Category Archives: Features

March 13, 2009 · 12:28 am

Bassist Edgar Meyer playing in Reno

 

Edgar Meyer

Edgar Meyer

The Reno Chamber Orchestra has been bringing out-of-area soloists to Northern Nevada for most of its 35-year existence, but few have more impressive credentials than bassist Edgar Meyer, who will be featured with the group Saturday and Sunday.

“He certainly is one of the greatest soloists that we will ever play with,” said Scott Faulkner, executive director and bassist with the Chamber Orchestra. “Both in terms of notoriety and just ability, he certainly is at the top of the pile, right up there with the best that have ever played with us. That’s not an overstatement at all.”

Faulkner became one of Meyer’s admirers when he was just a young player studying bass in college.

“I remember the first time that I heard a recording of him,” Faulkner said. “I was like, ‘Oh, my word.’ I couldn’t believe it.”

Click here for full story: http://rgj.com/article/20090312/NEIGHBORHOODS02/903120313/1247/NEIGHBORHOODS

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March 6, 2009 · 1:36 pm

Jonas Brothers keep fans happy

SAN FRANCISCO — The Jonas Brothers’ “3D Concert Experience” may not have taken the top box office spot last weekend, but the musical brothers still made a lot of fans happy.

Partnering with NetJets Inc. and Marquis Jets, the three Jonases launched a whirlwind tour that ran Feb. 27 to March 1 and covered more than 6,000 miles. The three brothers made stops in a number of major cities in order to surprise fans at screenings, and they closed the tour Sunday night in San Francisco. While there, they held a brief press conference before walking into an auditorium filled with screaming fans.

Click here for full story: http://rgj.com/article/20090306/ENT01/903060342/1056/ENT

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March 5, 2009 · 11:34 pm

Are we ready for “Watchmen”?

Malin Akerman in "Watchmen."

Malin Akerman in "Watchmen."

SAN FRANCISCO — The road to the “Watchmen” movie was long, bumpy and routed through rugged, unfamiliar territory. That it finally opened in theaters at midnight Thursday brings that road to an end. But one question still burns: Are audiences ready for an R-rated superhero spectacle that has been described by some as unfilmable?

“There are a lot of reasons, I think, why the movie didn’t get made up until now,” director Zack Snyder said during an interview last week at the WonderCon comic convention in San Francisco. “(Producer) Larry Gordon said, ‘It’s not unfilmable, it’s unfinanceable,’ which I thought was a really interesting distinction. … Culture, I hope, is ready for ‘Watchmen’ now.”

Click here for the full story: http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990305026

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February 27, 2009 · 10:38 am

Nevada Opera averts disaster

In late January, Nevada Opera officials announced that the 41-year-old company was on the verge of collapse and would close if it didn’t raise $100,000 in just four weeks. Today, the message is more upbeat.

The group surpassed its $100,000 goal, meeting the requirements for a $50,000 challenge donation, and will produce “La Boheme” in April. Opera board president Randi Thompson said the group has $165,000 and received pledges for about $20,000 more.

For full story, click here: http://www.rgj.com/article/20090227/NEWS/902270428/1321/news

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February 26, 2009 · 5:09 pm

Movie extras needed in Reno

Sparks-based Integrity Casting is looking for about 100 non-union extras to work in Reno Friday and Saturday on a thriller directed by Mario Van Peebles and starring Bill Pullman. The film is called “Kerosene Cowboys,” and Integrity is specifically looking for clean-cut men with a military look and women who are fresh-faced, girl-next-door types. Eighteen- to 30-year-olds in great shape are preferred. To be considered, call 322-1515 or e-mail toni@integritycasting.com with body dimensions and a current picture. The job pays minimum wage.

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February 24, 2009 · 12:36 am

Oscar winners: A complete list

Winners of the 81st Academy Awards (all nominees listed with winners in bold)

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films)
Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)
Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features)
Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)
Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)
Continue reading →

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February 22, 2009 · 10:29 am

Oscars: Who will win tonight?

Dev Patel, left, and Anil Kapoor in "Slumdog Millionaire," Forrest's pick to win Oscar's best picture race.

Dev Patel, left, and Anil Kapoor in "Slumdog Millionaire," Forrest's pick to win Oscar's best picture.

Predicting who will win the Academy Awards is a lot like predicting the weather. No matter how sure you feel, there’s always a surprise. A low pressure front that moves in unexpectedly, a fast-moving hail storm, ridiculously strong winds.

Still, there are signs that a skilled prognosticator can read to get things right at least some of the time.

 Yes, its that time of year when I put my reputation on the line and offer my best guesses as to who will win cinema’s biggest awards. So, without further delay, my predictions for tonight’s Oscars in several key categories.

Click here to read more: http://rgj.com/article/20090222/ENT/902220303/1056

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February 15, 2009 · 1:34 pm

On the boards in Reno

In “As You Like It,” William Shakespeare wrote that “all the world’s a stage,” and while he clearly was being metaphorical, there does seem to be a lot of theater in Reno these days. So, I thought it would be fun to give you a rundown of several noteworthy productions that are either playing now or coming soon to a stage near you.

Click here for the complete list: http://rgj.com/article/20090215/ENT/902150308/1056

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February 6, 2009 · 9:44 am

New service offers free show tix in Reno

With prices to concerts and special events rising while incomes are declining, free show tickets sound pretty good, and Bill Nagel says he’ll get them for you.

Nagel is the local operator of House Seats (www.houseseats.com), a Las Vegas-based company that now gives subscribers the opportunity to claim free tickets to concerts and sporting events in Northern Nevada and Northern California. The catch? Members pay a subscription fee ranging from $89 to $169 per year, and tickets are handed out on a first-come-first-served basis. The $89 level entitles subscribers to two tickets per show and the $169 level comes with four tickets. There’s no limit on the number of shows a subscriber can attend.

Click here for full story: http://www.rgj.com/article/20090206/ENT/902060417/1056

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January 31, 2009 · 10:23 am

Martin Short in Reno today (Jan. 31)

Jiminy Glick and Ed Grimly will be at the Silver Legacy on Saturday night, and they’re bringing Martin Short along for the ride. Or maybe it’s the other way round. With Short, an actor who immerses himself in every role, it’s tough to tell.

In Reno, Short — and his many characters — will deliver a showcase smacking of everything from Broadway to sketch comedy.

Click here for entire story: http://www.rgj.com/article/20090130/ENT/901300403/1056

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