Oak Ridge Today

Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival this weekend

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Charlotte Blake Alston, Bil Lepp, and Josh Goforth will entertain this weekend at the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival kicks off Friday at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge with three nationally-known storytellers sharing tales and music that will make you laugh, sing, and learn as you listen.

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

“All three use 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.

At 7 p.m. Friday, Alston will tell the inspiring story of the Six-Triple-Eight, the first all-Black Women’s Army Corps battalion assigned to military duty in Europe during World War II. She received a standing ovation after telling the story at the 2022 National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough. [Read more…]

Secret City Radio Show to feature folk Grammy winner

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The Secret City Radio Show next week will feature Dom Flemons, who won a Grammy Award for best folk album in 2023, a press release said.

The show will also feature Kelle Jolly, the “Tennessee Ukulele Lady,” the press release said.

The show is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Friday, April 5, at the Grove Theater, and it will be broadcast on East Tennessee radio station WDVX, 89.9 FM. [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…]

ORNL FCU announce lineups for Summer Sessions concerts

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A previous ORNL Federal Credit Union Summers Sessions concert is pictured above in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge. (File photo courtesy ORNL Federal Credit Union)

ORNL Federal Credit Union has announced the lineup for its annual Summer Sessions concert series in Oak Ridge and Kingston. This year’s free concert series will again feature bluegrass and Americana bands from throughout the region, a press release said.

Summer Sessions is open to the public and will kick off in May and continue through August. Concerts will be held at the pavilion in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge and at The Amphitheater at Fort Southwest Point in Kingston.

Here is the lineup:

[Read more…]

ORHS Masquers presents ‘Into the Woods’

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The production of ‘Into the Woods’ by Oak Ridge High School Masquers features Emmaline Estep as “Rapunzel,” Anna Younger as “Cinderella,” Norah Younger as “the Witch,” Max Mischler as “Jack,” Emily Salko as “Little Red Riding Hood,” and Jack Lloyd as “the Narrator.” (Photo submitted by ORHS Masquers)

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s extracurricular drama program, is presenting “Into the Woods,” the Stephen Sondheim musical based on the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales, in four performances this weekend.

The performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, March 4; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 5; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School.

“Into the Woods” blends the story of Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, the Baker, his Wife, and the Witch into a single interwoven tale of adventure and loss, a press release said. Backed by the brilliant music and lyrics of Sondheim, the songs explore choices the characters must make and how they process the experiences they are having. The first act brings every character their dreamed successes and is very family friendly, the press release said.

[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.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge Philharmonia resumes concerts

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Oak Ridge Philharmonia

The Oak Ridge Philharmonia is resuming concerts after more than a year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Great news!” the Philharmonia said on its website. “The orchestra will finally be in concert again!”

These are the first concerts since March 2020, and they are free.

The first concert is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, October 31, at Cokesbury United Methodist Church on Kingston Pike in Knoxville. The second is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, November 7, at First Baptist Church in Oak Ridge.

[Read more…]

The SteelDrivers play in Oak Ridge

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ORNL Federal Credit Union Summers Sessions concerts are in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy ORNL Federal Credit Union)

Bluegrass group The SteelDrivers will perform at a free concert in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

It’s the last Summer Sessions concert of 2021, and the show is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Saturday, October 23, in the pavilion at Alvin K. Bissell Park.

The opening band will be Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper.

The concert series is sponsored by ORNL Federal Credit Union.

The SteelDrivers are based in Nashville and known for their dynamic songwriting and eclectic shows, a press release said. Current band members include Tammy Rogers on fiddle, Mike Fleming on bass, Kelvin Damrell on guitar and vocals, Brent Truitt on mandolin, and Richard Bailey on banjo.

[Read more…]

ORHS Masquers present ‘Annie’ this weekend

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Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present "Annie," the classic musical, for four performances in March 2019—March 1, March 2, and March 3—at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present “Annie,” the classic musical, for four performances in March 2019—March 1, March 2, and March 3—at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present “Annie,” the classic musical, for four performances this weekend.

Here are the scheduled performances at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School:

  • Friday, March 1, at 7 p.m.,
  • Saturday, March 2, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and
  • Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m.

Advanced tickets are $8, and they are available at the ORHS office and The Ferrell Shop. At the door, tickets will be $9 for students and $10 for adults. [Read more…]

Rock to Bach Music Festival is Feb. 16

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Kelle Jolly (Submitted photo)

Kelle Jolly (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association will present the seventh Rock to Bach Music Festival on Saturday, February 16.

The festival will be at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The all-day music festival, which is sponsored by TNBank, will treat attendees to multiple genres of live music performed on two stages throughout the day, a press release said.

The doors will open at 10 a.m., and Kelle Jolly will open the performances at 10:30, the press release said. [Read more…]

Comedy group Einstein Simplified at UT Arboretum for May 6 fundraiser

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Einstein Simplified

Einstein Simplified

 

Enjoy an early Mother’s Day with comedy group Einstein Simplified

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society again presents an evening of laughter and live improvisational comedy with Einstein Simplified during a fundraiser on Sunday, May 6.

The fundraiser is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. May 6 at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

“Come enjoy the fun as this well-known Knoxville area comedy improv group entertains us with original, unrehearsed improv,” a press release said. “If you like ‘Second City’ and ‘Saturday Night Live,’ this show is for you! Given today’s roller coaster political climate, we expect a very funny show. Don’t miss it!”

Due to popular demand in 2017, the group is returning to the Arboretum for the second year, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Civic Ballet performing ‘The Nutcracker’ on Saturday, Sunday

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The Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association is performing Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” on Saturday, Nov. 18, and Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. (Photo by ORCBA)

The Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association is performing Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” on Saturday, Nov. 18, and Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. (Photo by ORCBA)

 

The Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association is performing Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” on Saturday, November 18, and Sunday, November 19, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

Directed by Molly Koon Quist along with assistant director Sharon Nicklow-Cousins and assistant Sarah Jett, “The Nutcracker” offers artistic entertainment for family members of all ages.

“We have so many talented dancers in East Tennessee,” said Wendie Aurin, assistant production manager. “We are excited to have them showcase their creativity in such a classic ballet.”

Courtney Walker, Fancisco Aguilar, and Murillo Barbosa of the Georgia Ballet, as well as Howard Merlin of the Boston Ballet as Drosselmeyer, will join the talented cast, a press release said. Frank Murphy from Classic Hits 93.1 WNOX will also make a guest appearance. [Read more…]