don: cultural mvp March 24, 2006
From today’s Times-Picayune, art critic Doug MacCash, in the “Lagniappe” section:
For 30 years Don Marshall has been the Lawrence of Arabia of the local cultural scene, gathering the irascibly independent tribes of artists, thespians and musicians under the same big tent for their mutual good. He’s given us monthly coordinated gallery openings, the New Orleans Film Festival, the Tennessee Williams Festival and Krewe du Vieux. Not to mention that he’s been director of the Contemporary Arts Center, Le Petit Theatre and presently the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation.
In the months since Katrina, he’s strived to inspire the students in his UNO arts administration class to find ways to focus the strength of the battered post-K arts community. One of the results is Femme Fest, a first-ever citywide celebration of women’s contributions to Crescent City culture in the studio or on the stage. The fest, which includes previously scheduled and custom-made events, started Thursday and continues through March 27. (March is Women’s History Month.) The event is spearheaded by students Meryl Levia and Shanna Hudson-Stowe.For details, see Cultural Calendar on page 13. For more Femme Fest information, write Hudson-Stowe at ophelia533@aol.com.
I had lunch with Don today at the Praline Connection and he was laughing about being called “Lawrence of Arabia.” Actually, that would make a really good Mardi Gras costume for Don, but these days people would think it’s some reference to the current unpleasantness in the middle east. Anyway, Femme Fest’s schedule is listed in the Lagniappe and on nola.com. I am interested in seeing the production of “Medea” at Tulane. It’s only $12, $7.50 for students.
