Brewery to feature interactive family entertainment

Be it jazz, Chinese dance, Cowboy poetry, Paiute storytelling or something else, Brewery Arts Center's new Cultures of Nevada matinee series will give families and individuals alike an interactive, learning experience.

The series opens with the Erika Paul Carlson Jazz Trio at 2 p.m. Saturday. This performance celebrates all aspects of American jazz, taking the audience on a journey through ragtime, Dixieland, the blues, swing, bebop and more.

Carlson presently resides in Sparks and is an accomplished singer and pianist, songwriter, teacher and band leader.

The series continues thereafter most Saturdays through June, and showcases Nevada-based artists and cultures that have developed well here in both their cultural and artistic contributions, explained John Shelton, BAC's executive director.

The idea is that on any given Saturday, Brewery Arts Center will be the go-to place.

"The performances are designed to create audience participation and the entire thing gets very kinetic," he said. "This is engaging people in a way that allows them to not only be entertained, but to learn as well and gives families a place where they can enjoy in an appropriate venue and in a manageable timeframe, wonderful, diversified arts experiences."

Each program in the series will be about one hour and include time for questions and answers with each artist or performer.

Also scheduled are Andy Allen's Paiute storytelling, The Brüka Theater from Reno, cowboy singer and guitarist Tony Ilarda and Chinese dance with Xian Na Sonia Carlson.

While, over the last several years, BAC had moved in the direction of being a more concert-oriented venue, that is just one part of what the facility's future vision entails.

Among these ideas are expanded curriculum for students of all ages in a variety of disciplines, perhaps a dance series, where participants can show up to learn everything from Western swing or even Contra dancing and to provide a "more formal venue for local bands who are trying to break through," Shelton said. "There's no end to the possibilities; we could have many different series of events, and going through the process requires us to listen to what it is the public wants and to provide it.

"The center is here not only to serve, but to participate."

BAC is also working to expand is revenue base by encouraging more memberships and donors.

"It is critical that we have a wider, diversified revenue base from different segments of the community," Shelton said, noting this will in turn allow more choice in programming and give BAC the ability to meet various needs and interests.

"Especially at a time when we see cuts to arts programs in other areas of the community, we need to be able to step in and fill some of those gaps."

There are many ways to support BAC. First, by purchasing tickets and participating in events. Events are offered at a reduced price to members. Several membership levels are available for families, individuals and businesses. Various donor levels are also available.

Tickets for each performance in the matinee series cost $10 for general admission, $7 for students and seniors, and $5 for BAC members. All performances take place in the Maizie Harris Jesse Theatre at the Brewery Arts Center complex, 449 W. King St., Carson City. For more information on programming, memberships or to be a donor, to purchase tickets or to explore all that BAC offers, visit breweryarts.org or call 775-883-1976. For more information about Erika Paul Carlson, visit jazzqmusic.com.

April 30: Erika Paul Carlson Trio, 2 p.m.

The history of American jazz comes alive through songs representing 100 years of jazz music. The trio starts with ragtime, then journeys through instrumental and vocal styles of jazz, written and performed by some of our country's most prominent and prolific jazz artists, in the music styles of Dixieland, the blues, swing, bebop, hardbop, Latin, fusion and beyond. Every song comes with fun stories, interactive sing-a-longs, clap, tap and stomp activities, songwriting and lots of call and response to inspire the "jazz" spontaneity in every listener, be it student or faculty.

May 21: Andy Allen, Paiute Language & Story Telling, 2 p.m.

A member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe, Allen learned the Paiute language and traditional stories from his family and friends. He is skilled at teaching Paiute and is both an educator and entertainer who weaves in cultural and historical information about his tribe, who recites Paiute creation stories. And as an elder in his community, it is a rare treat to experience Allen sharing his linguistic and storytelling traditions.

June 4: Brüka Theatre's "Rumplestiltskin," at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Brüka Theatre presents its third year in a series of new adaptations of fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm. "Grimm's III" presents another original story filled with imagination, colorful characters, and adventures that have been updated for today's contemporary audiences. Children are invited to participate in the creation of each performance, ensuring that every show is unique.

June 11: Xian Na (Sonia) Carlson, Chinese Dance & Culture, 2 p.m.

Carlson began learning folk dances as a child growing up in Zhangzhou, China. Audiences leave her presentations able to teach others about aspects of traditional Chinese culture. Come prepared to participate.

June 18: Tony Ilardi, Cowboy Poet & Singer, 2 p.m.

IIlardi has published and recorded many of his poems and has performed at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Cowboy poetry and songs were transmitted along the trail from one region to another, supporting development of a Western ranching culture that persists to this day. His performances are rich in entertainment and the culture of Nevada.

June 25: CW Bayer and Mr. Spoons, "Songs From Nevada," 2 p.m.

For 35 years, Bayer has traveled Nevada collecting historical songs and writing and performing new train songs, gambling, saloon, mining and cowboy songs, ragtime songs and more. He along with Mr. Spoons seamlessly blend entertainment and education. Adding to the performance, small children will be brought on stage, handed implements of musical destruction and enlisted into ragtime, an experience from which many will never recover.