WORLD PREMIERE TOUR

Clarke & Uhry’s Shaker-inspired
ANGEL REAPERS

8 PM, October 21 at Proctors
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Hypnotic. Provocative. Haunting.

Simplicity integrates this powerful narrative of movement and song

to expose the underbelly of a repressed 18th Century New England Sect

EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE: To arrange for an interview with any member of the Creative team of ANGEL REAPERS, please contact Thom O’Connor,

In a Nutshell:
DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY: Martha Clarke
WRITTEN BY: Alfred Uhry. With traditional Shaker hymns
AGES: 15+ / nudity
RUNNING TIME: 80 minutes with no intermission

Schenectady, NY, September 6, 2011 - In a mesmerizing one-night-only presentation on Friday, October 21, ANGEL REAPERS will astound its audience at Proctors with a stunning evening of theatre revealed through lively song and dance.
ANGEL REAPERS receives its world premiere on October 7 in The Moore Theater of the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth College—the site of Clarke’s own artistic reawakening four decades ago and near to an important center for Shaker culture, the Enfield (NH) Shaker Museum. The Hop is a co-commissioner of the work, as it was (with Lincoln Center) for an earlier work by Clarke. The show plays at Proctors arts and entertainment complex on October 21 and continues to ArtsEmerson: The World On Stage (Boston) before opening at the Joyce Theatre in New York City.
According to Proctors CEO Philip Morris, although quintessential Americana, the story of the Shakers is not widely known but there is general excitement that ANGEL REAPERS will play at Proctors arts and entertainment complex as part of its World Premiere Tour. “The Shakers were a utopian religious sect that was controversial even at a time when America was roiling with such movements,” said Morris. “Anyone with a sense of history, with an appetite for intrigue, an understanding of repression and the universal quest for personal freedom will want to experience this unique theatrical event. The show comes to us with the pedigree of two theatrical powerhouses, Alfred Uhry and Martha Clarke. Proctors is delighted to share this show with Capital Region audiences.”

A rich and dynamic collaboration between Alfred Uhry (the only American playwright to have won a Pulitzer Prize, an Academy Award and two Tony Awards) and MacArthur Genius director/choreographer Martha Clarke, ANGEL REAPERS is a multi-disciplinary work influenced by the life of Ann Lee (1736-1784), founder of the Shaker movement. Mother Ann, as she became known, was a visionary, a mystic and a powerful spiritual leader. Her categorical denial of sexuality and her determination to erase it from herself and her followers inspires the stunning, rhythmic and at times hilarious choreography in ANGEL REAPERS.
While the work explores some Shakers’ inability to live with the rule of celibacy, it doesn’t denigrate that rule. Ann Lee’s own personal tragedies were the root of the edict, Clarke said. “She had four babies with her husband and they all died at birth or soon after, and she had a vision after these deaths that sex was the root of all evil. It came out of her own personal experience, her own personal misery.”
“The more we thought about celibacy, the more we found it’s not just something to smirk at,” said Uhry. “A lot of men were attracted to it as well as women. I think everybody, when you think about it, realizes that now and then in your life your body may be taking you somewhere you don’t really want to go.”
The staging of ANGEL REAPERS is not to be biographical in the usual sense, but more loosely constructed, slipping in and out of reality and embracing Ann's visions and those of her followers. The plot is woven throughout with movement, song and dance to bring to life this extraordinary 18th Century woman and the singular world she created.

A heady weave of compelling texts, a capella song and hypnotic, percussive dance—all inspired by the historical Shakers – reveal the story in a spare setting of traditional Shaker furnishings. The cast consists of nine dancers plus two lead actors, portraying Ann and her brother, William Lee.

Portraying an array of real and fictional characters, the 11 performers deliver a “mesmerizing…beautifully wrought illustration of repression and freedom,” wrote the Durham News and Observer of a preview presentation at last summer’s American Dance Festival in Durham, NC.

Performers include company members from Paul Taylor Dance Company, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Twyla Tharp dance group.

Collaborators include Jane Greenwood, who will design period costumes, lighting designer Chris Akerlind and a music director.

About the Shakers
The story of the Shakers is quintessential Americana, yet details of Ann's life are not widely known. She is compelling as a female leader, an outsider who formed a religious movement and converted many followers to a strict way of life. She preached celibacy and demonstrated that through shaking and trembling movements, sin could be purged from the body.

These gesticulating, dancing motions gave the Shaker sect its name. Ann was frequently imprisoned for blasphemy and dancing on the Sabbath. She preached that sin could be avoided through equal treatment of men and women; her ideals of gender equality only added to her persecution. Mother Ann and her brother led missions to find converts to their celibate way of life so their religion could continue. The Shakers were pacifists, but they were feared, ridiculed and brutally attacked. Constant persecution and hardship took its toll on the community, and eventually the movement failed.

ANGEL REAPERS is set in the late 1700s, almost at the end of Ann's life. She sits alone in a plain wooden chair in a severely furnished room. Ann has had a hard life and it shows. We go back to when the Shaker community was thriving. Through movement, we see how the community is structured, following a strictly celibate code. The women sleep on one side of a hall; the men on the other. They rise early and work in near silence all day, rarely speaking except to utter Shaker tenets such as, 'There shall be no one come to worship God with sin unconfessed. No male or female shall keep private correspondence or union. Neither shall they touch each other, unless necessary.'

Daily routines are expressed through rhythmic, repeated movements and counter-rhythms. The plot is fortified throughout with Shaker songs, dancing and confession meetings. At times, there is talking in tongues and summoning of spirits. The movement vocabulary is influenced by eyewitness accounts published in Shaker journals, such as this from The Testimony of Christ's Second Appearing, 2nd Ed., 1810: "After sitting in silent meditation, they were taken with a mighty trembling...exercised in singing, shouting, or walking the floor under the influence of spiritual signs-or swiftly passing and repassing each other, like clouds agitated by a mighty wind."
Their worship was an important form of physical release, says Clarke.
Ann is clearly the community leader. Her younger brother William is Ann's devoted second-in-command. There is strong chemistry between brother and sister, never mentioned, but clearly apparent. As the Shaker movement grows, the bond between Brother William and Mother Ann becomes tighter, fuelled by an unmentioned sexual tension. Prominent followers desert the community. The bonds of celibacy become untenable. The men attempt to shake off carnal feelings by dancing naked and singing a Shaker song. Mother Ann insists on joining them, but William will not permit it. He collapses and dies shortly after. Again Ann is bitterly alone; her own death soon follows.

Ann Lee's story is an important part of history that remains relevant in American society. It shows the contradiction between the prim prudery of Shaker tenets and the wild, sexual nature they suppressed. Their worship practices - ecstatic shaking, speaking in tongues, drinking "spiritual" wine - were compensation for repressing natural human impulses. This conflict between morality and sexuality still prevails in our culture, where nudity is taboo, abstinence is preached, and sex education and contraception may be forbidden. In ANGEL REAPERS, two contrasting artists explore this dichotomy through a unique collaboration: one whose work is typically rooted in narrative structure, and one who tells stories through movement and image making.

ANGEL REAPERS is funded in part by the National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts. NDP is supported by lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, with additional funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Community Connections Fund of the MetLife Foundation, and the Boeing Company Charitable Trust.

Parental Advisory: Recommended for ages 15/up. Brief nudity.

Running Time: 80 min; no intermission.

Get Tickets Today
Tickets for ANGEL REAPERS at Proctors are available at Proctors Box Office, (518) 346-6204 or online at proctors.org. Ticket Prices: $20, $35, $45 & $65

Significant discounts on tickets are available for groups of 20 or more. A listing of shows and pricing may be found on proctors.org/group_sales or by contacting Proctors Group Sales at 518-382-3884 ext. 139.

ANGEL REAPERS at Proctors is made possible with public funds from the
New York State Council on the Arts, celebrating 50 years of building strong, creative communities in New York State's 62 counties.

Free Parking for ANGEL REAPERS is available in the Broadway Garage, courtesy of the Times Union. Go to timesunion.com for news and entertainment.

The Buzz about ANGEL REAPERS
"Notable for its mesmerizing qualities...ANGEL REAPERS is a beautifully wrought illustration of repression and freedom." —Durham News and Observer
"Clarke and Uhry keep the balance between spiritual expression and sexual repression on a taut wire...The dancers are superb, and they can, and do, act. They also sing beautifully." —Classical Voice of North Carolina
"Choreographer Martha Clarke and writer Alfred Uhry give us a wonderful sensation of Shaker life a smooth and unforced way to entertain and to tell a tale." —offoffoff.com

ANGEL REAPERS – Creative Bios

ALFRED UHRY (Playwright) is distinguished as the only American playwright to have won a Pulitzer Prize, an Academy Award and two Tony Awards. A graduate of Brown University, Uhry began his professional career as a lyric writer under contract to the late Frank Loesser. In that capacity, he made his Broadway debut in 1968 with Here's Where I Belong. His first major success came when he collaborated with Robert Waldman on a musical adaptation of Eudora Welty's The Robber Bridegroom, which opened at the Mark Taper Forum in 1976 and went on to Broadway, winning Mr. Uhry his first Tony nomination. He followed that with five re-created musicals at the Goodspeed Opera House.
His first play, Driving Miss Daisy opened at Playwrights Horizons Theatre in New York in 1987. It moved subsequently to the John Houseman Theatre where it ran for three years and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988. The film version, starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy, won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1990. The film also won the Best Picture Award. His next play, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, was commissioned by the Cultural Olympiad for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. It opened on Broadway the next year where it ran for over 500 performances and won Uhry the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Drama League Award and the 1997 Tony Award for Best Play. His book for the musical, Parade, directed by Harold Prince with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, won the Tony Award in 1999. A revised production at the Donmar Theatre in London won Mr. Uhry an Olivier Award Nomination and went on to Los Angeles where it opened to rave reviews in October, 2009. His play, Without Walls, starring Laurence Fishburne, opened at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles in June of 2006. His next play, Edgardo Mine, played the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis in 2006 and the book for Lovemusik, a musical about Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya ran on Broadway in 2007. It was directed by Harold Prince. For this, Mr. Uhry won another Drama Desk nomination. He is currently finishing a play commissioned by the Manhattan Theatre Club.

MARTHA CLARKE (Director/Choreographer) MacArthur Award winner Martha Clarke’s career spans dance, theater, and opera. She was a founding member of Pilobolus Dance Theatre and has choreographed for the Nederlans Dans Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Rambert Dance Company, and The Martha Graham Company, among others.
As a director, Clarke’s many original productions include Garden of Earthly Delights, Vienna: Lusthaus, Miracolo d’amore, Endangered Species, An Uncertain Hour, The Hunger Artist, and Vers la flame. She directed the premiere of Christopher Hampton’s Alice’s Adventures Underground at the Royal National Theatre in London. Clarke has directed The Magic Flute for the Glimmerglass Opera and the Canadian Opera Company; Cosi fan tutte for Glimmerglass; Tan Dun’s Marco Polo for the Munich Biennale, the Hong-Kong Festival and the New York City Opera; and Gluck’s Orfeo and Euridice for the English National Opera and the New York City Opera. She directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the American Repertory Theatre and created Belle Epoque, a work based on the life of Toulouse Lautrec, for Lincoln Center Theater. Clarke has received grants from the Guggenheim Foundation as well as the National Endowment for the Arts. She has received the Drama Desk Award, two Obie Awards, and the L.A. Critics Award. Her Kaos, presented and New York Theatre Workshop, was awarded the first Tony Randall Foundation Award in 2006.

CHRISTOPHER AKERLIND (Set & Lighting Designer). Broadway: Top Girls, 110 In The Shade (Tony nom.), Shining City, Well, Awake and Sing! (Tony nom.), Rabbit Hole, A Touch of the Poet, In My Life, The Lights In The Piazza (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics awards), Reckless, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Seven Guitars (Tony nom.), Philadelphia Here I Come!, The Piano Lesson. Recent: Kafeneion (Athens Festival); Superior Donuts (Steppenwolf); Orpheus X (Edinburgh & Hong Kong Festivals); Kaos (NYTW). Obie Award for Sustained Excellence.

DONNA ZAKOWSKA (Costume Designer) studied dance and painting at Columbia University and the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, and is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama. She has designed for film, theatre, circus, opera, music and puppet theatre, including nine seasons for the Big Apple Circus and a concert tour for Mick Jagger. Her theatre work has included projects with Fernando Arrabal, Martha Clarke, Eve Ensler, Richard Foreman, John Kelly, Harry Kondoleon, William H. Macy, Tom O’Horgan, Roman Paska, Carey Perloff, Steve Reich and Julie Taymor. Her designs have been seen at theatres throughout the world, including the Hebbel Theater (Berlin), the Barbizon and Royal Festival Hall (London), Bobigny, Châtelet and the Théâtre du Rond-Point (Paris), Teatro Argentina (Rome), BAM, Lincoln Center and the Public Theater (New York). She designed sets and costumes for Roman Paska’s Dead Puppet Talk at the Kitchen, and for Souls of Naples, starring John Turturro, at the Duke on 42nd Street (NY) and the Teatro Mercadante (Naples). After beginning her film work with Woody Allen, John Turturro (Mac) and David Salle (Search and Destroy), movies and television projects have included Harriet the Spy, The Pallbearer, Polish Wedding, Forces of Nature, Illuminata, One True Thing, Invisible Circus, Original Sin, Kate and Leopold, Empire Falls, Romance and Cigarettes, Then She Found Me, HBO’s John Adams, Bunraku, and Rehearsal For A Sicilian Tragedy, a magical-realist documentary due for release this year.

ARTHUR SOLARI (Music Director) has collaborated with McArthur award winning director and choreographer Martha Clarke on her three most recent original productions, Garden of Earthly Delights, Angel Reapers and In the NIght. Cited by The New York Times as “virtuosic”, Mr. Solari specializes in music of various cultures and styles. His varied background includes 20th and 21st century chamber music, experimental music, and multidisciplinary roles for theater, dance and film. Performing and creating in both established and avant garde arenas, Mr. Solari has appeared throughout the world regularly with various esteemed groups and artists as conductor, percussionist, music director and sound designer. As a long time member of the venerable New Jersey Percussion Ensemble, founded by his mentor Raymond DesRoches, and leader of derivative groups under its auspices,
Mr. Solari has performed hundreds a of works including many world premieres by artists such as John Cage, George Crumb, Charles Wuorinen, and Steve Reich to name a few. He most recently has been a guest of Jerome Begin’s The Left Hand Path Ensemble, Maya Trio, and Chris Peck’s Finger Ensemble among others. Mr. Solari has also worked on feature films such as Cabin Fever, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and an upcoming HBO documentary film, Ultimate Wish. Lastly, Mr. Solari is co-founder of the musical amplification electronics company MagMa Technologies, inventing and developing amplification systems for acoustical instruments, working in collaboration with musician and composer Stephan Moore (of Hemisphere Speakers and former music coordinator the Merce Cunningham Dance Company). He holds a full time faculty position at Hofstra University, NY, as Music Director for the Dance Program.

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Area Film Maker Shannon Plumb Featured at Proctors

Schenectady, NY – August 24, 2011 – Two seven-minutes films by Schenectady resident Shannon Plumb will precede the movie showings of Incendies (August 23 – 25) and Cave of Forgotten Dreams (Aug. 29 – Sept. 1)

Ms. Plumbs’ feature Rattles and Cherries will precede Incendies. Her Shalmont Field will be shown before Cave of Forgotten Dreams. Both films will be presented on the GIANT screen in the GE Theatre at Proctors.

Ms. Plumb's cinematic studies of life's various roles and characters explore the complexities embedded in the ordinary and extraordinary. From the humble persona of a new mother to iconic figures from the silver screen, Plumb portrays these characters with zest and humor. Inspired by the curious spirit of slapstick comedy and the physical humor of silent film legends such as Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.

Plumb employs a low-fi aesthetic by using Super-8 film, stationary camera shots, long takes and hand-made props and costumes. Plumb is a one-woman show starring as all characters and acting as the creative force behind her films. The low quality production of the films and her elastic expressiveness as an actress adds to the charm of her work and pushes it beyond its obvious predecessors and influences.

Incendies
August 23 - 25
The search began at the opening of their mother's will.
When notary Lebel (Rémy Girard) sits down with Jeanne and Simon Marwan (Mélissa Désormeaux Poulin, Maxim Gaudette) to read them their mother Nawal’s will (Lubna Azabal), the twins are stunned to receive a pair of envelopes – one for the father they thought was dead and another for a brother they didn’t know existed.

In this enigmatic inheritance, Jeanne sees the key to Nawal’s retreat into unexplained silence during the final weeks of her life. She immediately decides to go to the Middle East to dig into a family history of which she knows next to nothing.

Simon is unmoved by their mother’s posthumous mind games. However, the love he has for his sister is strong, and he soon joins her in combing their ancestral homeland in search of a Nawal who is very different from the mother they knew.

With Lebel’s help, the twins piece together the story of the woman who brought them into the world, discovering a tragic fate as well as the courage of an exceptional woman.

An adaptation of Wajdi Mouawad’s hit play, Incendies is a deeply moving story that brings the extremism and violence of today’s world to a starkly personal level, delivering a powerful and poetic testament to the uncanny power of the will to survive.
This Academy Award nominated film is rated R for some strong violence and language. Running Time, 130 min. Ticket Price: $6

Showings:
Wednesday, August 24 - 4:45 pm
Wednesday, August 24 - 7:15 pm
Thursday, August 25 - 2:15 pm
Thursday, August 25 - 4:45 pm
Thursday, August 25 - 7:15 pm

Cave of Forgotten Dreams
August 29 - September 1
Cave of Forgotten Dreams, a breathtaking new documentary from the incomparable Werner Herzog follows an exclusive expedition into the nearly inaccessible Chauvet Cave in France, home to the most ancient visual art known to have been created by man.

A hit at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, Cave of Forgotten Dreams is an unforgettable cinematic experience that provides a unique glimpse of pristine artwork dating back to human hands over 30,000 years ago -- almost twice as old as any previous discovery.
"If you're a member of the human race - you owe it to yourself to see this movie." - Dana Stevens, Slate

"****! Wonderful. See this film. It takes you to a place you won't soon forget." - Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
"What a gift...an inside look at the astonishing cave of chauvet-pont-d'arc. It's a blast to be inside the cave." - Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

"*****! Blows you away with its beauty." - Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News
"A sacred space where the human and the mystical effortlessly intertwine, and we are in Werner Herzog's debt for that great gift." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Rated G. Running Time, 90 min., Tickets: $6

Showings:
Wednesday, August 31 - 5:30 pm
Wednesday, August 31 - 7:15 pm
Thursday, September 1 - 3:45 pm
Thursday, September 1 - 5:30 pm
Thursday, September 1 - 7:15 pm

For more information on these and other film projects under way at Proctors, please contact: Robert Warlock, Film Program Coordinator, Proctors, 432 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305, 518-382-3884 ext. 128, Cell: 518-256-8395.

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THE NATIONAL TOUR WILL ROCK SCHENECTADY

October 14 – 16

Tickets on Sale Now

Schenectady, NY – August 15, 2011 -- In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small-town girl met a big-city dreamer – and in L.A.’s most legendary rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80’s. It’s ROCK OF AGES, a hilarious, feel-good love story told through the hit songs of iconic rockers Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake, and many more. Don’t miss this awesomely good time where big hair meets big dreams and the result totally wails.

Direct from Broadway, the National Tour of the five-time 2009 Tony Award® nominated smash-hit musical ROCK OF AGES plays at Proctors October 14 – 16.

ROCK OF AGES is directed by Tony Award Nominee Kristin Hanggi (Bare, Pussycat Dolls on the Sunset Strip) and choreographed by Kelly Devine (Jersey Boys – Associate Choreographer). The book is by Chris D’Arienzo (writer and director of the film Barry Munday), the original arrangements are by David Gibbs (Counting Crows, Film: That Thing You Do) and the Music Supervision, Arrangements & Orchestrations are by Ethan Popp (Tarzan; Europe: We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia).

Scenic design is by Beowulf Boritt (Spelling Bee, LoveMusik), costume design is by Tony Nominee Gregory Gale (Cyrano, The Wedding Singer), lighting design is by Jason Lyons (The Threepenny Opera), sound design is by Tony Nominee Peter Hylenski (Shrek), and projection design is by Zachary Borovay (A Catered Affair).

ROCK OF AGES opened on April 7, 2009 at Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre to critical acclaim, following an off Broadway engagement in the fall of 2008. The Broadway production was nominated for Five 2009 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, and New Line Records released the Original Broadway Cast Recording in July 2009, featuring 28 songs from the show. A New Line Cinema/Warner Bros. film of the musical, directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray), is scheduled to be released in 2012.

ROCK OF AGES opened to rave reviews at the legendary Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, Canada on May 11, 2010. It was also recently announced that ROCK OF AGES will head down under and open at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Australia in April 2011.

ROCK OF AGES is produced by Matthew Weaver, Carl Levin, Jeff Davis, Barry Habib, Scott Prisand, Janet Billig Rich, Hillary Weaver, Relativity Media and The Araca Group.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets for ROCK OF AGES at Proctors are available at Proctors Box Office, (518) 346-6204 or online at proctors.org.

Significant discounts on tickets ROCK OF AGES are available for groups of 20 or more. A listing of shows and pricing may be found on proctors.org/group_sales or by contacting Proctors Group Sales at 518-382-3884 ext. 139.

Ticket Prices for ROCK OF AGES: $20, $45, $50, $60 & $75
Running Time: 140 min with an intermission
ROCK OF AGES at Proctors is made possible with public funds from the
New York State Council on the Arts, celebrating 50 years of building strong, creative communities in New York State's 62 counties.

ROCK OF AGES at Proctors is sponsored by Keeler Broadway on Tour.

Marshall & Sterling Insurance is the subsponsor for ROCK OF AGES.

Free Parking for ROCK OF AGES at Proctors is available in the In the Broadway Garage, courtesy of the Times Union. Go to timesunion.com for news and entertainment.

Parental Advisory

Rock of Ages is a full-out, blast-off, hold-onto-your-hairspray celebration of the great rock music of the 80s, and you might be wondering – or, admit it, hoping – your kids will love it as much as you will. Well, we think they will, but you should know that some of
the costumes, dancing and language may not be appropriate for those under the age of 14. We think teenagers will dig it, because it’s totally awesome, sort of like a music video brought to life, complete with hot dancers and blazing guitar licks. You know the maturity of your children, so we suggest you use your best judgment about whether or not the show is appropriate for them. Remember, if you do bring them, they’ll get to see you rockin’ like you did back in the day. Just so you know.

Theater review: ‘West Side Story’ provides powerful dancing, acting
Thursday, August 18, 2011
By Carol King

SCHENECTADY — One could feel the excitement at Proctors on opening night. There was an almost breathless expectation as the curtain rose on the touring production of “West Side Story.” The expectation was rewarded in no uncertain terms. Proctors’ “West Side Story” is a major hit!

Never mind gorgeous production values thanks to scenic designer James Youmans and lighting designer Howell Binkley, an enduring score and some high-powered acting. The real star of the evening is the original choreography by Jerome Robbins, reproduced for this touring company by Joey McNeeley. From the opening prologue, an extended ballet that defines the major conflict of the story, to the ever-favorite perennial number “America,” to the comical “Gee, Officer Krupke,” the movement on stage is familiar and satisfying.

‘West Side Story’
WHERE: Proctors, 432 State St., Schenectady
WHEN: Through Sunday
HOW MUCH: $65-$20
MORE INFO: 346-6204, www.proctors.org

Read complete story at: http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2011/aug/18/0818_westsiderev/

Contact:
Susan Rivers, MoHUFest Open Studio Coordinator
(518) 756-3649
Mohufest@ayhoo.com
www.mohufest.com

MoHuFest Regional Arts Event Invites Participation
Venues and Artists Wanted

MoHu Needs you!

ALBANY, NY (August 18, 2011) -- Mohu is coming! The week-long arts festival will be held October 8 – 16, 2011 in Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties. It will feature theatre, dance, music, visual arts and random acts of art throughout the region. This will be the first annual event. MoHu will also celebrate the individual artist and involve art loving partners.

MoHu Needs you! Our region is rich with talent - from emerging to established artists, this is fertile ground for creativity. For the most part, individual artists do not usually have a venue to share and display their work. MoHu Fest will provide that vehicle for exposure.

For the 9 days of MoHu Fest we will showcase individuals, smaller galleries and art in “unlikely venues”. Throughout the event there will be art in unlikely places such as Doctor’s offices and empty store fronts. Many surprises await!

The event will culminate with Individual and group Open Studios the final weekend of the MoHu – Saturday October 15th and Sunday October 16th.

Participating artists will graciously open their works spaces to the public and share their passion. People will get to experience first hand how the art is created. Artists will have the opportunity to discuss their processes and share their motivations in the comfort of their own environments.

How can you be a part of it?
Individual Artists
Open Studio Tours – open your studio to show and sell your work
Sign up to be part of a group show

Venues
Small galleries, places that display art - get listed on our map and venue list
Not an art venue? Not a problem! We can help you coordinate a show

Interested or have ANY questions?
Please contact us at MoHuFest@yahoo.com
If you are an artist who would like to participate in Open Studio Tours, an artist looking for a venue or a venue looking for artists please contact us at mohfest@yahoo.com

Review: Dance in 'West Side Story' at Proctors dazzles, singing a little flat
Published: Wednesday, August 17, 2011
By BOB GOEPFERT
For The Saratogian
http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2011/08/17/entertainment/doc4e4c2e53534c1429900194.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Click to enlarge
SCHENECTADY — “West Side Story,” at Proctors Theatre through Sunday, is exciting and tender theater. It is also a 54-year-old work that tries to speak to the social issues of today.

While many modern musicals use the 1950s and 60s to create escapist entertainment, this revival of “West Side Story” uses the period to show that very little in human behavior has changed over the years. That is as it should be, since the story is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragic love story “Romeo and Juliet.”

Another thing that never changes is the audience’s reaction to the work. Whether it is being moved by the exciting choreography of Jerome Robbins or touched by the music of Leonard Bernstein, this show is guaranteed to thrill an audience.

Though far from being the definitive version of the show, this national tour is a production that does justice to the material. The athleticism of the individual dancers is impressive, while the intricately synchronized dancing in the group numbers is dazzling.

The moods of the dance range from dangerous to romantic and from comic to esoteric. The singing is not equal of the dancing, but Bernstein’s marvelous score, aided and abetted by Stephen Sondheim’s wise and witty lyrics, needs almost no help. “West Side Story” is a complete musical.

The wealth of material is so broad the the strength of the supporting cast is what usually carries the show. This is true at Proctors. Even though on opening night four roles were played by understudies, the high energy ensemble and supporting players made up for the lack of chemistry demonstrated by the lovers.

The story revolves about the romance between Tony, a leader of the Jet’s youth gang, and Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks. Because of the hatred against the immigrant class by the American thugs, the relationship of the lovers is doomed and tragic.

Perhaps it’s because Kyle Harris’ Tony appears too old and Ali Ewoldt’s Maria seems to be lacking emotional fervor that makes the sudden intensity of their love seem artificial. But more likely it is that neither has the vocal ability to make their love songs soar or are they able to find the emotional validity of their love in the lyrics. Instead of grief at the collapse of their brief affair, the response is, of course this is how it ends.

To be fair to the pair, the production’s attempt to be socially realistic and contemporary makes it tough to accept a love that is less realistic. In this effort, the romance runs counter to the play’s mood.

This is a work that shows the police as insensitive bigots and even the usually comic Officer Krupke has sadistic tendencies.

Having the song “Somewhere” sung by the character Anybody, who once might have been called a tomboy, makes it look as if the song is a plea for acceptance about one’s sexual identity as much as it is a call for understanding that love is more important than one’s cultural background. This intrusion of sexual politics detracts from Tony and Maria’s situation.

What still works in the musical is the play’s attitude towards immigration. “West Side Story” makes the point that those who most resist a new culture are the have-nots of the established culture. When the have-nots feel threatened, violence is often the only answer. And where there is violence, there is always tragedy.

“West Side Story” is a musical about how mindless violence crushes the innocence of young love. It was true in 1595 and in 1957. It’s just as valid today.

“West Side Story” continues at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady through Sunday. For tickets and information, call 346-6204, www.proctors.|org

Proctors: On & Off Stage
Proud to be part of 'Tribute to Black Women in the Arts'
By Sara Hill
Friday, August 12, 2011

http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/proctors-stage/2011/aug/12/proud-grace-same-stage-honorees-tribute-black-wome/

Gathering at Albany's Empire State Plaza on Saturday, Aug. 6, with the other honorees for the African American Family Day "Tribute to Black Women In the Arts" was a spectacular moment for me, professionally and personally.

This public event highlighted the contributions made by local women in the arts and honored their individual and collective visions and strategic outlook and creative skills in promoting the arts in all forms as a critical element in personal and community development.

As I shared the stage with so many multifaceted and diverse women of color, my feelings transcended words: each –- a proactive advocate for the arts in the region –- had distinguished herself and the organization she represented through innovative ideas, noteworthy deeds and just old-fashioned hard work. To grace the same stage with others, who take pride and sustenance in being arts advocates, frontrunners and worker-bees acting individually and in concert to build bridges between arts-and-culture and community was a dazzling experience.

Despite the sweet drizzle of the afternoon rain, the group (12 of us) assembled on the main stage at the Empire State Plaza for the presentation of certificates. I watched, amazed, as each advocate and supporter of Black Women In The Arts awaited for her name to be called. As fellow travelers joined in a common mission, we greeted one another with joy and mutual recognition.

I felt blessed to be joined by Proctors Partner, Producing Artistic Director Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill of Albany's Capital Repertory Theatre. Just last month, she stirred my soul with the uplifting production of Leslie Uggams’ "Uptown Downtown" at Capital Rep, which followed quickly on the heels of the moving May production of the awe-inspiring "Crowns."

Arts advocate Miki Conn, former executive director of Schenectady's Hamilton Hill Arts Center and arts advocate, represented the center. As a young girl, I grew up under the direction of her mom, Margaret Cunningham. Through her, I had participated in creative arts and storytelling. She encouraged me to pursue my love of the arts.

I stood alongside of leading arts educators, writers, painters, on-air personalities, actress and business owners who were just as proud to be with me as I was with them. With respect and joy, I watched these women of such deep grace and style.

As the last in line to walk to the stage to receive the certificate of appreciation presented to Proctors, I welled up with pride knowing that in this moment of my life I was where I was supposed to be and where I wanted to be -- back in the Capital Region after grateful lessons learned at one of New York City’s leading theaters.

Proctors has played a significant role in my own coming of age. As a child, I grew up watching movies there as an integral part of my own downtown experience. Today, I am honored to be part of what is now an expanded –- and evolving -- multi-staged arts and entertainment complex admired by so many throughout the extended Capital Region. I had come full circle -– always true to my focus on the arts.

Proctors CEO Philip Morris also serves as chief administrative officer of Capital Rep. I was touched by his comments recognizing me, Maggie, Proctors and Capital Rep:

“Proctors and Capital Rep continue to embrace the communities that comprise the rich diversity of our region and contribute to the quality of life for all of us,” he said. “Our relationships with the community are at the heart of everything we do and we are keenly aware of our impact and responsibility to connect to residents in every community we serve.

“On behalf of the Boards of Capital Rep and Proctors –- as well as the employees and supporters of both these premier institutions -- I congratulate Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill and Sara Hill for their dedication and commitment to programming and marketing efforts that heighten awareness -– and enjoyment -– of the arts in our region. Their efforts heighten the power of the arts to transform individuals and communities throughout the Capital Region.”

After the presentation, we gathered for a group photo. We hugged -– and shared warmth, emotion and justified pride. I headed onto the plaza with my family. Despite the rain, a spectacular glow of sunshine lingered over the main stage. I left encouraged by the day and by the achievements of all who were honored that day. Together, I know that we will strive even harder to better our communities -– and our own lives through the life-changing power and beauty of the arts.

Sara Hill is marketing manager at Proctors and founder of Sista Factory (Soulful Inspirational Sounds To Admire). She will co-present "Gospel Jubilee" in the Spring of 2012 at Proctors.

http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2011/08/11/entertainment/doc4e4402b81a4b7993458282.txt?viewmode=fullstory
It’s all about iconic tales this weekend
Published: Thursday, August 11, 2011
More Photos
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By Bob Goepfert
The Record

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The big theater event of the upcoming week is the week-long run of “West Side Story” at Proctors Theater in Schenectady.

The national tour of the Leonard Bernstein-Jerome Robbins-Stephen Sondheim musical promises to be one of the most exciting productions of the summer.

Based on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” “West Side Story” substitutes gangs for the warring clans of Capulets and Montagues. The story of a couple associated with rival gangs who fall in love remains timelessly tragic. But it is more than the tale of two doomed lovers that makes “West Side Story” so impressive; it is the integration of dance into the story that makes this thrilling theater.

“West Side Story” was the show that redefined the role of Broadway performers. It invented the triple-threat performer — one who had to sing and dance as well as act.

“West Side Story” is at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady Tuesday-Sunday. 345-6204, www.proctors.org.

ALBANY — “West Side Story” is not the only theater event in the area.

Indeed all the well-known, big budget theater festivals offer productions this week. But they, like Proctors, are not inexpensive. There are, however, some less-expensive alternatives for those who enjoy theater but live on a budget.

You can’t get more inexpensive than free. Park Playhouse in Albany’s Washington Park is offering not one but two free productions and this is the final week of their performances. “The Producers” begins at 8 p.m. and Park II offers the musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie” at 5:30 p.m. See one or see both. Each continues through Sunday for free. 434-0776.

SCHENECTADY and CHATHAM — If you like iconic musicals, “Rent” is at Schenectady Light Opera Company’s new home at 427 Franklin St. in Schenectady and “Grease” plays Mac-Haydn Theater in Chatham.

“Grease” is the innocent musical that people wished defined the 1960s, while "Rent" is a rock-sounding, angst-filled work that speaks to the young who lived in the 1980s and ‘90s.

That neither is an accurate depiction of their eras is besides the point (“Rent” for instance is an adaptation of Puccini’s opera “La Boheme” written in 1896). What is interesting is that those who were raised in the period represented by the musicals relate strongly to the story and the music as representative of their lives.

There is a paid admission for both shows, $28 — $30 for “Grease,” which runs through Sunday. 392-9292, www.machaydntheatre.org. “Rent” plays this weekend and next, tickets are $12 — $38; 877-350-7378, www.sloctheater.org.

LAKE GEORGE — I suppose historical accuracy is not an essential element for a successful theatrical production. However, if you like the illusion of history, you can’t do much better than the outdoor production of “The Last of the Mohicans” in Lake George.

The play is based on the James Fenimore Cooper novel about the French and Indian War. This is a pageant-like production with a large cast, live horses and replica costumes. What adds magic to the production is it is performed at (or very near) the actual site of the historical events it portrays.

“Last of the Mohicans” continues at the Wild West Ranch on Route 9, one mile south of Lake George Village Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday through Aug. 20. Admission is $20 adults, $15 for under 12 and over 65. 681-1574, www.lastofthemohicans.org.

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Should you be in the Lake George area and crave more comfort for your theater-going experience, the Lake George Dinner Theatre is offering the comedy “Skin Deep.” It is a tale about a person discovering that the essence of beauty is deeper than superficial looks.

This is a professional theater company that offers a very good meal before its production at the Holiday Inn Resort on Route 9 in Lake George Village. Performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays (dinner at 6:30 p.m.) with three matinees offered weekly. For schedule and ticket information 668-5762, www.lakegreorgedinnertheatre.com.

Capital Rep/Proctors Honorees Among Celebrated
at African American Family Day

“Tribute to Black Women in the Arts”

Saturday, August 6 at Empire State Plaza
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Schenectady, NY – August 2, 2011 – Schenectady’s Proctors and Albany-based Capital Repertory Theatre (Capital Rep) are among the honorees to be recognized during an August 6 gala Tribute to Black Women in the Arts at New York State’s Empire Plaza.

Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill, Producing Artistic Director of Capital Rep, and Sara Hill, Marketing Manager at Proctors, will represent their organizations, both of which have been frontrunners in highlighting the importance of diversity in the arts. A statement issued by the sponsoring organizations recognizes them and the organizations they serve for the active roles they play in the growth and development of the community.

Proctors CEO Philip Morris, who also serves as Chief Administrative Officer of Capital Rep, praised both institutions and the honorees.

“Proctors and Capital Rep continue to embrace the communities that comprise the rich diversity of our region and contribute to the quality of life for all of us,” said Mr. Morris. “These relationships with the community are at the heart of everything we do and we are keenly aware of our impact and responsibility to connect to residents in every community we serve.

“On behalf of the Boards of Capital Rep and Proctors – as well as the employees and supporters of both these premier institutions -- I congratulate Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill and Sara Hill for their dedication and commitment to programming and marketing efforts that heighten awareness – and enjoyment – of the arts in our region. Their efforts heighten the power of the arts to transform individuals and communities throughout the Capital Region.”

Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill has served as artistic director of Capital Repertory Theatre for the past 16 years and takes pride in the fact that Capital Repertory Theatre is the only member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) within fourteen counties of the Upper Hudson-Mohawk Valley. LORT is an esteemed organization that promotes the positive impact of theatres in the arts and communities nationwide.

"I am so honored by this award,” she said. “I believe that for the arts to remain relevant, we have to produce stories at Capital Rep that reflect the problems and issues that face real people from every ethnic background, generation and economic strata.

“Capital Rep is located in an urban neighborhood and our education programs tour throughout 14 counties of the Capital Region. It is critical that our work recognizes diversity but speaks to the common threads that bind us as human beings. How else will we learn from history, solve problems and understand what it's like to walk a mile in another's shoes?
“Every year, we produce plays that highlight great African American women. The characters in CROWNS were wise keepers of African American history. Leslie Uggams, who was here this summer, is a sterling example of the impact that great artists can make on a community. And next season, the Regional Premiere of BLACK PEARL SINGS (March 9, 2012) will bring a true story of an African American woman, wrongly imprisoned during the Great Depression, who is bribed to reveal a great secret about the Civil War. Through these women's stories, we experience our own history and better understand who we are as Americans."

Ms. Mancinelli has directed more than 100 plays and worked On, Off and Off-Off Broadway. Prior to moving to the Capital Region she served as Producing Artistic Director for Urban Stages, and worked on the staffs of The Ensemble Studio Theatre and The Women’s Project. She has worked in regional theatres throughout the US, including Theatre Under Glass, the Aspen Playwrights Festival, Sierra Rep, Arena Stage in Washington D.C., Renegade Artists and Merrimack Rep. Maggie was honored by the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce as one of the 100 Women of Excellence and received the “Distinguished Leadership Award” by the Chamber and the National Association for Community Leadership. She is the 2011 recipient of the Norman S. Rice Arts, Culture and Education (ACE) Award for her longtime leadership of the theater.

Proctors’ Sara Hill has been a proactive member of its Marketing team since 2007.

"Throughout my career in theatre,” she says, “I have been fortunate at having countless opportunities to invite folks ‘to the party’ of the performing arts. I am blessed to have a career that allows me to do so – and enables me to be fully who I am, respectful of my roots and the paths as I have traveled in the development of my career. I am thankful for this great recognition and inclusion within the “Tribute to Black Women in the Arts.”

In addition to her position at Proctors, Ms. Hill also is the face of SISTA Factory (Soulful Inspirational Sounds To Admire), an enterprise focused on showcasing outstanding performers from the Black America community. In concert with Proctors,

SISTA Factory will present Gospel Jubilee: an Evening of Song and Praise -- An uplifting and joyous celebration of music – in April. 2012. This first-ever event will feature the choir V.O.I.C.E.S from Church of God of Prophecy under the musical direction of Patty Gordon along with Praise Dancers, Soloists, Inspirational words and special guests -- a soul-stirring array of Gospel music from local soloists and choirs.

Hill also has worked with Artistic Director Mona Golub on the Agnes MacDonald Music Haven free summer concert series.

African American Family Day
Theme – “A Family Reunion”
Saturday, August 6, 2011, Empire State Plaza, Albany
Noon - 7:00 PM

Saturday, August 6th the New York State Office of General Services (OGS) during its premier festival, the McDonald’s African American Family Day (MAAFD) along with the NYS Museum and Black Dimensions in Arts, Inc., will pay tribute to Black Women in the Arts on the Main Stage at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, New York @2:30PM.
With thousands in attendance, OGS would like to acknowledge their outstanding artistic contributions to the community and the Empire State. As Dr. Maya Angelou stated in her classic poem Phenomenal Woman “It's in the reach of my arms, The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips”. They are phenomenal; they are women of the arts.
This tribute’s purpose is to honor the creative ability of this particular group of New Yorkers and the institutions they lead and/or support. Whether they pursue the arts as a vocation or avocation, our honorees endeavor to enrich our lives with their expressions of imagination. We are grateful to know these women and institutions and thank them for the role they plan in our growth and development as a community and as individuals.
The program consists of musical and dramatic presentations. We will also present Certificates of Appreciation to honor you and other individuals as well as community organizations that have demonstrated blue-ribbon leadership. Their tireless efforts to improve the quality of life for all are to be commended.

Welcome - Emcee Velma McAdoo, Local Community Advocate
• “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou
Invocation
• Minister Michelle Chavers, Associate, Macedonia Baptist Church, Albany

Negro National Anthem
• N.R.I. – Acapella group
Purpose
• Patricia Jordan, Director of Community Affairs, NYS Museum
Greetings
• OGS Commissioner RoAnn Destito (invited)
• OGS Assistant Commissioner Clay
• McDonalds Spokesperson
• Trenton Graham, President, Black Dimensions In Art, Inc.
Dramatic Presentation
• Historic Character (Phyllis Wheatley) – performed by Barbara Howard
`
Presentation of Certificates to Honorees
• Individuals – Community Advocates & Supporters of Black Women in the Arts
-Aleathia Brown, National Artist, New York City
-Nita June Borland, Local Artist, Schenectady*
-Arlene Brathwaite, Local Artist, Albany
-Mikki Conn, Community Arts Advocate, Schenectady
-Margaret Cunningham, Community Arts Advocate, Schenectady
-Francelise Dawkins, Local Artist, Saratoga
-Muriel Drake, Community Arts Advocate, Albany
-Barbara Howard, Local Community Arts Advocate & Actress, Albany
-Carla Page, Local Community Arts Advocate & Actress, Schenectady
-Carol Praylor, Local Community Arts Advocate & Actress, Watervliet
-Cathrine Reavis, Local Artist, Albany
-Barbara Zuber, National Artist, Troy

• Local Organizations – Community Advocates & Supporters of Black Women in the Arts
-Albany NAACP Student Theatre Outreach Program, Albany
-Albany Capital District Links, Inc., Albany
-Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy
-Black Dimensions in Art, Inc., Albany
-Capital District Keys for Kids, Inc., Albany
-DMO Music & Art Ministry, Inc., Albany
-Filling in the Gaps in American History, Inc., Albany
-Frank Chapman Memorial Institute, Inc., Albany
-Too Deep Entertainment, Albany
-Trinity Institute, Inc., Albany (check correct title for org)

• Businesses - Community Advocates & Supporters of Black Women in the Arts
-Capital Repertory Theatre, Albany
-The Egg, Albany
-Palace Theatre, Albany
-Proctors, Schenectady
Song
• Sha’ron Edwards, Local Recording Musical Artist

Closing
* Denotes waiting for confirmation

THREE STAGES OF ENTERTAINMENT
• National Stage – Hosted by JAMZ 96.3 FM featuring the SOS BAND and MIMS
• Gospel Stage – Featuring area choirs and local gospel artists
• Community Stage – Hosted by Frank Chapman Memorial Institute Inc., and JAMZ 96.3 FM

Children’s Area
• Kids Zone – clowns, face painters, City of Albany Tulip Queen & Court, sidewalk art, bounce rides,
pony rides, Scotia Glenville Children’s Traveling Museum, Hamilton Hill Arts Center, and much more
NYS Museum Activities (10:00AM to 5:00PM)
• Display Replica of the Emancipation Proclamation
• Exhibit - “Black Capital: Harlem in the 20s”
• Two Cultural 30 Minute Presentations - “Filling in the Gaps in American History (FIGAH)

Other Activities
• JAMZ Summertime Music Jamboree
• Tribute to Black Women In the Arts @ 2:30PM
• Black Dimensions In Arts
• “Plaza Lites” Talent Competition Winners Performances
• Nanny’s Double-Dutch League
• Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative – Sponsored by Fathers Incorporated “TIES NEVER BROKEN”
• Over 100+ Community Partners
• 4 Ever Young & Company – Featuring family fun activities
• Albany NAACP Student Theater Outreach Group (STOP)
• Area’s Largest Electric Slide
• African Village – Hamilton Hill Arts Center
• Vendors - Arts & Crafts, Soul Food, Community Information Booths
• Capital District YMCA
• Shekinah Beauty Presents: The Fierce, Angelic, Creative and Exotic (F.A.C.E.) Fashion Show
• Too Deep Entertainment
• Fraternity & Sorority Educational Row –Featuring members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
• Albany Police Department Child ID Program
• Child Passenger Safety Seat Information (Giveaways & Invitation for Free Inspection & Seating)
• NYS Department of Motor Vehicles Driving Simulator demonstrates the importance of wearing a seatbelt
• Wellness Fair & Health Screenings - Presented by Whitney M. Young, Jr. Community Health Center

CONTACTS
• About African American Family Day: Contact Marquerite Alexander, OGS – Administration, M/WBE & Community Relations, Corning Tower, 41st Floor, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12242. 518.486.9284; marquerite.alexander@ogs.state.ny.us

• About Proctors or Capital Rep: Thom O’ Connor, Proctors, 382-3884, x166; toconnor@proctors.org