Sunday, August 31, 2014

Virginia Living Magazine: Setting the Stage


It's time to take a tour of Virginia's major performing arts companies, courtesy of Don Harrison.

The September/October issue of Virginia Living Magazine features "Setting The Stage," my big overview of the commonwealth's most vital, interesting and conspicuous arts organizations.

Here, you'll get the lowdown on nearly two dozen different performing troupes -- the likes of Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk, Richmond Ballet, Crystal City's Synetic Theater (pictured), American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Abingdon's Barter Theatre and many more. It's a one-stop shopping place for info on the performing arts in the Old Dominion. There are also some scoops -- information on upcoming seasons, planned new venues, possible future collaborations and special concerts and performances. If you like the arts, you'll dig.

(It was been suggested to me that, because I'm so familiar with different parts of the region, that I was the only writer who could really do this. But I think I misheard that -- I'm actually the only writer crazy enough to do this. Not only was this a multi-sourced 5,000+ word epic, it was a rush job as well.)

You'll want to pick up a printed copy to see all of the great photos and to experience that typically-fabulous Virginia Living glossy presentation, but the bi-monthly magazine has posted the big spread online too.

To read "Setting the Stage," click here. And break a leg.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Richmond Magazine: Q&A with Noah-O

I'm all over the August 2014 issue of Richmond Magazine -- available on finer newsstands right now. I have contributed concert previews, personality profiles and even some "back to school" features. Go and buy a copy of the mag so you can play that exciting new game, "Find Don Harrison's Byline." 

One of this month's articles is a Q&A with Richmond-area rapper Noah Oddo, a.k.a. Noah-O, who just recently dropped a fine new disc called Monument Avenue.

It begins:
Noah Oddo, aka Noah-O, went national a few years ago when the video for his song “I Got It” won airplay on MTV. Since then, the Henrico-based hip-hop artist and producer has been fostering area talent through his Charged Up Entertainment company, while working on his latest disc, Monument Avenue. 
Peppered with appearances from fellow River City hip-hoppers, Oddo’s 14-song collaboration with producer Taylor Whitelow is an ambitious sonic travelogue through life in the Richmond he knows, with live instrumentation, creative arrangements and unflinching wordplay about single mothers, subtle racism and the power of music. 

Read the rest by clicking right here.

For more on Noah-O and his new disc, go to this spot.