Jazz in the Arts Presents Jazz: The Soundtrack of a Movement

On Sunday, September 15th the Jazz in the Arts Foundation will present local music legends Chester Daigle with Darol King & Company in concert at 5 p.m. at the Central School theatre.  This presentation titled, Jazz: The Soundtrack of a Movement, will feature an exciting night of Jazz from the Civil Rights movement.

Jazz in the Arts is a non-profit organization under the umbrella of the Arts and Humanities Council, and it is dedicated to promoting and developing jazz performance and education in Southwest Louisiana.  Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door.  For details, contact the Arts Council at 439-2787 or Pat Daigle at 794-5744. 

Itinerant theatre begins free monthly coffee house theatre series

Itinerant Theatre introduces its free, first-Saturday-of-the-month series “Coffee House Theatre” with a premier reading of the one-woman play, “Elizebeth” on Saturday, September 7, 2013.  Director is Joy Pace. Co-host is Stellar Beans Coffee House & Edibles.  Performance begins 7:00pm at Stellar Beans, 319 Broad St., Lake Charles, La.    

“Elizebeth” is one of the composite of one-woman plays collectively titled Louisiana Women written by Carolyn Woosley.  Elizebeth Thomas Werlein, a native of Michigan who married into the renowned New Orleans Werlein family, is best known for her vigorous, colorful and successful effort to save New Orleans’s slum-like French Quarter from almost certain demolition before World War II, as well as for the belief that she is, allegedly, the first woman to have flown in an airplane as a passenger.

The role of Elizebeth will be read by Carolyn Woosley in Ms. Woosley’s premier acting performance.  Joy Pace is Director and Producer.  There will not be an intermission.  Seating is limited.

Itinerant Theatre, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation located in the Lake Area, is dedicated to providing an affordable, professional forum for the performing arts and artistically underserved audiences so as to generate broader audiences for live theatre and the performing arts and also professional development for performing artists. For information call 337.436.6275, visit Facebook, Twitter or www.itineranttheatre.com .

                                   

Calcasieu Cinema International kicks off 3rd Season

There will be a free screening of the 2012 Indian film English Vinglish  on Friday, 20 September, at 6p.m. in the Historic Central School auditorium.  

Written and directed by Gauri Shinde as a tribute to Shinde’s mother, the film follows the main character, Shashi, a woman who feels limited by her lack of understanding English.  Moving past her insecurities, she signs up for English classes during a trip to New York, then reconnects with family in a healthier way.  As one critic notes, “….there’s grit…tempered with compassion and dignity.”

Sponsored by Mrs. Rita and Mr. Bal Sareen, English Vinglish is presented by Calcasieu Cinema International, a branch of the Council for International Concerns, in partnership with McNeese State University’s Office of Diversity, Banners Cultural Series, Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana, Lake Area Psychiatry, The Hearing Center, and Common Ground/CultureFestLouisiana.

The audience is invited to join in a guided discussion afterward, which will be led by Dr. Ram Nileshwar and Ms. Ankita Choudhary.  A taste of Indian food will be shared, and free popcorn and drinks are provided.  For more information, email cbadeaux@mcneese.edu or jkprjs@gmail.com.

Fluid Land Exhibit

Meghan Fleming's exhibition titled "Fluid Land: Cartographic Drawings of a Southwest Louisiana Landscape" will be on display at Art Associates Gallery in Central School from July 26th - August 22nd.  An opening reception will be held from 5pm-7pm on Friday July 26. 

(Erosion, India ink on paper, by Meghan Fleming)

The Drawings in the exhibition are a part of a larger project "Marsh Views" which Fleming has been working on for the past three years. The goal of "Marsh Views" was to gather visual data of the marsh through photographic images, conduct research with wetland experts, and produce a series of drawings about land loss and restoration. Fleming used aerial maps of the marsh spanning from 1998 to 2010 as source material for her drawings.  The project was part of a collaboration with the Louisiana Environmental Research Center (LERC) and funded by a US Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Grant #68-7217-10-006. 

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.  For more information contact the Arts Council at 337-439-2787.   

10 Things we love about Lake Charles

1. Carriage Rides

(via  http://www.johnnyjet.com/2012/03/the-other-mardi-gras-lake-charles-la-stuff-to-do/)

2. Contraband Days 

(via http://www.festivalpig.com/pirate-festival.html)

3. Downtown Strip

(via  http://capturepics.blogspot.com/2011/01/downtown-lake-charles.html)

4. Drive Thru Crawfish

(via http://angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-sunday-afternoon-crawfish-adventure.html)

5. Lakefront Pomenade 

(via http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/egov/docs/1282257958492.htm)

6. Live Music

(via https://www.facebook.com/lunalivemusic?group_id=0)

7. Millennium Park 

(via http://www.lrc-media.com/family-friendly-fun-in-southwest-louisiana/)

8. Outdoor Concerts 

(via http://cajunradio.com/travis-matte-headlines-contraband-days-saturday-may-12th/)

9. Charpentier District

(via http://www.flickr.com/photos/backroads1/3646987535/)

10. Sunsets

(via http://blog.brendalafleur.com/2010/03/)

George Porter Jr. & The Runnin' Pardners to play Lake Charles

New Orleans bass legend George Porter Jr. & The Runnin' Pardners are performing at Luna Live, this Saturday, July 13.  The Chuck Live gathered some info to let you know how incredible this show will be!

George Porter Jr. is best known as the bassist and singer for The Meters.  Formed in the mid 60's along with Art Neville, The Meters came to be recognized as one of the originators of funk.  After disbanding in 1977 George Porter Jr. has gone on to form many groups and side projects including his own group The Runnin' Pardners.  He has also been performing and recording with an astounding roster of musicians including Dr. John, Paul McCartney, Robbie Roberston, Willy Deville, Robert Palmer, Jimmy Buffett, David Byrne, and Tori Amos to name a few.

George Porter Jr. & The Runnin' Pardners are highly respected not just as a quintessential New Orleans Band, but also on the jam band and festival circuit.  Working with George in The Runnin' Pardners are Brint Anderson, Michael Lemmler, Khris Royal, and Terrence Houston.

It is an honor for Lake Charles to host one of the industry's most elite bass players.  George Porter Jr. & The Runnin' Pardners are yet another huge step in the growing music scene here in The Chuck, lets get out there and support this!

Luna Live is located at 710 Ryan Street.  Doors open at 8pm, tickets are $15. 

Stay up to date on what is happening in the LC music scene at www.thechucklive.com

Imperial Calcasieu Museum: Summer Film Series

On Thursdays in July: 11, 18, 25, & August 1st and 8th, The Imperial Calcasieu Museum will screen a different film each week accompanied by a lecture and brief Q&A session following the screening.  Popcorn will be provided free of charge, with refreshments available for purchase. Admission is $4 for non members, and free for members.  

July 11th 6pm-8pm "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" hosted by Hooper Nichols

July 18th 6pm-8pm "The Producers" hosted by Susan Reed

July 25th 6pm-8pm "The Shane" hosted by Bill Shearman

August 1st 6pm-8pm "Z" hosted by Reed Mendelson

August 8th 6pm-8pm "The Straight Story" hosted by Jim Serra


The Imperial Calcasieu Museum is located at 204 W. Sallier Street, for more information contact the Imperial Calcasieu Museum at 337-439-3797, or visit http://imperialcalcasieumuseum.org/index.cfm .