The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has received a gift of $5 million from Jane Stephens Comer, to be used in partnership with the Alys Stephens Center, for a cultural arts education program for Birmingham-area children in pre-school through high school.

The announcement was made Thursday, Sept. 24 by UAB President Carol Z. Garrison at the joint University Day luncheon of the UAB National Alumni Society and the UAB Leadership Cabinet at The Club atop Red Mountain.

“A few years ago Jane shared with us her life dream to create a place that would give children the opportunity to encounter all genres of visual and performing arts in an innovative environment; a unique center for the arts where children and young people would have the opportunity to create performances, attend programs by world-class performing artists and forge collaborative relationships with UAB, the Alys Stephens Center, and other organizations in the community in all arts genres,” Garrison said.

“After much research and planning, we are delighted to announce that Jane’s passion for the arts, and her understanding of the profound impact the arts have on children, are coming together to create exactly what she dreamed of—a cultural arts education center for children—with this extraordinarily generous gift, for which we are so grateful.”

Some program events are slated to occur next summer, and the full program will launch in September 2010.

Comer was instrumental in founding the ASC Kids’ Club Series, an annual series designed to entertain, educate and inspire children through the performing arts. Additionally, she has been a supporter of the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Alabama Ballet, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and the Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham.

“The Alys Stephens Center has been one of the highlights of my life, and the joy that the Kids’ Club Series has given to me led us to this endeavor,” Comer said. “It’s very exciting, and it promises to be very original.”

At today’s luncheon, Comer received the Honorary Life Member Award from the UAB National Alumni Society, bestowed upon those individuals whose contributions to UAB have benefitted the entire University community. She dedicated it to the memory of her mother, the late Alys Robinson Stephens, for whom the Alys Stephens Center is named.

Nov. 5, Support the Arts and Win a 2009 Smart® Car From The Alys Stephens Center

Hailing From Birmingham, Alabama, the organic sound of Act Of Congress combines hook laden melodies, compelling songwriting, and intelligent acoustic instrumentation that’s rapidly gathering attention throughout the country. Having released their debut album “Declaration” (2008), Act Of Congress’ sound is grounded, approachable and technically masterful. In two short years, the band has been recognized by the likes of Paste Online, SXSW, Disney, and Billboard (chosen from over 2000 submissions to compete and ultimately win the 2008 Disc Makers IMWS Award.) AOC has also worked with Live Nation, opening VIP areas for artists such as John Mayer, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and Brooks and Dunn.

With lush harmony, articulate instrumentation and a live show that will leave you speechless, Act of Congress’ musical vistas sweep from the ground breaking sounds of Nickel Creek, Mute Math, and John Mayer to the weaving soundscapes one might find sprinkled throughout Matthew Perryman Jones or Radiohead. Timeless compositions of masterful lyrics and musicianship abound throughout each song, combining vintage acoustic instrumentation with sweeping layers of varied musical roots to create a truly magical experience.

Chris Griffin (guitar/dobro) and Adam Wright (mandolin/guitar), became friends in college. Wright, a pianist turned guitar player turned mandolin player, says ” After being exposed to progressive bluegrass music, Chris and I both became very interested in modulating our singer songwriter/rock knowledge to acoustic instruments. That style evolved from a casual jam to one that requires an extraordinary high level of musicianship,” Says Wright, “The playing is very demanding. This is not a style of music where you can not play for a month then get up and do a show again. We work really hard on keeping the songs up to par. Vocally, it’s equally demanding as well. But in the end, there’s nothing else we’d rather be doing.”

In late “2006, Tim Carroll (upright bass) was hired to perform with Chris on several tracks for Ferret Recording Artist Maylene and the Sons Of Disaster”s II album. A friendship and respect developed between the three, and the notion to create a new progressive acoustic band originated. Almost a year later, Bethany Borg, fiddle champion in ten states, relocated from a two year stint performing in Branson Missouri, and after hearing her play at an afternoon rehearsal, the quartet solidified.

From industry professionals to casual music fans, everyone can relate to the group’s sound. Their debut album titled “DECLARATION” produced by Jason Elgin, (Collective Soul, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Lynam) and mastered by Roger Lian (White Stripes, Deftones, Staind) recently Sold Out it’s release concert at Workplay, “One of PASTE magazine’s 40 best venues in America.”

Listen now with the ASC Music Player.  See them live at inter-ART-ive at the ASC on Thursday, September 17.
 
 
 
 

The kids started off the two-week camp with auditions. From monologues to songs, the kids showed off their talent to Quinton Cockrell, the show’s director. The cast list was announced on day two and the kids immediatley began rehearsals. Since that day, the schedule has included warm-ups, theater games, blocking (or giving stage direction), and REHEARSING. The kids have been living, breathing, and singing “School House Rock” day and night. At carpool, we often hear “Conjunction Junction” blasting from the parent’s car as they drive away.

The kids have done a terrifc job but the two weeks have not been without stress. Memorizing lines, songs, stage direction, and remembering the daily corrections can be very tiring. Regardless, the kids have done so with joy and enthusiasm day in and day out.

And all their hard work will definitely pay off in the end. The camp culminates with an evening performance of “School House Rock” for friends and relatives. For many of the kids, this will be their first time on stage. I know the parents will be very proud of the strides their kids have made in terms of speaking ability, acting, and confidence. As the Alys Stephens Center intern, I couldn’t be prouder of these students’ accomplishments. They have certainly rocked the school house… all while learning, making friends, and having fun!

Check out pictures from dress rehearsal!

ASC summer intern Fernanda Lima is a sophomore majoring in Business and Dance at The University of Alabama. Fernanda is a graduate of Vestavia Hills High School.

And, we encourage you to blog in your opinions and comments on these local musicians.  Let’s get a dialogue going – this is your performing arts center after all.

After Work & Outdoors
at the Alys Stephens Center

The perfect way to end your day or start your night!

Every Thursday April 30 – May 21

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Rain or Shine

FREE, No Ticket Required

Experience a different sound every week with live music by Birmingham’s best up-and-coming bands and musicians.

april 30 – chill to the poetry & spoken word of asc artist-in-residence Sharrif Simmons, while enjoying manhattan drink specials and food for sale from Salt: Fine Catering.

may 7 –  get the party started with latin beats and dance lessons from DJ Carlos & Latinsoul Productions. plus, killer margarita specials and food for sale from Saturday Gourmet!

may 14 – grab a cocktail from the martini bar, food from Little Savannah, and groove to local favorites
The Martini Shakers.

may 21 –  enjoy southern mint juleps, food from Jim N Nicks Bar-B-Que, and original newgrass from
The Jason Bailey Band.

▪  Beverages from Good People Brewing Company, Johnnygreenseeds Wines, and Morgan Creek Winery

▪  Great local food for sale from Salt:Fine Catering, Little Savannah, Saturday Gourmet, Whole Foods, and Jim N’ Nicks Bar-B-Que

▪  Ticket Giveaways

▪  Eco-friendly vendors and recycling and composting of event materials

▪  Carpooling is encouraged

Become an ASC Junior Patron and enjoy the JP Lounge complete with complimentary beer & wine and delicious food.

Special thanks to the Emerging Arts Leaders Association, Slow Food – Birmingham, Jones Valley Urban Farm, 100.5 FM, the Southern Environmental Center, ASC’s Junior Patron Board, Alabama State Council on the Arts, Whole Foods, Birmingham Weekly, Good People Brewing, and the new Live 100.5.

Here’s what’s being said about her new disc Trav’lin’ Light.

Amazon.com
With Trav’lin’ Light, singer/actress/rapper/Cover Girl Queen Latifah (née Dana Owens) continues her chameleonic pan-stardom. The latest musical chapter in Latifah’s success-studded career began with 2004’s The Dana Owens Album, on which she emerged as a nuanced crooner of jazz and R&B standards. She continues this mode on her Verve records debut, adding ample individuality to such well-loved classics as Johnny Mercer’s title track, Nina Simone’s “I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl,” and Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” (with legendary harmonica pioneer Toots Thielemans). Steve Wonder’s own harmonica playing lends nostalgic ornament to an otherwise rather forced “Georgia Rose,” and much of the album languishes in similarly downbeat fare, though Latifah’s voice is never wholly unbecoming of her song choices. Toward the album’s end comes a welcome swerve for the energetic. Inspiring takes on the Pointer Sisters’ “How Long” and Curtis Mayfield’s “Gone Away” lead into the soaring choruses of “I Know Where I’ve Been.” Taken together, these three songs superbly straddle the spectrum from the former rapper to the still-newly minted singer with a long lease on success and a peerless sense of how to grow older gracefully. –Jason Kirk

The Boston Phoenix

Queen Latifah is never going to be Billie Holiday or even Macy Gray, but 2004’s surprise hit, The Dana Owens Album, proved she had a set of pipes. Trav’lin Light, her second set of standards and first recording for Verve, vindicates the rapper-turned-actress-turned-diva from any lingering charges of crossover pandering; she’s obviously as serious about this as any of her other pursuits. Abetted by a small army of producers and support players, Latifah croons her way through tunes by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Nina Simone, Peggy Lee, and the Pointer Sisters respectfully, enthusiastically, and competently, albeit not particularly distinctively. Stevie Wonder’s harmonica on “Georgia Rose” is so immediately identifiable that it threatens to steal the vocalist’s thunder, and Latifah’s foray into Motown territory, Smokey Robinson’s “What Love Has Joined Together,” would have been a buried Tammi Terrell B-side had Latifah been working for Berry Gordy. But her blues is formidable on Simone’s “I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl,” she swings like crazy on the Sarah Vaughan vehicle “I’m Gonna Live Till I Die,” and the über-production of the Impressions’ “Gone Away” justifies the Queen-sized vocal Latifah brings to it.

There are those stars that can do everything and succeed. Queen Latifah anyone? If you haven’t heard her early rap work, you should, because it is ground breaking. If you haven’t seen “Chicago” or “The Secret Life of Bees,” you should, because they are both astounding performances. If you haven’t heard her jazz albums, they will amaze you. Queen can do it all. Not many artists can do it all, but she can. I’m happy that I get to hear that jazz soon and very soon. When they announced the ASC gala artist for 2009…. I said to myself… “What better? A Queen!”

Check out Queen Latifah’s version of “Poetry Man” here.

Don’t miss her live performance at the Alys Stephens Center on April 4, 2009! Great seats are still remaining! Tickets are $125 each and include a posh pre-show reception with complimentary wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres and reserved seats for Queen Latifah’s performance. This is the Alys Stephens Center’s only fundraiser of the year and the funds raised benefit the Center’s educational and programming offerings. For tickets, call (205) 975-2787.

This year’s ceremony focused less on trying to be funny (when was the last time it succeeded at that?) and more on the movie-making process and the many elements that have to come together to get a story off the ground, into production, and then into a theatre.  When you think about it, giving all the hurdles in place, it’s a miracle that a movie even gets made.  And, when it’s finished it does become a work of art – as much as a canvas or a recording. 

That’s why I’m happy the ASC is presenting the Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival on Saturday, March 7.  This gives us all a chance to celebrate the art of filmmaking and in this particular case, salute our fellow Southerners and their talents.

Whether you’re a film maker, film buff, or just someone who enjoys being a witness to creativity, we hope you will join us for one or both of the short films sections.  

Here’s what’s in store:

Alys Stephens Center presents a SOUTHERN SAMPLER

This exciting new film festival spotlights recently produced short films by filmmakers from the Southeast. Screening One and Two feature a completely different film lineup. Come to one event or all three!

Tickets are $10 each per event, or you can reserve the full experience for only $25!

Shorts Screening 1 ($10): 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. 

Session 1 Films include:
Crossin’ All the Boundaries
Undocumented
Our World
Going to the Beach
Torn Asunder
99 to 1: Ovarian Cancer and Me
Swimming to the Moon

Chat ‘n Chew Dinner Break ($10): Box dinners will be available featuring Southern favorites like black eye pea salad, pecan chicken salad sandwich, fruit, dessert, and iced tea. Cash Bar also available. Plus, check out Southern crafts and artwork. Please reserve your box dinner in advance.

Shorts Screening 2 ($10): 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Here’s just a taste:

99 to 1: Ovarian Cancer and Me
Documentary Short
Directed by Phoebe Brown
Atlanta, Georgia

In the summer of 2005, doctors said they were 99% sure that filmmaker Phoebe Brown did not have ovarian cancer. She turned out to be part of the 1%. “99 to 1″ is a quirky, funny self-portrait of a cancer survivor.

I Always Do My Collars First: A Film About Ironing
Documentary Short
Directed by Conni Castille and Allison Bohl
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

This short documentary follows four dynamic Cajun women in Southwestern Louisiana as they go about their daily lives and their ironing routine. An emotional and cultural process, ironing is performed with an aesthetic sensibility that helps define these women and their families.

Check out these cool images!

The audience up close & personal with cowboy junkies

like seeing a show in a really large living room

our lighting guy rocks