Week of 14 November 2011
Friday, November 18th
Violist Jennifer Stumm Returns To ASYO
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Violist Jennifer Stumm is a globetrotting viola player, dividing her time between England and the United States. She has performed with the New Haven Symphony, the Aronowitz Ensemble, and with pianist Christopher O’Riley, all while holding down a day job as the International Chair of Viola Studies at the Royal College of Music, London. Stumm spoke with WABE’s Lois Reitzes about this weekend’s performance with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra.
New Theater Companies Take the Stage
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It has been a particularly trying year for theaters and theater companies. Back in September, Georgia Shakespeare announced that without a hefty infusion of cash, they would have to cancel their upcoming season. Luckily, supporters rallied and enough money was donated to keep the stage lights running. Similar dire straits have befallen well-established theater companies like Actors Express and Theater in the Square, as well. So when WABE received word that not one, but three brand new theater companies—Live Arts, Impulse Repertory, and Flickering Productions— would be opening shows within weeks of each other, we had to take a closer look. WABE’s Myke Johns reports.
Our previous story on Don’t Drink the Water
Our previous story on The House of Yes
Thursday, November 17th
The Life of Johnny Mercer
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If you’ve ever sung along to “Skylark” or “Moon River,” then you may be more familiar with Johnny Mercer than you think. Mercer wrote the lyrics to more than a thousand songs, including compositions for movies and Broadway. He also composed music, and was a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those of others. From the mid 1930s through the mid 1950s, at least many of the songs Mercer wrote and performed were among the most popular hits of the time.
This Week’s Best Bets from Shane Harrison
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The AJC’s Shane Harrison talks about budget-friendly events this week in Atlanta.
Wednesday, November 16th
Atlanta Sound: Horse Farriers
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Hygiene is important for everyone, including horses. Farriers have the very important job of taking care of horses’ hooves. For this extended Atlanta Sound, we met horse farriers Desmond Fox and Lucas Gilland at the Little Creek Horse Farm in Decatur to get a look at what they do. WABE’s Myke Johns produces.
Atlanta Celebrates International Storytelling Festival
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This month, storytellers in dozens of cities and towns around the world will share their talents—in concerts held to celebrate the ancient art of storytelling. It’s a festival called Tellabration, and several expert storytellers will be telling tales to mark the event this weekend at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Three of those involved with Tellabration came to our studios for an interview: event organizer Shannon McNeal, Jonah McDonald and Gail Hogan. Our conversation began with Shannon McNeal, talking about what it’s like to be involved with an event with such international ties. WABE’s Kate Sweeney produces.
Web Bonus: Stories
“Torch for the Lord,” Shannon McNeal
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From “Slaying the Giants,” Jonah McDonald
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“Trickster Raccoon,” Gail Hogan
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Tuesday, November 15th
StoryCorps Atlanta: Marvin & Wendy Shoob
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As a United States district court judge for the last 30 years, Marvin Shoob has worked to stop overcrowding in the Fulton County Jail, and he’s made pivotal rulings allowing foster care children legal representation, among many other critical decisions. His daughter, Wendy Shoob, has been a Fulton County Superior Court judge for 15 years.
But long before Wendy was born, Marvin Shoob was called up from the Army reserves to fight in World War II. He told his daughter the story.
A warning: This story contains some violent content which may be disturbing to some listeners.
New Marietta Company Says “Yes” to Daring Theater
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At a time when many metro Atlanta theaters and arts organizations are facing grave financial challenges, one brand new theater company has sprung to life with a bold production of the controversial play The House of Yes. WABE’s Kate Sweeney has the story.
A warning: This story mentions some sexual content that, while not graphic, may be disturbing to some listeners.
Monday, November 7th
National Day of Listening 2011
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The day after Thanksgiving may be known most as the nation’s number one shopping day, however, since 2008, the final Friday of November also has received another designation: the National Day of Listening. It’s a time when Americans are invited to sit down, turn on a tape recorder, and ask a loved one about his or her life. To find out more about this year’s celebration, host John Lemley spoke with StoryCorps Atlanta’s Amanda Plumb.
For more information about this year’s National Day of Listening, including the upcoming workshop at the Wren’s Nest, visit StoryCorps Atlanta’s website.
Local Book Events
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Executive Director of the Decatur Book Festival and curator of verb.org Daren Wang stops by to talk about local area books and book events.
Harry Belafonte at the Carter Center- My Song: A Memoir
Alice Hoffman at Zaban Park- The Dovekeepers
Tom Brokaw at the Carter Center- The Times of Our Lives
