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In early 1910, Benny Rolfe‘s latest vaudeville release, The Rolfonians, received high praise from the New York Dramatic Mirror. “B. A Rolfe has given vaudeville several entertaining productions, but his latest, which be has named after himself, and in which he appears, is the best he has yet turned out. The Rolfonians is novel if nothing else, while it is decidedly refined and of a truly high-class order.… Mr. Rolfe is to be sincerely congratulated. The Rolfonians is … so admirably staged, and so entirely harmonious from a musical viewpoint, that it will undoubtedly become one of vaudeville’s most sought for acts.” » Continue Reading.
Posts Tagged ‘Theater’
Benny Rolfe of Brasher Falls: Pioneer of Silent Films
Depot Theatre Celebrates Season, Looks to Future
The Board of Trustees of the Depot Theatre is calling the organization’s 36th season “an unquestionable success”, noting that the Theatre ended the fiscal year in the black for the first time in four years. Organizers cite higher attendance and contributions from donors and volunteers.
“It might come as a surprise to some that ticket sales cover only a small portion of the expense involved in running a professional theatre,” board treasurer John Klipper said in a statement issued to the press. “Earned revenue must be augmented with contributed revenue. We’re excited that our revenue goals were not only met, but surpassed!” » Continue Reading.
ADK Shakespeare Company Presenting Autumn Season
The Adirondack Shakespeare Company (ADK Shakes) is gearing up for its second Autumn Season. 2014 saw ADK Shakes bring the Park a total of five full productions by William Shakespeare as well as an original play for children penned by the Company’s Executive Director, Patrick Siler. Two more productions are about to get underway: Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew.
“What’s special about this fall is that we are beginning a year-long celebration of our Fifth Anniversary Season,” says Siler. “Macbeth is one of the titles that we produced in our very first summer in Schroon Lake, and we are very excited to revisit each one of those show’s over the next year.” In addition to Macbeth, next summer the group will also perform two other titles from their inaugural season: Romeo and Juliet and As You Like It. » Continue Reading.
Depot Theatre’s Shakespeare-in-the-Park Program
Depot Theatre’s Shakespeare-in-the-Park is celebrating its 12th season appropriately with William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
This rollicking and poignant comedy involves mistaken identity, unrequited love, a humorous rivalry between generations, capped off with a perfect comic ending consisting of many marriages that leaves you with a longing for the good ole days.
“Our approach to Shakespeare is playful, physical and accurate to his intent and meaning,” says Co-Director Scott Gibbs. “This shortened version of Twelfth Night will feature both traditional and modern music performed by our actors, who are a diverse group of local high school and college students as well as theatre professionals.” » Continue Reading.
Sandra Hildreth: Our History In Art And Music
To understand how America was made, one need only go back and look at what people created, their responses to the events and environments they lived in. There are currently two unique opportunities available that will take you back to other times in very different ways. Both are based on things that occurred around 60 years ago – one building on centuries of songs and the other forging a path into the world of contemporary art, ironically, going on at almost the same time.
A one time opportunity to learn about our past through the arts is a performance tonight, (July 14) of “RED”, a Pendragon Theatre production that is making a one day tour to VIEW, in Old Forge. “RED”, a Tony award winning play by John Logan, is a two-person performance that brings you into the 1950’s world of Abstract Expressionism in New York City. » Continue Reading.
Glens Falls Opera Star Robert Perkins: Conquering Europe
After a month visiting with his mother in Lake George, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Perkins moved to New York City. In 1911, he was among the soloists in the first production of Quo Vadis? at the Metropolitan Opera. While working in the grand opera scene, he also studied with Sergei Klibansky, one of the world’s leading voice coaches. Perkins was among his many students who performed at the Carnegie Chamber Music Hall.
While performing nonstop for several years, Robert also studied under Bertha Frigau, a renowned language and singing instructor. American productions of foreign operas sometimes suffered through interpretation, falling short of the gold standard performed at leading venues in Germany, Italy, and elsewhere in Europe. Many American opera singers improved their work after studying under Frigau. Like some, Robert Perkins sought the most challenging venue for his new language skills: the stages of Europe. In January 1913, he and his wife sailed the Atlantic. » Continue Reading.
Robert Henry Perkins: Opera Star from Glens Falls
Imagine the drama of the moment: in a courtroom, Edward Perkins battled against the city of Beacon, New York, desperate to win on behalf of his poor family. The charge? They had been cold-heartedly evicted from their apartment by city officials, and for several chilly, rainy June days, he had searched for new housing. Meanwhile, Edward’s wife and son suffered and his daughter fell ill, presumably from the terrible living conditions. The damages sought (in 1915) were $15,000 from the city, along with $30,000 from the police chief who had deposited all the family’s belongings on the sidewalk. The $45,000 total was equal to $1.1 million in 2014.
The squalor his family had endured was graphically described in court: “Heaps of refuse on the floor, chicken heads, pieces of bones, decayed meats, swarms of flies, and a terrific odor. In another room, live chickens were kept.” There was no bathroom. Indoor residue and an outdoor pile revealed that the slop bucket had been routinely dumped from a window.
When Edward’s testimony ended, the court called Mrs. Perkins to the stand, and that’s when it happened: simultaneously, two women stood. It was the stuff of future movies, but this was reality. Confusion reigned, and Perkins’ wife of several years, the mother of his two children, appeared bewildered. » Continue Reading.
Lake Placid Center for the Arts Summer 2014 Preview
Lake Placid Center for the Arts, celebrating over 40 years of Arts in the Adirondacks, is presenting a mix of events for both adults and children this summer. For information on these, or any other LPCA program, visit our website at www.lakeplacidarts.org or call the box office at 518.523.2512. » Continue Reading.
Crowdfunding For The Adirondack Lakes Center for Arts
The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts in Blue Mountain Lake has announced a new campaign on Adirondack Gives, the crowdfunding site for Adirondack region nonprofits, to help fund the purchase of new tires for the organization’s van.
Traveling the 2,000 square miles of the Adirondacks takes a toll on the Center’s equipment. For the 2014 ADK Summer Playhouse season, the organization plans to travel five productions to 17 towns for a total of 31 performances. “The van is crucial piece of equipment, it helps fulfill our mission of bringing our programs to underserved communities in the Adirondacks,” Executive Director Alex Harris said in a statement announcing the fundraising drive.
The goal is to raise $800.00. You can give as much or as little as you like to toward that goal by heading over to the Adirondack Gives website. » Continue Reading.
Livin’ the Dream: Ticonderoga Native Whitney Armstrong
If you’re just a regular Joe or Jane, you’ve probably at some point—say, while lying back in an office chair, or doing the dishes, perhaps mowing the grass—entertained a number of Walter Mitty-like fantasies. You know … stuff like, “What’s it like to be that guy or girl?” For men, that guy could be anything. What’s it like to be the smartest kid in school? The star center on a school basketball team? The ace pitcher on the baseball team? A great running back in football? Better yet, how about doing all that in college? Wow … BMOC, plenty of attention from the girls, the coolest among the guys. Might as well toss in a professional baseball contract … what sports-loving boy doesn’t dream of that?
If you’ve never been considered “chick bait,” daydreams might find you 6 foot 4 with a muscular build, and a face that others besides a mother could love. In place of your everyday job, reverie might find you a TV actor, or in movies. That would be cool—fraternizing and working with show-biz superstars. And hey, why not marry the world’s most famous model? She’ll need a great place to live … maybe the Hollywood Hills? And we’ll chum around with a top music superstar of the past century.
I’m going out on a limb, but here’s my guess: for the rest of our lives, most of us would relish having any one thing from that list. But all of them? » Continue Reading.
Depot Theatre Announces 2014 Main Stage Season
Old Blue Eyes takes the stage, a singing duo from the 50’s reunites, and humor ensues in a small Texas town for the Depot Theatre’s lively 2014 Season lineup. “It’s a terrific season of fun and laughter at the great quality our audiences have come to expect,” says Depot 2012 Volunteer of the Year Karen Lewis, who has guided the season planning process.
The season opens with “My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra”, a musical that distills the nearly 1,400 songs that Sinatra recorded down to 56 selections. The show promises to be a fresh, entertaining evening of great music, beautifully and brightly delivered by a cast of four. Old Blue Eyes is followed by the fast-paced, costume-changing hilarity of “Greater Tuna”, a send-up of small town morals and mores in which two actors portray an entire group of upstanding citizens in the small town of Tuna, Texas.
The musical comedy “Pete ‘N’ Keely” caps the season. Pete and Keely are a now-bitterly-divorced chart-topping singing duo from the 50’s and 60’s who reunite for a 1968 television special celebrating their careers. This bright and happy show features a nostalgic and clever mix of golden oldies sure to have audiences laughing and tapping their toes. » Continue Reading.
ADK Shakespeare Presenting ‘Sunday Shakespeare Series’
The Adirondack Shakespeare Company troupe is teaming-up with the Lake Placid Center for the Arts to present a new “Sunday Shakespeare Series” this month with three original mash-ups of the Bard’s greatest hits.
ADK Shakespeare’s company of professional actors presents selections from the best of the Bard on different themes each week: true love, villainy, and “kings and things”. Each show will run about an hour and touch on such beloved classics as: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, Henry V, and many more. These shows are fast-paced, light-hearted tours across Shakespeare’s canon. » Continue Reading.
The Puppet People to Perform The Firebird in Long Lake
There is something so hypnotic about watching a puppet show. The simplicity and artistry combined, as an avenue for storytelling, is timeless. The variety of puppets seem to be endless from shadow or hand to a more complex marionette. I enjoy how the stage designs spark the imagination where a scrap of fabric becomes a dress, body of water or backdrop. It is all about where your mind can take you. Around our house a simple sock with some buttons sewn on provided hours of entertainment when my children were young. Now, of course, more complex puppets are in the works.
For the second time Long Lake Public Library is bringing the talents of Schenectady’s The Puppet People to the area. This year’s March 15th performance of The Firebird is free and open to the public, though registration is requested. » Continue Reading.
Young Playwrights Festival at Pendragon Theatre
Pendragon Theatre has always been one of my family’s favorite places to see a theatre performance in the Adirondack Park. In addition to an intimate theatre experience, there are always opportunities for children to gain professional theatre skills.
Pendragon hosts kids’ camps, live productions and internships throughout the year. Their latest event is bringing not just the stage alive for young adults, but hopefully their words as well. » Continue Reading.
ADK Shakes Expands Into The ‘Off-Season’
The Adirondack Shakespeare Company (ADK Shakes), a professional theatre troupe that has been entertaining summer audiences for the past four years, is now expanding their programming into the fall and spring season. The first foray will be Shakespeare’s early comedy, Love’s Labour’s Lost, which will be presented at four venues, all brand new to ADK Shakes.
ADK Shakes is known for its “Shakespeare IN THE RAW” method of performing with no sets, few props, minimalist costuming and incredibly shortened rehearsal period. Artistic Director Tara Bradway will be directing the first fall show and is excited about the company she’s assembled. “This is the largest ensemble we’ve ever worked with,” she says. “Usually our productions employ a cast of twelve, but this show features fifteen incredibly talented professionals. We are really looking forward to see what they do with this too-often overlooked play!” Although you may recognize several veteran performers who are returning to the ranks, the show also includes many newcomers. » Continue Reading.
Latest News Headlines
- High Rock on the Oswegatchie River
- St. Regis Falls school board fires 2 principals on same day, board member resigns
- Hickory Ski Center faces deadline to fund ski lifts
- Missing RIT student could be in the Adirondacks
- A new Adirondack growth: Whiskey fungus
- Hiker dies near Rainbow Falls in Keene, New York
- Saranac River trail network keeps growing
- Tupper Lake's water woes
- Santa's Workshop: 75 years of magic
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Latest News Headlines
- High Rock on the Oswegatchie River
- St. Regis Falls school board fires 2 principals on same day, board member resigns
- Hickory Ski Center faces deadline to fund ski lifts
- Missing RIT student could be in the Adirondacks
- A new Adirondack growth: Whiskey fungus
- Hiker dies near Rainbow Falls in Keene, New York
- Saranac River trail network keeps growing
- Tupper Lake's water woes
- Santa's Workshop: 75 years of magic
- Powering up their way: Adirondackers living off the grid
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