Archive: Arts & Entertainment

As a psychology double major at Cornell University, Mahnoor Azim Tiwana ’20 has a keen interest in studying the human psyche. Inspired by her second major in performing and media arts and minor in fine arts, Tiwana turned an artistic lens on the study of the mind for her original play “keepsakes.”

“keepsakes" is a psychoanalytical memory play that follows the journey of a young Pakistani woman, Laila, as she learns how to navigate her emotions and overcome the past. A reading of “keepsakes” will stream for free on October 16 at 5:00 p.m., immediately followed by a moderated discussion. Check the Facebook event for streaming details as they become available.

On Tuesday, October 13, a radio production of Sinclair Lewis’ novel “It Can’t Happen Here” will broadcast at 5PM PDT/8PM EDT via Berkeley Rep’s YouTube page. Written in 1935 during the rise of fascism in Europe, Lewis’ darkly satirical “It Can’t Happen Here” follows the ascent of a demagogue who becomes President of the United States by promising to return the country to greatness. In 2016 Berkeley Rep unveiled a new stage adaptation of Lewis’ prescient novel; one week after that production ended, the presidential election roiled our nation. Now, Berkeley Rep reprises that production with the same director and much of the original cast, but this time as a radio play in four episodes, just in time for the 2020 presidential election. The audio drama is being offered free to organizations across the country. The intent for the project is to encourage dialogue and motivate citizens to exercise their civic power and vote.

The Cornell University Department of Performing and Media Arts is honored to join theatres across the nation to help spread the word about this production. Berkeley Rep’s former Artistic Director Tony Taccone, along with screenwriter Bennett S. Cohen, return with the original director, two-time Obie Award winner Lisa Peterson. The trio previously collaborated on “It Can’t Happen Here” when it had its premiere at Berkeley Rep in 2016.

The Kitchen Theatre Company, Central New York’s Off Broadway theatre, announced it’s 2020-2021 season. The Journey to 30 will offer twenty hybrid and online events and culminate in one live, World Premiere production in June of 2021. The season builds towards the theatre’s 30th Anniversary next season.

The Arts Vibrancy Index Report, compiled by SMU DataArts, ranks more than 900 communities across the country, examining the level of supply, demand and government support for the arts in each city. And Ithaca ranked 4th most vibrant in medium-sized communities.

Ithaca had been included in the list in 2017, but dropped off in 2018. Last year it regained a spot on the list, and this year was named 4th most vibrant for medium sized cities.

Communing with the dead, navigating new parenthood, and exploring Y2K teen pop stardom and the Black genius behind it are among the themes of five student-written short plays debuting online October 8–10 for the Cornell University Department of Performing and Media Arts' (PMA) 8th annual 10-Minute Play Festival. The festival, hosted by PMA and the Graduate Researchers in Media and Performing Arts (GRMPA), serves as a laboratory for the development of plays written by both undergraduate and graduate students from across the university.

This year's festival theme is "Fabrication," which aligns with the Society for the Humanities' theme for the 2020–2021 academic year. The theme has dual meanings, explain festival producers Zhen Cheng, PMA PhD student, and Arin Sheehan '22. "On the one hand, it is about concealing the truth; at the same time, it is about creating something new. This duality creates a great range of content, covering diverse topics."

Author Michael Watson and illustrator Theresa Chiechi, the creative team behind the historical Lovecraftian comedy-turned-horror comic book series ITHAQA, are collaborating with Wharton Studio Museum, The History Center in Tompkins County, and Buffalo Street Books on two upcoming virtual events in October, which is Silent Movie Month in Ithaca.

On Saturday, October 17th, The History Center in Tompkins County, along with Wharton Studio Museum and Buffalo Street Books, will be hosting a "How To Make Your Own Comic" virtual workshop for kids. From 10:30am-12pm EST, Watson and Chiechi will lead a fun and creative lesson on how comic books are made, and show kids how to team up with each other to share the writing, illustrating, and lettering responsibilities for their own comic book series.

Grab your best furry (or not so furry) friend for the 11th Annual DeeDee Arrison Concert for the Animals held virtually on Oct. 3, beginning at 5 p.m. The concert features rising stars of the Stradivari Society from various points around the globe – including world-renowned violinists Tim Fain and Francisco Fullana who will be accompanied by Grammy Award-nominated pianist Robert Koenig.

As the name indicates, this free public concert is for the animals — though their human owners are also welcome. It is part of the unique programming of the DeeDee Arrison Holistic and Integrative Wellness Seminar offerings that take place during the annual New York State Veterinary Conference.

Cinemapolis and Cornell Cinema will present a sneak preview of 'Echoes of the Empire: Beyond Genghis Khan' prior to the film’s international release.  Opening night will be on Friday, October 16, and the movie will run one week. Proceeds from this screening will support Cinemapolis and PhotoSynthesis, two long standing arts organizations. There will be a Zoom Q&A with the director and producer.

This movie was made by the team that created the New York Times Critics’ Picks “They Call It Myanmar” and “Angkor Awakens.” These films have been broadcast on the BBC and shown in theaters around the world.

You might expect to find pumpkin spice at your local coffee shop or bakery, but at a radio station? Radio station WYXL-FM, known as Lite Rock 97.3FM, part of the Cayuga Radio Group, is flipping format this fall to…"Pumpkin Spice Radio"!

"People talk about the beauty of the autumn in Ithaca. Everyone loves the taste of those delicious pumpkin spice flavored donuts and drinks…so we decided to change the 'sound' of fall by bringing 'Pumpkin Spice Radio' to Lite Rock" said Dave Ashton, Program Director and Brand Manager, "The sound is sweet, with a dash of spicy", said Ashton.

September 17–26 the Cherry Arts presents The Fan by Carlo Goldoni, a sprawling family-friendly farce from the still-hilarious 18th-century author of The Servant of Two Masters. The production will feature a socially-distanced cast with elaborate, comic COVID masks, and heightened (ridiculous) movement vividly visible to a distanced audience. In a new form we are calling 'lip-sync without lips,' the entire show will be performed to a prerecorded track replete with dialogue, music, and absurd sound effects. The show will be available to be watched online or in (distanced, outdoor, masked) person. A first experiment in 'lip-sync without lips' can be viewed online. The production is directed and in a new adaptation by Artistic Director Samuel Buggeln.

When a shortened on-campus spring semester necessitated the cancellation of in-person events, theatre students in the Cornell University Department of Performing and Media Arts (PMA) did what they do best: they got creative. The team behind the popular semiannual student-run Festival24 quickly changed course and produced an online iteration of the event: Festival24.0. On September 5, Festival24 will once again take the screen for a live event of original works produced in one day.

"At the time we decided to put on Festival24.0, it was already about two months into quarantine and about the time that many theatre events would have been happening on campus, had we not been sent home," explains producer Arin Sheehan '22. "So it was already a very melancholy time, especially for performing arts students."

For those looking for a little color therapy during COVID, Ivy Stevens-Gupta's colorful, abstract paintings will be on view at Agava restaurant starting August 24th. 

Stevens-Gupta's solo exhibition, "Over the Edge: Colorful Abstractions," includes seven large paintings ranging from 24 by 24 to 48 by 48 inches. Each painting extends over the edge of the canvas, creating a 3D look and feel. The exhibit is on display now through December and is open for viewing during normal restaurant hours.