Cultural works series begin flow

    (PNAN) – A special aura surrounds the communities in New Jersey, one that has been supported, nourished and driven by not only its founded state Arts Council in 1966, but also the hundreds of cultural entities throughout the state, including at the federal level. The Arts in all of its creative genres, including theater that can be an art of storytelling even with music combined, forms an artistic feast for goers to experience a lively adventure when portrayed by talented performers.

      “The Arts Council is proud to participate in this national effort to increase access to and awareness of some of the greatest American artists and works that have helped shape our cultural heritage,” said New Jersey Arts Council Executive Director Steve Runk. Arts events across the state to be included in the series, “American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius,” is an initiative designed by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to bring the best of America’s cultural and artistic legacy to communities across the country.

     For 2010, the upcoming American Masterpieces events begin with Buddy Guy on Friday, October 22 at 8:00 pm at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, with a look at the career of this internationally acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning blues musician. Eric Clapton once said,” He was for me what Elvis was probably like for other people.”

     Born in 1936 in Louisiana in 1936, Guy moved to Chicago in 1957, and was soon “the” session player for Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, and Sonny Boy Williamson. In 1967, he began his marks with, “I Left My Blues in San Francisco”; 1968 “A Man and the Blues”; and recordings with the late harp master Junior Wells, including others later like: 1991 “Damn Right”, “I’ve Got the Blues”, 1993 “Feels Like Rain”, and 1994 “Slippin’ In”, which all won Grammy Awards.

     Best known as the author of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) was America’s Lewis Carroll. The East Lynne Theatre Company in Cape May will present a new theatrical version by Gayle Stahlhuth of his work, “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus,” beginning on Friday, November 26. Other dates are November 27, December 5, 10, and 11.

     This 1902 classic will be presented with one actor/storyteller portraying 30+ characters. This play traces Claus’ life from his boyhood in a magic forest to immortality. Along the way, Claus invents toys and devises a sleigh drawn by reindeer that are allowed to leave the magic forest once a year on Christmas Eve. By happy accident, children learn to hang their stockings by the fireplace, and Claus’ old friends from the forest provide him with helpers, the elves.

     On Saturday, December 11 at 8:00 pm, Symphony in C in Camden presents “Brilliantly Baroque,” is a concert that features, “Brandenburg Gate” by American composer Paul Moravec, is a contemporary concerto grosso for chamber orchestra, an interesting juxtaposition to the more traditional works on the program. The Symphony’s most intimate concert of the season features emotionally moving works ranging from the graceful Vivaldi, to the heart-wrenching and sublime Pergolesi, as well as Moravec’s congenial post-modern tribute to Bach.

     Moravec, who is the winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in Music, has also received the Composer Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Rockefeller Foundation fellowship, and the Charles Ives and Goddard Lieberson Awards in American Composition. He has composed over one hundred chamber, orchestra, choral, lyric, film, and electro-acoustic compositions.

     The 2010-2011 New Jersey Season of American Masterpieces represents diverse artists and disciplines including dance, music, theatre and visual arts in locations statewide. All of the events pay homage to master artists of yesterday and today.  For those that start in January 2011, see: www.jerseyarts.com or look for them in another report from Palette News Arts Network on this Art-to-Art Palette Journal news channel.