Tracy Turnblad and friends dance their way through a tale of racial intergration on the Osceola Center for the Arts stage this spring. We meet the director, choreographer and one of the dancers from the musical favorite "Hairspray" in this episode of ArtBeat, hosted by Ann Kenda with production assistance from Matt Immerman. Also, the Melon Patch Players talk about their staging of "The Odd Couple" and why they chose to set it in 1985.

Art Beat - WUCF

5-11-12 Hairspray

Three couples experience pregnancy and parenting in very different ways in the Winter Park Playhouse's production of "Baby." We meet the director and actors in this special episode of ArtBeat, hosted by Ann Kenda with production assistance from Matt Immerman.

5-4-12 Winter Park Playhouse's Baby

E.B. White's classic children's tale of an unlikely friendship comes to life on Orlando Shakespeare Theater's stage this spring. In this special episode of ArtBeat, we meet the actors who play Charlotte and Wilbur and find out why their story still touches hearts 60 years after its first publication. ArtBeat is hosted by Ann Kenda with production assistant from Matt Immerman.

4-20-12 Charlotte's Web

STELLLAAA! We take a look at Theatre Downtown's production of Tennesse Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" in this epsiode of ArtBeat, hosted by Ann Kenda with production assistance from Matt Immerman, and featuring commentary from Director Frank Hilgenberg and Rachel Comeau as Stella Kowalski.

4-6-12 A Streetcar Named Desire

Robert Hill presents a new spin on Swan Lake in Orlando Ballet's production of "Swans: Black and White." Hear from Hill, as well as the principle dancers, in this special episode of ArtBeat, hosted by Ann Kenda with production assistance from Matt Immerman.

3-30-12 Swans: Black and White

Jazz artists, professors, students and fans are coming together at the University of Central Florida's Nicholson School of Communication for the fifth annual UCF Orlando Jazz Festival March 23 - 24. A look behind the scenes in this episode of ArtBeat, with commentary from Jazz favorite Mike LeDonne and UCF's Director of Jazz Studies Jeff Rupert. ArtBeat is hosted by Ann Kenda with production assistance from Matt Immerman.

3-23-12 The 2012 UCF Orlando Jazz Festival

ArtBeat celebrates the silver screen's spies and secret agents with a look at the Orlando Philharmonic's "Bond & Beyond" concert, a musical tribute to James Bond, Austin Powers, Inspector Clouseau and other favorites. Also, an update on the University of Central Florida's planned Performing Arts Center with remarks from Jeffrey Kimpton of the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, the first speaker in a new lecture series supporting the project. ArtBeat is hosted by Ann Kenda with production assistance from Matt Immerman.

3-9-12 Celebrating the Cinema's Spies & Secret Agents

Six soldiers killed in the line of the duty stand up in their graves and refuse to be buried, in Theatre UCF's production of "Bury The Dead," Irwin Shaw's anti-war play of the 1930's. Meet the director and two actors in this episode of ArtBeat, hosted by Ann Kenda with production assistance from Matt Immerman.

2-24-12 Bury The Dead

A UCF Professor who created a documentary about Jazz great Sam Rivers remembers what it was like to film the artist at work, in this episode of ArtBeat. Also, Jazz Harpist Park Stickney talks about his upcoming concert in Orlando. ArtBeat is hosted by Ann Kenda with production assistance from Matt Immerman.

2-17-12 Remembering Sam Rivers

The Orlando Shakespeare Theater has opened a winter production of the classic comedy turned tragedy "Romeo and Juliet." Meet Director Thomas Ouellette, Michael Raver as Romeo and Stella Heath as Juliet in this special episode of ArtBeat, hosted by Ann Kenda with production assistance from Matt Immerman.

2-10-12 Romeo & Juliet

The Orange County Regional History Center has opened "Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente Walker (1934-1972)." Former Pittsburgh Pirate Steve Blass, Baseball Historian Peter Nason and Curator of Education Paul Wenglowsky provide insight on Clemente's life, baseball career and humanitarian works in this special episode of ArtBeat, hosted by Ann Kenda with production assistance from Matt Immerman.

2-3-12 Remembering Roberto Clemente

Theater UCF has opened "The Last Night of Ballyhoo," Alfred Uhry's play about a family struggling with identity issues in upper-class Atlanta in December 1939. The director and actors talk about their roles in this episode of ArtBeat, hosted by Ann Kenda and edited by Matt Immerman.

1-20-12 The Last Night of Ballyhoo

As Jazz On The Beach enters its 29th year on WUCF, we celebrate with a look behind the scenes of Jack Simpson's popular show. This special episode of ArtBeat is hosted by Ann Kenda and edited by Matt Immerman.

1-6-12 Behind the Scenes on Jazz On The Beach

Reaction is pouring in to a University of Central Florida film class documentary exploring the Johns Committee era of the 1950's, when gays and lesbians were believed to be targeted for dismissal from Florida's public university system. Previously on ArtBeat, we brought you the story of how the film class developed the project. This week, we see how gay rights groups, students, historians and others reacted to the documentary's initial screenings. ArtBeat is hosted by Ann Kenda and edited by Matt Immerman.

12-30-11 Reaction to UCF Film Class Documentary

Actor Michael Kevin Baldwin has just a few minutes to change costumes and personalities as he portrays a dozen citizens of Tuna, Texas in Orlando Shakespeare Theater's production of "A Tuna Christmas." This special two-part series is hosted by Ann Kenda and edited by Matt Immerman.

12-23-11 Rising stage star Michael Kevin Baldwin

ArtBeat looks at news and events from UCF and beyond. Host Ann Kenda explores the many arts events both on and off campus, as well as programs and projects from the university's music, theater, art and other cultural departments. ArtBeat also covers the wider Central Florida arts community. It airs Fridays at 12:00 and 4:00 on 89.9 WUCF-FM.

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Art Beat - WUCF

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