Chad Lundquist/Nevada Appeal Liz Broscoe, of South Lake Tahoe, rehearses her part in "Durga: Goddess of the Drum" at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall on Tuesday. The narrated multimedia performance features a mix of film, music and dance. The show opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. and plays again at that time on Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the BAC Performance Hall.
The entertainment at the Brewery's Performance Hall, 511 W. King St., will be a collection of rhythms and dancing that the old church and Carson theatergoers have never experienced. It's the premiere of "Durga, goddess of the drum," featuring Liz Broscoe.
It's truly something far out of the ordinary.
The spectacle is a complex, multimedia presentation telling of one woman's journey via the drum from ancient times to modern day.
It's an ambitious production using an original film, sound tracking, narration and live performances. Six dancers join Broscoe on stage as she moves from drum set to individual drums. No sticks involved; it's all bare hands on drumhead skins.
The show ties the evolution of the drum to the migrations of humankind, and attempts to show the reasons for drumming in myriad cultures.
It also addresses women's involvement through this evolution and the science behind drumming and brain-wave frequency.
It's all from the perspective of a drum goddess named Durga.
"Durga, Goddess of the Drum" opens 7:30 p.m. Friday, plays at the same time Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Before "Durga" guitarist Wesley Orsolic will be performing songs from his new album "Now and Then."
Purchase tickets now for $22 preferred seating and $18 for balcony and BAC members. Tickets are on sale at www.breweryarts.org through 4 p.m. Friday; then available at the door only if seats are still available. Also on sale at the Brewery, 883-1976; in Reno at The Melting Pot World Emporium, 1049 S. Virginia St., 322-9445; in Minden at 88 Cups Coffee & Tea, 1663 Lucerne St., 783-0688; South Lake Tahoe at Gaia Licious, 987 Tallac Ave., (530) 542-4244; North Lake Tahoe, The Blu Boutique, 930 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, 832-0500.
Joining Broscoe will be dancers Christine Wood, Ann Thennes, Andrea Creo, Michele Gregory, Namira Reese and Stephanie Heller.
Broscoe's idea for "Durga" began a two-year process of writing the script for "Durga, Goddess of the Drum." Broscoe presented the idea to John Procaccini, executive director of the Brewery, in 2006.
With his encouragement and support she proceeded into full production. Soliciting the help of her longtime music partner Orsolic as musical director, they created the soundtracks. Orsolic also created the DVD film which is projected on a screen in the rear of the stage. Broscoe demonstrates her expertise on the Mideastern doumbek, Afro-Cuban conga, West African djembe and drum set.
Actress Holly Natwora is the voice of Durga in the narration. Jim Martin is director.
Broscoe began playing at the age of 10 and has been drumming and singing professionally for some 25 years. She has co-written three CDs with Orsolic for their band Raw Nature and Liz's drum troupe Java Djembe.
Broscoe's fascination with the hand drums came years into her career as a professional drum set player.
"I'd been playing drum set in bands since I was 18 but hadn't paid much attention to hand drums. I was invited to play a conga part for an Afro-Cuban dance class, which I knew nothing about. That experience changed my life.
"There was this connection to the drum I had never felt before being a stick drummer. Something about skin on skin and the dancing involved made the experience deeper and more spiritual. I was hooked after that."
If you go
WHAT: Dance and drum production about the history of the drum
WHERE: Brewery Performance Hall, 511 W. King St.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
TICKETS: $18 to $22