William Mapother

Blog Archives

Blog Categories

Blog Archives

Archive for the ‘Louisville & KY’ Category

Lincoln Memorial Ceremony Video

Posted on: June 12th, 2009 by wmapother 8 Comments

The ceremony last week in Louisville couldn’t have been scripted better: After a cloudy, misty day, the sun broke through just 15 minutes before the ceremony began, and ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’ accompanied a beautiful sunset on the Ohio: Go to 2:00 in this video here.

Ed Hamilton’s beautiful sculpture and bas-reliefs of Lincoln were unveiled, and I introduced the band’s performance of Copland’s ‘Variations on a Shaker Melody.’
Finally, the band performed Copland’s ‘Lincoln Portrait,’ and I provided the narration. Video is here.
And the Courier-Journal’s piece the next day is here.
I’m honored to have been included in that company, in that place, for that purpose.
Posted in In Person (or, like, Live), Louisville & KY, Press, Video (Online & Home)

First Flyover Film Festival

Posted on: May 31st, 2009 by wmapother 3 Comments

I’m very happy to announce that on June 12-14, Louisville will host its first-ever Flyover Film Festival, founded by several fabulous people (Sheila Berman, Ryan Daly, Gill Holland, Tracy Heightchew, Stu Pollard, George Parker) and myself.

For this inaugural festival we’ve focused mostly on films which include participation from a present or past Louisvillian.  Those connections are here, and the schedule is here.  Of course, I suggested (humbly, mind you!) one of my own films, and lo and behold, the festival will be showing ‘The Burrowers.’  Fortunate attendees will be able to see Phil Parmet’s terrific cinematography (and the awesomely gooey-mouthed creatures) on a wide screen, as well as lob some questions (easy one) to me and (difficult ones) to the nimble director, JT Petty, in a Q & A afterwards.
The festival offers a few other feature films, including one with William H. Macy, some powerful documentaries, and several wonderful short films.  A filmmaker’s reception, an afterparty at Gill’s Green Building, and an awards ceremony round out the festivities.  All screenings take place at downtown’s Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.
See y’all there!
Posted in Film Festival, In Person (or, like, Live), Louisville & KY, Recs

Lincoln Memorial Dedication Redux

Posted on: May 18th, 2009 by wmapother 1 Comment

The Courier-Journal has a new piece on the Lincon Memorial Dedication here.

Posted in In Person (or, like, Live), Louisville & KY, Press

Lincoln Memorial Dedication

Posted on: April 28th, 2009 by wmapother 1 Comment
It was just two hundred short years ago that Abraham Lincoln was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky.  In honor of the bicentennial, my hometown of Louisville commissioned a memorial 
to him for its Waterfront Park, on the banks of the Ohio River.  On June 4 the City will hold a dedication ceremony, and yours truly has been invited to perform the narration for Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait.”  Memorial and dedication details are here.  Lincoln, Copland, Louisville…Mapother.    Hmmmmm.
Posted in In Person (or, like, Live), Louisville & KY, Press

Getting Human with Humana

Posted on: March 19th, 2009 by wmapother No Comments


Hear Ye, Hear Ye.  Until April 11, the famous Humana Festival of New American Plays is being held at Louisville’s Actors Theatre.  For details, click here.  Actors Theatre is where I walked the boards last year in “Glengarry Glen Ross.”  Apparently, the theatre survived.  It’s the 33rd Humana Festival, which has previously seen premieres by David Mamet and Wendy Wasserstein, among others.  I was in Louisville recently and saw the terrific production of “Ameriville.”  If you’re anywhere near the city, or even if you’re not, I highly recommend seeing some of the work.  A couple actors from my “Glengarry” production, Larry John Meyers and Stephen Webber, both of whom are still talking to me, appear in two of the productions.  Just go already! 

Posted in Louisville & KY, Stage