POSTED ON JULY 13, 2020 BY LONG
This week’s Intermission comes to us from our friends at Baylor Scott & White Health. Dr. Dave Kaylor is not only a frontline medical worker here in Austin, but also knows the area’s trails and green spots like the back of his hand. Learn all about his work at Baylor Scott & White, how he decompresses when he’s not at work, and what you can do to help our community.
Hello!
I’m Dr. Dave Kaylor, medical director for the emergency department at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Austin. My role directly impacts those who come through our doors seeking emergency care. When I am not providing care to patients in our emergency department, I spend time behind the scenes making improvements to our department’s processes and how we can better deliver care to our patients and their families. We are working to make the experience even better, just like the events you may have experienced here at the Long Center.
Baylor Scott & White Health is proud to be part of the communities it serves and that includes involvement with one of the things Austin is best known for — its entertainment culture. The Long Center, Austin’s Front Row, is one of those places that brings entertainment and joy to so many, including my family. Having served eight years in the Army, we saw numerous cultural locations around the country. Places like the Long Center are a big reason for us to settle in Austin, a place culturally alive and dynamic.
Like many communities in Texas and across the country, our beloved home has been affected by the pandemic, leaving a lasting effect on our physical and mental health. As a physician during this historic time, this has been an eye-opening experience. We’re continuously adapting to the changing environment each day, teaching ourselves about this new disease while overcoming diagnostic and treatment uncertainties, all in real time.
While the virus has had a tremendous impact on millions of people across the country, it’s also changing how we live our daily lives. Whether it’s how we interact with one another, how we shop for necessities like groceries or even seeing a favorite performance, we have to adapt.
I care for patients each day and, as a doctor, it’s what I do best. However, even I need to take a step back and recharge so I can be present for my patients mentally and physically. In our family, venturing outdoors is a part of our identity.
We enjoy exploring the numerous trails that our city offers, like Williamson Creek West Greenbelt. There’s no distance that is too much for us. We’ll trek for hours, which is why we’re grateful for so many nearby locations like McKinney Falls, Inks Lake or even Pedernales State Park. Getting a little rest isn’t reserved for the great outdoors. Sometimes you’ll find me wearing my headphones, listening to endless wandering melodies of jam bands and live concert recordings. The creativity allows me a simple but short escape from my mental wanderings during these times. I find the ability to quiet my thoughts, allowing me to renew my energy and recommit my focus.
These are unprecedented times. As Texans and as a community, we are stronger, and we are all in this together. We can fight back against the virus and it begins with you:
- Social distance — by keeping the number of your new contacts low while keeping a larger physical distance between yourself and others — to lower the chance of transmission.
- You should also wear a mask when you’re outside your home or in public spaces. A mask protects you and everyone around you.
- Finally, wash your hands several times a day. All it takes is 20 seconds of handwashing to reduce the chance of infecting yourself or someone you love.
We are stronger and smarter when we are working toward a common goal. These small personal lifestyle choices will have a much larger impact on the health of our community and bring us one day closer to enjoying the Long Center once again.
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POSTED ON JULY 2, 2020 BY LONG
You may be familiar with Conspirare’s Big Sing, but this year the Grammy-winning choral group is taking it to the screens.
The inaugural Big Sing at Home takes place Tuesday night, July 7th at 5:30pm, and you can join straight from your couch for an evening of inspirational, feel-good tunes including spirituals, patriotic anthems (make that July 4th weekend stretch a little further), pop songs, and standards from the Great American Songbook.
While you can sing along in your house using the lyrics on the screen, you can also just sit back and enjoy the music of the spheres in this program hosted by the Conspirare Symphonic Choir. Singers from Conspirare’s national roster and special guest instrumentalists Mitch Watkins (guitar) and Thomas Burritt (percussion) will also be joining in the fun.
Craig Hella Johnson will lead from his piano and you can chat in real-time with the artists involved. Beginners especially welcome!
This stream won’t be repeated, so make sure you join in early so you don’t miss it!
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE BIG SING AT HOME
July 7th at 5:30pm // Stream will start 10 minutes early
ABOUT CONSPIRARE
Inspired by the power of music to change lives, Conspirare engages audiences in extraordinary musical experiences through world-class choral performances and recordings.
POSTED ON JUNE 30, 2020 BY LONG
Introducing Orlando Martinez, our Building Engineer and overall jolly presence of the Long Center. Once upon a time, as an Electrical Superintendent for JMEG Electric, Orlando was a major part of the Long Center construction phase and we just couldn’t give him up. Now as Building Engineer, he works with the team to keep our air conditioning, lighting, plumbing and overall mechanics working together.
Orlando is loved by all, especially when it comes to a mechanical question or when he brings breakfast tacos to the office.
But mostly the tacos.
Orlando’s fave truck, his ’66 Chevy
ORLANDO’S PERFECT SALSA RECIPE
Orlando’s tacos are even better when topped off with his famous homemade salsa. Beware – this is not for the faint of heart!
- 5 to 10 green Serrano peppers
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons of Nature’s Seasoning
- 1-quart H-E-B Whole Peeled tomatoes
Put the ingredients into a blender and try not to liquefy too much — Orlando says it’s better chunky!
PICKING UP LUNCH WITH THE TEAM
Being back at work maintaining the building means lunching at a safe distance with the team again. Picking up the Bill Miller’s breakfasts are always a staple, but nothing quite beats the walk from the Long Center to Whataburger or Sandy’s (those burger specials!). And Cherry Creek Seafoods when they feel like a treat.
KEEPING THE LONG CENTER IN WORKING ORDER
The Long Center is a big building and, even when it’s not filled with people, there’s plenty of maintence to be done. Currently, Orlando and team are:
- Installing ceiling fans on the West Pincer Terrace (that’s our upstairs outdoor area) so you can stay cool outside when we’re all back together,
- Taking the Service Yard back from Mother Nature,
- And making sure Dell Hall looks spick-and-span for the future with a fresh coat of paint.
Orlando and wife Gracie on Pablo & Luna, with son Orlando Lee
SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY & PETS
With three grown kids and a wife of 40 years (41 this July 15th!), Orlando spends his free time hanging with his family and pets. His horses, Pablo & Luna, now live with his two grandsons, but their dog Misty is still queen of the yard.
Your support today celebrates the work that Orlando does to keep this Austin icon making memories. Even while our doors are closed, the Long Center is paving the way for the future. Members make it happen!
POSTED ON JUNE 16, 2020 BY LONG
This week’s feature comes to us from Judy Matetzschk-Campbell, the Producing Artistic Director of Pollyanna Theatre Company. Pollyanna is a Long Center Resident Company that serves at-risk elementary school children and their families through educational outreach and performances in the Rollins Studio Theatre. For over 19 seasons, the company has been presenting original plays that speak to the imaginations of children and the child that lives inside each of us.
WHAT JUDY AND THE POLLYANNA TEAM ARE UP TO THIS WEEK
POLLYANNA THEATRE COMPANY
When the pandemic began, I was preparing for two upcoming productions. So much of these last 10 weeks has been spent re-inventing how we serve children through the arts and meet our mission, working with Pollyanna company members to create online resources that parents and teachers can use to bring learning to life at home. One result is a large library of Pollyanna Storytime videos that feature some of our talented actors reading wonderful children’s books.
We have also created Distance Learning activities that feature video of some of our most recent productions. Soon we will be hosting our first virtual, interactive performance for children ages 8-11. THE MYSTERY OF THE GREEN TEETH GHOST, which will invite young audience members to take on roles in a Zoom performance and help solve the mystery. We believe it will be a format our patrons will enjoy and will be one way Pollyanna’s amazing team of theatre professionals can remain engaged with our community’s children.
ORGANIZE YOUR SPACE
On a personal level, I, like MANY of my friends and peers, have used this time at home to ORGANIZE! If I can’t direct and produce a play right now, at least I can direct and produce a more productive space for working from home. I’ve found myself turning to Quieting Chaos, a local organizer, for tips on simplifying and decluttering.
DISCOVER YOUR GREEN THUMB
I’ve also found that digging out in the flowerbeds has been a great release for me. I love flowers but have had very little time to dedicate to growing them. This spring has been different in that respect and I have to say that I’ve loved going out into the yard alone, digging in the dirt, removing weeds, and having something beautiful to show for the effort. 28 bags of mulch later, I’ve got a heck of a great yard and a new appreciation for Central Texas Gardner.
COOKING SOME NEW RECIPES
I’ve also been cooking some new things and would be happy to share some recipes if anyone wants to see what’s going on in the Matetzschk-Campbell kitchen. A great resource for food and community is the Sustainable Food Center and if you have kids, don’t miss the online cooking classes at Bake Austin.
It has been a time of looking inward. I’ve learned to be pretty zen about the fact that for the first time in my professional life, I can’t control or “work” my way out of my home office. I have to just settle in, dig deep in many respects, and listen to lots of Pandora radio while I work with my peers across the nation as we try to reinvent theatre for young audiences.
POSTED ON MAY 19, 2020 BY LONG
This week’s Mid-Week Intermission features our friend Justin Sherburn, composer & bandleader of Montopolis (and a Texas landscape aficionado). Photo credit: Sarah Annie Navarrete.
I first performed at the Long Center in 2010 with a beloved production by Tongue and Groove Theater called “The Red Balloon.” That show helped me coalesce some musicians that would later become my group “Montopolis.”
For the past ten years, I have had the honor of composing for these amazing artists with backgrounds in jazz, classical, and just about every other genre of music. We started out performing live scores to silent films, and now we create elaborate multimedia concerts with film and live narrators. There’s always a new challenge, and ti’s always pretty fun making art with my friends.
HERE’S HOW I’M SPENDING MY FREE TIME THIS WEEK
Violinist Leigh Mahoney and I have played tango at Esquina Tango for years. They are broadcasting all kinds of music, dance, and yoga classes right now. I don’t dance or do yoga much, but I like checking in on these wild Argentinians. Monica and Gustavo are always in a good mood!
My wife gave me this book by local author Jesse Sublett for my birthday. It’s a deep dive into some charismatic criminals that came to fame in 1960s’ Austin.
I’ve been researching drive-in movie theaters as potential new venues across the nation. This site is incredible. I have yet to reach out to the folks who created it, but I am very impressed with their passion for these venues and the attention to detail in their documentation. The site gives accurate, updated information on the current status of a truly American cultural phenomenon.
I bough a pizza pan and have been making my own pizzas. Best investment I ever made. It also takes me back to when I worked at Avanti’s Pizza in Fort Worth in high school. Good times.
WHAT MONTOPOLIS IS UP TO
We are all looking forward to our live concert that will be featured on the Long Center’s Facebook page on May 23. We’ll be performing abridged versions of our shows about Big Bend National Park and the Texas coast. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to play with Montopolis again and grateful to The University of Texas at Austin, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Long Center for helping us make this happen.
POSTED ON APRIL 21, 2020 BY LONG
This week’s Mid-Week Intermission features our President & CEO, Cory Baker. Hear about her love for this city, its community, and what she’s tuning in to this week.
I love Austin. I know that sounds cliché but ever since I visited my sister here as a teenager, I’ve been trying to move here. And now, as part of this incredibly talented team, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with extraordinary, passionate artists, leaders, and community members and had a front-row seat to watch Austin evolve while sustaining the cultural values that shape us. Because Austin, much like the Long Center, has had a few growing pains amidst a rapidly changing environment, and my love has grown as we’ve weathered those challenges by staying true to the soul that makes this city so special.
Today, amid the worst global crisis of our lifetimes, I find strength in remembering why I came here and why my love for my home continues to grow. Knowing the character of Austin as a community that values artists and musicians and takes pride in taking care of each other is what gives me unyielding faith that we will come out of this both stronger and more unified than we’ve ever been. “Crisis doesn’t create character, it reveals it.” This quote came up in my interview with the brilliant Austin musician Gina Chavez, as we recognized that Austin doesn’t need to change to get through this crisis, we just need to remain true to who we’ve always been.
We feel the support of our community around us as we look to #CreateInPlace to keep us connecting with our artists and with each other. And as ATX goes virtual, I’ve added my picks-for-the-week to the growing list of creative surprises happening at this very moment. Long Live Love.
FUSEBOX FESTIVAL
April 24 – 26 / @fuseboxfestival & YouTube TV
Fusebox Festival has been a highlight of my year even before I moved to Austin. Ron Berry and his team do a fabulous job curating an eclectic, thought-provoking and entertaining lineup and this year they are going virtual. Check out my #LongStoryShort interview with Ron, premiering tonight at 8pm on our Facebook page, and enjoy this internationally-beloved Festival from the comfort of your home.
SUZANNA CHOFFEL / GINA CHAVEZ / JACKIE VENSON
@suzannachoffelmusic / @ginachavezmusic / @jackievenson
It’s no secret that Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World but I think there is also a strong case that we have the greatest female artists in the country. Exhibits one, two, and three: Suzanna Choffel, Gina Chavez, and Jackie Venson, all of whom have been streaming live on a consistent basis throughout the crisis. I highly recommend checking them out virtually for inspiration now and rushing out to see them live as soon as we’re able.
NIGHT SHIFT
April 22 at 7pm / Weekly
Night Shift was a weekly event created by our good friends Nakia Reynoso and Patrick Buchta, co-founders of Austin Texas Musicians, a group that used to connect & network at Beerland. The event has now moved to a weekly, online, live talk show discussing what’s happening with music in ATX. This week (4/22) features special guests Natashe Harper-Madison (District 2 Council Member), Mitch Ballard (Creative Director, BMI Texas), Velissa Chapa (Legal Counsel for Texas Workforce Commission), and musical guest Zach Person. Keep an eye out for Nakia on #LongStoryShort soon.
THE THINKERY
Weekly activity schedule / @TheThinkery
My boys are 3 and 5 so I’m always looking for fun ways to entertain (and hopefully educate) them. We love The Thinkery, but since we can’t go in person, we’ve had fun following their “Thinkery at Home” projects.
DJ D-NICE’S CLUB QUARANTINE
Daily / Instagram Live @dnice
Does anyone else remember DJ D-NICE? Boogie Down Productions? “They Call Me D-Nice?” …ring any bells? He has become an unlikely hero experiencing a resurgence with old-school fans like me (and now ones) with his surprise-hit “Club Quarantine” on Instagram. Besides being just fund to dance with a few thousand strangers, there is a slew of incredible surprise guest-revelers that pop up including Oprah, Bernie Sanders, and Rihanna to name a few.
There is much too much going on in this city (in the best way) to list everything here, but our team is dedicated to bringing as much as we can to as many as we can during this time. The pandemic has changed the way we gather, but this is only an intermission and the Long Center’s mission remains unchanged. So as we look forward to gathering again, please consider making a tax-deductible gift to continue your support for our nonprofit and our talented team that makes sure the show goes on.
Thank you, Austin, for making us part of your lives!
You can always check on #CreateInPlace for the latest Austin finds and fun-filled gems to keep you entertained.
POSTED ON APRIL 16, 2020 BY LONG
Students, teachers, musicians, and theatre professionals woke up across the Greater Austin area this morning less exhausted than this time last year, but still just as excited. Yesterday, April 15, was the evening of the would-be live ceremony of the 2020 Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards — an annual, 9-month long program that has become the mainstay of arts education in Austin and across the Central Texas area for so many.
And now, the Long Center and our Education team are thrilled to share that the artistic team behind 6 stellar GAHSMTA live ceremonies is hard at work on yet another very special production…
We are all absolutely thrilled to be able to announce that we will be taking the 7th Annual GAHSMTA Ceremony straight to your screens at home, MAY 31, 2020!
Last night, we saw an outpouring of support for this event from the community, and we can’t wait to bring all the #facesofgahsmta together again for a virtual extravaganza of dance, laughter, music, and togetherness. Stick close to our @gahsmta & @longcenter social media channels for school nomination shoutouts, senior spotlights (wish them luck!), teasing show highlights, behind-the-scenes takes, messages of support from all around, and more details about how to watch, promote, and help the production.
Here’s some of the joy & support we saw from the community yesterday, featuring this year’s GAHSMTA shirt —
And from our Long Center Education family to yours, congratulations on a wonderful year of musical theatre! You can always check out the FULL LIST OF 2020 NOMINATIONS and let us know how you’re continuing to #CreateInPlace during this time.
POSTED ON APRIL 13, 2020 BY LONG
This week, #CreateInPlace features our Director of Education and Outreach, Ginger Morris, who has been an integral part of the Austin theatre community since her college days. Hear a bit more from Ginger, the Long Center Education program, and what she’s tuning in to this week.
Hey, all! I’m Ginger Morris, and along with my staff and a host of amazing artists from near and far, we create and foster theatre programs for Austin area students such as the Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards, Summer Stock Austin, College Audition Program, and the Select Ensemble performance company.
I am personally thrilled that we have been able to maintain an artistic community online over the past few weeks and have learned some new skills in the process.
5 THINGS I’M CHECKING OUT IN AUSTIN RIGHT NOW (ONLY I CHOSE 8).
2020 VIRTUAL GREATER AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
Premiering May 31st!
Tonight, April 15th, would’ve been the 7th annual GAHSMTA awards, and we are heartbroken that we can’t gather in-person to celebrate this year’s ceremony on the literal stage. But I’m so happy to announce that we’ll be taking the Awards to the VIRTUAL STAGE on May 31st! Stay tuned for more and catch highlights @gahsmta & @longcenter along the way.
TUESDAYS WITH MILES
Tuesdays at 7pm CST / live from the house of singer/songwriter Miles Zuniga
I met Miles in 2006 while working on an original musical with his band called The Small Stars. We did a few workshops and had a lot of fun. The Small Stars no longer exist, but you can still enjoy some of the songs from the never fully-executed musical. Miles is an original member of the band Fastball and plays locally with the Resentments at the Saxon Pub on Sunday evenings. For now though, he streams from home at 7pm on Tuesdays.
PARAMOUNT THEATRE’S STORY WRANGLERS
Mondays at 11:30am / @ParamountEducation
This is an incredible program that the Paramount is taking online. And perfect for the kiddos in your life who could benefit from online story writing opportunities.
ANCHORED IN LOVE – YOGA WITH ADRIENE MISHLER
Friday, April 17 at 11am CST / pay what you want / @practiceyogaaustin
Adriene was a high school theatre student and I had the privilege of being one of her teachers. She has since found her true passion was to get the tools of yoga into schools and homes with her YouTube channel, Yoga with Adriene. She is hosting a session for Practice Yoga Austin on Friday morning – join me!
BALLET AUSTIN’S VIRTUAL DANCE & FITNESS CLASSES
Happening all the time!
Ballet Austin will keep you moving this week with free online sessions for all ages. You can take classes at any time that works for you from your laptop on demand (pay-per-class) or free from their instructors streaming live from Instagram or Facebook. Check for their daily schedule, and make their BE WELL Network a daily open tab in your browser.
BEAT ROOT REVIVAL
April 25 at 5pm CST / Live Stream
I absolutely love these two performers, and I try to catch their Austin shows as often as possible. They are musically gifted and so much fun to watch, and were supposed to play at the cancelled Kerville Folk Festival in June. Here’s to many more live performances in the future–I’m excited to take a break and enjoy them from my home next week!
THE BEST DANCE SESSIONS WITH SARA BURKE
However often your schedule allows!
Anyone looking to keep stretching those dance muscles and needing some private sessions, Sara Burke is fantastic. Not only does she continually choreograph and train students in the Long Center’s Education programs, but she is also offering tailor-made online sessions to fit your pocket book.
And, because I went rogue, here’s your added PICK-ME-UP MOMENT…
If you need a stress-reducing, feel-good moment, take a 3-minute break and join the artistic team behind Summer Stock Austin’s annual original musical in their NEW digital, “Socially Distant Dance Party.” There are many SSA alum featured in this video, too!
Ultimately, my theatre-loving heart is hopeful for the day when we can gather again to enjoy live arts. Until then, let’s keep virtually celebrating each other and our amazing community.
You can always check on #CreateInPlace for the latest Austin finds and fun-filled gems to keep you entertained.
