Lemony Snicket, The Flying Dutchman, Dale Pollock on Film, and Terry Kennedy's New Poetry Collection

It's an afternoon of sophisticated fun with literature, poetry, opera and film on our plate. First, Eddie Garcia chats it up with Daniel Handler. He's perhaps better- known as author Lemony Snicket, the man behind "A Series of Unfortunate Events", and we feel very fortunate to have him here with us today. Less fortunate perhaps was The Flying Dutchman. He made a deal with the Devil that left him searching the High Seas for a heart of gold—for centuries! On the heels of Richard Wagner's 200th birthday, Piedmont Opera's Jamie Allbritten and soprano Carter Scott are here to deliver a happy, but a bit soggy ending. We'll go Behind the Scenes with film producer, writer and professor Dale Pollock. He takes us right up close to the sometimes disturbing intersection of violence and humor in film. And Bethany Chafin brings us full circle with Triad poet, author, educator Terry Kennedy. His publisher at Unicorn Press and a community of local artists have come together to create New River Breakdown. 

Lemony Snicket

The elusive author Lemony Snicket has written some of the most celebrated books for young readers of the past decade. The 13 volumes of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” have sold over 60 million copies worldwide, and have been translated into 41 languages. 

The latest series to be written by Lemony Snicket is called “All the Wrong Questions.” Its a four volume story for young readers, set in the shadowy worlds of crime fiction. The second installment, “When Did You See Her Last?” was released last Tuesday.

 Lemony Snicket has a scheduled appearance at Wait Chapel on the campus of Wake Forest University on Tuesday, October 22nd at 6:30 pm. The event is presented by Bookmarks, with support from Wake Forest University.

Lemony Snicket, the man responsible for “A Series of Unfortunate Events” will most certainly not be joining us today. As disappointing as that may seem, I have been assured its for the best. I was told this by Mr. Snicket's representative, Daniel Handler. While Eddie Garcia cannot outright recommend you listen to the above interview, if you like to be disturbed, perplexed, or simply confused, the following interview may be of interest to you.  

Piedmont Opera presents The Flying Dutchman

Long ago there was an arrogant Dutchman who thought that he could sail around the Cape making a bet with the Devil in the process. Well, he lost that bet, and to lift the Devil's curse he's forced to sail the high seas for centuries in search of the one woman who will love him truly and forever. The Dutchman is given one chance every 7 years to come on land a try to find his one true love, and Friday, October 25th is his lucky day. That's when the Piedmont Opera's production of Richard Wagner's The Flying Dutchman comes to the Stevens Center of the UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem.

Performances continue Sunday the 27th and Tuesday the 29th when The Flying Dutchman finds the lovely Senta sung by acclaimed soprano and UNC School of the Arts alumnae Carter Scott. When we first meet Senta, we find her not pining away for her boyfriend Eric, but staring lovingly at a portrait that hangs on the wall of her father's factory. It's a mysterious man about whom exists a legend, and of the legend there is a folk song which she sings: The Legend of The Flying Ducthman. Carter Scott was joined in studio by Piedmont Opera's conductor Jamie Allbritten.

You can celebrate the 200th anniversary of Wagner's birth with the Piedmont Opera production of The Flying Dutchman at the Stevens Center of the UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. 

Behind the Scenes: Dale Pollock

It's time to go Behind the Scenes with film producer, writer and University of NC School of the Arts film professor Dale Pollock. Dale's produced thirteen feature films. His movie Blaze starring Paul Newman was nominated for an Academy Award for Cinematography. Dale was chief film reviewer for Daily Variety, chief film reporter for the Los Angeles Times (where he was a Pulitzer Prize nominee), and author of “Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas”. Dale Pollock is currently professor of Cinema Studies at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

New River Breakdown