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20 Established 1961 Tuesday, December 4, 2018 Lifestyle Music & Movies (From left) Hamilton choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, music director Alex US composer Philip Glass US musician Wayne Shorter US singer Cher — AFP photos Lacamoire and director Thomas Kail arrive at the 41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, DC. Kennedy Center gala honors best in arts and George H.W. Bush ollywood A-listers and Washington politicos cele- ‘Pivotal moment’ in art described like this: I’m very happy that many of you have brated the best in performing arts Sunday at the For Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter, the reached across the aisle for something called ‘jazz’,” the HKennedy Center Honors gala, which opened with a decision to honor “Hamilton”-the story of Alexander 85-year-old said at a pre-gala State Department dinner standing ovation for late president George H.W. Bush. Hamilton and America’s other founding fathers, set to Saturday. The posh annual awards program-a rare night of red- show tunes and rap anthems-was a no-brainer. “It really carpet glamour in the US capital, now in its 41st year- felt like we shouldn’t wait to acknowledge that this work ‘The Face of America’ honored an eclectic class of artists: actress and pop has transformed how we think about art,” Rutter said of McEntire-one of country music’s household names- superstar Cher, radical composer Philip Glass, country the Pulitzer Prize-winning box-office smash that opened beamed as she strode the red carpet in a royal blue dress singer Reba McEntire and jazz saxophonist Wayne in New York in 2015. “We should really note that this is a that made her signature red hair pop. “I’m thrilled to Shorter. In a first, the Kennedy Center-the performing pivotal moment in the world of our performing arts.” death,” said McEntire, who at 63 joined fellow country arts complex that serves as a living monument to slain Lin-Manuel Miranda, the composer and lyricist behind greats Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton as a Kennedy president John F. Kennedy-also paid tribute to a work of the groundbreaking musical, performed several numbers Center honoree. Cher-who began as one half of the folk art, the musical sensation “Hamilton.” himself along with members of the show’s original cast. duo Sonny & Cher and blossomed into one of entertain- Show host Gloria Estefan, a member of last year’s Speaking on the red carpet prior to the ceremony, the ment’s most enduring shape-shifters-said she was still in class of honorees, opened the festivities with a somber 38-year-old praised the Kennedy Center for the “cele- shock over the award. “Meryl told me once, ‘You do tribute to Bush, who died over the weekend at age 94. “I bration of our collaboration.” “It’s an acknowledgment things for the art, and if the award comes it’s a bonus’,” think it’s appropriate to recognize the passing of a won- that musicals don’t happen alone,” said Miranda, who the Oscar, Emmy and Grammy winner said, referring to derful man who dedicated his life to service and who received the honor alongside the show’s director Thomas acting legend Meryl Streep. graciously attended this event many times during his Kail, choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler and music “I never thought I was the right person to win this administration, laughing, applauding, singing along and director Alex Lacamoire. award-because I’m a little bit out there.” Glass, who at 81 US singer Reba McEntire even shedding a tear from right up there in the presiden- is one of the greatest living composers known for his tial box,” said the pop diva. Pop divas and jazz greats prolific output and wide-ranging approach to classical The president traditionally sits next to the honorees, The awards gala-to be broadcast on December 26 on music, said he was simply “excited to be on stage with but last month, Melania Trump’s spokeswoman said the CBS-also featured performances from “American Idol” these other people.” “The production of art in this coun- first lady and husband President Donald Trump-who is winner Kelly Clarkson, jazz prodigy Esperanza Spalding try is astonishing,” said Glass, whose Symphony No. 12 despised by many top cultural and entertainment figures- and mercurial pop pioneer Cyndi Lauper. Comedian based on David Bowie’s album “Lodger” will see its pre- would once again skip the star-studded show. Last year, Whoopi Goldberg showed up to honor Cher, and Paul miere in January at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. “The they opted out after several honorees said they would Simon delivered a tribute to Glass. Shorter, who was in arts are the face of America,” he continued. “It’s how boycott the event in protest at Trump’s policies. Miles Davis’ quintet more than 50 years ago, was hon- Americans know who we are and it’s how people in other Pop queen and fashion icon Cher, a vociferous critic of ored for his compositions and leading role in the creation parts of the world know who we are.”— AFP the Republican president, welcomed Trump’s second of the jazz fusion genre as co-founder of the band consecutive no-show. Asked what she would have said to Weather Report. the president, the 72-year-old, sporting an off-the-shoul- During his lengthy career, Shorter collaborated with der black lace gown and multi-belt waist cincher, laughed music industry greats across genres, from Joni Mitchell and said simply: “Go away.” to Carlos Santana and Steely Dan. “My gratitude can be US singer Cyndi Lauper US singer Kelly Clarkson Hamilton choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler Cuban singer Gloria Estefan S Africa minister Iraq’s Mohamed Al-Daradji battles defends police over inner demons through film he Iraq War may have ended in 2011, but for foreign-language category. It will be Daradji’s a 17-year-old Iraqi girl arrested with a bomb filmmaker Mohamed Al-Daradji, the conflict third time representing his country at the strapped to her waist. “I began to make some Beyonce gig chaos Tthat tore his country apart remains very Oscars, following “Ahlaam” in 2007 and “Son of research and found out there were more than much part of his everyday life. “You could say Babylon” in 2010. Like Daradji’s four other fea- 200 female suicide bombers in Iraq,” he said. His that my movies are a way of coping with the tures, “The Journey” examines the war’s conse- storyline developed further after he eventually (aftermath) of the war,” the 40-year-old told quences, this time through the eyes of the female was allowed to meet with a female prisoner cap- outh Africa’s police minister defend- Elizabeth. Concert-goer and witness AFP in Los Angeles this week as he discussed protagonist as she comes to terms with the hor- tured by the Iraqi army. ed officers yesterday after revelers at Catherine Constantinides, director of the his latest drama, “The Journey.” “To me, the peo- rible act she is about to commit. “I looked at her and she was a human being, Sa weekend concert dedicated to Miss Earth SA program, said “it was more ple of Iraq have not grieved, they have not come she was beautiful and so smart,” he said. “And Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg head- than mugging and taking phones”. “You to terms with what happened... and I felt that ‘A form of therapy’ the question that I raise through ‘The Journey’ is lined by Beyonce endured chaos and rob- prayed with your life not to be stabbed, maybe this is how my film can help and allow Daradji said he was inspired to make the lead whether there is redemption (for suicide beries following the event. Concert-goers punched or brutally attacked, all of which people to see themselves on the big screen.” character a woman after reading an article about bombers), whether they can get back the had to wait several hours for transport to I witnessed,” she wrote on her verified The film transports viewers to 2006 — five humanity that they lost.” He said his next movie, leave the nearly 95,000-capacity FNB Twitter account. minutes before Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein “Bird of Paradise,” will also feature a woman as stadium in Soweto Sunday and there were Fellow concert-goer Ano Shonhiwa, died by hanging at dawn, Daradji says-and the central character, as well as children. “When reports of several muggings and assaults. 23, told AFP “there was so much chaos introduces a female suicide bomber planning an I think back to my childhood, there was no one Beyonce led an all-star line-up includ- when the concert ended and people attack during the reopening of the Baghdad train who could listen to me and maybe that’s why I ing Ed Sheeran, Jay-Z and Usher for the wanted to leave”. “I heard that several station. Within the confines of the station, where use children in my films and women also,” he climax of a year of events celebrating the people were mugged while they were the drama unfolds, Daradji relays Iraq’s pain and said. “To give them a voice.” centennial of Mandela’s birth in 1918, and waiting for transport or to call a cab,” he suffering through various narratives-from the As with all his features so far, Daradji said to raise money for charity. “There is no said. Global Citizen, which organized the distraught child bride in a wedding dress, to his latest project will again touch on Iraq’s tur- need to blame South African police that event, said in a statement that “after such street children surviving by selling flowers and bulent history.

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