Cultural Differences Celebrated In 'Promise of a Love Song'

Three theater companies. Three cultures. Three stories of love. That is the premise behind The Exchange Project's Promise of a Love Song - a moving new theater piece to be presented at the Johnny Carson Theater 8 p.m. Jan. 21 and 22 as part of the Lied Center for Performing Arts' 10th anniversary season.

Promise of a Love Song is a play involving three unique love stories, each presented from a different cultural perspective. From the Appalachian mountains to the African American communities of the South to the Puerto Rican neighborhoods of New York City, these stories reflect the realities and spirit of each community. The stories are told in segments throughout the play, creating one interwoven piece while preserving the style of each theater company. Helping to connect the storylines, while emphasizing the musical differences of each culture, is the vibrant musical score, broadly ranging from mountain music to jazz to salsa.

The Exchange Project is a collaborative effort of Junebug Productions of New Orleans, La.; Pregones Theater of Bronx, N.Y., and Roadside Theater of Whitesburg, Ky.

Promise of a Love Song was born out of a four-year exchange between these companies to explore the differences and similarities between theater companies around the United States.

Junebug Productions is a professional African American arts organization whose mission is to create, produce and present quality theater, dance and music that inspires and supports the African American community and the world.

Pregones (pronounced preh-Gone-nez) Theater, founded in 1979, is a professional theater ensemble creating innovative and challenging theater rooted in Puerto Rican traditions.

Roadside Theater is an arm of Appalshop, the multi-disciplinary cultural center which produces and presents works that celebrate the culture and voices the of the people in the Appalachian Mountain region.

Junebug Productions and Roadside Theater collaborated in January 1999 to present Junebug/Jack at the Lied Center's Johnny Carson Theater.

Tickets are $20; half-price for students.

Call the Lied box office at 472-4747 or toll free, (800) 432-3231 for ticket availability.

This production is a collaboration of The Wagon Train Project, UNL's Arts are Basic and the Lied Center.

School of Music Has Full Calendar

The School of Music calendar for January begins with faculty artist, Donna Harler-Smith, soprano and Michael Cotton, piano, at 8 p.m. Jan. 13 in Kimball Hall. The performance is free.

The recital, "Wings and Flying Things," includes songs by Monteverdi, Campra, Debussy, Ravel, Satie, Schubert, Brahms, Sondheim, Schwartz, Bernstein, Kirk, Hoiby, Cooke, Canteloube, Duke, and Bridge. Harler-Smith and Cotton will be assisted by professors John Bailey, flute, and Allen French, horn.

Harler-Smith is professor of voice and head of the voice division at the School of Music.

On Jan. 20, faculty artist, Diane Cawein, clarinet, will perform at 8 p.m. in Kimball Hall. The performance is free. She will be assisted by Karen Becker, cello; Mark Clinton, piano; Anthony Falcone, percussion; Nicole Narboni, piano and David C. Neely, violin. Performing works by Carl Reinecke, Joan Tower, Libby Larsen, Nino Rota and Peter Schickele.

Cawein is assistant professor of clarinet.

The Winter Wind and Percussion Festival Finale will present a free performance at 3 p.m. Jan. 23 in Kimball Hall. The concert will feature 71 of the region's finest wind and percussion performers from Midwest high schools and the NU Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Jay Kloecker.

A Centennial Concert will be presented at 8 p.m. Jan. 27 in Kimball Hall. The concert, "Celebrating 100 Years of Graduate Education, Research and Creative Activity at UNL," is free. Featuring performances by alumni Richard Drews (M.M. 1979), tenor, and Lawrence Gwozdz (M.M. 1976) saxophone; NU faculty George Ritchie, organ and the Moran Woodwind Quintet; and graduate students Charles Saenz, (DMA), trumpet and Milvia Rodriquez, (DMA), piano.

On Jan. 28, guest artists, Larry Gwozdz, saxophone and Joan Kucera, piano, will perform at 8 p.m. in Kimball Hall. The performance is free. They will perform works by Jean-Marie Leclair, Randall Snyder, Walter Hartley, Dimitri Nicolau and Stephen Dankner. They will be assisted by Laura Haupt, violin.

On Jan. 30, faculty artists, Karen Becker, cello, and Nicole Narboni, piano, will present a free performance at 3 p.m. in Kimball Hall.

Becker will be joined by Mark Clinton and John Bailey for a performance of George Crumb's Voice of the Whale for Electric flute, cello and piano.

Becker is assistant professor of cello.