Oak Ridge Today

Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival returns in June

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Charlotte Blake Alston (Submitted photo)

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, inspired by the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee, will bring three nationally known storytellers to Oak Ridge on June 7 and 8 with performances at the Historic Grove Theater, the Oak Ridge Public Library, and the Oak Ridge Senior Center.

The storytellers are Charlotte Blake Alston, Josh Goforth, and Bil Lepp.

“Each uses the power of storytelling to entertain and educate audiences, with hilarious, exaggerated tales or with true stories that shed light on cultures and historic events,” a press release said.

All three storytellers will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, June 7, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the Grove Theater. [Read more…]

Playhouse presents ‘Cemetery Club’ comedy

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The Oak Ridge Playhouse will present the comedy “The Cemetery Club” in seven performances from February 9-18. (Photo courtesy Eric Smith/Oak Ridge Playhouse)

The Oak Ridge Playhouse will present the comedy “The Cemetery Club” in seven performances from February 9-18.

“The story concerns three widows and longtime friends who gather each month to visit their husbands’ graves,” a press release said. “Doris wants to continue mourning her loss. Ida wonders if it’s time to move on. Lucille pretends to move on—but hasn’t. Their outlooks on life, and responses to becoming widows vary, but the drama begins in earnest when they meet the local butcher, Sam, who has recently lost his wife. It looks as if a new love is on the horizon for some, however, not everyone approves.”

The press release said “The Cemetery Club,” by Ivan Menchell, was originally produced in 1987, and it “addresses the challenges of growing older with plenty of laughs and witty banter along the way. Characters share beautiful and lively bonds (think ‘Steel Magnolias’ meets ‘The Golden Girls’) as they explore an optimistic look at renewal after loss.”

[Read more…]

Secret City Improv Festival entertains this weekend

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Twenty-three professional comedy groups and three local high schools will perform at the Secret City Improv Festival in Oak Ridge this weekend.

The festival is scheduled Friday, October 6, and Saturday, October 7, at the Historic Grove Theater.

It’s the third year in a row that the festival has been in Oak Ridge.

The festival consists of eight unique performances featuring 23 professional improv comedy troupes, three local high schools, and workshops and masterclasses with experienced improvisers from across America, a press release said. The Secret City Improv Festival will feature comedy improv troupes from 15 cities representing 10 states this year.

[Read more…]

ORHS Masquers to present ‘Clue’

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Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s extracurricular drama program, will present “Clue” in three performances in November. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s extracurricular drama program, will present “Clue,” the murderously funny play based on the classic film, for three performances in November, a press release said.

Two evening performances are scheduled at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 11, and Saturday, November 13. An afternoon performance is scheduled at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 14.

The play will be performed in the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at ORHS.

“Seating is limited since we will be seating guests socially distanced by family groups,” the press release said. “Seating will be first come, first served.”

“Clue” is the story of a dinner party gone awry. Six guests are invited but told to use only the aliases assigned to them. When Colonel Mustard, Ms. Scarlett, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum, and Ms. White figure out they are all being blackmailed by their host, they are presented with a weapon and an option: pay the blackmailer or take the blackmailer out.

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Secret City Improv Festival announces September lineup

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The lineup has been announced for the first Secret City Improv Festival in Oak Ridge this fall.

The festival is scheduled for September 24 and 25 at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge.

Two rounds of submissions made up the qualification process for the Secret City Improv Festival, a press release said. The priority consideration period concluded on Friday, July 16. The final submission will conclude on August 13.

“We are excited to announce the first 16 teams that have been selected,” the press release said. “The selection of teams features a diverse lineup of styles, team size, and show format.”

The selections include both local improvisation teams and teams representing nine other states, the release said.

[Read more…]

Flatwater Tales Virtual Storytelling Festival is June 5

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Bil Lepp performs at the 2019 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, held at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge. (File/submitted photo)

The 2021 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, featuring three world renowned storytellers, is scheduled for Saturday, June 5.

The festival will offer an evening performance recorded in front of a live audience, three live online interactive workshops, and a live online after-party, a press release said.

The annual event is led by volunteers from the three Rotary Clubs in Oak Ridge. Due to concerns about COVID-19, this year’s event will be online.

The featured storytellers are three acclaimed performers: Andy Offutt Irwin, Bil Lepp, and Kim Weitkamp. They are known to audiences nationwide for their wit, wisdom, and abilities to make audiences laugh, cry, and reminisce, the press release said. The three storytellers have achieved national recognition and appear regularly at festivals, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

On Saturday, June 5, the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will present the art and magic of storytelling with a virtual performance at 8 p.m. The three tellers will record a live show that will be performed before a small audience exclusively for Flatwater Tales. This performance will include an unrehearsed improvisation segment, hosted by emcee Paula Gordon Lepp, a new feature in the storytelling world, the press release said.

[Read more…]

First Secret City Improv Festival scheduled for September

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The first Secret City Improv Festival in Oak Ridge is scheduled for September.

The festival had originally been scheduled for October 2020, but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a press release said.

The rescheduled festival will now be Friday, September 24, and Saturday, September 25, this year at the Grove Theater.

The festival is a spin-off festival from the “perennially fun and spontaneous Gatlinburg Improv Festival,” the press release said.

“Our goal for the Secret City Improv Festival is to provide an environment to foster networking opportunities and collaboration for improv teams from all around,” the press release said. “Our mission is to showcase a diversity of teams and styles on the stage and to foster growth through workshops.”

[Read more…]

Sponsored: Tennessee Pirate Fest opens in Harriman next weekend

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Submitted photos (Photos in the story by Carson Hunt or Trent Eades)

Ahoy, Mates! Tennessee Pirate Fest Invites You!

The fourth annual Tennessee Pirate Fest invites you to go back in time to the “Age of Piracy.” This outdoor daytime interactive entertainment-oriented festival will be held the middle two weekends in October at the Tennessee Medieval Faire site in Harriman–just 30 miles west of Turkey Creek. Patrons will be transported to the fictional Caribbean town of Port Royale in the Tortugas, circa 1685.  

“This year, our characters are loosely based on the movies ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘Captain Blood,'” said Barrie Paulson, Vice President-Manager and Entertainment Director. “Come meet the Governor of Port Royale and his daughter, British red coats, townspeople, and lots of pirates! Come with a happy heart and sense of adventure, and you’ll have lots of fun.”

Rotating on several stages will be numerous professional acts: Caribbean and Celtic music by Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers, Thunder and Spice, The CrossJacks, PanEZ Steelband, Black Mash Hollow, and Timothy Russell. There will be portable benches, but patrons are welcome to bring lawn chairs. Performing interactive comedy or dance shows will be The Tortuga Twins (PG), Einstein Simplified, and Misfit Gypsies. Some acts will be different each weekend, and schedules will be available online and at the entrance.

[Read more…]

Secret City Festival is Friday, Saturday

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Secret City Festival (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The two-day Secret City Festival on Friday and Saturday will feature music, food, history, science, and much more, a press release said.

The festival is hosted by the City of Oak Ridge and presented by Celebrate Oak Ridge. It will be in Alvin K. Bissell Park from 10 a.m. until about 11 p.m. on Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8.

The festival showcases Oak Ridge’s unique role in American history and scientific innovation with various events and activities for the entire family to enjoy.

Musical headliners at the concerts will include iconic rock bands Loverboy, performing on Friday, June 7, and 38 Special, performing on Saturday, June 8. Tickets for each concert are available online. The festival is free to attend, but concert-goers must purchase a ticket.

[Read more…]

Comedy at the Grove with Josh Phillips on May 3

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Comedy at the Grove welcomes back Oak Ridge native Josh Phillips for an entertaining evening filled with laughs on Friday, May 3, a press release said.

Phillips is the headliner. The show will feature Moody Molavi of Chattanooga. Knoxville’s own Michael Sayne will be the host.

The doors will open at 7 p.m., and the show will start at 8 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase in the lobby. You must be 18 to enter. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4229686.

Headliner
Josh Phillips [Read more…]

Comedy at the Grove with Scott Eason on Friday

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Comedy at the Grove Eason Large.jpg

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Comedy at the Grove is back for a fabulous February show! Get out of the cold and warm up to a great night of laughs with our special guest headliner Scott Eason. And welcome back to Oak Ridge featured comic John Upton of Tazewell and host Boston McCown of Knoxville.

Doors will open at 7 p.m. Friday, and the show will start at 8 p.m. Concessions will be available in the lobby for purchase. As always, you must be 18 to enter. Tickets are $10.

Comedy at the Grove is at the Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge. Call (865) 255-0618 for more information or visit www.brownpapertickets.com.

Headliner

Scott Eason [Read more…]

Tucker to be honored, money raised for journalism education at Front Page Follies

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Anne McKinney, left, Myranda McGhee, Sharon Lord, and Adina Chumley rehearse for the 40th anniversary Front Page Follies on June 14, 2018, at the Bijou Theatre. (Submitted photo)

Anne McKinney, left, Myranda McGhee, Sharon Lord, and Adina Chumley rehearse for the 40th anniversary Front Page Follies on June 14, 2018, at the Bijou Theatre. (Submitted photo)

 

Maurice Hendricks, a baritone with the Knoxville Opera and the Marble City Opera, will solo the reprise of “Let My People Golf” in the 40th annual Front Page Follies, which roasts state and local newsmakers, on June 14 at the Bijou Theatre in Knoxville. The cast of local media folks and friends is ready to present the musical revue of the year’s news and newsmakers, a press release said.

Front Page Follies offers an evening of laughs as the Front Page Foundation, host of the show, raises funds for journalism and broadcast scholarships and media education programs for students. Lori Tucker, WATE-TV news anchor, will be the honoree at this year’s Follies.

Regarding his role in the performance next week, Hendricks said: “I got an email from a friend saying they were looking for someone to sing this song. I like being involved in all-around fun craziness as an artist, meeting and singing with new people, and networking. So I said, ‘yes, let’s do it!’”

Hendricks has won the Encouraging Award in national auditions for the New York Metropolitan Opera.

The song, “Let My People Golf,” skewers the attitudes that prevented then-University of Tennessee basketball coach Wade Huston, an African-American hired in 1989, from joining a local country club. “It’s interesting to see that situation was only in 1989, not in the ‘60s,” Hendricks said. “We’ve come a long way but still have a long way to go.” [Read more…]