4/Arts Productions Inc.

“ 4/ARTS PRODUCTIONS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO FOSTERING THE ARTS IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO   Local Doctor, Performer Honored by Mayor Dr. George Jarden selected as this year’s first recipient of the Mayor’s Distinguished Service Award February 4, 2010  Dr. George Jarden, a long-time community member who has been instrumental in growing the Arts in the area, was honored Tuesday, February 2 during the city council meeting as this year’s first Mayor’s Distinguished Service Award recipient. Mayor Pro-Tem Sharon Thomas presented the award for Mayor Ken Miyagishima, who was in Santa Fe at the time.  Jarden is the founder of Voz Vaqueros, “The Singing Men of Las Cruces,” who have performed hundreds of times since the group’s inception in 1971; and he is also the founder of 4/Arts Productions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the Arts in Southern New Mexico. Jarden is now dedicating his talents to bringing the creatively intricate show Gee 'n Ess & “I” to the Rio Grande Theatre April 1-4 and May 6-9.  To further encourage youth participation in the arts, Jarden is offering free admission to all students to all concerts; and, two schoolchildren concerts will be presented the mornings of April 27, 28. Visit www.4artsproductions.org for more information. Miyagishima established the quarterly award to recognize organizations, businesses and individuals who positively impact the community. Award recipients are recognized at regular meetings of the Las Cruces City Council and featured in the City of Las Cruces' quarterly newsletter, The Community Connection.”

“ Local Doctor, Performer to Bring W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan to Life at Rio Grande TheatreShow a culmination of three years planning, thousands of hours of work and the area’s best design talent FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 4, 2010Dr. George Jarden is a long-time community member who has been instrumental in growing the Arts in the area. Now, Jarden is dedicating his talents to bringing the creatively intricate show Gee ‘n Ess & “I” to the Rio Grande Theatre April 1-4 and May 6-9.  To further encourage youth participation in the arts, admission is FREE to all students to all concerts; and, two schoolchildren concerts will be presented the mornings of April 27, 28.Jarden is the founder of Voz Vaqueros, “The Singing Men of Las Cruces,” who have performed hundreds of times since the group’s inception in 1971; and he is also the founder of 4/Arts Productions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the Arts in Southern New MexicoGee ‘n Ess & “I”, written by Jarden, is a one-man musical show three years in the making that highlights the light comic operas of W.S. Gilbert (Gee) and Arthur Sullivan (Ess) - including: “The Mikado,” “The Pirates of Penzance,”  “H.M.S. Pinafore,” and eight others.  This show is a culmination of community talent, years of planning and a deep appreciation for Gilbert and Sullivan and the impact they have had on the Arts.Jarden has recruited a stunning group of artistic designers who have spent three years and countless hours directing, painting, choreographing, preparing computer generated music, creating costumes, and videoing, to make this possibly the most intricate and exciting show ever performed in this community. The creative team includes David Edwards, director; Flo Hosa Dougherty, art characterizations; Jason Stewart, Computer Generated Music; David Wheeler, digital recording; Brandi Johnston, choreographer; Terri Hubert, costume designer/builder; and Rajeev Nirmalakhandan and Ben La Marca, videography design. The show is remarkably unique in the way it is delivered. As himself – the character “I” - the “live” George sings, dances and acts Gilbert & Sullivan roles, and also interacts with some twenty ambitiously and ingeniously-conceived  videoed musical and dramatic vignettes (also played and sung by Jarden himself!). The two huge video screens on-stage also display still-art cartoons and characterizations, painted by noted Las Cruces artist Flo Hosa Dougherty, as well as video titles identifying songs and moments of the video segments and the “live” on-stage action. During the 10 shows at the Rio Grande Theatre - two of which are special free school-morning shows for area schoolchildren – some 65 songs, 95 characters and 11 Gilbert and Sullivan musical comedies will be highlighted.Ticket reservations may be made at 575.525.6720 or online at  HYPERLINK "http://www.4artsproductions.org" www.4artsproductions.org.  Advertising and sponsorship opportunities also available; contacts same as above. This is an excellent opportunity for local media to highlight a creative group of artists while supporting the Arts. Article opportunities will be available leading up to the show and at each performance.  For more information on Gee ‘n Ess & “I”, interviews or photos please contact Communications Director Charlotte Tallman at 575.635.6833 or  HYPERLINK "mailto:charlotte.tallman@gmail.com" charlotte.tallman@gmail.com.  Also, visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.4artsproductions.org" www.4artsproductions.org. -END-    ” - Press Release

“  4/Arts Productions to Provide Free Gee ‘n Ess & “I” Shows to 750 schoolchildren at the Historic Rio Grande TheatreFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 22, 20104/Arts Productions and Dr. George Jarden will provide free shows highlighting the light comic operas of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan to 750 students and 50 chaperones from Las Cruces Public Schools on April 27 and 28. Jarden, a long-time community member who has been instrumental in growing the Arts in the area, created 4/Arts Productions as a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the Arts in Southern New Mexico. Jarden is also the creator of the creatively intricate show Gee ‘n Ess & “I”, which premiered at the Rio Grande Theatre April 1-4 and will show again May 6-9.  Along with the two free schoolchildren events, admission to all shows is free for students to further encourage youth participation in the arts.   “It is important to break the culture barrier among young people and provide interesting facts they might not know about, like Gee and Ess and the impact they have had throughout the years,” said Jarden, who has had a life-long love affair with Gilbert and Sullivan. “Through 4/Arts Productions we can provide entertainment that is both artistic and educational.” The last show presented by 4/Arts Productions was the special community production of “The Animals' Christmas,” created and produced by Jarden, much like Gee 'n Ess & “I”. Gee ‘n Ess & “I”, written by Jarden, is a one-man musical show three years in the making that highlights the light comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan including: “The Mikado,” “The Pirates of Penzance,”  “H.M.S. Pinafore,” and eight others.  The show is a culmination of community talent, years of planning and a deep appreciation for Gilbert and Sullivan and the impact they have had on the Arts.Jarden recruited a stunning group of artistic designers who spent three years and countless hours directing, painting, choreographing, preparing computer generated music, creating costumes, and videoing, to make this possibly the most intricate and exciting show ever performed in this community. The creative team includes David Edwards, director; Flo Hosa Dougherty, art characterizations; Jason Stewart, Computer Generated Music; David Wheeler, digital recording; Brandi Johnston, choreographer; Terri Hubert, costume designer/builder; and Rajeev Nirmalakhandan and Ben La Marca, videography design. As himself – the character “I” - the “live” Jarden sings, dances and acts Gilbert & Sullivan roles, and also interacts with some twenty ambitiously and ingeniously-conceived  videoed musical and dramatic vignettes (also played and sung by Jarden himself!). Two huge video screens float on-stage, displaying still-art cartoons and characterizations painted by Dougherty, as well as video titles identifying songs and moments of the video segments, as well as the “live” on-stage action. Ticket reservations for the May 6-9 2010 shows may be made by calling 575.525.6720 or online at www.4artsproductions.org.  Advertising and sponsorship opportunities also available; contacts same as above. -END-      ” - Press Release

“ Show Nearly Four Years in the Making to Open April 1FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 15, 2010Three and a half years ago, David Edwards sat down with Dr. George Jarden and discussed the possibility of creating a multi-media, one-man show that would highlight the fascinating comic operas of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Now, after hundreds of hours of filming, singing, designing and staging, Edwards and Jarden are about to hit the stage with Gee 'n Ess & “I”. Produced through 4/Arts Productions, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the Arts in Southern New Mexico, Gee ‘n Ess & “I” will show at the Rio Grande Theatre April 1-4 and May 6-9. “Gilbert and Sullivan have always been embedded in George’s life, and the way he described the show made me really want to be involved in it,” Edwards said of the famous theatre duo and the stories he heard from Jarden about the G&S Society that sprung up in his childhood home. “I was able to envision him as a child at home with these Savoyards celebrating Gilbert and Sullivan.”With Edwards (who acted in his first play at the Las Cruces Community Theatre in 1972 and since has taught theatre and directed plays) committed, the two men met with noted artist Flo Hosa Dougherty and computer generated music professional Jason Stewart to plan a show. “We formed a partnership to make this happen,” Edwards said. “I now have binders and binders of music scores, ideas and biographies of G and S.  I got totally entrenched and I’ve stuck with it because I believe in George and his passion for it.”The show is remarkably unique in the way it is delivered. As himself – the character “I” (the ‘live’ Jarden) sings, dances and acts roles from 11 Gilbert and Sullivan musical comedies, including “The Mikado,” “The Pirates of Penzance,” and “H.M.S. Pinafore,” among others.Along the way, Jarden and Edwards recruited additional members to the creative team, including David Wheeler, digital recorder; Brandi Johnston, choreographer; Terri Hubert, costume designer/builder; and Rajeev Nirmalakhandan and Ben La Marca, videography designers. To help backstage with sets and costume changes, each intricate in their own way, 10 community members donate their time as costume changers. During the 10 shows at the Rio Grande Theatre, some 65 songs and 95 characters will be highlighted. As a long-time community member who has been instrumental in growing the Arts in the area, Jarden and 4/Arts Productions is offering free admission to all students to further encourage youth participation in the arts. Two schoolchildren concerts will be presented with 4/Arts Productions covering the cost of busing. “We have always been conscious of our audience. We want to educate people not familiar with Gilbert and Sullivan while providing entertainment for the Savoyards who love G and S,” Edwards said of the elaborate show. “In a way, we are kind of inventing what we are doing – we certainly had to go out and find out how to do it, but that is what makes this show so great.” To help defray the expense of the show, 4/Arts Productions is seeking sponsors and playbill advertisers. Sponsorship and playbill opportunities are tax-deductible and provide high-visibility for individuals or businesses. More information for sponsorship and playbill opportunities and ticket reservations can be found online at  www.4artsproductions.org or by calling 575.525.6720. Tickets are also available through the Rio Grande Theatre Box Office, 575.523.6403. -END- ” - Press Release