Today’s Air Loaf features CL’s David Lee Simmons and WMLB-AM’s Max Arbes discussing this week’s cover story (out today) about big, the collaboration between Outkast’s Big Boi and the Atlanta Ballet.
To listen head over to PopSmart.
HERE’S LOOKIN’ AT YOU, KID: Janelle Monae does her best impression of Larry from the Three Stooges, Dec. 1 at Lenny’s.
(all photos by Alan Friedman)
I’d love to see Janelle Monae on a real stage.
Sure, the stages at Sugarhill, Lenny’s, Apache and even the Tabernacle — all of which she’s ripped in ‘07 — are cool. But I really think she needs something closer to off-Broadway to realize her vision.
Don’t get me wrong, I dig the cybergirl punk-soul role she’s portraying. Her recent show at Lenny’s was definitely out there (read the Nightcrawler write-up, here.) But imagine a full-blown musical-theater production of Metropolis, with Monae cast in the lead role of Cindi Mayweather, and a strong supporting cast backing her.
With Big Boi’s upcoming Atlanta Ballet production, big, premiering in ‘08, the Alliance Theatre would be smart to consider such a stage interpretation of Monae’s work. Her concept album already plays like a storybook.
All she needs now is a good headshot. Maybe one of the pics below will do the trick. (more…)
(photo by Charlie McCullers)
The preview for big, Big Boi’s much-anticipated collaboration with choreographer Lauri Stallings and Atlanta Ballet, took place in the guise of a launch party for Atlanta Ballet’s 2007-2008 season. Held at the King Plow Arts Center, it mostly drew the kind of audience — lovers of the traditional arts — that probably knew nothing of hip-hop beyond what they might hear on the radio or TV. There were large tables of sushi and peppered chicken, and ballet patrons mingled around the studio with wine glasses in hand.
The host for the evening was John McFall, the company’s artistic director. He promised that Atlanta Ballet will create dozens of new costumes for big. “I think we’re going to set a bunch of new fashions with big,” he said, promising that the finished production will be a fantastic and provocative experience.
When Janelle Monae first revealed that Purple Ribbon would collaborate with the Atlanta Ballet, it seemed to make sense. After all, her upcoming Metropolis (and hey, I know y’all are sick of CL gabbing about it) is a highly operatic piece.
But now it looks like the whole camp, namely Big Boi, will take part in the production. In fact, it’s called Big with Antwan “Big Boi” Patterson and choreography by Laurie Stallings. You can read the press release here.
I’m nervous as to what it will look like. Will it be Big Boi, Monae, Scar, C-Bone and others standing around on stage as ballet performers flutter around them? Or will it be a relatively straightforward piece set to music from Purple Ribbon? I hope it’s the latter. I think Big Boi is dope, but the sight of him rapping alongside ballet dancers could be kinda goofy-looking.
At any rate, Big will only last six performances from April 12-18, 2008, so you should probably purchase tickets now.
