Of Interest ...
Mertz earns IB award
Dr. Margaret Stover Mertz, executive director of
the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, has earned
an award from the International Baccalaureate honor
ing her exemplary .service to the organization.
The International Baccalaureate (IB), which is
headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, offers high
quality programs of international education to a
worldwide community of schools. IB's three pro
grams for students aged 3 to 19 help develop the intel
lectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live,
learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world. There
are more than 616,000 IB students at 2316 schools in
127 countries.
Mertz was honored at the 40th annual meeting of
the Board of Governors for the International
Baccalaureate in Atlanta. Mertz was the IB's Chief
Examiner for music from 1995 through 2000, and the
Group 6 representative at the Diploma Review
Committee 2000-2005. In 2004, she became Vice
chair of the Examining Board, and was simultaneous
ly a member of the global Professional Development
Committee and the IB North America Professional
Development Committee.
Mertz began her involvement with IB in 1991
when she accepted a job of instructor in music at the
Armand Hammer United World College of the
American West in 1991. She eventually assumed the
responsibility of setting assessment standards world
wide and taking on a leadership role in developing
curriculum. The Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the
Arts builds partnerships to support creative projects,
many of which are associated with the North Carolina
School of the Arts.
Auditions to be held for
Anderson's "Remus"
The Flonnie Anderson Theatrical Association
(FATA) is inviting local actors and actresses interest
ed in performing in the original musical comedy
"Remus" to attend auditions on Saturday, May 31
from 1 1 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Wentz
Anderson
Memorial United Church of
Christ, 3435 Carver School
Rd.
Written and directed by
Anderson,. the musical fable is
based on the famed "Uncle
Remus Tales" by Joel Chandler
Harris.
The tales are taken from
African folktales brought to the
New World by slaves, who pri
marily settled in the
Southeastern United States.
"I am looking for the young and young at heart to
help bring this show to life once again," said
Anderson. "It's a fun show with a series of serious
messages that the young and the not so young can
relate to."
Those interested in auditioning for a role in the
musical are asked to bring their theatrical biography,
to prepare a song, and to be prepared to read a part
from the musical upon request. The cast will be com
prised of male and female actors and actresses ranging
in age from 12 to 65.
For more information about the audition or to
schedule an audition time slot, call 336-776-8046.
Janet Jackson announces tour
NEW YORK (AP) ? Though going out on tour
means connecting with fans, it can also mean long
hours, high stress, and sleepless nights. Janet Jackson
says she's looking forward to all of it.
"I love all of that, all of that pressure, I really do,"
Jackson told The Associated Press on Monday as she
gears up for a North American tour to kick off in
September.
The tour, which opens in Vancouver, British
Columbia on September 10 and includes dates in New
York and Washington, is Jackson's first in seven years.
But the singer, who just turned 42 last week, said she
hadn't planned on waiting for so long.
"I was supposed to go on tour with the last album,"
said Jackson, referring to the 2006 CD "20 Y.O." But
the singer said her record label wanted her to wait for
her latest CD, "Discipline."
Jackson's shows have always been heavy on cho
reography and glitzy sets. But she promised fans some
surprises this time around.
While only a few dates have been announced for
the Live Nation tour, Jackson expects to take the
"Rock Witchu" tour (named, by the way, for a song on
her new album, not for her brother Michael's famous
hit) worldwide. Tickets go on sale June 7.
Hudson to launch album in fall
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar-winning
"American Idol" castoif Jennifer Hudson plans to
release her self-titled debut album in September, with
the first single, "Spotlight," hitting U.S. radio outlets
in June, her label said on Monday.
"Spotlight," described as a song about insecurities
within a relationship, was composed by R&B song
writer and vocalist Ne-Yo, who co-produced along
with the Norwegian production duo known as
Stargate.
Additional contributors on the album include
Timbaland, Robin Thicke, the Underdogs, Diane
Warren and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
Hudson's debut is being released through the
SonyBMG label Arista Records, with "Spotlight" hit
ting the airwaves on June 9. The song will be made
available for digital download the following day.
She next appears in the upcoming film adaptation
of the HBO TV series "Sex in the City" and on its
soundtrack, due May 27, as well as "The Secret Life
of Bees," which hits U.S. theaters on October 17.
NCSA alum
Tazewell,
others earn
Tony nods
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
North Carolina School of the
Arts alumnus Paul Twewell, who
studied in the School of Design
and Production, has been nominat
ed for another Tony Award.
Tazewell, who received a
Bachelor of Fine Arts from NCSA
in 1986, was nominated for Best
Costume Design of a Musical for
"In the Heights," which received a
total of 13 nominations including
Best Musical. Tazewell has been
nominated for a Tony twice
before: for "The Color Purple" in
2006 and for "Bring in 'Da Noise,
Bring in 'Da Funk" in 1996
The Tony nominations were
announced last week and will be
presented live on CBS on Sunday,
June 15.
Many f<jCSA alumni are asso
ciated with nominated shows this
year. They include:
? Ryan O'Gara, is associate
lighting designer for "In the
Heights," which was nominated
for 13 awards, including Best
Lighting Design of a Musical
(Winston-Salem native Howell
Binkley, an ECU alumnus, was
nominated as lighting designer).
O'Gara is also associate lighting
designer for Tony nominated
shows "Cry-Baby," "Gypsy" and
"Xanadu."
? Karole Armitage was the cho
reographer for "Passing Strange,"
which was nominated for seven
awards, including Best Musical.
? Rebecca Naomi Jones plays
Sherry/Renata/Desi in "Parsing
> File Photo
Paul Tazewell sits near one of his designs.
Actress Rebecca Naomi Jones
Strange," which was nominated
for seven awards, including Best
Musical. - -
? Isaac Klein is the assistant
director of "Gypsy," which is
nominated for seven awards
including Best Direction of a
Musical. The director is Arthur
Laurents, who holds an honorary
doctorate from NCSA.
? Jennifer Ferrin stars as
A n n a b e 1 1 a
Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret in "The
39 Steps," which was nominated
for six awards including Best Play.
? Grady Bowman is the assis
tant dance captain, as well as
swing and understudy, on the
revival of "South Pacific," which
was nominated for 1 1 awards
including Best Revival of a
Musical and Best Choreography.
? Brandon Kahn was a produc
tion assistant on "South Pacific,"
which was nominated for 11
See Tonys on All
It Ain't Over 'til Jessye Speaks
UNC Photo
VNC Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser congratulates Jessye Norman on her honorary doctorate.
The opera legend also served as the speaker for Carolina's May commencement. The outdoor ceremo
ny was cut short due to rain, but not before Norman told a crowd of 15JD00 to "resolve to become
acquainted with the teachings of your heart, your soul's music. And imagine, if you will, the harmony
this could bring to our world."
Jones receives honorary degree
BY CHERYL WITTENAUER
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?
ST. LOUIS - Music impresario and long
time humanitarian Quincy Jones added
anotner title last rriaay to nis
long resume.
The composer, arranger and
conductor was awarded a doctor
ate of humane letters from
Washington University. He was
nominated by African American
Studies Professor Gerald Early,
who wrote the liner notes to
Jones' 2001 retrospective boxed
set, "Q: The Musical Biography
of Quincy Jones."
Jones patted his heart, raised
his fist to the sky, and blew kiss
es to the audience in thanks tor
their wild applause and a standing ovation.
The 27-time Grammy Award winner com
posed scores for 35 films and produced the
best-selling album of all time, Michael
Jackson's "Thriller." He told The Associated
Press after Friday's ceremony, "you just try
to do your best."
"I've just turned 75 and I feel like I'm
just beginning." . -j
He said in an interview he's working to
produce three albums and score nine films,
including one in Brazil. But he said his "No.
Early
1 project is a children s renet j
effort in Cambodia through his
foundation.
"Every kid in the world has the
right to eat, the right to an educa
tion," Jones said, bemoaning the
millions whose right is not ful
filled.
"I have seven children of my
own. I really care."
He said he also will remain,
along with Oscar-winning director
Ang Lee, as an artistic adviser to
the Beijing Olympics. ' Steven
Spielberg abandoned the post in
February in protest of China's role in the
Darfur conflict.
"I'm not a finger pointer," Jones said, but
added he's doing his part to apply pressure
on China. He wants the country to reassess
its policy in Darfur and do more to stop glob
al climate change.
WFU
librarian
wins
award
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Susan Sharpless Smith,
head of information technolo
gy at Wake Forest
University's Z. Smith
Reynolds Library, has been
selected by the Association of
CoUege and Research
Libraries (ACRL) to receive
its 2008 Instruction Section
(IS) Innovation Award.
The award annually recog
nizes a project that demon
strates creative, innovative or
unique approaches to informa
tion lit
e r a c y
instruc
tion or
pro
gram
ming.
Smith
will
receive a
$3,000
cash
prize
Smith
and commemorative plaque
June 29 during the American
Library Association's annual
conference in Anaheim, Calif.
Smith was chosen for her
participation as an "embedded
librarian" in a sociology
course called "Social
Stratification in the Deep
South." The 2007 summer
course included a two-week
bus tour from North Carolina
through South Carolina,
Georgia, ? Alabama,
Mississippi,,, Louisiana and
Tennessee to examine first
hand the race, class and gen
der issues that have long
divided the region. Smith
helped students create online
blogs, upload photographs and
maintain an interactive course
Web site throughout the trip.
"This library-academic
partnership project demon
strates how librarians can
make a positive and dramatic
impact on a program," said
Susan Beck, IS awards com
mittee chair and 'collection
development coordinator at
the New Mexico State
University Library. "The
embedded instruction pro
gram from Wake Forest
University serves as a model
for true collaboration between
librarians and faculty."
Earl Smith, Rubin
Professor of American Ethnic
Studies and professor of soci
ology, and Angela Hattery,
associate professor of sociolo
gy, had taught the course
twice before "and noted the
pronounced difference made
by Smith's presence as an
embedded librarian.
"The course was 10 times
better with the technological
input from Susan," Hattery
said. "She was able to design
technology that allowed us to
implement course goals that
See Smith on All
Pile Photo
Music legend Quincy Jones.