With only 22 days to go before the big show — that is, the Heller Awards for Young Artists Ceremony where we bring together a ton of students from 32 high schools to celebrate their musical theatre accomplishments for the year — our excitement is nearing extreme porportions. And what better way to get into the spirit of things than to check in with this year’s Ceremony hosts, program alumni Donelvan Thigpen and Jessica O’Brien? See what they had to say about the HAYAs and why they keep coming back to be a part of it in today’s Mid-Week Intermission.
And did we mention that the Heller Awards Ceremony is back in business, live and in-person in Dell Hall? It all goes down April 14th, and tickets to the show go on sale March 31st at 8pm. Sign up for alerts if you don’t want to miss it.
MEET THIS YEAR'S HOSTS, DONELVAN & JESSICA
Tell us a little about you. How did you get where you are today?
Donelvan: My journey in performing started in the 3rd grade when my elementary school did The Music Man Jr. I played Marcellus Washburn and from that moment on I’ve been obsessed with the arts.
I wanted to learn how to sing, dance, and act. Musical theatre semed like the perfect place to learn how to become a triple threat, so I started to train with Ginger Morris (that’s the Producing Director of the Heller Awards, for those who don’t know her), and other great teachers, which led me to get accepted into the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
Jessica: I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without the gifts of my high school theatre director, Kristie Copeland, and Ginger Morris. It was truly more than just the programs they offered — it was the passion, love, excellence, and inspiration that being in my high school musicals year after year instilled.
It was also the confidence gained by meeting Ginger in my Select Ensemble audition for the very first Musical Awards (called ‘The GAHSMTAs’ back in 2014), and the amazement at her ability to put together a genuine celebration for what we love as human beings and are here on this earth to do. Seeing true collaboration at its finest from female directors, who valued who I was as a person and artist, especially being ayoung woman of color, was a blessing and something I will treasure forever.
What projects are you working on right now? Anything we can check out soon?
Donelvan: Right now, I’m headlining on the Las Vegas Strip! I play Prince in Purple Reign The Prince Tribute Show. And if you’re in Vegas, you can check it out Wednesday through Saturday at 9:30pm!
Jessica: I’m currently serving as a new member of the Board of Directors for the Georgetown Palace Theatre, and am grateful to serve that community right now. I wrote a book about my experience up to this point in life as a black woman. I talk about about a few of the challenges I’ve had to overcome in theatre and in myself, but also highlight the genuine joy I’ve felt.
Being a woman of color is something I celebrate in my book, and I hope to encourage other people to be inspired to celebrate who they are as well!
We know you were in volved in the Heller Awards when you were in high school (in the GAHSMTA days!), but what makes you want to keep coming back and being involved?
Donelvan: Doing a musical in high school was so much fun, but it was also a lot of hard work! I want to be involved with the Awards because I believe any school that attempts to put on a musical should be honored and recognized, and that’s exactly what happens at the Heller Awards.
Jessica: It is amazing to see the caliber of professionalism that has been growing over the last few years because of the HAYAs. Yet I keep coming back because HS musicals are where I got my start. Austin is my home and it was the education programs like this one where I met some of my best friends and some truly amazing people who have challenged me along my journey. I’m passionate about leaving behind a higher ceiling for the next generation of artsits around me, and I am so excited to celebrate with these students and directors!
QUICK ASIDE
Did you catch those Nominations announcements??
5 LESSONS FROM THE HELLER AWARDS DONELVAN & JESSICA USE EVERY DAY
1 // Be adaptable. At some point, something you never thought would happen is going to happen, but if you’re adaptable you can always move forward.
2 // Never take anything personally.
3 // This one’s more of a quote. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Almost everything you do in life requires collaboration and especially in the arts.
4 // Always do your best. Even if you don’t feel at your best on a given day, if you do the best that you have at that moment, you can go to sleep with no regrets.
5 // Always cherish the present moment. I had a lot of anxiety waiting for a better moment to come along, or for something great to happen. But with that mindset, even when that “great moment” comes along, you’ll miss it because you’re already thinking about the next thing.
All of your power is stored at this very moment. That’s all there is. (If you want to go deeper in this, check out “The Power of Now,” by Eckhart Tolle.
1 // It takes a village, but collaboration is a recipe for success.
2 // It takes having conversations and listening to those around you to produce a production that is valuable to all involved.
1 // It’s not personal, it’s just business.
2 // Everyone is doing their best, so give kindness and grace to everyone involved.
5 // Show up as you are, because that can speak volumes.
ARTS EDUCATION MATTERS
Show your support for arts education by following @hellerawardsatx on your social media platform of choice, or take it one step further and make a donation to the Heller Awards for Young Artists today. The future of arts education is here, and you can make sure it continues.
The Heller Awards for Young Artists are back in business! Ain’t it grand 🤩
We kicked things off on March 6 with a Virtual Nominations Ceremony, but in case you missed it (and want to avoid spoilers!), you can watch the recording below 👇
Are you ready? Okay, good.
THE 2022 haya NOMINEES ARE…
Congratulations to all the performers, crews, teachers, schools, and families who participated! We’ll see ya in Dell Hall real soon; April 14 to be exact. Until then, be sure to follow @hellerawardsatx on the social media platform of your choice for school shout outs and behind-the-scenes goodies.
If you’re already looking forward to a post-SXSW cool-down, we have just the ticket — enter the cool jazz sounds of Christian McBride, headed to the Long Center March 25th with his New Jawn ensemble. A jazz legend by trade and whizz on the double bass, we got to sit down with Christian for a brief moment during his whirlwind European tour to check in ahead of his Austin appearance. Read on in this Mid-Week Intermssion for a brief peek behind the tour van door.
If you’re already sold 👉 You can still snag a few tickets to see Christian McBride’s New Jawn on March 25th with Austin locals Brannen Temple Express. We recommend.
INTRODUCING CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE
From coast to coast, Christian McBride is the voice and sound of jazz in America — literally, he hosts NPR’s Jazz Night in America — just check out this curated list from the show of the latest and best jazz out there right now. He frequently tours across the globe, including with his quartet, New Jawn, and winning a host of GRAMMY Awards along the way.
Powered by a relentless energy and a boundless love of swing, McBride’s path has described a continuous positive arc since his arrival on the scene. With a career now blazing into its third decade, the Philadelphia native has become one of the most requested, most recorded, and most respected figures in the music world today. You’re gonna understand why really soon.
So let’s get into it!
Long Center: So tell us a little bit about how you’ve handled the chaos of the last year. How have you stayed creative?
Christian: Even though the pandemic was a long, difficult, and sometimes scary time full of unkowns, on the other hand, having time off the road actually gave me more space to be creative, etc.
I was able to spend more time with my wife Melissa, and our dogs, and event spent some time cooking! Aside from some pivoting to Zoom (like the rest of the world) on projects like recording episodes of my SiriusXM show (The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian) remotely rather than in person, it fortunately did not affect things too much.
Long Center: Well we’re incredibly excited to have you on stage at the end of the month. What’s it been like to tour again? How have the members of the New Jawn stayed connected to each other and to listeners?
Christian: The time off was nice, but it’s great to be on tour again see so many friends. My band, New Jawn (that’s Marcus Strickland, Josh Evans, and Nasheet Waits) did actually play together a few times during the pandemic — at the Village Vanguard (a livestream with no audience) and a similar livestream taping for Celebrity Series in Boston. So we were grateful for that.
Quick Aside:
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BRANNEN TEMPLE and the EXPRESS
Brannen Temple is a 3X Gammy Award-winning drummer and Austin native, who is best known as a drummer for acts like Eric Burdon, Robben Ford, Lizz Wright, Eric Johnson, Ruthie Foster and more.
He leads his modern jazz/soul band Brannen Temple Express, which features trombonist Andre Hayward (Duke Ellington Band), pianist Dayne Reliford (Hannibal Lokumbe), saxophonist LaQuin Lay (DJ Beverly Bond), bassist D-Madness (Tribal Nation) and percussionist Mikel Urdy (Marc Broussard).
Long Center: Okay Christian, we have to ask… any new projects or albums in the works that you can share with us?
Christian: New Jawn recently went into the studio, as well, to record some new tunes… so stay tuned!
Long Center: As we keep getting back out there and safely host events and shows again, we’re encouraging all of our readers to give into their curiosity and discover something new.
What have you been curious about?
Christian: I tend to stay curious about everything, all the time. I read a lot, try to go to museums, and want to always keep my brain active.
Curiosity expands your intelligence. I’d like to think that I make multiple discoveries every day, but I most recently discovered T25 workout videos while on the road… it’s serious!!!
Long Center: For those who are into jazz but may not know where to start, any recommended artists for newcomers to explore?
Christian: The go-to is always Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue. It’s the perfect album.
Long Center: What can our concert goers expect from your show on March 25th? What do you hope they take home with them from the experience?
Christian: I no longer have any wishes for the audiences to take home a particular feeling. However the music makes them feel, it’s how they feel. I just hope they’re going to be curious, and listen with open ears and an open heart.
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
The time has come — we’re so excited to kick off I Live Here I Give Here’s 24 hours of community giving through Amplify Austin! We’ve made it our mission to continue to lift up our artistic community by providing platforms, resources, and overwhelming support for local artists and arts orgs. But guess what — you’re in luck, because today is the perfect time for you to do the same!
Last year, we raised $40,000 together to keep our local artists performing safely. This year, with your help, we know we can raise $50,000 and push that support even further, because when we give emerging artists a leg up and spotlight community orgs, our shared curiosity brings us closer together. So, here are 5 reasons to donate and #AmplifyYourCuriosity today.
Reason #1 //
Because we want more moments like this one 🤩
We all felt the joy of re-emerging and remembering what it was like to have a good time the Austin way — that is, with some unforgettable live performances on stages, in parks, and back at our favorite local venues. It’s time to explore and give into our ATX brand of curiosity that knows a new creative discovery is around every corner. We’re here to help with that, because moments like this one ☝️ are one of a kind.
Reason #2 //
To give up-and-coming creatives a boost
Throughout the last two years, we’ve hunkered down and made it our mission to continue to connect Austinites with artists, industry workers with industry work, and unique stages with those who need them in whatever ways we can.
Just like you, the thing we love most about this place is that stars are born here, so what we do — through shows and experiences, like The Drop-In and Good Vibes Only — is focused on giving those up-and-comings and next-best-things the boost they need to connect, discover, and create. And that goes for the youngest artists out there (shoutout to our Heller Awards high schoolers) plus some extra local love for our local scene.
Reason #3 //
To (re)connect with your neighbors
Community connections are a big part of what we believe in here at the LC. That’s meant reconnecting with organizations and partnering with others to not only see how we could grow our relationships, but how we could support them in bigger and better ways.
Last year, we got to know the team at Six Square through a playlist exchange and saw Big Freedia return to the Long Center for their Beyond the Square Festival. There was also a movie premiere with Austin Asian American Film Festival, a fundraiser for the Musician Treatment Foundation to provide critical healthcare for musical artists, and an unforgettable Keep Live Music Alive fest with Black Fret. And with your support during Amplify Austin, just think of all the new connections we can dream up!
Reason #4 //
Because there’s no experience like an Austin experience
Austin isn’t called the Live Music Capital of the World for nothing — it’s the city’s bread & butter. This also means that things happen on Austin stages that don’t happen anywhere else, and we’ve been honored to connect our most unique stages with the funds they need to get through these pandemic lows.
These stages are as unique as Austin itself. We’ve got neighborhood joints on every street corner, backdoors in every alley way, with no chance of a boring night out. And for us, we’re pleased to be more than your average performing arts center for not-your-average city, where anyone and everyone can cheer on an Austin FC game, watch the sunset over downtown while living it up at a free show, or catching your favorite celeb for one night only from the best seat in the house.
Reason #5 //
Because we have the most fun when we’re together
It’s as simple as that. We’re in the business of creating opportunities — and we mean any opportunity — for Austinites to hang out and enjoy. Your gift to the Long Center during Amplify Austin supports everything that we do, and puts Austin artists at the top of our list as we champion what makes this place the best place to call “home.” Thanks for chipping in to #AmplifyYourCuriosity with us!
Austin’s huge growth rate (not to mention the extreme challenges of the past 2 years) has put unprecedented pressures on our city’s cultural spaces — that’s right, we’re talking about the fact that “space” has become even harder to find for arts organizations than it was pre-pandemic. So this week, we thought it might be nice to hear from Anne Gatling Haynes about how the Austin Cultural Trust plans to preserve spaces so that Austin’s creative legacy can continue to grow alongside its expansion. Read on in this Mid-Week Intermission to learn what a Cultural Trust is, how it can help Austin arts, and how you can help, too.
So, let's start with an Economic Development Corporation (EDC). What is it, and how did Austin's get started?
The AEDC, or Austin Economic Development Corporation, is a local government corporation created by the City of Austin in 2020, after years of engagement and conversation related to real estate development among diverse stakeholders. The organization, as it serves in cities like New York City and Philadelphia, is truly a public real estate developer — designed to facilitate project implementation in increasingly complex urban development projects and assure equitable and inclusive public policy goals.
The organization will have a variety of roles from facilitating real estate transactions on behalf of the City or other public/neighborhood partners, program and partnership management & services, plus perform analysis to inform policy discussions.
Okay, so the AEDC is specifically interested in public real estate development. How does the Cultural Trust fit in?
The Cultural Trust was identified as one of the initial projects for the AEDC to manage. Council identified that AEDC could manage the program effectively (on behalf of public funds secured by many, many organizations, commissions, and individuals) due to the need to leverage the initial funding with additional resources and expertise, as well as to advance specific real estate and development projects at the speed of the market. However, the program truly fits into the AEDC’s mission of inclusive development, by preserving and amplifying the City’s core cultural identities, its DNA, within the permanent fabric of the city.
We’re not just looking at this like a grant program, but rather a set of investments in a permanent infrastructure for arts, music, and culture, and most importantly, creativity. We’ve structured the program as a pipeline, so that we can look at both short- and long-term investment, and be clever about connecting needs to potential development projects and available spaces on an ongoing basis, to broadly install those cultural assets in our physical realm.
Tell us a little about your background. How did you get involved?
This opportunity at AEDC is a fantastic ‘full circle’ moment for me professionally, as I’m able to bring so many parts of my background together into one job! I had been traveling to Austin since 1994, so I’ve seen the City’s growth and was familiar with many of its aspects, including experience with the state legislature. I came here from Houston, where I worked for three years standing up an independent local government corporation focused on affordable housing, although I’m originally from the northeast.
I am an architect by training and spent many years designing and building performing and visual art centers in the midwest and northeast, which is a handy background for understanding the space needs of the applicants to the Cultural Trust. Realizing that I should explore that path of city-building from the public side, I joined the Bloomberg administration in NYC to advise and facilitate legacy capital projects.
After briefly leading EDC in New Haven, CT, focused on neighborhood district revitalization and the support of our budding entrepreneurial ecosystem, I designed and ran a district-based community econimic development program for 26 cities in Massachusetts called the Transformative Development Initiative that has continued to this day. I’m so proud of that program as it is centered in public placemaking, while providing tools to help spur longer term development cycles as well as small business and real estate investments. Most importantly, as it relates to what I see our opportunity here, is that many of the cities led their district development efforts through the lens of arts and culture initiatives, which were fundamentally equitable and inclusive community building efforts.
It's no secret that we love our cultural spaces here. Could you tell us why it's so important to preserve these in cities, especially cities like Austin?
The DNA of this city is rooted in creativity — the music, of course, but cultural arts and ‘making’ are just as strong and unique here. Austin’s ‘Weird’ is a very authentic experession of this boundless creativity that had been naturally nurtured for years by the relatively low affordability, free-spirit experimental culture, quality of life, and optimism.
These very things that have defined the city, which is in fact what everyone is so attracted to, have been heavily impacted by rising real estate prices, both working and living spaces, and of course shocks like Covid, which has affected everyone’s business model. We’ve seen this before in other cities, and thanks to the leadership in Austin and amazing advocacy from a variety of stakeholders, we have an initial set of tools ready to act.
Losing the very essence of the city will be a loss for not just the people who live here now, but it will change the dynamic of future Austin as well. We need to consider the arts of a city as its connective tissue, and nurture them as a strategy for community retention and cohesion.
What does this mean for the overall landscape of arts in Austin? Why now? Why real estate?
Although Austin has lost some really important venues and organizations because of the rising costs of real estate, and the pandemic on top of that, these circumstances have also provided an opportunity for other organizations to grow their resilience. This will beneift our cultural ecosystem in the long run.
The work of the Cultural Trust is just beginning — although the program is starting in real estate, I believe that we collectively need to craft a much larger systemic vision of a Cultural Trust as an infrastructure with this same resilience. The real estate investments will help provide a more stable financial structure around rent and property taxes, as well as provide more open, publicly-accessible facilities that are needed for various organizations to continue doing amazing work. However, we also need to solve the housing crisis for all (patrons and artists!), in order to keep people closer to the places that might be preserved, reinforced, or created by the Cultural Trust.
We also have to help reduce the costs of business. This includes looking at innovative models to provide shared & cooperative business services and finding ways to provide a more predictable funding structure — an evergreen endowment — to help sustain organziations through highs and lows. With amazing partners in the ecosystem like the Long Center, and many, many more who work daily on behalf of preserving and amplifying the arts in Austin, I am confident that we can co-create this vision.
What are you most excited about for the future of the AEDC?
Having worked now in four local government corporations like AEDC in different cities and states, I know what a great partner an EDC can be to help facilitate equitable and inclusive development. The advantage for the City is to have an independent, professionalized staff that can work closely with and on behalf of the City, but work at the speed of real estate and neighborhood partners. Additionally, these organizations work nimbly to be responsive to hyper local conditions and challenges, and to better connect public and private actors engaged in the improvement of their neighborhoods. I’m so excited to help shape the future of this organization, especially at this critical time in the Austin’s growth.
How can Austinites help? How can we get involved and help maintain our cultural landmarks & institutions?
I’m a strong believer in creating a culture of co-investment — everyone can play a part to help advance the bigger vision. First, Austinites (and New Austinites!) need to safely go back out and support their neighborhood or favorite music/culture/arts organizations. Become a sustaining patron of those places and organizations to the degree that you can — money is great, but advocating for them, volunteering, and connecting those organizations to resources are a great help, too.
Developers and property owners need to ask — how can I further support the creative economy in my projects or spaces? Companies moving into the city, to take advantage of Austin’s vibe, need to find ways to support the creative infrastructure at scale — whether it be philanthropically or through encouraging their talent to be supporters of the arts. All of these folks can partner with the institutions that have worked so long to create the Austin we know now.
We at the AEDC are hopeful that, with our partners, we can effectively facilitate the preservation of what we all love about Austin in this next growth spurt, and assure that it is accessible and inclusive (and affordable) to the broadest set of Austinites.
— Anne
SUPPORT AUSTIN’S CREATIVE ECONOMY
Is your business interested in getting more involved with Austin’s arts scene? Our Business Arts Council might be the right place for you. This group believes a strong creative sector is a vital component to a healthy, thriving city, and directly supports the work the Long Center is doing to create a sustainable, artistic future for all of Austin. Find out how to join!
Coming up on seven years of board service for the Long Center, this week’s Mid-Week Intermission comes from all-around LC cheerleader Lynn Yeldell. Sharing her favorite seven Long Center photo memories (one for every year she’s been a Trustee, like this one 👇), read on to hear how Lynn’s agency Seventh Scout helped us breathe new life into our website and more fun times at the Long Center.
Where Ya’t, Austin?
I’m Lynn Yeldell 👋
Seven is a lucky number. It’s also the name of my agency, Seventh Scout. But most relevant, seven is the number of years I have served on the Long Center Board of Trustees.
I grew up in New Orleans and lived in the French Quarter with access to some of the best live music, galleries, and diverse culture that NOLA offers. Hurricane Katrina swept me to Austin in 2005, and I just forgot to go back home to New Orleans. Technically, I evacuated while on vacation with some college friends, so I loaded my car with beach clothes and waited it out. It was six exhausting weeks before I was allowed to return to my home. Relocating is challenging as an adult, and it is is even more complicated when forced upon you unplanned.
Once in Austin, I quickly sought out the familiarity of my New Orleans experience. I was quickly fascinated by the creation of the Long Center and thrilled that we got to help share that in the magazine where I was an owner and founder, L Style G Style. As one of the top 20 women to graduate from The University of Alabama and the owner of Seventh Scout — recognized as the LGBT-owned business of the year — visibility and diversity are at the core of my personal and professional life. I have felt at home from the moment I first walked through the doors of the Long Center, and was thrilled when my friend Eric Copper nominated me for the board seven years ago. I was even more excited to get to serve as Board Chair for a couple of those years, too.
In the early days of the pandemic, the staff realized that the Long Center website was built around a calendar that was no longer rich with shows and experiences. And although the live performances were paused, the Long Center was not. Our Seventh Scout agency donated our time and services to reimagine and build a community-centric website that elevated this shift from programming on stages to supporting and nurturing all of the live arts in our community. In fact, you’re reading this blog on it right now! Why not explore some more?
My friends and partner will tell you I am constantly taking pictures wherever we go. It is visual journaling that I have loved for years. So, as my leadership and seven years of board service come to an end, I wanted to share with you seven of my favorite photos from Austin’s Front Row where Curiosity is Live — the Long Center.
Selfie-fail with The Avett Brothers backstage before the 10th Anniversary Gala show.
Introducing the brilliant and hilarious astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to a hall packed with curious Austinites.
Walking in the Austin Pride Parade with allies from our staff and board.
Dancing on stage and learning the latest Bollywood moves at one of many events and activities at the LC that are free and open to all.
Thankful there is no video!
Being a member of our Business Arts Council with fellow business leaders from Google, H-E-B, AT&T, and more gives us unique access to city leaders and private tours of Austin venues, like the Austin FC locker room at Q2 Stadium.
No, there was no “BELIEVE” poster… but there should be!
Dell Hall, March 10, 2020, Harry Connick, Jr.
We sat on the front row next to friends we were afraid to hug as people were getting sick, and we weren’t sure how or why.
And finally, my partner, Elizabeth, and I sharing the lawn with my dear friend and Seventh Scout partner, Rhodes Gibson, and his husband, Jeff.
We lost him just one short month after this Blind Boys of Alabama Easter Sunday show, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have shared this experience with them.
Much gratitude to the staff, fellow board members, and BAC pals for some excellent memories in and around Austin. I hope to see you at a show, and perhaps you can help me perfect my selfie game! Till then…
Lynn
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Everyone knows Austinites love their restaurants, and our Event Operations Manager is no exception! In today’s Mid-Week Intermission, meet Donald Gallaspy, one of our behind-the-scenes folks making Long Center events safe and fun for everyone, as he takes you on a tour of his favorite spots to eat right now.
Greetings All,
This is Donald Stuart Gallaspy III — feel free to just call me Donald.
I am sure at some point I will naturally become just “Don” — but not yet. I think it happened to my uncle around his 50th. I’ve been in Austin since 2004, and found my passion for non-profit work right after graduating from St. Edward’s University in 2008. I spent time at The Contemporary Austin and West Austin Youth Association before landing at the Long Center. I feel like I’ve found a great home here, and I’m thrilled to be part of such a dynamic organization.
As Manager of Event Operations, the safety and security of our guests, vendors, staff, and performers is my highest priority. I’m truly thankful to have inherited such a fantastic security team, many of whom have been at the Long Center for over ten years. Most of them still have their original ID badges, which impresses me to no end. You may not always see us, but we are always onsite making sure everyone stays safe and has a great time while here.
There is also a tiny chance you may recognize me as the drummer for The Zoltars. We spent almost ten years trying to charm Austin audiences with our own blend of downer pop before the pandemic scattered us back around the country.
I may or may not have a ton of unsold CDs and LPs I would be happy to unload if you know anyone interested.
What piques my curiosity? It’s simple…
Will the San Antonio Spurs win 25 games this season and make Greg Popovich the most winningest NBA coach of all time?
Just kidding, no curiosity there, because I know they will. Fingers crossed.
Honestly, what keeps me excited to live in Austin is the food. I love to cook, and I live to eat. I’m always looking for great restaurant recommendations and new recipes. A short list of my favorite spots include Winebelly, Musashino Sushi Dokoro, and most recently, Barlata. I just picked up Catalan Food — a fantastic cookbook by the Daniel Olivella of Barlata. The first dish I tried was so good — a simple but delicious chickpea and spinach stew — that I haven’t made it much further yet. I finally got a reservation at Sammie’s Italian for February and cannot wait to see what they have to offer. On the rare days I don’t head straight home to start dinner, I swing by La Moreliana Market in South Austin. they sell a grilled half chicken with all the fixings for $8 and it’ll blow your mind. No link to that one, they don’t have a website so you know it’s good.
I’m thrilled to see what 2022 has in store for us all and I hope everyone can soon feel safe enough come join us for a show. From UV filters in the AC system, professional EMTs onsite, security checks at our front door, and much, much more, we’re doing everything possible to make sure our guests have a safe and exciting trip to the Long Center.
Thank you for reading, we hope to see you soon. And most importantly…
Go Spurs Go
Donald
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
When we first started featuring Austinite stories from across the city in April of 2020, we had no idea that this bi-weekly email newsletter would become our favorite thing. Almost instantly, Mid-Week Intermission became our city historian, our daily narrator, our go-to book-on-tape (sorta). Starting out this new year with the knowledge that our curiosity is limitless, we’re celebrating all the Austinite stories we’ve shared together and highlighting some that we’ve particularly enjoyed.
In this list you’ll find creatives, partners, personalities, characters, innovators, inventors, helpers, and everything in between. So, indulge a little — take a moment to appreciate our community in a slightly different light.
If you haven’t already, you can always sign up for our newsletter to get these stories delivered straight to your inbox. Or, check our social channels every other Wednesday for the latest. This leads us to our last question… who do you want to hear from this year? Drop us a line @longcenter and let us know.
Your Mid-week Intermission Journey Starts Here 👇
Graham Reynolds
We always love a chance to chat with Austin’s own Graham Reynolds. It had been two years since he’s Ruined the Holidays in our Rollins Studio Theatre, and having him with a ten-piece band back in the black box for some raucous holiday tunes this winter was like magic. Just look at the smiles in the header picture of this blog.
If you’re new to town, keep an eye on what Graham is up to. You’ve probably heard some of his film scores and don’t even know it, or you might bump into him next time there’s live music on the Terrace.
Pamela Benson Owens of Six Square
We got together with the team of Six Square, Austin’s Black Cultural District, last year to see how we could be better partners. What came out of that meeting were fresh ideas, a Beyond the Square partnership, and a lot of exchanged playlists.
Pamela Benson Owens is the one making sure this organization is doing their best, most effective, mission-driven work. She’s a hoot and a half, and you should get involved with Six Square as soon as you can.
Grace Rowland of The Deer
Grace from The Deer gave us a real slice of life, describing what we can only imagine was the new pandemic reality for many of Austin’s local bands last year.
The Deer also headlined one of our first Good Vibes Only episodes. For this series, we turned the Rollins into a sound studio so that local bands and entertainment sector professionals could continue to create art and reach audiences during deep lockdown. You can watch all of our Good Vibes episodes for free right now. Plus, look out for more coming soon.
Justin Kirchhoff of Co-Production House
For the past two years, our Heller Awards for Young Artists have rallied, taking a year-long program jam-packed with live performances to a virtual stream — not once, but twice.
Justin Kirchhoff & the team at Co-Production House were instrumental in creating this new form of digital theatre. Find out how this virtual production studio with Austin’s first LED volume technology made it happen, and look forward to the HAYAs’ return to the big stage later this year.
Our Marvelous Long Center Volunteers
No one else gets a front-row look at the arts in Austin quite like our volunteer ushers do. These welcoming, dedicated, and knowledgeable individuals help you find your seat and keep the show running.
Last fall, we asked them a few questions about why they do what they do at the Long Center and why you should look into it, too. If you’re interested, check out the recs and submit an application today!
Ray Loyd of Austin Asian American Film Festival
Just when you thought Austin had enough film festivals, think again, because if you haven’t discovered AAAFF now’s the time.
This group champions Asian and Asian American stories through the arts and hosts year-round screenings (indoor and outdoor), as well as their flagship festival event (now open for 2022 submissions!). We got to host a movie premiere on our H-E-B Terrace last year that we won’t soon forget, and our chat with Ray Loyd can lead you down an excellent path of film discovery.
Nakia
Nakia is an Austin triple threat — performer, advocate, and creator. When he’s not setting a mood at the beginning of our Good Vibes Only episodes, he’s probably making moves advocating for local artists with Austin Texas Musicians, or headlining an iconic music venue.
Nakia is certainly an Austinite to keep your eye on. Perhaps you also caught his performance at The Drop-In last summer, saw his Local Legend feature with Matthew McConaughey, or recognize him from NBC’s The Voice.
Q&A with Las Cafeteras
While not actual Austinites, they sure made us party like Austinites, so that makes the members of this Chicano band from East LA close enough in our book.
The energy that Las Cafeteras brought to the stage was insane, and it sure blew our troubles away for one night. Look out for more good times like this at the LC soon, and work their Oaxaca Love Song No2 into your playlist asap.
Donavin Velez of Underground Roller Disco
A surprisingly great thing to come out of the last two years? Underground Roller Disco nights on the H-E-B Terrace. With Donavin Velez DJing at the helm, we’ve loved seeing this fun-loving pop-up blossom.
If you’re in need of some straight up good times, consider joining in on the next meet-up.
Bobby Garza, LC’s VP of Programs and Community Outreach
Bobby’s always quick with an artist rec, so we said, “give us a playlist we can really sink our teeth into!”
This choose-your-own-adventure mixtape he created really set a tone and had us exploring new musical horizons for days. So, we leave you with this and hope you get a kick out of it, too.
That’s it for now — who do you want to meet next? Drop us a line @longcenter and let us know!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice or sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter, and we’ll see you real soon.
This year has been a tough one, but also a year to celebrate. So, we’re doing just that with a list of highlights from 2021.
Despite it all, we managed to come together for live music, new experiences, and good times, but we couldn’t have done it without you. So, we just want to say “thanks,” and wish you a safe and healthy end to 2021. And now, let’s celebrate what we were able to achieve this year.
FOR THE LONG CENTER, 2021 WAS…
The Year of Live
The new year dawned and the collective question on our minds was …okay, so how do we get back out there? Over the next few months, we realized the answer was a combination of dependable partners, definitive Austin vibes, and more seating pods.
Then came another round of Long Live Music, the love child of Long Center and Luck Reunion. Not only could we not have asked for better partners, but the community-building mix of national & local artists and safe, communal experience was also a breath of fresh air. It told us that yes, “live” is possible again. We can bring music back safely.
After that came more terrific partners in the name of “live,” including the three-day Keep Live Music Alive festival with Black Fret (sporting a star-studded, Austin-centric lineup we won’t forget quickly), the explorative ‘lookOUT’ series with outer/most agency, and a new pal for us in ACL Radio. Ushering in a fresh wave of free community events for the Long Center, and turning our H-E-B Terrace into a go-to spot for the entire summer, partnering with ACL Radio on The Drop-In was our cautious-yet-lively anthem of the season.
The Year of Local
The Drop-In also heralded a fresh perspective of our own backyard — Austin isn’t the Live Music Capital of the World for nothin’, and we knew exactly what to do with that. This free, 16-show series allowed us to see our neighbors again, and even meet new ones. To hang out as regulars at our local joint while tip-toeing back out into the world. Discovering new local artists and showing up when they needed it most.
Our goal of providing a reliable stage for Austin’s artists and local production folks really took shape this year, leading us to Good Vibes Only. This groovy experiment in staging, sound, and concept turned our black box theatre into a sound stage, and gave Austin artists an opportunity to stream new music — often written during pandemic times — and reach an audience at home while still sounding and looking rad. Check out these free episodes for yourself.
Supported by the Long Center’s Artist Fund (you can still contribute, by the way), we’re making these two new series the backbone of our commitment to Austin’s culture and its incredible spectrum of diversity. We know we have work to do here, and we made it a point for our lineups to reflect this.
Look for more form these programs in 2022. 😉
The Year of ‘We Can Help with That’
A renewed focus on what it meant to be “local” also meant supporting our fellow organizations in bigger and better ways. Looking at our wide-open spaces, we reached out to share them. A …yeah, we can definitely help with that mentality kept us busy and grew our relationships with those around us.
We got to know the team at Six Square through exchanging playlists, and saw Big Freedia return to the Long Center for their Beyond the Square Festival. There was also a movie premiere with Austin Asian American Film Festival, a fundraiser for the Musician Treatment Foundation to provide critical healthcare for musical artists, a drive to help feed live entertainment and events industry crews with Musically Fed, and a temporary home base for Austin Mutual Aid.
Our staff also rallied to make sure that five million dollars in critical funds were delivered to Austin’s live music venues quickly and efficiently through the City’s SAVES initiative, with more to come in 2022.
But what we’re really proud of are the connections we’ve made this year that came from listening, helping, and reaching out while asking, “Hi, how are you?”
The Year of ‘Getting Back to It’
It might sound cheesy, but Santa Claus returning to the H-E-B Terrace for the first time in over two years (can you believe it??) felt as though the holidays had come early. It’s been surreal for us, as a creative group of arts and experience lovers thrown into a world without live events, to get to return to a Long Center tradition and reunite as a group doing something as simple as taking a picture with ‘ole Sant Nick.
This feeling of getting-back-to-it-ness has been all-encompassing. In the last few months, we’ve hosted two sold-out performances in Dell Hall with Hasan Minhaj — pinch us, because we still feel like we’re dreaming — and we’ve watched our friends at the Ballet, Symphony, and Opera return to full-house performances with safety measures in place. We’re even excitedly planning for our Heller Awards for Young Artists to return to the stage in 2022. 🤞
The Year of ‘What’s Next?’
Our Long Center world is beginning to come back into focus, but we know that challenges still lie ahead. Through it all, we’ve relied on our curiosity and our team’s abilities to think fresh and push outside the box. What would happen if we combine these two artists? We can make digital theatre, right? Is Austin ready for a variety show? …are all real questions we’ve asked ourselves throughout the course of the year. Some things worked and some things didn’t, but we kept coming back to the basic question, “what’s next, and how do we get there?”
We’re not at all sure what’s next, but you can bet it’ll involve experimentation, new friends, and more Austin vibes. What we do know is that we’re full of surprises. So don’t write us off yet — we’ve got a full upcoming 2022 calendar, some really bright ideas, and one excellent Austin community. See you soon!
Wishing you a safe & healthy New Year from all of us at the Long Center — here’s to 2022!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice or sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter, and we’ll see you real soon.
We don’t know if you’ve noticed… but a new tradition has appeared on our H-E-B Terrace! This week, hear from our friend Donavin Velez, the DJ behind Austin’s Underground Roller Disco. The now bi-monthly meetup on wheels has taken our Terrace by storm, and we caught up with Donavin to hear how it all got started. If you want to check it out, follow @theundergroundatx for all the meetup details.
Hey,
I’m Donavin.
I’ve been a house music & disco DJ — and also a skateborder — since the ’90s in the NYC area. 10 years ago, I moved my auto detailing business to Austin and took a small break from music to focus on my business. It wasn’t until recently, after I finished my 2-year vow of silence, that I started to have fun with music again. After a period of healing and a return to talking, I began planning fun events with my music. And that’s how all this started.
At the time, I was just starting to get back into music and planning events, but then Covid struck and the pandemic happened. When the world shut down and all the clubs and stores were closed, the only safe place to be was outdoors, keeping our distance.
So I started small gatherings in Zilker Park with friends and other DJs. These events really helped us get through the tough times and we all worked hard to keep them safe.
It began to grow from there, and so I started looking into more outdoor venues, and someone mentioned to me that people had started roller skating on the Long Center Terrace. Since I grew up in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, I have collected so much fun music from those iconic eras that I felt would go great with roller skating. So, I decided to set up my DJ booth one day and promoted in a local roller skating Facebook group.
It was a great first event and we’ve been doing it twice a month ever since!
And as for my favorite Long Center memory… one night we were jamming out there from 4pm until 1am when, all of a sudden, random fireworks started going off right in front of the skyline. Everyone started screaming and it was such an unexpected rush.
Freedom, good music, and good times keep skaters coming to these events. We just celebrated our 1-year anniversary of skating on the Terrace on November 28th, and I’d love to keep working with the Long Center for even bigger events, concert-style, with food trucks and drinks, raise money for charities, have pop-up vendors, and much much more. It’s such a great location out on their H-E-B Terrace, and a great view of the city skyline.
Come check it out!
Donavin
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Today’s Mid-Week Intermission comes from an Austin favorite who’s always up to something wild, compelling, and stunningly brilliant… you guessed it — Graham Reynolds! Check in with this local composer to learn more about his newest projects, plus a little insight into our favorite helping of yuletide mischief, Graham Reynolds Ruins the Holidays. Catch the show December 3 & 4 (a few tickets are still out there!) in our Rollins Studio Theatre.
Hi everyone,
I’m Graham Reynolds, a composer, bandleader, and improviser based here in Austin, but also doing work around the world.
I work in all sorts of contexts and mediums. Recently, I scored a dance piece called Horse that premiered in Sweden two months ago and a comedy TV show for the BBC, Out of her Mind, that started streaming in Britain a few months before that. I grew up playing piano but fell in love with the drums and spent a bunch of time with them as well.
I love to explore and never like to play anything twice the same way.
I loved the holidays growing up. We hosted large gatherings on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I missed that when I moved to Austin. So I started some holiday traditions of my own, including an annual holiday concert. While I love the season, the music itself can, for many of us, get old quickly (especially if you go anywhere near a store). It tends to be extra sweet, like a dessert with extra syrup poured on and sugar sprinkled on top of that. With this show, we try to add a bit of spice to the mixture with some irreverent improvisations and a lot of minor keys in the arrangements.
I got a new toy this fall, a sampler from 1010music. It’s only a bit bigger than an old CD case, but it can make huge amounts of sound. I’ve developed some new materials for this concert, and we’ve expanded the band dramatically. This year we have a full string quartet, a three-piece trombone section, and pedal steel. I’ll make sure you get to hear each player framed and spotlighted while also playing around with various combinations.
I’ve been working with the Long Center since day one. On opening weekend, I played a piece of mine with the ASO upstairs while a theater performance I scored went on downstairs. I’m excited to be back and hope you can join us for a bit of holiday fun this weekend.
Send me your requests!
Graham
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Nothing’s more memorable than returning to live arts after almost two years of live streams, video calls, and virtual shows… Good thing the Long Center is looking out for you! Liven up your gift giving this year with this sweet deal featuring live experiences the fam can look forward to all year long.
HOW IT WORKS
It’s simple! The more shows you buy the more you save. That means more experiences and more holiday cheer for even less. Double check your calendar, because this deal is good through December 5th at midnight.
Tickets to 1 Show ❄️ 10% Off
Tickets to 2 Shows ☕ 15% Off
Tickets to 3 Shows ⛄ 20% Off
Tickets to 4 Shows 🎁 25% Off
Just add Standard tickets to your cart from these four shows 👇 and you’ll get the discount automatically. Happy gifting!
Rediscover a legend with The Simon & Garfunkel Story and leave all that troubled water far behind. You’ll experience the journey of the folk-rock duo from beginning to end, with all the hits in between, in this immersive concert-style theater tribute to one of the most iconic sounds of the ’60s.
Sunday, March 6 @ 7:30pm
Nominated for ‘Best Family Show,’ as well as The New York Times’ ‘Critic’s Pick,’ Paddington Gets in a Jam sees your favorite accident-prone bear center stage in his very own show. What starts with making marmalade jam turns into neighborhood chaos that only Paddington can fix! Declared ‘The Hottest Family Show in Town’ by Broadway World, ride along on Paddington’s newest adventure inspired by Michael Bond’s wonderful book series.
Sunday, March 13 @ 4pm
The Emmy and Tony Award-winner John Leguizamo will sit down with us to chat about everything and anything, from growing up in Queens to his rise in film and television. With plenty of humor, insight, and that Leguizamo charm, settle into some new perspectives based on struggles of racism & poverty, life lessons, and the characters he’s met along the way.
Wednesday, March 23 @ 8pm
Founded by dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández in the early ’50s, Ballet Folklórico de México tells the rich, legendary, and transcendent story of Mexico. In this display of music and brilliant costuming, prepare to be transported to a place of good vs. evil — a land of heaven and earth where gods roam among the jaguars. Experience the beauty of Mexican dance and the 30 different cultures that have blossomed over the centuries and into the present.
de Amalia Hernández
Monday, April 4 @ 7:30pm
Cyber Monday is just the start — with so much on the calendar, we can’t wait to see you back at the Long Center!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
