Tapestry

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From April 19, 2007...

• Birmingham Festival Theatre presents "Frozen"
• The action-musical "Mega Heroes"
• A comprehensive guide to art in Alabama
• Psychedelic rock from Brightblack Morning Light
• Community Calendar
• Southern pop-rock from Jason Carter

Critics have described the play Frozen as "almost thriller-like...like a time-bomb ticking in the back of your head". The story connects the lives of three strangers: a mother whose young daughter is kidnapped and murdered, the kidnapper and an academic studying serial killers. It's pretty heavy stuff being staged right now at Birmingham Festival Theatre -- so heavy that director Don Sandley admits he's had second thoughts about actually staging it. He talked with WBHM's Tanya Ott..

Don Sandley interview

Across town, at Birmingham Children's Theatre, another play features a different kind of villain - an almost "kitchy" one. It's the world premiere of the new action musical Mega Heroes, about two teenage computer wizards and their high school physics teacher who transform themselves into action heroes to save their town from arch villains Ferret and Mole. Clarence McDorman plays Mole and Frank Thompson directs. They talked with WBHM's Tanya Ott....

Clarence McDorman and Frank Thompson and "Mega Heroes"

Actor Clarence McDorman and director Frank Thompson, talking with WBHM's Tanya Ott. Mega Heroes has many school showings and one public performance on April 28th.

For the past three years, the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel has highlighted one aspect of life in Alabama to promote tourism. Last year, the emphasis was on Alabama's abundant natural beauty. This year's theme is Alabama Arts and the bureau commissioned a book by that same name. The task of writing it fell to author and story teller Karyn Zweifel who, in the process of her research, was surprised to learn of Alabama's prominent place in the world of folk art.

Karyn Zweifel interview

The members of Brightblack Morning Light aren't living in a tent right now... but a lot of their music was written and recorded under the sky, without walls or roof. The Alabama natives camped out next to a stream full of endangered coho salmon, partly because they preferred the natural life to living a structured city existence and partly because they couldn't afford the sky-high rents in northern California. On a recent trip back to Birmingham, Nathan "Nabob" Shineywater and Rachel "Rabob" Hughes stopped by our studios to talk with WBHM's Hunter Bell about their critically acclaimed self-titled CD and their environmental activism.

Interview with Brightblack Morning Light

Nathan Shineywater and Rachel Hughes, talking with WBHM's Hunter Bell. Brightblack Morning Light plays Bottle Tree on Sunday.

To hear the audio portion of the Community Calendar from Tapestry, click here.

Want to know more? Activeculture.info is a one-stop source for finding out what's going on in the Birmingham metro area.

Music runs in the blood of Pelham native Jason Carter. His grandfather played the fiddle; his father was a signed musician and his "Uncle Judd" was once considered the best mandolin player in north Alabama. But unlike the rest of his bluegrass and country strummin' family, Carter's music is a mix of southern rock, pop and soul. That didn't stop his daddy, Larry, from recognizing his son's talent. Carter's father and Goose Goodrich co-produced a recording session with Jason that lead to his album "Hello My Friend". Critics seem to like the record, as well as Carter's voice - one saying Carter sounds like no one else on the market. This song is "Butterflies" off the new album. Jason Carter stopped by our studios to talk music and family...(AUDIO MONTAGE)

Tapestry is produced by Tanya Ott, Michael Krall and Hunter Bell, with help this week from Francesca Rosko and Rosemary Pennington. I'm Greg Bass, and we'll see you next week.

Support for Tapestry comes from the Jefferson County Commission through the Jefferson County Community Arts Funds administered by the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham.