Events

Pop Goes Shakespeare! a Webinar

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No writer has shaped modern culture more than Shakespeare. Come to this entertaining webinar and find out how he is still influencing you and why he is responsible for all your favorite fandoms. Shakespeare can be found in Doctor Who, Star Trek, and countless teen films. His works are the basis for hip hop music and rap. Shakespeare left us more than 1700 words and phrases. Studying and performing Shakespeare benefits us in so many ways. People that read or perform Shakespeare have better grades and webinar insult buttonvocabulary.  Come have fun while learning the highest and lowest that Shakespeare offers us May 21 at 7:00.

In the meantime, enjoy some Shakespearean insults

 

Teen Shakespeare Company Fights!

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Fights break out in the park, as teens with swords take over. The Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Company is having fun and working hard. Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Company brings a post-apocalyptic Henry IV, part 1 to Pensacola audiences April 28 – May 1. Enjoy this behind the scenes look at a little of what goes into choreographing all those breath-taking fights.

Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Company fights

SETSCO Presents Henry IV, part 1

The show features a post-apocalyptic, Mad Max style setting. If you like leather clad characters, swords and Shakespeare you will want to see this show. The thrills are surrounded by humor and humanity.

Henry IV, part 1 will hit the stage at the Opera Center in Pensacola April 28 – May 1. This is the first time SETSCO has performed one of Shakespeare’s histories since the company began 11 years ago.

www.setsco.org for tickets and more information.

Do You Know a Teen that Likes to Talk?

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The Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Company hosts its fifth annual Speak the Speech contest Saturday February 6, 2016. SETSCO has been providing teens a safe place to develop their acting and language skills since 2006. Michelle Hancock, company director says “Our mission is to provide teens in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties with instruction and performance opportunities that lead to their significant growth as artists, as community leaders, and as human beings.” SETSCO celebrated their tenth anniversary last season when past members joined the current company in a full length production of Hamlet. The company members range in age from 12 to 19. They perform at local festivals and stage a full length production every year.

Gulf Breeze, Fla (Sept. 14, 2014) Daisy Brustad performs Phoebe's monologue from Shakespeare's As You Like it at the Gulf Breeze Arts Festival. (Photo by SETSCO company coordinator DeeDee Brustad.)


Gulf Breeze, Fla (Sept. 14, 2014) Daisy Brustad performs Phoebe’s monologue from Shakespeare’s As You Like it at the Gulf Breeze Arts Festival. (Photo by SETSCO company coordinator DeeDee Brustad.)

The Speak the Speech contest will be held at the Old Sacred Heart Hospital building in the east tower at 2:00. Interested teens should fill out the application and pick a scene or monologue from any of Shakespeare’s plays. The selection must be at least 20 lines and no more than 5 minutes long. No experience, costumes or props required. All pieces must be memorized. First prize is a major supporting role in SETSCO’s full length production.

Come out and play!

Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Company Speak the Speech Contest

Who – 13 to 19 year olds interested in acting

When – Saturday, February 6,2016 from 2:00 – 4:00

Where – 1010 North 12 Avenue, Suite 211

What Thrills and Skills are Found at FSU’s Flying High Circus?

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The FSU Flying High Circus began in 1947 as an activity to combine men and women when the school became co-ed. Students are responsible for all lighting, costuming, rigging, and performing in this three-ring aerial extravaganza. Performers get a chance to try the Cloud Swing, the Spanish Web, the Chinese Pole, the Teeterboard, the Slack Line, and the Flying Trapeze.

The Flying High Circus consists of students from a variety of majors. There are as many math and science majors as theater majors.

“We have a lot of theater people and athletic people,” says Benny Brustad, FSU student and Slack Rope performer, “most of us are people who excel at school.”

The circus offers a lot of camaraderie and learning opportunities. After making it past two rounds of auditions, the selected students are put into one of the acts. Each act is responsible for their own choreography and rehearsal schedule.  Experienced performers help circus newcomers learn the skills required for their particular act.

“The circus is a good experience for learning how things work in the real world. Learning slack, I wasn’t really told what to do,” says Benny Brustad, “I jumped up on the rope and fell right off. I fell off that rope at least 63 times before I learned to stay on. Figuring it out for myself taught me perseverance.”

The opportunity to learn and teach new things is a big part of the circus experience. Brustad, who will be graduating with a math and teaching double major this spring, finds many similarities between circus life and the real world. He has learned teamwork and group management for reaching a common goal. The importance of self motivation is stressed.

Tallahassee, FLA.(April 19, 2014) Benny Brustad performs Chinese Pole in FSU Flying High Circus(Photo by PR by DeeDee owner, DeeDee Brustad)

Tallahassee, FLA.(April 19, 2014) Benny Brustad performs Chinese Pole in FSU Flying High Circus(Photo by PR by DeeDee owner, DeeDee Brustad)

“We all help out the new guy,” says Brustad, “but ultimately, you have to figure out what works best for you.”

For more information, please visit http://circus.fsu.edu

Mobile Renaissance Faire Makes History Fun Today and Sunday

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The Mobile Renaissance Faire takes place November 14 and 15 in Robertsdale, Ala. The festival features vendors selling period clothing and jewelry, swords, and historical crafts like handmade soaps and mead. Visitors can watch jousting, juggling, music, and Shakespearian actors.

Fire breathing entertainers walk the aisles on stilts. The mascot dragon dances through the festival offering hugs to the crowds. Kids can get their face painted or try to throw a hula hoop on an accordion playing man in a hotdog suit. Watch a scene from Shakespeare and see dancing poodles. This festival gives visitors a full day of entertainment.

It started with a billboard. Festival organizer Steve Melei saw an ad for the Texas Renaissance Faire while attending law school. He fell in love when he saw this 6 week-long faire held on a recreated 16 century English township on 55 acres. He realized the Gulf Coast area had nothing like it after he graduated and returned home.

Robertsdale, Ala.(Nov.14,2015) Steve Melei, Organizer of the Mobile Renaissance Faire and Pirate Festival (Photo by PR by DeeDee owner, DeeDee Brustad)

Robertsdale, Ala.(Nov.14,2015) Steve Melei, Organizer of the Mobile Renaissance Faire and Pirate Festival (Photo by PR by DeeDee owner, DeeDee Brustad)

Steve Melei held the first Mobile Renaissance Faire in 2001 amidst terrible sleet. He barely broke even but people loved it. The festival is now held at Melei’s own Medieval Village, 30569 Eagle Lane Road, Robertsdale, Ala. “I’ve always been a history buff. I want to impart history to kids in a fun way that gets them outside”, says Steve Melei.

15 years and 30 festivals later, The Mobile Renaissance Faire has become a place where old friends gather to entertain the locals. Musicians Drunk and Sailor are regulars here. Phillip McGuinness, known to fans as Drunk, says “We’ve been doing this so long that the entertainers and crowds become family we look forward to seeing each year.” The crowds sing along and sometimes end up onstage dancing along McGuinness and Sailor, Captain Amos Muirhead.

Cassandra Garner was among the more than 1000 festival attendees today. She has visited the Mobile Renaissance Faire since 2002. Cassandra adds flavor with her brightly colored costume. She entertains the children with her carved puppets that move with the push of hidden buttons. “I used to come all the time, but life got in the way. This is where I recharge.”

Robertsdale, Ala.(Nov.14,2015) Cassandra Garner at Mobile Renaissance Faire(Photo by owner of Pr by DeeDee, DeeDee Brustad)

Robertsdale, Ala.(Nov.14,2015) Cassandra Garner at Mobile Renaissance Faire(Photo by owner of Pr by DeeDee, DeeDee Brustad)

Event: Mobile Renaissance Faire

Dates: Saturday Nov.14 and Sunday, Nov.15

Times: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Venue: 30569 Eagle Lane Road, Robertsdale, Ala

 

 

Information: http://www.gcrf.us/index.html

Tickets: $10 adults, $5 children, under 4 free

What Lurks in the Mind of One Local Artist?

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: DeeDee Brustad                                           

Public Relations

850-710-0868

dbrustad@fullsail.edu

           

 

What Lurks in the Mind of One Local Artist?

Techno Man Drawing by Kenneth James Brustad

Techno Man Drawing by Kenneth James Brustad

Pensacola, Fla. – Saturday, November 7, 2015 – University of West Florida Fine Arts student Kenneth James Brustad of Navarre, Fla holds his first public art show Feb. 27 and 28 from 7 – 10 p.m. at the Old Sacred Heart Hospital. This free event will explore the co-dependent relationship of man and machine. This young artist illustrates how technology is sometimes helpful, sometimes intimidating, or incapacitating in this aptly named show, Beyond the Screen. The drawings start with a picture of a healthy connection where technology benefits humanity. The last picture is an ominous take on what happens when technology takes over our lives. Kenneth James favors pen and pencil drawings in a surreal style reminiscent of the wild works of H.R. Giger.

 

Beyond the Screen art show takes place at 1010 N. 12th Avenue, Suite 211. There will be an opening reception Saturday night at 7 p.m. with the artist on hand to discuss his concepts. The artist says “some people are cripplingly dependent on their technologies while others use it as a pastime or a tool for communication. These works explore both sides of this issue.”

 

His unique art is sometimes disturbing but always thought-provoking. This quiet young man lets his art and his smile speak for him. “Drawing connects me to the world. Sometimes I look at one of my drawings and suddenly my thoughts are put in context to the rest of the world,” explains Kenneth James Brustad.

 

Come share Kenneth James Brustad’s vision and some wine and cheese at his show and reception Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.

 

About Kenneth James Brustad:

Navarre, Fla. Artist Kenneth James Brustad has been drawing as long as he can remember. His work is a wildly imaginative mix of science fiction and fantasy. He will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree from the Fine Arts program at the University of West Florida in May 2016. His art has accompanied productions ranging from Halloween scares to Shakespeare at the Pensacola Little Theater.

Please visit Kenneth James Brustad on Deviant Art or Facebook for more information.

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