DALLAS OBSERVER — Four years ago, the esports show Dreamhack decided to give Dallas a try after outgrowing the only space available in Austin for its annual gaming tournaments.

DreamHack hasn't begun to fill up the space in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center even though it has grown with each new gathering. It returns this weekend, and the city is recognizing its efforts to making competitive gaming available in Dallas.

The massive gaming tournament that's offering almost a cool million in prize money to the best players in games like Rocket League, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Fortnite returns to Dallas this Friday through Sunday. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson will present a special proclamation declaring Friday, June 2, as "DreamHack Day."

"Everyone is just super proud of that," says DreamHack's vice president of strategy and growth, Shahin Zarrabi. "We have over 1,000 people working throughout the year to make it happen. It's just another thing that shows that people are doing something that matters." [MORE]

YAHOO FINANCE — Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), one of the world’s leading wellness groups, today announced the launch of eon™, a powdered, herbal beverage supplement that supports overall health and longevity. Comprised of an all-natural, proprietary herbal blend, eon Longevity +Plus (eon’s signature product) underwent one of the largest clinical studies in the supplement space. The results verified that eon supports the health of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems; regulates normal metabolic balance; and helps reduce inflammation — all of which result in a healthier and stronger body. One of the most impactful findings is eon’s ability to reduce inflammation, which is a breakthrough since inflammation is at the core of most, if not all, diseases in the human body. [MORE]

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION / ARTSATL.ORG — Victor Ryan Robertson’s musical journey has been unique. The young tenor from Atlanta originally went to college on a tennis scholarship, but subsequently turned in his locker key to pursue a busy livelihood as a rock singer.

Fate brought him together with Mary Ann Hill, professor of voice at Georgia State University, who led Robertson to realize that his vocal gift might take him much further than he imagined. Robertson honed his skills at Georgia State, and then in the young artist program of Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, New York, and as a chorister in Atlanta.

Since turning to opera professionally, Robertson has enjoyed a burgeoning career throughout the United States and Europe in an eclectic repertory ranging from the Italian bel canto to classic musical theater, and the most cutting edge of contemporary vocal works.

Atlanta audiences will have an opportunity to see Robertson with The Atlanta Opera, where he will portray four different characters in Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide.” Performances start March 4 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and run through March 12. [MORE]

WXIA 11 ALIVE (NBC) — Watch the Interview Here

February is Black History Month and 11Alive is celebrating the accomplishments of a Grammy-nominated Black opera singer who's based out of the Atlanta area.

Victor Ryan Robertson is the only person to make his Met Opera, Kennedy Center, and Broadway debut in the same year. Now he's bringing his talent and impressive voice to the Atlanta Opera while inspiring young people of color to reach for their highest dream and note. 

Robertson fell in love with singing in grade school. 

“I used to get in trouble all the time because I would sing in class," he told 11Alive. "I remember one time I was in the fourth grade and the teacher came. She knelt by me, and she goes, 'You're going to sing for a living.'"

Singing led Robinson to a rock band and touring all over the Southeast.

“We had one concert at a café and a professor at Georgia State University heard me sing. After the show said, ‘You need to sing opera.’ I was like, ‘What?’ I was like, ‘I'm not doing that,’” Robertson recalled. 

He did go into opera thanks to the astute ear of that GSU professor, which turned out to be a very good decision.  [MORE]

WSB-TV (ABC) — By Audrey Washington

Media mogul Tyler Perry was honored with a new exhibition at the Tubman African American Museum in Macon on Friday night.

Channel 2′s Audrey Washington was the only Atlanta reporter in attendance at the Macon-based museum, where she got a sneak peek at the exhibit.

WATCH NEWS SEGMENT HERE

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION — By Rodney Ho

In 2017, Harold Young, events coordinator at the Tubman African American Museum in Macon, had a dream to create an exhibit celebrating the life of Tyler Perry.

He sent frequent emails, made calls, even drove 80 miles to Tyler Perry Studios on a whim to drop off a note to Perry, a note the security guard couldn’t even accept.

Finally, after his latest request, on Dec. 3, 2020, he received an e-mail. “We’re good to move forward with this,” wrote Perry’s publicist Chantal Artur. “Tyler has approved.”

“I’m sitting at my desk blown away,” said Young, who soon after became the first ever Black executive director of the Tubman Museum, which opened in 1981 to celebrate the rich art and history of African Americans.

READ STORY HERE

ARTS ATL — Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre today announced its spring 2023 season, which will include free performances in Piedmont Park, the first in-person performances of Ana Maria Lucaciu’s Long Ago and Only Once, the company premiere of James Kudelka’s The Man in Black and a reprise of Heath Gill’s Confronting Genius.

The free Piedmont Park performances March 23-26 will feature The Man in Black, Confronting Genius and Peter and the Wolf, an original Terminus production in collaboration with the Alliance Theatre. The Man in Black, set to music by Johnny Cash and performed in cowboy boots, was originally commissioned by BalletMet Columbus where it premiered in April 2010. It entered Atlanta Ballet’s repertoire in the 2011-12 season; Terminus co-founders Christian Clark and Gill both performed it as members of Atlanta Ballet that season.

Gill’s Confronting Genius has come full circle; it was first performed at Piedmont Park as part of the Atlanta Dogwood Festival in April 2018. The duet is based on author Elizabeth Gilbert’s whimsical take on a person’s ideas or “genius.” Gill, who recently left Terminus to join Orlando Ballet as guest ballet master and choreographer, is reworking the piece for two women. It was originally set on a man and a woman. The Man in Black and Confronting Genius will be presented on a double bill March 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. [MORE]

WFAE 90.7 NPR — George Gershwin’s jazz- tinged opera "Porgy and Bess" opens at Opera Carolina in Charlotte on Jan. 22.

It features a performer who is the only person ever to make his Metropolitan Opera debut, Broadway debut and Kennedy Center debut all in the span of one year.

We meet Victor Ryan Robinson, who appears as Sportin' Life in "Porgy and Bess," and talk to Opera Carolina’s Maestro James Meena about this production and the Opera Carolina upcoming season on “Charlotte Talks.”

LISTEN HERE

GUESTS:

Victor Ryan Robinson, portraying Sportin’ Life in "Porgy and Bess"
Maestro James Meena, conductor of Opera Carolina

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION — It’s been a busy post-lockdown year in Atlanta’s dance world, with local and touring companies offering a wide variety of thrilling dance, but the pandemic didn’t completely bypass us.

Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre moved to a new space and continued to demonstrate its professionalism in every way — high caliber technique, innovative choreography that moves the heart, bubbles with humor and shapes new young dancers for the next generation of contemporary ballet in Atlanta. Company co-founder Heath Gill retired from dancing this year, but thankfully he is still choreographing for Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre, the company he co-founded in 2017.

Heath Gill retired from dancing this year, but thankfully he is still choreographing for Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre, the company he co-founded in 2017. His full-evening work “LORE,” first performed in 2019, emerged with a revamped cast at Serenbe’s Wildflower Meadow. The gorgeously structured work took audiences on a heartfelt journey of familial love, youthful joy, mature tenderness, grief, loss and the healing power of community — potent themes for today’s fractured world. The company dug deep technically and emotionally; Bret Coppa, formerly with Atlanta Ballet, gave an outstanding performance as the son. — GAR

WFAN, CBS ATLANTA — ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Atlanta has been something of an esports hotspot over the last decade. The city is home to the Overwatch team Atlanta Reign and Call of Duty League team Atlanta FaZe; State Farm Arena held the semifinals of this year’s League of Legends World Championships.

One of the biggest esports events the city hosts is DreamHack. The classic festival recently closed its first in-person edition in Atlanta since 2019. 27,000 people from all over the world came to the Georgia World Congress Center to watch some of the best players in the world compete in games such as Fortnite, Starcraft II and Magic: The Gathering. Well over $300,000 in total prize money was at stake. [MORE]

DEXERTO — Ludwig’s original Subathon on Twitch made him one of the largest live streamers in the world. Now he’s doing Subathon 2.0 in front of a live audience at DreamHack Atlanta.

Ludwig’s original Subathon has gone down in Twitch history, far beyond his tenure on the platform. After the switch to YouTube, he has remained one of the biggest figures in streaming. Through his YouTube exclusivity, Ludwig has remained an incredibly popular streamer, with tens of thousands of viewers in attendance every time he goes live.

Over a year and a half after his original, month-long live stream, he’s at it again with Subathon 2.0. His goal? 50 hours of continuous streaming.

While the number isn’t all that impressive compared to its predecessor, Subathon 2.0 has a twist: it’ll be taking place at Dreamhack Atlanta in front of a live audience. [MORE]

GAMBLING NEWS — HUDstats will be providing its Advanced Video Analysis (AVA) exclusive technology toSports Information Services (SIS), allowing the collection, standardization, and distribution of esports data on SIS’ virtual football and virtual basketball streams. This will enable detailed analysis of over 40 in-game basketball events, as well as north of 20 football ones.

Accessible data points will include information on different events, such as free throws, 2- and 3-pointers, ball possession, fouls, and more for ex-basketball matches. As for e-football, all information about ball location, free kicks, goal kicks, throw-ins, substitutions, added time, offsides, goals, and corners will be available for analysis. [MORE]