On Entertainment

Digital Arts Festival Takes Center Stage by Steven Libowitz

Chilean dancer and choreographer Mauricio Vera is on the Digital Arts Festival schedule for May 15

MONTECITO JOURNAL46 B ack in late March, the Center Stage Theater was still hopeful it would be able to present scattered live shows at its “black box” venue in Paseo Nuevo by May, so it was still soliciting true, first-person tales for its periodic performances of “Personal Stories.” But the arts venue eventually accepted our “new reality,” and adjusted the requested submissions to include anything creative, which they thought they might perhaps share with audiences online. Quickly, though, CST again shifted and by April 6 had launched the Digital Arts Festival, which has become perhaps the most pervasive opportunity to not only stay in touch with creatives associated in one way or another with the theater, but also see some of their work and listen to a freshly recorded interview with the principal artist. There’s no live streaming, so no interaction with the audience, but the content is substantial. Each morning, CST adds a post to its new blog (https://centerstag etheatersbdotblog.wordpress.com/ blog-2/) featuring an extensive bio and description of the artist of the day and sharing significant samples of their work via pictures and/or video clips. Then at 7 pm, Center Stage updates the post with a link to a Zoom interview with the artist conducted by long-time Santa Barbara theater professional and radio personality Jim Sirianni. The conversations explore the creative process, either in relationship to a specific work or to their overall approach, including what inspires them, what excites them, and how their creative process is being impacted by the current situation with the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, CST has extended the festival through at least the end of May, and more likely beyond as they’re still soliciting artists to apply for coverage and seeking out other entertainers or performers to supplement the submissions. The schedule during the first week of May was illustrative of the variety of artists being presented, with a visual artist from choreographer/producer Yulia Maluta, British playwright Kieron Barry, Santa Barbara School of Performing Arts founder-choreographer Dauri Kennedy, UCSB Dance professor

Steven Libowitz has reported on the arts and entertainment for more than 30 years; he has contributed to the Montecito Journal for more than 10 years. Brandon Whited, UCSB theater/ Launch Pad founder Risa Brainin, and painter and resident artist for the Granada Theatre James Paul Brown. Last Monday featured Daniel French, a music teacher and audio engineer whose Chronosphere Fiction is a storytelling podcast where writers’ creations come to life with sound effects and music.

Last week brought an adjustment: the schedule now calls for new postings only Mondays through Fridays rather than seven days a week. But posting only the pre-recorded interviews, albeit earlier in the day, as well as examples of the artists’ work continues to be the entry point rather than live streaming of just the interview, or perhaps a chance for the artist to chat in real time with viewers.

“It’s actually better for the performers if it’s recorded,” said Center Stage’s Executive Director Teri Ball, who came up with the idea of the Digital Arts Festival and has worked with CST board members as well as Sirianni in selecting the artists for the series. “There’s a lot less pressure and they can focus on the conversation.”

Ball said the interview format is fairly consistent, although Sirianni is free to take the conversations in different directions as the talk progresses. “The idea is to have them talk about their creative process to give audiences a view inside how the artist comes up with and develops their art or performances, something people probably don’t get to see in the final product,” she said. “We’ll ask about the creative process both in general and more specifically how it pertains to the work we’re showing in the blog. And of course, we’re going to ask how the quarantine has impacted them, and if they are doing anything special in response, and what they think the long-term effect of the pandemic will be on what they produce.” Win-Win-Win on the Worldwide Web

The series, which zoomed past 35 events this week, has been a big plus for everyone involved, Ball said.

“It’s been quite a success for all of us. It’s really helped the theater expand our reach as well as our social media footprint, which will be great going forward. The artists absolutely love having the exposure. And from what we can tell, the audience seems to enjoy it.”

Ball pointed to April 30’s entry with a staged reading featuring UCSB Initiative for New & Reimagined Work program as a highlight of the series. Late this winter, the program had staged a workshop production of Ice Breakers, by Nick Freedson, a theater graduate of UCSB who is now a member of Skypilot Theatre company. At Ball’s behest, playwright Freedson returned to the script to make revisions based on the lessons learned from seeing the script performed, and the updated version was performed as a Zoom reading for the Digital Arts Festival. The posting includes both a video of the February workshop production and the new reading where the same actors all performed from their homes.

That experience was both exhilarating but also a bit frustrating, Ball said, because of the quirks and limitations of the Zoom platform. “We’re going to experiment with Skype and other software that might have more flexibility and interaction. But as we’re all learning, there’s a technique and well as limitations when you do things online.”

As of press time, there were just a Harout Aristakessian of Dance With Harout will be the Digital Arts Festival guest on May 14

few confirmed artists on the upcoming schedule, including a May 14 date with Harout Aristakessian, of Dance With Harout, a now-Santa Barbara based choreographer and performer who previously performed professionally all over Los Angeles with credits including Disney Channel (“So Random”) and most of the major venues. Harout has also appeared on Center Stage’s black box venue on numerous occasions, including for showcases of his relatively new company.

Mauricio Veral, the Chilean dancer and choreographer who has worked with State Street Ballet (he was instrumental in breaking the company to Santiago), is booked for May 15, while CST’s own Maggie Mixsell, artistic director of Speaking of Stories, which is still thriving with its Personal Stories events, and an instructor for UCSB’s dramatic arts program and SBCCs’ theatre arts program, will be featured on May 18.

Unlike many of the other online offerings from local arts organizations, all of the materials remain up on the CST blog page for viewing on demand for free, so having to curtail raising the curtain on new entries wouldn’t be a big issue. But Ball doesn’t anticipate having to shut down creating new original posts for lack of new faces.

“While it’s been true that some people are actually too busy with online classes and other new projects to get involved, there are many others who are so bored during isolating at home because they have nothing to do,” she explained. “We’re still getting lots of emails from artists who want to join. There’s even been a few from out of town. We featured someone from Amsterdam and a dancer from Ohio. But generally it’s people who live here, and usually have some sort of connection to the theater, other than the visual artists.”

Moving Forward

Once the county and city begin to emerge from the COVID-19 restrictions, Ball envisions keeping the series going in an expanded format.

“When the artists and companies are able to come into the theater, even without an audience, we can do something like live streaming or perhaps recording performances for Video on Demand, which lets us use more cameras and do some editing and has a higher quality.” she said. “I imagine we’ll be able to have individuals or small groups on stage with just them in the theater before we can have any audience at all. So we’re equipping the theatre to make that happen. Eventually I’m sure we’ll have socially distanced audiences. But even then, where we can, we’ll still want to do video for those who

might be at high risk and want to watch from home.”

(Access the full series and new postings at the Digital Arts Festival’s blog: https://centerstagetheatersbdotblog. wordpress.com/blog-2.)

Typically Sold Out ‘Tales From the Tavern’ Moves Online For Now

Tales from the Tavern, the singer-songwriter series that has drawn sell-out crowds in the Santa Ynez Valley for 18 years, has bowed to reality and begun an online series showing complete and excerpted concerts along with interviews culled from its archives that hits the web every Wednesday night, its usual time slot during our “old reality.”

The first episode on April 29 featured John Gorka, an early and often visitor to the series, even before it moved to the Maverick Saloon more than a decade ago. Gorka himself was tuning in for the livestream debut at his Minnesota home to interact with viewers and listeners in real time for the YouTube streaming. The guest for May 6 was Dave Stamey, who has been honored as Western Music Association songwriter, performer, and entertainer of the year many times. The stream included song performances, and stories from the stage and backstage interviews, and Stamey was also on hand to interact with viewers via video chat.

“We are so excited to start sharing information from this vast archive of materials gathered over the past 18 years through TFTT-TV (Tales From The Tavern Television),” Tales from the Tavern co-founder and co-producer Ron Colone said in an email, adding that he’s also adding short clips throughout each week, including posting one on YouTube (https:// youtu.be/n3jhnV98hxl) and Facebook featuring Kevin Welch, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, John McEuen, Dave Stamey, and Michael Smith.

Colone said he chose to go the plumb-the-archives route rather than solicit live streaming events because TFTT has been recording and videotaping not only the concerts but backstage interviews with every artist since the series’ inception, all at very high quality. Several concerts have already been edited and produced on DVDs, which formed the basis for the material in the online series’ first two shows.

“That was stuff that didn’t need much work,” he told me over the phone a few days ago. “So it made sense to start there. But we have 400 concerts we can draw from.”

But this week’s artist, Eliza Gilkyson – another TFTT favorite who has also appeared numerous times at the Lobero’s now-defunct Sings Like Hell series – is taking a bit more forethought, he said.

“After the last time she performed here, she wanted us to put together an anthology, a retrospective of her TFTT shows,” Colone explained. “So we were already starting that project, and had transcribed and cut together some of the interviews.”

As for upgrading the interaction to video interviews or chats over Zoom or another platform, Colone said all options are being explored as the coronavirus lockdown continues.

“We’d love to do something live, and it’s on the table. But we already have those amazing interviews which are very probing, way beyond something promotional. So there’s a lot of meat just in cutting together the episodes of songs, stories, and backstage interviews. Still, Zoom would take it to another level.”

Actually engaging the artist to perform something new seems appealing, but probably not in the cards in the immediate future.

“It seems everybody is already doing Facebook Live or something like it, and there’s almost always a quality issue with just using an iPhone camera in your living room. This is more of a program, very highly produced and professional,” Colone continued.

Colone said about 200 viewers tuned in for the debut of the first program with Gorka, and 300 showed up for the Stamey event, including people from around the country and beyond.

“They’ve come from Australia, Afghanistan, Brazil, all over, joining in the chat with the artists,” he said. “There’s so much enthusiasm, I can feel the energy just in reading the words. And the follow up response

MONTECITO JOURNAL 47 via email, social media and phone calls has been incredible.”

It’s also making some money for the artists.

“People everywhere and in all walks of life are having the same issues with having little or no income,” Colone said. “Artists are looking at six months or more of no work at all. Since one of our big missions has been to be artist advocates, this seemed like a good way to help the musicians.”

The archival events are initially streamed for free, but people are encouraged to donate to help support the artists, adding that a healthy percentage of viewers are contributing. The first two events have remained up on the TFTT YouTube channel, but future deals with singer-songwriters who have major management or record company deals may require charging a fee for VOD on a different platform after a short window.

“(Either way) we get to send the musician a check and it’s like them playing a regular gig. And we’ve also brought in several thousand dollars for our ongoing Artist Advocacy Foundation from people who have been hearing their stories. We’ve been able to give a lot of grants to artists who need this as well as serve the community, which is multifaceted, including our sponsors, season ticket holders, artists, and local people. We’re hoping to build a community online like we have done with the concert series geographically, spiritually, and artistically. And maybe we’re creating new connections between people.”

In the works for future weeks are Steve Poltz, whom Colone called “flat out one of the best entertainers around; people who aren’t familiar with him will be blown away,” and Kenny White, the pianist for whom Santa Ynez resident David Crosby sang harmony on White’s last album, Colone said. (White has been confirmed for May 20.) A fresh take on Dave Alvin’s many concerts at the Maverick Saloon is also on the board. Catch the live streams and view other materials online at TFTT’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/channel/UCk028ZJrWimGsjdaqYN9nQA) or visit https://talesfromthetavern. com/tftt-archives. •MJ

$1,000… and beyond. By 8:30 that first morning one incredibly generous customer had purchased $3,500 worth of gift cards; $250 a piece for 15 merchants. By 9 am we hit the $10,000 mark. From there the generosity of our seaside town exploded, bringing in $230,794 by the end of the weekend; $66K of which was donated to the 93108Fund, which has been disbursing funds to Montecito’s hourly workers – think servers, retail salespeople, Perfect Fit

and others – since the pandemic shutdown began.

On Sunday, May 3, a special Zoom happy hour was held, emceed by Billy Baldwin and featuring the musical talents of Zach Gill, Johnny Irion, Tina Schlieske, and Sofia Schuster. Baldwin raffled off spectacular prizes donated by Coast 2 Coast, Beau Joie, Whiskey & Leather, hairstylist Edward Anthony, Botanik, Mountain Air Sports, Viva Oliva, Robitaille’s

Wendy Foster

Montecito Hardware

Montecito Coffee Shop

Fine Candies, artist Jordan Pope, Marcus, and Riviera Towel Company. Winners, who all spent $500 or more during the Cash Mob, include

Martin Gore, Elizabeth Perry, Devon Nielsen, Kathleen Lavidge, Sally Holbrook, Shelley Badat, Brian Frons, Steffany Hall, Hal Saunders, Joseph Freeman, Penelope Bianchi, Susan Lichtenstein, Rand Rosenberg, Debra Geiger, and Hal Conklin.

Due to the great success of the Cash Mob, and the huge amount of work that went into planning it, it was decided that the event would be extended through Sunday, May 10.

More and more sales came in, bringing the final total to $270,405. Of this, $87K is earmarked for the 93108Fund, and $183K was spent on Montecito businesses, by way of nearly 1,600 gift cards!!

Friday of last week, 114 checks were distributed to Montecito businesses for the first weekend of the Cash Mob. Six members of our Cash Mob team walked Coast Village Road and the upper village, happily handing out checks to the shop owners who bring life to our village on a daily basis. We

San Ysidro Pharmacy

Village Wine & Cheese

did our best to deliver to all the merchants, but there were several who were not yet open for business, so we are in the process of getting ahold of those vendors.

In just the first weekend, our merchants sold a whopping 1,551 gift

Upstairs at Pierre Lafond

Via Vai

Imagine Artful Things

cards. While this is an INCREDIBLE number, and we are so grateful, it does take some time for the gift cards to be issued. Some of our restaurants sold nearly 100 gift cards! We encouraged all merchants to reach out to their customers as soon as possible to arrange

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pick-up of the gift cards. Customers should watch their emails carefully

for these instructions. Most vendors plan on having the customer pick up the gift card, while a few said they would prefer to mail them. The next round of check disbursement for gift cards purchased between May 4-10 will take place this week.

On behalf of the team of people behind the scenes of the Cash Mob, we want to extend a huge thank you for all those who participated in showing our merchants how much we love them. The success of the event exceeded every expectation, and every merchant who benefited was truly touched by the generosity.

Here are some photos of the recipients receiving their checks.

Crane Hosts Virtual Benefit

Crane Country Day School typically marks the start of May with a successful spring fundraiser with an adults-only dinner and auction. This year was very different, as the stay-at-home orders due to the pandemic forced organizers to abandon the original plans – which included a fancy dinner and dancing at the Coral Casino – with a virtual, low-key event.

“Clearly we saw the writing on the wall, and we began to pivot our plans,” said Crane Development Director Debbie Williams. “We decided to change plans completely, and make it a family-friendly event for both parents and students.” The virtual fundraising event, held on Zoom on Friday, May 1, was held early enough in the evening for even the kindergartners to join; all students were encouraged to join in their pajamas. The event lasted less than an hour, and included a bingo game, singing, a dance party, a lip sync battle, and more. Emceed by music teacher Konrad Kono, the event allowed parents the opportunity to donate funds online, which are to be used for the school’s operational budget.

Sponsors from the original event were kind enough to transfer their dollars to the virtual event, and Williams expressed her gratitude for both corporate sponsors and parent sponsors who made the virtual fundraiser a success. “Not only was it worth our time for fundraising, but it was a great opportunity for our students to see each other and say ‘hi,’” Williams said. “It was super fun and low key.” The website for parents who were unable to attend the event is still available through Friday.

Meanwhile, Crane’s 251 students are showing excellent attendance in the school’s remote learning program, put in place when the campus was closed in mid-March. “Our teachers are going beyond the call of duty, and working much longer hours than a normal classroom day,” Williams said.

In addition to the core academic subjects which are taught every morning, specialists including art, music, PE, language, and theater teachers are providing curriculum through both live and taped instruction, so students can have the flexibility in accessing

Students from Kindergarten through 8th grade have adjusted well to remote learning, which was also utilized following the 1/9 debris flow in January 2018

Crane music teacher Konrad Kono emceed the school’s virtual fundraising event on Friday, May 1, engaging students and parents in a round of bingo, a dance party, and a lip-sync battle

the lessons. The school is utilizing video-conferencing platform Google Meets to conduct lessons and one-onone instruction. All programs, including presentations and the upper school play Peter Pan, are still on schedule, to be done virtually. “It’s been going really well, and the students are engaged and thriving,” Williams said.

For more information, visit www. craneschool.org.

Montecito Association Meets

The Montecito Association Board of Directors met via Zoom on Tuesday, checking in with community leaders who gave updates on their respective departments.

Dr. Anthony Ranii from Montecito Union School reported that new budget studies from the State show that there will likely be a negative cost of living adjustment of -2% to -19%, given the much lower tax base expected due to COVID-19. “There is going to be some very big changes with funding for public schools,” Dr. Ranii said, adding that the District is anticipating the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the coming years. Dr. Ranii said plans are in the works for a virtual graduation ceremony for MUS 6th graders, and a “reverse parade” on the last day of school, June 4. Teachers and staff will line San Ysidro Road (six feet apart) and wave at students driving by, wishing them a happy summer break. Dr. Ranii said it’s too soon to say what the fall learning environment will look like, given the pandemic. “Parents need to get their kids back to school. We are looking to make that happen in a safe way,” he said. During her report, Cold Spring School superintendent Dr. Amy Alzina shared similar sentiments, reporting that 37% of the school’s operating budget is expected to be cut.

Darcel Elliott from First District Supervisor Das Williams’ office

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reported that a temporary parking ordinance is in the works, to help mitigate the increased parking issues at County beaches and trailheads. MA executive director Sharon Byrne, Cliff Ghersen, and Heal the Ocean’s Hillary Hauser all spoke at the Board of Supervisors’ hearing on Tuesday morning, advocating for such an ordinance. A draft of the ordinance will be in front of the Board of Supervisors next Tuesday, May 19.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Lieutenant Butch Arnoldi reported on the crime stats for Montecito in the last month. They include: a major residential burglary on East Valley Road, where two cars were stolen from the property; transient trespassing and littering on public property near the train tracks; and multiple parking violations. There has also been an uptick in mail and package thefts, with incidences reported on Santa Rosa, Miramar, Jameson, Lilac, Bella Vista, Toro Canyon, East Valley Road, Cielito, San Leandro, Coyote Road, and more. The suspects are conducting these crimes in the daylight hours, leading to identity thefts, check cashing, and more. Lieutenant Arnoldi said it is very important to report the crimes as soon as possible, at (805) 692-5743. It’s suspected that the perpetrators are a young couple, one of whom drives a white pick-up truck.

Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor reported a 12% reduction in emergency calls. He also reported that fire season is expected to start on June 1. Fuel reduction programs, including neighborhood chipping, continue in the community. Defensible space inspections begin on June 15.

During the conference agenda, a discussion ensued regarding the mandating of wearing face coverings in public in the County. Elliot reported that she does not believe the Board of Supervisors would be in agreement to support such a mandate, given the advice of the Public Health Department. The Board agreed to distribute a letter outlining best practices and common sense regarding masks, to encourage community members to wear masks.

Also discussed: the increase in homeless encampments from Olive Mill to San Ysidro Road along the railroad tracks. The County, as well as the Sheriff’s Department, is unable to call for a cleanup of the area because it is on Union Pacific property. Elliott reported that she expects Union Pacific to respond in the coming days, and facilitate a clean-up of the encampments.

The next Montecito Association Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9. For more information visit www.montecitoassoci ation.org. •MJ