Zanesville, Ohio - War Bonds Still Matter


                                         Meet 103 Year-Old World War II veteran, Dale Jones!


Dale gave us permission to read one of his letters to his sister in EbzB's performance of War Bonds on October 27, 2019 for the Zanesville Concert Association in Zanesville, Ohio.  Dale was a riot–– laughing, joking, even dancing a little!  The show stopped when his letter was read from the stage, as the audience of 800 patrons gave him a well-deserved standing ovation.  After the performance, a USO canteen gala allowed performers, musicians and audience members to break bread, dance and reminisce about their own stories from the time.

The following morning, a student matinee of War Bonds was performed for over 600 elementary students .  Their tickets were paid for by the previous day's audience.  The greatest generation literally paid it forward so that these students might have a better experience in life.  A five-piece band, led by Music Director Julie Florin brought the music to life for tomorrow's leaders.  The post-show question and answer period with the students allowed for investigation of the history and context of a world at war in the 1940's.




Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center announces 2019-20 season

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/aug/08/gus-myrtle-woldson-performing-arts-center-announce/

GU’s Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center announces 2019-20 season

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 8, 2019, 12:48 p.m.
The Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center was made possible by Myrtle Woldson’s $55 million gift to Gonzaga University, the largest in Gonzaga’s history and second-largest gift from an individual to a college or university in Washington state history. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
The Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center was made possible by Myrtle Woldson’s $55 million gift to Gonzaga University, the largest in Gonzaga’s history and second-largest gift from an individual to a college or university in Washington state history. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
The Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center at Gonzaga University, which opened in April, has announced its 2019-20 season of performances. 
Tickets go on sale beginning Aug. 21 through the box office, 211 E. Desmet Ave. and (509) 313-2787.


Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till – Oct. 17. Actor and playwright Mike Wiley performs a one-actor, multiple-character drama telling of the murder and trial in the lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till.

The Night Before Christmas Carol – Dec. 19. David zum Brunnen plays Charles Dickens and 17 other characters from the Dickens classic in a production suitable for the entire family.

Back To School with EbzB Productions and United Arts Council

Back To School with EbzB Productions and United Arts Council

View The Directory Here:  https://www.unitedarts.org/artist-directory/artist-directory/ebzb-productions-residencies-workshops.2123334

In One Era And Out The Other
https://www.unitedarts.org/artist-directory/artist-directory/in-one-era-out-the-other.2123339



EbzB Productions' Residencies & Workshops 

EbzB Productions' Residencies & Workshops
EbzB Productions' Arts in Education offerings include workshops and residency programs for middle school and high school levels, as well as for after-school programs, libraries & museums with a focus on collecting oral history and adapting it for the stage. Programs available meet Common Core and Essential Standards in English Language Arts, Social Studies, Healthful Living, and Arts Education (Theatre Arts). In addition to EbzB's signature 5-day residency for students, Get Connected: Stage Your History, professional development workshops integrating theatre and history into the classroom are also available.

Artist Background

The nationally touring and award-winning production company of EbzB Productions' workshops can be applied to grades 3-12 upon request and with required joint planning with faculty. Endorsed by numerous state & local arts councils, EbzB has trained with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' Artists as Educators Program, and the Lincoln Center Institute's International Educator Program to conduct workshops in arts integration. EbzB Productions has established a solid reputation for its work with middle & high school classes to create historical narrative based on classroom oral history projects as well as specifically tailored residencies & workshops. Student workshops often are presented in tandem with scheduled performances.

Search Criteria

War Bonds show Seeks to Connect with Local Families

War Bonds show Seeks to Connect with Local Families 



ZANESVILLE - The 81st season of the Zanesville Concert Association begins with War Bonds – The Songs & Letters of World War II featuring a five-piece band along with performers David zum Brunnen & Serena Ebhardt, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, at Secret Auditorium.

“With the 75th anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy just last month, it seems appropriate to pay tribute to World War II veterans as part of our season,” said Jim McLaughlin, booking agent for the Zanesville Concert Association. 

War Bonds explores the dark side of war and the dynamic association with the lighthearted popular tunes of the time. Songs of the period lift the mood, even as the performers describe the atrocities of war. The family show allows the Greatest Generation to celebrate, while the next great generation contemplates. “We’re known for our authenticity in our work,” zum Brunnen, said. “The moments with the local stories are probably some of the most authentic,” as letters and stories from community members are being sought for the show. 
According to the Friends of the National World War II Memorial, recognition of the 75th anniversary of World War II began in 2016 and runs through 2020, the length of the event that took place from 1941 through 1945. The performance will celebrate the triumph of the human spirit during that incredibly challenging time.

“It’s remarkable to look back and see now some of the circumstances that evolved into conflict then starting to mirror what we’re seeing hints of now,” explained zum Brunnen. “And, to see how the call was answered to ultimately serve as one voice, even though there were divisions within our country then as well,” pausing he added, “The lessons abound for us all.”

In fact, the War Bonds show will be presented to nearly 1,000 fourth-grade students on the Monday following the show as the Zanesville Concert Association’s annual children’s concert. EbzB Productions, producer for the show, has educator resources for the show on its website  (www.ebzb.org/war-bonds-the-songs-and/index.html). Families are encouraged to review the materials to spur discussion with their children and grandchildren. “Whether you are an educator or a parent, we encourage you to engage your children in this important history lesson through the performing arts,” McLaughlin said. “Since children are admitted free, we hope families will attend to experience the arts at this multi-media show.”

“Over the years it’s been intriguing to see how youth immediately relate to the performance,” zum Brunnen said. “Many of the young audience members have relatives – some very close relatives in the immediate family household serving overseas.”

The stories told in the show are similar to the experiences of military families today. “Those from older generations will be heartened to know the young audiences really enjoy the music,” zum Brunnen added. “And, students are surprised to hear the music they listen to today has its roots in the music of the 1930s and 1940s.”

EbzB Productions is seeking local letters that were sent to, or from, family members during World War II for inclusion in the Oct. 27 and 28 performances. There are no preferred types of letters being sought, zum Brunnen stressed. “The simplicity and genuine nature in which the thoughts and feelings are expressed can be deeply meaningful and enlightening into what was going on at that time. The level of sacrifice then is humbling to reflect upon.”

Including local veterans’ experiences, or those of their relatives on the home front, enhances the performance. “The connection becomes a little deeper and closer to home when there’s a memory or a note from someone in your own community,” zum Brunnen said. “The stories we tell are like those who are experiencing very much the same things that those who are serving in our military have experienced today,” he explained.

Those who have letters that were sent to or from family members during World War II, and who are willing to share them, are encouraged to contact Jim McLaughlin at j.l.mclaughlin@att.net or Ann Combs at the Muskingum County Senior Center at 740.454.9761 or via email at amcombs@muskingumcounty.org. You may also email zanesvilleconcert@gmail.com.


Information and photo submitted by the Zanesville Concert Association.

Curriculum Come To Life in Two Chatham County Elementary Schools

https://www.chathamartscouncil.org/artists-in-schools-ebzbproductions/

Artists-in-Schools: Curriculum Come to Life in Two Chatham County Elementary Schools


War Bonds. Why We Do It.


June 17, 2019

Thank You Very Much

Dear EBZB Productions:

It is Monday morning, and I'm still thinking about the “War Bonds” play we saw Saturday night at the Pal Theater. It was great, and I have a number of areas of thanks I want to cover with you.

First, thank you for the entertainment you provided. Cheryl and I have become set in a routine that usually involves a TV screen and some sort of snack on Saturday nights. You provided us with an opportunity to get out of the house and do something productive with our minds and bodies. It was refreshing.

Second, thank you for the content of the play. Those who fought in WWII are often referred to as “the greatest generation", and it is a title that they rightly earned. To think that millions of men and women put down their plows and picked up their arms to defend this country after not one, but three nations declared war with us is amazing. I do not feel we can muster that kind of patriotism among our draftable youth today. The sacrifices the men and women made abroad and at home should be presented to this modern generation.

Third, thank you for showing the good, and the bad. I am thankful that although treated as second-class citizens, the African-Americans and the Asian-Americans still picked up arms in defense of this country. Thank you for reminding us that though they fought and died bravely on foreign soils, they didn't have the "right” to enter a restaurant or sit where they wanted here in the country they were defending. I cannot imagine fighting for a country that had my family locked up in an internment camp like criminals as the Asian-American soldiers did. Thankfully, they were willing to put disagreements aside and work together for a worthy cause. We do not see that kind of patriotism today, do we?

Fourth, thank you for giving Cheryl and me a chance to spend quality time with the Albrittons. A.B. is the 98 year-young WWII vet that attended the play. I believe you met him and his wife Marjorie. They rode with us to and from the play. After the play, they double-dated with us as we stopped for DQ Blizzards at a local fast-food. There is a 14-year gap between A.B.'s age and his wife's. There's a 9-year age gap between Cheryl and me. So, as we sat enjoying our treats and discussing the play; we represented four decades that the war touched. One lived and fought through it; one grew up during the time of rationing and separation, and two were offspring of WWII vets.

A.B., Marjorie, Cheryl, and I had a great time discussing the play and the events of the time period the play covered. A.B. is the quiet one. He sits and listens. Marjorie, a former college professor, is the outspoken one. They were both beaming because you took them back in time to a place where happy memories dwell. I heard A.B. speak more in the 45 minutes we sat in that restaurant than I guess I've ever heard him speak in the twenty years I've known him. We laughed, shared, and enjoyed the company, and we have you to thank for that.

Fifth, thank you for coming to Vidalia. Your play was educational, entertaining, thought provoking, enjoyable, and worth much more than the asking price. I know if you'd performed in a larger city like Savannah, you would have had hundreds of people enjoying your performance. Thank you for giving us a chance to see something we (Cheryl and me – "homebodies") would probably have never seen if you only presented in large cities.

On a side note - I hope you were able to obtain some Vidalia onions before you left. Most of the onions you'll find in local grocery stores this time of year are home-grown. If you bought some, and the label has "Stanley Farms”, “M&T Farms", "Herndon Farms”, “Robison Farms", "McLain Farms", or "Durrence Farms"; you bought some produced in this area. (In case the label was none of these, you still may have bought local onions because new farms are “springing up” all the time.) After Cheryl and I dropped the Albrittons off and arrived home, we made ourselves a couple of tomato sandwiches with thick slices of Vidalia onion on them.
Sixth, thank you for the impact you had on our lives. I found myself singing “White Cliffs of Dover” while showering this morning. (Wonder where that came from?) The play left impressions on us. It moved us, motivated us, and drew us into the presentation. I was sitting next to Cheryl when Ms Serena stopped singing “White Christmas" and began reciting the woman's letter to her wounded husband. It was touching. Cheryl was deeply touched with the reality of war when Mr David stated that letter was returned because the husband died from his injuries. She teared up. That scene touched us both. Thank you for putting your "heart” into your performance. It meant so much to us.

Lastly, thank you for the gift of the DVD. I know you must put food on the table and a roof over your heads. There are others in your organization that rely on your revenue. You made a sacrifice for us by giving one of your products to us. That means a lot to us. We got so much from your performance Saturday night just by being there. Then you gave us more by engaging in after-play conversation with us. Finally you topped it off by giving us something to remember our new friends forever. Thank you for this - and all the things mentioned above.

You have new fans, and I shall keep an eye on your website looking for future events that you will bring to cities in our area. I know Cheryl and I would both love to see more of your performances. In the meanwhile, keep doing what you're doing. Don't let this generation forget what that generation did for us.

With deep appreciation,

Glenn Waters
Vidalia, Ga

World War II Veterans Honored at The Pal Theatre in Vidalia, GA

War Bonds: The Songs and Letters of World War II


It was EbzB's honor to perform for surviving World War II veterans in Vidalia, GA at the 
newly renovated Pal Theatre!  Serena apologizes for crying while singing "When The Lights Go On Again" to these two amazing souls.  Thank you for your service and your stories!




David zum Brunnen meets 98 Year-Old Veteran A.B. Albritteon who attended War Bonds at The Pal Theatre in Vidalia, GA


Honored.


Just a bit of pre-show fun!

Nancy Whelan and Serena Ebhardt prepare backstage




Technology For The Greater Good - Bonlee Elementary Residency

"Technology is the pursuit of life by means other than life."    
-Bernard Stiegler


We are having fun at Bonlee Elementary School in Chatham County, North Carolina this week!  

Over the past few months, the fifth grade students have interviewed Mayor John Grimes of Siler City and Mayor Cindy Perry of Pittsboro for their thoughts on how technology has changed the county.  

The students transcribed those interviews to create a script over the past week. We also incorporated technology into the artistic process, using it to record interviews, type the script, create projections, amplify the actors, and coordinate the choreography. We discovered that technology is everywhere. We discovered that not all technology is digital.  We discovered that sometimes it is difficult to know whether technology rules over us or we rule over technology.

Throughout this process, students have learned that working on assembly lines, typing letters, processing water from a chicken plant and launching a rocket to the moon are just a few of the ways we use technology to improve our lives. Perhaps we would be wise to put down our smartphones and look for other technologies that surround us, specifically in healthcare, farming and sustainable energy.  

Our performance is Friday, May 10. We are looking forward to a full house–and to inspiring people to think about the ways in which technology enhances our lives when we choose to use it wisely.


Sponsored by Chatham Arts Council.

Angels Among Us

EbzB Productions would like to Thank Nina Lloyd of Opus Financial Advisors for a lovely evening of meeting new friends and fund-raising for Chatham Arts Council's Artists-In-Schools Initiative.
There are angels among us.




Just Another Day At The Office...








Using Actors' Tools To Prepare for People Make The World Go Round

Using Actors' Tools To Prepare for People Make The World Go Round!


A presentation on Economics in Chatham County, NC 
Created and performed by the Third Grade Class of Pittsboro Elementary School

Sponsored by Chatham County Arts Council


Exploring the Economy through Arts Integration at Pittsboro Elementary School



The third grade classes at Pittsboro Elementary School have been working with teaching artists from EbzB Productions to research, write, and perform their own presentation about Economics in their own community.  Chatham Arts Council is the generous sponsor of this Arts Integration experience for the Chatham County Public Schools.  Thank you for supporting our teachers and our schools!
https://www.chathamartscouncil.org


Compliment - Wrights of Passage

"Please give my best to the entire group... The performance [Wrights of Passage] was great and we will certainly have you back."


-Ray Jordan, 
Executive Director, 
Sampson County Exposition Center

From the Sampson County Independent... Wrights of Passage

Wrights of Passage Entertains and Enlightens Sampson County Students



One by one, a group of students from Butler Avenue School walked up to a microphone sitting just below the stage at the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center. The students were all part of one of eight performances of the Class Acts-Sampson CenterStage Performing Arts Series.
Thursday’s performance, “Wrights of Passage,” was presented to third- and fourth-grade students from across Sampson County. It was the story of the passion and focus of the Wright Brothers, who wanted to prove man could fly. During their portrayal of the brothers, an abstract replica of the famous flyer came to life on the stage.
The students were all part of the cast, reading segments of the script and helping tell the story.
“I really liked the way the actors involved the students in the play,” Butler Avenue School’s AIG teacher Christie Tyndall said. “They had cards for them to read and the actor met with the students prior to the play starting and told them what to expect.”
Students Jose Bonilla and Makaylee Knight, third graders, were both part of the action.
“I was excited about being part of the play by reading the cards,” Jose shared. “The actors had lots of jokes that I liked.”
Makaylee, too, liked the actor’s and their portrayal of the historic Wright brothers.
“I really liked how the actors talked about building the airplane while they went through building a plane on stage,” she said.
In the last 19 years, more than 100,000 students have been positively impacted by the series through performances presented in partnership with the local school systems and provided free-of-charge through the generous financial contributions of many individuals, businesses and corporate sponsors from across Sampson County. Since the inception of Class Acts, supporters have contributed over $500,000 to fund the series.
“Class Acts performances expose our students to new cultures and they examine history and foster creative thinking,” Ray Jordan, executive director of the Sampson County Exposition Center, said. “The students are exposed to something different and offered a different point of view, and their way of thinking is challenged in a fun and entertaining way.”
According to Jordan, the performances are not only entertaining, but they also provide students with an opportunity to learn in a creative atmosphere that adds to and enhances each student’s overall educational experiences.
During the past week, over 8,000 students and teachers have filled the seats in Heritage Hall to experience the magic and excitement of attending one of eight live performing arts events. Students in grades first through eighth attend the shows.
This year’s series kicked off Tuesday with pop/rock trio Big Bang Book for students in first and second grade. Big Bang Boom filled the room with children’s music with a pop sensibility performing children’s favorites as well as their own original songs for young audiences.
Wednesday’s performance for seventh- and eighth-graders was an a cappela group, Transit Vocal Band, based in North Carolina. The musical group traced the development of the contemporary a cappela genre, and explained how science and technology enhance sound and the human voice.
The final performance for the year, the Beast, provides fifth- and sixth-graders a mix of hip hop and jazz with tap dancers, puppeteers and spoken word artists. The performers will present “SANKOFA: African American Music from Spirituals to Hip Hop,” from which students will learn elements of storytelling, improvisation and call and response in American music.
“It’s important that our students are offered different opportunities like those that Class Acts provides,” Jordan said. “Not only are the shows fun, they are very educational. When choosing the performances we present, we always examine the curriculum connections to insure that each performance aligns with each grade levels course of study.”
By Kristy D. Carter
kcarter@clintonnc.com
Copy Editor Kristy D. Carter can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 2588.

2019 –– HAPPY NEW YEAR! 📅




EbzB is genuinely excited about 2019.

We hope you will celebrate in the new year with us!

We are working on two different arts-integration residencies in the Chatham County schools of North Carolina. We will be creating plays with themes of economics and technology. Over one-hundred elementary school students will take part in this process. Thank you, Chatham County Arts Council!

The Wrights of Passage is scheduled for a spring tour across North Carolina.  We are so delighted to continue bringing this show to audiences for the sixteenth season. Thank you Sampson CenterStage Class Acts Youth Theatre Series.

In One Era and Out The Other will have students at Heritage Middle School in Wake Forest, North Carolina singing and dancing in the aisles as they learn AP History.

War Bonds will be honoring veterans in Vidalia, Georgia.

––And our newest production Native by Ian Finley is headed for the Valerie Theatre in Inverness, Florida.

2019 begins EbzB Productions's twenty-first season. We will be adding more to our calendar as the pages fly by.

We truly hope to see you and celebrate the new year after the show.
Make plans to visit us at www.ebzb.org

-Serena & David
EbzB

@newhopefilm April 2024: The Problem of the Hero at New Hope Film Festival, New Hope, PA.

via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/C2itUo_LrwZ/