Author: Kevin Lee

They might need to break out the crowbars at the Saenger Theatre (6 S. Joachim St.) for the next Mobile Symphony Orchestra performance. That’s about what it will take to fit three choirs, two soloists and 100 orchestra musicians into the performance space. The occasion is MSO’s 20th anniversary and its first-ever staging of Gustav Mahler’s “Resurrection Symphony.” Its timing on March 24 and 25 — a week prior to Easter — likely had some bearing as well. Guests are the University of South Alabama Concert Choir, Mobile Opera Chorus, Eastern Shore Choral Society, soprano Martha Guth and mezzo-soprano...

Alabama Contemporary Art Center’s board of directors has tapped current director of exhibitions and programs Amanda Solley-Wilson as its new executive director. The position has been vacant since Bob Sain resigned in December 2015. Solley-Wilson has been a key player in ACAC’s recent focus on Cuba and its artists. The current exhibit, “Back to Havana,” will be in place through June 1. “The arts are a community asset that can bring people together and provide them with a voice. This year and next we join organizations across the state in celebrating our bicentennial by recognizing our collective stories and writing new...

A mixture of literature, movement and music will bound into being when Mobile Ballet stages its rendition of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on March 3 and 4. It will mark the premiere of the work in the Azalea City. Guest Artistic Director Katia Garza has run the cast of 40-plus dancers through their paces since work began in January. It wasn’t her first time with the 56-year-old source material. “About five years ago, I was asked by Orlando to do this for them. I re-choreographed it, then did it in Corpus Christi, too. This will be the fourth time...

It wasn’t terribly long ago that a regular feature of Mobile cultural life was a monthly get-together where arts world denizens would convene casually on the reg. All were welcome to a different arts venue each time for a laid-back happy hour filled with gnoshing, imbibing and disciplinary cross-pollination. Now Art After Hours will return on an every-other-month basis. The next is slated for Feb. 27, 5:30-7 p.m. at Sway Gallery (10 S. Conception St.). Attendees can enjoy complimentary wine, beer samples from Oasis Texas Brewing Co. and light appetizers while they learn about the local arts scene. For...

The Historic Mobile Preservation Society’s Celebrate Historic Mobile tour is on its way and needs docents for the various stops. The four-day, three-night event takes place March 8-11 and includes a gala reception at Oakleigh Mansion along with a comedy tour of Mobile’s early red-light district. This year’s events are titled “Sacred Spaces,” “Living Spaces” and “Resting Places.” The Thursday, March 8, tour includes various historic houses of worship. On Friday, March 9, and Saturday, March 10, 18 private historic residences and inspired adaptive reuses will be open for touring. On Sunday, March 11, guided tours will be given...