"Hey, Fred!" 06/19-06/25/2024
Goings On in Columbus, OH: Actors' Theatre Presents Chicken and Biscuits | DJ Aloha's Residency at Natalie's | Contrary Motion | Fo/Mo/Deep
Theatre
06/20/2024
Chicken and Biscuits by Douglas Lyons
Actors’ Theatre at Schiller Park, 1069 Yeager St
June 20-July 14, performances at 8 pm Thursday through Sunday
Free; Donations accepted, including for reserved seating
More info at https://theactorstheatre.org/2024-season/chicken-biscuits/
I’m definitely going to be reviewing this—I'm just trying to thread the needle between friends in from out of town for Origins, some family obligations, and the heat advisory, so it might be the next weekend—so I’ve deliberately not read much about the piece.
What I do know: the black-written and directed plays Actors’ Theatre has brought to their season in recent years have consistently been some of my favorite moments in the park ever; thinking specifically of a stunning The African Company Presents Richard III directed by David Glover, and a devastating King Hedley II directed by Patricia Wallace-Winbush and starring Alan Tyson, who directs this production of Chicken and Biscuits. Douglas Lyons is better known as an actor; this was his playwrighting debut on Broadway. Look for more thoughts on this as I see it, but I’d be remiss not to put it on the radar of anyone reading this newsletter.
Music
06/21/2024
DJ Aloha
Natalie’s Grandview, 945 King Ave
June 21 and 28: 5:15 pm
Free; Visit https://nataliesgrandview.com/events/dj-aloha-3/ for reservations
I’m a big fan of Natalie’s, and one of my favorite things about their programming is the sense of mixing local and national. Especially residencies on the more intimate Charlie’s stage during happy hour, which I’ve had multiple conversations with friends, wishing Columbus had more of.
This month, they’re hosting a residency from one of our finest, most nimble, and widest-ranging DJs, half of the Soundclash braintrust, DJ Aloha. DJ Aloha (Aleha Willis) grew up in Colombia. I’ve seen her rock dancefloors with the hardest, most immediately catchy beats most of us in the room didn’t know, and I’ve also seen her paint the room with moods, drawing on exotica, soundtracks, and vintage ballads. I can’t think of anyone better to soundtrack scraping off the work week and getting ready for a weekend.
Contrary Motion
Urban Arts Space, 50 W Town St
June 21: 7 pm
Free; RSVP Available here: https://uas.osu.edu/events/contrary-motion
Sam Johnson of the band Sweet Teeth, the collective Chamber Brews, and cellist-about-town, teams up with percussionist and educator Noah Demland and an astonishing ensemble of musicians, including Johnson’s Chamber Brews partner Devin Copfer, Liz Fisher from indie rock band Cordial Sins, Xioma who I’ve covered here in the past, guitarist Aaron Yarmel, percussionist Daniel Seibert, and drummer Will Mayer, to present new compositions by Demland and Johnson but also pieces by Pauline Oliveros and Julius Eastman.
The latter are legends and not performed nearly often enough here - even with Eastman getting more of a national reckoning over the last decade - so this is unmissable if you have even the slightest taste for avant-garde composition.
06/23/2024
Jazz in the Park Presents: Fo/Mo/Deep
Havenwood Park, 2425 Havenwood Dr S, Bexley, OH
June 23: 5:30 pm
Free
For the groove-based strain of jazz, never pandering but always engaging, I can’t think of anybody doing it better - now or in my memory - than the Ron Holmes-led ensemble Fo/Mo/Deep. I remember a night at Dick’s Den that felt like the walls were sweating. I watched them open up for the great Mavis Staples at Bicentennial Park, and the lawn felt like a house party. I’ve seen them many times over the years - and was chagrined to find it had been long enough I didn’t have a usable damn photo. These Columbus stalwarts play Bexley’s Jazz in the Park series; perfect late Sunday afternoon music.