Art groups collide (in a good way) for Kaleidoscope at EFSC
The actors, dancers, musicians and singers of Eastern Florida State College want you to have a wonderful Thanksgiving by showing you what they can do, for free.
About 105 members of the college’s concert band, concert orchestra, Brevard Community Orchestra, jazz band, wind ensemble, concert choir, madrigal ensemble and EFSC Theatre will come together for the first time at the same time, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the King Center.
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The show, in which presentations of drama, dance and music will alternate, will be called “Kaleidoscope Celebrating Performing Arts.”
“In ‘Kaleidoscope,’ we will showcase our music, theater and dance program,” said Jeanine Henry, assistant professor of theater, who will direct the dramatic portion of the program. “This has allowed us to collaborate on a program for the first time ever.”
Here are some of the acts on tap:
• Hindemith’s “Symphonic Metamorphosis”
• “I am in Need of Music” by David Brunner
• Vivaldi’s “Concerto in G Minor for Two Cellos”
• Songs from “The Dining Room”
• Chan Ji Kim’s “Gosamok” will be performed in electroacoustic music, with dancers and video.
• The jazz band will play “Malaguena” by Lecuona.
• Lennon-McCartney’s “In My Life”
• “If I Can Help Somebody” by Brunner
• Copland’s “The Promise of Living” from “Tender Land”
Chan Ji Kim, who wrote “Gosamok” and chairs the EFSC department of performing and visual arts, said, “Through a strategic planning goal to improve the collegiate experience for EFSC students, the office of planning and assessment at EFSC initiated a meeting between the performing and visual arts department faculty and the King Center staff last year. We were discussing the possibility of future collaborations and activities that would be beneficial for our music/theatre/dance students. ... We call it Kaleidoscope.”
Henry added that Kaleidoscope largely is the brainchild of Jim Bishop, EFSC’s director of instrumental music and associate professor of music.
“He saw the potential for (performers) to show what they can do. ... We have quite accomplished actors, musicians and dancers here, and this will be their chance to perform on the big stage at the King Center. Jim said, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if our kids could perform at the King Center?’ and we agreed,” Henry said.
Bishop will conduct orchestral music, and Robert Lamb, director of choral activities and professor of music, choristers.
The evening has a holiday-appropriate theme and so about 10 EFSC actors will perform scenes from “The Dining Room,” A.R. Gurney’s comedy of manners set around the table. The play recently was performed by theater students at EFSC’s Cocoa campus.
“The challenge for me was coming up with scenes from a play that could stand alone, and ‘The Dining Room,’ offers the warmth and sense of community you get in a typical family dining room,” Henry said. “We wanted Kaleidoscope to be warm and reflect the spirit of Thanksgiving.”
The points, the professors said, are not only to give their young artists the experience of shining on the King Center stage, but to show the community what they can do.
Henry, who has a master’s degree in directing and gender studies from Florida State University, was a production assistant and casting director for a company that provided theatrical productions on cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Cunard and Princess Cruises.
“We think the performing arts at Eastern Florida State College are a hidden gem. Our faculty is top-notch, and we have some highly accomplished students,” Henry said.
The details
What: Kaleidoscope Celebrating Performing Arts
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18
Where: King Center, 3865 N, Wickham Road, Melbourne
Cost: Free, reserved seating is $12
Info: Call 321-242-2219 or visit kingcenter.com.