Slumdog... Periello (2 separate thoughts)

Took my 14 year old to dinner and a movie to celebrate her straight A's (just 2 of us). saw Slumdog Millionaire. Great movie, in part because its so different. Sweet love story, plus gritty look at life in India's slums. Supposedly the "Bollywood" filmmakers there are upset because it showed the slums extensively, which I guess they avoid. In any case a really good film.

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Saw new 5th District Congressman Tom Periello on MSNBC yesterday, discussing the proposed stimulus plan ... rationally, coherently, with articulation - and minus the red meat partisanship, jingoism and inflammatory rhetoric of the deposed Virgil Goode.

5th district residents should feel good about the change to Periello from Goode. He looks and sounds fresh, intelligent, upbeat and eager to make a difference. Another good argument for term limits - or for people just getting up off the couch and voting for change. We'll see if Washington "corrupts" Tom - whom Goode tried to portray as some sort of Un-American terrorist with commercials designed to inflame his more rural (redneck) base - but so far, so good.

Mill Mountain Theatre space ... and Writer's Conference

Center in the Square president Jim Sears has been making noise on his Facebook page about using the soon-to-be dark space at Mill Mountain Theatre for community performances. Others, like Todd Ristau (Hollins playwriting program and No Shame Theatre, plus Studio Roanoke, a space scheduled to open this spring) have told Dr. Sears they are interested in exploring that option.

Its a big space to fill if you're talking about putting on experimental plays or readings... MMT has over 300 seats I believe. Here's a thought:

what about turning the Trinkle main stage theater into a movie house? Show first run foreign films and big budget movies that need another screen .... or maybe second-run films? Many older folks seem to remember fondly the big old movie houses that used to be downtown. Maybe the Grandin Theatre folks could run it? Call in Grandin Downtown?

Its another way to draw folks downtown, other than for a night of drinking and carousing... if they ever get their act together at the City Market building some of the vendors could stay open to take care of people after they get out of the movie ... maybe an ice cream shop would pop up, who knows... Its a thought, anyway.

The Roanoke Regional Writer's Conference this past weekend was invigorating and informative.. great to be around another 100 writers/journalists or so .... lamenting about the fading away of newspapers, the rise of blogs and other on line news services ... and how most writers won't get rich, or close to it. Looking forward to next year's conference already. I presented one session and co-hosted another, which was also fun.

Writer's Conference this weekend

Looking forward to the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference at Hollins U. this weekend. I'm actually giving a presentation on freelance writing. There are several dozen presenters, many with much better credentials than I have, but I'm honored to be included in this group. There's a reception and keynote speakers Friday night, and a full day of workshops on Saturday. The best part is the networking, plus all the freelance writers commiserate about how they are not paid what they are worth!

Its $50 for the whole shebang; give it a whirl if you like to write or are thinking about it. Just about every genre will be covered. see the link at Hollins.edu.

I just hope I have something to say for my 45 minute session....

Its a shame- Mill Mountain will close

Crushing debt says MMT board director Jason Bingham, and a downturn in the economy that eroded the sponsorship base and ticket sales, helped do in Mill Mountain, which will declare bankruptcy. There are other places to see plays around Roanoke (Hollins U., Jefferson Center - where the GAMUT troupe has been - even the Taubman Museum, where acting students stage productions).

But Todd Ristau, involved at MMT with No Shame Theatre, is also involved with a new venture set to open this spring, "Studio Roanoke." He sent out this memo today with his thoughts on that venture, owned by ZZ Top-looking Kenley Smith (pictured) and the demise of 40 year old Mill Mountain Theatre:

Yesterday it was announced that Mill Mountain Theatre, a leader in our region's arts community, would close its doors today. While the current production, Driving Miss Daisy, will continue its scheduled run, staff were let go effective today.


I don't have a lot of information, but from what I have gathered it sounds like the economy, downturn in ticket sales, dwindling donations, and rising debt all contributed to the Board taking the drastic step of shutting down operations to "reorganize."


I don't know what reorganization means, but from what I've heard, there is every intention to keep MMT viable by transforming it into a model that will work better in the new economy than the fully professional model operating under the heavy burden of Equity compliance. Perhaps MMT will return to its community theatre roots and return to the space like a phoenix from the flames.

I want to say plainly, whatever financial debts Mill Mountain Theatre may have accumulated are not equal to the cultural debt our community owes this marvelous theatre.


Obviously, our hearts and prayers are with Patrick Benton and the Mill Mountain staff, who have given so much to our community for so many years. This isn't going to be an easy time for any of them, and what we can do to help, we should do. (This includes going to see Driving Miss Daisy. If they can't sell out this show, it will be harder to argue for the theatre's possible return.)

Nothing at this point is certain, and you probably aren't interested in my speculation. You have plenty of your own. Because Mill Mountain Theatre's programming is linked to our MFA program, I wanted to answer some questions some of you might be having.

What about student readings and productions already planned?

The production of Ant Farm, by incoming candidate Ben R. Williams, as well as the readings of Elvis Blossom (Sunny daSilva) and Dear Abe (Adam Hahn) have been cancelled, along with the rest of Mill Mountain's season. We plan, however, to move them to Studio Roanoke at the earliest opportunity.

What does the loss of Mill Mountain Theatre mean to the playwriting program at Hollins?

The loss of Mill Mountain Theatre, our area's largest equity playhouse, will be deeply felt, but it is not by any means catastrophic. We continue to have hope that Mill Mountain will return in some form and continue its commitment to new play development along with corporate sponsors such as Norfolk Southern Railroad who underwrite their festival of new works. In addition, the Playwright's Lab has been aggressively building partnerships with theatres across the country that produce new plays, and that growing network will continue to be available to our students. Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, we will have the launch of Studio Roanoke later this Spring, as well as the re-opening of the lab space on campus which will continue to provide performance, reading, and experiential learning opportunities to our MFA playwrights.

What about No Shame Theatre?

Studio Roanoke will be opening its doors to the public very soon, and as the Artistic Director of Studio Roanoke, I'm happy to tell you that No Shame Theatre will have a home in our new space.

What about other alternative programming?

Studio Roanoke be offering a great deal of programming similar to what you were came to expect from Underground Roanoke at MMT. In addition to No Shame at its usual time and price, Studio Roanoke will also be offering a Tuesday Night Lounge series which will include a Poetry Lounge, a Comedy/Improv Lounge, and an Acoustic Lounge on a different Tuesday every month. Shows will be at 8PM.

We're also planning to have a fully mounted presentation of a new or unpublished play the last week of each month, presentations of touring works by other companies and guest artists, as well as special presentations such as readings, small scale productions, all ages music shows, theatre for young audiences, classes, workshops and guest speakers.

What will ticket prices be?

Studio Roanoke is committed to a flat ticket pricing scheme of $10 for all regular programming, and $5 for all late night programming (i.e. No Shame).

If Mill Mountain had to close its doors, why do you think Studio Roanoke will succeed?

Studio Roanoke will be operating on an entirely different model than Mill Mountain Theatre, as we will be more like a community theatre instead of having to meet the requirements of operating under professional contracts. As a result, our operating budget will be a tiny fraction of the funds needed to operate a theatre on the scale of Mill Mountain Theatre.

Our mission is also very different from MMT's in that we are coming into existence specifically to tackle new works development and all the risk that implies. To do this, we are in the process of building a donor base equally committed to creating a place where that risk can be taken and new work can be developed without worrying about success at the box office.

Our ongoing creative relationship with the playwriting program at Hollins also puts us in a position to offer some of the top talents in contemporary theatre to our community through shared resources.

Is Studio Roanoke trying to replace Mill Mountain Theatre?

We know that Studio Roanoke could never hope to fill the void left by the monumental and groundbreaking work Mill Mountain Theatre has been doing for over 40 years. Even so, we hope that by offering innovative programming such as MMT's Underground Roanoke was created to provide, we can preserve and extend a portion of Mill Mountain's commitment to new and challenging acts of theatre while building and expanding a local audience for it.

What can we do to help?

If you want a theatre in your community, you have to go to the theatre in your community. If you want to have artists, you need to subsidize them with donations so they can resist making art with profit as their only motivation. It is vital for people to realize that individual support for arts organizations is absolutely essential. Arts organizations don't function on a market driven model. The value of a play or an art object is not best measured in dollars.

As an Artistic Director opening a theatre when theatres all around me are closing their doors, I hope that you will take this to heart and remember that in our darkest times the arts are where we can turn to remember that life is worth living, people have value, and to find hope for the future.

Please join us in the ongoing conversation we'll begin this Spring at Studio Roanoke, and let's find out together what is possible.

Thank you,
Todd Ristau,
Director, Graduate Program in Playwriting at Hollins University and
Artistic Director Studio Roanoke

Obama: “the journey we continue today”

photo: Serena Paynter (center) celebrates with her Kleenex close at hand

They gathered at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture on Tuesday to watch Barack Hussein Obama be sworn in as 44th President of the United States. There were officials of the museum and friends, about twenty in all, as someone who looked like them took the torch from George W. Bush.

Museum board chair Serena Paynter remembers the waning days of segregation in her native Bedford County: “it is undoubtedly one of the happiest moments of my life. I was pretty overwhelmed all morning. It forced me to reflect on my life.”

“Its history, its so emotional,” said Wanda Austin, manager at the Harrison Museum, which is kicking off a two million dollar capital campaign, funds it will need to move from an old school in Gainsboro to a new home at Center in the Square. “Its something many of us never thought we would see in our lifetime.”

Museum director Bamidele Demerson said the Obama presidency “resonates in ways that have implications for this museum. It certainly brings renewed interest and understanding of …inter-ethnic relations. Beyond that it reminds us about a time for examining identity. The story of African Americans is search for democracy, the search for dignity, the search for justice – the search for freedom. The story we tell here … resonates.”

Maxine Wright was overcome by the occasion. “I never knew I’d be able to see the first African American president. Its overwhelming …its wonderful.”

(full story in this week’s Roanoke Star-Sentinel! – Thursday )

Feels like New Year's Eve

Tomorrow's swearing in of Barack Obama will be a good day for this country. Its a new start after 8 years of various missteps by the Bush administration. Its a good day for African Americans and for all Americans in general. It sends the signal that Yes, We Can - anybody can, even the biracial son of a single mother, a man not raised in a privileged world.

Its exciting, to think about having a president once again who is a riveting speaker, who sounds intelligent and coherent, who challenges people - especially it seems other African Americans - to get off their backsides and be a part of the solution.

I'm not going to DC - I'm not that crazy - but I will talk to folks who are and I plan to watch the swearing in at noon at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture. I want to see folk's reactions, I want to see how they feel, especially older folks who remember the days of segregation here in Roanoke.

Its a day of hope, of new beginnings, a time to roll up our sleeves, to get out of Iraq, to go green at home and to put people back to work.

But first, on Tuesday, as W. heads for Texas, its time to party. Yes, we can!

Students reflect on historic presidential event

(L-R) James Madison students Tavon Wright-Cicero and Teonshay Parris as Barack and Michelle Obama

The inauguration of America’s first African-American president is a national milestone, and for some a personal one. Last November 4 during an Election Night party/school project at James Madison Middle mile several students reflected on that, after it was apparent Barack Obama would beat John McCain.

Jamie Strassburg’s 8th grade civics class included Tavon Wright-Cicero, dressed as Barack Obama, with Teonshay Parris on hand as Michelle Obama. The historical aspect of the election was a major topic – electing the first African American president. “A lot of our kids realize, hey, this is the one our grandkids will ask us about.” noted Strassburg.

That night Grace Mason, daughter of Roanoke City Councilwoman Gwen Mason, termed it “sort of an historical election. I find that really interesting.” Mason said her parents allow her to make up her own mind about political leanings, pointing out that although Gwen Mason is a flag-waving Democrat her father is a Republican. “I think Obama would be a better choice,” said Grace Mason, who has an interest in politics and can see herself running for office someday.

“I think we need change in the country and believe he can bring it,” said Wright-Cicero, dressed in a suit as Obama’s stand-in on election night. “As an African-American, it was also time for the student to reflect: “it makes me feel great that we’re getting recognition.” (Gene Marrano)