Birmingham Interviews

Director Max McLean Bares His Soul on Spiritual Warfare in C.S. Lewis' THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS at BJCC CONCERT HALL
by David Edward Perry - February 02, 2020, Birmingham

Max McLean is president and artistic director of Fellowship for Performing Arts. They have a long history of producing theatre from a Christian worldview to engage a diverse audience. The weekend they bring Birmingham a captivating production of C.S.Lewis' Screwtape Letters. McLean shares insight wi...

BWW Exclusive Interview: Creative Music Powerhouse Scott Bradlee Shares on Developing Himself and the Sound of Postmodern Jukebox in his Book - 'OUTSIDE THE JUKEBOX'
by David Edward Perry - January 10, 2020, Birmingham

Scott Bradlee shares on going from a creative kid to living his dream as the creative head of Postmodern Jukebox in his book 'Outside the Jukebox: How I Turned My Vintage Music Obsession into My Dream Gig.' His interview gives a candid and inspiring look into moments, conversions, and reflections in...

BWW Exclusive Interview: A Reflective Conversation With Kind and Talented Actress Jillian Bell from 'Brittany Runs a Marathon'
by David Edward Perry - January 02, 2020, Birmingham

Actress Jillian Bell successes have been growing like comedy kudzu as a result of her bright spirit and comedic brilliance. Bell consistently shines in memorable performances including 'Brittany Runs a Marathon', '22 Jump Street', 'Workaholics', ''Idiotsitter', 'Bless The Harts', and the comedy 'Swo...

Director Whitney Renfroe Infuses Dance and Painting in Formations Dance Company's Original Performance PERMANENCE at Forma Arts + Wellness
by David Edward Perry - September 09, 2019, Birmingham

Imagine if Sydney Pollack and Michal Baryshnikov collaborated on making art on canvas. With every move of the dancers body, a path of colored paint is applied to a canvas. Formations Dance Company brings this concept to life in 'Permanence.' Director Whitney Renfroe is very excited to bring contempo...

ANTHEM FOR THE MIDDLE AGED BAND Energetically Brings The Band Back Together at The Sidewalk Film Festival
by David Edward Perry - August 30, 2019, Birmingham

'Anthem for the Middle Aged Band' is a film that shows how a band is a family. Like any tight relationship that is worth a damn, breaking up was not easy. Time had to work its course to lead them to a collective resolve, and eventually to spark fire in constructive creativity....

Carlton Bell II Brings The BIRMINGHAM BLACK REPERTORY THEATRE COMPANY To Life With 'CHOIR BOY'
by David Edward Perry - August 15, 2019, Birmingham

Carlton Bell II is a young Birminghamian with an artistic theatrical vision. Bell is an artist who wears many hats; actor, filmmaker, director, producer, and now head of the Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre Company. Next week they will have their inaugural performance of the Tony Award winning mus...

John Storie of THE MILDRED SNITZER ORCHESTRA Shares The Journey to His New Album PONDEROSA
by David Edward Perry - July 29, 2019, Birmingham

John Storie is musician / showman with a true comical wit, and abundant skills on the guitar. His new album'Ponderosa' is a folksy throwback to his early days, and some swinging straight ahead jazz. He recorded the album so it would hold different guitar sounds, texture and vocals. He is a longtime...

The Cast of SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD Share Creative Insights at Birmingham Festival Theatre
by David Edward Perry - July 24, 2019, Birmingham

'Songs for a New World' is not a typical (Beginning -middle and end) linear musical. It is a collection of powerful songs that examines life, love and the choices that we make.I was able to speak with some the cast to get their creative insight into giving life to this popular musical....

Jeff Goldblum Talks About Bringing Jazzy Cool to Birmingham at The Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center
by David Edward Perry - May 31, 2019, Birmingham

Jeff Goldblum is behind the piano at the helm of the jazz ensemble, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. Providing smooth charm with playful vamp. The 'hep-cat' works the crowd with Q and A, playing trivia, and laying down classic jazz standards and improv. Sunday June 2nd, Goldblum's The Mildred Snitzer...

Poet Jahman Ariel Hill Breaks Down What It Means To Be BLACK ENOUGH at Theatre Downtown
by David Edward Perry - April 12, 2019, Birmingham

Poet Jahman Ariel Hill and one of the directors Christian Hatcher provide much insight into their upcoming Southeast premiere performance of 'Black Enough' at Theatre Downtown. Hill hopes people leave the performance moved. 'The message of the show is simple: Black people, you are enough. You Flouri...

Actor Nick Cordileone Goes Green Sharing his Life as Timon in the National Tour of Disney's THE LION KING at the BJCC
by David Edward Perry - March 18, 2018, Birmingham

Nick Cordileone has spent the past eight years giving life to the wise cracking meerkat Timon in the national tour of Disney's The Lion King. His hilarious performance is accentuated with impressive puppetry. Cordileone brings a sharp wit and tender heart to the loyal friend of Simba and Pumbaa. Att...

Making Black History - Actor PHIL LAMARR: In Voice and Vision
by David Edward Perry - February 13, 2018, Birmingham

Phil LaMarr has been delivering incredibly rich characters to animation, film and the stage for the past thirty years. If you are not familiar with his name, you are sure to know his voice....

Nick Crawford and Jacob Simmons talk about bringing vaudeville back to Birmingham in NICK & JACOB: A TWO-MAN VARIETY SHOW
by David Edward Perry - January 10, 2018, Birmingham

With growing Birmingham audiences looking for new and fun ways to laugh and be entertained, it looks like 'Nick & Jacob: A Two-Man Variety Show' is the right show at the right time....

Musician Jeffrey Butzer on his upcoming Concert of VINCE GUARALDI'S 'A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS' at Saturn.
by David Edward Perry - December 11, 2017, Birmingham

The music from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' is a time capsule of a simpler time, and gets you in the proper holiday mood. This concert by Butzer, Mahony and Beshera captures the same rhythm, not by imitating the music, but by being in tune with it....

Insights with Director David McMahon on his 1960's version of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW at Virginia Samford Theatre
by David Edward Perry - November 24, 2017, Birmingham

If ever there was a time to challenge the ugly face of male chauvinism, it is now. Lets be honest, dating is rough these days. Courting in 2017 is far more complicated when compared to those in the 1500's. In today world, a line of cleverly arranged emoji's has replaced a heartfelt, handwritten sonn...

The Soulful Sound of Morgan James
by David Edward Perry - June 07, 2017, Birmingham

Morgan James sings with soulful emotion and powerful skills that touches you to the core....

DEBBIE GIBSON: An Electric Youth to a Nuclear Woman
by David Edward Perry - June 07, 2017, Birmingham

Debbie Gibson's career is one of consistent determination in the studio and on the stage....

Comedians Tollie (Tollie) Jones, Peter Davenport and Chris Davis talk about the boom of comedy in Birmingham.
by David Edward Perry - May 18, 2017, Birmingham

Three of Birmingham's best give me their thoughts on the rise of comedy in Birmingham...

MARTIN MORROW ALBUM RECORDING at the Birmingham Comedy Festival
by David Edward Perry - May 15, 2017, Birmingham

MARTIN MORROW Brings the Funny Home to Birmingham to Record His First Comedy Album...

DANIEL MARTIN Gets Fancy
by Marietta Lunceford - September 09, 2016, Birmingham

Daniel Martin has written several plays, but I have been most intrigued by Theatre Downtown's upcoming production MISS FANCY, which Daniel has written and directed. Our connection stems from the story of the Avondale elephant, Miss Fancy, and her legacy that contributed to the founding of the Birmin...