The Huntsville Main Street Program does a lot of good things for the community, and one of these is its “Summer Music Series.” This summer’s series closed with “ESCAPE,” Houston-based tribute band. And although they are Houston-based, the band’s founder, Bobby Cayton, is actually a Huntsville native, and he seemed–along with everyone else–to enjoy his return to Huntsville.
Whether it was the return of this Huntsville native, or nostalgia for 80s Rock, or a free event on a Saturday night, there was a very large crowd.
Approximately 250 people were on hand, and their enjoyment of the band its music was obvious. The band offered directions–join in chants, wave your arms, come to the front, and the crowd obliged.
It was a special treat for City staff, who not only put on the event but also had a chance to enjoy it. Rebekah Kolb (Main Street Manager) supervised the program, with help from Angela Robinson (Program Coordinator for the Wynne Home). Aron Kulhavy was on hand, along with many music-series mainstays: Lois Stehlik, Darren and Marsie Grant, Derrick Birdsall, and Russell and Tish Humphrey.
Adding to the fun and sense of nostalgia was the band’s frequent trivia interventions, asking the audience to participate on matters such as, “Who was the band’s third drummer?” The audience proved remarkably knowledgeable, and they often, in turn, tried to direct the band, requesting specific songs and encouraging a longer playlist.
The ninety-minute set, though, was just right, a nice end to the summer break and a nice kick-off to the fall semester.
The LEAP Center is known for its emphasis on civic and community engagement, and for good reason. But LEAP students also value a well-rounded education, and that involves the performing arts. So, in a month in which Ambassadors have seen the play “Wicked” and “Pirates of Penzance,” Ambassadors also decided to attend a book discussion of Agatha Christie’s “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.”
What does this novel have to do with the performing arts? The Alley Theatre is currently performing this play, and we will be attending it on August 13. In advance of that performance, however, we visited Murder by the Book, where the book store hosted Mark Shanahan, the Director of Ackroyd and, as it turns out, a wonderful storyteller!
Shanahan discussed his career on the stage, both as a director and as an actor, and he also shared with us the fact that his sister (Christin Brecher) is a crime novelist, and she had a couple of books in the store!
Shanahan also explored the challenges and intrigues of presenting an Agatha Christie play. While Christie was a playwright of note, but The Murder of Roger Ackroyd hasn’t been adapted to the stage. It’s always challenging to adapt a beloved book, especially a whodunit that has been around for almost 100 years–because people already know whodunit!
But Shanahan obviously relishes the challenge, and many in the audience had seen some of the preview performances, and they had good things to say. With that encouragement, we sought out Shanahan for some photos, and we were fortunate to be joined by a couple members of the Ackroyd crew.
Although these preliminary reviews were very positive, we will return with the definitive review following our visit to the Alley on August 13!
This was a special day of sorts. We were headed to see the play, “Wicked,” which was named after our President-Elect, Morgan Robertson. Moreover, it was her birthday–21st, no less. So, we let her choose the place to eat!
She chose “A Taste of Greece,” because Mediterranean is her favorite type of food, and because it is within walking distance of the Fox Theatre, where her biopic was being performed.
The restaurant offered many umami plates, but the ones that caught our eyes and proved to be delicious mouthfuls were the Greek Melt, the From Greece with Love Platter consisting of gyro meat, pork and chicken skewers, and Greek Meatballs served with green beans, pita bread, and tzatziki sauce.
We wished we could’ve stayed to enjoy our meals a little longer, but with every passing minute, a wicked play awaited us.
Wicked
By Morgan Robertson
“It’s time to Trust (our) instincts, close (our) eyes and LEAP!”
–From “Defying Gravity,” in “Wicked.”
Our trip has been full of many athletic, educational, historical, political, and after tonight, entertaining events! The last night of our trip, we checked the entertainment box, and made our way to the historic Fox Theatre to watch their rendition of “Wicked,” the musical.
We were amazed by the grandeur of the Theatre…
…and hastily made our way to our seats.
Despite what the professional advisement of LEAP thinks, not all LEAP Ambassadors are wicked. However, we all have varying degrees of interest in the “Wizard of Oz.” But, of the LEAP Ambassadors, I am perhaps the most unfamiliar with musicals. Due to my familial ties to Kansas, I was raised near the setting of the movie. So, I made an exception and was excited to learn more about the Wicked Witch of the West. I even wore green for the evening!
“Wicked” begins with a frame narrative starting with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North as she brings the good news to the Munchkins that the Wicked Witch is dead. The lively songs harken memories of the original story, and a shrill voice says, “I’m melting, I’m melting!” The delighted munchkins rejoice in the good deeds done by their valiant protector, a midwestern farm girl and her little dog.
Everyone knows the Wicked Witch as Dorothy’s antagonist, but on Thursday night, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch) was good. Elphaba became a fiercely loyal sister, an unlikely best friend, defender of the meek and unspoken for, and a true heroine with a happy ending. From start to finish, “Wicked” had the entirety of the Theatre bellowing in laughter as all these aspects of Elphaba were explored.
I would be remiss if I did not bring attention to the musical talent and songs. As a group, “Defying Gravity” was our favorite, where Elphaba learns of her true capabilities and sets off to save the animals of Oz. Another favorite was “For Good” as it very sweetly and impactfully shows the true nature of Elphaba’s friendship with Glinda.
Without divulging into every element of irony or song, “Wicked” became a newfound favorite musical of mine. It was an incredible way to close our night, ending our trip on a very pleasing ‘note’!
And with that, LEAP’s 8-day exploration of the Deep South came to an end! We are incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to visit Georgia and South Carolina and learn about their individually rich and fascinating history.
Our fun-filled day continued with our theme of public engagement, both historic and contemporary, with our visit to the High Art Museum. We were immediately off to a great start, as on our walk to the building, we walked by a wonderful piece from Lichtenstein’s “House” series.
The aluminum sculpture is an optical illusion, or trompe-l’œil, that shifts perspective at various angles, a bizarre sight to pass at a steady walking pace. Also outside sat Rodin’s “The Shade”, which in hindsight was most definitely one of my favorite sights at the museum.
The museum offered numerous works that provided a distinctive and captivating experience for the entire group. One collection, in particular, delved into the African diaspora and its connection with the rising popularity of folk art during the same historical period. Bruce Onobrakpeya, a Nigerian painter and printmaker, had several pieces with Christian influences. His “Station of the Cross” series was fascinating to view, with the differences in technique from its Western counterparts.
Though we undoubtedly saw many unfamiliar and enthralling pieces, there were some notable names we identified from their undeniable technique and style; such as Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keefe, Mary Cassatt, and John Singer Sargent. We were delighted to further build on our prior associations with these artists through the exhibits as we pressed forward.
One of the best collections was the museum’s mid-century modern display. There were famous artists who made great contributions to the era, such as Ellsworth Kelly, spread across the museum.
However, the most impressive collection of a mid-century modern artist was Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect widely known for his innovative designs and meticulous detail, one of his most famous works being a home known as “Fallingwater”. The High Museum had several pieces of furniture, such as different armchairs and my personal favorite; a desk with shelving units that appeared to be floating at certain angles.
There were also decorative accents from Wright that were specific to the homes he would design, such as a giant, blue-mirrored clock, and custom stained glass.
It was also interesting to see Morgan rush to works of art that she previously claimed to not understand or actively dislike. Previously on Morgan’s list of banned artwork were almost anything modern, certainly anything abstract, and of particular dislike was Rothko.
But on this day she bounced up to the Rothko with a smile, as though she were greeting an old friend.
She showed a similar ebullience upon seeing an Ellsworth Kelly, whom, before today, she said, she “didn’t get.”
When we asked for clarification, we got a look that said, “Drop it.” So, we did.
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In the contemporary section, we came across an untitled piece from Anish Kapoor, the artist recognized for Chicago’s reflective sculpture “Cloudgate” (otherwise known as “The Bean”). This particular work, shaped as a concave dish, is a multisensory experience. As you step closer, you can simultaneously view fractured, mirrored images of yourself, while also having your voice and hearing distorted from a few feet behind you. We played around with this scientific masterpiece for a good while, alternating places and marveling at our distorted voices, which were somehow louder than usual.
The High Museum of Art possesses an eclectic collection, and we thoroughly enjoyed exploring it in their beautiful and spacious facility. The thoughtful curation of each space enhanced our viewing experience, making it a truly enriching visit.
The LEAP Center promotes education–across all disciplines–while emphasizing the impact education and service has on communities. Nothing makes a community more special than the people who are in it, and over the years, LEAP Ambassadors have developed a community of their own. In that spirit, Ambassadors past and present came together on a Sunday in July to get to know one another, to build community, and to enjoy the Houston Gilbert & Sullivan’s performance of “Pirates of Penzance.”
We all gathered at the POST Market for a quick bite before the performance at the Hobby Center. We had a great chance to get to know one another, converse, and share some of our experiences with LEAP. The alumni had a very welcoming approach and made us feel comfortable, urging us to ask questions. I personally asked questions about everyone’s higher education and career paths. Christian even gave me a striking piece of advice telling me to “take whatever Yawn has to offer, no matter how intimidating it is”. To conclude our time at the POST we headed to the terrace to take a photo with the magnificent Houston skyline.
Continuing our afternoon we made our way to The Hobby Center to enjoy The Pirates of Penzance.
I had never seen an operetta before, and I wasn’t sure what it would be or how to take it. It was far more comedic than I anticipated. This was made clear early on, when it’s clear that the main character, Frederic, was sold indentured into piracy because his hard-of-hearing nursemaid, Ruth, misheard “pilot” for “pirate.”
This led to a farcical plot with numerous appealing songs, the most famous of which is “Modern Major General,” which, in this rendition, incorporated some contemporary elements from King Charles’s recent coronation. As a former LEAP Ambassador said, “a lot of shade was thrown.” The shade, however, was funny, punctuated by the chaos and disorder on stage, which made us all chuckle. Well, it made most of us chuckle, and it made Jessica giggle.
Through the art of theater we all bonded, created many connections and created an amazing memory. The LEAP Center would like to thank Victoria McClendon-Legget, Bianca Saldierna, Christian Bionat, Alejandra Galvan, Bryan Phillips, Justin Beiser, Megan Martin and Quinn Kobrin (and their plus ones!) for joining us us for an enjoyable afternoon!
Visiting State Capitols is a bit of a LEAP tradition, combining politics, architecture, history, and–often–art into a single structure! So Jessica Cuevas, Olivia Discon, Morgan Robertson, Michelle Cardenas, and I decided to delve deeper into Georgia’s past by adding our second state capitol building on this trip to our docket. Our journey, led by Morgan, took us through significant historical events, remarkable personalities, and captivating architecture.
One of the striking statues that greeted us during our visit was that of Ellis Gibbs Arnall, a visionary and influential figure in Georgia’s political landscape. His journey began in 1932 when he was elected as a House Member, and he subsequently held roles as Speaker of the House and Attorney General before being elected Governor. Arnall’s time in office was marked by progressive policies and far-reaching reforms. He was instrumental in improving the prison system, abolishing poll taxes, and establishing an employment merit system.
Ellis Arnal on the Capitol grounds
As we wandered through the Capitol, we were captivated by the statue of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts . Juliette’s dream was to empower young girls and women through education, community service, and outdoor activities. Some may say LEAP resembles similar desires out of our organization, but we unfortunately do not have any cookies.
Juliette Gordon Low
As we explored the corridors adorned with portraits of influential figures, we were fortunate to come across a portrait of former President Jimmy Carter, who also served as Governor of Georgia. It was a flattering portrait.
This encounter held special significance, as we had visited the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum only a week prior. Born in Plains, Georgia, President Carter’s legacy as a champion of human rights, diplomacy, and humanitarian efforts has earned him immense respect both nationally and internationally. Seeing his portrait in the Capitol added a personal touch to our journey, connecting us to the larger tapestry of Georgia’s history and its global impact.
Our visit to the Georgia State Capitol Building was a journey through time, unraveling the historical significance and architectural splendor of this beautiful structure.
From the design , every aspect of the Capitol bore witness to Georgia’s vibrant past. The educational experience will stay with us, as we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the state’s remarkable heritage and the individuals who have shaped it.
After our arrival in the delightful City of Atlanta, we decided to explore a piece of their (quasi) natural scenery. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is one of the most famous botanical gardens, featuring many prestigious pieces of art, diverse greenery, fountains and grand sculptures.
As soon as we entered the Visitors Center, we were met with a spectacular Dale Chihuly piece called the ‘Nepenthes Chandelier’. This piece was inspired by the Nepenthes Pitcher plants, one of the many plants featured in the garden.
Already a tourist attraction, the Gardens have recently become even more popular with the addition of Thomas Dambo’s “Save the Humans” collection. The collection includes six different trolls, each with their own written fairytale and style.
The enormous trolls are composed of wood and have their own personal accessories such as rocks, bird houses, and my favorite, a car! Each LEAP Ambassador chose their favorite one and made sure to take a picture in front of it! My personal favorite was Rosa Sunfinger, a troll with its own tiny garden grown out of a car! The true meaning behind this piece is to showcase how plants can beautify, transform and bring back to life our everyday items.
The beautiful sights did not stop there, as we made our way through the garden…
… we were met with the Earth Goddess.
This particular piece is about 20 feet tall, and contains thousands of plants that decorate the embodiment of the goddess.
The sculpture is eye-catching, it just draws you in with its vibrant colors and different plant species. The sculpture is paired with a fountain that flows in front and through the hands of the earth goddess, making for a tranquil and serene landscape.
As we made our way to the Levy Parterre section of the garden, we saw many man-made rivers and cascades. The cascades added a relaxing and gentle sound alongside the chirping of birds and frogs. The real show stoppers were the multiple Dale Chihuly pieces we saw on our way to Levy Parterre.
There was a tall yellow piece named the “Radiant Yellow Tower” that stood at about 30 feet tall.
The gleaming tower stood over a calm pool and cast an amazing reflection that showcased its vibrant color. The other Dale Chihuly piece we saw was “The Parterre Fountain Installation” and it was colored with a gorgeous blue tint, and its shape mimicked the flow of the fountain’s water.
The Botanical Garden was definitely a hidden gem in the City of Atlanta.
Despite the city’s reputation, the 30 acres of outdoor garden proved to be a must see location. We used this opportunity to learn more about the different aspects of nature and how beautiful it can be. With this, we ended the night in awe of all the stunning sights the garden had to offer.
More than 450 people turned out to advocate for CASA–a worthy organization that advocates on behalf of children in Walker, San Jacinto, and Trinity counties. Once a year, they bring supporters together for their annual “Christmas in July” fundraiser, and this year the result was a sell-out.
The evening began at 5pm, with an hour of mingling, “shopping,” dining, and other festivities. It gave us a chance to catch up with each other and our table mates.
Our tables consisted of: Ken and Nicole Holland, Michelle Spencer and Jessica Twardesky, Judge David Moorman and Christie Moorman, Mac and Leanne Woodward, Mike Yawn and Stephanie Fors, Victoria McClendon-Leggett, Roxana Woychesin, and various LEAP Ambassadors.
In addition, we had a chance to run into community friends. One of the nice aspects of volunteering for different organizations, for example, is that we get to see people we volunteer with elsewhere! We had the opportunity to chat with Dottie, a committed member of the Lion’s Club, who joins us at 6 am to put out flags on major holidays.
We also ran into Nancy Ormsby, who was volunteering, which is no surprise. She and her sister, Lois Stehlik, volunteer everywhere–they are great community assets.
At 6pm, the Bingo commenced. Rob Hipp was on hand to emcee;
CASA board members and advocates volunteered;
…team members from SHSU football served as auction spotters;
…SHSU Volleyball members helped put up tables and chairs at the end; and LEAP Ambassadors were on hand, not only as paying guests, but also to assist with the auction and take photographs.
There were 15 games of Bingo in all, with variations on the game in full force.
Hipp did a good job of moving things along, and about halfway through, we took a “game-break” for a live auction (thank you Kevin McMillian!) of children’s paintings.
Some sold for more than a thousand dollars!
Additional funds were raised through “adoptions,” a silent auction, and a call for donations. Last year, the event raised more than $100,000, a testament to the generosity of the community and to the staff at CASA.
In addition to the funds raised for a good cause, there was a whole lot of fun going on. There were, of course, 15 bingo winners, and there were winners for “Best Dressed,” “Best Christmas-Spirit Costumes,” and “most generous table.”
The winners were typically thrilled, and they were gracious, although the “bingo-offs,” which occur when two or more individuals “bingo” on the same call, could get heated…
But, of course, everyone ended up friends.
People returned to the many stations to meander to, seeing what could be bid on, tables of friendly people to converse with, and a photogenic selfie station.
This led to much fun, as did winning. One of our table members, Michelle Spencer, Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Walker County, won the blackout contest!
As noted, with 15 games of Bingo, there were many winners, and that doesn’t include those who won the raffles, the drawings, or the silent and live auctions. Of course, the biggest winners are those who most need some wins in their lives: the children whose families are caught up in court actions. The funds raised from this event go to support those children, ensuring they have outcomes that provide them with the best chances in life.
And, in a larger sense, everyone who attended the event was a winner in that they were all contributing to a cause that helps our community become stronger–and that’s a big win!
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 