Doctor Who Illustrated, NC A&T Choir Live in Studio A, Civil War Monuments, and the Nutcracker

We've got the NC A&T Visual and Performing Arts University Choir with us here today on the show.  They're still jazzed from their two performances for the Obamas at the White House, and they're "Gonna Sing Till the Spirit Moves in Our Hearts" Live in Studio A! Then we take a look back to post-Civil War North Carolina, and the fascinating stories behind our state's many Civil War monuments. Author/photographer/historian Douglas Butler has studied them and discusses them all in his new book.  Later, on the heels of the science fiction television show Doctor Who's 50th anniversary, Eddie Garcia interviews Doctor Who comic book illustrator, Greensboro artist Kelly Yates.  He'll be giving a talk & drawing live at Geeksboro this weekend, so buckle your Tardis seatbelts.  And also, we have the story of a little ole nutcracker that could.  Executive Producer and General Manager of the UNCSA's production of The Nutcracker, Katherine Laidlaw may have all the pocketbooks and the headaches, but she's lovin' it.

NC A&T Choir Live in Studio A

The North Carolina A&T Visual & Performing Arts University Choir under the baton of Travis Alexander has performed two times in the White House for President Obama and his family. The ensemble is known for tackling a huge variety of repertoire including classical, jazz, and pop music. The choir will perform a holiday program this weekend in Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Greensboro. 14 choristers of the 30 plus member A&T University choir recently visited WFDD. We're sampling from their performance of the negro spiritual I'm Gonna Sing Till the Spirit Moves in My Heart arranged by Moses Hogan Live in Studio A.

We heard from director Travis Alexander. Before him we heard from choir members James Thomas, Stacee Lyles and Jasmine Boone. Together with the rest of their peers—first semester freshmen to graduating seniors—they'll sing a Holiday Concert Sunday night, December 8th at 4PM in Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Greensboro. The concert is free and open to the public so the Triad can hear for themselves why the A&T University Choir has been invited to perform not once, but TWICE at the White House in Washington D.C.  

Douglas Butler

In researching his new book North Carolina Civil War Monuments: An Illustrated History, author, photographer, Douglas Butler uncovered lots of competing interests immediately following the war as different groups sought to advance their own version of what the war had been about and what it had accomplished. There were numerous cost concerns, Northern and African American interests, but even among those who wanted to commemorate the Confederate dead and veterans, there was a lot of controversy over where to put the monuments. Doug says that initially they were placed in the middle of busy intersections as favored by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

David Ford spoke with North Carolina Civil War Monuments: An Illustrated Historyauthor, photographer, physician, adventurer, Douglas Butler. Doug and his work are part of the Associated Artists of Winston-Salem “pop-up” exhibition and art sale at 113 Reynolda Village (near the Village Tavern), and on Saturday, December 7th from 11-3:00 he'll hold book event there for his recent publication North Carolina Civil War Monuments: An Illustrated History out on McFarland press. Doug's solo photo exhibition at Wake Forest Law and Business Clinic will remain on display through January 31st. 

Kelly Yates and Illustrating

Greensboro artist Kelly Yates is one of those rare people who've had their pop culture dream fulfilled.  I mean, how many artists get the opportunity to draw the comic book version of their favorite television program, especially one with the rich history of Doctor Who?

Kelly has two of his own comic book series - Amber Atoms, described as an adventure book starring a female Flash Gordon type, and Monst-Her, about a halfway house for monsters trying to become human again.  

You can meet Kelly Yates on Saturday, December 7th at Geeksboro Coffeehouse Cinema in Greensboro.  Kelly will be giving an artist talk, do a live drawing illustration that will be projected on a large screen and telling stories about his experiences interacting with the creative team behind Doctor Who.

Katharine Laidlaw and UNCSA's The Nutcracker

Katharine Laidlaw is UNCSA's Executive Producer and General Manager.  Katharine is no stranger to enormous student productions.  Since 2009, she's overseen the full production of UNCSA's Oklahoma!, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring celebration at Carolina Performing Arts, and of course The Nutcracker.  During its nine-day run at the Stevens Center this incredible, annual student production raises money for scholarships while bringing world-class performance quality to Triad audiences.  Prior to Katharine's arrival on the UNCSA campus back in 2009, she was busy on Broadway, and her Tony-nominated revival credits include Gypsy, The Elephant Man and Death of a Salesman. Katharine was also heavily involved in original Broadway productions like Topdog/Underdog, the off-Broadway spoof, Debbie Does Dallas, and London productions of Ragtime and others.  Couple that theatre background with Katharine's experiences brand marketing for The Coca-Cola Company and Hanesbrands, and you have someone supremely prepared for the task. The Nutcracker runs December 13th through the 22nd at the Stevens Center with performances at 7:30 and weekend matinees at 2pm.  Featured guest artist Gillian Murphy (the Sugar Plum Fairy) and Gonzalo Garcia (her Cavalier Prince) will dance their respective roles on Friday night December 13th and Thursday night, the 19th.  There will be a special opening night post-concert reception on the 13th where Prime Orchestra ticket holders can rub elbows with the renowned feature guests.