Column: Glen Parsons, Eye on the Arts

The temps are cooling, the leaves are mostly gone, the air is clear and crisp, and we are bracing for what winter will hold for us. It’s a comfortable time of year to be out and about, and we will have lots of opportunities to do just that this month! You won’t want to miss the last few days of the Albert Lea Art Center’s “Re-Show” featuring local artists with art pieces made from all sorts of recycled items. The show runs through Nov. 3. The Art Center hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Also on Nov. 3 will be “3 Stars Tribute” by the DC Drifters at 7:30 p.m. at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. This show is presented by Denny Charnicki and will pay homage to Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, who lost their lives in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, after a concert at the Surf Ballroom in the late ’50s.

On Nov. 9 at 12:15 p.m., you can Meet the Met at Prairie Wind Coffee in downtown Albert Lea. Learn the background story of a new opera by British composer Thomas Ades, who makes his company debut conducting the Met premiere of his opera “The Tempest,” which has been widely praised as a modern masterpiece.

“The opera captures the magic of Shakespeare’s last play. It is a box full of magic tricks, which makes it a gift for me and for the designers,” said director Robert Lepage.

“The Tempest” will air starting at noon sharp on Nov. 10. Doors and the box office will be open at 11 a.m. Tickets are available so come to the third opera in the series at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. Each opera is seen live via satellite from the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. At the intermission, you will be able to see a backstage tour of the Met and hear interviews with some of the performers.

Coffee and treats will be available from Prairie Wind Coffee in the Green Room, as well. Tickets are $20 per person, but if you are a season ticket holder of either Civic Music or ACT you can show your season ticket and save $2 for each opera. Tickets are available online at actonbroadway.com or albertleacivicmusic.com. You can select your seats for any of the operas in the season. If it’s cold outside, the theater is nice and warm and cozy! We are so happy to offer this new opportunity to our community!

The Albert High School will present its musical “Honk!” on Nov. 15, 16, 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. There will be a senior citizen performance on Nov. 14 at noon. The musical “Honk!” is the story of the Ugly Duckling set to upbeat and fun music. It is a great family show. Tickets are available at Addie’s Floral and at the door.

Also on Nov. 15 the Albert Lea Art Center will feature Linda Ferguson through the Godtland Lecture Series. Ferguson’s topic is “The Art of Living and Staying Well.” Ferguson is a nursing supervisor at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea. The lecture is from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Art Center. Refreshments will be included. All Art Center events are free of charge!

The annual Cantori Concert, “Singing in the Season,” will be at 3 p.m. Nov. 18 at the United Methodist Church of Albert Lea. This year the Cantori will be performing Saint-Saens’ “Christmas Oratorio” for chorus, soloists, organ, harp and strings. The Canton will also sing various songs including “Christmas Glee,” a setting of five familiar Christmas carols arranged in jazz style. The concert is free and open to the public. An offering will be taken with proceeds going to the local food shelf. Everyone is invited!

The Albert Lea Art Center’s annual Festival of Trees can be seen at the Northbridge Mall this year. An open house, with refreshments, will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 25 and will run through the month of December. This year’s theme is “All That Glitters is Golden.” It seems so appropriate to have the Festival of Trees ready to usher us into December and the holiday season!

I hope you’ll find time in your busy schedule to include many of the events the arts community is offering! With Thanksgiving and family time, maybe you can include out of town family members to share some of these events! Enjoy!

 

Glen Parsons is a member of the Albert Lea Community Theatre.