We've got an unusual mix for you today beginning with an artistic restoration tour from the paint on the walls to the top of the roof at historic Korner's Folly. Dale Pennington will be our guide. Next, we'll whisk ourselves away to another roof top, thousands of miles from the Piedmont to a tiny little town called Anatevka. It's a compelling story about tradition, love, family, change—let's face it, Fiddler on the Roof has it all, and Stained Glass Playhouse is bringing it to the Triad! Then, after we've gazed at the Sunrise and Sunset, and contemplated what'd be like to be a rich man, we get a behind the scenes peak into the work of marketing. So, you've written an amazing play, assembled a superstar cast, and rehearsals are going smoothly, but how are you going to sell this show to the public? UNCSA's Executive Producer Katharine Laidlaw has a few ideas from her work on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to CocaCola. And we'll wrap things up with singer/songwriting sensation Emily Hurd. 

Korner's Folly

If you live in the Piedmont Triad, you've probably heard of Historic Korner's Folly, but have you been? No, well, as you're about to find out, you're going to want to pencil this one in. The 1880 Kernersville home itself is an architectural wonder—all 20 plus rooms of it—with all that carved woodwork, original furnishings and artwork, and home tours are available all summer long Thursday through Sunday. But the story of the quirky gentleman behind Korner's Folly is equally engaging. Turns out Jule Korner could have been a character in Mad Men with his own 19th century brand of guerrilla marketing. He was an activist whose family roots in the Piedmont couldn't have run much deeper, and he and his family were big believers in giving back to the community. You can experience it all up close and personal at this weekend's Homegrown Arts & Crafts Festival on the Korner's Folly Lawn. Korner's Folly Executive Director Dale Pennington recently dropped by to chat with David Ford about all things Korner.

The Festival is Saturday, July 19th from 9am to 2pm, and it's being hosted by the Kernersville Arts and Crafts Guild. So, fun for the whole family in lovely, lively Kernersville, North Carolina, just about 20-minutes from the Triad. In the meantime, you can enjoy self-guided tours year round at Korner's Folly Thursday through Saturday from 10-4 and Sundays from 1-4. 

Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof with music by Jerry Bocklyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, is set in 1905 in a region of Imperial Russia where permanent residency by Jews was allowed. Outside of those regions Jewish permanent residency was actually prohibited. But in this dusty little town of Anatevka we find it all. There's hilarious comedy, gut-wrenching tragedy, star-crossed lovers, conflict between tradition and change, heart-breaking splits in the family, and then there's the music.

If I Were A Rich Man, Matchmaker, Matchmaker, and Sunrise Sunset are just a few of the songs that led to Fiddler's nine Tony Awards including Best Musical Score. The story centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to keep his family and Jewish religious traditions intact as his three older daughters move further away from the customs of his faith, and a ruthless Tsar evicts the Jews from their village. Stained Glass Playhouse actor Don Howard is Tevye, and he's joined by Music Director Marilyn Gaylord and Stained Glass Director Becky Burke…

The Tony Award-winning musical opens Friday night, July 18th at the Stained Glass Playhouse where it will run through August 3rd with Friday and Saturday shows at 8:00 PM and Sunday matinees at 3:00 PM. 

Katharine Laidlaw

When the University of North Carolina School of the Arts celebrated winning an Emmy Award for the UNC-TV broadcast of its 2012 production Much Ado About Nothing, accepting the award at the 28th annual Midsouth Regional Ceremony in Nashville, was UNCSA executive producer Katharine Laidlaw. Katharine's Broadway production credits read like a Who's Who list of Tony-nominated revivals: Gypsy, Flower Drum Song, The Elephant Man, Noises Off, Death of a Salesman, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown!. Then there's the original Broadway productions of Topdog/Underdog and Bombay Dreams, the off-Broadway cult spoof, Debbie Does Dallas, and the London productions of Ragtime, Boston Marriage and Lobby Hero. Katharine's brand marketing experience includes positions with The Coca-Cola Company. She's a fascinating person with lots to tell. The Davidson College and UNC aluma and her family call Winston-Salem home.

Since 2009 she's overseen the annual UNCSA production of The Nutcracker, special programming, performance marketing, and co-productions with external institutions. She's also served as Executive Producer and General Manager of UNCSA's Oklahoma!, Much Ado about Nothing, and Dance Fantasies, all of which have premiered on UNC-TV.

Emily Hurd

“A masterpiece…this is an album to fall into and swim in forever”, that's what Paul Zollo of American Songwriter wrote about Chicago-based singer/songwriter Emily Hurd, and her 2011 release titled Long Lost Ghosts. Last year Emily teamed up with fellow Chicago musicians Colby Maddox and Gregg Ostrom to create an outstanding new band that blends the sounds of bluegrass, rock, country and blues. It's called Stone Blind Valentine. Emily Hurd is a multi-instrumentalist known for her bluesy piano licks and soulful vocals with 8 studio albums to her credit. Long Lost Ghosts features a series of Emily's country-folk songs which she wrote on her ukulele. This is Skipping Stones from that album. Emily Hurd dropped by to talk about the music and her new band…

Val Haller of the New York Times says "She sits at the piano, lips to microphone, Frye boot to pedal, and speaks her mind — in song. I became an instant fan." Well, so did we. Emily's exciting new band is Stone Blind Valentine and you can find links to their latest recordings, their touring schedule, and where to catch Emily's songs on TV on our website. Emily's songs have been featured on the CBS shows THE GOOD WIFE and NCIS, as well as The CW's 90210. 

300x250 Ad

Support quality journalism, like the story above, with your gift right now.

Donate