Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 April 1997 — Page 7

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PEOPLE & TRENDS*B

SECTION

Arts & ENTERTAINMENT

Saturday, April 12,1997

A world seldom seen

On Stage

By MONYCA D. COLEMAN Arts and Entertainment Arthur Woodley is so unassuming, one wouldn’t think he was an internationally critically acclaimed bass. One of the few AfricanAmerican men in opera, Woodley has performed in several productions including Porgy dndBess and The Marriage of Figaro. Now he is gearing up to perform in the Indianapolis Opera’s Lucia di Lammermoor. “Entertainment is a type of therapy,” Woodley said. “It’s a type of therapy for the performer and for the person listening.” Woodley, who was bom in Harlem to a single mother, originally did not have any aspirations of becoming an opera singer. “I never went to a performing arts school while I was growing up,” Woodley said. “I wanted to study medicine.” Through a chance encounter with Bernice Edwards Hall, Woodley’s life forever changed when she introduced him to a whole other

world.

He discovered his purpose was to pursue a career in music. Hall would take him and other children around New York city neighborhoods to perform where he received constant encouragement from the ladies in the neighborhood. “She (Hall) would teach us how to waltz and take us to cotillions,” Woodley said. “She was so uplifting.” Fast forward to college, Woodley had another life changing experience. He claims to have been aimlessly walking around with no clear goals in mind. A counselor at his school noticed this and offered him a scholarship to study music in Italy. “She called me into her office one day and told me very matter of fact that I wasn’t doing < " See STAGE PageB2

Arthur Woodley

WTHR welcomes new executive producer

On the Air

Ralph Robinson

By MONYCA D. COLEMAN Arts and Entertainment Editor Ralph Robinson must be dog tired. He hasn’t had a chance to rest since he accepted the position of executive producer for WTHR-TV 13’s Eyewitness News. Between trying to find a place to live, scouting banks, and traveling back and forth from Detroit to Indy to move the rest of his belongings, he fits talking with The Recorder into his busy schedule. “I’m really looking forward to working here,” Robinson says while sitting in the Channel 13 lobby. “Everyone is so friendly and hospitable, they really make you feel welcomed.” Robinson, a graduate of Michigan State University, originally studied journalism because he knew if his writing skills were impeccable he could go far.

Indianapolis Chlldrons choir soos the country Eighty-eight members of the Indianapolis Childrens Choir’s Touring One Choir have just returned from their acclaimed performance at the American Choral Directors Association National Convention in San Diego. According to Henry Leek, founder and artistic director of the choir, to sing at this national convention is die most prestigious honor for a choir in the United States. Choral conductors from all over the world have praised the choir as being “flawless,” “absolutely fantastic," and “touching and moving.” As a result of their participation in events such as this. Leek and die choir have recently been working with international cooductors from Australia, Brazil and South Africa. ^ In die meantime, 80 members of the Kantorei Choir are preparing for die National Children’s Honor Choir at Carnegie Hall in New York April 21. Henry Leek is serving as conductor of this mass choir of over 300 young singers from across the country. Kantorei Choir will be die featured choir at this festival. Many of die children will not only be experiencing New York for the first tiine, but also Iheir first airplane ride!

btesMtf’wtth forthcoming autobiography OJ*. Putnam’s Sons announces that it has acquired die autobiography of legendary R&B singer Teddy

Pendergrass.

Truly Blessed: The Teddy Pendergrass Story., will be | hardcover in 1998. Patricia

^publislrii^

* 1 -

“I wanted to focus on print because it’s a good foundation,” Robinson said. “Every media oudet basically stems from writing; good writers can go far in this business.” After graduation, Robinson worked at a couple of newspapers but did not find it quite as gratifying as he thought he would. Then a friend told him about a part-time opening at a CBS affiliate. He landed the job. “I was a consumer reporter. I really liked television because there is an immediate connection with the viewer. I didn’t have to wait until the next day to make that connection,” Robinson says. He jokes that his salary was so low, his employer felt sorry for them and would pick up half of their lunch tabs each day. From there he moved around quite a lot. He found himself covering beats in such cities as Flint, Mich.; Columbus, Ohio; and Des Moines, Iowa. See AIR PageB2

BOOK REVIEWS

Romanowski, who has co-written 14 books and collaborated on such bestselling celebrity autobiographies as Mary Wilson’s Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme, and LaToya: Growing Up in the Jackson Family, will co-author the book. Suzanne Gluck of International Creative Management was the agent for the sale. Putnam Senior Editor David Highfill, who will edit the book, comments, ‘Teddy Pendergrass’ passion and charisma defined R&B in the ’70s and ’80s. He had-and still hasa voice and silky style that assure him a place among the greats of pop musk. His life story with hard-won success, heartbreak and spiritual renewal-is going to make inspiring reading.” Daniel Markus of Dream Street Management says, “Having managed Teddy for 20 years, I can honestly say this book will tell the most astounding highs and lows of a first-name-only superstar. He had h, then he lost it, then he got it back again. Truly amazing, truly blessed.” Teddy Pendergrass knows he’s been

a

UPCOMINOt

Michael Matthews’ (pictured) Fake Friends will be at the Murat Centre April 17-20. Tickets are available at all TIcketMaster locations or the Murat box office.

Ice Cube stars with Jennifer Lopez In Columbia Picture’s Anaconda scheduled to open April 18.

unsukcri

Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dennis Rodman an partners In Double Team.

Brenda Williams and Nick Stansberry will star In Fetmend Euble, opening atB pm April 12 at the

631-8834 ter ticket ifitermatlon,