Participation Type
Experiential Presentation
Presentation #1 Title
Comedy Scene Development in Appalachian Communities
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
With a focus on music and comedy communities, your presenters will explore cultivating and sustaining creative “scenes” in Appalachia. Showcasing how collaboration within and between various artistic subsets is vital to creating a flourishing arts community. Regionally, Appalachia lacks certain resources and infrastructure that are necessary for the growth of artists. This presentation aims to define how the region affects the formation and structure of creative “scenes” that are thriving in the area.
The presentation will be set around the explosive growth of the music and comedy community in Huntington, WV. With performers in both genres finding regional to national acclaim, Huntington is a unique case study for how creative communities can thrive in Appalachia. Your presenters will examine the inner workings of the creative community. From the roles key figures within the “scene”, to essential practices, to maintaining a sense of community. Additionally, we’ll compare the development of musicians and comedians in other regions of various sizes to explore how the “scene” dynamics varies from place to place.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Nate Cesco is a stand up comic & writer from Huntington, WV. He actively helped cultivate the stand up community in Huntington through events and programs. Nate worked on various projects like SeeSo's adaptation of "My Brother, My Brother, & Me", created the web comedy brand “Coseri”, produced the comedy programming for the “Huntington Music & Arts Festival”, and directed award winning comedy short films. Currently Nate works on the digital team for iHeartRadio Chicago.
Presentation #2 Title
Music Scene Development in Appalachian Communities
Presentation #2 Abstract or Summary
With a focus on music and comedy communities, your presenters will explore cultivating and sustaining creative “scenes” in Appalachia. Showcasing how collaboration within and between various artistic subsets is vital to creating a flourishing arts community. Regionally, Appalachia lacks certain resources and infrastructure that are necessary for the growth of artists. This presentation aims to define how the region affects the formation and structure of creative “scenes” that are thriving in the area.
The presentation will be set around the explosive growth of the music and comedy community in Huntington, WV. With performers in both genres finding regional to national acclaim, Huntington is a unique case study for how creative communities can thrive in Appalachia. Your presenters will examine the inner workings of the creative community. From the roles key figures within the “scene”, to essential practices, to maintaining a sense of community. Additionally, we’ll compare the development of musicians and comedians in other regions of various sizes to explore how the “scene” dynamics varies from place to place.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Nathan Thomas is a journalist who focuses on covering new Appalachian music. He served for three years as the music director of WMUL in Huntington, West Virginia. He interned for NPR Music and West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage. He co-directed Moon Over Mannington, a music documentary about William Matheny, and led the social media team for the Huntington Music and Arts Festival.
Conference Subthemes
Economic Development
Comedy Scene Development in Appalachian Communities
With a focus on music and comedy communities, your presenters will explore cultivating and sustaining creative “scenes” in Appalachia. Showcasing how collaboration within and between various artistic subsets is vital to creating a flourishing arts community. Regionally, Appalachia lacks certain resources and infrastructure that are necessary for the growth of artists. This presentation aims to define how the region affects the formation and structure of creative “scenes” that are thriving in the area.
The presentation will be set around the explosive growth of the music and comedy community in Huntington, WV. With performers in both genres finding regional to national acclaim, Huntington is a unique case study for how creative communities can thrive in Appalachia. Your presenters will examine the inner workings of the creative community. From the roles key figures within the “scene”, to essential practices, to maintaining a sense of community. Additionally, we’ll compare the development of musicians and comedians in other regions of various sizes to explore how the “scene” dynamics varies from place to place.
