Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Now follow WSRE News at WSRE.org

Now follow WSRE News at WSRE.org. This blog is on hiatus.

Explore Career of Nashville Songwriter Karen Staley on the next Conversations

WSRE’s “Conversations with Jeff Weeks” features Nashville songwriter Karen Staley this Thursday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Staley accounts her music career and provides real life insight into the Nashville music scene. The program also showcases her singing talent and sense of humor. With guitar in hand, she plays some of her hit songs and tells the stories behind the music.

Shortly after college, Staley found herself in the music city singing backup and playing guitar for artists like Reba McEntire and Faith Hill. Although a solid singer, she found her true calling in songwriting and has since written songs for some of the biggest names in country music.

“Conversations with Jeff Weeks” airs as part of WSRE’s new all-local evening programming block, Explore More Thursdays. The new Thursday night lineup airs 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and also features new series “In Your Own Backyard” hosted by Sherri Hemminghaus Weeks, locally produced documentaries and performing arts programs.

In addition to “Conversations with Jeff Weeks,” this week’s local Thursday night lineup includes a look into the Forts of Mobile Bay on “In Your Own Backyard” at 7 p.m., “Pensacola Veterans Memorial Park” and “Gulf Coast War Memories” documentaries beginning at 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and “StudioAmped” at 9 p.m. with music by Gwen McCrae and The Blue Daze.

For more information, visit www.wsre.org/ExploreMore online.

 

Monday, October 31, 2011

WSRE to Air Documentary Chronicling 100 Years of Naval Aviation

Marking the centennial of naval aviation, WSRE will broadcast the new two-part documentary Angle of Attack beginning November 1. Angle of Attack chronicles the 100-year history of U.S. naval aviation — from wobbly gliders and the first shipboard landing in 1911 to modern supersonic jets and unmanned aerial vehicles. Part 1 airs on Tuesday, November 1 at 7 p.m. The program’s conclusion will air Tuesday, November 8 at 7 p.m.

Angle of Attack encompasses a century of technological, strategic and social advancements in naval aviation, from the first wobbly gliders to modern supersonic jets, to racial integration and the introduction of women in combat. To tell this story, the film deftly interweaves archival footage, interviews with historical and military experts, contemporary footage of cutting-edge aircraft and insights from today’s “Top Gun” fighter pilots. In addition, Angle of Attack also pays tribute to naval aviation’s visionaries, pioneers and risk-taking aviators, past and present.

Angle of Attack begins and ends with the next generation of pilots working to hone their skills, in all kinds of weather, day and night, to land a jet safely on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean. This death-defying feat, first achieved in 1911 by Eugene Ely, cleared the path for the development of a powerful new tool for ensuring both the safety and security of the nation and peacekeeping.   

Despite being viewed by some over the years as impractical, extravagant or obsolete, naval aviation has struggled to remain relevant in the face of competing technologies — the nuclear bomb and automation — and even budget pressures. In the face of these threats, naval aviation changed the face of America’s wars — from its heyday in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and later, Korea and Vietnam, to its rediscovered utility for reconnaissance during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Angle of Attack then follows the progress of naval aviation, from the age of nuclear terror to the asymmetrical warfare, including the long, difficult ground wars still taking place in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

Interviewees include: Vice Admiral Jerry Miller, USN (Ret); Admiral James L. Holloway III, USN (Ret); Vice Admiral Allen Myers; Captain Anthony Barnes USN (Ret); Capt. Mark Brooks; veteran military analyst and co-author John Gresham and naval and aviation expert Norman Polmar.

As “Presenting Sponsor” of Centennial of Naval Aviation Foundation events, Boeing has underwritten the two-hour public television documentary presented by American Public Television and produced by The Documentary Group.

The program’s timely broadcast coincides with Veterans Day and naval aviation’s centennial celebration, which culminates locally with the season-closing Homecoming Air Show of the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels. 

For more information, visit WSRE’s program schedule at www.wsre.org.

 

Friday, October 14, 2011

PBS Arts Fall Festival Kicks Off Tonight on WSRE

Guthrie Theater’s “H.M.S. Pinafore” leads nine-part series that includes Pearl Jam, Bill T. Jones and six more dance, music and opera performances.

 

Top: Miami City Ballet. Credit: © Kyle Froman Photography

Bottom: Steve Martin. Credit: Sandy O

 

Pensacola, Fla. — Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic nautical romp “H.M.S. Pinafore,” a production of Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theater and Twin Cities Public Television (tpt), opens the nine-part PBS Arts Fall Festival tonight Friday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. on WSRE. “Pinafore” kicks off an exciting line-up of performances that will be broadcast every Friday at 8 p.m. on WSRE into mid-December, including the broadcast debut of Cameron Crowe’s documentary music film “Pearl Jam Twenty,” dance performance films from Bill T. Jones, Miami City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, rock and Americana music programs from Cleveland and North Carolina, and a major new opera from LA Opera.

 

“From the Blue Ridge to San Francisco and from the Great Lakes to Miami, every community across this country possesses its own mosaic of artistic expression, and only PBS stations bring the rich diversity of these stories to the national stage,” said Paula Kerger, PBS President and CEO. “PBS invites everyone regardless of geographic or economic situation to take a front-row seat and enjoy a backstage pass to the world of music, theater, dance, art and cultural history.”

 

“With these arts presentations, our local viewers can sit back, relax and enjoy performances by renowned artists in first-rate presentations — no high prices, crowds or parking hassles,” adds WSRE General Manager Sandy Cesaretti Ray.

 

The broadcast programs, which originate from cities around the country, will be introduced by well-known hosts connected to the regions and themes of the programs.

The PBS Arts Fall Festival broadcast schedule on WSRE is listed below.

Oct. 14, 8 p.m. –       PBS Arts from Minnesota: THE GUTHRIE THEATER PRESENTS H.M.S. PINAFORE

Oct. 21, 8 p.m. –       PBS Arts from Seattle: AMERICAN MASTERS “Pearl Jam Twenty”

Oct. 28, 8 p.m. –       PBS Arts from Miami: GREAT PERFORMANCES “Miami City Ballet Dances Balanchine and Tharp”

Nov. 4, 8 p.m. –        PBS Arts from the Blue Ridge Mountains: GIVE ME THE BANJO

Nov. 11, 8 p.m. –     PBS Arts from Chicago: AMERICAN MASTERS “Bill T. Jones: A Good Man”

Nov. 18, 8 p.m. –     PBS Arts from Cleveland: WOMEN WHO ROCK

Nov. 25, 8 p.m. –     PBS Arts from Los Angeles: GREAT PERFORMANCES Il Postino From LA Opera” with Plácido Domingo

Dec. 2, 8 p.m. –        PBS Arts from New York: GREAT PERFORMANCES “Andrea Bocelli Live in Central Park”

Dec. 16, 8 p.m. –      PBS Arts from San Francisco: GREAT PERFORMANCES “The Little Mermaid From San Francisco Ballet”

Conversations with Jeff Weeks Features MSNBC “Morning Joe” Co-Hosts Joe and Mika

WSRE's "Conversations with Jeff Weeks" features MSNBC's Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski this Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

The "Morning Joe" co-hosts share stories about their television partnership and political personalities with whom they interact, and they offer their takes on the current political climate. Brzezinski also discusses her new book," Knowing Your Value," and Scarborough's role in her salary negotiations with MSNBC.

"Conversations with Jeff Weeks" airs as part of WSRE's new all-local evening programming block, Explore More Thursdays. The new Thursday night lineup airs 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and also features new series "In Your Own Backyard" hosted by Sherri Hemminghaus Weeks, locally produced documentaries and performing arts programs.

In addition to "Conversations with Jeff Weeks," this week's lineup includes a visit to the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida on "In Your Own Backyard" at 7 p.m., "Pause Life, Play Music: A Symphony Season" a documentary which follows the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m., and StudioAmped at 9 p.m. with country roadhouse rockabilly band, The Modern Eldorados.

For more information, visit www.wsre.org/ExploreMore online.