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Cellist Elizabeth Chung |
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Published: August 7, 2009
Music for kids with cancer
WARREN – Riverrun Chamber Music will present a benefit concert for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a camp in South Hero for children with cancer. Emerging artists and Julliard graduate students Henry Kramer, piano, and Elizabeth Chung, cello, will be performing a selection of classical pieces, Thursday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m., at the home of Ken and Amy Rubenstein. A reception and refreshments will follow the performance. "This is a great opportunity for the Vermont community to show its support for a camp that is dedicated to the well-being of children with cancer. This is a meaningful event held in a beautiful home for a very worthy cause," Ginny Roth, chairwoman of Riverrun, said. Kramer of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and Warren has performed with a number of orchestras and chamber music ensembles. He was the winner of the first Vermont Young Musicians' Competition. He is continuing his studies for a master's degree at Juilliard School where he is the recipient of the Ida Artzt Scholarship in piano and the Susan W. Rose Piano Fellowship. Chung of Chicago has achieved many musical objectives in her young career. Currently a student at Juilliard she is recipient of the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Scholarship, William Hearst Scholarship, and the Thelma Altshuler Scholarship.
Tickets may be obtained by calling Ginny Roth at (802) 496-3865. Seating is limited and early reservations are strongly recommended. All proceeds go to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta.
'Waiting for Godot'
MONTPELIER – If the legendary Samuel Beckett were here in Vermont today writing his famous play, "Waiting for Godot," cryptic proverbial expressions like "hard tellin'" and "not knowin'" would surely be featured in the script. Lost Nation Theater presents the classic Thursdays-Sundays, August 6-23 at City Hall Arts Center. One of the most important plays of the 20th century, "Waiting for Godot" – ostensibly the story of two down-on-their-luck tramps – was created as homage to the comic and vaudevillian arts of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy and the early Marx Brothers. And just as Chaplin's little tramp became synonymous with underdogs of the Great Depression, Beckett's tramps Didi and Gogo represent today's "average Joe," as Beckett explores fundamental questions of hope, faith, and existence through the buoyancy of humor – both slapstick and subtle. In writing "Godot," Beckett composed a song of hope, sometimes deferred, but never extinguished. American "funny men" from Bert Lahr to Steve Martin and Robin Williams to the current Broadway cast of Bill Irwin, Nathan Lane and John Goodman have all vied for the chance to clown around in Beckett's play. Lost Nation Theater's production is directed by Tara Lee Downs, an accomplished clown who most recently won raves for her direction of "American Buffalo." It features Chicago's Paul Riopelle and Vermont's own Bob Nuner as the two tramps.
Curtain is 7 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays (except Sunday, Aug. 23, at 2 p.m.), and 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, plus a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25-$20; call (802) 229-0492, or online at www.lostnationtheater.org.
'She Stoops to Conquer'
MARSHFIELD – "She Stoops to Conquer," along with Gay's "The Beggars' Opera" and Sheridan's "The School for Scandal," remain the three 18th century plays in repertory today. The Unadilla Theatre presents "She Stoops to Conquer" by Oliver Goldsmith on Aug. 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, and 20, at 7:30 p.m.. From 1773, in the satirical tradition of Jonathan Swift, this is a brilliant, hilarious comedy of errors, manners, and mistaken identity. The play tells the story of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle who arrange for their daughter, Kate, to meet Charles Marlow, the son of an old friend, Sir Charles Marlow. Young Marlow is petrified at the thought of meeting ladies of high standing, yet his behavior around women of another sort is the complete opposite. Kate realizes that she must "stoop to conquer" in order to discover the real Marlow, to "cover him with confusion," and to win him.
Tickets are $20, $10 for 12 and younger; call (802) 456-8968, or go online to www.unadilla.org.
Mad River Chorale tonight
The Mad River Chorale has outlined a busy schedule of performances and activities over the next weeks, beginning with the "Side by Side" concert at U-32 High School tonight at 7 p.m. "Side by Side" is a Cafe Noir Production week-long musical theater workshop where amateur singer and actors study and perform with professionals, culminating with a free student/faculty performance on Friday at the school.
The Vermont Young Musicians Award finale on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m., at the Gate House Lodge at Sugarbush Resort, is the final stage of the statewide competition featuring six finalists. Prizes will be announced after the performance. The finalists are Nick Bonaccio, Sarabeth Hamberlin, Kelly Herrmann, Eli Holden, Justin Kenney and Tim Woos.
The MRC's Latin Dance Party on Sunday, Aug. 30, features the music of a 13-piece salsa orchestra. There will be food and dancing all afternoon at Sugarbush's Gate House Lodge. Latin dance lessons will be at 1:30 p.m. To request more information for registration, call (802) 496-4781.
'Juliet and Romeo'
The 12th annual "Get Thee to the Funnery" Shakespeare camp presents "The Tragedy of Juliet and Romeo" tonight, Saturday, and Sunday, in Craftsbury. The production will feature performances by 34 young actors from places near and far, including Craftsbury, Berkeley and London. The "Funnery" performances represent two weeks of intensive study and training by the aspiring thespians, who range in age from 11 to 18. Their version of Shakespeare's great tragedy revisits the famous story from Juliet's perspective. Founded by Vermont theater artist and writer Peter Gould, "Get Thee to the Funnery" has revived a great Craftsbury tradition of Shakespeare on the Common begun decades ago by local schoolteacher Mary Jean ("Miss Jean") Simpson. For the past 11 years, the annual "Funnery" performances have dazzled audiences with their emotional depth, humorous interludes, crystal-clear delivery of the Bard's language, and abundant surprises. Performances of "Juliet and Romeo" will take place at the following locations:
Tonight: Simpson Hall, Sterling College, Craftsbury Common, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Craftsbury Academy (behind), immediately following the Old Home Day parade, 2 p.m. (approximate).
Sunday: Hugo Mesa Studio, 673 West Hill Road (first black mailbox 1/2 mile up the hill from Route 14), 1 p.m.
Admission for all performances is free; donations are gratefully accepted. In the event of inclement weather, performances will be held in Simpson Hall. For more information, e-mail: craftsburyfunnery@gmail.com.
Return of 'The Machine'
RUTLAND – The Paramount Theatre has announced the second annual booking of "The Machine – "America's premiere Pink Floyd Show" – on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 8 p.m., for the second position in the 2009 Summer Music Series of the 2009-2010 Season. "The Machine" has forged a 20-year reputation of excellence, extending the legacy of Pink Floyd, while creating another legacy all its own. Over the years it's touched the hearts and souls of many, selling out large clubs and theaters across North and Central America, Europe and Asia. It's also appeared at renowned music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Riverbend, and Germany's Rock of Ages. Bruce Bouchard, executive director of The Paramount, says, "We are proud and happy to extend a warm second welcome to a band of terrific guys with stunning talent."
Tickets are $25.50-$15.50; call (802) 775-0903, or go online www.paramountlive.org.
Hutchinson & Kellogg
SOUTH POMFRET – The new Summer @ Six Concert Series continues on Saturday, Aug. 8, with two meteoric young stars: Eric Hutchinson and Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers. Co-presented by Pentangle Arts Council and the Woodstock Inn & Resort, the three-concert series takes place at Suicide Six Ski Resort. Concert grounds open at 4 p.m. and the performance begins at 6 p.m. Fresh off tours with Jason Mraz and Kelly Clarkson, Hutchinson has been riding a skyrocket of popularity ever since his single "Oh" debuted at #1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart in September 2007. The young singer-songwriter's unique brand of soul first broke the sound barrier when "Sounds Like This" was released on Hutchinson's own label that same year. Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers is a Massachusetts' quartet made up of two distinct parts. In one corner stands the unmistakably jubilant personality of rock 'n' roll's The Sixers; in the other sits an authentic American songwriter in a period of profound growth. Rising triumphantly in the center is a band whose music is the perfect marriage of the two.
Tickets are: $25-$55; director's circle reserved seating and BBQ dinner catered by Woodstock Inn & Resort may be reserved through the Pentangle Box Office, (802) 457-3981, or online at www.pentanglearts.org.
Alash throat singers
BURLINGTON – Alash, winners of the 2007 Young Tradition Showcase Contest in Burlington, make a return visit for a concert on Friday Aug. 14, at 7:30 p.m., at the Flynn Center's FlynnSpace. Alash is a quartet of master throat singers (xöömeizhi) from Tuva, a republic in the heart of Central Asia, where the ancient art of throat singing developed among nomadic herdsmen. The young men in Alash have remained grounded in the tradition while expanding its musical vocabulary with new ideas from other parts of the world. The group's name comes from the Alash River, which runs through the northwestern region of Tuva and has inspired a couple of Tuvan songs which carry its name. Proceeds from the concert benefit the Tom Sustic Fund, which supports families with children with cancer.
Admission is by a suggested donation of $15 at the door the day of the concert (no advance tickets). Admission reservations can be made by sending an e-mail to: mrksustic@together.net.
Yellow Barn finale
PUTNEY – The 40th anniversary season of the Yellow Barn Music Festival will culminate in matinee and season finale performances at 12:30 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8. The matinee is offered in memory of the late Toshiko Phipps of Putney, long a supporter and friend of the festival and a well-known Shiatsu practitioner. The program will include works by Jonathan Harvey, Alfred Schnittke, Osvaldo Golijov and Brahms, with the Brahms Clarinet Quintet performed by Alan Kay of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. The evening concert will include Italian composer Luciano Berio's "Memory," Beethoven's "Rasumovsky" Quartet, the Ravel Piano Trio and "Hier in meines Vaters Stätte" Aria No. 3 from Cantata BWV 32 by J.S. Bach, featuring Grammy Award-winning baritone William Sharp. A reception with the performers will follow the concert.
For tickets and information, visit www.yellowbarn.org or call (802) 387-6637.
Vermont Public Television
Sunday: At 9 p.m., "Masterpiece Mystery!" presents the third and final episode of "Wallander." Kenneth Branagh stars as the scruffy Swedish detective as he races to catch up with a serial killer.
Monday: At 7:30 p.m. on "Profile," Fran Stoddard interviews author, activist and performer Marc Estrin of Burlington.
Wednesday: At 8 p.m., "Live From Lincoln Center" presents violinist Joshua Bell with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra. Bell is soloist on Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto.
Thursday: At 9 p.m., the National Geographic series "Inside" tells another behind-the-scenes story. This time, it's how the creative people behind "The Lord of the Rings" bring Tolkien's Middle Earth to life on a London stage.
Saturday, Aug. 15: At 8:30 p.m. on "The Thin Blue Line," Inspector Fowler (Rowan Atkinson) prepares his team for the pub quiz. At 10 p.m., "Austin City Limits" features singer/songwriter Manu Chao's politically charged, danceable rock 'n' roll.
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