Recent arts coverage:
- Evolutionary biology. Aesthetic determinism. Live action role playing. The Rude Mechs are making a new play again
- Suburban battlefield: Women fight invisible foe in Amie Siegel’s ‘Black Moon’
- In eerie paintings by Ana Fernandez, a house isn’t just a house
More arts coverage | Follow this blog on Twitter @artsinaustin | Read recent arts reviews
Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2009 > July > 23
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Rome, to be built (and destroyed) in day (and a night)
With its impending renovation coming up, Arthouse is staging what promises to be an utterly intriguing all-out art extravaganza with Liz Glynn’s ‘24 Hour Roman Reconstruction Project.’
The super-performance of live installation art takes place Sept. 26. Beginning at midnight, and over the course of 24 hours, more than a millennium of Roman history will be reconstructed through the building of a mini Rome. Using salvaged building materials, found wood, cardboard and other odd stuff will be used, Glynn will direct collaborators and volunteers in the building of Rome which, once it’s completed, will then destroyed.
During the project performers will enact climatic moments of Roman history. Let’s hope they have an Empero Nero fiddling while the Roman Empire collapses.
Also on the schedule are musical performances, poetry readings, scholarly lectures, architectural tours of the historic Arthouse building and, in appropriately Roman Empire fashion, athletic competitions and feasts.
Glynn debuted ‘24 Hour Roman Reconstruction Project’ in Los Angeles.
Glynn’s use of classical antiquity merges with her response to the re-building of post-Katrina New Orleans and war-ravaged Iraq, both situation where the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day” is used as an excuse for the lack of progress.
Architecture reflects life and politics so what better way to tour an entire empire and its people than to try to re-create at 21st-century hype-speed?
And really, what better send-off before Arthouse closes for its $6.5 million renovation? The former theater turned department store turned contemporary arts place will be re-vamped by architects Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis. Read more about the exciting project here.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Visual arts
Q-and-A with Mary Ellen Butler, artistic director of Georgetown Palace Theatre
With today’s austin360 cover story, ‘Prosceniums on the Perimeter,’ we focus on theaters that are far outside Austin’s downtown core or East Austin warehouses. Our surrounding towns and suburbs are busy with community theater.
One the busiest is Georgetown’s Palace Theatre Housed in an historic Art Deco former movie house, the community group stages up to nine shows during its year-long season.
We caught up with Georgetown Palace Theatre artistic director Mary Ellen Butler.
austin360: How long have you been with Georgetown Palace Theatre?
Mary Ellen Butler: We are currently ending my sixth season as the Palace artistic airector with “Big River” and we will be opening our seventh season with “Driving Miss Daisy.”
Prior to being contracted as the artistic director I had volunteered for about 1-1/2 years, assisting with technical support or directing productions.
My theater resume includes an undergrad degree in education with a minor in speech and drama. I have graduate work in musical theater and Shakespeare. I have been involved with theater for 36 years now either directing or producing shows in America or in Europe. I ran the American Musical Theater Co. in Germany for 4 years touring such shows as “Cabaret”, “Little Shop of Horrors” and “The Fantastics.”
What is your goal as artistic director?
Butler: I have a dual focus;
the first part is to produce the best possible theatrical experience for our audiences with the people and materials available.
The second focus is to create a community event center that offers not just theatricals but also events of community interest such as jazz and rock concerts, a fully developed children’s workshop program and education classes for teens and adults who have an interest in furthering their acting and/or technical skills.
What show are you looking forward to presenting soon?
Butler: I am looking forward to a nine-show season next year with “Driving Miss Daisy” kicking it of on Aug. 28th, “Man of La Mancha’ next which brings us to our holiday offering “Annie” which will run for 27 performances from Nov. 20 through Dec. 30.
What’s your favorite moment in this production of ‘Big River’?
Butler: My favorite is when Huckelberry Finn realizes that Jim, the escaped slave, is a human being. Both actors create a wonderful moment that expresses itself in dialogue and song. The complete show is both uplifting and highly enjoyable.
‘Big River’ plays 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 16. See www.georgetownpalace.com for more information.
