At the start of the 2013-14 Season, the Process Series at UNC is happy to announce a new partnership with the Institute for the Arts & Humanities. Now as a featured program of the IAH, the Process Series has expanded this year to feature seven new creative works-in-development running from September 2013 through April 2014.
“The Process Series has produced five exciting seasons of new artistic projects, and I am thrilled to be launching our sixth season with the enthusiastic support of the IAH,” said Joseph Megel, founder and artistic director of The Process Series. “This upcoming season is our most ambitious yet, will feature an incredibly diverse group of professional performing artists, and is going to be a delight for artists and audience members alike.”
The 2013/14 Process Series season features a widely varied program of readings and workshops, including a collaborative project between Louise Toppin, professor of music at UNC, and opera singer Marquita Lister. The two internationally known sopranos will perform early selections from their “African American Art Song and Arranged Negro Spiritual For A New Generation Project,” which matches multicultural composers and poets to create a new songbook emphasizing the contemporary relevance of the art song and spiritual traditions.
“It is a pleasure to share insight into the process involved in the production of a new work from its inception, composition, rehearsal and ultimate performance,” says Louise Toppin. “This adventurous project, which involves commissioning renowned composers, allows us the unique opportunity as performers to explore African American history and literature with students, University and community audience members in an interactive format. We are excited to be a part of the Process Series this year!”
Other events include an experimental music collective, a new script from Tony Award-nominee Colman Domingo, a performance piece by NYC-based artist Carmelita Tropicana, and more. All performances in the Process Series are new works in development, and the audience feedback following each showcase is vital to the continued growth of the work. Admission is free to all Process Series events.
“The Process Series provides a unique service to the artistic university community as well as to the community at large,” said Dr. Terry Rhodes, professor of music and senior associate dean for fine arts and humanities. “We are proud to feature this exciting program at UNC, and to support the growth and artistic development of such talented artists.”
In 2012, artistic director Joseph Megel was one of the recipients of the IAH Innovation Fund. Alongside the grant, which provides program assistance and resources for increased fundraising, the IAH established the Series as a featured program to support its continued growth.
“The IAH has always prided itself on providing faculty with the time and resources they need to do their best work,” said Dr. John McGowan, director of the IAH. “So it makes perfect sense for the Institute to sponsor a program dedicated to developing new artistic works, especially in a setting where conversations between artists and audience will contribute to better final results.”
In addition to the Institute for the Arts & Humanities, the Process Series is supported in part by UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Communication Studies, Department of Art, Department of Music, Department of English and Comparative Literature, Department of Dramatic Art, Department of African, African American & Diaspora Studies, and the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.