Beverly Arts Center

Spring Brings Blossoming Talents to BAC Stage

2012-02-29T15:14:00.000-08:00

Spring is drawing near and the dance and theatre departments are blossoming as well.

Our BACStage Performance Company performed in February for the Saturday open house at the BAC. They did the opening number from THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, which will be performing on March 24 and 25. The Millie cast is made up of 44 children ranging in age from 8 to 14. You won’t want to miss this musical comedy set in 1922.

Our younger cast of 6 to 9 year olds will bring FABULOUSLY FUNNY FRACTURED FAIRY TALES to the stage on March 17 and 18. This small cast will dazzle you with silly takes on famous tales.

Tickets are currently available for both shows. Be sure and reserve your seats early!

BACStage Performance Company is currently working on a new original show. Remember they are available to perform for free in and around the community. Contact Shellee at theater@beverlyartcenter.org for more information.

The dance program is revving up for the BAC SPRING DANCE CONCERT on June 2 & 3. Costumes have been ordered and instructors are beginning new choreography for the show. The dance concert offers something for everyone, including performances in ballet, tap, jazz and modern. Dancers range in age from 3 to 70+, and music styles are varied and inspiring. Tickets will go on sale to the public at noon on May 20.

After a delightful run of IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY this past December, our professional theater series will continue this spring. The cast has just been chosen for THE 25^TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. Performances will take place May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13. Local boy, David Boyle and Grace Lethiot will return to the stage after wowing their audiences in Wonderful Life. Locals Freda Humble and Chris Galvan will be joining the new cast.

Six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is a PG-13 hilarious tale of overachievers' angst chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The show's Tony Award winning creative team has created the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time. Don’t miss the chance to see professional theatre at its best in our own south side backyard!

This summer the youth theatre program will be bringing three great shows to the stage offering something for every age and ability. RUGRATS: A LIVE ADVENTURE! will feature ages 6 to 9. The show will perform on July 21 and 22. Since premiering on Nickelodeon in 1991, the RUGRATS have become a unique classic hit. Kids love seeing a show about life from a kid’s point of view. Life is one big adventure after another for this group of pals. Usually led by fearless leader Tommy, the RUGRATS turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. The RUGRATS’ world is one that exists below our knees; here mundane things and events turn into grand, comic adventures. A place where everything is bigger than life, and the everyday is the perfect setting for adventure!

THE MUSICAL ADVENTURE OF FLAT STANLEY, JR will highlight our 10 to 12 year olds. Performances will take place July 14 and 15. The beloved children's book written by Jeff Brown in 1964 has become a literary and pop cultural phenomenon - delighting readers and travelers all around the world. And now, MTI has taken everyone's favorite two-dimensional hero and given him a new life on the stage. Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, every day, run-of-the-mill ten-year-old: normal mom and dad, normal little brother, normal life. That's just the problem...for Stanley, life is too normal. He wants to travel the world, do something amazing, something no one's ever seen before. Careful what you wish for, Stanley! One night, the bulletin board on the wall above Stanley's bed comes loose and falls - right on top of Stanley! The next morning, Stanley Lambchop wakes up flat. Not just a little flat...really, REALLY flat! In a whirlwind musical travelogue, Stanley - the ultimate exchange student - scours the globe for a solution to his unusual problem. He's stamped, posted and cancelled from Hollywood to France to Honolulu and beyond. And whether he's thwarting a robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, or 'hanging ten' off the coast of Hawaii, Stanley is closing in on his goal of being a three-dimensional boy once more.

Our summer will close with our 13 to 22 age group burning up the stage with the new hit LEGALLY BLONDE, THE MUSICAL. Sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take "no" for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

So whether you choose to be on the stage or in the audience, we hope to see you participating in all the great theatre and dance programs coming up!

-- Shellee Frazee

What You Need to Know: Evolving Artist Competition and Exhibition

2012-02-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

It’s exciting being an artist! If you make any kind of art, I’m sure you are familiar with staying up late for final touches on a drawing or painting; cropping and framing a favorite photo; working hard to meet a deadline; writing that darn artist statement; and finally, the best part, celebrating your accomplishments with friends and family at the reception! Well, that’s what 37 local artists did in late 2011 in preparation for this year’s Beverly Arts Center’s (BAC) 4th Annual Evolving Artist Competition and Exhibition. Competition is hosted by the BAC Young Adult Board (YAB), and features evolving, or emerging, artists between the ages of 21-35. YAB's mission is to expand the BAC audience base by targeting young adults in this age range, as well as to gain fresh, dynamic and innovative suggestions from this targeted group.

What truly sets the Evolving Artist Competition apart from all others is that one participating artist walks away in the end with their very own solo show! Last year, Beverly artist Dylan Rabe won the solo show for his body of oil paintings. Rabe’s solo show, Bad Actors, was showcased in July 2011 in the BAC’s theater gallery and was a great success, bringing in at least 60 art viewers to the reception. This year’s talented winner is Anthony Adcock of Hickory Hills (pictured above). He also won 1st Place for his piece Klein & Column Prints (oil mounted on linen). Look for Adcock’s solo show June 29-July 29. Exhibit and reception details coming soon.

The 4th Annual Evolving Artist Competition and Exhibition honored artists with a closing reception at the BAC on Saturday, Jan. 7. Walls full of art, a great, friendly crowd, and an impressive spread of munchies donated by Epic Catering all came together to help celebrate this great exhibit! Photos of the closing reception can be found on YAB’s Facebook page. This year’s Evolving Artist winners include: Best of Show, Jennifer Cronin for Untitled No. 3 (pictured); 1st Place, Anthony Adcock for Klein & Column Prints; 2nd Place, Alex Bauwens for Portrait of Sarah; 3rd Place, Dena Lyons for Weeping Cherry; Solo show winner, Anthony Adcock, as mentioned above; and Honorable Mentions: Andrew Baritz for Six Corners; Nicholas P. Decker for Oh the Bridges I’ve Burned; David Krolikowski for Salem Hanging of Ann; and Chris Radek for BBQ In Iceland.

Other event sponsors include Odyssey Cruises and Chicago Artists Coalition. Michael McNicholas and Dalton Brown, both Chicago artists, judged the show. Thank you to our artists, judges, and sponsors for making the 4th Annual Evolving Artists Competition and Exhibition such a success! Congratulations to all artists and winners!

Join the fun! The 5th Annual Evolving Artist Competition and Exhibition updates and call for entries expected early Fall 2012.

By Amanda Kaliski Alvarez

BAC Young Adult Board

There's Something for You at the School of the Arts

2012-02-01T11:53:00.000-08:00

The School of the Arts at the Beverly Arts Center is ready to Spring into the arts with an “all school” Open House Saturday, Feb. 4, from 10am -1pm. Activities, performances and demonstrations will take place in the Atrium and school tours will be conducted each hour.

A hands-on art activity, Artist Trading Cards, will be provided for all and a special Pre-Art project will be available for our littlest visitors. Our music students and our BACStage Performance Company, will present their talents and our visual arts instructors will be on hand with demonstrations and to answer any questions.

Please join us and visit our wonderful fine arts facility and Spring into the arts at the BAC!

Our first savings days will be featured on CYBER-Bowl Weekend, Feb. 4-5 – 24 hours a day, online only -- to all our patrons for Spring classes. This is a great opportunity for members to save 25% and non-members to save 15% off the regular prices in our Spring class catalogue. You can find the complete class schedule online at http://www.beverlyartcenter.org/_classes/classes.php .

We are offering some interesting new classes this Spring, for students of all ages. If your little one has not attended school yet, our Together Classes will offer you both a chance to learn and have fun in a new environment. Come out and make some art or play with clay on Saturday mornings. Our Pre-School of the Arts is another great way to get “brand new students” used to school. We accept students all year for this unique arts-based program.

Creative Kids for the 7-12 year old set is an open media class where students can experience many art making methods. If your student has been in class with us, many of our classes will continue with new and exciting projects and welcome both the new and returning students.

Our Dance and Music classes have been working hard all year and are now preparing for the Spring Dance Concert and the Spring Musical Recital. Please be sure to register your students to secure your place in class and in the performances. There are also dance and music classes offered for new students to the BAC.

Adult artists are invited to join us for the new Painting Studio and Drawing Studio classes as well as Creating the Landscape class all offered during the day with the best light!

If you are not familiar with the art of Warm Glass Fusing, consider one of the workshops and create some beautiful home accents or gifts this Spring.

Do your artists have a week off for Spring Break?? The BAC has lots of options for you!

Spring Break Art Camps, Chess Scholars Camp and the Street Smart Percussion Workshop might just be “the ticket” for fun and learning this Spring.

Check out the listing for our Summer Arts Experience Camp to see the dates and themes for this upcoming popular event. Registration begins April 1. Send an email to art@beverlyartcenter.org to request our summer camp brochure.

And, of course, we are all ready to get fit before Summer. The new equipment in our Pilates studio is an exciting addition to our program. We have Tai Chi for all levels and a special class for Stress Relief. Child Play Yoga offers children a chance to work on balance, flexibility and coordination while working out excess energy in a positive, uplifting environment. Power Yoga, Zumba and Swing and Stretch will really get you going!

We also offer, Bridge, Film Studies, the BAC Writers Group, Glee Club, Private Computer lessons, Photo Walking Workshops and much, much more.

I like to say, “the fun never stops” at the Beverly Arts Center. We have so many wonderful classes, camps, teachers and activities each session, it is hard to list them all. Please check out our website for all the details and register, online or in person.

I hope you will join us to experience the joy and accomplishment that participation in the arts will provide.

Hope to see you to Spring into the arts!

Sincerely,
Kris O’Reilly, Director, School of the Arts

Bidding, Reading and Saving in February

2012-01-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

Don’t Miss the Auction Action!

A trip for two to Miami and one of the world’s most important art show. An exclusive dinner party for 20 prepared by one of Chicago’s finest chefs and served in a suspended glass room. An “everyone’s Irish” package that includes passes to the Chicago Irish Film Festival and South Side Irish Family Fest as well as access to a special viewing area for the return of the South Side Irish Parade. A chance to watch a Chicago Bulls game from box seats.

Whether you’re a traveling art lover, a sociable gourmet, a family that loves to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, or a Chicago sports fan, there is an experience package just right for you at For the Love of Art, the 41^st Annual Auction, Sat., Feb. 11, at the Beverly Arts Center! Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event will feature a professional live auction offering an outstanding array of unique experience packages and items.

Bid on something romantic, something adventurous, something sporty or even something crazy! The point is to have fun (which you will! The auction is also a great party!) while you support one of the region’s most important fine arts institutions.

A Serious Note: The Auction is the BAC’s only fundraiser, and the Center depends on the funds raised each year to meet its operating expenses. Even if you aren’t in a position to bid on big items, just buying a ticket and joining the fun helps us meet our fund raising goal. You’ll rock to music by the Smiley Tillmon Band, enjoy savories by Leona’s and sweets by Favia Cafe, and maybe make a visit or two to the cash bar.

Last year’s auction was sold out – buy your ticket right now at https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?e=3b09d212d441dbc4c4c8bfca59ad9629&t=tix.

Now, go “like” the auction on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/BACAuction.

Get it in Writing

The winter issue of BAC Street Journal is being printed now and will be available starting this weekend at the BAC. Just 5 bucks! The authors, artists and photographers featured in this issue do some outstanding work!

Karen Doornebos, author of “Definitely Not Mr. Darcy,” gave us permission to print the first chapter of her delightful, Jane Austen-inspired book. Her mom, Judie Anderson, former art director for the Chicago Tribune, provided the illustration that runs with Karen’s chapter.

Poet Gregg Shapiro’s poems “’76” and “I Don’t Kill the Spider” are also featured in the magazine. Gregg has published extensively and his book, “Gregg Shapiro: 77” will be released soon by Souvenir Spoon Press.

Look for “Bears Hunting” by one of our favorite short story writers, Grazina Smith. Grazina’s beautifully crafted work has been published in several literary magazines and has been recognized with prizes, including a University of Chicago Writer’s Studio student prize.

The Chicago Reader beat BAC Street Journal to the punch by publishing a stunning photo by Gary Eckstein on their B Side front cover Jan. 5, the photo issue which Gary also submitted to BSJ. Don’t worry – we’re publishing two of Gary’s other photos. Check out Gary’s Reader photo at http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/our-fifth-annual-photo-issue/Content?oid=5346743 and you can his photo recently featured on the WBEZ website at http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/08/25/139941478/your-photo-of-the-day-puerto-rican-pozo.

Stop in at the BAC and buy your BAC Street Journal soon! Writers, photographers and illustrators are invited to submit work for the spring issue. Email bacstreetjournal@gmail.com for submission guidelines and information.

Adult writers who are serious about improving their craft are invited to join the BAC writers critique group. They meet on the 2^nd and 4^th Monday of the month (only once a month in summer), 7pm. Bring a work to read and have critiqued! It’s a drop in session with a fee of $5 ($3 for BAC members). There’s also an optional writing assignment for each session. This is the assignment for Feb. 13: You wake up one morning in a place you don't recognize, wearing unfamiliar clothing, and with a lot of money in your pocket, though the money is not U.S. currency. What's the story?

Super Cyber Sale Weekend

For every session of the School of the Arts, the BAC holds a special online-only cyber sale. On Superbowl weekend – 12 a.m. Feb. 4 through 11:59 p.m. Feb. 5 – BAC members can save 25% on regular non-member prices and non-members can save 15%. Register at www.beverlyartcenter.org, then go watch the game!
For people who aren't familiar with the BAC's School of the Arts and it's outstanding offering for all ages, join us at an open house Sat., Feb. 4 10am to 1pm. There will be tours of the Center, class demonstrations and a chance to make your own art project!

See you at the BAC!

-- Grace Kuikman

Dance & Theater Programs

2012-01-25T08:06:00.000-08:00

The dance and theatre programs finished off 2011 on a high note. The theatre program produced our first professional show in quite some time. It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play put everyone in the holiday spirit. Our professional cast, made up of David Boyle, Rob Fagin, Grace Lethiot, Asia Downing, Dan Hernandez, Anna Zordan, and Amy Kazin, were outstanding and pure joy on stage. We had a wonderful children’s choir made up of BAC students to add to the merriment. The girls’ choir included MacKenzie Kazin, Maggie Junkins, Kate Junkins, Rhiannon O’Keefe, Lily Darche, Fiona Fleming, Isabeau Pogue, and Kendra Byrd.

The theatre program is currently working on two new youth productions. Our 5 to 9 year olds are rehearsing Fabulously Funny Fractured Fairy Tales to be performed on March 17^th and 18^th. Our older thespians have just begun rehearsals for Thoroughly Modern Millie, Junior to be performed March 24^th and 25^th. Watch the blog in February for more news and pictures of these upcoming shows. We will also be announcing our next professional show. It’s going to be big and you won’t want to miss it!

Holiday Mixed Nuts Winter Dance Concert allowed our dancers from age 3 through adult to show what they have been up to in class since the fall session began. Two full scale productions highlighted ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop and African styles of dance and included a majority of the students in our program. Holiday music set the tone and added a little extra cheer to the holiday season.

Our Spring Dance Concert will take place June 2^nd and 3^rd.

Mark your calendars now!

Shellee Frazee

Theater & Dance Coordinator

The New Year Begins at BAC

2012-01-06T11:23:00.000-08:00

2012 is off to a great start at the BAC.

We rang in the new year at our annual New Year’s Eve party with a champagne toast at midnight after an evening of wonderful food from Wishbone, a show, music and dancing.

January is off to a busy start with the School of the Arts classes starting the week of Jan. 8. As always, there is a terrific schedule of fine arts classes in all disciplines and for all ages. For people who’ve resolved to improve their health and fitness, the BAC is offering two new dance fitness classes: Zumba and Raise the Barre Fitness. There are new classes in other areas, too. The upcoming film studies class examines Politics in Film. See the complete School of the Arts schedule at http://www.beverlyartcenter.org/_classes/index.php.

Now is a great time to join the BAC’s 555 Club! Current members will be inviting friends and colleagues to join them in this important commitment to supporting the Beverly Arts Center. A 555 Club reception will be held Saturday, Feb. 25. All new and current 555 Club members will be invited to the reception and given complimentary tickets to enjoy The Second City Touring Company’s show, “Laugh Out Loud” immediately following the reception.

“The Beverly Arts Center is one of the foundations of the neighborhood,” said 555 Club member Mary Ann Furlong. “I can’t imagine what the neighborhood would be like without it.”

Joining the 555 Club is easy – sign up online at www.beverlyartcenter.org or call 773-445-3838, ext. 208, or email Kate Coughlin at kicoughlin@comcast.net. Members can choose to make their payments annually or monthly (only $41.67 a month) through direct withdrawal.

The 41^st Annual BAC Auction – For the Love of Art – is coming up on Sat., Feb. 11. Planned and presented by the BAC Auxiliary Board, this is not just the BAC’s most important fundraiser, it’s one of the Center’s best parties! The auction action charges up the night with fun and friendly competition. Silent and live auction items command brisk bidding – the terrific dining, recreation, entertainment and sports packages are among an outstanding selection of goods, services and more! The evening includes a hors d’oeuvres buffet of sweets and savories, cash bar and live music, as well as a chance to see all your friends and make some new friends. Get Auction details at http://www.beverlyartcenter.org/_events/index.php.

Winter entertainment is warming up at the BAC! There some seats available for the Ronnie Baker Brooks Birthday Bash, a night of great Chicago blues and fun! Tributosaurus as Johnny Cash is sold out. If you’re a Tributosaurus fan, get your tickets right away the next time they’re booked at the BAC – all their shows sell out here and fast!

The Rod Stewart Concert Experience will rock the BAC on Feb. 18, and Second City’s touring company returns to our stage Feb. 24 and 25 with its hilarious Laugh Out Loud Tour. Keep up on the BAC’s main stage events and buy tickets at http://www.beverlyartcenter.org/_mainstage/index.php.

BAC Street Journal issue # 6 will be coming out soon. Stay tuned!

Make a resolution to become a frequent visitor to – and member of – the BAC in 2012. Happy New Year!

Grace Kuikman

BAC Communications

2011-12-14T14:58:00.000-08:00

But first, as we like to say at the BAC, "The fun never stops!", so before our 2012 Winter class session begins, Jan. 8th, consider visiting the BAC during Winter Break Week.

We are holding our Winter Art Camp that will run for 3 full days of fun, art and antics on Dec. 27th, 28th and 29th from 9:30-3pm. Campers ages 5-12, should bring a lunch and "dress for mess". This 3 day camp will provide classes in visual arts, computer arts, music, dance and theater as well as special events and movies. Campers will enjoy games and crafts as they spend some quality time with the arts.

Hello from the Beverly Arts Center, School of the Arts. We have had a great year with a lot of new class offerings, new workshops, new teachers and new students, and are looking forward to 2012.

We also have partnered with the Chess Scholars program to offer a Chess Camp here at the BAC. This camp will run Monday-Friday, Dec. 26th-30th, from 9am-12pm and is designed for both beginners and experienced young players ages 5-12. Each class will consist of a fun interactive teaching period and guided practice time. There will be competitions and prizes! Join us and learn or improve your chess skills.

Artist alert!! Our cartooning workshop will be a great way to express your abilities in drawing and storytelling. This 3 day workshop will help you to develop your own original characters and their unique experiences. Bring your ideas and your funny bone on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Dec.27-29 from 9:30-11:30 and express yourself! Ages 7-12.

Or, if you really need to let off some steam and want to learn the basics of percussion come over for our Street Smart Percussion Workshop. This workshop will give you an opportunity to "play" like some of the most talented street musicians in the city. Using plastic bins and drum sticks experience rhythm as you never have before. Dec. 27-29th, 1-2pm, Ages 7+. Please see our website for complete details!

But wait........... Winter class session is right around the corner and we still have another Savings Date coming up. Early Bird discount ends Dec. 20th so be sure to register early and save. There are a number of new classes for children but we also have new additions to our visual art classes for adults as well this winter. If you'd like to try something new, or just want to dabble in the arts consider, Learn to Draw, Tai Chi, Intro to Acrylic Painting, Harmonica, Wine and Wheel, Figure and Portrait, Bridge, Cultural Studies, Photo Walking Workshops, Zumba or even Politics in Film!

The School of the Arts is committed to providing a variety of valuable art experiences to all members of our community. Please join us this winter, to learn, play, view, discuss, dabble or experience the arts at the Beverly Arts Center. Hope to see you here! Sincerely, Kris O'Reilly, Director, School of the Arts art@beverlyartcenter.org

Exciting group and solo shows at the Beverly Arts Center!

2011-12-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

Our intrepid curator is back from Art Basel in Miami, reinvigorated for the BAC art scene!

Exciting new group and solo shows for 2012 are brewing: B.A.D. and Shakespeare will feature loads of artists; young, hip, traditional, established, tame and wild. Our second annual South Side Impressions exhibit will happen in March.

An upcoming spring solo show will feature Mathias 'Spider' Shergan, a south-side art maker of prodigious output, who's obsessive personal vision is rich in color, pattern, texture, and found objects.

P.L.A.I.D. Academy will cover the walls of our Atrium Gallery in May to showcase our in-house school's talents.

We've reintroduced an annual Faculty Exhibit to highlight to quality and achievements of out teaching staff, and an annual Members Show, yet another perk of BAC membership!

This years Beverly Art Comp is the 35th Annual with our (heavily credentialed) jurors (Brad Killam and Olivia Gude) choices gracing the walls of the East and Bridge Galleries until the New Year. The Young Adult Board's annual 'Evolving Artists' Show has just been hung in the Atrium and Theater galleries on the first floor and looks fabulous- with many huge, bold paintings, and a rich variety of artwork showcasing emerging talent.

2011 has been chock-full of art, artists and a few very happy new art owners! BAC is a great place to purchase art and support your local art center and local artists.

Dalton Brown

Dalton Brown's (another south-sider) recent solo show in the Atrium gallery got loads of press, including a Chicago Tribune highlight. Dalton's strong work reflects a seasoned eye, graceful touch, and wow-factor framing!

For Chicago Artists Month in October, BAC featured three contributing artists: Jessica Gondek (graphic, techo-whirly digital, wood-cut prints and paintings) Vlado Ketch (visceral, gel-heavy heart renderings on unstretched canvas) and Mike Caifano - yup, southside - (free-standing massive painted/charcoaled abstract panels, slick spray painted wall pieces, and a delicate yet monumental monoprint).

More Is More

"More is More" featured the lush bold abstract paintings by a trio of renowned Chicago artists: Jackie Kazarian, Darrell Roberts and Sandra Perlow.

BLAST exhibit

The 'Blast' exhibit also featured 3 well known Chicago artists (Peter Mars, Erik DeBat and Nancy Pirri) whose work resonated with fun contrasts and affinities: Nancy's ceramic forms echoing gestures made by Peter Mars' Superman and Elvis, under the smokey-eyed gaze of Erik DeBat's image of female beauty, repeated and interspersed with urban artifacts (tire piles, oil barrels and found-architectural assemblages). Pop, Street and Fine Art did meet.

Ann Coddington Rast

A solo show in October transformed the East Galley into a gentle meditative space with the ethereal woven sculptures of Ann Coddington-Rast, including a suspended 25 foot boat made of linen string and 4000 knotted threads hanging like seaweed memories.

Peggy Shaw's intricate and intimate photo collages were featured in the Bridge Gallery.


Mindscapes

Dr. Plioply's large colorful 'brainwave' paintings from his "Mindscapes' solo show here earlier this year are on loan and hang in the staircases and theater entrance areas. This renowned neighborhood artist is being honored for his many achievements by The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture this month.

Carla Winterbottom

BAC Gallery Curator

A Busy Season for the Theater and Dance Departments!

2011-11-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Things are very busy this season for the Theater and Dance departments. We just closed two very successful shows. Our 5 to 11 year olds did a fabulous production of A Year with Frog and Toad, Kids. Forty-one cast members sang and danced their way through the seasons and great fun was had by all!

We are very excited to be introducing our new youth performance company called BACStage. This elite group was hand-picked from our music, dance and theater students to represent the performance programs. After only three short rehearsals this group of 17 students, ages 10-17, put together a twenty minute show which was performed as a pre-show to Frog and Toad. The Gift, an original holiday piece with song and dance, will be performed during the next month as a community service project by the group. They will be appearing at the Evergreen Park Nursing Home, Chicago Ridge Mall, and First United Methodist of Evergreen Park. BACStage will gather again in January to begin working on a new show, which we hope to present throughout the Chicagoland area this spring.

Our 12-18 year olds just closed their production of Smokey Joe’s Café to great reviews! Offering a trip down memory lane, the cast sang and danced their way through 25 songs by the great Leiber and Stoller. The audience was transported to the 1950’s when times were more simple and the music was rock and roll.

BAC will be opening It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play the first weekend of December and running it through December 11th. This professional production brings the classic film to life and will lift your holiday spirits. Set in 1946, radio station WBFR brings you the life and times of George Bailey and reminds us that every life has value and meaning. Don’t miss out on the creative sound effects which help bring the story to life. The show also includes a girl’s chorus chosen from our own BAC students. Fun for the whole family, this holiday show sends a positive message, and reminds us why we celebrate this wonderful season.

We wrap up the month of December with Holiday Mixed Nuts, our Winter Dance Concert. Our dance students have been working hard to prepare for this celebration of the season. Join us and see performances in tap, ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop and African. Students range in age from 3 through adult. You will see pieces from the Nutcracker as well as unusual and interesting holiday fare. Don’t miss the fun!

Check out the website to find details on all the performances happening in our fabulous theater.

As the year wraps up, this is the time to be mindful of how blessed we are to have the opportunities to celebrate the arts every day. Our facility allows us to set the bar high and create a professional standard for our youth productions, as well as allowing us to present high caliber professional theater. I am very grateful to be able to work with the talented youth that attend classes and participate in productions here at the BAC. I am thrilled to work with professionals who light up the stage and bring the written word to life. I am overjoyed that I continue to be able to dance, act, sing and do what I love every day. As we look forward to 2012, I am eager for new and richer experiences.

Happy Holidays,

Shellee Frazee

Artistic Director, Theatre & Dance

A Busy Night at the Arts Center

2011-11-11T08:55:00.000-08:00

11-11-11

Last night I left the Beverly Arts Center about 9:30p.m. Early in the evening I was part of the editorial board making final selections for the next issue of “BAC Street Journal.” The stories and images are outstanding, and it’s great to work with my talented co-editors, Bill Barnhart, Lydia Barnes, Tina Jenkins Bell, Kate Eaton, Penny Golden and Carla Winterbottom. I’ll post more information when I have a date for the launch of this new issue – we always launch with an open reading.

Because I’m a creative writer, having quality literary arts opportunities at the BAC gives me a charge. Members of the BAC Writers Group dedicate so much time and effort to finessing their work, and they give such insightful, productive and creative critiques on one another’s work. It’s inspiring! The Writers Group will meet on Mon., Nov. 14, 7 p.m. It’s open to all adult, serious creative writers.

Penny Golden’s Author Afternoon interview series is a terrific showcase for Chicago authors. Penny is a talented writer and thoughtful interviewer! She asks the questions readers want to ask, giving authors a chance to reveal their writing process – both the successes and the struggles. The next Author Afternoon is Sun., Nov. 20, 2 p.m.

Back to last night… Before the editorial board meeting I got a chance to preview the Beverly Art Competition exhibit that opens today (the reception and awards presentation are tomorrow night). Gallery curator Carla Winterbottom was putting on the final touches on the show – which is great! Two of the pieces are by my friend photographer Susan Johnston from Stevensville, Michigan. The exhibit will be up through Jan. 2.

At the same time the editorial board was meeting, the BAC Young Adult Board was hard at work selecting finalists for the Evolving Artists Competition. This is a great opportunity for artists age 21 to 35 -- nearly 40 artists entered this year. The exhibit will open Dec. 8.

After saying good night to my fellow editors, I visited the theater to watch a rehearsal for “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play.” Last week I’d been talking to my friend David Boyle, one of the actors in the show, and he suggested I stop in to watch a rehearsal before I write the press information for the show. “You need to see how cool it is,” he said.

It is cool! Although I qualify for AARP membership, I’m too young to recall the days when radio plays were the most popular form of family entertainment. Although the casts of these plays seemed large, in reality, a few versatile actors each played several roles, changing their voices and character over and over – sometimes in the fraction of a second between one line of dialogue and the next!

“It’s A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play” is a play about doing a live radio show based on the Frank Capra holiday movie classic “It’s A Wonderful Life.” There are five actors playing all the characters from nice guy George Bailey to mean old Mr. Potter to sweet Mary Bailey to Clarence the Angel to little ZuZu – and everyone in between. PLUS, the actors play the piano, provide all the sound effects (including a wind machine!) and perform all the “commercials.”

Although they’re still early in the rehearsal process (the play opens Dec. 2 and runs for two weekends), it’s obvious that this will be a great holiday show. The actors are all professionals and the show is directed by the BAC’s coordinator of theater and dance Shellee Frazee.

The Buckinghams

There is so much happening at the BAC! Thanksgiving weekend shows are Duke Tumatoe and the Power Trio on Black Wednesday – Duke’s a native south sider! – and The Buckinghams on Black Friday – also a Chicago-bred band. Black Wednesday through Black Friday are the days to buy concert tickets, sign up for classes and purchase gift cards – the BAC offers great discounts online all three days!

- Grace Kuikman

BAC PR/Literary Arts

An Art Center for Everyone

2011-10-17T14:01:00.000-07:00

The Beverly Arts Center (BAC) is a true "hidden gem" in Chicago. Situated in Beverly/Morgan Park, one of the city's most beautiful, historic and artistic neighborhoods, the Center was founded more than 40 years ago -- the grandchildren of people who took art classes in the early years at the old art center are taking classes today in the brand new, state of the art building! Unlike many arts organizations, the Beverly Arts Center embraces all the arts -- visual, dance, theater, improv comedy, music, film, literature for toddlers through seniors.

The BAC is a terrific concert venue with a 400 seat theater, great acoustics, free parking and affordable tickets. Saturday, October 29, Michael McDermott plays Bruce Springsteen in his "Halloweensteen" concert at 8 p.m. Duke Tumato performs on Wednesday, November 23 for a Pre-Thanksgiving Party on Black Wednesday, and The Buckinghams kick off the holiday season with their Christmas Concert on Saturday, November 26. (For a schedule of concerts and other entertainment, go to www.beverlyartcenter.org).

Twice a year we publish a literary arts magazine, BAC Street Journal. The magazine features poetry, short fiction, essays, photographs and illustrations. Copies are available for $5 each (plus postage), and submissions are now being accepted for the Spring issue (Deadline is March 1, 2012). We are currently in the process of putting the Fall 2011 issue together. For magazines or submission guidelines, email bacstreetjournal@gmail.com.

Theater classes and performances continue year round at the Beverly Arts Center. Many of the offerings are geared to children. This Fall, student actors are performing in "A Year with Frog & Toad Kids" and "Smokey Joe's Cafe Jr." Chicago Kids Company is performing "The Princess and the Pea."

We are also the home of the Chicago Irish Film Festival, which is gearing up for it's 13th anniversary in March 2012. Visit www.chicagoirishfilmfestival.com for festival updates. Additionally, we have an outstanding weekly film program, screening independent, first run and foreign films every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $7.50 ($5.50 for BAC members) and popcorn is only $1!

The BAC is an art center for everyone!