Eight Items To Hold You

The PopCulteer
August 3, 2012

Your PopCulteer is wrapped up in several demanding projects this week, not the least of which is the production of what might well be the most self-indulgent episode of Radio Free Charleston ever. So this edition of our weekly blog/column is going to consist of random items thrown together at the last minute. Enjoy!

1) Good Night Grover's Corner

The Contemporary Youth Arts Company presents a new production of what many people consider to be Dan Kehde's most moving work, "Good Night Grover's Corner." It opened last night, and continues through next week. For more details we quote from the Facebook events page, "One October evening in a hillside cemetery overlooking their hometown, the spirits of 7 young people remember their friend as they try to find a meaning for his death in the Afghani War and, instead, discover the hypocrisies that led to it.



"Written by Dan Kehde, and featuring performances by Nik Tidquist, Mandy Harper, Kim Waybright, Heather Newhouse, Eli Chambers, Caitlin Moore, and Daniel Calwell, “Good Night, Grovers Corners” is a challenging, deeply dramatic and controversial night at the theater.

"The Contemporary Youth Arts Company will present the anti war drama, “Good Night, Grovers Corners” Thursday, Friday and Saturday Evenings, August 2,3,4. 9,10,11 at 8 pm at the WVSU Capitol Center Theater, 123 Summers Street, Charleston.Rated PG 14 for language and adult situations."

Tickets are ten dollars for adults, six for students and seniors. For further information call the theater box office at 342-6522 during regular business hours.

Kehde adds this note, "When I wrote this seven years ago, I’d no idea that we’d still be at war today. How profoundly sad."

2) Tribute To The Troops II

The Wood Boys are once again saluting our troops with an all-day rock show on August 11. This time it's at St. Albans City Park Amphitheater. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted for The West Virginia National Guard Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project

A Five-dollar donation gets a Free Thank You Gift- 1 per donation while supplies last.The event is scheduled to start at 10 AM and wrap up around 9 PM.

Headlining is The Jagermeister Syko-Maffia Weekend Warrior Tour featuring Sykosis, Mettal Maffia, Lost Chapter, The Number Six, and Special Guest Bless the Child. In support, the day will see performances by great local musicians, including Jerald Lee Greathouse, Johnny Compton, Deck of Fools, Point of Jerus, Stacee Lawson, In the Company of Wolves, Everpulse, Breedlove, Remains Un Named, Harrah, Godmode Broadway and the debut of Miss Cadence Weaver- performing the National Anthem.

It should be an incredible day of music and fun in the sun.



3) Karl Kesel' Comic Book Collection

Comic book writer/artist Karl Kesel (Superman, Fantastic Four), is putting his Silver Age comic book collection up for sale. He's doing this to pay the medical bills for his newly-adopted son. Kesel adopted a child who was born to a drug-addicted mother, and had to spend the first six weeks of his life in an intensive detox program.

Kesel Explains, "The only thing is, after a six week hospital stay, it's really expensive because they oversee the administration of that morphine. It's really expensive, so we are selling my Silver Age Marvel Comics collection to help pay, I'm selling my past to gain a new future."

Comic Book Resources has the full story.

Since Kesel, like most cartoonists, does not have health insurance to cover this situation, he is doing what he can to make things work. Unlike many stories of cartoonists forced into drastic measures financially, this one is upbeat and positive. It's a good read.

4) Chik Fil A

As someone who has been boycotting Chik Fil A for years due to the financial support they give to groups that support genocide in Uganda, all I have to say to the new boycotters is, "What took you so long?"

And to the folks who flocked to show their support to a company that gives money to hate groups...enjoy your fried glop.

5) Tonight At The Sound Factory



6) No Pants Players Adult Show

Hooters of Charleston presents the No Pants Players "Adults Only" at The Clay Center August 11 at 8 PM. Yes, the filth is back! The No Pants Players return to the Clay Center with a new seating arrangement, earlier start time and lower ticket prices. And it's an uncensored show, so you can yell out all those things that you think of at their family shows but keep to yourself because you don't want anyone to have to explain what a buttplug is to an eight-year-old.

We'll have more details next week, but you can order tickets (which are now a mere twelve bucks) at www.nopantsplayers.com,

7) Legally Blonde

This is the last weekend for the Charleston Light Opera Guild production of "Legally Blonde." You can catch the show tonight and Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 3 PM at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater. And you can watch some rehearsal footage on the latest episode of Radio Free Charleston...

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8) Reid Fleming

I worte about "The World's Toughest Milkman" about a year and a half ago here in PopCult. Now comes word (from Steve Schmidt. Thanks Steve!) that somebody has produced a semi-animated version of the first Reid Fleming story. Check it out...

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That's it for this week. Next week will see a new episode of RFC, along with loads of other cool stuff.