Arts; & Entertainment
o
National Public Radio's 'This American
Life' hosts to perform at SECCA
Sarah Vowell and David Rakoff, regular contributors to
National Public Radio's "This American Life," will perform
at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art's McChes
ney Scott Dunn Auditorium on Saturday, April, 13, at 8 p.m.
A book signing will follow featuring recent writings by both
Vowell and Rakoff. The performance is a part of SECCA's
New Voices/New Visions Live! performance series, which
brings high caliber performances, including, dance, music,
performance art, reading and multimedia events to the Win
ston-Salem area.
Sarah Vowell has written about everything from her
father's homemade cannon and her obsession with the "God
father" films to the New Hampshire primary and her Chero
kee ancestors' forced march on the Trail of Tears. Thanks to
her first book. "Radio On: A Listener's Diary," Newsweek
made her its "Rookie of the Year" for nonfiction in 1997,
calling her "a cranky stylist with talent to burn." Reviewing
her second book, the essay collection "Take the Cannoli:
Stories From the New World," People Magazine said. "Wise,
witty and refreshingly warm-hearted, Vowell's essays on
American history, pop culture and her own family reveal the
bonds holding together a great, if occasionally weird,
nation."
Vowell is at work on her third book, "See America,"
which will be published by Simon and Schuster later this
year.
In addition to his regular commentary on "This American
Life," David Rakoff is also a frequent contributor to The
New York Times Magazine, a correspondent for Outside
magazine and has written for GQ. Salon, New York Maga
zine, Harper's Bazaar. The New York Observer and Wired,
among others. Rakoff has worked in theater with David and
Amy Sedaris as both an actor and as a director. His television
appearances include "Cosby," "As the World Turns," "Late
Night with Conan O'Brien." and "Late Night with David
Letterman." Rakoff's new collection of essays, "Fraud," was
published in May 2001 by Doubleday:
Admission is $20 for SECCA members, students and sen
iors. and $25 general admission. Group discounts are avail
able for parties of for eight or more. For more information or
for tickets, call SECCA at (336 >725-1904 or e-mail gener
41Lffiaecca.org.
Award-winning international circus
superstar Gregory Popovich to perform
He's a master juggler and an expert pet trainer. Does that mean
Gregory Popovich juggles cats?
"No. . . no. . . no." said Popovich, horrified by the irreverent
thought. "I do nothing against nature. It's like I say: Animals are peo
ple, too."
Popovich and his furry entourage - 10 cats, six dogs and eight
white rats - will entertain North Carolinians on Saturday, April 6, at
8 p.m. as part of this season's Family Series, presented by the High
Point Theatre. Tickets are $ 12 for adults and $6 for youths (up to age
12), and can be obtained from the High Point Ticket Center at (336)
887-3001, noon to 5 p.m. weekday^"Group and corporate sales: 883
3097.
A native of Russia. Popovich performed for 15 years in the
Moscow Circus and in 1988 won the coveted Monte Carlo Award for
juggling w hile standing on a ladder. In 1991 he came to America and
began a long-mn engagement at Circus Circus, in Las Vegas, where
he developed his wildly successful "House Cats" show into what he
now calls "Comedy and Pet Theater." His unique pet act was named
"Best of the West, 1999" by Sunset magazine and has been featured
on the Jay Leno and David Letterman late-night talk shows.
There's no doubt that Popovich respects and adores his fellow
entertainers. Every one of the performing cats and dogs is a rescue
animal, acquired from shelters. He learned quickly that, unlike some
members of the animal kingdom, cats aren't good at taking orders
and can't be bribed with food.
So he developed a different approach to coach his feline friends
to perform on cue. "When I teach them a trick, it's not work for my
cats; it's a continuous game. It's the only way they'll do it. If it's not
tun. they don't want to play."
Music returns to downtown streets
for fifth consecutive season
I*IThe Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership has announced that
Winston-Salem Events' Music in the Streets is back for another
Vtjir. bringing live entertainment to downtown Winston-Salem.
Brian Cole and Richard Emmett of Elevation Unlimited will again
tjiinage and produce the highly successful weekend music series,
now in its fifth consecutive season.
'' IMusic in the Streets will kick off on Thursday. May 2, at "Alive
After 5" with the classic Memphis soul and Southern R&B sounds
of Liquor House Soul Revue. "Alive After 5" will be held from 5-8
p.m. at Cotpening Plaza, at the comer of First and Liberty streets.
On Friday. May 3. "4th Street Jazz and Blues" will be back, featur
ing the soulful sounds of Melva Houston. Festivities on Fourth
Street will happen between Poplar and Spruce streets from 6:30
9:30 p.m. And. on Saturday. May 4, in the heart of the arts district
at the intersection of Sixth and Trade. "Summer on Trade" will
begin the season with bluegrasx favorite the Old Hollow String
Band from 7-10 p.m. The series will continue for 18 consecutive
weeks through August. Winston-Salem streets will be alive with
people, food, fun and rock. jazz, blues, reggae, roots, bluegrass and
old-time music.
Music in the Streets began in 1998 with "4th Street Jazz &
Blues." The performance series had an estimated attendance of
15.000 the first year. Since that time, the program has offered 210
nights of entertainment and attracted more than 200,000 people to
the downtow n core. Well-known national performers have included
Doc Watson, the Kruegger Brothers, Lonesome River Band and
Walter Wolfman Washington, to name just a few. Regional and local
performers have included Eddie from Ohio. Janice Price, Matt
Kendrick. The Smokey Valley Boys. Smyle Band and the Dirty
Dogs.
According to Glenda Keels of the Downtown Winston-Salem
Partnership, the Music in the Streets program has been the most suc
cessful component of the downtown revitalization to date. "We're
very proud of this program." Keels said. "It has definitely estab
lished downtown as the entertainment center of the city and has
See Of Interest on C8
No. 2 with a bullet
Hot new boy group B2K shocked the music industry last week
when its debut CD entered the Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart
at number 2. The disc sold a little more than 100,000 copies in
its first week of release.
Yolanda Adams will
host awards with
quarterback Warner
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - St. I
Louis Rams quarterback Kurt I
Warner and singer Yolanda Adams I
will host this year's Dove Awards P
show for Christian music, the 11
Gospel Music Association K
announced.
The show is April 25 at the I
Grand Ole Opry House, and will be I
aired on the PAX TV cable net- I
work.
Frank Breeden, president of the
uma, saiu Warner and Adams nave achieved the high
est honors in their fields and are respected for their pro
fessional accomplishments and personal integrity."
Warner led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory in
2000, then lost it to New England this past season.
See Adams on C9
Adams
Singer on
winning
streak at
Soul Train
Awards
Keys, Isleys
steal the night
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Newcomer Alicia Keys and veteran act the
Isley Brothers each took home a pair of trophies
March 20 from the 16th Annual Soul Train
Music Awards. Keys, who was nominated for
four awards, won best R&B/soul or rap new
artist for her hit "Fallin'," while her J Records
debut "Songs in A Minor" took the best
R&B/soul female album honor. The Isley Broth
ers. featuring Ron Isley, won best R&B/soul sin
gle for the track "Contagious," and best album
by a group, band or duo for the DreamWorks set
"Eternal."
Keys, who scored five Grammy Awards last
month, was also bestowed with the previously
announced Sammy Davis Jr. entertainer of the
year award, female. Rap icon Dr. Dre received
the male entertainer of the year award. In addi-.
lion, legendary R&B/soulsters the O'Jays were
honored with the 2002 Quincy Jones Award for
Outstanding Career Achievements.
Aaliyah, who died last August in a plane
crash shortly after completing a video in the
. Bahamas, posthumously won the best R&B/soul
single, female award for "Rock the Boat." The
track, which comes from her 2001 self-titled
Blackground/Virgin release, peaked last
November at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot
R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.
The Soul Train awards, which honor R&B,
soul, hip-hop, rap and gospel performances, will
be broadcast in syndication March 30-April 7
(check local listings or the official Soul Train
Awards Web site for details).
KRT Photo
Alicia Keys poses backstage dfter winning five Grammys last month.
Sec Singer <>n C8
From Broadway to Billboard
File photo
Heather Headley in "Aida"
Tony winner has
enlisted help of
hit makers for c
forthcoming CD
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
NEW YORK - Vocalist
Heather Headley. already an
accomplished and award-win
ning performer on the Broad
way scene, is preparing her
stunning solo debut CD (as yet
untitled) for release on RCA
Records in Summer 2002.
Having displayed awe
some chops on both her Torty
and Drama Desk Award win
ning turn in Elton John and
Tim Rice's Broadway smash,
"Aida" (where she originated
the title role of a captive
Nubian princess) and in "The
Lion King." Headley is ready
to have her chilling vocal
prowess he introduced to a
V
wider audience.
Considered one of the
most electrifying voices on
the scene. Heather has co
l
ic- V *
written several songs for her
debut CD and is working with
a stellar list of producers,
including Jimmy Jam and
Terry Lewis (whp have
penned songs for such people
as Janet Jackson, Whitney
Houston), Dallas Austin (who
has worked with TLC, Toni
Braxton) and Walter Afanasi
eff (who has written hits for
Celine Dion. Luther Vandross
and Barbra Streisand).
Headley is also working with
Malik Pendleton for the CD.
Pendleton has worked wij|a\
diva Mary J. Blige. Lvalwd
track that will appeafijMr
Headley's CD had to parfljft .ffl
own rigorous test "Nittnlr&iaCM
has to connect with nWMietBI""
and my voice," she recently jjS
said
Born in Trinidad, to "the
pastors of tfie BartRaria
Stf Heodley on C9
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