SB Art Archives - SB Magazine

Give a Child a Crayon and Watch What Happens

SB Magazine — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 19:46:40 +0000

One of Haley Kirton’s earliest memories of her growing creativity occurred when her parents handed her a piece of paper and some crayons during a church service to keep her occupied. While many parents do this, Susan and Patrick Kirton recognized that their daughter’s drawings were special.

“I would show them my drawings, and they would always be so excited. I was like, I’m gonna be an artist one day,” Haley recalls. Parental support and encouragement are so very important to a little one.

In the 6th grade, Haley was accepted into the talented arts program at school, which confirmed that she was pretty good at this art thing. She was excited that the types of projects the students were doing were so outside the box and weird and different, “it just sort of made me fall in love with art even more.” One of her TAP teachers, James King, was one of her favorites – always motivational and encouraging. Not a man to mince words, but Haley valued his input and opinions.

Throughout her educational career, Haley learned to work with numerous art mediums. She has always been drawn to portrait work and has spent countless hours honing her skills in oil and acrylic. Today, she is naturally focused on the digital arts. It’s basically painting, but it’s all on an iPad. Haley will not incorporate AI in her work. “I find the artistic process deeply rewarding, and the joy comes from creating something with my own hands and imagination. While I wouldn’t call AI a bad thing, using it (for me) feels a bit like opening a jigsaw puzzle only to discover that all the pieces have already been assembled. Where’s the fun in that? It takes away the experience and vulnerability of putting it together myself.”

She doesn’t need to. Besides, she prefers everything she produces to be handcrafted. She loves the process of creating everything from the ground up.

In her laid-back fashion, she explains that she sketches everything, chooses the colors, and then begins blending. She makes it sound so easy -right? She likes to work digitally “because it’s all in one place. I like being a little mess-free.”

You read that right. Haley is a neat artist, which is almost a contradiction in terms. Being the “neat” artist certainly hasn’t prevented her from achieving incredible success with several projects. One of the most recent is a mural she was commissioned to do for the Airline Drive Walmart.

“They reached out to me one day. I just put my art on this website called Culturalist. It’s like a big Louisiana database for artists. And, like, a week later, they reached out, and they were, hey – We’re Now Art working with the Walmart company.”

Now Art loved her work and asked permission to put Haley on their roster. Haley thought it was a scam and almost deleted the email. Good thing she took the chance that the offer was the real deal. The rest is history.

Haley was also part of the creative team commissioned to produce the huge mural at our new Amazon Fulfillment Center in Shreveport. She found it interesting to see how it evolved from the very beginning. They didn’t know each other very well, and they didn’t know what to expect. But you get six or seven gifted artists together, and something fantastic is bound to happen.

Haley draws her inspiration from several sources. Fellow artists who she follows online, YouTube, and more often than not, her ideas just blossom. It’s a meditative process for her, like putting a puzzle together and seeing how everything will fit.

Haley is sure to have a plethora of subjects to study with her work as the marketing director for the Shreveport Metropolitan Opera.

“It’s not something I ever thought I would do. I came in not knowing much about the opera, but I’ve steadily fallen in love with it. I just think it’s so beautiful, and, meeting all of these artists and seeing them do their thing on stage and shining is just really crazy.”

Haley lends her extensive talents to other projects as well. She’s made her directorial debut in a short film that will be entered into the Film Prize this year. You could label her a true Renaissance woman – eager to cultivate everything that interests her and then share what she finds with us through her art.

To see more of Haley’s work, visit her website: Haleykirton.com. You might now consider investing in a piece or two before she becomes a national treasure.

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ART & CULTURE: LAURA CRAWFORD

SB Magazine — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 21:01:49 +0000

Art & Culture

Laura Crawford

by Diane VanHoozer

SB sat down with Laura Crawford to learn more about her passion, her influence, and the reasons behind her success.

Laura Crawford started playing violin with the instruments that her father smuggled out of Austria before Kristallnacht. This eventually led to her calling as a violinist/teacher and the forming of the Centenary Suzuki School in 1977 with just ten students.

Today, the school boasts teaching more than 1500 students, but the influence this has had on families’ lives is unfathomable. Instilling a deep appreciation of music is core to the founder and director, as well as to the other CSS teachers: Charles Regauer, Dan Santelices, Adrienne Gabriel, Elizabeth McShane, Brett Andrews, and Elizabeth Beck.

What age do you typically start children?

“We usually start kids in our program at about 4 for girls and 5 for boys. I wish somebody had started me at that age because it’s great to be able to develop so much technique at an early age. Some of our kids at age 12 are playing Mozart concertos.”

How important to you is music education?

“I think it’s crucial. In addition to children learning to express emotion through music, neuroscience research shows that studying music raises your IQ and expands the brain. While many of our Art & Culture Laura Crawford By Diane VanHoozer SBMAG.NET | SEP 2024 39 children become professional musicians later, that’s not our goal. In a recent study, medical schools took 60% of music majors and 40% of biochemistry majors. If children hear beautiful music from a young age and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline, and endurance. They will become more aware and appreciative of all that is artistic in life. They get beautiful hearts.”

What is the Suzuki method, and how is it different from other methods of teaching music?

“It’s patterned after the way you learn to speak a language. You learned to speak from listening to your parents’ words. Dr. Suzuki thought if you do the same thing with music, and if children hear the music that they’re going to learn to play from an early age, then it’s like the native language. We want them to focus on the correct violin position and be able to learn pieces quickly by ear.”

How would you handle having to tell a parent that maybe their child isn’t suited for music, or have you ever had that happen?

“I’ve never had a child in all these 40-plus years who couldn’t learn to play. Now, some of them are going to go slower and some faster. So rather than tell the student that you’re not suited for this, we would tend to tell the parent if you could practice every day and don’t skip a day, then you’re going to notice an amazing difference. I don’t think we’ve ever told somebody you can’t do this. Our goal is to have them all enjoy music for life. And even though I have 4 sons who all went through the program, only one is really playing now. My oldest was on the board of the New World Symphony in Miami, and my second one is on the Shreveport Symphony board. My third one is the vice-president of The Strand Board, and my youngest is in New York as a professional cellist. So, they all love music, and all musicians need an appreciative audience!”

When all is said and done, what will you cherish most about your life and your influence?

“In addition to my faith in God, I cherish most the love and support of my husband, Ed Crawford, and our four sons, because I couldn’t do any of this without their help. They’ve been so supportive of my love for beautiful music.” If you are interested in learning more about the Centenary Suzuki School, go to www. centenarysuzuki.com to apply for your child to be on the waiting list.

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MOVIE REVIEW

SB Magazine — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 20:11:35 +0000

By Diane VanHoozer

Good films do not have an expiration date. Being relatively new in terms of storytelling, movies are a unique medium that creates experiences for audiences in all walks of life. The birth of as we know them today can be traced back about a century ago with the technology to synchronize sound and moving images. With more and more films being released every year on every screen, finding new stories to enjoy has never been easier. However, as with most mediums, with variety comes the novelty of ‘new’. This has given some the idea that the newest is always the best option and that unless a film is exceptionally good, movies have an expiration date. I do not believe this to be the case. Allow me to introduce to you a movie that was released 65 years ago that is one of my personal favorites: The Five Pennies (1959).

Produced by Paramount Pictures, The Five Pennies (1959) is a musical that is loosely based on a true story. It was directed by Melville Shavelson, and stars Danny Kaye, Barbra Bel Geddes, and Louis Armstrong. Kaye plays Red Nichols, a small-town jazz musician who moves to New York City to try to make it big. He eventually succeeds and forms a band that has some of the greats in it like Jimmy Dorsey and Benny Goodman. However, when his daughter contracts polio he gives it all up to take care of his family. It’s a story that involves integrity, sacrifice, and when is it important to do what you love versus to be with the ones you love. If you like jazz, history, or old-fashioned family values being carefully discussed in your stories, you might like this movie.

If you are not a fan of musicals, I still highly recommend this movie. It is not simply a musical but a diegetic musical. Because it is about a composer and musician, every singing or main musical scene is purposely sung by characters who know they are singing. They don’t break out into song because their emotions get too big, and they barely dance if at all. When Nichols puts his daughter to sleep, he sings her a lullaby. When Nichols and his wife are in a hospital waiting room, they are too emotional to sing, but they recite lyrics to a hymn because they are trying to focus on hope.

If you do like music and musicals though, the complexity of the music will be what interests you. The film’s title comes from the real-life band that Red Nichols led in the late 1920’s, but the recurring theme of the movie is a lullaby that is an original song called The Five Pennines. It appears multiple times in the movie, but it also appears with two other stacking melodies that are also lullabies. At a few points in the film, there are a few moments with full counterbalance duets. An example is when Louis Armstrong is singing “Goodnight, Sleep Tight” in a nightclub scene, then Danny Kaye starts singing “Lullaby in Ragtime”, then Susan Gordon, who was about eight at the time, joins in and sings “The Five Pennies”. All three songs stack beautifully on top of each other yet are as wholesome as individual songs.

The movie has some heavy scenes to it, but I watch it whenever I’m in the mood to be cheered up. Danny Kaye’s signature humor keeps the darkness of childhood illness and daily struggles of life to a light level. Perfect for movie night when you just want to watch something beautiful. You can rent this movie on Amazon Prime, YouTube, or Apple TV, for less than five dollars. You can also stream the soundtrack on Spotify or YouTube.

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SPOT LIGHT: THREE-DIMENSIONAL TALENT JOHNNY BOSTON

SB Magazine — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:36:58 +0000

The first movie I ever saw was The Lion King. I will never forget it. I was … well, I can’t remember how old I was, but what I DO remember was being in awe of everything. For a long time after I saw The Lion King, I thought every movie was animated. I just thought someone drew Tom Hanks.

So, I have an imagination. My bad.

Of course, not all movies are animated. But some of the best ones are. Johnny Boston’s favorite movies are.

“Ever since I was ten and saw the first How to Train Your Dragon movie, I knew I wanted to work in animation,” he says.

Johnny was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but has called Shreveport home since he was 11. After graduating from Caddo Magnet High School, he went to Louisiana Tech to become a dentist like his Uncle Chris. Before long, Johnny realized he was passionate about something else. Or maybe his family realized it before he did.

“My family convinced me not to pursue dentistry,” Johnny says, “because they knew I didn’t really care about it.”

Instead, Johnny pursued a degree from The Digital Media Institute (DMI) here in Shreveport.

“He was always a real creative child growing up,” Johnny’s grandmother Nancy Cosse says. “In the beginning, we all saw his creativity and knew this would be the perfect thing for him.”

Johnny says the accelerated year spent at DMI really shaped his foundation. He cut his teeth (dentistry?) in the 24-hour computer lab they had at the time: sometimes, he was in there from 8 a.m. until 3 a.m.

“Canes and energy drinks got me through,” he says.

The long hours paid off. After DMI, Johnny was accepted into the Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Games, and Animation in Los Angeles. Gnomon is one of Forbes’ America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and is touted as the “MIT of visual effects” by Fast Company Magazine.

Johnny just graduated in September with a Bachelor of Fine Arts: 3D Generalist degree. And he loves California.

“The thing about Los Angeles is that’s where all the artists are,” he says. “So much of our culture is shaped out of what comes out of California.”

Johnny studied all aspects of 3D, but sculpting and texturing were his focus.

“I want to move towards making fantastical creatures for movies and games,” says the Gnomon grad. “My goal is to do art and get paid to do it and let that be my life.”

Since graduating, Johnny has been sending out his work to prospective employers. So far, he has found freelance work making music videos for clubs in Los Angeles. Eventually, he wants to collaborate with his old DMI friends or possibly do an animated film for the Film Prize here in Shreveport. He would also love to work for DreamWorks one day.

Johnny is grateful to have so much support from his family.

“They are always the first to see my work,” he says.

But it’s not all work for Johnny. In his downtime, he loves making music with his electric ukulele and hiking with his friends.

“All of my friends are super into music and hiking,” he says. “They have vibrant lives. They let me be a part of this,” he says.

That humility is one of the many things that makes Johnny likable. I look forward to seeing what he creates next.

Especially if it’s in 3D.

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A Man For All Seasons

SB Magazine — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 18:51:07 +0000

Robert Darrow, known throughout the Shreveport Bossier theatre community as a gifted actor and director, has announced his retirement. After an extraordinary 27-year journey of artistic leadership, Shreveport Little Theatre is bidding farewell to its esteemed Managing and Artistic Director, Dr. Robert “Bobby” Darrow.

“Bobby’s dedication to SLT for over five decades is unparalleled,” board president Marianne Archibald stated. “He has achieved an incredible amount during his 27-year tenure as our Managing and Artistic Director, and his commitment to the theater is immeasurable. While we will miss his day-to-day leadership, we are thrilled that he has graciously offered to continue as a consultant and advisor to ensure the legacy he has built continues to thrive.”

Darrow’s connection with Shreveport Little Theatre began in 1973 when he worked backstage during the production of “Toys in the Attic” under the direction of Robert Buseick. His journey as an actor began at SLT in 1975 when he portrayed Prince Charming in “Snow White,” in the historic premiere stage production of a Walt Disney script.

In 1998, the theater faced financial challenges, with debts surpassing available funds. Darrow was invited by the board of directors to direct “Dearly Departed,” marking his first contribution as a director. Shortly thereafter, he assumed the role of Managing and Artistic Director. Under his steadfast leadership, SLT consistently delivered high-quality productions, breaking box office records and steadily increasing its membership and ticket sales over the ensuing decades. Throughout his tenure, SLT’s participants, including volunteer actors, board members, and patrons, increasingly mirrored the diverse community of northwest Louisiana.

In 2000, under Darrow’s guidance, the restoration of the original theater began with the expansion of the lobby and the addition of a courtyard. Fundraising efforts initiated in 2002 to rebuild the stage and backstage areas, which had been destroyed in a 1986 fire, saw success thanks to Darrow’s collaboration with Louisiana Senator Lydia P. Jackson and Representative Roy Burrell. The resulting $1,750,000 in State Capital Outlay Funding laid the foundation for a state-of-the-art, 15,200 square foot theater that opened on March 3, 2011. The inaugural production, Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire,” directed by Dr. Darrow, was met with critical acclaim.

As a grant writer during his tenure, Darrow secured over $1,200,000 in awards for the Shreveport Little Theatre and Academy.

As a director, Darrow achieved notable success with productions such as “Steel Magnolias,” “To Kill A Mockingbird,” “Greater Tuna,” “A Tuna Christmas,” “Smoke on the Mountain,” “Sanders Family Christmas,” “The Sound of Music,” and both productions of “Always, Patsy Cline.

In 2022, to commemorate SLT’s centennial, Darrow authored and published a pictorial history book, “Maker of Dreams,” featuring over 400 production photos spanning 100 years of live theater. He also played a pivotal role in producing a documentary film, “Maker of Dreams,” which premiered statewide on LPB in August 2023, chronicling SLT’s century-long journey.

A native of Shreveport, Darrow served as the student body president at C.E. Byrd High School. He earned his BA degree from Centenary College of Louisiana in 1981, his MA from LSUS in 2001, and his EdD in Leadership from LSUS in 2018. He boasts a diverse career, including a decade in corporate management, serving as CEO of several nonprofit organizations in Shreveport. Notably, with his physician, he established The Philadelphia Center in 1990, where he currently serves as the Executive Director Emeritus.

Darrow’s numerous accolades include the National Association of Christians and Jews’ “Unsung Hero Award” in 1996, the American Civil Liberties Union’s “Bill of Rights Award” for 1998-1999, the Community Foundation of North Louisiana’s 2008 “G. Scott Griffin Memorial Award,” The Philadelphia Center’s 2015 “Lifetime Achievement Award,” and The Times’ (Gannett’s) 2016 “Northwest Louisiana Prism Award.”

Darrow is also recognized for his community involvement, having served as a former board member of the Greater Shreveport Human Relations Commission and as an advocate for animal rights, co-founding the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux.

Darrow’s leadership abilities have now crossed over into the political arena. He is a candidate in the race for Louisiana House District 6. His campaign platform includes growing the economy, working to provide quality jobs, improving infrastructure, school improvements, providing affordable elderly care, and reducing violent crime. The election is October 14, 2023 and with his track record, Darrow is more than qualified and up to the challenge.

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SEPTEMBER 2023 : REVEL HISTORY

SB Magazine — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 14:52:33 +0000

SEPTEMBER 2023 : REVEL HISTORY

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Art and Culture: HOW DO YOU GET TO CARNEGIE HALL?

SB Magazine — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 18:11:49 +0000

By Seva May

For 182 years, Carnegie Hall has set the international standard for musical excellence as the aspirational destination for the world’s finest artists.

For Shreveport native, Rocky Maddox, performing at Carnegie Hall is an experience that words can hardly do justice. It’s a moment that surely must have filled him with wonder, awe, and a deep sense of privilege. To have the opportunity to grace the stage of such an iconic venue is nothing short of incredible.

The feeling began to build long before he stepped onto the stage. The anticipation, the nerves, and the excitement all intertwined as he prepared to share his craft with an audience that appreciates artistry at its finest.

“The acoustics in the theatre are incredible. For me, when I’m singing a song – the right song, in the right place – it feels like I’m flying,” describes Rocky. The over 2800-seat hall has four balconies. From the bottom row all the way to the top of the fourth balcony, the acoustics embrace every note, enhancing every sound in ways that makes the heart soar.

Rocky began singing in front of an audience at the age of 13 when his music minister encouraged him to sing a solo at church. Off he trotted to Christian Life Tapes and Books over on Jewella Avenue where he selected “He’s Still Working on Me” for his very first performance.

That’s all it took. He had found his calling. From that moment on, Rocky has shared his music with us at church and on local stages.

A natural comedic actor, Rocky has shined in the roles of Harold Hill in “The Music Man,” Gomez in “The Addam’s Family,” and Cosmé McMoon in “Souvenir” just to name a few.

He landed at Carnegie Hall because of a lifelong friendship with two, equally talented people: Reagan Courtney and Cynthia Clawson. Rocky was a student at Louisiana Tech and decided to attend Temple Baptist in Ruston. Not knowing his way around the church, he opened a door, stepped in, and found himself face-to-face with Miss Clawson (who was there to perform a concert). The door swung shut and they were locked in. An instant friendship ensued. Clawson’s husband, Reagan Courtney was from Ruston and had always told Rocky that one day he was going to put him in one of his musicals. Reagan had written a Christian musical in 1973 that would become the largest-selling Christian musical of all time. Churches from all over the world have presented “Celebrate Life” and this year marked its 50th Anniversary. Where would you perform such a legendary musical? Why, at the legendary Carnegie Hall, of course.

Rocky had to be resuscitated when he was asked to play the role of the Apostle John. At Carnegie Hall on June 24, 2023.

One might say that performing at Carnegie Hall is not just a highlight of a career; it’s an unforgettable milestone in life. For Rocky, was an experience that leaves an indelible mark on his soul – a reminder of what it means to be truly alive, connected through music and shared emotions. He is still on cloud nine. “I must say this whole thing has been one of the great honors of my life. It means so much because of the honor it brought to my dear friends, the kindness it has shown me as an artist, and, most importantly, because of the message that “Celebrate Life” has beautifully communicated for over 50 years about the love of Jesus.”

To perform on that renowned stage is both a privilege and an honor – one that forever changes how you perceive yourself as an artist. It becomes a touchstone for future endeavors, reminding you of what is possible when passion meets opportunity.

In short, performing at Carnegie Hall is like stepping into a realm where dreams become reality – where music transcends time and space, leaving both performer and audience forever transformed by its magic. Carnegie Hall truly lives up to its signature slogan: Bringing the Arts to Life!

https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/celebrate-life-musical-celebrates-50th-anniversary-scheduled-for-carnegie-hall/

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Art and Culture: Janet Maines

SB Magazine — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 18:51:52 +0000

Shreveporter’s art journey includes international recognition.

It is true that social media has changed the way we communicate with each other. And while this bears some negative aspects, social media can also prove positive in many ways. One of these ways is how being present on social media can spark creativity in an individual. Watching another person’s dance performance can inspire a desire to join a dance class. Hearing someone sing on YouTube might encourage you to join a choir or take vocal lessons to improve your own skills. Such was the case with Janet Maines when she came across a colleague’s charcoal sketches on Facebook.

Janet chose a career in graphic art and works in that field designing websites, logos, brochures – anything that requires a creative eye for design. One day, while on Facebook, she saw Jim Huckabee’s work and was inspired to reach out to him in hopes of taking lessons. Jim invited her to a “class” which was more of a gathering of fellow artists who met regularly in Charlie Tabor’s garage. As she watched in fascination, Jim handed her a pencil and sketch pad and encouraged her to draw. What she turned out looked more like a kindergarten drawing but Janet kept coming to the class. It didn’t take long for her to catch on and soon, she was getting commissions from friends for her charcoal work.

Janet managed to turn the Covid quarantine into a positive experience. She began spending more time online following artists on social media. She would study other techniques and styles to advance her skills. When she began communicating with Kathy Morris, an artist from Atlanta, a lasting friendship and mentorship was formed. Kathy encouraged her tremendously and suggested that Janet should be teaching her artistic skills to others. It was perfect timing. Her graphic design work had slowed down. Her art commissions had begun to blossom, and she began teaching. Her studio – in one of the most unexpected locations imaginable. You may find her on any given Wednesday in the WHOLE FOODS café from 1:00 to 3:00. It’s there that her adult class attracts diners and shoppers alike. Janet also takes private students beginning at age 12.

Janet became a member of the Portrait Society of America. Formed in 1998 as an educational organization, the Portrait Society of America is dedicated to furthering the traditions of fine art portraiture and figurative art through programs and publications. According to their website, members can access technical information, delve into traditional aesthetics, and research the history of figurative art and portraiture. Among other enrichment activities, this organization recognizes and honors artists of distinction who “have over the course of their careers produced bodies of work that epitomizes excellence within the discipline.”

It was through this organization and the encouragement of her mentor, Kathy Morris, that Janet entered an annual competition. Both of her entries made it to the semi-finals with one of those portraits being featured in a national art magazine. They will also be on display at Sotheby’s in New York City. This is quite an accomplishment in anyone’s book.

Perhaps dearer to her heart is Janet’s involvement with a non-profit organization started by Brent Anderson. “In My Father’s Eyes Portraits” works with families of children who have been diagnosed with cancer to provide them with beautiful portraits of their children. Anderson enlists the help of artists willing to donate their talent for this worthy cause. “The feeling of love between the artist and the recipient is beyond words,” Janet claims. Anderson has the portrait framed and sent to these families free of charge and wrapped in compassion.

How’s that for a creative spark from a Facebook post? Thank you, Jim Huckabee.

If you would like to see more of Janet’s work, check out her portfolio on Instagram @janetmainesartist. She also has a Facebook presence (of course) and a website: janetmaines.com.

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Mandy Ducote

SB Magazine — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 09:19:12 +0000

An elective class in photography during her final semester of college at Southeastern ignited a love for the craft. Mandy Ducote was in the last few months of earning a degree in Marketing with a minor in graphic design when a photography class caught her eye and helped her to see life in a more refreshing way. She learned the old-school way, using film and developing those pictures herself. Already gifted with an eye for composition and design, Mandy’s early photography efforts were admired by family and friends.

She quickly found herself being asked to photograph weddings, parties, and family gatherings until the demand had snowballed into a business. During this time, she found employment using her graphic design and marketing skills. She also soon discovered that she liked and was proficient at writing. However, photography kept tugging away at her heart and it seemed to be her destiny to be a full-time photographer.

She and her husband, Dr. Colten Ducote, settled in Bossier after medical school and extended training brought him to the ArkLaTex Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery group. Being somewhat new to the area, Mandy found herself starting over building a client base as well as her reputation of being a gifted photographer. She understands that to be a good photographer can be as easy as pushing a button. It’s more than getting that “perfect” shot. To be a great photographer, you must find the connection with your subject.

Mandy’s company is Galerie D Photography and she photographs families, graduating seniors, children, and weddings.

“One of the things that I love about photography is the storytelling aspect of it. So many times, when I’ve shot weddings and I’m shooting a father-daughter dance, I’m literally crying behind my camera because I connect with these people so much, ” says Mandy.

She remembers fondly a photography experience she had with the family of a dear friend. It was a multigenerational event – children, parents, grandparents. She recalls taking a shot of the daughter with her 85-year-old father and thinking “this is a legacy moment.” We never know when our loved ones are going to leave us, so capturing those special moments in a photograph becomes extremely important. A single photo can tell a story without speaking one word.

“With digital photography, we’re able to take so many pictures I feel that the value has diminished. People tend to keep them digital instead of printing them out,” she says. Because of this, Mandy has put her graphic design degree to good use and has started designing traditional family albums for clients so that these memories can be more tangible.

Whether telling a story with a snap of the lens or sharing a memory in an album, Mandy believes that a picture not only paints a thousand words, but it also brings people together.

Photography and self-portrait by Mandy Ducote.

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SB ART & CULTURE – Leading lady Seva May

SB Magazine — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 16:39:35 +0000

SB ART & CULTURE – BY ELIZABETH BEARD DEAL

Leading Lady

SEVA MAY

For over 45 years, Shreveport has had the good fortune to have the talented Seva May right in our midst, a central figure of the theatre industry, charming audiences and delivering outstanding performances in a long list of musicals with theatre groups all over town. She is an outstanding singer and award-winning performer, director, teacher, mentor, and inspiration to those who watch her and work with her alike. A woman with the talent to perform on the Broadway stage, came to live in Shreveport through an interesting path that began with her singing talent and ended with love. Her mother actually wanted her to go to New York; her father, not so much. Seva has a passion for performing. People remember the first time they saw her perform. “I’ve been an eyewitness to Seva’s career. She’s just a tremendous talent. There are performers who cross your path and, once in a while, I can call somebody Broadway quality and Seva is one of those. I’ve seen hundreds of Broadway shows. And Seva could easily be up on a Broadway stage. That’s how talented she is,” says Robert Darrow, Managing and Artist Director of the Shreveport Little Theatre. Seva Day May grew up in a small town, Thomasville, Georgia, and had a voice teacher with a degree from the prestigious Julliard School of Music. Seva, wanting to attend college but needing funds, took his advice when he suggested she enter the Miss Thomasville pageant for a $500 prize. Never having been in a pageant before, she showed up, sang “My Man,” and won the talent competition—and the crown. Performer and director Rocky Maddox met Seva at, of all places, a high school pageant where he was invited to sing and she was

the emcee, a fitting role for the former Miss Georgia. (Yes, she sang “My Man” again and took home the talent and title.) He was taken by the way she handled the audience. “After I sang, she said ‘you remind me of me.’ I never forgot meeting her at the age of 16,” says Maddox. Fast forward to age 28 when he was looking for a hobby and tried theatre and ended up performing with her. “I had seen Seva in shows. She has more fun out there. She is just amazing. This woman is like a star. She gives everything she has to the audience. People just have a great time when she’s on stage,” he said. Even after her hip surgery she jumped right in and taught him how to do the tango. He played opposite her in The Addams Family. “I never thought I’d be the leading man with Seva May. It was such an honor,” says Maddox. He enjoyed working with her from another perspective – when he was directing. When Darrow was a theatre major at Centenary, Seva joined a class mid-semester. “She was fresh off the circuit having been Miss Georgia and I’ll never forget, Seva entered the room wearing some Jackie-O sunglasses and just looked like a movie star. And we were so lucky to have her.” He has performed in numerous roles opposite Seva. Seva credits actor, costume designer, and director Patric McWilliams, Shreveport native and New Yorker, with teaching
her how to act. They worked together
on her very first theatre production, Applause. When she came to audition, “it was extremely clear she was an amazingly talented person. She could sing the roof off of the building. But she didn’t have background and theatre training and
all of that,” says McWilliams. From her perspective, she would listen to how he spoke lines and then repeat it back. He was teaching her the techniques of acting, like how to break a character down, how to approach lines, pacing and timing and more. “She was what we call a ‘quick study,’” says McWilliams. “Seva has a perfect, musical theatre voice that has a powerful belt to it. Much color in her voice that she could adapt to fit the specific character. Her voice is very supple, and she really just learned how to use it in the various roles that she’s done,” he adds. Over the years they worked opposite each other in leading roles in many shows. As Seva says, there is no saying “cut” during a live performance; you never know what unexpected occurrences or problems might appear, but as they say, “the show must go on.” According to McWilliams, “It was always a joy to be on stage with her because you knew she was solid and knew her stuff. And so it gave me a sense of security, and the back and forth between

us we felt safe with each other on stage. And not all actors provide that. But she did in truckloads.” What would feeling “unsafe” be? “Being with someone on stage when something goes wrong. And they don’t think quickly. And there’s that horrible dead silence. Seva could very quickly ad-lib. She could sense something was wrong at any given moment if something was off course,” says McWilliams. Seva May truly is a Leading Lady, in more ways than one. Seva is known for playing a variety of very different interesting women, from the Spanish dictator Eva Peron, The Baker’s Wife, Mame, Morticia Addams, and more, each fully and forcefully. “When I have a part in a show, I immerse myself in the character,” says Seva. According to Darrow, an actor has to memorize to playwright’s words and then interpret them. They have to be very familiar with the playwright’s intent, and Seva is always prepared in that sense. “Seva’s dedication to any production is unparalleled. She comes to rehearsals prepared. She’s done her homework. And usually she’s playing the leading role. So of course, she wants
to set a good example. And
she does. She is a wonderful performer and cast members love to work with her because she’s prepared.” “When Seva goes out there, the audience just immediately comes to life. They really respond to how Seva is onstage and how she emotes in the way she sings her songs and just the presence that she brings,” says actress and choreographer Anna Maria Sparke. At the age of 15, Sparke was cast in her first show Hello Dolly where Seva was the leading lady. Sparke had never sung on stage before, and describes Seva as having a “gift,” and being kind, giving, and helpful. Seva is the one who taught Sparke how to do her makeup! “Seva was just the person that you aspire to be. She was professional. She was an amazing performer. She had the audience in her hand. And at that point, I kind of wanted to become like her if I could become like somebody. That’s what I wanted to do because she really set the bar high.” Sparke added that Seva really seems to have a heart for working

with children. Seva is currently the drama teacher at Providence Classical School, guiding and directing the next generation of performers. Recently Darrow wanted to find the right vehicle to feature Seva’s talent. He and Seva came up with a two-act autobiographical one-woman musical, Seva May: On My Own, to be performed
at the end of October at the Shreveport Little Theatre. As soon as Shreveport native and New Yorker playwright, director, and screenwriter Erik Champney heard about this idea, he offered to direct the show. Champney first saw Seva in Man of La Mancha, and vividly remembers a specific point in time during the show. “There was such an intensity and such a magic to her to be so completely committed to that moment and all she was doing was being present in the moment. And that’s what made me think ‘I’m gonna do this for the rest of my life.’” Champney and Seva worked together to come up with the idea of telling the story of her life, to develop the script and determine what songs to use and what shows to highlight. “It’s all very interwoven in a meticulous way so that when a song appears, it’s relevant to what she’s talking about,” says Champney. The production will be full of stories and songs and visuals from her past performances. “When Seva puts herself out there, it’s always inside of a character, which she’s really great at doing, but it’s never been her story. Now we’re doing a one woman musical about her and she’s playing herself.” At the show, you will hear who influenced her along the way. You will hear how she balanced career and family. You will hear how she felt when she ended up in the Miss America pageant. You will hear what happens backstage and even sometimes on stage. You will hear how long it took Shreveporter Byron May to call Miss Georgia for a blind date! And you will hear her SING! It’s impossible to translate the magnificence of her voice and the charisma of her performance onto paper. Those who have seen her in action, know. Seva May: On My Own is a must-see performance!

Professional

A Little Night Music – Desiree
Stepping Out – Mavis
The Women – Crystal
And the World Goes Round – Ensemble
Dirty Blonde – Mae West
My Fair Lady – Mrs. Higgins

Regional

Nine – Carla
Sweet Charity – Charity
Funny Girl – Fannie Brice
Mame – Mame Dennis
Chicago – Velma
Cabaret – Sally Bowles
Evita – Eva Peron
Into the Woods – Baker’s Wife
Grand Hotel – Raphael
Jerry’s Girls – Musical Review
Little Mermaid – Ursula
Little Mermaid II – Morgana
Nunsense – Mary Regina
The Gingerbread – Lady Toby
The Dixie Swim Club – Dinah
Godspell – Ensemble
Some Enchanted Evening – Ensemble
The Sound of Music – Elsa
My Way – Ensemble
Taffeta Memories – Cheryl
Company – Joanne
Always Patsy Cline – Patsy Cline
The Addams Family – Morticia
Sister Act – Mother Superior
Auntie Mame – Vera
Picnic – Rosemary
Hello Dolly! – Dolly Levi
Mamma Mia! – Tanja
Annie – Ms. Hannigan

Academic – Centenary College of Louisiana

Birds of Paradise – Hope
Noises Off – Brenda
Man of La Mancha – Aldonza
Pride’s Crossing – Eve
Nunsense II – Margaret Anne
Blood Brothers – Mrs. Johnstone
Hello Dolly! – Mrs. Mallory
Smile – Brenda
Annie – Ensemble

SEVA MAY

On My Own

OCTOBER 28 & 29 – 7:30 PM

OCTOBER 30 – 2:00 PM

SHREVEPORT LITTLE THEATRE

BOX OFFICE: 318-424-4439

SHREVEPORTLITTLETHEATRE.COM

BUY TICKETS NOW!

The post SB ART & CULTURE – Leading lady Seva May appeared first on SB Magazine.