years ago you experienced it once and if you wanted to hear it again you had to wait until somebody was gonna perform it again. I still think that’s part of our DNA,” Fetner said.

That’s what makes his performance in Songversations on July 11th so special. After going to past Songversations, this will be his first time performing there as well.

“It’s pretty fun. It’s kind of a cool thing, I wish more solo shows would be like that where people could just yell stuff out,” Fetner said.  “Any chance I can get to do this format where it’s just me and the guitar and I’m super exposed and gonna mess up and kind of see what happens, I’m excited for that part of it.”

After Songversations, Fetner’s band, George Fetner and The Strays, will be recording a new EP in August, but he still loves to compose for other people.

“Just in the past couple of years, I’ve gotten comfortable with or more okay with the fact that every time I’m in the middle of something, I wanna do the other thing,” Fetner said. “Trying to continue to just write and just try and get better at it, that really is all that I ever want to do.”

The performance will be at Tapp’s Art Center on July 11th at 7 p.m. and will be co-hosted by Fetner and poet/arts organizer Al Black.

 

REVIEW: Sex on Sunday at Trustus Theatre

By Leasharn Hopkins

It has been many years since I’ve ventured to Trustus Theatre for a theatrical production especially since the addition of the Cohn Side Door Theatre.

The Side Door Theatre is a very small space (compared to Trustus Mainstage) however this was an excellent choice for the play.  The setting added a certain intimacy to the performance.  Rather than just watching the play the room made me feel as though I was actually part of the play.

Prior to attending the show, I viewed the online advertisement trailer which lead me to believe I was going to see a very risqué/avante garde play (reminiscent of Trustus’ Late Night Productions).

I was pleasantly surprised that the play was not as risqué or avante garde as the trailer led me to believe. The opening scene of Sex on Sunday (written by Chisa Hutchinson) was an “eye opener” to say the least, about S&M.  I started thinking am I watching a stage version of Fifty Shades of Gray?

Ms. Hutchinson added a few more components which made this play more in-depth (than the movie).  The play has the predictable story of the lead character trying to balance her sexually deviant lifestyle with a run-of-the-mill oneHowever, the addition of Laila (lead character) developing a relationship and sisterly friendship with her neighbor and a few other women really added a nice element to the story. The playwright did a wonderful job of intertwining the topic of deviant sexual behavior with the mask of living a more typical life inclusive of friends and building healthy relationships. 

The only low points were a few scenes that were too short (30 seconds to a minute long).  Hutchinson could have developed the scenes a little more; combined those super short scenes with another scene; or deleted them altogether.  The saving grace for those fragmented scenes was the director’s choice of music.  The music not only aided in filling in those very short scenes but also compensated for the use of actors changing sets between scenes.  The musical interludes took the viewers’ minds off of waiting for the next scene or knowing there was a set change.  There was an audience member so caught up in the music that she started singing along with a few of the songs.  This added another level to the play.

Another great compliment to Ms. Hutchinson’s script was the flawless casting of the ensemble cast.  Devin Anderson (Laila) completely committed to her role as the controversial dominatrix.  Her performance wasn’t one dimensional.  Ms. Anderson added subtle complexities and layers to her character trying to live two lives—the normal Laila and the dominatrix Laila.  I found myself hoping she would choose the normal life.  For an actress to have me drawn into her performance and have me rooting for a positive outcome speaks volume for the director and actor. 

Of notable mention was Arischa Frierson’s portrayal as Odette, the “perfect” noisy neighbor.  Although she played the character over the top, her portrayal was spot on and added the comedic relief needed for a play that could have gone very dark.  Ms. Frierson had the perfect balance of being larger than life in her portrayal but brilliantly brought out her character’s subtext which made us understand why she had a larger than life personality.  It was a mechanism to mask the pain of being in an unhappy marriage.

To round out this ensemble cast, Josh Kern, Jon McClinton, Mahogany Collins, and Felicia Myers did a wonderful job of committing to their characters and making viewers engaged and interested in the lives of Ms. Hutchinson’s characters.  Eric Bultman (Director of Sex on Sunday) did a fantastic job of guiding the actors in identifying and developing the subtext that was prevalent throughout the play.

Sex on Sunday runs 80 minutes with no intermission.  However, the storyline; the actors; and the music make you forget a need for an intermission and leave you looking for more from the story and cast.

I would highly recommend this play for an adult only summer outing.  This show would be a perfect girl’s night out or friends looking for something different to do. 

Sex on Sunday runs from July 7- July 15 at Trustus Theatre Cohn side Door Theatre.

 

Leasharn M. Hopkins is the author of more than 30 full-length plays and eight screenplays. Her play, To Touch God’s Hands, was performed across the U.S. In 2016, Hopkins wrote, directed, and produced her first short film, A Mother’s Plea which will be screened in August 2017 at the National Black Theatre Film Festival. She is the SC Arts Commission 2018 Screenwriting Fellow.

Summer Lovin' Lip Sync Battle Brings Arts & Culture Community Leaders Together for the Arts

By Bria Barton

Intern, The Jasper Project

Richland Library's Tony Tallent as Libba Rae Shun -- For the Arts & The Jasper Project

Richland Library's Tony Tallent as Libba Rae Shun -- For the Arts & The Jasper Project

What happens when you mix the refined art of lip-syncing, a fierce and fabulous drag queen, and a whole lot of Columbia talent in one space?  You get The Jasper Project’s highly amusing and much anticipated Summer Lovin’ Lip Sync Battle on July 7 at Tapp’s Art Center.

 

“You can think of the Summer Lovin’ Lip Sync Battle as a whole bundle of goodness wrapped up with a big, beautiful bow,” Tony Tallent, emcee and special guest performer, says.  “Summer Lovin’ offers the opportunity for anyone to take to the stage for the evening, get their moves on, and embody those irresistible songs that make them feel like a star.”

 

The fundraising event will go toward benefitting The Jasper Project and the many projects and happenings it organizes throughout the year.

 

“We've got a lot going on, and we can't do it without our friends, volunteers, and patrons,” Barry Wheeler, President of The Jasper Project Board of Directors, says.  “Fall Lines, our literary publication, is coming out August 6th and just before that on August 4th, we’re sponsoring the preview of the play, Black Super Hero Magic Mama at Trustus, and on Thursday, August 17th, we're putting on Syzygy: The Solar Eclipse Plays, a night of poetry and theatre.  Our next Jasper Magazine will be published in September and the 2nd Act Film Festival follows in October.”

 

The Jasper Project’s history of flamboyant lip sync showdowns has its beginnings in December 2016 when a Christmas-themed battle took place after the Jasper Artists of the Year Awards.  The success and enjoyment of the first show made for an easy decision to host another. Winners were Abigail McNeely, who is co-chairing this fundraiser wit Bonnie Boiter-Jolley, and Tallent, who was the People's Choice Award Winner.

 

“It was clever, playful entertainment that brought the crowd to its feet.  It was natural to bring this element into this July’s fundraiser and add a little summer lovin’ to it,” Tallent says.

 

The line up of performers features a wide array of talent from both members and admirers of the Columbia city arts and culture communities including Jordan Lawrence from the Free Times, Lee Snelgrove of One Columbia, Mario Guevara of Columbia Music of Art, Jenny Mae Hill, Ashley Hayes, Al Black, Kayla Cayhill, Mark Ziegler, Nancy Marine, Abby Ludwig, Chris Cockrell, Tiffany James, Kendrick Marion, Cory Alpert, and more. Celebrity judges, who are also slated to perform, will include Raven Black, Abigail McNeely, Wade Sellers, and Deborah Adedokun.

 

The master of ceremonies, Tallent will be hosting the event—as well as performing a special act—under his drag persona, Libba Rae Shun.

 

“One way to describe Libba Rae Shun is this: If Marie Antoinette married a Suffragette and they had a baby named Joan Jett,” Tallent says.  “So, Libba Rae is really a type of embodiment for the concepts and sometimes contradictions that keep me alert, fascinated or pleasantly confused and wondering.   Ultimately and obviously, Libba Rae is about liberating yourself, fearless expression and dressing-up-and-out for the occasion—all the occasions. And this is certainly one of them.”

 

Guests can expect a head-to-head lip sync off for the championship as well as many surprises thrown in throughout the night, Boiter-Jolley, an organizer of the Summer Lovin’ Lip Sync Battle, says.

 

Audience members can also get in on the action by buying votes for $1 to help support their favorite lip-syncing competitors and The Jasper Project.

 

“The Jasper Project illustrates what can happen when artful dreams and intentions come alive.  Jasper not only celebrates our community, it honors and supports the multi-faceted talent and vision flowing throughout our area,” Tallent says.  “Plus, this fundraiser is set simply to be a great deal of fun with some fantastic, supportive, progressive-minded community members.”

 

Although the arts can be a fairly serious matter, the Summer Lovin’ Lip Sync Battle showcases the perfect contrast for an evening filled with quirky characters, whimsy, and plenty of laughs.

 

“Creative people channel their creativity into projects that fulfill an itch, and sometimes that means creating an outrageously fun spectacle,” Wheeler says.  “A little fun and frivolity is necessary every now and then. And there's not much better than folks from our rich community of artists coming together to do some lip sync battles.”

 

Tickets are priced at $10 and can be purchased at www.Tappsartcenter.com.

Reverend Marv Ward Launches First Book of Poetry

One Lone Minstrel cover photo.jpg

It’s no secret that singer-songwriter, Marv Ward, a staple on the local music scene, aka Reverend Marv, has many tricks up his sleeve, and given his penchant for evocative lyrics it’s no surprise to find that poetry is among them.

On Wednesday night, June 21st, Ward launches his first book of poetry, One Lone Minstrel, under the Broad River Books label, an imprint of Muddy Ford Press, at Grapes and Gallery at 1113 Taylor Street, near the intersection of Taylor and Assembly. The event will begin at 6 pm with a reception honoring the author, followed by readings from 6:30 – 7. Ward will sign books form 7 – 8. Light refreshments will be provided with drinks available for purchase from the upstairs selection of wines and craft beers. The event is free.

Jasper caught up with Ward to ask a few questions about the path to this place in time.

 

J: Congratulations on your new book, Marv! How long have you been writing poetry?

MW: I’ve been seriously writing since high school.

 

J: Other than in songwriting have you shared your poetry with anyone before?

MW: Well, in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, I was into writing poetry on walls and fences so I guess some people saw them but this is the first time anything has been in print.

 

J: Where do you look for inspiration?

MW: From everything, life experiences mainly. In the blues the old timers say that you have to live the blues to be able to write it and sing it and my poetry is the same.

 

J: Do you edit and rewrite your poems or do they come to you fully formed and you leave them be once they come to you?

MW: Both. Some times, I will get an idea or phrase and it will germinate sometimes for years until it finally comes to fruition. But sometimes they just write themselves.

 

J:  Who are some of your favorite poets and what is it you like about them?

MW: My biggest influence in poetry is Lawrence Ferlinghetti, I have devoured his work ever since I discovered him and was fortunate enough to meet him back in the early ‘70s and have a little chat with him. Then, I guess, Yeats, Baudelaire, Neruda, and I like Kerouac's poetry also.

 

J: How does it feel to launch this book?

MW:  I am amazed and feel so blessed this is a life accomplishment for me. I have had songs published since the ‘70s, but the poetry was different and I never thought this day would come. I really hope that those who read it will be able find a correlation in their lives with the meaning and rhythm of the words and be able to share the magic I felt when writing them.  

 

 

Author, Marv Ward

Author, Marv Ward

Soda City Story Slam - June 15th

The Columbia Museum of Art recently opened their summer exhibition ReTooled: Highlights from the Hechinger Collection, an exploration of utilitarian objects as art.  The gallery opened on June 2 and will be on display through August 27.  Throughout the summer, the CMA will host a variety of different programs and activities centered around the ReTooled exhibit, including a lecture from the curator, woodworking courses, Arts & Draughts, and Soda City Story Slam.

 

For those unfamiliar with the event, the first annual Soda City Story Slam occurred last June.  Inspired by The Moth podcast, the slam provides an opportunity for 10 local community members to share a brief, unscripted autobiographical story.  According to host Shannon Ivey, event participants include poets, seasoned storytellers, as well as first time performers.

 

“You’ll find that some of the less experienced storytellers can often be the most authentic.  I’m not slamming any professionals; I just really adore the process of someone who is really called to talk about the topic.  There is something really magical about that,” Ivey says.

 

In addition to the wide range of content featured, Ivey also emphasizes the diversity of both storytellers and event attendees.  By calling the event a story slam as opposed to a poetry slam, theatre performance, activism event, or competition, Ivey hopes to be more inclusive for those interested in participating or attending.

 

The slam also provides a unique experience for individuals to dedicate time to listening to the experiences and thoughts of others.

 

“There are very few times that you sit and listen to someone for 5-10 minutes without interrupting them — not even in our business life,” Ivey says.  “The opportunity to grow in empathy and understanding of our neighbors is really huge. In our political climate, people are pretty angry on all sides. This takes politics out of it and brings humans into it.  It’s a lovely bipartisan way to connect with each other. I’m hoping that this sort of model can catch on and even be used in a bigger sense for more community building.”

 

The Story Slam has even inspired different spin off projects.  Alison Salisbury, who will perform at the upcoming story slam, organized the Screendoor Storytelling group.  This organization meets monthly at the Richland County Public Library and allows community members to share stories and compete.  In addition, there are tentative plans at the CMA to host a female-centered story slam, a spinoff of Ivey’s projects titled “What She Said.”

 

“It is just really lovely to see how it can evolve,” Ivey says.

 

This year, there is one noticeable difference from the previous Soda City Story Slam.  Last year, the event included a panel of judges that decided the winner of the event.  However, Ivey said the winner will now be determined by audience reaction and participation.

 

 

 

Nancy Washington

Nancy Washington

Q&A with Barbarian Rap League Founders--Next Battle June 11, 2017 @ New Brookland Tavern

Interview by Jasper intern Jasmine Ranjit

Battle rap is an art form unlike any other, combining insults with beats and boasts with rhythm. None do it better than the Barbarian Rap League from Columbia, S.C. The BLR, founded by rappers Marvolus and Gemstar Da Goldenchild, aim to create a platform where talented musicians can reach a larger audience. I interviewed BLR and asked them a few questions about rap battles, their ongoing feud with SEBL, and their performance this weekend.

How did the Barbarian Rap League begin?

The Barbarian Rap League was founded by the artists Marvolus and Gemstar Da Goldenchild, out of Columbia, S.C. The League idea came up by us watching URL SMACK battle rap on YouTube all day, and we wanted to bring that kind of platform to talent from our city. We got a venue and booked 3 battles. The event was a success, and the rest is history.

What is a major goal for BLR?

Our goal is simply to create a platform for talented battlers that want to pursue a career in battle rap and get them the exposure that they deserve whether it is locally or nationwide. For example, helping them get on URL SMACK stage the biggest battle rap platform in the world was a big accomplishment.

So you have Rap Battles between other groups including SEBL…?

Well, it's just friendly competition between leagues, SEBL, a league based out of Greenville, and us, based out of Columbia. It's pretty much City vs. City, their best vs. our best. We've had two big events: ‘Civil War 1’ which was in Columbia and ‘Civil War 2’ in Greenville. After the first Civil War, we gained a lot of respect for each other. There was a lot of animosity between us, but now those guys are like our brothers, shout-out to SEBL.

Is the environment of the event different from a concert setting?

Yes and no, because the music is like watching spoken word, boxing, and a comedy show combined. You’re still putting on a show. It's a different feel, but a good feel because you’re up there watching raw skill and talent. Any fan that has never been to a battle event live that finally comes becomes a constant fan.

Why is it important that your music is introduced through a rap battle?

It’s a new audience. You have battles that reach 1,000-6 million views…that market of fans that are interested in you as a battler will be interested in your music too.

There’s a battle this Sunday; what should the audience anticipate from this performance? 

This is going to be a hard-hitting, super dope event on Sunday. The co-owner and talent scout from URL SMACK, the biggest rap-battle stage in the world, will be in attendance and will be looking to give these guys a shot. Everybody will be coming with their absolute best.

The Barbarian Rap League is hosting a battle this Sunday at New Brooklyn Tavern. The event begins at 7:00.