Greater Boston Arts looks at the "rediscovery" of James Baldwin's play, The Amen Corner, which is in performance at the Huntington Theatre. Written by one of the 20th century's most celebrated writers, The Amen Corner has long been a staple of black community theater. To the Huntington Theatre's managing director, Michael Maso, James Baldwin's drama set in 50's era Harlem was a complete revelation, evoking the familiar but lost spirit of the black church. Ironically, it was probably the unabashed depiction of black religion -- fiery sermons, gospel choirs and all -- that kept the play relatively underproduced by white mainstream theatres. Greater Boston Arts talks to the director, actors, and scholars to shed light on why a new audience is opening its eyes and ears to James Baldwin's first play.

The Amen Corner
Huntington Theatre Company
264 Huntington Avenue
Boston
May 18 - June 23, 2001
For tickets call (617) 266-0800. For more information visit www.bu.edu/huntington.

Mags Harries

Greater Boston Arts looks at the complicated endeavor of making public art through the work of Mags Harries. Over the last 25 years, while Ms. Harries' work has evolved from simple bronze sculptural forms to complete immersive environments, the difficulty of getting work commissioned, created and installed has remained unchanged. "Every piece of mine that has been successful has had an incredible amount of controversy around it," says Harries. Greater Boston Arts tells the story behind her latest local piece at Fresh Pond, from initial design through revisions to final form. The piece, Drawn Water, includes an outdoor water fountain and a map of Cambridge's water system embedded in the floor of the city's new water treatment facility. The culmination of this four-year-long process offers Greater Boston Arts the opportunity to profile one of the area's best known and most successful public artists. Mags Harries is also featured in Greater Boston Arts' recently launched Public Art web feature. Learn about her beloved piece Asaroton and take a tour through eight of Ms. Harries' favorite Boston-area works.

Drawn Water
Fresh Pond, Cambridge
Opens August 2001
For more on the artwork of Mags Harries visit www.HarriesHeder.com.

Game Show

Greater Boston Arts explores the high art behind the hi-jinks of a group of nationally acclaimed artists fascinated by the mechanics of game play. This May, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art presents Game Show, the first major exhibition to explore how, throughout the 20th century, the world of games -- with its inversions of mastery, dependence on chance, and reliance on both verbal and physical play -- has intrigued and inspired artists. Local artist Danny-O's obsession with balls of all shapes and sizes actually form his art. Sticking to the rules of his performance art game -- collecting a ball a day -- and with the help of visitors to the gallery, Danny-O hopes to fill his 3000-square-foot gallery space with balls. Curator Laura Heon explains how a range of artists, from Danny-O to French performance artist Sophie Calle to members of the 60's-eara Fluxus art movement incorporate rules of play to engage audiences in art that is seriously fun.

Game Show
MASS MoCA
87 Marshall Street
North Adams, MA
May 27, 2001 - April 2002
For more information call (413) 662-2111 or visit www.massmoca.org.