The
Endowment
insider
M AY
| JUNE 2015
AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE:
A HISTORY
On the evening of January 11, 1940, the curtain
rises on the inaugural performance of the American
Ballet Theatre, when those privileged enough to be in
the audience watched history being made.
American Ballet Theatre: A History, co-produced by
American Masters and award-winning filmmaker
Ric Burns, chronicles the rise of the company from its
earliest days as a small, financially struggling collective
to its pinnacle as a crown jewel in the worldwide arts
community.
“The story of American Ballet Theatre, and the
breathtaking rise of dance in the U.S. over the
last three-quarters of a century, is one of the
most inspiring stories in the cultural world,”
says Burns. “And ABT, indisputably one of
the greatest dance
companies in the
world, has torn down
an incredible number of
barriers, welcoming choreographers of every kind and dancers from
around the world.”
When the American Ballet Theatre
was founded, the goal was to present
the best ballets from the past and to
encourage the creation of new works
by gifted young choreographers.
Under the direction of Lucia Chase
and Oliver Smith, from 1940 to 1980,
the company more than fulfilled that goal.
The result was an extraordinary repertoire
that encompassed all of the great ballets of the
nineteenth century including Swan Lake, Sleeping
Beauty and Giselle ; the finest works from the early
part of the 20th century such as Apollo and Les
Sylphides; and acclaimed contemporary masterpieces
such as Airs and Duets.
“Ballet comes out of the basic soul of humanity,”
says Kevin McKenzie, artistic director, ABT. “Before
we knew how to speak, we communicated in physical
expression. It’s that connection to creation; ultimately,
that’s what it is. That someone has created something
that resonates this deeply.”
In-person interviews, rare archival footage and
intimate rehearsal clips will take you behind the
scenes where you’ll meet legendary artists pivotal to
the company’s formation, contemporary luminaries
and ballet icons such as Alicia Alonso, Donald Saddler,
Frederic Franklin, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine,
Agnes de Mille, Twyla Tharp, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Misty
Copeland and Hee Seo.
When Burns began film production in 2006, he was
given unprecedented access to the company. He and
his crew shot hundreds of hours of original footage
including dramatic live performances in Paris and
Havana and grueling rehearsals at the flagship studio
in New York City.
You’ll be amazed as you watch the slow-motion
footage of the dancers at Kaatsbaan International
Dance Center in Tivoli, New York. It captures up to
2,500 frames per second and brings to life even the
smallest movements from the delicate placement of a
fingertip to the perfectly executed jeté.
This film has something for everyone. If you’ve never
been to a live ballet, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the sheer beauty of performance. If you’ve
enjoyed many ballets throughout the years, you’ll
treasure this film for all the memories it evokes and the
new insights it offers.
Airs Friday, May 15 at 9 p.m.
Credits: Courtesy of Buddy Squires; Rosalie O’Connor; Kent G. Becker
2 The Endowment Insider
The Homefront
They are deployed thousands of
miles from home — spending months
or longer away from loved ones. More
than two million men and women serve
in America’s all-volunteer military force;
another three million are their husbands,
wives, sons and daughters.
The Homefront brings you the stories
of military families from all walks of life.
As you meet them, you’ll learn firsthand
how they cope with the difficulties of
deployment, enjoy sweet moments of
homecoming and face the challenges
of reintegrating as a family after long
absences.
For military families, normal means
something entirely different than it does
to civilians: frequent separations, regular
moves and constant adjustment. But
these families also find unique rewards
in the military lifestyle — a camaraderie
and sense of purpose that can’t be
found anywhere else.
Airs Monday, May 25 at 9 p.m.
Membership
ETV Endowment
864-591-0046
[email protected]
www.etvendowment.org
ETV Endowment of SC
401 E. Kennedy St., Suite B-1
Spartanburg, SC 29302
Programming
ETV and ETV Radio:
803-737-3200 or
800-922-5437
outside Columbia
[email protected]
www.scetv.org and
www.etvradio.org
A Word from …
COBY HENNECY
Dear ETV Endowment Member,
Can you imagine what life would be like
without ETV and ETV Radio? Well, I can’t
imagine that any more than not having you
as a member. Together we create a force for
good that positively touches so many lives.
This past year we’ve explored our universe,
enjoyed an intimate family visit with the
Roosevelts, celebrated the arts and given our
children wholesome learning experiences.
As you can see, over the coming weeks
we’ll honor those who serve our country by
telling their stories, take in great ballet and
discover the important news of the day on
ETV Radio.
Every ETV and ETV Radio program leaves
viewers and listeners
better informed and
richer artistically. Your
support is the foundation for all we do.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Coby C. Hennecy, CPA
Executive Director
ETV Endowment of South Carolina
of the story is the
Nazi Attack on
remarkable discovery
America, a new NOVA/
of what happened to
National Geographic
German submarine
special, takes you back
U-166 in the summer
to World War II and the
of 1942. Captain
battlefield at the doorHerbert G. Claudius,
step of New Orleans.
U.S. Navy Commander
The Germans were so
of escort vessel
close they could see
PC 566, attacked the
cars on roadways three
U-boat with depth
miles away. Yet, very few
charges and concluded
people remember that
that he had sunk or
their underwater attacks
mortally wounded
caused immense damNOVA presents...
the sub. However, the
age, sinking more than
Navy ruled that he had
600 ships right off our
Nazi Attack
missed U-166. What
shores.
on America
the team found proved
You’ll travel with
that Claudius did in fact sink U-166. The
renowned explorer and Titanic discoverer,
U.S. Navy reopened the investigation and
Robert Ballard, PhD, and his team as they set
honor was finally bestowed upon the U.S.
out aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus to
naval officer with a Legion of Merit.
reveal the watery graves of sunken vessels
with vivid battle scars. The quality and detail of Airs Wednesday, May 6 at 9 p.m.
the underwater video is awe-inspiring.
You’ll witness exclusive interviews with
German WWII submariners who talk
Host,
frankly about the
Robert
Ballard, PhD
deadly operations
and what life was
like on these
vessels.
At the heart
German wreck U-166 destroyed during World War II.
Photo credits: Timelife Photos;
Ocean Exploration Trust
awards recognize the
Two outstanding
achievements and
concerts in May will pay
excellence in providing
tribute to our veterans
opportunities to our
and troops in active
nation’s veterans and
service.
military families.
The National MemoSponsored by the
rial Day Concert, an
Friars Foundation, the
American tradition, is
awards and concert
broadcast live from the
were held at the John
nation’s capital. Hosted
F. Kennedy Center for
by Joe Mantegna and
Our Men and Women in Uniform
the Performing Arts
Gary Sinise, this musical
Honored with
extravaganza features
Memories and Music Concert Hall.
the National Symphony
The concert features
Orchestra, musical artists and actors. In addimusic and appearances by the
tion to entertaining an audience in Washington
American Military Spouses
and millions of home viewers, the concert will
Choir, Arturo Sandoval, Aloe
be broadcast to troops around the world on
Blacc, Nick Jonas, Gavin
the American Forces Network and airs Sunday,
DeGraw and other musical
May 24 at 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 p.m.
stars.
The Lincoln Awards: A Concert for Veterans
Airs Friday, May 22
& the Military Family is new this year. The
at 9 p.m.
Photo credits: Courtesy of Capital Concerts; Michael Tammaro
Jack Everly,
Pops Conductor
NATURE Reveals the Mysteries and
Fascination of the Natural World
hardships are all
part of survival.
“Animal Childhood” airs Wednesday,
May 13 at 8 p.m.
“The Sagebrush
Sea” examines one
of the most overlooked ecosystems
on the continent that
consists of sagebrush
stretching across
11 states in the
American West.
The region supports more than 170 species
of birds and mammals including the greater
sage-grouse, which is found no place else.
Thriving in this area is a constant battle — in
addition to natural predators, they must also
contend with wells and pipelines that tap
resources buried deep below.
“The Sagebrush Sea” airs Wednesday,
May 20 at 8 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of ©Sam Gracey
When humans raise children, it’s almost a
lifetime commitment, but in the animal kingdom the norms are very different.
NATURE’s “Animal Childhood” takes a look
at how parents prepare their young to face the
world. For some, there are no life lessons —
mom leaves a few minutes after birth. Others
are carefully nurtured for long periods of time.
Harp seals are on their own after only two
weeks. Baby rabbits leave the nest when
they are about three weeks old. In contrast,
elephants spend years with their moms,
and orangutans have the longest childhood
dependence on their mothers: babies nurse
until they are about six
years old. However,
growing up is
never easy, and
finding food,
avoiding danger
and overcoming
The Endowment Insider 3
E N C O R E P R E S E N TAT I O N
Don’t miss an encore presentation of
Ken Burns’ The Roosevelts: An Intimate
History. This documentary chronicles the
lives of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor
Roosevelt, three members of the most
prominent and influential family in
American politics.
It is the first time in a major documentary television series that their individual
stories have been interwoven into a
single narrative. The seven-part, fourteenhour film follows the Roosevelts for more
than a century, from Theodore’s birth in
1858 to Eleanor’s death in 1962. Over
the course of those years, Theodore
would become the 26th President of
the United States and his beloved niece,
Eleanor, would marry his fifth cousin,
Franklin, who became the 32nd President
of the United States.
Together, these three individuals not
only redefined the relationship Americans
had with their government and with each
other, but also redefined the role of the
United States within the wider world.
The series encompasses the history the
Roosevelts helped to shape: the creation
of National Parks, the digging of the
Panama Canal, the passage of innovative
New Deal programs, the defeat of Hitler
and the postwar struggles for civil rights
at home and human rights abroad. It is
also an intimate human story about love,
betrayal, family loyalty, personal courage
and the conquest of fear.
Check scetv.org for program dates
and times.
SCETVNL0515
4 The Endowment Insider
“I put my money into what I
believe in.”
— John Zeigler, Charleston, SC
“I have to give. I use ETV and
ETV Radio all the time!”
When asked
why they
support the
ETV Endowment,
our donors shared
the following:
— Paul Morris, Charleston, SC
“ETV offers very good and
thoughtful programming.
Whenever you watch
commercial TV, your mind
can be parked in neutral. But
when you watch ETV, you have to
put your mind in gear. ETV’s programs
are entertaining and educational so
they cause you to actually think!”
“I love ETV because the
programs get to the heart of an
issue or situation; it’s an honest
approach. Plus, there are no advertisements that interrupt programming.”
— Reggie Brown, Florence, SC
— J. Robert Strickler, Greenville, SC
“If it were not for ETV, we
wouldn’t even own a TV!”
JOHN S. RAINEY
— A donor from Kiawah
Welcomes Three New Voices
Each weekday morning at 11 a.m., Kate
McKinney, the new host of Classical Music
from ETV Radio, brings listeners a sampling
of the entire spectrum of classical music
live from the Wells Fargo Studio, as well as
weather updates and information about arts
events around the state. A recent graduate
of the University of South Carolina, Kate
earned a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and previously worked as an intern
with the Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart
Festival and Spoleto Festival USA. Kate aims
to provide an interactive experience for our
listeners, so tweet a music request to
#ClassicalSCETV!
Tut Underwood, the new local host of
Morning Edition, brings statewide news
headlines to listeners from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m.
each weekday morning.
A native of Alabama, Tut has a BA in
Speech Communication from Auburn University and a Master of Mass Communications
degree from the University of South Carolina.
IN M EM ORY OF
He previously served as a public information specialist for USC and Director of Public
Information and Marketing for the South
Carolina State Museum. His hobbies include
reading, listening to music and collecting
movies and old-time radio programs.
Russ McKinney hosts Statehouse Week,
ETV Radio’s legislative transparency program,
which focuses on the House of Representatives and Senate sessions, House and Senate
committee meetings, public hearings and
other South Carolina government events.
Russ has 30 years of experience in radio
news and public affairs. He is a former broadcast news reporter in Spartanburg, Columbia
and Atlanta who served as Press Secretary
to former South Carolina Governor Richard
Riley and the Chief Public Affairs Officer for
the University of South Carolina. Statehouse
Week airs statewide on Fridays at 6:45 and
8:45 a.m. and 1:33 and 5:45 p.m.
Please join us in welcoming these new
voices to ETV Radio!
John S. Rainey, an attorney, philanthropist
and decorated Vietnam War Veteran, was
devoted to our state. His vision and leadership will have a lasting impact on ETV and
ETV Radio, the ETV Endowment and South
Carolina Educational Communications.
In 1977, John provided pro-bono legal
counsel to found the ETV Endowment of
South Carolina. He served on the Endowment’s Board of Trustees from 1992 to
2000, serving as President from 19982000. Since 2000, he served as Chairman
of the Board of SC Educational Communications, the Endowment’s production affiliate.
John recognized ETV and ETV Radio as
premier state assets and appreciated the
role they play in communicating important
issues. John was the Executive Producer
on a number of documentaries that were
broadcast in South Carolina and nationwide,
including Corridor of Shame and Homestretch. He served as Executive Producer on
the South Carolinians in World War II series
and its accompanying Man and Moment
series. However, the forthcoming A Seat at
the Table may be his finest yet. This ETV
documentary, to be broadcast in the fall of
2015, makes the case for moving beyond
integration to race reconciliation in America.
Mr. Rainey’s legacy will continue to live
on in the productions of ETV and ETV Radio.
While his loss is devastating to the Endowment and ETV families, we are forever grateful for his vision, leadership and friendship.
Making It Grow Gets a New Look
ETV’s ever popular,
locally produced Making
It Grow has a new look
that is colorful, lively and
welcoming — just like its
host Amanda McNulty!
Thanks to a generous donation from the
South Carolina Department of Agriculture and
additional funding from the ETV Endowment,
the series debuted its new set on February 11
after months of work with the design experts
from Clemson’s Brooks Center for the Perfor-
ming Arts. The new set provides an interactive
opportunity for the audience; it feels like
Amanda and her MIG team are inviting the audience into their home. The set includes a fully
equipped kitchen for cooking demonstrations
and a cozy fireplace and window seat.
In addition to a redesigned set, the show
has a new logo and theme music. Though
Making It Grow has a new look, the show’s
message remains the same — to educate
and entertain audiences on the impact of our
state’s agricultural industry while providing
expert gardening and horticulture advice.
Making It Grow is also celebrating a Telly
Award for the recently produced segment on
ArtFields. This latest award makes 11 Tellys
and six Emmys for the series.
Making It Grow, a mainstay of ETV’s programming for more than 20 years, is produced
in partnership with Clemson University. Tune in
on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on SCETV with repeats
at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and
3:30 p.m. on Saturdays on
ETV’s South Carolina Channel.