Story Time
Mark Michael Adams, who has performed spoken word since the '90s, starting with the Elvis Room, has launched a new, "yet to be named" (YTBN) project.
(photo by Ben Kramer)
A design of his own making, YTBN's structure is unique, eclectic and in flux - but with intent.
The project has already debuted. Its first show featured the band Cursed on Earth (https://www.facebook.com/CursedOnEarthMusic), and duo Guy and Charlotte, aka Guy Capecelatro and Charlotte Moroz, at the Auspicious Brewing Co., Dover.
The second event is set for the Dover Library, on April 5. After that, Adams hopes to take it on the road, and allow its path and formula to develop its future.
"The first show started with me reading the first chapter of an original story," Adams explains. "Then, in the next set, Guy and Charlotte played their own music. They chose a set list (of their originals) to accompany my story."
Next Adams delivered chapter two. A third chapter opened the second set, followed by a Cursed performance, with the final chapter closing out the night.
Adams' story was based on an original Cursed On Earth setlist, rearranged by Adams to create a concept album. He then drew inspiration from the "album" for his original fiction. "It was a beautiful experience," Adams says.
After the initial show, Cursed's drummer S. Joseph Haney suggested they go another round, "he was so excited ... and I was 'sure lets do it!'"
"For me personally, I'm hoping to do a library tour, which Sean (Haney) initially proposed. I would like to do a whole series using local musician's set lists and writing a story to them; my own concept album with other people's music," Adams says. "It's kind of like musical theater; there are songs throughout to accentuate what's going on. ... For me, it's a beautiful evolution of all the things I enjoy."
Mark guest hosting Long Story Short. (courtesy photo)
Adams is also busy working with Long Story Short (LSS) founder Beth LaMontagne Hall, both as a member of LSS's advisory board, and in support of its podcast.
"We're going into the studio to do new seasons of Long Story podcasts, and I'm going to be doing a lot of voice over for that," he says. "It's her project, but I'm helping out."
Podcasts drop quarterly (longstoryshortpod.com). Each is composed of tales selected from multiple live, LLS shows, held at 3S Artspace (next up: "Back to Normal," March 8, https://www.3sarts.org).
Mark at Auspicious Brew, Dover NH. (courtesy photo)
"For the podcast we pick two storytellers from different shows and find a commonality between them, coming up with a new theme for the podcast," he says.
"One of the most powerful things about storytelling, is that you're not alone, that we all have our own stories that are unique but there's a lot of commonality."
A Well Deserved Honor
By now it's gotten around that Founding Artistic Director Drika Overton officially retired her position at The Dance Hall, Kittery, Maine, on January 1 (though will continue to teach and occasionally curate.)
Just as the word got out about her retirement, Overton got word that she was selected by the Tap City Awards Committee to receive the 2023 Tap Preservation Award presented during Tap City, the New York City Tap Festival, in July.
The annual Tap Preservation Award is given to an outstanding individual or organization in the field, for the superior advancement of tap dance through presentation and preservation.
More on Overton's departure at https://tinyurl.com/da7rmftc.
A Soggy Po Boy Makes AD
Eric Klaxton is the new Dance Hall artistic director. He was instated in the fall, but they chose to hold off on a public announcement till Overton's retirement was public.
"It was very much intentional," Klaxton says. We were trying to give Drika time to articulate her desired exit strategy, and it gave me time to get adjusted and work with Drika, while we still had her on board as a resource.
Klaxton has deep roots with TDH and Overton. His first professional public performance was sitting in with a band at The Space (now Buoy) in 2007, Overton's original Kittery location. Since then he's performed at Space and later The Dance Hall, between five and 10 times annually.
Klaxton actually never went looking for the AD position, "it wasn't even on my radar at all," he says.
Klaxton had been looking for employment while completing his master degree in '22. A musician (sax and clarinet), he continued with his multiple music projects as founding member of Soggy Po Boy, and multiple quintet and quartets. He also secured some "fairly interesting" teaching gigs.
Then came a call from TDH's Executive Director Sarah Duclos, who explained he'd been put on a shortlist of people recommended for the job. After an hour's conversation with Duclos, Klaxton's "initial skepticism" waned.
"This kind of administration role was not something I was especially looking for. ...But, I got much more interested and thought it maybe was a good step for me," he says."I think it turned out to be exactly the opportunity I was looking for, but it was kind of in disguise."
He had experience that made it a good match, he adds. As a grad student he'd performed in an admin role for the Fellowship For The Jazz And Contemporary Music Department, at Longy School of Music. Additionally he'd launched a student-run record label which helped fund and promote students' recording process, and records and eventually distribution.
His primary responsibilities are, "basically shaping the performance schedule for the year, and making sure that the class we offer ... keep running," he says. "So, all of that experience made a lot of sense in terms of finding real joy and value in this opportunity."
Klaxton plans to keep the course Overton set, and expand on it.
"Drika has done such a good job it's really hard to revision any of it, so there will be no drastic change," he says. "The thing I hope to bring is ... a wider community across New England and Boston, so expanding community, making it a little big, continuing to offer the opportunities Drika did, but to a wider network."
Following Overton's lead, regional artists will remain an important piece of the mix.
"Part of The Dance Hall's mission is to support artists in our community. Drika did an amazing job of that. She gave opportunity to build projects, grow them and give them legs to take across the country," he says. "That will never change under my leadership."
"I'm just now starting to be confident and comfortable in the position," Klaxton adds. "It's incredibly exciting and I guess I'm enjoying it quite a bit."
A Subversive Community
Rachel Neubauer, who's worked theaters throughout the Eastern seaboard in sound and video design, production management, and technical direction, is now taking center stage, which is pretty funny. Or at least that's what she's hoping for.
Neubauer plans to take her second shot as a stand up comedian, in the upcoming Couch to Mic: Live Show (https://couchtomic.com/), which features graduates of Stephanie Lazanby's eponymous comedy classes (https://tinyurl.com/2p8pfwxv).
It's a newly found passion for Neubauer, who hopes to start performing at open mic events.
"It's a blast, and Stephanie does an incredible job. I would recommend this class to anyone," Neubauer says. "It's fun and it's a good community - a blast and a half."
Neubauer tried standup after taking employment outside theater, and feeling the need for a new creative outlet. Comedy combined writing and performing.
"But, I think the draw, for me at least, is it's kind of a secret, subversive community that I can be a part of," she says. "(Even) drag is mainstream now. But comedy is still underground. ... It's like a hidden little secret side project - like a place of limited seating, special in a way."
The intimate interaction with viewers, and the way the material feels fresh with each new delivery are also a draw, she adds.
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