HARVIN COLUMN: Mardi Gras highlights week

  • Stephanie Harvin
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  • Posted: Sunday, January 29, 2012 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Friday, March 23, 2012 6:12 p.m.
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“Poppies” by Trish Emery will be part of the Goose Creek Artist Guild show at the North Charleston City Gallery for February.
/Provided“Poppies” by Trish Emery will be part of the Goose Creek Artist Guild show at the North Charleston City Gallery for February.

Mardi Gras, music and some mad dancing are in store for this coming week. Plus there is an exhibit by artists who might not normally show their work. Maybe a friend of yours is showing for the first time.

Goose Creek artists

Starting Wednesday and running through February, works by members of the Goose Creek Artists Guild will be on exhibit at the North Charleston City Gallery. A free reception will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the gallery. Many of the exhibiting artists will be present and refreshments will be served. The public is invited.

In addition to juried awards, visitors to the exhibit will have a chance to vote for their favorite piece in the show, which will be awarded the People's Choice ribbon at the end. For more info, find the Goose Creek Artists Guild on Facebook.

The North Charleston City Gallery is in the Charleston Area Convention Center with free parking and admission during regular operating hours, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Visit http://bit.ly/culturalarts.

Community Orchestra

The Summerville Community Orchestra presents Musical Travelogue at 7 p.m. Friday at Summerville Baptist Church. The program includes guitarist Christopher Teves in Rodrigo's "Guitar Concerto de Aranjuez," the overture to "Barber of Seville," Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2," and selections from "Fantasia."

Alexander Agrest is the music director, and he is pulling together musicians in the surrounding Summerville area. This one promises to be a treat.

Single tickets are $10 and free for those under 18. Call 873-5339 or see summervilleorchestra.com.

'NY Export: Opus Jazz'

Also Friday, those with some magic in their sneakers will get a charge out of the independent film, "NY Export: Opus Jazz," hosted by The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art.

In 1958, Jerome Robbins' ballet "NY Export: Opus Jazz," created a sensation when it was broadcast on "The Ed Sullivan Show" because it was a ballet in sneakers. The dance told the story of disaffected urban youths through movement that blended ballet, jazz and ballroom dancing with Latin, African and American rhythms. He would later go on to choreograph "West Side Story," with the musical tapping into the same raw energy.

This film was produced by two stars of the New York City Ballet, and they took the original ballet, danced it in sneakers and street clothes, and filmed all over New York City.

The film won the Emerging Visions Audience Award at the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival, and was featured on PBS' "Great Performances."

Following the screening, executive producer and dancer Ellen Bar will talk about the film. The 8 p.m. screening is free. It will be in the Recital Hall of the Simons Center for the Arts at the College of Charleston, 54 St. Philip St.

Call 953-4422 or go to http://halsey.cofc.edu.

Mardi Gras

On Saturday, there is a special treat. It's not exactly art, but it is definitely a performance. If you have never been to a Mardi Gras Ball, this is your chance.

Danny Buillard and the Krewe of Charleston will put on the Royal Bal Masque MMXII. There will be costumes, grand gestures and, of course, a King and Queen of the Krewe. It promises to be a night of lavish decor, a blending of Cajun and Lowcountry cuisine, and the free spirit of Mardi Gras.

This year, Capt. Brian Brennan, a 2006 Citadel cadet and Army veteran, will be honored as King Charles II, and Mount Pleasant businesswoman Susan Marlowe will be crowned the new Queen Catherine of Braganza.

In 2008, Brennan was severely injured while on patrol in Afghanistan. Brennan survived, but as a double amputee. Now that he is home, Brennan is leading a fight with the "Brennan Stands Alone Foundation," which assists fellow soldiers and disabled veterans of any age who have been injured in the line of duty.

This year's Royal Court will include actor Tom Berenger as the Grand Duke and Berenger's fiancee, Laura Moretti, as the Grand Duchess.

The doors at Gaillard Auditorium open at 6:30 p.m. for cocktail hour and the ball officially begins promptly at 8 p.m. with the entrance of the court, and closes at midnight.

The public is invited, and it usually sells out, so get your tickets soon. And yes, go in costume or it won't be as much fun.

The cost is $150 per person for food, drinks and music by the David Archer Band.

Part of the proceeds go to charity. Go to www.kreweofcharleston.org or call 437-1519.

Local theater awards

Theatre Charleston is creating the Theatre Charleston Awards to recognize excellence in theatrical performance, production and design in the Charleston area.

They are seeking patrons, artists, educators and journalists with critical thinking skills to effectively rate all areas of a production. Patrons interested in being a part of the first Theatre Charleston Awards voting body can visit www.theatrecharleston.com to download the voter application. Call Emily Wilhot at 813-8578 if you have questions or email her at emily@theatrecharleston.com.

Applications can be submitted by email to Wilhoit, mailed to P.O. Box 279, Charleston, SC 29402, or dropped off at any League member theater. All applications must be received by March 1.