Jazz, Comedy, Film, and Dance Highlight the 2019 Columbia Festival of the Arts
Your summer starts here at the 2019 Columbia Festival of the Arts, including a fun filled 3 day Free LakeFest weekend on the Columbia Lakefront followed by 13 days of ticketed events featuring music, comedy, film, dance, art and more.
COLUMBIA, Md., June 10, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Your Summer Starts Here as tickets go on sale to the 32nd Annual Columbia Festival of the Arts featuring 16 days of activities for all ages, from the jazz styling of Rene Marie and Experiment in Truth to the magical world of David Dimitri's One Man Circus. Festival goers will laugh to the edgy, hilarious comedy of The Second City and hear spellbinding stories performed by stars of the stage and screen in Selected Shorts.
Free Opening Weekend on the Columbia Lakefront June 14, 15 & 16
The FREE LakeFest weekend returns three days of live music, an invitational arts and crafts show, strolling performers, festival food, a Clyde's of Columbia Beer Garden, and an array of activities and entertainment for all ages.
One of the highlights of LakeFest this year includes evening performance(s) and residency activities by Bridgman Packer Dance. While in Downtown Columbia the company will offer evening performances of their show Truck and install an engaging interactive video installation at the Lakefront on Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15.
Invitational Fine Arts & Crafts Show
Invitational Fine Arts and Crafts Show This juried show and sale will feature the original artwork of artists from the throughout the mid-Atlantic region. A wide variety of mediums including functional and wearable art will be represented. June 14: 5pm-8pm, Saturday June 15: Noon – 8pm, Sunday June 15, Noon – 7
LakeStage Music Lineup
The LakeStage will be rocking all weekend with music from every genre featuring performances by School of Rock Columbia, DOGO du Togo, Bobby Thompson Trio, Speakers of the House, Mr. Gabe and the Circle Time All-Stars, Nelly's Echo, De Sanguashington, Six-String Soldiers, Alanna Royale, Aztec Sun, Marielle Kraft, Ocho De Bastos, The Sidleys, Columbia Jazz Band and Glenelg Jazz Ensemble.
Columbia Festival will provide a free shuttle between Howard County Community College campus parking and the Downtown Columbia Lakefront. For the schedule visit columbiafestival.org.
Festival Ticketed Events Feature Wide Array of Entertainment
David Dimitri's One Man Circus L'Homme Cirque
Sponsored by the Howard Hughes Corporation
Merriweather District, Downtown Columbia
Thursday, June 20 – Sunday June 23 | Tickets: $20-28
Enter the magical world of David Dimitri. Lauded "Lord of the Wire" by New York Times, this world famous high wire dancer and veteran of Cirque du Soleil and Big Apple Circus epitomizes innovation as he alone performs an entire circus. Created what he calls "a unique magic" in the intimate setting of a tent in the Merriweather District, his L'Homme Cirque balances dramatic feats like high wire flips and a human cannon launch with humor, poetry, and serenades on the accordion.
The Stoop Story Telling Series On Purpose: Stories about living in line with your unique values
Presented in partnership with Speak(easy) Howard
Smith Theatre, The Horowitz Center at HCC
Thursday, June 20, 7:00pm | Tickets: $18
The stories can be funny, sad, and serious – as long as they're true. Stoop storytellers are writers, dog-walkers, scientists, poets, moms, manicurists, museum directors, waitresses, TV hosts, taxi drivers…and you!
End Game Film Screening
Presented in partnership with Speak(easy) Howard
Monteabaro Hall, The Horowitz Center at HCC
Friday, June 21, 6:30pm | Tickets: Free
Endgame weaves together three stories of visionary medical providers who practice on the cutting edge of life and death, helping to change the way we think about both. Q&A Session immediately following the film.
Rene Marie & Experiment in Truth
With support from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
Smith Theatre, The Horowitz Center at HCC
Friday, June 21, 8:00pm | Tickets: $25-35
Guided by powerful life lessons and rooted in jazz traditions laid down by Ella Fitzgerald and other leading ladies of past generations, Rene Marie borrows various elements of folk, rhythm and blues, and even classical and country to create a captivating hybrid style. Her last album, Sound of Red, earned her a Grammy Nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2017.
Mimosas and Music - FUNDRAISER
Cured Table & Tap
Saturday, June 22, 11:30 am | Tickets: $60-75 (sponsorships available)
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of scrumptious food crafted by the talented team at Cured Table and Tap, live jazz, and a silent auction. Proceeds benefit The Columbia Festival of the Arts.
The Second City – Cure for the Common Comedy
Presented in partnership with Speak(easy) Howard
Smith Theatre, The Horowitz Center at HCC
Saturday, June 22, 8:00 pm | Tickets: $28-38
If you're immortal, stop reading now. Everybody else, come out for a different kind of comedy show that brings humor to the serious moments of life and death.
Selected Shorts
Presented in partnership with Speak(easy) Howard
Smith Theatre, the Horowitz Center at HCC
Sunday, June 23, 6:00 pm | Tickets: $25-35
The National Public Radio hit series Selected shorts takes the stage with spellbinding short stories by established and emerging writers and performed by stars of the stage and screen. Selected shorts will be hosted by Sam Underwood (Dexter, Homeland and The Following) and read by Atawanda Kani (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and Black Panther) and Valorie Curry (Balm in Gilead and Blair Witch.)
Sundance Shorts on Tour
Sponsored by Residences at Vantage Point
Monteabaro Hall, the Horowitz Center at HCC
Tuesday, June 25, 7:00 pm | Tickets: $18
Fueled by artistic expression and limited only by their runtime, short films transcend traditional storytelling. They are a significant and popular way artists connect with audiences. From documentary to animation, narrative to experimental, the abbreviated form is made for risk-taking. The Festival gives home to both established and new filmmakers with shorts for audiences to discover and celebrate.
Columbia Film Festival
Sponsored by Anchor Construction Corporation and the Maryland Film Office
Multiple Venues
Thursday, June 27 – Saturday June 29 | Tickets: $10-55
Presenting over 40 films, many Maryland based, the Columbia Film Festival offers three (3) full days of unique morning to evening programming that represents a wide variety of genres. From Comedy and dramatic features, compelling documentaries and a vast range of entertaining shorts to impressive student films, world cinema, and cutting edge Emmy Award Winning digital media, Columbia Film Festival reflects the great cultural and creative diversity that is synonymous with Columbia, Maryland.
Highlights include a Free live screenplay reading of a new Eduardo Sanchez (THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT) comedy, powerful documentary films on social justice and equality, the very best selections from the International, Washington, DC and Baltimore 48 Hour films, plus over two dozen inspired short films that embrace diverse cultures, comedy, drama, animation and cinematic beauty. A new Maryland based feature Western stars local actors, plus Hollywood veterans Johnny Crawford, Bobby Carradine, Lana Wood and Darby Hinton. The Columbia Film Festival wraps up with an award ceremony and "Best of Fest" screening immediately following a new five (5) time Emmy award winning digital series AFTER FOREVER. Post show celebrity cast Q&A features Emmy and Tony Award Nominated actress Anita Gillette (MOONSTRUCK, 30 ROCK) series star and co-creator Emmy award winning actor Kevin Spirtas (FRIDAY 13, DAYS OF OUR LIVES), as well as writer, co-creator Michael Slade (DAYS OF OUR LIVES).
Sprout Films
Sponsored by Apple Ford Lincoln and Presented in Partnership with the Arc of Howard County and Howard County Autism Society
Monteabaro Hall, The Horowitz Center at HCC
Saturday, June 29, 1:00 pm | Tickets: $15
Poignant, beautiful, humorous and thought provoking short films created by, for and about individuals with disabilities. Sprout showcases films related to the field of developmental disabilities, fulfilling its mission to make the invisible visible.
Joint Anniversary Celebration
Columbia Film Society's 50th and Howard County Poetry and Literature Society's (HoCoPoLitSo) 45th
Sponsored by The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County
Smith Theatre, The Horowitz Center at HCC
Sunday June 30, 2:30 pm | Tickets: $10-15
This joint anniversary event features a talk by one of the writers of Girl Rising and a showing of the documentary film that inspired global awareness about the importance of education for girls.
The Soulful Symphony with Darin Atwater #Soufulsetlist
Presented by the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Saturday, June 29, 7:30 pm
Continuing its mission of exploring the rich diversity of American Roots Music, Soulful Symphony captures the magic and wonder of one of the most iconic stages in the country with a mash-up of American anthems covering every conceivable style and genre – original orchestral arrangements, magnificent vocal performances and spectacular dancing. As part of the lead up to #Soulfulsetlist, fans will be able to vote on songs to be included in the #Soulfulsetlist program, taking Soulful's radically inclusive approach to new levels.
The Columbia Orchestra
Presented in Partnership with the Inner Arbor Trust and Howard County Recreation & Parks
Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods
Sunday, June 30, 5:00 pm | Tickets: Free
The whole family will love classic film scores by John Williams, Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, music from Good, Bad, and the Ugly and Magnificent Seven, patriotic songs, and the ultimate outdoor classic: The 1812 Overture!
About The Columbia Festival of the Arts
The Columbia Festival of the Arts is a two-week summer festival that provides unique arts and entertainment experiences for the region surrounding Columbia, Maryland. From the fun-filled LakeFest Free Weekend to legendary performances by artists such as Judy Collins, Aretha Franklin, and Pilobolus, the Festival creates a world class celebration of the arts and entertainment that attracts, engages and inspires the broad and diverse community it serves.
When Columbia, Maryland, turned 20 in 1987, many of the town's pioneers wanted to throw a birthday party that would celebrate the anniversary and reassert the town's distinctive identity. They produced a major celebration called "Hail Columbia."
On the tail of "Hail Columbia", consensus emerged that there should be a Columbia Festival of the Arts representing all genres, combining local and national performers, and reflecting all elements of the community: races, ages, incomes, and genders. The mission became to "present programs of the highest artistic quality that feature distinguished nationally known artists" and to produce an "annual arts event that builds the spirit of community." Thus, the Columbia Festival of the Arts was begun.
For more information about the Columbia Festival of the Arts event lineup, calendar and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.columbiafestival.org.
SOURCE Columbia Festival of the Arts
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