Winning Plays Headed to Dallas
AT+T Performing Arts Center has announced it’s full slate of Broadway shows coming next season for the Lexus Broadway Series. The most touted title, The Book of Mormon, a religious satire, was announced months ago. Created by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, most critics have hailed the wild musical-comedy. It won nine 2011 Tony Awards.
But other gems are also making a bow in North Texas.
A prequel to the story of the boy who refused to grow up, Peter and the Starcatcher provides a backstory for the character Peter Pan. Nominated for 9 Tony Awards, including Best Play, it took home 5 statues. Winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess includes such legendary songs as “Summertime,” and “I Got Plenty of Nothing.” Originally conceived by George Gershwin as an American folk opera, Porgy and Bess premiered in New York in the fall of 1935, and is considered an American classic. This newer version has been revamped to musical-theater style.
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Rounding out the season is an updated version of Godspell, a musical based on the Gospel of Matthew and interspersed with a variety of modern music; and a big, splashy show based on a hit animated film, Beauty and the Beast.
Teen Wins Symphony Competition
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra has announced the winner of the 2013 Erma Lowe Young Artist Competition, 16-year-old pianist Evan Ritter. Ritter, a Richardson, TX native, won the title for his performance of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. As winner of the 2013 Erma Lowe Young Artist Competition, Evan will receive a $5,000 scholarship from the Lowe Foundation, as well as the opportunity to play with the FWSO during its 2013-2014 season.
“I’ve been studying Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.3 in C Major for a little over a year,” Ritter said after winning. “I was nervous [going into the competition], but my mindset was to enjoy the opportunity to play and to be able to execute my interpretation to the best of my ability. I’m so very excited and grateful for the opportunity to play with the Fort Worth Symphony in the 2013-2014 season!”
Ritter studies with Dr. Bret Serrin at the Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas. He has won several competitions including the Collin County Young Artist Competition, the SunRay North Texas Youth Music Competition and the Lewisville Lake Symphony’s Young Artist Competition. In 2009 Ritter received First Place and Best Polonaise at the Sixth International Chopin Youth Piano Competition.
Art Students Take Honors
As part of its effort to support and encourage the artistic experience of students in Dallas/Fort Worth and the surrounding area, The Goss-Michael Foundation has announced the winners of the seventh annual Goss-Michael Foundation Student Art Contest. Since 2007, The Goss-Michael Foundation has hosted over 500 high school students in its annual art contest.
Public, private and home-schooled high school students from the greater Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas participated in this year’s competition which required students to explore and experiment with the theme “Conflict and Resolution.” This year over 27 high schools participated in the contest with 180 entries, a record number.
The $1,000 award was presented to first place winner, Amanda Woodruff with her photograph titled, “Tomato.” Woodruff attends Lovejoy High School in Lucas, Texas. Patrick Henson of Legacy High School in Mansfield, Texas was awarded $750 and second place with his charcoal piece, “Tearing the Sheets.” Also of Lovejoy High School, was third place winner and recipient of $500, Bethany Wong with her mixed media piece titled, “Japan.”
