Interlude - May 7
May 7, 2020
Reading Shakespeare, singing the Songbook, Palladium secrets, Masterclass Moments and more
Welcome back to Interlude, a fresh batch of online arts, entertainment and cultural enrichment options curated by the Center and delivered to your inbox twice a week!
Go ABOVE the scenes at the Center
Vice President of Operations Jeff Steeg is back with another installment of Places, Please!, an insider tour of the Center’s campus brought to you each week by Shepherd Insurance.
Today, Jeff takes you high up into the Palladium Spot Booth, where as many as three spotlight operators busily follow the lighting director’s instructions moment by moment throughout each performance.
A trio of Songbook stars
Songbook Series Sponsor
Three fine singers of the Great American Songbook – our own Michael Feinstein, acclaimed songwriter Melissa Manchester and 2013 Songbook Academy alumna Melinda Rodriguez – were originally scheduled to perform at the Palladium this weekend. Lately, in lieu of in-person performances, all three have been sharing their talents online.
Performance Sponsor
First, Michael has been working with Broadway World on a video series titled Conversations and Music with Michael Feinstein. Enjoy the first episode here. And if you’re interested in an hour of Gershwin music and history from an expert, check out this solo presentation here.
Melissa recently took requests from fans in an informal home Facebook performance, and the latest of Melinda’s ongoing Facebook outings can be found here.
Fiddle 'n' Feet - Faegre Drinker Peanut Butter & Jam Series
PB&J Series Sponsor
Originally scheduled for this weekend's Faegre Drinker Peanut Butter & Jam session for kids and their families, Fiddle 'n' Feet performs the oldest percussive dance styles around, accompanied by the fiddle and banjo music of America's early settlers. You can still enjoy their upbeat tunes and dancing from wherever you are, including:
- The "foot squad" at the 2014 Percussive Dance Extravaganza
- A French Canadian step dance
- Clogging & banjoing duo
- Slap happy "body percussion"
Act now to join Palladium Players
How would you like to be a Shakespearean actor from the comfort of your home? Join us for a casual, virtual table reading of scenes from one of his greatest comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. For our first reading, we are looking for actors (amateurs welcome!) to read one of seven characters.
When: Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m.
Where: Zoom online video conference
How: Upon registration, you will receive a character assignment, the script and instructions to join the Palladium Players Zoom room.
What is a table reading? A table reading is an organized reading of a script in which the speaking parts, stage directions and scene headings are read out loud. In this case, participants can enjoy a sense of community while engaging with Shakespeare's wonderful language. After all, plays are written to be performed aloud and heard.
Learn performance tips from the pros
Whether you’re a rising young performer or just a fan of timeless popular song, you’ll love the Great American Songbook Foundation’s new video series, Masterclass Moments. Each segment features archival highlights from masterclasses and workshops at the annual Songbook Academy® summer intensive, where professionals like Michael Feinstein, Broadway star Laura Osnes and TV producer Marc Cherry share their hard-won expertise with talented high school singers from across the nation.
Beginning May 11, new episodes will premiere at 7:30 p.m. EDT each Monday on the Songbook Academy Facebook page and Instagram TV. The full schedule and more information are available at TheSongbook.org/Masterclass-Moments.
Stream classics from the Royal Theatre
If you prefer just to sit back and enjoy your Shakespeare, the Royal National Theatre in London is streaming recordings of select productions for one-week periods on its YouTube channel. Today's premiere happens to be a Shakespeare classic.
From the National Theatre:
"Watch Antony & Cleopatra directed by Simon Godwin. At the fringes of a war-torn empire the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony have fallen fiercely in love. In a tragic fight between devotion and duty, obsession becomes a catalyst for war. Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient, James Bond: Spectre) and Sophie Okonedo (Chimerica, Hotel Rwanda) play Shakespeare’s famous fated couple in his great tragedy of politics, passion and power."
