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Selected Shorts Returns With All-Star Cast Satur day, November 14, 8 p.m.
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elected Shorts: Live in Performance! Uncharted Territories. The hit public radio series and popular podcast brings a cast of terrific actors to perform live 8 p.m. Saturday, November 14 in the Edward Wales Root Sculpture Court. Stars Patricia Kalember, Boyd Gaines and Sam Underwood will perform moving, comical, and surprising stories about unexpected encounters in places both fantastical and close to home. Selected Shorts presents spellbinding short stories by established and emerging writers performed live by stars of the stage and screen for a unique evening of literature in performance.
Patricia Kalember’s television credits include a recurring role on thirtysomething and her starring role on Sisters, as well as roles on Law & Order SVU, Orange Is The New Black, Gossip Girl, Veep, and The Good Wife. Her stage credits include The Nerd, Don’t Dress for Dinner, and the original cast of The Foreigner. Her numerous films include Jacob’s Ladder, Signs, Limitless, Run All Night, and the yet to be released Custody, written and directed by James Lapine. Boyd Gaines is a four-time Tony Award-winning actor. He most recently appeared as Edgar Degas in Little Dancer at the Kennedy Center. His Broadway credits include Driving Miss Daisy with James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave and the original production of The Heidi Chronicles. He has appeared in a number of films including Heartbreak Ridge, The Sure Thing, Porky’s, and Fame. His television credits include The Good Wife, L.A. Law, Frasier, and One Day at a Time. Sam Underwood is the founder and artistic director of New York's Fundamental Theatre Project, where he produced and starred in One Day When We Were Young by Nick Payne with Valorie Curry. His New
York theatre credits include Candida at The Irish Repertory Theatre and Equus at John Drew Theater at Guild Hall, in which he starred opposite Alec Baldwin. In addition to recurring roles on Dexter and Homeland, he most recently starred opposite Kevin Bacon on Fox's hit drama The Following, in which he played twins Mark and Luke. "One of the finest evenings at the theatre." — David Sedaris Tickets for this performance are $37.50 for members, $42.50 for general admission, and $22.50 for students. Flexible subscriptions are also available. The Museum opens at 7 p.m. so patrons may view
the current exhibitions, socialize and visit the Museum Shop. Selected Shorts will also feature a cash bar and a special gallery talk at intermission. For tickets contact the Performing Arts Ticket Office at 7970055 or 800-754-0797. Tickets are also available online at mwpai.org. Sponsored by
Steven and Dorian Critelli in memory of Delores Y. Critelli
Melodies and Memories New Victorian Yuletide Exhibition Celebrates Christmas Carols November 27 through January 3
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estive music and comforting familiar Christmas carols are holiday traditions. This year the Museum of Art’s annual Victorian Yuletide exhibition, opening in the Fountain Elms period rooms November 27, celebrates 19thcentury music and melodies. “O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your branches green delight us.” While the melody for O Tannenbaum is based on traditional folk music, German Ernst Anschutz wrote the modern lyrics in 1824. The words acknowledge the evolution of the Christmas tree as the central holiday decoration. Set for a family gathering and music recital, the parlor period room will feature a floor-to-ceiling tree adorned with glistening strands of antique German glass beads, a nod to the origins of O Tannenbaum and to the many Christmas customs with German origins. No Christmas tree would be complete without presents scattered below. The Museum of Art’s delightful toy collection—featuring colorful doll china, a model stove, dolls, and many cherished toys once owned by Rachel and Maria Williams—will be on view. Surprisingly, not all households featured Christmas trees. Instead many families, including the Williams family of Fountain Elms, enjoyed large public Christmas trees. One early 20th-century version of a public Christmas tree is a craftily fashioned Bethlehem tree. The Museum has carefully recreated this gift-bearing tree in celebration of O Little Town of Bethlehem, a carol that originated in 1865. Each star-shaped
section of the holly-trimmed tree on view in the bedroom will be laden with cherished gifts. Today’s American Christmas customs and carols are a mixture of many adopted from European countries. The Holly and the Ivy, a traditional British folk carol published around 1814, symbolizes Victorian-era homes that were excessively draped in swags of both plants during the holiday season. Holly and ivy arches crisscross the elaborately set dining table in Fountain Elms this season and accent the colorful porcelain, fine crystal glasses and Tiffany silver that grace the table. “We wish you a Merry Christmas, And a happy New Year. Good tidings we bring To you and your kin…” The origin of these familiar lyrics lies in the English tradition of holiday wassailing. Groups of young men, a tankard in hand, traveled from house to house singing. When invited inside, the revelers drank spiced ale to the health of the hosts and demanded “figgy pudding.” The Fountain Elms library is ready to receive carolers and reward them with sweet treats and beverages for their good cheer. Enjoy the cheerful celebrations of the festive season, explore the fascinating history of today’s Christmas customs, and view the extravagant installations during a visit to the Museum’s period rooms over the holidays. Victorian Yuletide is on view through January 3.