Arts – Amy Condra

New York theater artist to perform in Juneau

Performance artist Penny Arcade will be presenting her one-woman show, “The Girl Who Knew too Much" in Juneau. (Bobby Miller)

“What raises Arcade to the level of greatness is her insight into the collapsing soul of America.” by Amy Condra This article was originally published in the Juneau Empire. Perseverance Theatre’s Artistic Director Art Rotch was thrilled when he found out that playwright and performance artist Penny Arcade was coming to Alaska for a visit.… Continue reading New York theater artist to perform in Juneau

Historical play ‘Libby’ makes its Juneau debut

Elizabeth Ware in the title role of “Libby.” (Courtesy of Edgeware Productions)

A story of Libby Beaman, who ventured to the remote Pribilof Islands This story first appeared in The Juneau Empire by Amy Condra In 1879 Libby Beaman boarded the S.S. St. Paul to venture across the Bering Sea toward the Pribilof Islands. Her presence there wouldn’t be by accident; Libby had asked President Rutherford B. Hayes,… Continue reading Historical play ‘Libby’ makes its Juneau debut

‘Writing Eden:’ Featuring poet Emily Wall

University of Alaska Southeast Writing Professor Emily Wall read her poetry at the university’s Wildlife Wednesday series (Courtesy of Emily Wall)

This article first appeared in the Juneau Empire. by Amy Condra Alaska attracts adventurers, people who come for the tall mountains and the deep rivers, who envision themselves discovering something new even as they lose themselves in an ancient wilderness. Among these dreamers from down south are the artists who want to capture the less… Continue reading ‘Writing Eden:’ Featuring poet Emily Wall

Reincarnation of Stories: New play, to be performed in Tlingit

Playwright Ishmael Hope (left), director Flordelino Lagundino and composer Edward Littlefield have collaborated on The Reincarnation of Stories, which tells the story of the origin of the killer whale. (Amy Condra)

This article first appeared in The Juneau Empire by Amy Condra When Ishmael Hope’s grandfather died, his family and friends gathered to pay tribute. As they stood to share their stories, they spoke in a language that had, for thousands of years, served Alaska’s Native people: They spoke in Tlingit. “My dad said, ‘Man, when an… Continue reading Reincarnation of Stories: New play, to be performed in Tlingit

Alaska band stokes Appalachia tradition

Photo courtesy of the Great Alaska Bluegrass Band, The Great Alaska Bluegrass Band, with Brooke Munro (left) Scott Burton, Andrew Heist and Jeremy “Junior” Kane, celebrated the release of their new album, Semi-Bluegrass, at The Alaskan Bar in Juneau.

Think hard-driving rhythms, fast-paced improvisations, and high-pitched vocals that wind up and down the melody like an inquisitive strand of kudzu. by Amy Condra This article was originally published in The Juneau Empire There is something brave about bluegrass, about the honesty of a group of musicians who stand up on a stage, before a… Continue reading Alaska band stokes Appalachia tradition

Laurence’s Alaska: The ‘invulnerable’ landscapes of the painter of the North

“Supper on the Mendenhall” by Sydney Laurence

The paintings of Sydney Laurence depict an Alaska where nature is big, and people are small. by Amy Condra This article was originally published in the Juneau Empire. A man carries a bundle of sticks to a fire built on the bank of a river, to a speck of yellow that barely stands out against… Continue reading Laurence’s Alaska: The ‘invulnerable’ landscapes of the painter of the North