The Columbia Theatre for Performing Arts has been home to numerous plays, concerts and more since September 1, 1928.
Morgan Ledet/ The Lion's Roar
The Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts will be presenting a mixture of classical and modern performances which include Silver Screen movies, plays and music performances for the spring semester of the new year.
The award winning Aeolus String Quartet will start the theatre’s new year off with their upcoming performance on Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Executive Director Roy Blackwood feels that the performance from the Aeolus String Quartet is a great way to start the new year.
“It’s a really superb group that will be coming,” said Blackwood. “They are a fabulous classical string quartet.”
The quartet was created in 2008 and is composed of violinists Nicholas Tavani and Rachel Shapiro, cellist Alan Richardson and violist Gregory Luce. They have performed in areas across the globe such as North America, Europe and Asia. The quartet is the recipient of the Chamber Music America’s 2015 Guarneri String Quartet Residency Partnership Grant of the 2015-2016 season.
Blackwood’s expectations of the upcoming performances are hopeful. He mentioned that he is always optimistic about the audience enjoying the performances.
“I’m hopeful they understand the quality of the performances and the inexpensive value of the price,” said Blackwood.
The Aquila Theatre has planned to put world literature mystery writer Agatha Christie’s famous novel “Death On The Nile” to action on the stage of the Columbia with the performance of “Murder on the Nile” on Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. The setting is in the 1940s on a paddle steamer sailing along the Nile River of Egypt.
The Aquila Theatre is a returning guest to the Columbia Theatre after showing their version of “Sherlock Holmes” last year. Though the role of Sherlock was played by a female, Blackwood’s attention was caught and he enjoyed it.
“She played beautifully,” said Blackwood. “It was brilliantly done in last March and the February show is going to be wonderful.”
Artistic Director Laurie Eisenhower has an acclaimed work of the Eisenhower Dance that has given life to her reputation of her works for the last 25 years. Eisenhower established the dance in Detroit in the year 1991. She has produced several full-evening productions. Annual subscription series and tours are presented by the company internationally.
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s Beethoven and Blue Jeans New World Symphony series in Metairie, Hammond and Slidell ends with a concert of selections from Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonín Dvořák and Johannes Brahms led by guest conductor Robin Fountain. The orchestra will be performing on Mar. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Columbia Theatre. Beethoven’s “Leonore Overture No. 3” starts the program off followed by Brahms’ rousing “Hungarian Dance No. 1” and “Hungarian Dance No. 5.” The concert concludes with Dvořák’s “From the New World,” a piece combined with melodies inspired by African American spirituals and Native American music. There will be master classes for students in which wind symphony and choir are available at no cost.
The Greek storyteller Aesop’s famous tale will come to the Columbia Theatre. The Virginia Repertory Theatre will present a musical version of the retold musical of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” on Apr. 29 at 7 p.m. Similar to the classic theme of the tale, the boy learns about being truthful and that there are consequences for lying. Kids dressed in their pajamas will be given milk and cookies at the end.
This year’s Silver Screen movies are two classic foreign films with high ratings. Blackwood anticipates these movies will attract audience members who view film as an art.
“These will be wonderful films,” said Blackwood. “These are films you can’t see other places unless they travel to film festivals.”
“When Elephants Were Young” is an English and Thai foreign documentary with subtitles that was shown at the theatre on Jan. 9 and 10 about a young male street beggar and his young elephant in Bangkok. The elephant business threatens their well-being until there is an opportunity to release the elephant in the wild.
From the producers of the Academy Award nominated “Persepolis” and graphic novelist Jacques Tardi comes a sci-fi adventure set in Paris 1941. “April and the Extraordinary World” is a foreign animation film that hits the Columbia Theatre Jan. 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. A family of scientists is close to discovering a powerful serum when suddenly a mysterious force abducts them leaving their young daughter April behind. She goes to find her parents and investigate their disappearance.