Sunday, October 31, 2010

Some News in Brief on the Arts in 2011

Another year kicks off at BMEC  Bathurst and 2011 in the arts is bursting at the seams with the sheer  amount of  STUFF GOIN' ON this year. 
We are going to be giving you all plenty of news and current affairs in this our favourite of industries from  all across the nation to inside these very walls at BMEC HQ
  
On the homegrown front:

"TV Careers, glamorous as they might appear, are built on quicksand" 

Upcoming production 'The Sand Dwellers' written Bathurst local Kay Nankervis is kicking off rehearsals this week under the purple haired direction of BMEC's very own Becky Russell.

Some of us were fortunate enough to catch a preview of this production at the end of last year and to meet some of the colourful, charming and dodgy characters at 'Channel 8', the setting of many a drama.

Stay tuned for more info behind the camera as Channel 8 gear up for not quite another day at the office.

As for some news further afield:
2010 SYDNEY THEATRE AWARDS NEXT WEEK: Nominations have been announced for the Sydney Theatre Awards for 2010, which will be presented at a gala ceremony next Monday 17 January at 6pm at the Paddington RSL. Leading the list of nominations with eight nominations each are two Belvoir productions, The Diary of a Madman (Best Mainstage Production, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Stage Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Score or Sound Design) and Namatjira, co-produced with Big hART (Best Mainstage Production, Best Director, Best New Australian Work, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Newcomer, Best Lighting Design and Best Score/Sound Design). Measure for Measure, a Belvoir production, receives seven nominations including Best Mainstage Production, and STC’s Uncle Vanya receives six, including Best Mainstage Production. In Musical Theatre categories, The Sapphires leads with four nominations, with Jersey Boys following with three. Nominations are spread across 35 different productions produced in Sydney during the calendar year of 2010.

JASON ROBERT BROWN GETS INTIMATE WITH RACHAEL BECK: Following sell-out concerts in New York, Europe and the West End, the Tony Award-winning composer, Jason Robert Brown will perform The One Night Only Tour in Sydney (7 Mar), Melbourne (28 Feb), Adelaide (16 Mar), Brisbane (11 Mar) and Perth (9 Mar). Joined by special guest, Rachael Beck, one of Australia’s brightest stars of musical theatre, the pianist, singer, and critically acclaimed composer will be performing brand new, previously unheard material, as well as a selection of songs from his shows; Songs for a New World, Parade, The Last 5 Years and 13. Presented in Australia by Your Management International, Producer, Jeremy Youett said, “It’s a thrill to be bringing one of the worlds most acclaimed and prolific contemporary composers of Music Theatre out to Australia to perform a series of concerts across the country with one of the greatest talents of the Australian stage and screen, Rachael Beck. Jason is also excited about the opportunity to work with our home grown talent in a series of Master Classes being held across the country while he is here.” CHECK OUT: www.yourmanagement.biz

GUITAR LEGEND SANTANA RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA:
This March, one of the greatest musicians and legendary guitarists of our generation, Carlos Santana, will ignite Australian & New Zealand shores. Toting a style that defies definition, immediately recognisable, yet unlike any other, Santana’s fusion of Latin rock, blues, soul and jazz comes in full swing on stage in a way that transcends time and the limits of genre typecasting. The GUITAR HEAVEN TOUR begins Sunday 13th March at Sandalford Estate Swan Valley in Perth, followed by the rest of the country. For forty years and as many albums, Santana has sold more than 90 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. To date, Santana has won ten Grammy® Awards, including a record-tying nine for a single project, 1999’s Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for Smooth). In 1998, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the web page induction notes read, “Guitarist Carlos Santana is one of rock’s true virtuosos and guiding lights.”

TOMMY TIERNAN RETURNS AFTER SOLD OUT CONCERTS:
Multi Award Winning Irish Superstar Comic, Tommy Tiernan, returns to Australia in March/April following his hugely successful sold out Australian tour in 2010. In fact, due to his popularity in Australia the new tour has almost doubled in size to the last. A fearless force of energy, Tiernan is one of the few comics to take his audience on a genuine emotional journey elevating the soul through rich, honest laughs. Tiernan has an instinctive way of crafting words to bring his anecdotes to vivid life and make the jokes truly resonate. Standing at 5ft 9inches tall in his socks and weighing in at 78kg, this Gemini contrarian is back with his irreverent mix of the wholesome and the totally inappropriate. Performing like a homeless preacher high on the wine of laughter, Tiernan promises both the sacred and the profane wrapped up in a spirit of recklessness. CHECK OUT: www.tommytiernan.com