LDS Author Darius Gray Speaks to African-American Members in Harlem

Darius Aidain Gray, president of the Genesis Group, visited Manhattan's core African-American church members in Harlem last week telling them, "I am pleased to be here, it's been my dream to come here a long time. I have prayed to be here and I am happy to be here."

Donny Extends Hand and Finds a Fan ... in Eminem

When he was in the United Kingdom recently at the Brit Awards, LDS pop star Donny Osmond met the controversial rap star Eminem, and extended a hand of friendship, and discovered an admirer. Osmond told about the encounter in an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, as he made an appearance there Saturday at the pledge-drive premiere of of a concert special for his new album, "This Is the Moment," on Cleveland's WVIZ Channel 25.

LDS Author Wins Spur Award

LDS author Violet T. Kimball has been told that she will receive a 2001 Spur Award for her book, "Stories of Young Pioneers: In Their Own Words," published last year by Mountain Press Publishing Company. The book covers the experiences of young pioneers traveling through the west in the mid-nineteenth century and is written for young readers. The Spur Awards have been given annually since 1953 to the best in Western writing.

LDS Musician Creates 'Music of the Human Genome'

It's often said that music is the song of the heart. According to Dr. Brent Hugh, the rest of the body would also like to make a little music of its own. Hugh, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is currently working as an assistant professor of music at Missouri Western State College. Hugh, trained in both the sciences and in music, is an accomplished musician with a number of recording credits.

Odyssey Channel to Repeat 'Voyage of the Unicorn'

The Odyssey channel will give an encore presentation of "The Voyage of the Unicorn" on Saturday, March 10th at 2 pm EST. The four hour film is an adaptation of LDS artist and BYU professor James C. Christensen's classic children's book "The Voyage of the Basset." The Hallmark Entertainment production premiered last Friday and Saturday evenings on Odyssey.

Martha Beck's Forthcoming Book Makes Amazon List

"Finding Your Own North Star," a forthcoming book by Mormon author Martha Nibley Beck hit Amazon's 'Tomorrow's Bestseller's' list ahead of the book's release later this month. Beck's previous book, "Expecting Adam" received a lot of attention for its criticism of the intellectual community for the suggestion that she should have an abortion because her expected son, Adam, had Downs Syndrome.

Other Arts & Entertainment Articles

Mormon Author Terry Tempest Williams Speaks at Environmental Conference

EUGENE, OREGON -- Mormon author Terry Tempest Williams was in Eugene, Oregon this past weekend to speak at the 19th annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference at the University of Oregon. Williams was one of four major speakers at the conference, along with Julia "Butterfly" Hill, who gained notoriety for camping in the top of a redwood tree for two years to save it. Williams, who is well known as a nature writer, has gained attention most recently for her book "Leap," which includes her meditations on the environment through her examination of Hieronymus Bosch's painting "El Jardin de las Delicias."

UO environmental law conference merges perspectives Portland OR Oregonian 1Mar01 A2

Conservationists descend upon Eugene, Oregon ENN (Eugene OR Register-Guard) 2Mar01 A2 By Lance Robertson, The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.

See also: More about Terry Tempest Williams' "Leap" at Amazon.com

LDS Author Mary Clyde's "Survival Rates" in Paperback

WASHINGTON, DC -- LDS author Mary Clyde's book of short stories, "Survival Rates" has been released in a new paperback edition from Norton, and the Washington Post's Book World gives the volume a notice in its "New in Paperback" column. Clyde won the Flannery O'Conner Award for the collection.

New in Paperback Washington Post pgBW10 4Mar01 A2

See also: More about Mary Clyde's "Survival Rates" at Amazon.com

LaBute's "Bash: Iphigenia in Orem" called "Riveting"

LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO -- LDS playwright Neil LaBute's "Bash: Iphigenia in Orem" was one of several plays presented in the One Act Play Festival at the Las Cruces Community Theatre. An article in the Las Cruces Sun-News calls the performance of Patrick Payne in the play "an intensely personal experience" that "unfolds the story of the tragedy with palpable emotions -- anger, guilt, anguish -- and leads the audience to a chilling conclusion." The controversial play is one of three related plays by LaBute that feature Mormon characters. In "Iphigenia in Orem" a young father describes the death of his infant daughter.

One Act festival is first-rate Las Cruces NM Sun-News 6Mar01 A2 By Cheryl Thornburg: Sun-News

BYU NewsNet Tries to Connect Freedman records with New Book

PROVO, UTAH -- An article in the BYU Daily Universe tries to connect the recent LDS novel, "One More River to Cross" by Darius Gray and BYU professor Margaret Young with the LDS Church's recent release of the records of the post-civil war Freedman's Bank. NewsNet's Beverly Beal interviewed Gray about his novel.

Novel accompanies Freedman records BYU NewsNet 5Mar01 A2

See also: More about Darius Gray and Margaret Blair Young's "One More River to Cross" at Amazon.com

BYU Alumnus Nominated for Grammy

BYU alumnus Joseph Fire Crow was nominated for a grammy in the "Best Native American Music Album" category for his album "Cheyenne Nation." Crow plays traditional and contemporary Native-American flute music he plays on flutes he makes himself. He also participated in the Lamanite Indian Placement Program before attending BYU.

Grammy nominee and Y alumnus explains musical journey BYU NewsNet 6Mar01 A2

Garrens Comedy Troupe Disbands

PROVO, UTAH -- The popular Garrens Comedy Troupe, made up of BYU students and former students, has decided to disband after eight years of performing at BYU. Troupe members indicated that they decided to call it quits after miscommunications with BYU's Student Life office, internal differences of opinion and fear that the quality of the group's humor might deteriorate.

Garrens Comedy Troupe ends performances BYU NewsNet 8Mar01 A2

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