Downstage Right Podcast | EP05 Arts Education Panel

August 24, 2020
jshartman

Simmon and Melissa sit down with four local educators to discuss the past, present, and future of performing arts education, locally and beyond.

Hosts: Simmon Fecho & Melissa Statema

Guests: Allison Andrews, Jeff Hartman (Hickory Arts), Kelly Hutchinson (Mosaic-Arts), Daniel Lung

We Are Sydney Cline

October 16, 2015
jshartman

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.E.F. Schumacher

I was given a tremendous gift, this past Saturday. Let me begin by sharing and paraphrasing the email I received.

On Oct 7, 2015, at 11:24 pm, Sydney Cline wrote:

Hey Jeff! Long time, no talk. : ) The deadline for the Tori Kelly audition submission was moved to this coming Monday, Oct. 12th. Thinking I would have to have the video recorded and edited by this past Monday, though, I went ahead and made a “Lay Me Down” cover by Sam Smith in the campus library’s music room, last week, anyway, just so I could submit something and compete. Sunday, when I got back to school, I went back to the library and quickly filmed, “Riptide.” Long story short, I’m home again for fall break; now until Sunday. I would love to make this video and song my best work; something I’m proud of and want to share with everyone, so they can vote. This being said, I would love your guidance and help. I know you are extremely busy and I would be grateful for whatever time you could offer. If you have any free time and would be interested in helping me, I would love it. I have this break, now, to focus on making it perfect, so I thought you could definitely help make it my best.

Sydney Cline was one of my Voice and Artist Development students for almost two years before being accepted and heading off this fall to North Carolina State University. From day one, she managed her own sessions. That includes her scheduling, her goals, her responsibility – her everything. That “everything,” in my experience, makes the biggest difference between those who “will” and those who “won’t.” Those who “should” and those who “shouldn’t.”

Sydney, like most (if not all) artists I know, is indeed a perfectionist. What I’ve come to realize and encourage through years of trial and error, is that there’s beauty, originality, and style in imperfection. Imperfection is the very thing every artist should explore and exploit. But, that’s a blog for another day.

So, “Squyd” and I meet at the studio. She shared both videos with me. Halfway through viewing the second one, I asked her to stop. I was beaming with pride. It was imperfectly perfect. Sure, her voice sounded great. Sure, she had the right amount of variation and creativity. All the techniques in the world didn’t compare to the initiative she took. I’m not talking about blind ambition or ego. She didn’t go big. She went smart. She knows who she is. She found the right track and arrangement for her voice. She secured a room at the library. It was clever. She recorded, edited, uploaded, and submitted the video on her own terms, making the most of her resources on campus, for a campus-related event; as opposed to filming an expensive, technology and production-saturated chef-d’oeuvre. At the end of the day, that’s what makes the biggest difference to me. Simple. Smart. Autonomy.

Sydney gave me the greatest gift I could ask for as a teacher. Trust. I don’t define what I do or how I do it by how much I get done by the end of the day. Did I make a difference in someone’s life? The “she’s got this” kinda’ difference? She answered that question on Saturday. Thank you, Squyd.

Sydney Cline isn’t Hickory Arts. We are Sydney Cline.

Jeff Hartman, Artistic Director

The Cast of Junk – Finally

September 18, 2015
jshartman

The Cast of Junk performing Finally. (C) 2015 Butterfly Moo | Plastic Moon

From the album Junk (Original Cast Recording), available on iTunes.

The Original Cast of Junk recorded 13 songs for the soundtrack from the Bass/Hartman musical comedy that premiered with a sold-out run in The Firemen’s Kitchen at Hickory Theatre. Directed by Pamela Livingstone. Developed for the Stage at Hickory Arts & Hickory Theatre.

Track 13, “Finally,” the finale (see what we did there?), sews everything together. It reminds us that no matter where you are, there you are. You can’t run or hide from your problems. “It’s up to you.” What are you waiting for?

The album is available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and more. Physical CD’s can be purchased at Hickory Arts and through Molly Bass.

ALBUM — “JUNK (ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING)”

Original Release Date — August 9, 2015

A play about a yard sale and a mermaid.

JUNK (ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING)

A Bass~Hartman Musical

1. Everything Must Go (1:42) 2. Treasure Hunters (1:45) 3. Crystal’s Ball (2:27) 4. Fish in That There Sea — Lifeguard (1:40) 5. Dwight’s Plight (2:02) 6. Never Forever (3:28) 7. Crystal Lite (1:35) 8. La La La (2:24) 9. Fish in That There Sea (Reprise) [1:26] 10. The Extra (3:19) 11. Bite You (3:00) 12. Begin Again (3:06) 13. Finally (3:53)

Featuring Grace Bollinger, Connie Bools, Joni Coppinger, Bill Boyd, Daniel Breuer, Nathan Crabtree, Anne Elliot, Carol Anne Hartman and Shannon Underwood

Musicians — Winds: Steven Foster | Piano: Jeff Hartman | Bass: Charlton Seaver

Words and Music by Molly Bass and Jeff Hartman
Arrangements by Jeff Hartman

Produced by Butterfly Moo and Plastic Moon
Engineered by Chris Garges, Old House Studio
Mixed by Jeff Hartman, Hickory Arts
Mastered by Dave Harris, Studio B Mastering
Art by John David Brown III

For Charles

Butterfly Moo | Plastic Moon © 2015. All rights reserved.

1915

September 9, 2015
jshartman

19 years with and 15 married to my best friend. Can I ask you, again, for another 10?

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, May 1996
The Fantasticks, September 1996
Wedding, September, 2000
The Last 5 Years, July 2013
Sit Strong, December 2010

The Producers

This is the oldest picture of Shannon Underwood, to my left, and me together I could find; from “The Producers” in September 2008. The first time I met her was earlier that year at an audition. She sang “So Much Better” from Legally Blonde! There wasn’t a person in the room that could touch her talent and not much has changed, except to say she has the skills and experience to support that God-given talent. Meeting Shannon, and investing in her as an artist and, more importantly as a friend, is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. I’m so grateful to Susan and Dennis for believing in our family and our relationship with Shannon. We’ve been through a lot together. “I am so much better than before” Shannon. Break legs in Legally Blonde at Hickory Theatre, Harley! I love you.

September 4, 2015
jshartman

Regally Fond