Academy Center of the Arts

Serving our Community Through Arts and Culture

Archives for March 2017

Educate and Inspire: VA Rep’s “I Have a Dream”

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Young students from RS Payne Elementary School hustled from their buses to their seats in the Academy’s Warehouse Theatre last Wednesday, March 15, in anticipation for the performance of “I Have a Dream” by the Virginia Repertory. Virginia Repertory is known and commended internationally for excellence as a touring theatre company for young audiences. Having been based out of Richmond since 1975, they tour in Virginia and across the country, producing educational plays to schools and public venues. The performers captivated their young audience on Wednesday, as they brought to life the moving and inspiring story of one of the most influential and charismatic leaders of the American Century, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Depicted in “I Have a Dream”, after the arrest of Rosa Parks, Dr. King puts into action his philosophy of nonviolent protest. Inspiring the nation, he gains recognition and becomes a dominant force in the Civil Rights Movement during its decade of greatest achievement. The story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is saturated with real life value and important lessons that are even relevant in current society. The Academy feels it is important for the young minds of today to be reminded of the social […]

Jad Abumrad: A “Gut Churn”ing Experience

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The Academy Center of the Arts is proud to welcome Jad Abumrad, creator and host of RadioLab, to our stage. His one man show, “Gut Churn,” is kicking off a new speaker series where professionals can share their stories, inspirations, and experience. About Jad Abumrad Before beginning a career in radio, Abumrad composed film scores. This experience later influenced the sound of RadioLab, which he launched in 2005. Today, RadioLab is broadcast on 524 stations across the nation and downloaded more than 9 million times a month as a podcast. Most days, Radiolab is the 2nd most popular podcast, just behind This American Life. In addition to RadioLab’s success, Abumrad was awarded a MacArthur Genius Award in 2011. We are excited to welcome one of the pioneers of the podcast boom to the our stage to speak on his ups and downs in the business world. Local NPR listeners, podcast fans, aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners will enjoy Abumrad’s presentation. RadioLab Each week on Radiolab, Abumrad and others weave stories and science music-rich documentaries. Topics vary from week to week, with past episodes covering stories such as: Debunking America’s poverty myths A girl who has lived in the U.S. her […]

A Classic Tale Told and Retold Through Time

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Great Expectations was the thirteenth novel of Charles Dickens and has become a classic to the generations. He began writing it in October of 1860 and its initial publication was in All the Year Round, a weekly periodical founded and owned by Dickens himself. The novel appeared in nine monthly installments from December of 1860 until August 1861. Since it’s release, the classic story has been retold in many adaptations in the form of movies, television and theatre. The first film of Great Expectations was in 1917, directed by Robert G. Vignola and Paul West. While this adaptation told the story close to the original, there was a contemporary film adaptation in 1998, directed by Alfonso Cuaron. In this version, stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert De Niro bring vibrant color to the characters. It is mainly known for being a modernization of Dickens’s novel. The original setting of 1812-1827 London was moved to 1990’s New York (present-time when the film was made). The main character’s name was also changed from Pip to Finn, and Miss Havisham was renamed Nora Dinsmoor. A more recent film of the play was made in 2012, directed by Mike Newell. Starring actors such […]

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