Wow, what a fast week.  We had a great crowd for the Poetry Reading on Wednesday.   The next poetry reading will be in April 2010 in celebration of National Poetry Month.

Culligan Water Company moved from their Hendricks Street location.   Their old building is now owned by Shelby County.  There is no longer a need for the loading zone on Hendricks Street.   Thank you to Mayor Scott Furgeson on removing the yellow stripe and giving the Strand (2nd Baptist, 1st Baptist, the Library and everyone else on the block) an extra parking space.   The Strand appreciates the quick action on the part of the City to help provide as much parking as possible.  Parking is one thing that has not been an issue.  Even when we are packed, everyone seems to have a parking space.   It will be nice to have one more so close!

Bob S. ascended to the roof to do some preventative caulking.   While he was at it, it was time to replace the valves in the toilets.   Sure enough, we had one that didn’t seal and was causing the water to run.  By doing this simple maintenance, the Strand is able to keep our utility costs low.

Now for the NOVEMBER 2009 Schedule (drum roll if you please…)

We have another month of great variety.  Check out our web site for all the details.  We hope to see you at one of the events in November, but you don’t have to wait until then…

This weekend the Mel Brooks classic YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.   Friday at 8:00pm Saturday at 9:00pm.   There will be a costume contest on Saturday.   The Strand volunteers will be dressed up both nights.   Hope to see you at the movie.
Thanks for all you support.  We can’t do it without you!

Poetry Night hosted by Three Sisters Books and Gifts.

Below are Mary Kay, Barbara & Carolyn…

PS Fine Arts will be holding an auction of fine art at the Strand on Friday November 13, 2009.   As part of this auction, Hancock County artist W. L. Pope as given 3 signed and numbered prints for sale.  The proceeds from the sale of these three works will be donated to the Strand Theatre.    The Strand looks forward to hosting this event.

Calling all poets

Show your personality

Creatively speak

Haiku journalism aside, Three Sisters Books and Gifts will present a night of poetry at The Strand Theatre Wednesday featuring readings by three published poets and invites, encourages, and alliteratively asks local bards to recite works during an open-mic session.

“We have been pleasantly surprised with the number of local poets who have participated in our poetry nights.  The poets are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone by sharing their work with a warm and welcoming audience,” said Barbara Rogers, co-owner of Three Sisters Books and Gifts.

This semi-choreographed poetic jam will begin at 7 p.m. and all wordsmiths are metaphorically and literally encouraged to share their verbal skills, written and spoken. The evening will also include readings by a triad of published troubadours: Mary Sexson of Indianapolis, Tom Alan Orr of Morristown and Gaye McKenney of Shelbyville. All three are involved with the Writer’s Center of Indiana and Sexson and Orr will have poetic tomes available for purchase at The Strand Theatre during this night of rhythmic readings and vocal musings.  A newer, award-winning, voice in Hoosier verbal verse, McKenney, recently garnered the laurel of an “Honorable Mention,” in the James Hearst Poetry Prize. More significantly, she also had a poem, “Demolition,” published this year in the nation’s oldest literary magazine; “The North American Review.”

Sexson, who is a mother of two and teaches reading and language arts at a Montessori school, penned poems of celebration, longing and sometimes lament in her book “103 in the Light,” published in 2004.  She is a graduate of Indiana University and is a native-born bard. In the “World on Fire,” she speaks regretfully about herself to her recently- buried mother.

“I never did set the world

on fire, like my mama

said I would.

Never did turn

a head for good reason,

or do a noted thing.”

In a later emotional exploration she recalls her memories about her children and the promise of each new day in the poem “A Fine Silver Box.”

“I have a fine silver box

Tucked in the folds of my thoughts

where I store the beauty of my children;”

A little less than a decade before Sexson’s poetry saw printer’s presses, Orr published a slender and thoughtful volume entitled “Hammers in the Fog,” in 1995. Born in Bangor, Maine, he arrived in the Hoosier state in 1972 and writes often eloquent songs about both the street life and fields of Indiana.

In “Gnat Dreams,” Orr reminisces about life, birth and existence around the Shelby County farm, he has lived on since 1986:

“Something ancient drives a man to gamble with a seed

In the pitch of the dirt or the dark of the womb,”

Elsewhere in this reflective volume he explores the problems and mentalities of a medley of strange, ironic and often destitute characters encountered in his 20-year career in human services. For example, in “The Turtle Lady,” he vividly depicts the turmoil and travail of a life lived on the fringes of society and how this affects those caught up in the webs of marginal existence.

“Some say she is crazy

When she crawls inside herself

And sees things in the dark,

But the Turtles know. They know.”

In a not so strange, twisted, triangular tale, each of this triad of troubadours have read works before in this town and will once again voice their touching words during this, the third, poetry reading (at the Strand Theatre) sponsored by Three Sisters Books and Gifts on the third day of this week.

“This community is blessed to have these three ladies doing so much work for the community of Shelbyville and to offer this venue,” said  McKenney. “It is a great showcase for both novice and published poets alike to read their works.”

This preview does not express the opinion of the Strand Theatre.

Submitted by:  Terrance Aldridge

Private Event

The Strand is busy, there is no doubt about it.   The past week we saw the final lecture in our series, the Cobbler Gobblers and the Complete Unknowns.  It was quite the diverse line-up for a single week!   This week we are going to be a little more mainstream.  Poetry on Wednesday and Young Frankenstein this weekend.   What?  You don’t think that is mainstream?  For us it is!

The Poetry Reading, presented by Three Sisters Books, will start at 7:00pm on Wednesday.  This will be open mic night, so bring your prose and share with all.  We are trying to establish a habit of having poetry in April and October.  So far so good.  Please join us for an interesting and entertaining evening.  This event is FREE.
Friday and Saturday we are showing the Mel Brooks classic “Young Frankenstein”.   The movie will start at 8:00pm on Friday and 9:00pm on Halloween Night.   On Saturday night we will have a costume contest too!   Hope to see you there!

It is becoming evident that the theatre is missing a few key components.  It seems as though every event wants to utilize our projection capabilities.  That is great, but we do not own a laptop or computer.  Each user must bring in their own computer equipment which must then be set up to interface with our equipment.  It sure would be nice to have our own computer equipment ready to go at all times.   We are looking for computer equipment that is not too old.  If you have a laptop or desktop that your recently replaced or are not using, please consider donating it to the Strand. We did a short analysis of what we need, and to do things right we need 2 laptops and 2 desktop computers.   The Strand is fortunate to have several excellent PC technicians and network administrators in our pool of volunteers.   What might seem useable to some is still valuable to us.   Thanks.

We have a few things that we are working out (warning, lots of tech talk ahead).  It has become evident that our acoustics do not support the screen in the down position and a set of drums on the stage at the same time.   The problem is that our screen is solid.  When down it reflects sound out and up.  If you sit in the balcony all you hear is drums.  There is no way to tone them down with the unwanted acoustic help the screen is providing.  We have reluctantly informed our performers that the screen will be unavailable if they have percussion.  We are working on a power point template that will allow us to project on the half wall in the proscenium (of course we need a computer first, see above paragraph!)  Once completed, we will still be able to have video presentation during these concerts, but for now no dice.

(tech talk continues…) Since Ron B. is on a roll with the screen problem, he is taking the opportunity to reinforce our other problem, which although existing, doesn’t come into play as much.  It is still something that needs addressed.   The main speakers in our auditorium are up high and on either side, you can see the grilles clearly from the audience.  Behind those grilles are two very old (but still good) Altec Lansing “Voice of the Theatre” speakers.  To give you an idea how old they are, the Strand was only 40 went those bad boys rolled off the assembly line.   The problem really isn’t with the speakers as much as the speaker placement.   The current position the speakers are BEHIND the performer.   This means that if you have a more omni-directional microphone, such as a lapel mic, it will hear the sound emanating from the speakers behind and cause feedback.  This is something we physically cannot solve.  Ron has given it the gallant try, only to come up short.  (to be fair, he says the newer $500 per pop lapel mics will work better, but none of our users nor the Strand has any of those.)   The speakers behind the stage just aren’t a good idea.   To solve this, we have agreed upon a strategy that will accomplish many things.   We are going to move the speaker enclosures forward about 7 feet so they are even with the front of the pilaster on either side of the stage.  We will then build an acoustically tight box for the speakers.  This will provide better mid-range and bass response.  We will also be able to increase the grille size and purchase new speakers.  The 50 year old speakers have done their job and need to go to speaker retirement.   The new speakers will provide a warm, crisp and rich sound.   The area behind the new platform will be ideal for things that will become necessary when we install our theatre pipe organ.  They will as provide additional lighting positions.   The idea just keeps getting better and better.   Bob S. says that the new platforms build to hold the speakers will help our air flow.  The new section will be immediately above our current air vent.  This will keep the air from heading straight for the balcony.  We have a few degree difference between the main floor and the balcony.   This will help mitigate that temperature disparity.   But wait, there’s even more!   The new speaker placement will allow us to install a valance even with the front of the first pilaster.  It will effectively bring the proscenium 14 feet forward.  This will look great, and we will only have a two foot section of stage that will extend past the speakers.   When completed it will change the look of our stage for the better.

This is being planned now and work will hopefully start in January during our heavy maintenance month.   We will be showing only films so we can have most of the theatre available to do this type of work that needs accomplished.  This project is a big deal.  It will require a little outside help, but mostly in the planning and engineering.  We feel we have the skill and talent to accomplish the construction aspect ourselves.   This will once again make Ron a happy camper.  Bob will continue to be a happy camper (even though he brings rain upon all of us) and Gordon, Cody and Steve won’t fight the sound board as much trying to keep things balanced.

So now you know.

Thanks for all the support.  We hope to see you this week.

Whether planned or not, the musical choreography and instrumental progression of “The Compete Unknowns” Saturday night‘s concert at the Strand Theatre was a thing of beauty itself.

For a group that has played together for about a year, these four dudes are an exceptionally tight, fluid and professional band of musical aficionados. Saturday’s show was like a folk festival in itself ranging across the different styles and variations of Bob Dylan and the tunes and musical experiments of The Band, including an 8-piece horn section, scored for and played, remarkably well, by students of Shelbyville Middle School.

Even within the improvisational confines of performing 3 live sets, the layered crescendo of sounds from the acoustic opening to an electric folk middle and to the full-bodied sound of the horn finale was an amazing thing to hear and behold.  Repeatedly throughout the night “The Complete Unknowns” magically conjured up the spirit, music and feel of 1960’s music festivals, especially the vibe seen in classic concert films. Listening to and watching this band was like hearing my father’s vinyl records come alive before my eyes.

The opening acoustic set began as the crowd was still arriving at the Strand and was essentially the band warming-up and opening for itself, according to bassists Adam Kruse. It was, however, during this set of the traditional roots of folk music, before electric sound, that the audience got a taste of Dylan and the remarkable vocal mimicking of his distinct vocal patterns and twangs by guitarist Rod Carter.

During the second set of Dylan tunes, it became obvious that “the Complete Unknowns” were and are more than a mere cover band.  While at times they do mimic with exceptional clarity, they also interpret the music of Dylan in their own unique and lively fashion.  This band’s version of “Lovesick” is a great song played well by a band which deeply explores Dylan and revels in his musical journeys.  The performance was like taking a song for a lonely walk in the rain up and down a street; it was instrumental poetry at its best.  Somewhere in Europe, on his “Never Ending Tour,” Dylan, sitting in a coffee-house, would be happy to know that this band is spiritually recreating his tunes and songs for a new generation.

In point of fact, the crisp, tight, music of “The Complete Unknowns” is an intense journey fueled and driven by each musician individually and in collaborative harmony with each other. From the harmonies of Mike Kruse’s harmonica to the driving drums of Glen Allman and guitar leads of Carter and the thumping bass of Adam Kruse, one can tell that these four dudes really respect, revere and enjoy the music they play and they have a damn- good-time doing it. This was especially evident in the last set of the music of “The Band.”

This last set evolved from extended jam-sessions of interplaying instruments and voices to an experimental crescendo incorporating  a horn section of budding eighth –grade musicians. This unique horn section was the brainchild of Adam Kruse, who doubles as a band director at the middle school.

The junior-troupe of musically precocious and talented performers consists of four saxophone players, two trumpeters and two trombonists:  on alto sax,  Hannah Nuthak and Hayden DePrez;  on tenor sax,  Perla  Alamillo; on baritone sax Cameron Kiernicki;  trumpeters, Scot Gill and Nathan Scruggs and trombones played by Jimmy Lardin and Devin Graham.

These kids with horns were the masterstroke of the night adding an even bigger, significant sound and resonance to the musicality of “The Complete Unknowns.” To the credit of the band, Adam Kruse in particular, the final song of the night was an extended jam –session of 12 musicians on a stage;   with a brass ensemble that added a full-tone to the conclusion of the night’s musical journey.

“It was an enjoyable performance,” said  Art Edington,  a local musician in the crowd. “ It was   a great experience for these kids to perform in a different environment. It lets them learn how each part contributes to the overall sound and performance on stage.”

This horn section, which only rehearsed for about three weeks, according to Kruse, was seamlessly and effortlessly incorporated into a grand finale of driving music and instrumental joy that was only made more poignant by the sheer youth at the heart of the song.

This guest review does not express the opinion of the Strand Theatre.

Submitted by:  Terrance Aldridge

The Strand Theatre congratulates to our friends at Carlton Smith Pipe Organ Restorations and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra on the premier of the newly restored Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ at the Hilbert Circle Theatre!

The console was placed on stage so the audience could see the organist.    The inaugural piece was Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3.   The full orchestra  and organ gave the audience a aural sensation not heard in the Circle in many years.   The sound of a theatre pipe organ, albeit doing classical duty, coming from the chambers on the right and left.   Martin Ellis did a fine job in bringing the organ into its place as a noteworthy instrument in this country.

The restoration by Carlton Smith, Justin Nimmo and many others made this Wurlitzer a versatile and tonally magnificent instrument.    The audience gave a standing ovation to the performance and the instrument.

The above picture was taken at 9:10 PM just before the end of the intermission and before the premier, which took place on the second half of the program.

Many people from the years gone by are remembered tonight as this instrument plays once again.    Special friends from the past including Dessa Byrd and Tom Ferree  are looking down smiling at the seed they help plant.

There will be plenty of opportunities to hear this instrument.  Contact the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Box Office to inquire about upcoming concerts and tickets.

The Strand is excited for that day when we premier our theatre pipe organ!