Review: Burnt Sugar shows off ingenuity, skill

Saturday, January 28, 2012

By Michael Hochanadel

SCHENECTADY — Thrilling, funky, complicated, compelling, the awkwardly named hybrid hyperactive hipster band Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber threw down and all around at Proctors GE Theater on Saturday.

...The GE Theater was in cabaret trim Saturday with just four rows of seats behind an open space, with cocktail tables up front and a single row of chairs at the edge on each side, closer to the bandstand. The seats were mostly full — of happy, dazzled people, swung by the jazz, bounced by the funk and rocking with the rock. Meanwhile, “Shrek the Musical” filled the main stage and Aztec Two-Step sold out the Underground Stage in an Eighth Step show, a big night at Proctors in several dimensions.

Read the full story: http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2012/jan/28/0129_sugar/

The Sisters Rosensweig at Capital Rep

Ray Graf (2012-01-27)
Listen Now:

ALBANY, NY (WAMC) - Ray Graf speaks with Marcy McGuigan, Bernadette Quigley, and Yvonne Perry about their work in Capital Rep's production of Wendy Wasserstein's The Sisters Rosensweig. © Copyright 2012, WAMC

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1898658

Times Union Review: SHREK The Musical!

There are plenty of big scenes -- ranging from the impressive dragon dance of “Forever” to the fairy tale explosion of “Freak Flag,” in which Pinocchio (Luke Yellin), The Witch (Susan Leilani Gearou), The Three Little Pigs (Ryan Everett Wood, Chris Woods and Lyonel Reneau) and the rest of their pals revolt against Farquaad’s fascism.

http://blog.timesunion.com/localarts/shrek-proctors-12412/21327/

'Shrek,' a beast of a production, coming to Proctors

Bringing movie to the stage a monumental task
By MIchael eck, Special to the Times Union
Published 12:49 p.m., Wednesday, January 18, 2012

You can bet that all the green flowing around "Shrek: The Musical" isn't just makeup.

"Shrek" marks the theatrical debut of DreamWorks, which is finally following Disney into the market with its stage adaptation of the first of the four successful "Shrek" films.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/entertainment/article/Shrek-a-beast-of-a-production-coming-to-2612034.php#ixzz1kNPvo9rG

Recent grad is green with joy playing ‘Shrek’ in touring show

Saturday, January 21, 2012

By Bill Buell (Contact)
Gazette Reporter

Lukas Poost plays the title character in “Shrek the Musical,” which opens at Proctors on Tuesday. (photo: JOAN MARCUS)

Lukas Poost really can’t believe his good fortune. Not a year yet out of college and he’s already touring the country playing one of the most recognizable characters in recent Broadway history.

“This has been incredible,” said Poost, a 2011 graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia who is playing the title character in the national touring production of “Shrek the Musical,” opening Tuesday at Proctors and running through next weekend.

“It’s been unlike anything I possibly could have expected. I just graduated, here I am on tour, and I absolutely love it. Oh, how I love it.”

Read full story: 

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2012/jan/21/0121_shrek/

SCHENECTADY — Next Tuesday, the musical version of the popular movie “Shrek” will arrive at Proctors Theatre for eight performances.

Playing one of the most beloved characters in the piece is Andre Jordan, who portrays Donkey.

Read full story: http://troyrecord.com/articles/2012/01/19/entertainment/doc4f173aa11f693923348320.txt

Intergalactic Nemesis @ GE Theatre at Proctors, 1/13/12

January 13, 2012 at 11:39 pm by Michael Janairo, Arts & Entertainment Editor

“The Intergalactic Nemesis” has landed at Proctors in Schenectady with an answer to the question, “What exactly is a ‘live-action graphic novel’?”

Full story: http://blog.timesunion.com/localarts/intergalactic-nemesis-ge-theatre-at-proctors-11312/21089/

Bebe Neuwirth brings a lot of character to Proctors

-- Bebe Neuwirth brings cabaret show to Proctors
By STEVE BARNES, Senior writer
Published 12:52 p.m., Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/entertainment/article/Bebe-Neuwirth-brings-a-lot-of-character-to-2470963.php#ixzz1jDt1TjI3

Community Leaders Gather to Celebrate Official Opening

Of New Schenectady Heritage Area Visitors Center

-----

Proctors Designated as TPA for Schenectady County

---------

Reception/Ribbon Cutting, 10:30AM, January 12, 2012

 

Schenectady, NY – Jan. 12, 2012 -- Schenectady officially will dedicate a new
Heritage Area Visitors Center at its biggest attraction, Proctors, in downtown
Schenectady, local officials announced today. Proctors hosted 1,728 events last year
attracting more than 600,000 people to downtown Schenectady.

 

The official opening of the Schenectady Heritage Area Visitor Center coincides with
the Schenectady County Legislature’s designation of Proctors as Schenectady County’s
Tourism Promotion Agency (TPA). 

 

Both events will be celebrated at a ribbon cutting set for Thursday, January 12 at
10:30AM at Proctors.

 

Proctors as Tourism Promotion Agency

As the County’s TPA, the Legislature has authorized Proctors to apply for funding
through the “I Love NY” matching grant program to promote tourism in Schenectady
County.

 

“We are proud to designate Proctors as the TPA for Schenectady County and excited
for the opening of the Visitor Center,” said Judy Dagostino, Chair of the
Schenectady County Legislature.  

 

“Working together, we’ve created a new and exciting environment in Schenectady
County with Proctors as our centerpiece. With Proctors as our TPA and with this new
Center, the entire region will see all that we have to offer including thriving
businesses, restaurants, and theaters that our residents and visitors can enjoy.”

 

Visitors Welcomed

According to Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, “The City is pleased to cooperate
fully with this effort to create a Visitors Center that will showcase Schenectady
and offer residents and guests information about our heritage and our future as a
technology leader.”

 

“This is an exciting initiative for Proctors,” said CEO Philip Morris. “The
Schenectady Heritage Area Visitor Center is yet another step toward achieving our
goal of making Proctors an important gathering place for the community – and for
those visiting Schenectady. We’re pleased to move this project forward with the
strong support of the City, County and Metroplex.”

 

The project will be funded by a $180,000 Federal Highway Administration National
Scenic Byways Grant administered by the New York State Department of Transportation
(NYSDOT). A $40,000 local match will be provided by the Schenectady County Metroplex
Development Authority. 

 

Eric Hamilton, Chair of the Scenic Byway Program said,  “The Mohawk Towpath Byway is
excited about this project and the opportunity that it provides.  The visitor center
is located at the western gateway to the Mohawk Towpath Byway in an area that will
capture the interests of large numbers of residents and visitors alike.  The
materials presented here will spark further interest in our area's heritage and
encourage further exploration as a visitor leaves the center.

 

Mark Woods, Coordinator of the Scenic Byways Program at NYSDOT, said, "The new
visitors center will celebrate the local, regional and nationally significant story
of this historic area at the crossroads of two designated scenic byways in the heart
of Schenectady."

 

ADIRONDACK Studios, an Argyle, NY firm that has been the fabricator of sets for
Disney’s The Lion King as well as sets for the Boston, Los Angeles and New York
Opera companies was commissioned along with Stracher Roth Gilmore Architects of
Schenectady to design the new facility that will be located across from the
Proctor’s box office. The 1,200 square foot exhibit area will be easily accessible
from the State Street entrance of Proctors entertainment complex.

 

The project will feature five areas that highlight the legacy of Schenectady area
and alert visitors to the role that Schenectady plays in green energy and other
emerging technologies. The five exhibit areas include History, Landmarks, Industry,
Culture and Visionaries. 

 

The Visitors Center exhibits deploy state of the art digital print and TV
technologies. The area will include enhanced lighting to highlight the area – and a
new ceiling over and adjacent to the exhibits will create an intimate space to view
and participate in the exhibits. The exhibit space will also include display racks
to showcase marketing materials on various historic points and places of interest
within Schenectady County and the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway.   

 

A unique feature of the Visitors Center is that it is designed to be a revolving
exhibit, enabling Proctors to introduce new subject matter throughout the year. The
exhibit panels are designed to be easily and cost effectively updated.

 

Representatives from numerous organizations came together to develop the content of
the exhibit including the Schenectady County Historical Society, Schenectady Museum,
Mabee Farm, local historians, Proctors History Committee, Mohawk Towpath Scenic
Byway, Revolutionary Byway and the City of Schenectady.

 

The Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway is a national and state designated byway from
Waterford to Schenectady. It connects to the Revolutionary Byway that runs to Port
Ontario. 

 

Ray Gillen, Metroplex Chair and Commissioner of Economic Development for Schenectady
County said, “We were able to utilize this grant funding to take a high visibility
space within the Proctors complex that was not being utilized and turn it into a
resource that will help theater goers and other visitors to downtown learn about
everything that Schenectady County has to offer.”

 

For more information

For more information on the Visitors Center, contact Maureen Gebert,, Schenectady
Heritage Area Visitors Center Coordinator, (518) 382-5147;
mgebert@schenectadyny.gov.

Thom O’Connor, Proctors, 518-382-3884 X166,toconnor@proctors.org

Joe McQueen, Director of Public Communications, Schenectady County,(518) 388-4772
joe.mcqueen@schenectadycounty.com