A ceramic sculpture by Bethany Krull. By Katie DeitsEvery year the Armory Art Center hosts resident artists who use the studios to develop and expand their work, as well as teach classes to the Armory’s students.This year, the Armory welcomes four outstanding artists whose work is diverse and cutting-edge contemporary. The show -- Emergence: The Resident Artist Exhibition -- … [Read more...]
Archives for April 2009
Film reviews: At PBI Film Fest, documentaries rule
The hip-hop seniors of Gotta Dance.By Hap ErsteinWhether it is because of which films were chosen to be screened in advance and which others I could get my hands on, this year’s Palm Beach International Film Festival (on through Monday, April 27 around the county) seems to be strong in documentaries. Here are some capsule reviews of films available to be seen this weekend.Gotta … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: April 23-27
England's Chichester Cathedral.Music: The Master Chorale of South Florida wraps its 2008-09 season with the Chichester Psalms of Leonard Bernstein, proof positive that it was good for the composer to stay away from conducting for a while and write; it was his 1965 sabbatical from the New York Philharmonic that engendered the creation of this classic of contemporary choral … [Read more...]
Film feature: Joel Zwick’s big fat Greek killing
John Corbett and Nia Vardalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.By Hap ErsteinJoel Zwick is rarely mentioned in the company of such great directors as Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola, but he has achieved something that none of them has.He directed the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all-time, a little independent film called My Big Fat Greek Wedding, … [Read more...]
Music feature: Lynn hosts five days of new music
Composer Joseph Turrin.By Greg StepanichBOCA RATON -- If the conservatory at Lynn University was hoping to say something definitive about the importance of contemporary classical music, then maybe seven world premieres over the next five days will do it.On Thursday, the music division at the Boca Raton college will host its New Music Festival 2009, featuring composer Joseph … [Read more...]
Film review: ‘Stone of Destiny’ weightless bit of whimsy
Charlie Cox and Kate Mara in Stone of Destiny.By Hap ErsteinThere’s a jaunty, jingoistic caper picture waiting to be made from Ian Hamilton’s account of how he and handful of his college pals tried to steal the so-called Coronation Stone from Westminster Abbey on Christmas Eve in 1950.Unfortunately, Stone of Destiny, Thursday’s opening night feature at the Palm Beach … [Read more...]
Theater review: Faulty connection in ‘Dead Man’s Cell Phone’
Natasha Sherritt as Jeanin Dead Man's Cell Phone.By Hap ErsteinOver its 19 years of operation, Palm Beach Shakespeare Company has always sought the quirky, even when producing the works of its namesake playwright. So it was probably inevitable that it would gravitate to the offbeat metaphysical scripts of Sarah Ruhl.But curiously, its rendition of her increasingly popular … [Read more...]
Music review: Boca Symphonia, soloist do contemporary American concerto proud
Composer Jonathan Leshnoff.By Greg StepanichBOCA RATON -- In most ways, the Boca Symphonia is an ensemble that keeps going from strength to strength, as demonstrated Sunday afternoon by its performance of an important new work of American music.The Violin Concerto of Jonathan Leshnoff, a 35-year-old New Jersey-born composer and Peabody Institute graduate now teaching at Towson … [Read more...]
Theater review: With ‘Something’s Afoot,’ Caldwell stubs its toe
Michael Shawn Lewis, Elizabeth Dimon and Lisa Manuliin the Caldwell Theatre's Something's Afoot.(Photo by Sean Lawson)By Hap ErsteinBOCA RATON -- Throughout its history, the most outstanding element of Caldwell Theatre productions has been its scenic designs, nearly all by the tirelessly inventive Tim Bennett.So you have to wonder with the murder mystery musical spoof … [Read more...]
ArtsPaper Books: ‘Departure Lounge’ the funniest of sad stories
By Aviva L. BrandtCanadian journalist Meg Federico woke up one day to find herself a member of the sandwich generation, torn between caring for her own young children in Nova Scotia and her elderly mother, who was descending into dementia in New Jersey.In her memoir, Welcome to the Departure Lounge: Adventures in Mothering Mother, Federico writes compellingly of the tug-of-war … [Read more...]