Quick Update, or, hmmmm... I spent money

So, short post, on account of the fact that it's 1:21 in the morning. Just wanted to say, real quickly, that I achieve slumber this evening a happy man. A week of almost too much visual art has passed, and I'm okay with it. On Tuesday, at the Evening With The Arts, I got two pieces of cool art for under $100. One of which is a super cool commentary on terror attacks (from the 1960's).

At Art See on Thursday, I saw a piece of art that I loved, and I came home and told James, "I love this piece, but I'll never get it."

Well, I got it. Tonight - at the ND Museum of Art's Silent Auction and Benefit Dinner. It is sitting next to me. It's called "Talking Shit," and I think it's brilliant.

Though it was a battle, right to the end, I won, and really -- that's all that matters, right?

Even without the "positive blessings," an evening of hanging with some friends always is fun. At the end of the event, I won the raffle, which was an Adam Kemp mirror made out of the remains of wood from the building in which I live, which is also super cool.

Plus I won our table centerpiece - so I came home with three new pieces of art tonight, five total this week. That's not a bad haul. I'll talk more about the auction itself another time, but for now - this is where I sign off, happy about the art options in town, and greet an evening of wonderful rest. Happy rest. A good night's rest...Though, I can hear James downstairs having issue with the wine he drank tonight. It doesn't sound pretty. I think I'll take pictures. Then again, no.

Next week - the 14th - Club Red. See culturepulse.org for details.

I'm out.

Peace::Ben::Team CulturePulse

Tonight's The Night, or, Let's Honor the Arts

Tonight is the NoVAC (North Valley Arts Council) Annual Meeting, Winter Market and Annual Arts Awards.

The North Valley Arts Council (NoVAC) invites you to attend An Evening with the Arts, a celebration of the arts community, on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 from 4:30-7:00 pm at the Third Street Gallery, located at 28 South Third Street, in Grand Forks.

The evening will feature Winter Art Market – a silent auction fundraiser of “recycled” artwork that is ready for new life, to be shared with others. We have encouraged members of the Greater Grand Forks community to go through their homes and select quality items for the Market. Included in the auction are paintings, sculpture, and other unique objects d’art. Donated items are on view at www.culturepulse.org, click on special events.

Annual Arts Awards

NoVAC is pleased to announce recipients of the Annual Arts Awards:

• Job Christenson will receive the Artist of the Year award. This award recognizes extraordinary artistic achievement with gift of $1,000, underwritten by the Grand Forks Herald.

• Bruce Gjovig will receive an Individual Support of the Arts award in recognition of his extraordinary support of the arts through sponsorship, volunteerism, or other efforts.

• Sanders 1907 Restaurant will receive a Corporate Support of the Arts award in recognition of its extraordinary sponsorship of the arts.

• Lee Barnum will receive a Career Achievement Award for dedicating her career to the arts.

Admission is $10 at the door. All attendees will have the opportunity to win one of two door prizes: one two-night stay at CanadInns in Winnipeg, including a meal and a show; and one two-night stay at CanadInns in Winnipeg.

Also... coming up this week...

See you at these things, or else:

Peace::Ben::TeamCulturePulse

Victory is OURS, or, East Grand Forks Takes First

In my attempt to equate arrogance to fear, I forgot to boost my own self worth by mentioning the recent victory of the East Grand Forks High School Competitive Show, "Us and Them" by David Compton, and directed by yours truly.

Last Saturday was the first round of contest, and we took home first place honors, by unanimous decision of the judges, in fact.

The play is an absurdest-epic theatrical look at nationalism and the concept of "if you're not with us, you're against us." I swear I didn't chose the play based on my politics, and was very careful not to direct it with any bias one way or another. To be sure, I failed. :-).

The play begins with a narrator, who, on a bare stage, is expecting someone. Two groups of travelers both enter, and lay claim to the same land. Eventually, they chose to share the land, not by joining together, but by dividing the land with a line. After all, good lines make good neighbors, and good neighbors make good lines.

Eventually, they determine the line is not suitable, and begin to build a wall, which grows higher and higher. Especially since it has to be strong enough to keep livestock from breaking through, and high enough to keep chickens from flying over. This continues until each side is obstructed from the other. After all, good walls make good neighbors, and good neighbors make good walls.

Well, as it happens, thoughts run wilder than any livestock, and suspicions fly higher than any walls, and the two groups begin to display distrust for each other. Eventually, they both decide to climb the wall, and see what the other is up to. As this happens in sync, they both discover the other, spying, and after a rousing game of accusation, they rip down the wall, and war ensues. After the battle field is cleared, both abandon the land, blaming the problems on the wall.

The recorder lets us know that this is not new. It happens the same way every time - whether the wall is religion, politics, territory, history, et al. She wonders aloud, "will we ever learn?".

Ha.

The play is shocking not only in its content, but in the fact that it is staffed, quite successfully, with high school students, who get it. I couldn't be prouder of them. First place is an honor, and they are reveling in their arrogance this week.

In any case, a lesson worth learning, and the play is only 20 minutes long. We'll be performing publicly on the 6th of February at 7:00pm with a two other plays in an evening of one acts.

That's all. Horn tooted.

Peace::Ben::Team CulturePulse

David Hasslehoff, or Rid Yourself of Fear

Fear is an interesting thing. I don't pretend to understand it. I don't pretend to like it. I pretend it isn't there.

When I was growing up, I was the child who was always holding doors for people, fearless. I was the kid that wandered off in the mall, and eventually found my way to the office to alert them to my "lost parents." I wasn't ever lost. My family was. This caused problems growing up; i was the child on the leash.

At some point in growing up, I lost that "fearlessness" and became a smidge of a coward. I think we all go through this cycle, at at some point we try to come in to our own. This is a strange point in life - and it happens around high school. For some reason, I became self conscious about everything... the only place I felt safe was on stage, which is odd. I had great friends, but still felt uncomfortable in most situations. This continued on through college, oddly enough. It continues today.

People counter fear with a lot of things; I counter it with arrogance. It's easy to "put on the cocky" and cover you fear. However, as my friend Wade always said, "Arrogance perceived is confidence achieved."

There's some truth in that.

I think about fear in another way too. I think about the arts. We spend a lot of time talking about "art" vs "cinema," or "art" vs "sports," and we always seem to think about it in terms of finances. Of course, we are competing for discretionary income with these other groups, but we must look closer at the experience.

Cinema, it is you I shall discuss first. The cinema is safe. The cinema is easy. It doesn't take a lot of emotional investment to go see a movie. You can talk during it. You aren't part of anything "vast" and the audience is disjointed.

This is the difference between cinema and live art or sports. Sports and live art create experiences. You become part of something. You have a vested interest. This can be terrifying for some people - especially if they haven't experienced it before. Sports are much more open. You enjoy basketball? Go to a game. You enjoy baseball? Take in a game. You can watch this live, or you can see it on TV. The accessibility is vast, and the opportunity is everywhere.

Not the case with live art. You can only see it live. You can not reproduce a museum experience over television, and before the advent of YouTube, you couldn't readily access Broadway shows, absent of the trashy movie versions of Broadway hits. Live theatre, as well, is only powerful live. It can become a part of your experience.

That, coupled with the decorum of live theatre (what to wear, how early to arrive, when to clap, when to stand, when to sit), and you've got a stressful experience, especially for first timers.

This is especially true with what some consider the "high arts" which include straight plays, ballet, classical symphonic music, and opera (in that order). This includes visual art and museums as well.

Truth be told, there was a time where opera and classical music were for the elite. When art itself was a luxury few could afford. However, those times are past. In Grand Forks for instance, the Symphony is no more threatening than the community theatre, and the ballet has something for everyone. We don't have a lot of opera here, but it is the same. It is all about your personal experience, and I say, to hell with anyone who says differently.

In GF, though, we are fortunate to have some crossover experiences for our arts, and these serve as perfect opportunities to get your first take on various arts, without risk, without challenge, and without fear.

In terms of the visual arts - the Third Street Gallery is always an nonthreatening first stop, but if you want a peek at the North Dakota Museum of Art, please consider ArtSee. Sponsored by the Museum of Art, the North Valley Arts Council and the Grand Forks Young Professionals, ArtSee is an opportunity to mingle with the artists exhibiting at the North Dakota Museum of Art's Winter Art Auction. The artists will be present to discuss their work, and they will have additional examples of their work for sale.

If you are looking for art at a lower cost, consider a couple of alternatives. First, the Third Street has a ton of Bachmeier's on sale right now, very affordable.

Also, there is a new venue in town right now, You Are Here, located at 25 S. 4th St., in downtown Grand Forks. Under the sign "YOU ARE HERE", the show is an "art show-&-sell" group exhibit of works in all media by over 20 area artists.

The North Valley Arts Council, at their Annual Meeting on January 30, is holding a Winter Arts Market. The Market is a silent auction fundraiser of “recycled” artwork that is ready for new life, to be shared with others. NoVAC has encouraged members of the community to go through their homes and select quality items for the Market. Included in the auction are paintings, sculpture, and other unique objects d’art. It is the communities opportunity to purchase quality art at a lower cost.

Besides the Market, the Arts Council will also be presenting their Annual Arts Awards, specifically the Artist of the Year award to Job Christenson, as well as Corporate Supporter of the Arts Award to Sanders 1907, and the Individual Supporter of the Arts Award to Bruce Gjovig. Lee Barnum will receive a Career Achievement Award for dedicating her career to the arts.

There are three opportunities to immerse yourself in the world of visual art with very little risk, ergo, very little cause for fear.

On the performing arts side, there are a couple of events coming up that can serve as a great first glance.

For those that like symphonic music, the Symphony Orchestra has an event coming up that is tantalizing. If you like acrobatics, all the better. Cirque Symphonique is a musical tour de force, featuring the Symphony, the Youth Symphony, Special Guest Artist Renate Rossol (winner of the Young Artist Competition) and former Cirque de Soleil acrobats Ninon Parent and Peter Boulanger, performing astounding acrobatic feats to accompany music by Moussorgsky, Rossini, and Strauss.

The Fire Hall Theatre is also throwing together a great musical, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Directed by Job Christenson, this show features some of Grand Forks most talented players. Returning to the stage are Fire Hall veterans and area residents Misti Koop, Katie Hill-Brandt, Jared Kinney, Darin Kerr and Daniel Dutot. Joining them, in her Fire Hall Community Theatre premiere is Debra Berger, a graduate student in Theatre Arts at the University of North Dakota.

In April, the UND Music Department will present an opera workshop, with performances open to the public. More information on this will be available as we grow closer. The Opera Workshop is directed by Dr. Anne Christopherson, who I've blogged about before.

All in all, Grand Forks is a great place to get over the initial fear of the live Arts.

For a complete list of these activities, of course, head over to CulturePulse. As for me, I'm going to work on honing my arrogance.

I, however, fear that I have no reason at all for putting David Hasslehoff in my title. Aw, well, I fail.

Peace::Ben::CulturePulse

It's a brand new year, or, fish out of water

I consider myself fairly cultured. In a weekend of games, I was voted the most likely to be invited along by friends considering an art purchase. At least I've got that going for me. Right now, I am on my last day of forced vacation, ridiculously procrastinating all the things I should be doing. Item number one: blocking for the EGF competitive one-act.

I sit here, avoiding the blocking and awaiting the arrival of my financial consultant/insurance/investment guy. His name is Michael W. Smith. I know, I know, it's all very "go west young man" but there is an aura of trust about him. Even though, it is because of him that I am painfully aware that I have no worth.

Disjointed as my thoughts are, the future looms. New Years, besides being a painfully ridiculous holiday, makes one ponder their place in this life, and what is next. This year, we celebrated with a few wonderful and bitter people (artists, you know) at a friends apartment. This apartment is a corner unit in St. John's Block, so it gave us a fabulous view of the fireworks all from the comfort of home. Because it was a lot of musicians and theatre folk, much of the night was spent mocking one another through games or around the piano belting out showtunes. Evenings like this, regardless of their placement in the calendar, give me pause; but when we are ushering in a new year, and I am placed one year closer to 30, thoughts of the future take hold.

Because I am a smidge OCD, I have been writing a five year strategic plan for me, and was shocked when all options took me abroad. I am not sure if this is just where my soul wants to be right now, or if I am harboring some jealousy towards my friend Melissa who is teaching in Ireland this semester.

I have spent much time abroad, having toured Eastern Europe while in college, and then spending time abroad in Oxford studying and doing an internship. This opportunity afforded me the ability to travel a lot. It's easy to go to Paris or Göteborg when it's only a 2 hour flight and $50. Same goes for anywhere - looking to blow a week holiday from class? Grab a Euro-pass and jump a train from Paris to Rome.

Living in England was a fantastic experience for me - it is truly a world center. This is not to say that I don't love America or North Dakota, quite the contrary. However, I felt very at home in England. Here, there are times I feel like a fish out of water.

The most obvious difference I note here is my aversion to all things "eco-tourism" or "nature." I don't snowmobile. I don't hunt. I don't ski. I don't boat. I don't hike. I don't bird. I don't fish. And, I most certainly do not walk on frozen bodies of water, drill holes in them, and fish.

That said, I am not obtuse enough to believe that those things aren't cultural. This concept of eco-tourism is a culture on to its own, and while the stuffies that spend all of their disposable income on opera and theatre can snoot about how much their cultural choices cost, eco-tourism, especially hunting and fishing are not cheap sports.

In my effort to extend my vast cultural knowledge (scoff) too those less fortunate (snort), I drag James to a lot of things. When he first told me he wasn't a fan of theatre or musicals, I asked him how he knew. He said he had seen "The Nutcracker" and hated it. Truth be told, I've never made it through "The Nutcracker" and I find the show almost offensive in how terrible it is. (I know, some people love it) I told him straight up that "The Nutcracker" is no representation of theatre, and forced him to go to Sweeney Todd. He loved it. He went twice. Two times to Cabaret. To a Ballet. To a Concert. To the Fall Art Auction.

So, when he proposed that I accompany him on his first ice fishing excursion, I begrudgingly agreed. Imagine the process. I have no jacket appropriate for this adventure. I had to borrow one of his. I don't own the correct gloves... or, more accurately, any gloves. My only stocking hat has a Human Rights Campaign logo on the front, and is a skull hat. I had no boots, or warm socks (bamboo black argyle don't count apparently). It was quite the process, but I managed to get to the ice none the less.

Apparently the large blue thing in the back of our under-stair storage is an ice house. Who knew. Apparently tackle boxes weigh 50lbs. Who knew. Apparently the ice house converts into a sled, so we can pull said 50lbs tackle box, the ice auger, coolers, chairs, underwater camera, last season's camo ski pants and other ethereal items whose purpose i couldn't ascertain. Apparently you must purchase a license for this activity.

The drive to Larimore Dam in James' 1982 Blue Chevy Celebrity, smoke billowing out the windows, was tenuous. A blizzard was moving in to the area, but we were fishing, hell be dam(n)ed... pun completely intended.

I must confess, it was an enjoyable experience. From the first fish I caught, through the 14th. Yes. I caught 14 fish. James caught 25. We released all of them (Fishing was a concession I was willing to make. Cleaning fish was not.) and had a great time. I baited the hook myself. I took the fish off myself.

It was a very manly day, so we countered with a good night of showtunes when we got back to Grand Forks.

At some point throughout this process, the "fish out of water" feeling, at least for me, ceased. It seemed more natural the 5th time your removed a fish from a hook. The meal-worms got a bit less gross each time I had to bait the hook. The 3x6 hut that sheltered the two of us from the storm a'brewin outside felt more like home. It made me wonder how easily we acclimate to our surroundings and how easily we settle into our lives. I suppose the cigarettes and Capt. Morgan helped. So did the company.

This is not to say I'm having a "grass is greener" moment, or anything like that. I adore Grand Forks.

Now, time to sit down and write this five year plan.

Peace::Ben::Team CulturePulse

A New iPod, or, The Year Winding Down

Here I sit. It's my week off; forced in fact. At the U, you loose a certain portion of vacation time each year if it goes unused. I don't vacation a lot, so consequently I went in to the holiday season with 31 hours of use it or loose it time. Thus, here I sit, wondering what to do with myself. I went ahead and scheduled a couple of meetings for this week. That is okay, right?

This morning, after a night of almost no sleep, I watched PBS. I had tivo'd all the Lutheran Choral concerts that air each year - St. Olaf, Luther and Concordia, specifically. As a student of the Lutheran Choral tradition, these concerts are almost my "reason for the season." They allow me to live in the past and remember the tradition I come from. St. Olaf, especially, since Waldorf's choir and their were founded by the same composer, F. Melius Christiansen. We shared a lot of the same Presidents, faculty, staff and students. I have a warm place in my heart for them.

Christmas was again a blessed time for me. My cynical response to "Did Santa bring you everything you wanted" is typically, "My family doesn't exchange gifts, just barbs and insults." There is no truth to that statement, but I find it hilarious none the less.

This year, my parents relocated to Fargo, ND, and thus my Grandmother played the musical nursing home game. While Ashley, or the surrounding areas, has been her home for the duration of her life, all of her family has no left the area. She willingly relocated to the Good Samaritan Home in Oakes, ND, where her 2nd oldest, Jocelyn, lives. Several of the family members got together in Oakes to celebrate the holiday with my Grandma on Friday. It was a wonderful time, and a throwback to when my grandparents threw huge holiday gatherings on the family farm. Keep in mind, there are seven children (plus spouses), seventeen grand children, and seven great grand childern (plus some grandchildren's spouses). This, coupled with the fact that the Klipfel's know how to have a good time, made for enjoyable holiday family time.

Now, those children and grandchildren have scattered the nation, and our get-to-gethers are few and far between. That said, we still know how to have a good time.

The rest of Christmas was celebrated in Fargo at my parents house, and my niece and nephew proved the theory that Christmas really is about children. Each present was met with awe struck, pure, thanks. The time was relaxing, and the food was to die for. The fat clothes had to come off the top shelf, and I am planning on spending some of the holiday forced vacation in serious detox.

As I finally was able to afford a new iPod without too much strain, I am surrounded by piles of CDs. This week of vacation will exhaust me, and has flown by so quickly I am not sure what is going on.

In arts news, I will be starting as an interim executive director of the Fire Hall Theatre on the 9th of January, while still serving as the ED of the MSP through June. This will be an interesting transition, but we will be working with the Fire Hall and it's potential, upcoming merger. Things should start to get very interesting. Giddy up.

Peace::Ben::TeamCulturePulse

Almost a month, or, Pound that wall, you filthy... (plus some upcoming events)

It appears that I have an aversion to noise. Perhaps not all noise, but repetitive noise. Recall the slamming of the doors.

My office is fairly fantastic. It has huge windows overlooking a smaller quad. I painted the walls a cool dual blend of taupe and crimson. I enjoy working from this large room on the third floor of O'Kelly Hall, but there are some downfalls. The office is at the juncture of O'Kelly Hall and Ireland Hall, and used to be a dissection laboratory. The upswing of this is that we have central air. Gotta keep the bodies cold.

As it stands, Ireland Hall is going under major renovations, and has been for almost two years. Therefor, our days are blessed with pounding, hammering and concrete drilling. Often so loud that it is difficult to have conversations. Often so forceful that items have vibrated off my desk.

I try to remain positive about these things, and smile, though most of the muscles your face uses to smile were already working to reign in my migraine headache. We have taken to working from home or our conference room, where these noises do not seem to reach.

A month has gone by, and craziness has ensued. Off the cuff, I was sick. Much of my diatribe is taken from an e-mail to a friend in the midst of that, but it serves this purpose too.

One of the benefits of being a vegetarian is, in fact, the lack of illnesses that bog me down. However, it hit me hard. When it comes to illnesses, I am the biggest baby in the world. I spent a full Thursday and Friday in scrubs, on the couch, under as much faux down as I could muster, with every herbal remedy known to man, tons of medicinal remedies, and enough carrot juice to pacify Bugs Bunny. I will someday perform a one man show about the tragedy I've overcome. While I felt better on Saturday, I suffered through three more days before I was 100%. I still have a cough and it has been over a week. Feel sorry for me.

First, let me address the down. As mentioned before, I live in a pretty kick ass apartment. However, as I sit typing this, I can feel wind. I don’t know if it is coming through the brick, the ceiling, the gaping hole in one of our walls from shoddy construction, or just a bitter figment of my imagination, but it is present and obnoxious. “The draft”, as it is often coined, is the cause of our $200 energy bill the past two months. (Have you ever noticed how adding “the” before something hateful or irritating makes it seem less? My sister and I use it to describe my mom’s cancer. “Ever since you’ve recovered from “the cancer”…” We get a chuckle out of that, because the “the” makes it seem like a hangnail. It’s our passive-aggressive way of coping, I suppose. I got it from my friend Mishka who told me about the time he thought he had “The Herpes,” which I think is a reference to Jerry Blank’s “I got’s me “The Syphilis” real bad” in the episode where we learn “Chlamydia is not just a flower.” What? I don’t know...)

I was unimpressed over the energy bills, and revealed said feelings to our managers, as did most of the apartment, and they are working to rectify the situation, but time, apparently, is not on my side. It has been almost a month. Still, "the draft" is ever present. Ever taunting.

Thus, I can blame "the draft" (James sleeps in scrubs, covered in wind pants, and a hooded sweatshirt under three blankets – I am better, my room is about 8 degrees warmer) for my cold.

This blistering breeze killed four of our fish in three days. Secretly, I am not all that worked up about this since we were beginning to look like sea world. But, James takes his fish very seriously, and it really affected him.

I was, of course, near death… hovering just a pica above complete flat line (in reality, I probably had a mild cold), but, determined to play my part in the tragedy of the fish, got up. I mustered a shower, and even shaved. Clothed in the warmest garments I could conjure up, we headed to Petco. It was there I met Lucinda.

We went to Petco because we are exploring the possibility of adding amphibian or reptilian life to our humble abode. I don’t know why I think I want a lizard, but the desire is there. I blame a James Bond movie, where a lizard had a rather larger role, and a rather large diamond neckband. Perhaps it was the bling. Perhaps it was the fact that I am naturally drawn to the exotic. Most likely it was the distracting power of all things shiny.

Upon entering, we ventured to the “adopt a pet” section of the store. In the midst of a variety of filthy ferrets and other vermin who needed homes was Lucinda. Lucinda was a rat. Well, she in fact remains to be a rat and a live one at that (much to my dismay). I apparently was too ill (I love the blame game) to notice the huge “CAUTION: LUCINDA BITES” sign. As I got to close, her very slim, Secret of NIHM snout shot through the cage. Teeth. Sank directly into my index finger.

Needless to say, I bled. I don’t like bleeding either. I laugh as I write this, because it is such a character study of my own inadequacies, but I revel in them. I most certainly wasn't going to let the Petco folk know that I can't read, so washing the wound at Petco is out of the question.

Of course, the nearest place for Band-Aids and a good washing is Wal-Mart.

I may hate Wal-Mart more than Lucinda. However, I suffer through.

Though we are in the midst of the holiday season, and classes have begin the holiday break, there is much to do in Grand Forks.

Let me start with the Greater Grand Forks Symphony. I went to "Messiah" this past weekend and was blown away. Completely. I thought the Symphony, the Master Chorale and the area schools that participated did an unbelievable job.

I have been a "Messiah" fan since probably the sixth grade. My small community's Christian religions banded together and performed this oratorio (look it up if you don't know it - you know the rules, there will be a test) when I was probably in the 6th grade. As my mother played the piano for it, I attended the rehearsals. It is interesting to me that my perception of a person changes the moment I can hear them sing (though this goes for any artistic expression).

I'll take for instance Colleen Dawn. It wasn't that I didn't like Colleen growing up, because I did. She was a young, wonderful woman. She was the wife of the Salem Reformed Pastor and lived just down the street from me. However, she was my piano teacher. With that daunting responsibility comes angst. I disliked piano. I think, because my mother was so ridiculously talented at it, I had a bit of an inferiority complex. Thus, I didn't respect Colleen for her talents, mostly because I had never heard her play the piano, nor perform any kind of music (had I gone to her church, this would probably have been different) so, my cocky attitude was "what does she know?"

This attitude problem wasn't limited to Colleen. You could ask my other piano teachers: Lois, Marcie, and Mrs. Flatland. They would all concur, and probably say something like "lots of talent, no commitment to rehearsal." They would be right.

So, back to Colleen. In the first part of "Messiah" (number 16) is a soprano recitative: And suddenly there was with the angel which is the third of a series of soprano solos. It was when I first heard Colleen sing this that my respect for her flourished. She was a goddess in my eyes, and her voice was the ambrosia of heaven.

Well, consequently, I have been a long standing fan of "Messiah" and it was such a pleasure to see it performed with so many familiar faces, and an even larger pleasure to hear the soprano recitatives performed by local coloratura soprano Dr. Anne Christopherson. Anne, who completely rocked the stage, was also Nellie Lovett in this past summer's Crimson production of Sweeney Todd, so I have had the distinct privilege to work with her.

Rumor has it, she may be gracing the stage again this upcoming summer as Mademoiselle Cunégonde in the Operetta "Candide." This is just a rumor though... well, at least at this point. If true, however, it means Anne will be wowing the audiences with the fiendishly difficult aria "Glitter and be Gay." In sheer vocal/technical terms, it is among the most ridiculously challenging coloratura soprano arias. If sung as written throughout (alternative phrases are provided at several points in the score), there are four high E-flats (above high C), two staccato and two sustained.

I've heard her sing it. She has absolutely no difficulty. She is ridiculous.

In any case, the competitive one-acts at East Grand Forks have begun - this year we are doing an insane "epic theatre" one-act on nationalism. It's tough as all get out, but I think the kids will pull it off nicely. Speaking of high school - I also got to experience the Christmas Schooner at Central High School this past week. The Christmas Schooner is a musical written by John Reeger with music and lyrics by Julie Shannon which premiered at Bailiwick Repertory Theater in Chicago, and has run successfully for 12 years. The coolest part of this production was the lyricist Julie Shannon came to Grand Forks to see the show, meet the students, do a talk-back with director Job Christenson and sign some CDs. It was a very cool experience.


Since this post is already 2 miles long, I'll close by giving a heads up to some cool and upcoming events. Right now, Brad Bachmeier has work at the Third Street Galley in an exhibit called Embers. I own a couple Bachmeier's and am excited to purchase my third piece of his work. I am big fan - Brad was the Art Fest Featured Artist two summers ago.

Steve Augustin along with Jinae Swenson and Nicole Schempp are on display at the Dakota Harvest Gallery (in the bakery) until the 6th of January.

Currently on display at the North Dakota Museum of Art is "Moment by Moment: Meditations by the Hand".

However, if music is your "reason for the season" Central High School's holiday concert is the 21st, and there is a Phil Vassar concert at the Alerus Center on the 30th.

Of course, there is always ongoing live music at Suite 49, the Blue Moose Bar and Grill, and Sanders 1907, where "Still Fighting It" will be playing the 29th and 30th.

If you haven't driven through, Christmas in the Park goes until the 31st and is only $5/car.

Of course, New Year's Eve is marked in Grand Forks by the First Night Celebration. First Night Greater Grand Forks is a family-oriented, alcohol-free New Year's Eve celebration that showcases visual and performing arts and cultural activities for people of all ages! First Night showcases a variety of regional talent, both well known and obscure. Performances are held in venues throughout downtown Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. Shuttle buses run continuously to all sites throughout the evening. With the purchase of an admission button, a wide variety of entertainment can be enjoyed all evening ending with a dazzling display of fireworks marking the beginning of the First Night of the New Year. You can visit the First Night CulturePulse page here, or visit their official website.

Also, make note. According to CulturePulse, the following restaurants will be serving food Christmas Day: Blue Moose (open bar @ 7 PM with appetizers only); Great American Grill @ Hilton Garden Inn (7 AM to 12 PM); Peatree Restaurant @ Holiday Inn (hours TBD); Royal Fork (hours TBD). For more information, visit Christmas Dinner.

With that, I'm done. Complete. I'm Tired. I'm not a wabbit! I need some west! ...

Peace::Ben::Team CulturePulse