Dougie MacLean Charms Audience
by Ally Landis - South Anchorage High School
Despite volcano ash descending upon Anchorage Saturday afternoon, Dougie MacLean was able to give a sold-out crowd a concert that kept audience members clapping to the beat, singing along, and laughing out loud. When the Scottish singer/songwriter sang his first song it was clear that the audience was in for a treat. The song was reminiscent of a lullaby and had a calming affect over the crowd. “I might be foolish but I don’t care as long as you are there,” sang MacLean as he played the guitar. The audience responded with nothing less than an enthusiastic round of applause and cheers. MacLean gave insight as to how he came to write the songs along with some of his personal experiences on tour. He prefaced the second song with “The older I get the more like my father I become…It’s terrifying!” But the show wasn’t just about sitting back and relaxing, the audience was invited to sing along with the choruses on almost all of the songs and after a couple of times through, the audience was left to lift up their voices as MacLean stepped away from the mike and just played the guitar. The more fast-paced songs were accompanied by the audience clapping to the beat of MacLean’s foot. “Try to watch my foot from the corner of your eye so you don’t look so stupid up here,” exclaimed MacLean to the audience, which followed with laughter from the crowd. MacLean charmed the crowd with his witty anecdotes and blunt humor but won them over with his melodic voice and lyrics that spoke of love- whether it be the love of nature or the love of his homeland in his moving song Caledonia. And just when one thought it couldn’t get any more entertaining than this MacLean pulled out his harmonica, which he wanted to play because Bob Dylan did and it looked “cool.” And play he did. Along with love, MacLean sang of humanities ignorance in his song “Broken Wings” and also did a spooky piece in which he wrote after visiting the execution site of Mary Queen of Scots. At the end of the show the audience showed their appreciation for the talent of the Scottish singer with a standing ovation that resulted in MacLean coming back on stage for an encore.
Dougie Maclean
Whistling Swan Productions
March 28, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Sydney Laurence Theatre
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Ravi Zacharias Benefit Lecture
By: Ally Landis - South Anchorage High School
The evening started out with some praise and worship music featuring the ChangePoint church band and Grace Christian School choir. The music was powerful and upbeat but it drowned out the choir on almost all of the songs and it was hard to enjoy the music with people around you talking and trying to find their seats. Since the doors opened at six thirty and the actual program didn’t start until seven, people would wander in and stop and talk with friends. I would have preferred for people to have been seated so one could enjoy the music without having to listen to people talking at the same time. But after three or four songs it quieted down and the theatre was full of people standing, some with their arms up and singing along to the songs. It was a powerful moment and there is just something cool about seeing that many people all come together and lift their hands up in praise.
The main part of the program was a lecture by Dr. Ravi Zacharias, a Christian apologetic speaker who has a Masters of Divinity from Trinity International University and is currently a Visiting Lecturer at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. Zacharias has written several books, has a weekly radio program “Let My People Think.” He started his international ministry in 1984 and has spoken all over the world to members of parliaments, the military, senators, congressman, delegates, and governors as well as at multiple universities.
Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell introduced Ravi Zacharias as a “passionate lover of truth” and the audience responded with a sounding ovation. The first thing Zacharias did was ask the active and retired military men and women to stand and be recognized. What an incredible way to start. It seems that we don’t ever honor our military men and women as much as we should and it was good to see them recognized.
His lecture followed, which was hard to swallow at times. He was a very eloquent speaker but I had to concentrate hard to try and understand all he was saying. Luckily for those of us with short attention spans, he cracked jokes throughout to keep his points from becoming too long. My favorite thing to hear him talk about was his stories. His anecdotes were inspirational and held the audiences’ attention, whether it was his own personal story such as when he almost committed suicide or when he talked about others whose lives had been changed dramatically by Jesus Christ.
The last part of the program was a question and answer session. Audience members were invited to come up to one of the four microphones to ask questions. This was a way for the audience to get some of their own questions answered, but many did not keep their questions succinct and to the point and the answers tended to be long and drawn out. I sometimes had trouble deciding whether or not the question was answered. But it allowed for Zacharias to speak about his ideas and beliefs and help people who were struggling with their questions. It was interesting, but there should have been a time limit of sorts since many people did not get a chance to ask their questions.
Ravi Zacharias Benefit Lecture
March 5, 2009 at 7:00 P.M.
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Atwood Concert Hall
By: Ally Landis - South Anchorage High School
The evening started out with some praise and worship music featuring the ChangePoint church band and Grace Christian School choir. The music was powerful and upbeat but it drowned out the choir on almost all of the songs and it was hard to enjoy the music with people around you talking and trying to find their seats. Since the doors opened at six thirty and the actual program didn’t start until seven, people would wander in and stop and talk with friends. I would have preferred for people to have been seated so one could enjoy the music without having to listen to people talking at the same time. But after three or four songs it quieted down and the theatre was full of people standing, some with their arms up and singing along to the songs. It was a powerful moment and there is just something cool about seeing that many people all come together and lift their hands up in praise.
The main part of the program was a lecture by Dr. Ravi Zacharias, a Christian apologetic speaker who has a Masters of Divinity from Trinity International University and is currently a Visiting Lecturer at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. Zacharias has written several books, has a weekly radio program “Let My People Think.” He started his international ministry in 1984 and has spoken all over the world to members of parliaments, the military, senators, congressman, delegates, and governors as well as at multiple universities.
Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell introduced Ravi Zacharias as a “passionate lover of truth” and the audience responded with a sounding ovation. The first thing Zacharias did was ask the active and retired military men and women to stand and be recognized. What an incredible way to start. It seems that we don’t ever honor our military men and women as much as we should and it was good to see them recognized.
His lecture followed, which was hard to swallow at times. He was a very eloquent speaker but I had to concentrate hard to try and understand all he was saying. Luckily for those of us with short attention spans, he cracked jokes throughout to keep his points from becoming too long. My favorite thing to hear him talk about was his stories. His anecdotes were inspirational and held the audiences’ attention, whether it was his own personal story such as when he almost committed suicide or when he talked about others whose lives had been changed dramatically by Jesus Christ.
The last part of the program was a question and answer session. Audience members were invited to come up to one of the four microphones to ask questions. This was a way for the audience to get some of their own questions answered, but many did not keep their questions succinct and to the point and the answers tended to be long and drawn out. I sometimes had trouble deciding whether or not the question was answered. But it allowed for Zacharias to speak about his ideas and beliefs and help people who were struggling with their questions. It was interesting, but there should have been a time limit of sorts since many people did not get a chance to ask their questions.
Ravi Zacharias Benefit Lecture
March 5, 2009 at 7:00 P.M.
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Atwood Concert Hall
Monday, March 23, 2009
Annie
by Terra Laughton - West High School
While not a hardnock experience, Annie at the Atwood Concert Hall Wednesday night lacked spark. NETworks Presentations’ Annie is playing at the Atwood Concert Hall until March 23rd and will happily entertain you, but don’t expect anything new.
It’s difficult to give such a well-known story unique flair, but most movement onstage is so predictable it actually detracts from the scenes at several points in the show. The show’s fun music, played well by an orchestra under the direction of Adam Jones, is unsuccessfully complemented by simple choreography.
Annie has its moments, to be sure. Young Madison Kerth, as the title character, impresses us with her strong voice. Even more remarkable is Mackenzie Aladjem, a seven-year old in her professional theatre debut playing little orphan Molly. Mackenzie’s tiny body has an enormous presence onstage and her adorable energy is contagious. One of the show’s highlights is her impression of mean Mrs. Hannigan, as she stumbles around pretending to be drunk and blowing her invisible whistle.
Analisa Leaming as Grace Farrell is a delight to watch, effortlessly floating around the Warbucks Mansion in a style appropriate to her name. Leaming’s clear voice helps us all love Annie just a little more during “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here.” Finally, the well-trained dog who plays Sandy was a fun addition to the Hoovervilles in the first act.
Kids will enjoy Annie, but their parents may grow tired of so many “aw gee”s and “oh my goodness”es. The story is adorable, but performed in a way that is too contrived to be engaging.
Annie
Anchorage Concert Association
March 18, 2009 at 7:30 P.M.
The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Atwood Concert Hall
by Terra Laughton - West High School
While not a hardnock experience, Annie at the Atwood Concert Hall Wednesday night lacked spark. NETworks Presentations’ Annie is playing at the Atwood Concert Hall until March 23rd and will happily entertain you, but don’t expect anything new.
It’s difficult to give such a well-known story unique flair, but most movement onstage is so predictable it actually detracts from the scenes at several points in the show. The show’s fun music, played well by an orchestra under the direction of Adam Jones, is unsuccessfully complemented by simple choreography.
Annie has its moments, to be sure. Young Madison Kerth, as the title character, impresses us with her strong voice. Even more remarkable is Mackenzie Aladjem, a seven-year old in her professional theatre debut playing little orphan Molly. Mackenzie’s tiny body has an enormous presence onstage and her adorable energy is contagious. One of the show’s highlights is her impression of mean Mrs. Hannigan, as she stumbles around pretending to be drunk and blowing her invisible whistle.
Analisa Leaming as Grace Farrell is a delight to watch, effortlessly floating around the Warbucks Mansion in a style appropriate to her name. Leaming’s clear voice helps us all love Annie just a little more during “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here.” Finally, the well-trained dog who plays Sandy was a fun addition to the Hoovervilles in the first act.
Kids will enjoy Annie, but their parents may grow tired of so many “aw gee”s and “oh my goodness”es. The story is adorable, but performed in a way that is too contrived to be engaging.
Annie
Anchorage Concert Association
March 18, 2009 at 7:30 P.M.
The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Atwood Concert Hall
Monday, March 2, 2009
L.A. Theatre Works Excels Using Imagination, Creativity
by Ally Landis - South High School/Alaska Pacific University
L.A. Theatre Works, America’s premiere radio theatre company, captured a different aspect of theatre Sunday afternoon at four o’clock in the Atwood Concert Hall. Tour Manager Diane Adair describes the tour as a mix of traditional theatre containing things such as costumes and lights with unique aspects of radio theatre such as mikes, scripts, sound affects, and people playing multiple characters.
The first part of the show was a re-creation of the 1938 sci-fi radio broadcast based on H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds. The broadcast-an “eyewitness report” of an invasion of monsters from Mars-caused a nationwide panic for people who didn’t know the broadcast was merely a dramatic adaptation. Millions of Americans thought they were listening to real news and hid in cellars or fled their homes. While that might seem comical today, it was easy to see how it could happen after listening to the performance. All the actors and actresses made the sound effects- from the tapping of a new announcement on the “radio” to the wind blowing and spaceship rising. Props included plastic bottles, cans, and plain old paper. Characters not talking whistled and blew into the mikes to sound like wind and a radio broadcast that was supposed to be coming from above a church was filled with the hum of voices. Characters were in costume and the actors moved around in stage in sync with what was happening, scooting back as the “gray orb” landed and pointing and yelling towards the audience. Every member of the group was always doing something, whether it be speaking, talking, rustling paper, or banging a cymbal. The production was truly unique, causing the audience to use their own imagination to visualize what was being described so vividly and letting the audience kind of see what happens “behind the scenes.” Some speaking parts grew a little long, but this broadcast definitely lived up to expectations of chills and thrills.
After intermission, the group portrayed Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World, a story filled with adventure and comedy as Professor Challenger leads a group of zany characters including a reporter, sportsman, guide, and a female opponent into the jungles of South America searching for dinosaurs. This piece was just plain fun, as one of the cast members explained that audience participation was needed, and congratulations! The audience had been cast as the audience. The audience clapped, booed, roared and even made gorilla sounds on cue. The laughter never stopped for long, from a native Amazonian speaking a language that included the words “boom shacka lacka boom” and “Ulu factory” to the cast members using scripts as oars as they paddled along a river. “We can’t make it, we can’t make it,” they cry, and then all scream as they lift up their scripts to keep from crashing. The audience especially enjoyed a distinctly Alaskan feel to the piece, as the actors fear being trapped forever on a “bridge to nowhere” and newspaper headlines include “Sled Dogs: Friend or Foe.” Imagination and creativity made the script, as rainbow umbrellas took the stage as the dreaded flying pterodactyls and grown men provided ape sounds, accompanied by butt shaking and dancing.
L.A. Theatre Works brings the literature the plays are based on to life, keeping the audience captivated through sound effects, dialogue, and the acting, even though it is different than traditional acting. This performance was something unique and does a splendid job of mixing traditional theatre and radio without taking away from either one.
L.A. Theatre Works War of the Worlds/The Lost World
Anchorage Concert Association
March 1, 2009 at 4:00 P.M.
The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Atwood Concert Hall
by Ally Landis - South High School/Alaska Pacific University
L.A. Theatre Works, America’s premiere radio theatre company, captured a different aspect of theatre Sunday afternoon at four o’clock in the Atwood Concert Hall. Tour Manager Diane Adair describes the tour as a mix of traditional theatre containing things such as costumes and lights with unique aspects of radio theatre such as mikes, scripts, sound affects, and people playing multiple characters.
The first part of the show was a re-creation of the 1938 sci-fi radio broadcast based on H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds. The broadcast-an “eyewitness report” of an invasion of monsters from Mars-caused a nationwide panic for people who didn’t know the broadcast was merely a dramatic adaptation. Millions of Americans thought they were listening to real news and hid in cellars or fled their homes. While that might seem comical today, it was easy to see how it could happen after listening to the performance. All the actors and actresses made the sound effects- from the tapping of a new announcement on the “radio” to the wind blowing and spaceship rising. Props included plastic bottles, cans, and plain old paper. Characters not talking whistled and blew into the mikes to sound like wind and a radio broadcast that was supposed to be coming from above a church was filled with the hum of voices. Characters were in costume and the actors moved around in stage in sync with what was happening, scooting back as the “gray orb” landed and pointing and yelling towards the audience. Every member of the group was always doing something, whether it be speaking, talking, rustling paper, or banging a cymbal. The production was truly unique, causing the audience to use their own imagination to visualize what was being described so vividly and letting the audience kind of see what happens “behind the scenes.” Some speaking parts grew a little long, but this broadcast definitely lived up to expectations of chills and thrills.
After intermission, the group portrayed Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World, a story filled with adventure and comedy as Professor Challenger leads a group of zany characters including a reporter, sportsman, guide, and a female opponent into the jungles of South America searching for dinosaurs. This piece was just plain fun, as one of the cast members explained that audience participation was needed, and congratulations! The audience had been cast as the audience. The audience clapped, booed, roared and even made gorilla sounds on cue. The laughter never stopped for long, from a native Amazonian speaking a language that included the words “boom shacka lacka boom” and “Ulu factory” to the cast members using scripts as oars as they paddled along a river. “We can’t make it, we can’t make it,” they cry, and then all scream as they lift up their scripts to keep from crashing. The audience especially enjoyed a distinctly Alaskan feel to the piece, as the actors fear being trapped forever on a “bridge to nowhere” and newspaper headlines include “Sled Dogs: Friend or Foe.” Imagination and creativity made the script, as rainbow umbrellas took the stage as the dreaded flying pterodactyls and grown men provided ape sounds, accompanied by butt shaking and dancing.
L.A. Theatre Works brings the literature the plays are based on to life, keeping the audience captivated through sound effects, dialogue, and the acting, even though it is different than traditional acting. This performance was something unique and does a splendid job of mixing traditional theatre and radio without taking away from either one.
L.A. Theatre Works War of the Worlds/The Lost World
Anchorage Concert Association
March 1, 2009 at 4:00 P.M.
The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Atwood Concert Hall
Alaska Dance Theatre Winter Repertory Concert
by Ally Landis - South High School/Alaska Pacific University
Alaska Dance Theatre’s Winter Repertory Concert started off strong with a piece called Winter, choreographed by James Sewell and with music from Antonio Vivaldi’s Winter from The Four Seasons. The dancers wore winter hats and scarves as they leaped, twirled, and jumped their way across the stage. This was one of my favorite pieces because the dancers looked as though they could have been playing in the snow and even mimicked slipping on ice, but did it through graceful ballet movements. The dancers had beautiful lines and even though the synchronization was a bit off at times, the piece kept me captivated. The choreography was done beautifully and the dance evoked feelings of energy and fun.
The next piece, Call to Prayer, choreographed by Troy Powell and with music from Beethoven, Bach, and Karl Jenkins was disappointing at first because there wasn’t any of the dance elements I loved watching so much in the first piece. There was too much standing still with just hand movements. I also was not a fan of the cathedral music. Luckily there was a major highlight to this piece. A duet between two dancers was breathtaking as the girl would balance on the boy’s back and he would lift her up. But my favorite part of the night came when he put her in between his legs and then let go with his hand, letting her twist and then catching her with his legs.
One Voice, One Drum was the first act after intermission and was made to help celebrate Alaska’s 50th Anniversary. The choreographer was Alice Bassler Sullivan, who received help from Phillip Blanchett in infusing traditional Yup’ik movement with classical ballet. The result was a one hundred percent original piece, with dancers moving their bodies to the beat of the drums. It was nice to see something different, and I enjoyed being able to see the native Alaskan dance movements mixed in with the ballet.
The dancer in the red dress, or Nicole Maple, captivated the audience once again in her solo piece, Take It Back, choreographed by Courtland Weaver. She did an excellent job carrying out the choreography and exemplified what I love about watching ballet.
The last piece, There’s So Much To Do was a little much for me. Dancers ran across the stage as one group was doing their piece and there was never one thing going on the stage at once. It was hard to find where you were supposed to be watching and a little bit distracting. There were some slow parts, but it ended with fast beats and high energy.
Winter Repertory
Alaska Dance Theatre
February 27, 2009 at 7:30 P.M.
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Discovery Theatre
by Ally Landis - South High School/Alaska Pacific University
Alaska Dance Theatre’s Winter Repertory Concert started off strong with a piece called Winter, choreographed by James Sewell and with music from Antonio Vivaldi’s Winter from The Four Seasons. The dancers wore winter hats and scarves as they leaped, twirled, and jumped their way across the stage. This was one of my favorite pieces because the dancers looked as though they could have been playing in the snow and even mimicked slipping on ice, but did it through graceful ballet movements. The dancers had beautiful lines and even though the synchronization was a bit off at times, the piece kept me captivated. The choreography was done beautifully and the dance evoked feelings of energy and fun.
The next piece, Call to Prayer, choreographed by Troy Powell and with music from Beethoven, Bach, and Karl Jenkins was disappointing at first because there wasn’t any of the dance elements I loved watching so much in the first piece. There was too much standing still with just hand movements. I also was not a fan of the cathedral music. Luckily there was a major highlight to this piece. A duet between two dancers was breathtaking as the girl would balance on the boy’s back and he would lift her up. But my favorite part of the night came when he put her in between his legs and then let go with his hand, letting her twist and then catching her with his legs.
One Voice, One Drum was the first act after intermission and was made to help celebrate Alaska’s 50th Anniversary. The choreographer was Alice Bassler Sullivan, who received help from Phillip Blanchett in infusing traditional Yup’ik movement with classical ballet. The result was a one hundred percent original piece, with dancers moving their bodies to the beat of the drums. It was nice to see something different, and I enjoyed being able to see the native Alaskan dance movements mixed in with the ballet.
The dancer in the red dress, or Nicole Maple, captivated the audience once again in her solo piece, Take It Back, choreographed by Courtland Weaver. She did an excellent job carrying out the choreography and exemplified what I love about watching ballet.
The last piece, There’s So Much To Do was a little much for me. Dancers ran across the stage as one group was doing their piece and there was never one thing going on the stage at once. It was hard to find where you were supposed to be watching and a little bit distracting. There were some slow parts, but it ended with fast beats and high energy.
Winter Repertory
Alaska Dance Theatre
February 27, 2009 at 7:30 P.M.
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Discovery Theatre
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