Calendar of Events

For more than a decade, David Blaine has been attracting the attention of the world, including the world’s leading scientists, with his high-profile physical endurance stunts. Starting his career as a street magician who appeared to do the impossible with a deck of cards, he was soon following in the footsteps of Houdini - seeking out that which seems physically impossible and doing it for real. To that end, he’s been buried alive for a week, survived on nothing but water for 44 days, stood atop a 100-foot-tall pillar with no safety net for 36 hours, and barely survived being encased inside a six-ton block of ice for three days and three nights. In 2008, he smashed the world record by holding his breath underwater for an unbelievable 17 minutes and four seconds.

Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information/tickets: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com, www.ticketmaster.com

Join the Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus on Thursday, June 21 to kick off their summer tour with Pitches Please. This smaller ensemble is sure to delight with their vocal talent and smooth harmonies. $15

Modern Studio is a BYOB venue with valid ID, 21+. Doors open at 7:30.

Modern Studio, 109 W Anderson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-323-2425, www.modernstudio.org

Knoxville Children’s Theatre (KCT) will hold auditions on Thursday, June 21 for the upcoming stage production of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” based on the classic novel by Mark Twain. When Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn happen to witness the murder of Doc Robinson, the two boys are plunged into a series of adventures, including foiling a gold robbery, and escaping to a Mississippi island! Tom and his girlfriend Becky Thatcher risk life and limb to unmask the murderer and find the treasure of a lifetime! Zack Allen has adapted the classic novel into a humorous and suspenseful play for children and families. Mark Twain’s beloved characters, including Tom, Huck, Becky Thatcher, Aunt Polly, Widow Douglas, Muff Potter, Doc Robinson, and Injun Joe, will keep audiences smiling and on the edge of their seats!

The audition will take place from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM at KCT at 109 E. Churchwell Avenue. Auditions are by appointment only. Auditioners may choose from the following appointment times: 4:30 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:30 PM, 6:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 7:00 PM, and 7:30 PM. Six auditioners will be seen at each appointment time; a maximum of 42 auditioners will be seen.

There at least 15 available roles for actors aged 11 to 17. There are at least five major male roles and five major female roles. There are at least two roles for actors making his/her KCT debut. Auditioners should prepare a SHORT one-minute monologue from a play or novel. The monologue should feature and a theatrical level of volume and expression. The play’s genre is comic thriller. Choose an appropriate monologue with large theatrical ranges, preferably from a published play. No songs or poems. Monologues will be evaluated on volume, clearness of diction, depth of emotional expression, and comic timing. Ability of physical transformation is a major plus. Ability to convey a German accent will also strengthen a female applicant’s chances.

Auditioners should bring their calendars. All actors will be asked to list all conflicts with the rehearsal schedule. The director will make every attempt to work around conflicts, whenever possible. Rehearsals will begin on or around Monday, July 1, continuing through Thursday, August 16. No rehearsal will held on July 4. Rehearsals are held Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. Actors should expect to attend most, but not all, rehearsals; conflicts may be listed at audition. Tech rehearsals, on August 9, 12, 13, 15 & 16, are mandatory. Actors must also be available for all 14 regular performances: August 17 through September 2, Thursdays through Sundays.

To make an audition appointment: visit http://knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com/register-for-an-audition/. You will find some helpful tips for your audition at: http://knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com/audition-tips/

African American Appalachian Arts, Inc. (AAAA) and area sponsors are delighted to present one of Knoxville's most anticipated and attended events - the 29th Anniversary KUUMBA Festival – “KUUMBA FOREVER”, June 22nd, 2018 at Downtown Market Square & Stage.

On Thursday, June 21, “Seeding a Garden in the Mind”: Graduation & African Naming Ceremony at Haley Heritage Square/Morningside Park to KICK OFF festival events from 6 PM – 8 PM. Kuumba Kamp participants are given praise and recognition for their dedicated efforts on attending the Kuumba Kamp. Camp participants, their families and the Greater Knoxville community are invited to witness a traditional African Naming Ceremony. (Audience members are encouraged bring fruits of any kind, water, and small gifts for the youth).

For more information & updates go to the festival’s website at www.kuumbafestival.com or by email at kuumbafest@gmail.com & kuumbakamp@yahoo.com.

This is a great opportunity to connect with artists and keep up with SCAC. Discuss ideas with good food and good company. Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share and your beverage of choice. Artists of all experience levels are also encouraged to bring one or two artworks to show and discuss.

At the Arts In Common Gallery, 129 Bruce Street, Sevierville, Tennessee. Information: commonsartscouncil@gmail.com or https://www.seviervillecommonsartscouncil.org/

The author of The Secret Garden was a Knoxville teenager known as Fannie Hodgson when she published her first story—150 years ago this month! With the help of scholar Paul Brown, who has recently turned up new information in his research of the British-born author’s early writing years, ca. 1868-1875, in Knoxville locations like “Noah’s Ark” and “Vagabondia Castle” will share what he has learned, and with readings from her first published story, and her obscure memoir about Knoxville, we’ll offer a toast to Ms. Burnett’s astonishing career.

We will meet in the Maple Hall lounge, 414 S. Gay Street. Dinner and bar menu available. Event is 21+

Knoxville History Project: 865-300-4559, www.Knoxvillehistoryproject.org

Art Exhibit at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church - Free and open to the public.
Reception Friday, June 15, 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Artists’ talks at 6:30 pm.

Bobbie Crews
This collection of portraits was done in oil on canvas, quickly capturing personalities and revealing information about that person in a quick and concise manner. Some of the portraits are fleshed out with color pushing the image off the canvas, while others are capture the essence with burnt umber over a toned canvas. Both have their charms.

A self-taught artist who later earned a BFA in 2007 as an adult at the University of Tennessee, Crews has done portraits of people all her life. In 2009 she began creating “Intimate Portraits of Automobiles.” She has earned awards at several “Concours d”Elegance” car shows around the country and has shown in art museums in El Dorado and Topeka, Kansas; Biloxi; Indianapolis; and Midland, Michigan. She’s currently exhibiting at Carlock Motorcar Company in Brentwood, Tennessee. The Knoxville Family Justice Center houses a permanent exhibit of her work about women’s issues. I’ve participated in many other group and solo exhibitions and her murals are scattered around East Tennessee. Published by PBS television, American Art Collector, Hemmings and other magazines, and a member of the OPA and Portrait Society of America, Crews works on commission, especially in portraiture; teaches; critiques; and gives workshops and presentations.

Clay Thurston
Thurston says, “Wildlife and nature are gifts that should be enjoyed and protected by all of us. Patience is the number one element of capturing my subject, and I will spend weeks, months and years learning animal behaviors, studying the environment and finally getting the photo.”

Born in New Hampshire and raised in Maine, Thurston finished his undergraduate degree in education at Sam Houston State and his Masters in Education and Biology at the University of Tennessee. He taught in Oak Ridge Schools for 33 years, retiring from teaching in 2005. Since then, he has worked full time in nature and wildlife photography. He has traveled the world and shared his experiences through his work with other nature enthusiasts. He was honored to present his work to the North American Nature Photographers Association a few years back and exhibits all over the eastern half of the United States. www.claythurston.com

Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Gallery hours: M-Th 10-5, Su 10-1. Information: 865-523-4176, www.tvuuc.org

The Nief-Norf Summer Festival (nnSF) is an interdisciplinary summer music festival, bringing together dozens of performers, composers, and scholars to collaborate on the performance, creation, and discussion of contemporary music. The nnSF offers an immersive think-tank environment in the state-of-the-art Natalie L. Haslam Music Center at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and presents 7-8 concerts of modern music, aiming to encourage both appreciation for live music and support for contemporary art.

The Nief-Norf Summer Festival features full-time, faculty-led workshops in performance, composition, and music technology lasting the duration of the festival. In addition, each year the nnSF hosts two international calls for projects: the first, a Call for Papers for a weekend-long Research Summit on contemporary music, and the second, a Call for Scores competition for composers. These projects bring some of our generation's brightest and most promising composers and scholars to the festival for interaction with the fellows, the faculty, and the Knoxville community.

For more information, go to http://www.niefnorf.org/festival-overview.

For ages 5-12. Dates: June 11-15, June 18-22, July 16-20, July 23-27, daily 9 AM – 4 PM at the Birdhouse, 800 N. 4th Avenue. We offer a kids camp, usually a week long, typically for ages 5-14. We tailor the lessons to multiple ages by working together in whole-group instruction or by splitting up into smaller groups to maximize learning. We spend the day together creating art through various art forms like music, improv games, visual art and dance. We meet-up at the end of the day and share our experiences in a cool down meditative share time. Our mission is to promote cooperation and the love of learning through art, craft and creativity! Through exploration of self we will find common ground in each other. Cost is $235 or $55 per day. https://kidsinthearts.weebly.com/ or karlalanhess@gmail.com

Join Us for Two Weeks of Acoustic Concerts at Clayton Center Nutt Theater, Maryville College, 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. June 11-15 and June 18-22 - Tickets $18
Special Contra Dance, Emily Abel Calling, Wednesday June 13 - Only $8

Any and Every Night is Fantastic! Entertainers From Around the World. Each year during the weeks of Kamp we have an internationally star studded concert series. This series is each night Monday through Friday. Each and every night is brilliant. Monday night could be your favorite night, so don't wait till Friday. Concerts begin at 7:00 PM with our Kamper Open Mic followed by the other Stars of the Night.

Monday, June 11: Cathy Fink, Finn Magill, Keith Yoder, Annie Savage, Donnie and Debbie Barbra
Tuesday, June 12: Rick Thum, Rachel Eddy, Aaron O'Rourke, Steve Kilby, Steve Baughman
Wednesday, June 13: Contra Dance with Emily Abel and the Kamp All Star Band 7:30 PM - Learning and Understanding Contra Dance 8 PM Dance Begins
Thursday, June 14: Richard Smith, Pat Kirtley, Evie Ladin, Carl Jones, Robin Kessinger, Josh Goforth
Friday, June 15: Marcy Marxer, Erynn Marshall, Steve Kaufman and Leftover Friends

Monday, June 18: Barbara Lamb, Jordan Ramsey, Phil Leadbetter, David Benedict, Dan Boner, Keith Yoder, Donnie and Debbie Barbra, Rob Bulkley
Tuesday, June 19: Gary Davis, Bill Evans, Jimmy Heffernan, Radim Zenkl, Andy Hatfield, Nate Lee, Annie Savage
Wednesday, June 20: Clive Carroll, Don Stiernberg, Stacy Phillips, Mark Cosgrove, Kent Knorr, Steve Roy, Ned Luberecki
Thursday, June 21: Eddie Adcock, Jerry Salley, Grant Gordy, Emory Lester, Kathy Chiavola, Annie Staninec, Roberto Dalla Vecchia
Friday, June 22: Russ Barenberg, Becky Buller, Steve Kaufman with The Kamp Leftover Friends

http://www.flatpik.com/kamp-concert-series or 865-982-3808

Reception: June 8, 6:30 – 8:00 PM - Free and open to the public.

Exhibit viewing hours: Hours: Tu & Th 9-5, W & F 10-5, 2nd-4th Sa 10-1. Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37918. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityartcenter.com

Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM, Book by JAMES LAPINE
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

Carousel Theatre, University of Tennessee, 1714 Andy Holt Avenue
(adjacent to the Clarence Brown Theatre)

June 8, 9, 10 - June 15, 16, 17 - June 21, 22, 23, 24
Friday’s, Saturday’s and Thursday - evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m.

The Tennessee Valley Players proudly present “Into the Woods.” James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone's favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching. The Brothers Grimm hit the stage with an epic fairytale about wishes, family, and the choices we make. This musical is presented "in the Round" at the Carousel Theatre next to the Clarence Brown Theatre on the University of Tennessee campus. The Tennessee Valley Players is pleased to produce the show in collaboration with the University of Tennessee School of Music. Admission is $20 a ticket and for children 12 years old and younger, $10 a ticket. Tickets can be purchased on the Tennessee Valley Players’ website with a credit card ahead of time. Tickets may also be purchased at the box office starting 1 hour prior to each show with cash, check, or credit card. Festival seating.

Tennessee Valley Players: 865-584-8173, www.tennesseevalleyplayers.org