Sunday, August 28, 2016

Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City

Combine the creative masterminds of Jim Henson (The Muppets), George Lucas (Star Wars) and David Bowie (pop icon) and the only possible result is a classic that will delight generations beyond imagination. 

Imagination is precisely what went into Jim Henon's Labyrinth. Mastery of the aforementioned person's respective professions is precisely what brought Labyrinth to fruition, which continues to be a movie and puppetry fan favorite! 


Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City, A 30th Anniversary Celebration opens at the Center for Puppetry Arts on Friday, September 2, 2016, part of the Center's 30th anniversary celebration of the fantastical film Labyrinth

On display in this immersive special exhibition, in addition to many other items, are more than 20 never before seen artifacts and memorabilia from the film. You'll see noted on the placards accompanying the items on display if it was used in the film 30 years ago. 


Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts

Featured items include original goblin puppets from the film, the plaster mold for the head of the original Hoggle puppet, crystal balls used by David Bowie, his costume from the M.C. Escher-inspired stair scene and behind the scenes video, photography and drawings from the production, multiple props and masks used in the film and clever movie-inspired markers indicating how to navigate the labyrinth-inspired exhibition space. 


Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts

When I first walked into the exhibition, around the first corner I wanted to continue to the right, then heard a voice that said "Not that way!" (or something like that). I looked around and then noticed the markers on the floor indicating the correct way to proceed through the brick-walled labyrinth that is this exhibition. 

The exhibition is relatively small, but in no way modest. There's artifact after artifact, video after video, images and copy blocks...you could easily spend an hour or more exploring this spectacular exhibition!


Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts

Most of you who have read this far probably know what Labyrinth is about, but if you do not, or it's been 30 years since you've seen it, it's an exciting story about a selfish 16-year old girl, performed by the wonderfully talented Jennifer Connelley, who has only 13 hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother. She had wished for him to be taken away, which was granted by Jareth the Goblin King, performed brilliantly by David Bowie.


Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts

In conjunction with the opening of the exhibition and the opening of Dragon Con, the evening before, on Thursday, September 1, the Center for Puppetry Arts will host The Labyrinth Masquerade Ball!

Labyrinth-inspired costumes are encouraged as there will be a costume contest, judged by none other than Brian Henson—son of Jim Henson and cast member of Labyrinth—who will award Henson-related prizes to the winners!


Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts

When worlds collide...

I had not realized it before, but in researching I found out that the late Kenny Baker (of R2-D2 fame from Star Wars) was also in Labyrinth, a member of the Goblin Corps. I'm certain there are many, many more connections between cast, crew and other works, but that takes nothing away from Labyrinth being wholly unique.


Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City | Center for Puppetry Arts

Be sure when you visit that if you're visiting just to see Journey to Goblin City, that you make time to stop in the Worlds of Puppetry Museum...it has a section dedicated to Jim Henson's Labyrinth, which includes (pictured above) Sir Didymus!

You will notice placards in the Journey to Goblin City thanking the Henson Family, and the many other contributors to the exhibition, but if you ever meet a member of the Henson Family, please thank them for their treasured contribution to the Center for Puppetry Arts and to Atlanta...it means more to the puppet and puppetry fandom than perhaps they'll ever know.

Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City is on display through Fall of 2017, but don't wait. This is one exhibition, a truly special exhibition, that you do not want to miss. Check out what else is going on at the Center for Puppetry Arts and perhaps couple another event or activity with seeing Journey to Goblin City!

Sunday, August 21, 2016

'da Kink in My Hair

Set in a very special hair salon, ‘da Kink in My Hair has been a long-running international hit, as well as a hit television show and today finds itself an award-winning, uplifting, now musical at Horizon Theatre. Performances for this run have consistently sold out, so if you want to see this amazing work of theatrical artistry, do your best to get tickets for this coming week, it's closing week. 


'da Kink in My Hair | Horizon Theatre
'da Kink in My Hair | Horizon Theatre

"If you want to know a black woman, you touch her hair," says Novelette (Terry Burrell, most recently the star of Alliance Theatre's Ethel), as she delves into the tresses and stresses of her clients to reveal their hidden stories. 
On this day in the salon of their West Indian stylist, hurried women converge to have their hair done for dates, jobs and upkeep. But they come away with not just a new hairdo, but a lifted soul and a lightened heart. This amazing musical tells their incredible, uncensored, unforgettable tales through dance, song and stories that will move, inspire, and delight you!


'da Kink in My Hair | Horizon Theatre
'da Kink in My Hair | Horizon Theatre

‘da Kink in My Hair tells of love, hope, survival and redemption through eight women’s trials and celebrations. Each character is wholly different from the other, but the story they tell through song is a harmonious one. And speaking of harmony, these ladies voices are make-you-move-in-your-seat magnificent!

This play is an epic adventure, a roller-coaster of emotions...you're laughing your ass off throughout one scene and sobbing like a little baby come the next. Your heart will break, more than once, but you'll leave this musical feeling joyful and hopeful for the strength off compassion, tolerance and empathy that each of us can offer one another.  

This play did not start as a musical, but today features a broad range of music types and style. Some of what I heard I would call world beat, gospel, island and lounge...and humor and drama are definitely told through the music.


'da Kink in My Hair | Horizon Theatre
'da Kink in My Hair | Horizon Theatre

And speaking of music, Musical Director S. Renee Clark has done it again. She said in the sneak peek of 'da Kink how grateful she is to have an entire cast—meaning everyone in the cast—has such talented and amazing voices to work with. S. Renee Clark is also the keyboardist for the show.

Nearly every actress in this show performs multiple characters. Two actresses in particular caught my attention, in addition to already mentioned Terry Burrell. Mind you, the entire cast is truly phenomenal!

Three-time Suzi Award nominee Minka Wiltz (Patsy, Shannon) is again at Horizon performing roles in 'da Kink that tug at your heartstrings and tickle your funny bone and make you take a reflective inventory of all that makes you who you are. Maiesha McQueen (Miss Enid, Nia) is brilliant. She could make an entire comedy play of the Miss Enid character...a senior citizen whose found her groove


'da Kink in My Hair | Horizon Theatre
'da Kink in My Hair | Horizon Theatre

I've had the pleasure of meeting playwright Trey Anthony, a bright, lively and grateful artist for how incredibly well her work has been received. I particularly love her recounting of how her grandmother was the unsuspecting, yet incredibly blunt, catalyst in Trey's career path leading to her becoming an award-winning playwright.  

Billed as "incredible, uncensored, unforgettable"...'da Kink in My Hair is that and so much more.


Nekeisha, Terry Burrell and Jacquetta visiting after the performance | Horizon Theatre
Nekeisha, Terry Burrell and Jacquetta visiting after the performance | Horizon Theatre

One of my favorite Atlanta theatre traditions is at Horizon Theatre! Following every performance, theatre-goers are invited to the stage to meet, chat with and make photos with the cast. On this visit I got a photo of my friends Nekeisha (left) and Jacquetta (right) with star and brilliant actress Terry Burrell.

I sometimes get star-struck and ideas of what I might say to an admired, illustrious actor falls right out of my head. But the other times, when I'm excited but calm and collected, I very much appreciate the opportunity to thank and congratulate an actor on a remarkable performance, and perhaps glean a little something about the person behind the character that was just performed.

Oh, and you never know who you might meet at Horizon Theatre. On my last time seeing 'da Kink in My Hair, Jasmine Guy was sitting in the row in front of us, directly in front of me! She came across as the social, easygoing type, so we said "Hello", told her how much we we enjoyed her daughter's performance in Serial Black Face and how much we have enjoyed her own career as an awesome actress. Super sweet and funny, she is!





If you missed 'da Kink in My Hair or you'd like to re-live some of the snippets, check out this highlights video

Also, be sure to get your tickets to Freed Spirits, the final show of Horizon Theatre's 2015-2016 Main Stage Season. It's a world-premiere mystery-comedy set in Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery!

Friday, August 12, 2016

The Only Stutz Biarritz in the World

The only place in the world you can see the only remaining Stutz Biarritz automobile in the entire world is at the Atlanta History Center.


Stutz Biarritz | Atlanta History Center
Stutz Biarritz | Atlanta History Center

There were only 19 of this particular model made and this is the only remaining of them, beautifully restored and preserved for all of us today's antique automobile enthusiasts. Enjoy this video of the Stutz Biarritz by videographer KDawgFilmz, which I found insightful and entertaining. (I love the discovery part of researching my posts!)


Stutz Biarritz | Atlanta History Center
Stutz Biarritz | Atlanta History Center

Stutz Motor Company built only 2,320 cars during its reign in the late 1920s, before the U.S. Stock Market Crash, and only 19 of the Biarritz model were crafted. "Crafted" is a wholly accurate word. This model was indeed, even by today's standards, a unique luxury car.


Stutz Biarritz | Atlanta History Center
Stutz Biarritz | Atlanta History Center

What cost $4,115 in 1929, would cost nearly $60,000 today, but some would argue that some of its features aren't even available today. It was incredibly innovative for its time, including its ability to reach a speed of 75-80 miles per hour! You'll want to learn about its "fabric" exterior and how that made for a luxurious ride.


Stutz Biarritz | Atlanta History Center
Stutz Biarritz | Atlanta History Center

I'm not totally clear on how it worked (two dials to do everything), but this model featured a "Transitone" radio, believed to be one of the first on-board radios in an automobile ... remember, this was 1929, when radio was nationwide, but not everyone had it. 

I imagine the riders of this particular vehicle tuned in to the broadcasts from the Biltmore Hotel (then the "outskirts" of Atlanta), which featured the iconic radio towers that still today grace Atlanta's skyline.


Stutz Biarritz | Atlanta History Center
Stutz Biarritz | Atlanta History Center

That's a tiny little bit about this wholly unique specimen of American automobile history. 

Go see it for yourself at the Atlanta History Center...you will be amazed!