Archive for the ‘Music’ Category
Cirque Dreams comes to NOLA
See below for info on local musician auditions for Jammin with Cirque Dreams. See ya in NOLA!
Sharon Denise Talbot
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***MEDIA ALERT***CALENDAR LISTING***
Jammin’ with Cirque Dreams Contest CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION offers a local musician the opportunity to perform with the WORLD RENOWNED PRODUCTION
WHAT: New Orleans is known for its music and talent so come blow your horn, slap the bass, tickle the ivories, shred your axe or whistle, snap or tap your way into the experience of a lifetime by Jammin’ with Cirque Dreams. Bring your rhythm, soul and talent to the Mahalia Jackson Theatre and win an opportunity to accompany the world renowned, international artistry of Cirque Dreams when it illuminates New Orleans with its newest and grandest production of Cirque Dreams Illumination. One lucky musician will be selected to perform live on stage as part of the national tour launch of Cirque Dreams Illumination and integrate their style of music into this multi-cultural, diversified genre of cirque, music, theatre and stage spectacle beyond imagination. The winner will train locally with the Cirque Dreams design team for their debut performance and will receive six complimentary tickets to the show in which they appear.
WHEN: Saturday, September 18th, 2010 11:00AM-2:00PM WHERE: Mahalia Jackson Theater, 1419 Basin Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116 (Theatre Lobby)
WHO: The audition is limited to the first 100 attendees and is open to performers of all ages. Participants will be given two minutes to impress the judges with their musical skills and must provide any equipment required for their audition. A sound system with CD & digital input will be provided. Complementary parking will be available in the Mahalia Jackson parking lot.
WHY: This special event celebrates the return of Broadway Across America to New Orleans and the first show of the 2010-11 season. Tickets for Cirque Dreams Illumination are affordably priced stating at $25.00. Cirque Dreams Illumination will perform eight shows at the Mahalia Jackson Theater September 28 through October 3, 2010.
Tickets for Cirque Dreams Illumination are available for purchase at the Mahalia Jackson box office located in Armstrong Park at 801 N. Rampart Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. Tickets are also available at all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-982-2787 (ARTS). Information on the Broadway Across America – New Orleans series and venue policies and accommodations may be obtained online at www.mahaliajacksontheater.com. Group Sales information, including group discounts for 20 or more, is available by calling 504-287-0372. Box Office information is available at 504-287-0351. For more information on Cirque Dreams Illumination, please visit: www.cirqueproductions.com Become a Fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/cirquedreams Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cirquedreams Check out our Videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/cirquedreams New Orleans Theatre Association is a 501( c ) 3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to attract and present the finest theatrical and performing arts attractions available in New Orleans. NOTA is also dedicated to financial and technical support of local non-profit institutions in New Orleans which are dedicated to the furtherance of theatrical and musical education and production. Arts Center Enterprises – New Orleans, LLC – (ACE) is a theatrical facility management company with more than 30 years of experience in the field of professional performing arts facility management and theatrical property development. Allen Becker, together with his partners David Anderson, Gary Markowitz and Kirk B. Feldmann have succeeded in establishing a successful business model that combines an entrepreneurial operating strategy, with a wealth of industry relationships which result in active, vibrant, well-managed and self-sustaining performing arts facilities. Not only has this business model served to uplift communities through the presentation of powerful live performances, but it has served to also provide economic stimulus into urban corridors in need of revitalization.
Please visit ACE New Orleans on line at www.mahaliajacksontheater.com. Broadway Across America is owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman). Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities.
Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Broadway Across America most recently produced the Broadway productions of HAIR, WEST SIDE STORY and Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS. Upcoming productions include MINSKY’S, PROMISES, PROMISES, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET and the West End production of BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S. Touring productions include Nickelodeon’s STORYTIME ADVENTURES featuring Dora the Explorer and DREAMGIRLS. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
Treme CoProducer David Mills Dies
The new HBO series the Treme is set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. For those that lived it, it is more than a TV show, it is real life. Nothing brings ”real life” home more than death. I was background (an extra) in a Cafe Du Monde scene for the new HBO series Treme’ yesterday. So I was there when co-producer David Mills collapsed during filming. He was taken away by ambulance but we were not really sure what had happened. I just found out he passed away as the result of a brain aneurysm. David Mills was an Emmy-award-winning writer for HBO’s The Wire and co-executive producer of the upcoming drama Treme, set in New Orleans. He was 48 years old. Rest in peace David. See the attached article for more info.
by Sharon Denise Talbot
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118017128.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
New Orleans Treme and Google Fiber
Kudos to John Goodman and everyone involved in the “Treme’” project they are really doing an awesome job of promoting New Orleans- the city, the people, the music, and the Louisiana film industry. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to be an extra on the set of Treme’. I am even more excited about the future of New Orleans and Louisiana.
Catch the premiere of HBO’s Treme’ on April 11th.
By Sharon Denise Talbot
Bring Google fiber to New Orleans from Andrew Larimer on Vimeo.
Lenny Kravitz at Gallery 713
Alexis Marceaux
New Orleans and Music are virtually synonymous. I love music, all kinds. I have my favorites like everybody else, but one of the things I love about New Orleans is there is music everywhere. I knew early on that I would never be a “Star” since I have no musical talent to speak of, so it is no wonder that I am in awe of those who do. After lunch one afternoon my husband handed me a CD on his way out to an appointment and said “A client gave me this. It’s her daughter. Listen to it and see if you want to catch her live performance later. She is playing in the Quarter tonight.” I figured I’d listen to the CD first, before deciding.
So after seeing him out, I picked up the CD again. “Alexis Marceaux” I read. “Pretty name”, I thought. The picture on the cover showed an attractive young lady lying in the grass. “Cute picture” was my next thought. I guessed her age to be very early 20’s at best. Still unsure this would be something I ( in my old age) could relate to, I popped the CD in and “pretty and cute” were not what I was thinking as this big amazing voice filled the room. Wow, could I relate and I definitely had to reevaluate. “Powerful” and “Beautiful” were just the beginning. Of course I was going to see her perform live. Alexis’ “Elevator Ride” had just become my new favorite song.
The revelations kept coming. Alexis, young as she might be, was no new kid on the block. She had played her first public venue at 7 years old and had written her first song at 13. This young singer-songwriter is also an accomplished piano, harmonica and guitar player. “Talented.” A New Orleans native, Alexis and her family had lost everything in Hurricane Katrina and had to start completely over. Katrina might have taken her home, but not her dream to play music. “Gutsy.” Her dream to play music in New Orleans, a city she loves. “ Heart.”
Check out Alexis Marceaux, the young lady with a powerful, big, beautiful voice who is also a multi-talented performer with guts and heart. I have seen and heard “Stars” with less to recommend them. I should have known better than to judge a book or, in this case, a CD by its cover. Find out for yourself. Alexis plays live venues all over the greater New Orleans area and is scheduled to perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in April. For more about Alexis and her scheduled appearances visit her website: http://alexismarceaux.com/
By Sharon Denise Talbot
Eric Clapton coming to the New Orleans Arena in 2010
By Keith Spera, The Times-Picayune
December 07, 2009, 4:09PM
Eric Clapton is coming to New Orleans in 2010.
Guitar virtuoso Eric Clapton is scheduled to perform at the New Orleans Arena on Saturday, March 6, 2010. Opening the show is Roger Daltrey, the singer of The Who.
Tickets go on sale this Saturday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster and on Monday, Dec. 14 at the arena box office. Tickets are priced at $51.50, $72.50 and $91.50 plus service charges.
The New Orleans stop is one of only 11 North American dates announced so far for Clapton’s 2010 headlining tour. These dates are in addition to three shows with Jeff Beck and a European tour with Steve Winwood.
On recent tours, Clapton’s band has included at least one other guitarist. But according to Clapton’s Web site, he will be the only guitarist on stage for these shows, backed by drummer Steve Gadd, bassist Willie Weeks, keyboardists Chris Stainton and Walt Richmond, and singers Michelle John and Sharon White.
The Clapton announcement adds to the tally of major concerts coming to the New Orleans area in 2010. If early trends are any indication, next year may be as busy a concert season locally as was 2009. In ’09, the New Orleans Arena presented more concerts than any year in its decade-long history.
http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2009/12/eric_clapton_coming_to_the_new.html
KuKoo for Krewe du Vieux
Mardi Gras is not just a day but a whole season in the Big Easy. Even on the other side of the state where I grew up we had heard about the fabulous New Orleans Mardi Gras. Like I mentioned before, I am from a small town, the kind of town where our Mardi Gras consisted of a trail ride, chicken chasing and a gumbo and dance at the Catholic Hall. A one day event.
Imagine how thrilled I was to attend my first New Orleans Mardi Gras parade and know this was only the beginning a two week plus extravaganza of parades and parties. I was lucky because I had hard-core native New Orleanians to show me the ropes (and the ladders) of parade going NOLA style. Over the years I have done the balcony suite on Bourbon, reviewing stand on St. Charles, and fought the crowds on Canal with the best of them. What I hadn’t done was the Krewe du Vieux parade. Well, I can now check that off my “to du” list. 
The full name for this Krazy Krewe is the Krewe du Vieux Carre. The parade starts out in the Marigny and makes its way through the Vieux Carre or French Quarter. It is one of the first parades of the New Orleans Mardi Gras season. This walking parade uses mule or human drawn handmade floats as well as showcasing a large number of New Orleans’ best marching bands. It is noted for wild satirical and adult topics, nothing is off limits, everyone is fair game and it is definitely not one for the kids. Just to give you an idea, in 2006, less than six months after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, Krewe du Vieux was the first Mardi Gras parade to come through the streets of New Orleans. The theme that year was “C’est Levee”. I mean just take a look at their mission statement:
Krewe du Vieux Mission
The Krewe du Vieux is a non-profit organization dedicated to the historical and traditional concept of a Mardi Gras parade as a venue for individual creative expression and satirical comment. It is unique among all Mardi Gras parades in the city because it alone carries on the old traditions of Carnival celebrations, by using decorated mule-drawn floats with satirical themes, accompanied by costumed revelers dancing in the streets to the sounds of jazzy street musicians. We believe in exposing the world to the true nature of Mardi Gras—and in exposing ourselves to the world.
Put this one on your parade planner for next year. It is Mardi Gras madness at its kraziest, Krewe du Vieux Krazy that is. One Krewe member summed it all up for me ‘‘the devil made ‘em do it!” 
By Sharon Denise Talbot
Doreen – The Clarinet Queen
Where can you go to catch a world class musical performance with plenty of room to dance? The 700 block of Royal Street is where it’s happening. You’ve got Rouses’ (the old A&P) grocery, a regular stop for French Quarter visitors and locals alike. Across the street is Forever New Orleans, and Alex Beard recently opened an art gallery a few doors down on the corner of Royal and Pirates Alley (you can actually watch him paint in the window sometime, very cool). Gallery 713, a local favorite, is opposite him. But the crowd in the street is gathered around a group of local street musicians known to frequent this block. They are here to see the Queen. 
Doreen and her husband Lawrence Ketchens have been international ambassadors for New Orleans music and culture on radio and televisions around the world. While they are available for weddings and special events, Doreen and her band of jazz musicians have been bringing their brand of music to the Crescent City streets for twenty years or so. A fixture on this stretch of Royal they will have even the most rhythm challenged tapping their feet and moving to the beat.
As Doreen says in one of her songs “I’m the Queen of the clarinet, been around the world ain’t heard better yet” and I say “Amen!” The group has several CD’s available for purchase. You can visit their website: www.doreensjazz.com
These show stealers will capture your hearts with just one stanza of their rendition of “Little Liza Jane” as they did mine. It is obvious these amazing performers play for the absolute love of it because their heart and soul are in every note.
Stop by and hang out with Doreen, Lawrence and the crew next time you find yourself on Royal Street. Hey y’all, don’t forget to leave a little something in the bucket!
By S.D. Talbot
