Performing Arts Series brings the "big city" to Athens

For 51 years, the Ohio University Performing Arts Series, originally named the Visiting Artist Series, has offered the Ohio University community countless national touring events at a price that can’t be matched. Touring Broadway shows such as “Avenue Q” and “The Drowsy Chaperone” and performances by nationally-known artists like Ben Folds are just some of the unique events that happen frequently at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium (MemAud), the unofficial “home” of the Performing Arts Series.

Drew Holzaepfel, associate director of the Campus Involvement Center at OHIO, has been working with the Series for over ten years, and said his job never gets boring. He is constantly contacting agents and production companies to discuss potential events for the future and confirm and negotiate current events on the line-up.

I have seen many productions brought by the Performing Arts Series since my arrival at OHIO, and I am always impressed, not only with the caliber of performers, but with the seemingly effortless organization of Holzaepfel’s crew.

But the performance on show night is just a tiny part of what goes into organizing and producing the Performing Arts Series. According to Holzaepfel, the whole process starts in late spring when he or one of his employees attends an annual showcase conference, during which those in the “biz” get a chance to preview touring shows so they get an idea of whether or not they would like to bring them to their venue.

After the OU crew has seen what is available, they survey the Athens community, including the OHIO population, to see what it is that people want to see. With the results, Holzaepfel can get a better idea of what shows or artists would be best for the Series.

Holzaepfel said he loves being able to give the Athens community a taste of the national arts scene.

“Through the Performing Arts Series, we can really bring the ‘big city’ feel to Athens,” he said.

The Performing Arts Series is partially funded through the general student fee, grants and private investors, which allows the University to charge lower ticket prices.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 27.4 percent of the Athens community is in poverty. That being said, it would normally be extremely difficult if not impossible for most residents to afford the normally pricy tickets to touring Broadway productions or to see A-list performers, but the Performing Arts Series offers tickets for “a third of the price” they would normally be in a larger city, according to Holzaepfel.

As I’ve discussed before on my blog, experiencing the arts is extremely beneficial to intelligence. This article published by the Dana Foundation discusses new findings that suggest an “openness and creativity” fostered by exposure to the arts increases cognition.

I asked Holzaepfel what his favorite arts performance has been of the over 150 shows since he became the associate director of Campus Involvement, and while he couldn’t narrow it down to one specific event, he mentioned the Moscow Circus that took up residence in MemAud for a week in 2002, and last year’s Wilco concert as events that stick out in his mind.

While Holzaepfel could not confirm any performances planned for the next season, he did mention that there will be some very exciting add-on performances coming up this spring. To stay informed about any upcoming performances at OHIO, visit the Performing Arts Series Web site.

My favorite performance was the Broadway tour of "Hairspray." Below is one of my favorite scenes from the show:



Photo courtesy of http://www.ohio.edu

Art fosters change

This quarter I have been in a voice and speech training class through the School of Theater. The class discusses the importance of communicating in a coherent way, namely through the delivery of speech. But what I’ve realized is that making your voice heard doesn’t always mean the literal way, as in the poetry and speech exercises in my class, but also pertains to what artists strive to do with every piece of art they create.

As I was sitting in my English class last week listening to student presentations and one of my peers cited this quote from former National Endowment for the Arts board member Bill Strickland:

“Creativity is the catalyst for change.”

This statement got me thinking about the massive amounts of art we take in every day that cause a stir, or at least make us step back and think about our society or our actions in general.

In high school, I performed in social action plays with a local theater company, and developing the passion and proximity to the subjects we were addressing to the audience really pushed me to develop my voice on stage, literally in my vocal performance and figuratively as an actor trying to portray such deep and difficult topics.

Art that aims to create some sort of social change is abundant on a college campus, putting students, faculty and staff and the surrounding community in a unique position to hear the voices of countless young artists.

This quarter, student artists have performed such crowd-shocking, yet poignant shows such as “The Vagina Monologues,” a series of one-act, one person scenes exploring the ups and downs women face, and more tame yet comical performances by Ohio University’s improvisation troupe, Black Sheep, Inc.

Black Sheep, Inc. performing in the Front Room.

Students that are not involved in a group or in a specific production often take advantage of open mic nights at venues like Donkey Coffee and the Front Room. My friend and roommate Jenna Siska discussed this on her blog.

No matter what your passion, I challenge you to make your voice heard, across the room as in my voice class, or across the world if you have that kind of ambition.

My top art experiences at Ohio University

As you can see from one of my most recent posts, I have been fortunate in that I’ve gotten to experience a lot of different art in a lot of different places. But some of my most memorable art experiences have happened right here on the Ohio University campus. I’ve compiled a Top 5 list to commemorate some of these experiences:

5) McCracken Art Expo: As an intern for the College of Education, I helped plan and promote the third annual McCracken Art Extravaganza Silent Auction. Students from South Elementary School had their art on display in the halls of McCracken and visitors could bid on the artwork. It was such a neat experience getting to see the excitement on the children’s faces when they saw their work displayed and sold.

Photo from http://www.coe.ohiou.edu

4) “No. 6: Portraits in an Appalachian Coal Mining Town”: Last year, a friend of mine whom I used to do theater with in Charleston, WV, choreographed a dance about the difficult life of miners and their families in Appalachia as her senior thesis for the Honors Tutorial College. I usually have a difficult time understanding modern dance, but this piece told an amazing story.


Photo by Sean Howlett

3) “Rent”: I saw the Broadway tour of “Rent” during the winter of my freshman year. The show, brought to Athens by the OHIO Performing Arts Series, showcased a lot of issues our generation faces, and was performed by an amazing cast of artists. The show, which premiered on Broadway in 1996, was made into a movie in 2005, which attracted a new generation of Rent lovers, another testament to its broad themes and brilliant artistic strengths.

Photo from www.broadwayworld.com

2) “Glee”: The first episode of this hit show choir dramedy aired in early September 2009, right after the start of fall quarter. My roommates and I started watching it together and it has proven an awesome bonding experience, not to mention we’re addicted to the music. The show pretty much explains my life in high school, as I was a four-year member of show choir and can really identify with the scenarios in “Glee.” Our viewing party numbers increased as the quarter went on, and we are anxiously awaiting the show’s return in April.

Photo from perezhilton.com

1) Spring Awakening: As a theater minor, I am required to do a certain amount of practicum work to obtain my degree. Winter quarter of my freshman year I took part in a costume practicum where I made costumes for the main stage show, “Spring Awakening.” I have traditionally been a performer only, so it was an awesome experience getting to see the behind the scenes workings of a show and getting to see garments I made on stage in action.

Photo from samantha-patterson.com

I look forward to experiencing much more art during my final year and a half at OHIO.

What arts experiences have you had on campus?

Art outside of Athens

While in college, particularly at Ohio University, students find themselves separated from the rest of the world, sometimes in a form of isolation. Athens is such a small town and, while it provides plenty of unique artistic experiences to students, university employees and the community, it is important to remember that there is a lot of great art happening outside our city as well.

Sometimes, you just need to get away from the weekend party going and barhopping and experience new places. I’ve compiled a map of some of my favorite places I’ve been to experience art.


View Art Across America in a larger map

Empower showcases talent for a cause

This weekend the Empower Campaign held a “Mr. Empower” pageant to raise money for children in Uganda to go to school. The competition showcased ten contestants, each from a different student organization on campus.

I admittedly have never been to a pageant before this one, though I have seen them on television, so this was a new experience for me. Each contestant performed a talent, modeled “swimwear” and answered an interview question. I attended to support my fellow Public Relations Student Society of America member, Tommy Greene. Other participating organizations included The Post, the Running Club, Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society, OU College Democrats, the Global Leadership Center and others.

Tommy Greene of PRSSA.

Some of the most interesting talents were a recitation of 50 digits of Pi, an impersonation of Vanilla Ice singing “Ice Ice Baby,” and a dramatic reading of the lyrics to Miley Cyrus' “Party in the USA.” The winning act was the performance of an original song targeted to the Empower campaign, created and performed by Jordan Youtz, representing the OU Advertising Association. He received $100 for his organization.

The Empower Campaign sells jewelry made of recycled paper created by Ugandan women collaboratives, which the contestants modeled during the swimwear portion of the show.

The real beauty of the pageant was the fact that it educated the audience and even the contestants about the Empower campaign and the hardships the children in Uganda face on a daily basis. Throughout the show the organizers played films and slideshows showing their trips to Uganda and the various efforts made by the Empower Campaign.

While this may not be as art-centered as my usual blog posts, I felt it was relevant not only because students showcased their “talents,” but because I was moved by the art of people coming together for cause. The emcee of the event reminded us that we are truly privileged to be attending a university and receiving an education and that we should never take it for granted.

This post is also a reminder that we can find art in places and ways we never thought possible.

Music makes the people come together

One of the best performances I’ve seen while at Ohio University is watching the Marching 110. Whether it’s at a football game, the homecoming parade or the convocation ceremony for freshmen, the marching band never ceases to put on an amazing show.

Ohio University created a marching band in 1923, but it wasn’t until 1967 that the Marching 110 took the energetic form of a show-style band we know and love today.

What interests me most about the marching band is the fact that many if not most of the members of the 110 are not music or art majors. Being in such a widely recognized band is a very time consuming activity, but there is obviously a draw for those who are passionate about performing.

I recently spoke with Alyssa Mehling, saxophone player and administrative assistant for the Marching 110, via e-mail. Mehling, a senior public relations major, auditioned for the band the summer before her freshman year “on a whim,” and hasn’t looked back ever since.

“I've had so much fun with the Marching 110,” Mehling said. “Besides the friends I've made there, I've traveled to Alabama, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, New York and California. I've performed half-time shows for The Cleveland Browns, The Cincinnati Bengals and The New York Giants. I watched my OU football team almost beat the Buckeyes. The places this band has taken me over the past four years are places I would have never found myself in otherwise. The band can be a lot of work and time, but the euphoria I feel after an incredible performance is always worth it.”

For junior integrated language arts major, Tyler Charles, being a part of the Marching 110 is all about the connections to others, a dedication and passion for the university and a love of music.

“I didn't realize how much I would love the 110 when I first went to training week as a freshman. It's to the point where I can't even consider what my life would be like if I didn't do it,” Charles said. “I wouldn't have the friends I have now, or the sense of pride for my school, or the discipline to achieve the goals I set for myself everyday. In 20 years, I want to be able to look back on my time at OU and think, ‘Those were the best times of my life, and this helped make me the person I am today.’”

This pride for the university is evident, especially on Homecoming weekend. During the parade, alumni of the Marching 110 play with the current members. It is without a doubt the biggest crowd pleaser of the day and is a very unique experience even from the audience. As I stood on the hillside of Scripps Hall watching both bands perform this year I was caught off guard not only by the amount of talent but by the dedication and passion for the marching band that still exists for members even after graduation.

I leave you with a clip from a halftime show last fall during which the Marching 110 performed an amazing rendition of "Smooth Criminal."

The best things in life are free

In today’s world, it seems we are nickel-and-dimed at every turn. Things are even worse for college students as the tuition rate continues to climb. Luckily for those of us who attend Ohio University, we get cut a little slack.

The Arts for Ohio Initiative, a project created to integrate the arts into the Ohio University community, eliminates the cost of admission for students for performances and exhibitions presented by the university. The initiative is funded by Vision Ohio in hopes of increasing the presence of arts on campus and inspiring new ways of conversing and thinking.

Not only does the Arts for Ohio Initiative help provide larger audiences at events, which inevitably helps the artists, but it also provides opportunities that students might not get otherwise. College students are traditionally low on funds, so free admission removes a huge barrier to experiencing art.

According to a study by the Arts Education Partnership, students who are exposed to theater, dance and music have more success in school than those who concentrate on academics alone. This is yet another huge benefit of the Arts for Ohio Initiative, and great news to people like me who already view art on a regular basis.

The fact that this initiative is still in place with all the recent budget cuts is a testament to the importance of the arts and arts education. Perhaps the best part of the initiative is the sheer amount of art going on all the time. If you look at the calendar on the Arts for Ohio Web site, there are literally events going on every day, and something for everyone to enjoy.

Here are some events you won’t want to miss this quarter:

•“Marisol” by Jose Rivera, OHIO’s School of Theater main-stage production for this quarter
•Winter Dance Concert, performed by the OHIO School of Dance
•Women of Appalachia art exhibit, currently housed in the Multicultural Center Art Gallery in Baker Center
•Singing Men of Ohio and Singing Men of Ohio Alumni & Friends concert

All of this quarter’s events are listed on the Arts for Ohio Calendar of Events.