Chautauqua Program Includes Georgia OKeefe, Emily Dickinson, Frida Kahlo
The College of Southern Marylands (CSM) Twilight Performance Series will feature home-grown artists to military musicians to rising stars performing a variety of Motown, boogie-woogie, country, jazz, classic rock, contemporary blues and reggae at campuses in La Plata, Leonardtown and Prince Frederick.
The free, family-friendly outdoor concerts will open June 17 with two weeks of performances at each campus. Chautauquas historical performers will be at the La Plata Campus July 8, 9 and 10, and Twilight performances will resume July 15-24. The Leonardtown Campus will host performances on Tuesdays, June 17 and 24, and July 15 and 22; the La Plata Campus on Wednesdays, June 18 and 25, and July 16 and 23; and the Prince Frederick Campus on Thursdays, June 19 and 26, and July 17 and 24. All performances will begin at 6:45 p.m.
The annual Chautauqua program includes interactive, family-friendly presentations and is an educational program of the Maryland Humanities Council, presented in partnership with CSM. This years theme is Creative Women: Breaking the Mold.
Painter Georgia OKeeffe, who is best known for her striking paintings of flowers, bones and landscapes from the American Southwest will be portrayed July 8 followed on July 9 by 19th-century American poet Emily Dickinson, who exchanged spirited, engaging letters with family and friends from her family home in Amherst, Massachusetts, and had nearly 1,800 of her poems published for the first time after she died.
Mexican artist Frida Kahlo will complete Chautauqua on July 10. She overcame lifelong health problems resulting from childhood polio and injuries from a bus accident to paint complex images that inspire viewers to ponder the mix of psychological, political, social and cultural elements of her work. For background on the program, visit http://www.mdhc.org/programs/chautauqua/2014-chautauqua/.
Chautauqua will open at 6:45 p.m. with a performance by local musician Steve Hickman. Beginning as a dancer and musician in the Potomac Country Dancers, Hickman has performed at the Kennedy Center and on a regular basis in Williamsburg and in Alexandria, Virginia, at Gadsbys Tavern. He also performs at dance and music events nationally and abroad.
Twilight performances include Deanna Bogart, HydraFX, Fabulous Bel Airs, U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note, Sara Gray, Amanda Daughtry, No Green JellyBeenz and Jennifer Cooper.
Bogart, a versatile musician, returns to CSMs summer series to kick off the first week of this years performancesJune 17 at Leonardtown, June 18 at La Plata and June 19 at Prince Frederick. She has worked as a bandleader, singer, songwriter, producer, pianist and saxophone player. She has managed to use these skills to perfect a style of music she calls blusion a mix of boogie-woogie, contemporary blues, country and jazz. Born in Detroit, Bogart spent her early years in Phoenix and New York City, climbing on any available piano bench to play with preternatural panache. Today, she is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist and multifaceted musician whose fans value the diversity of her genre-free zone. In 2007, she appeared on A Prairie Home Companion with legendary singer-songwriter Carole King, bluegrass pickers John Starling and Mike Auldridge, and gospel singer Jearlyn Steele. To preview Bogarts music, visit http://www.deannabogart.com/index.html.
HydraFX will perform June 24 at Leonardtown and July 17 at Prince Frederick. HydraFX is a high energy reggae/rock band from Southern Maryland that makes every genre of music its own. They cover everything from The Temptations to Rage Against the Machine, as well as performing their own original music. To preview HydraFXs music, visit http://www.hydrafx.net/.
The Fabulous Bel Airs, performing June 25 at La Plata, is a band that brings back the sounds of the 60s, 70s and 80s. They consist of six backline musicians and three frontline vocalists that are known for their covers of Motown hits. Influenced by Aretha Franklin, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and the Doobie Brothers, the band provides high-energy shows with songs by Johnny Cash to Elvis Presley, and Lynyrd Skynyrd to Creedence Clearwater Revival. They have performed with classic groups Three Dog Night, the Drifters, Rare Earth and Iron Butterfly. To preview their music, visit http://www.fabbelairs.com/ or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Fabulous-Bel-Airs/112598305424540.
The Airmen of Note, performing June 26 at Prince Frederick, is the premier jazz ensemble of the U.S. Air Force. Created in 1950 to carry on the tradition of Major Glenn Miller's Army Air Corps dance band, today the Note features 18 of the most talented jazz musicians in the country and is one of the last touring big bands. As a result, it has earned an international reputation as one of the finest and most versatile big bands of its kind in the world. Through the years, the Airmen of Note has presented big band jazz to audiences nationally and abroad. For information on the Airmen of Note, visit http://www.usafband.af.mil/ensembles/BandEnsembleBio.asp?EnsembleID=58.
Southern Maryland native Sara Gray, performing July 15 at Leonardtown, has been singing all her lifein church, local theater productions and at various community events. As a solo artist, she began playing guitar and writing her own songs at the age of 16. Gray has performed the National Anthem at many Washington-based sports games, including the Nationals baseball team, the Kastles tennis team and the Capitals hockey team. Gray has opened for country acts Miranda Lambert, Toby Keith and American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler, and has been the featured artist with the Chesapeake Orchestra for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at National Harbor. She also gives back to the community by performing for the Special Olympics, local benefits and many other charitable events. To preview Grays music, visit http://www.saragraymusic.com/.
From Johnston County, North Carolina, Amanda Daughtry, performing July 16 at La Plata, has spent the past few years solidifying her status as a must-see performer. During her teenage years, Daughtry sang in many theater and country music variety shows before putting together a full band of her own. In 2012, she made the move to Nashville to have access to the many resources that the citys vast music machine has to offer. Influenced by musicians Stevie Nicks, Little Big Town, Martina McBride and Dave Matthews, Daughtry is known for performing her own refreshing style of country music. This summer, she will be touring extensively in North Carolina as well as Georgia. To preview her music, visit http://amandadaughtry.com/ or her Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-Daughtry/108532379258053.
Local favorites will be featured as the series wraps up, with No Green JellyBeenz closing out July 22 at Leonardtown and Jennifer Cooper July 23 at La Plata. The July 24 performer for the Prince Frederick Campus will be announced at a later date.
Hailing from St. Marys County, No Green JellyBeenz is more than just a cover band. It offers a variety of music, ranging from 1970s acts such as Pink Floyd and the Beatles to 1980s hard rock bands Bon Jovi and Pat Benatar, and 1990s hits by Blink-182, Third Eye Blind, Gin Blossoms and Green Day. Their music appeals to younger audiences, with songs by New Found Glory, Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons, Neon Trees and Daft Punk. Although all of the members cite popular rock musicians as their influences, they have also been known to play country and R&B songs at their shows. To preview their music, visit http://www.ngjbband.com/home.html.
Cooper with GrooveSpan, an ensemble she gathered to satiate her desire to sing classic tunes from a variety of genres, decades, styles and grooves of popular music, offers repertoire that includes everything from vintage jazz standards to classic rock, from Duke Ellington to Doobie Brothers, from Antonio Jobim to Adele, from Bill Withers to Blondie and much more. Founded in 2010, GrooveSpan performs frequently at the Back Creek Bistro, the Blue Dog, the Running Hare Vineyard and the Port of Leonardtown Winery. The group appeals to all age groups from young adults to senior citizens. For information, visit http://go-diva.webs.com/aboutgroovespan.htm.
The Twilight series will take place outdoors on the La Plata Campus Fine Arts (FA) Building lawn, the Leonardtown Campus great lawn, and on the Prince Frederick Campus patio. Food vendors and artisans will be available at all campuses. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic, or purchase food on site. No alcoholic beverages may be consumed on the campuses.
In the event of inclement weather, performances will move indoors. On the La Plata Campus, performances will move to the Fine Arts Center, on the Leonardtown Campus to Building A, Auditorium, and on the Prince Frederick Campus to the Multipurpose Room in Building B. Performances are subject to change. For band schedules, visit www.csmd.edu/Arts.
The Chautauqua is sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Council and the Twilight Performance Series is sponsored by the Arts Council of Calvert County and the St. Marys County Arts Council.
Twilight sponsors include Community Partner Community Bank of the Chesapeake, Bronze Sponsors Leonardtown Business Association and Southern Solutions. Vendors for performances at the Prince Frederick Campus include Mrs. Moo's Corner and Maryland Country Caterers; vendors for performances at the La Plata Campus include Kona Ice; and vendors at the Leonardtown Campus include Sir Pops A Lot Kettle Corn, Marrick Homes, Caught My Eye and Port of Leonardtown Winery for the June 17 performance only.
Gold, silver and bronze sponsorship levels and vendor opportunities are still available for this years Twilight Performance Series. For information on sponsorships or vendor opportunities call 301-934-7647 or 301-870-2309, 240-725-5499 or 443-550-6169, Ext. 7647 or visit http://www.csmd.edu/Foundation.
For information on the Twilight Performance Series, including a complete schedule and vendors at each campus, visit http://www.csmd.edu/Arts/TwilightSeries/index.html.
Chautauqua is a program of the Maryland Humanities Council presented in partnership with the College of Southern Maryland. The Maryland Humanities Council, Inc. is an independent non-profit organization which receives support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Maryland Division of Historical and Cultural Programs, corporations, foundations and individuals.
Calendar Listings
Calvert County
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Deanna Bogart. 6:45 p.m., June 19, College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick Campus, Patio, 115 J.W. Williams Road, Prince Frederick. The Twilight Performance Series presents Deanna Bogart, an award-winning blues and jazz musician. Bogart has performed with acts like Carole King, Jimmy Buffett and Three Dog Night and has received Baltimore Museum of Arts Horn Instrumentalist of the Year award for three consecutive years. The performance will be presented as part of CSMs Twilight Performance Series. Each week the series features a different performance on each campus. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. For a complete schedule of bands performing, visit http://www.csmd.edu/Arts/TwilightSeries/index.html, 301-934-7828.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Airmen of Note. 6:45 p.m., June 26, College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick Campus, Patio, 115 J.W. Williams Road, Prince Frederick. The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the U.S. Air Force created in 1950 to carry on the tradition of Major Glenn Miller's Army Air Corps dance band. The concert will be presented as part of CSMs Twilight Performance Series. Each week the series features a different performance on each campus. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. For a complete schedule of bands performing, visit http://www.csmd.edu/Arts/TwilightSeries/index.html, 301-934-7828.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: HydraFX. 6:45 p.m., July 17, College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick Campus, Patio, 115 J.W. Williams Road, Prince Frederick. HydraFX is a high energy reggae/rock band from Southern Maryland that makes every genre of music its own. They cover everything from The Temptations to Rage Against the Machine, as well as performing their own original music. The concert will be presented as part of CSMs Twilight Performance Series. Each week the series features a different performance on each campus. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. For a complete schedule of bands performing, visit http://www.csmd.edu/Arts/TwilightSeries/index.html, 301-934-7828.
CSM Twilight Performance Series. 6:45 p.m., July 24, College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick Campus, Patio, 115 J.W. Williams Road, Prince Frederick. Each week the series features a different performance on each campus. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. For a complete schedule of bands performing, visit http://www.csmd.edu/Arts/TwilightSeries/index.html, 301-934-7828.
Charles County
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Chautauquan Georgia OKeeffe. 6:45 p.m., July 8, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, Fine Arts Lawn, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. CSMs Twilight Performance Series includes artist Georgia OKeeffe as one of the historical figures featured as part of the Maryland Humanities Councils annual Chautauqua program. The night begins with musical entertainment by Steve Hickman followed by the evenings historical performance. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. For a complete schedule, visit http://www.csmd.edu/Arts/TwilightSeries/index.html, 301-934-7828.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Chautauquan Emily Dickinson. 6:45 p.m., July 9, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, Fine Arts Lawn, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. CSMs Twilight Performance Series includes poet Emily Dickinson as one of the historical figures featured as part of the Maryland Humanities Councils annual Chautauqua program. The night begins with musical entertainment by Steve Hickman followed by the evenings historical performance. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. For a complete schedule, visit http://www.csmd.edu/Arts/TwilightSeries/index.html, 301-934-7828.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Chautauquan Frida Kahlo 6:45 p.m., July 10, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, Fine Arts Lawn, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. CSMs Twilight Performance Series includes artist Frida Kahlo as one of the historical figures featured as part of the Maryland Humanities Councils annual Chautauqua program. The night begins with musical entertainment by Steve Hickman followed by the evenings historical performance. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. For a complete schedule, visit http://www.csmd.edu/Arts/TwilightSeries/index.html, 301-934-7828.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Deanna Bogart. 6:45 p.m., June 18, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, Fine Arts Lawn, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata