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Columbus Arts Scene Makes National Impact
While maintaining a strong presence at home, many of Columbus’ renowned arts organizations work tirelessly to put Columbus on the cultural map with nationally touring performances, spectacular exhibition premieres and much more.
BalletMet Columbus, which ranks among the nation’s 15 largest dance companies, has been invited to return to the esteemed Joyce Theater in New York Sep. 30 through Oct. 5, performing seven shows. BalletMet was one of only 27 companies selected from a highly competitive international field of 63 applicants to perform at the nation’s premier presenter of dance.
The Joyce, one of the few theaters dedicated to dance, is considered one of the dance world's premier venues. BalletMet first presented at the Joyce in May 2004 to high praises. While in New York this fall, the 28-member troupe will present four premieres by local choreographers Darrell Grand Moultrie and Jimmy Orrante, both recipients of the celebrated Princess Grace Fellowship Award, as well as Warren Adams and Adam Hundt. Also on the program is the return of BalletMet’s repertory favorite, Play, by Stanton Welch.
During the same week, three writers will vie in New York for an annual $5,000 prize given out by the Thurber House, Columbus’ literary center located in James Thurber’s childhood home. The annual Thurber Prize for American Humor, the nation's highest designation of the art of humor writing, will be presented at the historic Algonquin Hotel on Mon., Oct. 6. Judges for the Thurber Prize have announced their shortlist for this year's award. This year’s finalists are: Larry Doyle for I Love You, Beth Cooper; Patricia Marx for Him Her Him Again The End of Him; and Simon Rich for Ant Farm.
“Thurber House, James Thurber’s living legacy—which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009—is a unique Columbus treasure for adults and children with our diverse programs and events,” says Susanne Jaffe, Executive Director. “The annual Thurber Prize for American Humor—the only such award in the country given for humor writing—is tremendously exciting because it brings national media coverage to Columbus and is also a New York event, since the prize is always announced at the famed Algonquin Hotel where Thurber resided for many years. Columbus, New York and the legacy of James Thurber are wonderfully linked by this unique prize.”
From Sep.13 through Feb.15, the Wexner Center for the Arts, a national laboratory for the arts, will host the only U.S. presentation of a spectacular exhibition of Andy Warhol’s work, Other Voices, Other Rooms, featuring films, videos, paintings, drawing, prints, wallpaper installations, objects, seldom heard audio recordings and extraordinary archival material. The exhibit will shed new light on the celebrated pop artist, focusing on the ideas at the heart of his work: embracing consumer culture, exploring sexual identity, challenging social conventions and erasing distinctions between high and low culture.
In 2009, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, considered one of the world's finest jazz orchestras, will perform at the famed Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival for the second year in a row.
The Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival first chose CJO to perform this summer as its first foray into jazz for the event. An exciting all-star roster of artists from around the world comes to Vail, Colo. for the Festival each year.
Margaret Barr, CJO’s Director of Finance and Administration said, “It was a wonderful experience. The [festival producers] were thrilled, and we were thrilled to be in the company of world-class orchestras, the Rochester Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra and New York Philharmonic. We had a great turnout.”
Eugenia Zukerman, Artistic Director for the Bravo! Festival said, “Having the Columbus Jazz Orchestra in Vail was a tremendous thrill for us and their appearance this summer was a really wonderful way to launch our festival...
"The energy and rapture with which they play is infectious, and they were so warmly and enthusiastically received, and such a pleasure to work with that we immediately decided to start our 2009 season with them again.”
The Bravo! Festival runs from late June through early August, presenting the highest level of music making in spectacular Vail Valley venues. The Columbus Jazz Orchestra has been invited back to open up the season, headlining on Jun. 26 and 27.
Photos courtesy of BalletMet Columbus and the Wexner Center for the Arts.
info@gcac.org © 2008 Greater Columbus Arts Council. All Rights Reserved.
GCAC appreciates and acknowledges support from: City of Columbus, Franklin County and the Ohio Arts Council
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