Arts

Death by Democracy documents the death of a society governed of, by and for the people.

A local Ohio activist penned each chapter of Death by Democracy, recording how they “fought City Hall” to put a citizen’s initiative, ordinance or charter amendment on their municipality’s ballot. Each narrator tells a sincere and courageous story of a group endeavor to prevent or stop pollution from affecting their community.

The title of this book may seem overblown, sounding somewhat like “click-bait,” but there’s actually a valid reason “death” could result from the desecration of democracy experienced by these groups over the past decade in Ohio.

The title “Shen Yun: China Before Communism” above an image of a sprawling dancer was the first thing seen when picking up the February 13 edition of the Columbus Dispatch. Vague quotes of the “life changing experience,” connecting “heaven and earth,” and “explosive athleticism” littered the double-sided foldout advertisement. Tickets start at $80 for the March 5-6 performances here in Columbus. Noticeably absent from the ad was any mention of the religion behind it, Falun Gong – a racist, homophobic, anti-science, right-wing cult founded in the 1990s.

The Shen Yun Performing Arts organization was established in upstate New York in 2006. The six theater troupes of Shen Yun, including dancers and a full orchestra, train at the tightly restricted 427-acre Dragon Springs compound, headquarters of Falun Gong and their leader, Li Hongzhi. Shen Yun claims that they rebirthed five thousand years of China’s history there in upstate New York, “bringing back the rich and beautiful culture that the communist regime has been eroding.”

What an adorable photo on the cover of this book! The slender, handsome boy is all of ten years old; I have socks older than that. Yet he also looks confident and serious. How would someone so young know about a vanishing country? I quickly found the answer in this delightful read by a gifted writer.

Community Festival (ComFest) has announced that ComFest will return live to its home in Goodale Park on June 24, 25 and 26, 2022. 

Celebrating 50 years of community, social activism and education, ComFest will again feature live local music and other entertainment, workshops, street fair and much more.

Applications are now available for performers, workshops, speakers and more. 

More information about ComFest 50 and applications may be found at www.comfest.com.

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ComFest is an independent, volunteer-driven celebration of creativity and activism in Columbus, OH. Founded in 1972, its purpose is to build bridges between progressive non-profit organizations, artists, activists and volunteers to raise awareness and promote change within our community.

Let’s Talk Theatre with Julie Whitney-Scott

Julie: Let’s meet Dayvon Nichols from the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC).

Dayvon: I was born and raised in Cleveland. I came to Columbus to attend The Ohio State University to pursue an Arts Management Degree. I was in plays in Little Theatre in high school and performed in two plays at The OSU. I did Hairspray twice and another one, so I’m pretty familiar with the theatre field. I’m excited to be here and I love connecting with artists. One of my passions is to help people out and I’m grateful to have this opportunity today.

Julie: What is your position at GCAC?

 Dayvon: I am the Grants Associate and serve as the point of contact for all individual artists. I am the contact if you are an independent professional artist seeking grant assistance, or if you are curious as to what resources and support the Greater Columbus Art’s Council has to offer.

Julie:  What grant is available to support artists in their craft?

Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and shocking revelations, the documentary "Who We Are: A Chronicle Of Racism In America" draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.

The main character is Jeffrey Robinson, a criminal defense lawyer in Seattle. Jeff is a storyteller who brings history to life, inviting American audiences of all races to view the history of racism in America, and the erasure of this history is a crime perpetrated on all of us. The ability to connect with almost any audience creates an electric atmosphere. The film choses New York’s Town Hall because of its anti-racist history and historical commitment to highlighting Black artists like Paul Robeson, Langston Hughes, Marian Anderson, and Billie Holiday, when many other doors were closed to them.

On Sunday, Dec. 5, dozens of theater lovers gathered at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s Africa Event Center to hear about the strange connection between the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a remote Canadian town and the zoo itself. In a related activity, some of them also gathered outside an animal habitat earlier that afternoon to watch the playful (and often X-rated) antics of the little-known apes known as bonobos.

What brought both humans and apes together was Come From Away, a touring production that will play the Ohio Theatre Feb. 8-13. The Broadway musical tells what happened when the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks halted all air travel and forced 38 planes to make unscheduled landings in Gander, Newfoundland. There, about 7,000 travelers became the guests of the town’s 9,000 residents, who helped to feed and house them until they were allowed to continue on their way several days later. 

“This is about what happens when people take care of other people,” Sue Frost, the show’s producer, told the Dec. 5 crowd. “It is really a tribute to humanity.” 

A Very Special Holiday
Dec. 22-30, 2021, 6:30 PM-9:00 PM
MadLab Theatre 227 N. 3rd St. Cols. OH 43215 (Doors open 6:00 PM)

TICKET LINKS:
https://ci.ovationtix.com/35811/production/1085336
or
madlab.net/tickets

The Secret Life of Santa & Mrs. Claus
By Lynnix Marie Price
Santa and Mrs. Claus take a vacation in Hawaii and trouble follows.

Quey’s Stuffy Puppy Nose Day!
By Julie Whitney-Scott
A young boy learns the responsibilities of taking care of a pet and his close friend learns that it’s possible to have more than one friend that you love.(Based on children's book by Quentin Edwards)

That Special Joy
By Julie Whitney-Scott
Three foster group home teens are forced to host a Christmas party for three seniors and one of them doesn’t want to attend. What lessons will they all learn about loss, grief, and love?

THE REASON FOR M4GP