#Hubbard Hall Opera Theater

[larryland]

A grand, tragic and full throated "Rigoletto" from Hubbard Hall Opera Theatre

A grand, tragic and full throated “Rigoletto” from Hubbard Hall Opera Theatre

Rigoletto with Chris Lucier (l) and Benjamin Bloomfield (r) at Hubbard Hall, Cambridge, N.Y. Hubbard Hall Opera Theatre stages Verdi’s Rigoletto to perfection Review by Gail M. Burns Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.” – Henry van Dyke I don’t misunderstand this opening quotation, the singers at Hubbard Hall Opera Theatre are…

[jonkatzatbedlamfarm]

The Old Castle Theater Is Back. Making Music On The Streets Outside:"Dad Said Wait Here, That Was Ten Years Ago." His Loss, I Said.

The Old Castle Theater Is Back. Making Music On The Streets Outside:”Dad Said Wait Here, That Was Ten Years Ago.” His Loss, I Said.

Our wonderful restored Opera House  – Hubbard Hall –  is being re-imagined. It has become a center for education and the arts; they have been bringing high school students from all over the area (and some Brooklyn artists) to Cambridge and offered scores of classes. There are almost no locally produced or original theater being performed that we want to see. Hubbard Hall seems to be doing what it…

[krispyweiss]

The Sound (Bites) of Live Music - 2017 in Review

It was another fabulous year in live music.

Concerts big and small; acts Sound Bites has seen scads of times and acts that broke his Sound cherry; festivals and “an evening with;” old timers and newcomers. These concerts were the sound of live music in 2017 and Sound Bites has the best of them below.

Shows are ranked in the approximate oder of quality with the number of times seen in parentheses. The concerts took place in Columbus, Ohio, unless otherwise noted and are ranked by grade. Any shows that merited a B+ or lower are excluded.

A+

Rhiannon Giddens/Steep Canyon Rangers (6)/Pokey LaFarge/Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Music Hall, Cincinnati, Nov. 12: The third of three concerts/recording sessions took place on a Sunday afternoon as Giddens, the Rangers and LaFarge focused on post-World War I American compositions. A sublime mixture of classical music and Americana’s best contemporary artists and the show of the year. It’ll be released sometime in 2018 as the second in an ongoing series.

Punch Brothers (3)/I’m With Her/Julian Lage, Taft Theatre, Cincinnati, Aug. 12 Playing alone, together and in various combinations on the American Acoustic tour, the co-headliners slayed the audience with originals and covers of everyone from Adele to Randy Newman.

Tommy Emmanuel and David Grisman, Speaker Jo Anne Davidson Theater, Nov. 10: Emmanuel played an opening solo-acoustic set before appearing with Grisman for songs from their duet LP, Pickin’, and other selections. Pure, jaw-dropping virtuosity.

Roger Waters (2), Nationwide Arena, July 20: A left-wing, multi-media assault on the senses that found Waters revisiting politically minded tracks spanning from Pink Floyd’s Meddle to his own Is This the Life We Really Want?

Steve Martin (2)/Martin Short/Steep Canyon Rangers (5), PNC Pavilion, Cincinnati, Sept. 16: Mostly a comedy show - and one so hilarious Mr. and Mrs. Sound Bites walked out with sore throats and tummies from laughing so hard - this concert also featured the Rangers playing bluegrass alone and with their patron, Martin. And when Short danced across the stage in drag and with humongous fake boobies during “Pretty Little One,” the two art forms merged in perfection.

A

Willie Nelson (11)/Van Morrison (3)/Avett Brothers, et al. Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, Pa., Oct. 10: At the Hershey stop of Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival, Nelson was in top form with an expanded, guest-filled band; Morrison played a spellbinding concert that was the best of the three the Sound Biteses saw this year; and the Avetts proved all the fuss is legit.

Brian Wilson, Palace Theatre, April 21: Backed by an enormous band that included former Beach Boys Al Jardine and Blondie Chapman, Wilson revisited Pet Sounds and surrounded it with big hits (“I Get Around”) and deep cuts (“California Saga”). Sublime doesn’t touch it.

Van Morrison (2), Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Fla, Jan. 18: After seeing Morrison for the first time the night before and thinking nothing could be better, the man came back and proved Mr. and Mrs. Sound Bites wrong, playing a different set and wailing away on saxophone, guitar and harp.

Van Morrison, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Fla., Jan 17: The only thing better than seeing Morrison for the first time is seeing him subsequently.

Los Lobos (13), Music Box Supper Club, Cleveland, March 31: The band played Kiko in its entirety and stretched it to two hours, keeping the essence of their high-watermark album while futzing with the arrangements enough to keep things interesting for those of us who have the LP tattooed on our brains from repeated listenings over the past 25 years.

David Crosby & Friends, Kent Stage, Kent, Ohio, Nov. 5: Sound Bites endured a solo, three-plus-hour drive through thunderstorms and a tornado warning and arrived at the Kent Stage stressed out, soaking wet and with just minutes to spare. The bad vibes melted away about 40 seconds after Crosby and his stellar band took the stage with “In My Dreams” and the ride home was just fine after an amazing performance from rock’s premier male singer.

Tedeschi Trucks Band (8)/Wood Brothers (3)/Hot Tuna (7), Rose Music Center, Huber Heights, Ohio, July 22: All three bands were in top form on this stop on the Wheels of Soul tour, even if the Woods and Hot Tuna didn’t get enough stage time. All was forgiven when each band joined in during Tedeschi Trucks’ typically searing headlining set, which featured high-test originals and covers and made Mr. and Mrs. Sound Bites wish they had attended the previous evening in Cincinnati.

Chicago (12), Rose Music Center, Huber Heights, Ohio, May 20: Playing a set short on schlock and long on tracks from the Terry Kath era, Chicago played the best of the dozen concerts Sound Bites has seen of the band since 1982. Chicago was a rock band at first and it is a rock band now.

Robert Cray Band (8), Midland Theatre, Newark, Ohio, Sept. 29: Cray doesn’t mess around - he plays his songs in a workmanlike manner, plays them well and still sounds almost exactly like the guy who first came on to the scene nearly four decades ago. Ageless. And timeless.

Wood Brothers (4) Stuart’s Opera House, Nelsonville, Ohio, Nov. 9: Debuting tracks from their forthcoming album and playing old favorites, the Woods played the best of the four concerts Sound Bites has been lucky enough to see from the band. Though their named after brothers Oliver and Chris, multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix is the trio’s secret weapon.

Martin Barre (2), Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza, May 3: Playing acoustic and electric sets, Barre and his spectacular, three-piece band nailed Jethro Tull songs from across the band’s catalog, mixing them in with periodic selections from Barre’s solo career.

Rosanne Cash (2), Kuss Auditorium, Springfield, Ohio, Feb. 11: Performing in an acoustic-duo setting with husband John Levanthal, Cash showed herself a better singer live than in studio and Leventhal’s arrangements made her songs sparkle in the sparse, in-concert setting.

Dweezil Zappa (6), Express Live!, Jan. 22: Fomerly known as Zappa Plays Zappa, Dweezil and his crack band somehow managed to pull off Daddy’s songs in a way that was both appropriately reverent and appropriately irreverent. Don’t think of Dweezil and company as a tribute group. Think of them as a rock ‘n’ roll symphony interpreting one of the 20th century’s most-important composers.

Los Lobos (14), Music Box Supper Club, Cleveland, April 1: With Kiko in the rear view, a looser Lobos took the stage the following evening with a retrospective set of originals and covers that found the band members switching instruments, taking requests and inviting up a local ringer on stage to shred with the wolf pack. On any given night, Los Lobos are capable to going places only a few bands can go - this was one of them.

Leo Kottke (4), Thirty One West, Newark, Ohio, Oct. 24: All by his lonesome but sounding like a quartet, Kottke showed once again why, like Tigger, he’s the only one.

Old Crow Medicine Show (2), Express Live!, May 31: Playing Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde from front to back, the Crows put a new twist on an old standby, adding a bunch and taking away nothing. There was a nice tribute to the recently departed Gregg Allman via “Midnight Rider” in the encore, which also featured (natch) the Dylan co-write “Wagon Wheel.”

Bruce Hornsby (10), Midland Theatre, Newark, Ohio, Sept. 22: If there’s anyone more versatile than Hornsby, Sound Bites is yet to meet him. This solo-piano workout took the concept of recital to a whole ‘nother level.

Southern Culture on the Skids (2), Skully’s Music Diner, May 9: “Too Much Pork for Just one Fork.” “House of Bamboo.” The only thing that outshines SCOT’s sense of humor is SCOT’s musicianship. Flying fried chicken and fans dancing onstage only add to the shenanigans when they come to town.

Bob Weir & the Campfire Band, Proctor & Gamble Hall, Cincinnati, Jan. 12: Backed by members of the National in an acoustic-centric set that was heavy on songs from Blue Mountain, Weir put on the best performance Sound Bites has seen out of him in a decade or more and proved he should do more shows that move away from his Grateful Dead legacy. When “Oh Boy” popped out of “Dark Star,” all was right with the universe.

Del McCoury Band (2), Stuart’s Opera House, Nelsonville, Ohio, March 4: There’s bluegrass. And then there’s the Del McCoury Band.

The HillBenders, Fur Peace Ranch, Pomeroy, Ohio, Aug. 5: The Who’s Tommy is even creepier when performed in a bluegrass setting. The HillBenders opened for themselves with a set of originals before diving into the tale of the deaf, dumb and blind kid. If this tour comes to your town, go.

Tedeschi Trucks Band (7), Palace Theatre, Jan. 23: This was the weakest TTB show Sound Bites has ever seen. It was astounding.

Lake Street Dive, Newport Music Hall, Aug. 10: Rachael Price is mesmerizing - impossible to take your eyes and ears off. The rest of the band is just as potent and Lake Street Dive is probably the only band in the world that could make Sound Bites shake his tail feather to George Michael’s “Faith.” Their version of Wings’ “Let Me Roll It” - like the rest of their performance - also did not suck.

A-

Ray Wiley Hubbard (2), Woodlands Tavern, June 23: Hubbard likes to call his music “an acquired taste.” It takes about three seconds to realize this guy should be at the top of everyone’s must-see list.

Elizabeth Cook (2), Rumba Cafe, Oct. 23: At turns funny and heartbreaking, Cook possesses a gorgeous voice and an irresistible, smart-ass stage presence. She’s like Todd Snider in drag and her solo-acoustic show is anything but a drag.

Todd Snider (9), Stuart’s Opera House, Nelsonville, Ohio, Feb. 4: At turns funny and heartbreaking, Snider possesses a laconic voice and an irresistible, smart-ass stage presence. He’s like Elizabeth Cook in jeans and his solo-acoustic show is a terrific mix of music and comedy.

Jerry Douglas Band, Thirty One West, Newark, Ohio, Aug. 15: Eschewing bluegrass for jazz, the Dobro player extraordinaire brought a huge band to Newark and nullified any disappointment by delivering a barnburner of a concert that made you wonder why he didn’t do this sooner.

Los Lobos (15), Stuart’s Opera House, Nelsonville, Ohio, Aug. 20: With bassist Conrad Lazano and guitarist Cesar Rosas MIA, the Wolves nevertheless delivered with a set heavy on rarities and covers. The pit was packed with dancers for most of the second set, proving a short-handed Los Lobos is still among the country’s best live acts.

Yonder Mountain String Band (2), A&R Music Bar, July 6: Adding more heat to an already sweaty and packed bar, YMSB proved there is life after Jeff Austin.

Holly Bowling (2), Woodlands Tavern, Feb. 10: The classical pianist who specializes in Phish and Grateful Dead covers delivered two sets of Phish and Grateful Dead covers arranged for classical piano and knocked off plenty of socks in the process.

Steel Wheels (2), King Center for the Arts, Dec. 9: When a bluegrass band features a drum solo early in the concert, you know you’re in for something different. The Steel Wheels are something different. And they’re something else as well.

12/20/17

[bronzestring91-blog]

The Music Center – Enjoy the arts!

Opera, theater, music, dance – The Music Center encompasses it all. Also known as the Performing Arts Center of LA county, it is composed of eleven venues. Four of the main theaters are the: Ahmanson Theatre, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Mark Taper Forum, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. The four resident companies include: Center Theatre Group, LA Master Chorale, LA Opera, and the LA Phil.

Plácido Domingo, Ian McKellen, Elaine Stritch, and Liza Minnelli are just some of the world’s top talents who have performed at The Music Center. One of my all time favorite live theater show was “The Art of Falling,” a spectacular dance and improv collaboration by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and The Second City that played at the Ahmanson Theater.

Check out The Music Center website to discover what shows are playing. The Music Center often hosts free, outdoor, family friendly activities and it’s nice to enjoy the ambiance of the Music Center Plaza (see The Dance Door) before or after your show, so take that into account when planning.

Parking is typically $9, but it’s an easy location to reach by Metro (and you can check out Union Station while you’re there).

Source: https://www.spottedbylocals.com/losangeles/the-music-center/

[newstfionline]

Cinema Ban Lifts as ‘Black Panther’ Is Screened for Saudi Audience

By Tasneem Alsultan and Ben Hubbard, NY Times, April 18, 2018

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia--The audience strolled down the red carpet, fetched their popcorn and soda and filed into the cinema for a night at the movies.

It was a sight common around the world. But in the capital of ultraconservative Saudi Arabia, it was a watershed moment: the first opening of a commercial movie theater in more than 30 years.

The invitation-only screening of the Hollywood blockbuster “Black Panther” on Wednesday was part of a wider social opening in the kingdom championed by the 32-year-old crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.

In addition to trying to reorient the Saudi economy away from oil and moderate its official religious rhetoric, Prince Mohammed, a son of the Saudi king and next in line to the throne, has sought to make life more enjoyable for those who have long complained that the country’s strict religious rules make it a boring place to live.

Prince Mohammed has tried to change that by creating a government body tasked with expanding entertainment opportunities such as concerts, monster-truck rallies and operas. While those events have been well attended, they have reached limited numbers. It is the opening of commercial movie theaters in shopping centers that will really affect the country’s 32 million people.

Saudi officials hope that expanding entertainment options will not only allow citizens to have more fun, but also help the economy by keeping at home some of the millions of dollars that Saudis spend on entertainment abroad. They hope that the creation of a domestic entertainment sector will also generate much-needed jobs for young Saudis.

While international companies have swooped into Saudi Arabia, signing deals to build and operate theaters, movies for the masses are not yet a reality, as Wednesday’s event made clear.

The movie theater itself, inside a largely vacant and only partially constructed financial district, had been hastily put together in a two-story concert hall that appeared better outfitted for symphonies.

Two other halls in the same complex still lacked seats.

But enthusiasm for the changes was tangible among the hundreds of V.I.P. guests, who included government ministers, social media stars and at least one princess.

“We are very happy,” said Fouz al-Thiyabi, 35, the vice principal of a girls’ elementary school, who came with a girlfriend. “They should have done this a long time ago.”

She said she and her friends used to go to the movies abroad, like many Saudis who would flock to neighboring Bahrain or the United Arab Emirates on weekends to see the latest flicks. Now, she said, she looked forward to seeing movies close to home.

Some observers have noted similarities between recent events in Saudi Arabia and the plot of “Black Panther,” which tells the story of a prince who takes charge of his kingdom, struggles against a rival to the throne and chooses to lead his people in a new direction.

Could it be that Prince Mohammed, who ousted his cousin to become heir to the throne and now seeks to transform Saudi society, sees himself as similar to T’Challa, the movie’s hero?

[berkshirereview]

A Singer's Notes 66: Hubbard Hall Opera Theater's La Traviata at Proctor's, Schenectady by Keith Kibler

Read the full article at http://berkshirereview.net/2013/02/18/a-singers-notes-66-hubbard-hall-opera-theaters-la-traviata-at-proctors-schenectady/

A Singer's Notes 66: Hubbard Hall Opera Theater's La Traviata at Proctor's, Schenectady

Please forgive me if I think of Verdi’s La Traviata and Otello as religious dramas—a father must (or thinks he must) give a child over unwillingly to death���Abraham and Isaac all over again. It is not insignificant that Otello is old enough to be Desdemona’s father. Nor is it...

[larryland]

by Roseann Cane

I can’t remember ever having so much fun at an opera. (Well, there was the time when an usher escorted me out of the Met for laughing, but I was a child, the opera was Aida, and the other audience members somehow didn’t share my sense of humor.)

Gaetano Donizetti, born into poverty in the Northern Italian city of Bergamo in 1797, became a leading composer of bel canto opera in the early nineteenth century. He wrote about70 operas in the course of his career, and many are, to this day, performed as standards of the international opera repertory. One of the most popular is L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love).

 First presented in 1832, L’elisir d’amore, an opera buffa (comic opera), tells the story of the unrequited love of a poor peasant, Nemorino, for a beautiful landowner, Adina. Though Nemorino repeatedly declares his love for Adina, she rebuffs him with a declaration that she’d rather have a series of lovers. The heartbroken Nemorino watches a pompous solder, Belcore, court Adina. In desperation, Nemorino seeks the help of Dulcamara, a charlatan traveling through town selling a cure-all. “Dr.” Dulcamara sells a potion which Nemorino is convinced will make him irresistible to Adina, and he eagerly drinks the elixir, which is actually cheap wine.

 The brilliance of Hubbard Hall’s production, in addition to a delightful and accomplished cast and a superb orchestra, is that their L’elisir d’amore is set in a 1950s nightclub, with audience members (who’ve purchased premium-priced tickets) are seated at cabaret tables, enjoying wine and charcuterie. But rest assured, there’s not a bad seat in the house. The rest of the audience is in on the action, too, as cast members move throughout the risers as well as the tables, singing and teasing patrons.

Nemorino, who is here the club janitor, is played by tenor Christopher Lucier, who has a lush, panoramic voice, and plays his role with an irresistible comic naivete. Lindsay Ohse plays nightclub owner Adina as a fiery femme fatale with a stunning, sweeping soprano voice perfect for bel canto.As the sergeant Belcore, Patrick McNally is a chest-beating pompous womanizer with a rich, expressive baritone, and as Dulcamara, Andrew Adelsberger uses his elegant bass-baritone voice to hilarious effect. Rebecca Shorstein’s soprano is rich and radiant, and as Adina’s friend Giannetta, her birdlike busybody characterization is adorable.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The rest of the cast, chorus girl/waitresses and supers, have strong and lovely voices, and it is a particular joy to see young singers elegantly integrated in the evening’s festivities. Kudos to Maureen Cossey, Kyra Fitzgerald, Lucy Fronhofer, Delaney Hill, Rose Hunsberger, Abby Maher, and Zian Taylor.

 Amanda Charlebois’s costumes are period-perfect, and I loved how her use of bright reds accentuated the lusty, vivid goings-on. Brittany Shemuga must have had quite a challenge designing the lighting for a show that encompassed an entire theater, and not only did she rise to it, her work brought another dimension to the action.

Stage Director Andrew Nienaber.

Conductor and Artistic Advisor Maria Sensi Sellner

Conductor Maria Sensi Sellner, who also served as Artistic Advisor, is inspired and astonishingly versatile, and her orchestra was nothing short of sensational. As for Stage Director Andrew Nienaber, who in his program note eloquently describes his desire to bring the audience “up close,” I offer my heartfelt congratulations for the great gift he bestows upon the clearly charmed audience. I know that fellow opera lovers will thoroughly savor this unique production, and I strongly suspect that those to whom the opera world is uncharted territory will find Hubbard Hall’s L’elisir d’amore a welcome introduction.

Orchestra

*principle

Violin I

Melanie Dexter*

Francois Secordel

Alyson Slack

Violin II

Kaori Washiyama*

Harriet Welther

Viola

Jimmy Bergin*

Rick Rowley

Cello

Perri Morris*

Will Hayes

Meg Harwood (08/11-12)

Bass

Mowgli Giannitti

Mike Ward (08/12)

Flute/Piccolo

James Haertel

Oboe

Ryan Klein

Clarinet

Christine Barron

Bassoon

Gerry LaNoue

Horn

Patrice Malatestinic

Trumpet

Omar Williams

Percussion

Alex Atchely

Piano

Arthur Bosarge

REVIEW: “L’elisir d’amore” at Hubbard Hall by Roseann Cane I can’t remember ever having so much fun at an opera. (Well, there was the time when an usher escorted me out of the Met for laughing, but I was a child, the opera was…

[larryland]

(Cambridge, NY July 31, 2017) Hubbard Hall is pleased to once again bring opera to Washington County! L’elisir d’amore (The elixir of love) is the twelfth orchestra production to grace the Hubbard Hall stage since 2008. Bringing back the dream team that brought you 2013’s The Barber of Seville, conductor Maria Sensi Sellner and director Andrew Nienaber have joined forces once again to bring Donizetti’s romantic comedy right into your lap! The entire opera is set in a nightclub cabaret where Nemorino, a local villager played by the stunning tenor Christopher Lucier, will do anything to gain the affections of the beautiful and brilliant Adina, played by crystal clear soprano Lindsay Ohse, even when a sergeant with status, Belcore, played by robust & steady baritone Patrick McNally, has set his sights on her. The premium seating at cabaret tables sets the audience right in the middle of the action, a truly rare opera-going experience!

  Mr. Lucier, Ms. Ohse, and Mr. McNally have performed these roles under the same conductor and director previously at Resonance Works, a company founded by Ms. Sensi Sellner, in Pittsburgh. After discussing the possibility of revisiting the production, Hubbard Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director David Andrew Snider was thrilled to bring this unique opera experience to the Hall. “This opera is fun, in your face, and thrilling, with some of the most gorgeous Italian you’ll ever hear,” says Snider.  “It’s accessible AND gorgeous – the best of both worlds. I know our audiences are going to love it.”

Rounding out the main cast, we welcome back the dynamic and hilarious Andrew Adelsberger (last seen at the Hall in 2014’s Gianni Schicchi) as Dulcamara, the seller of the “love potion” purchased by Nemorino and newcomer to the Hall, soprano Rebecca Shorstein joins the cast as Adina’s trusted friend Gianetta. The chorus is made up of local talent who also function as the night club’s waitstaff and our 17 piece local orchestra will be set on the stage overlooking the action.

Director Andrew Nienaber

Conductor Maria Sensi Sellner

Guests at our premium seating will not only be in the middle of the events unfolding, but will also enjoy nibbles and wine provided by the Roundhouse Café.

Opera performances are: Friday, August 11 at 7pm Opening Night

Saturday, August 12 at 7pm

Wednesday, August 16 at 7pm

Friday, August 18 at 7pm

Sunday, August 20 at 2pm

For those unavailable to attend the opera but who would still like a chance to see these amazing artists perform, you are welcome to attend our outreach opportunity in Saratoga! On Saturday, August 5 at 2pm, the cast will be performing selections for the Saratoga Springs Public Library at 49 Henry St. in Saratoga Springs.

Premium Packages for the opera are available through our website or our box office at 518-677-2495 ext. 311. For $150, individuals can enjoy a premium seat, dinner or breakfast at Round House Bakery Cafe, and a room at Motel Cambridge ($250 for couples).  Tickets are $60 for Premium Seating with complementary charcuterie and wine, $45 for Riser Seating, $25 for Students and can be purchased online, through our Box Office at 518-677-2495, or at the door until we are sold out. Tickets are already going fast, so to ensure that you are not turned away, please reserve your tickets in advance!

About Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education Since 1878 Hubbard Hall has developed, produced, and presented theater, music, dance and the visual arts. From 19thcentury vaudeville and traveling troupes performing Shakespeare to today’s newest developing artists, the Hall has long been a home for theater, opera, dance, and music and in recent years has developed into a world-class development center for new work. Through classes in dance, theater, music, movement, puppetry, fencing, and even gardening, Hubbard Hall gives students of all ages an opportunity to learn, collaborate and grow. By offering arts education programming in schools and throughout our region, we connect more deeply with our community and give students throughout the region the opportunity to learn and grow through the arts. Recognized as a leading arts institution in the state of New York, Hubbard Hall is a national model for community-based arts organizations. Hubbard Hall is located at 25 East Main Street in Cambridge, NY. For more information on this and all of our programs, or to purchase tickets, register for classes, make a donation, and/or become a Hubbard Hall Pass carrier please visit www.hubbardhall.org or call (518) 677-2495.

Hubbard Hall Presents Donizetti’s Opera “L’elisir d’amore” (Cambridge, NY July 31, 2017) Hubbard Hall is pleased to once again bring opera to Washington County! 

[larryland]

Hubbard Hall Welcomes Patrick McNally Back for "L'elisir d'amore"

Hubbard Hall Welcomes Patrick McNally Back for “L’elisir d’amore”

Patrick McNally will be singing Belcore in L’elisir d’amore this August. Patrick McNally will be singing Belcore in L’elisir d’amore, having previously been seen at Hubbard Hall in Carmen and The Barber of Seville. With a voice described as “robust” and “standout” by the Denver Post and with a “lively” stage presence reviewed by Opera News, McNally has a varied operatic repertoire, from Gianni…

[larryland]

Hubbard Hall Seeking Soprano, Tenor & Bass for Opera Production

Hubbard Hall Seeking Soprano, Tenor & Bass for Opera Production

Hubbard Hall is seeking 1 Soprano, 1 Tenor, and 1 Bass for the *CHORUS* in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore. Maria Sensi-Sellner will return to the Hall conduct, with Andrew Nienaber returning to direct, and we will also be welcoming back principal performers Patrick McNally, Andrew Adelsberger, and Christopher Lucier. We can provide *mileage reimbursement* to you for rehearsals and performances, at…

[larryland]

Hubbard Hall Casting All Voice Parts for Opera Chorus

Hubbard Hall Casting All Voice Parts for Opera Chorus

Hubbard Hall in Cambridge, NY is looking to cast an opera chorus (all voice parts) for Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, to be produced in August 2017. This first round of auditions will be held online and videos/video links may be submitted via email by Wednesday, April 12. Chorus rehearsals would begin the evenings of July 26 and 27 from 6-10 pm; other rehearsal dates to be determined based on…

[larryland]

(Cambridge, NY October 27, 2017) Hubbard Hall is thrilled to be producing a new chamber edition of Rupert Holmes’ Tony Award-winning The Mystery of Edwin Drood, opening Saturday, November 18 at Hubbard Hall. Creator Rupert Holmes has created a new version just for Hubbard Hall, with new characters local to our area and plenty of local references and flavor. Mr. Holmes will be in rehearsal with the company and is providing new orchestrations for this production. Executive and Artistic Director David Andrew Snider directs a cast featuring fresh faces from around the world including Micah Sauvageau, Zach Barnes, Tim Garner, and Joe Phillips while also showcasing some of your Hubbard Hall favorites includingChristine Decker, Sara Curtis, Erin Ouellette, Kyra Fitzgerald, Catherine Seeley, Scott Renzoni, and Sylvia Bloom.

Based on Charles Dickens’ incomplete last novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood is solved by the audience each night, giving each cast member the chance – and challenge – to be the murderer, while delighting audiences with a new outcome every night. It’s a rollicking comedy full of love, mystery, and intrigue all set inside of Hubbard Hall!

“It’s an amazing opportunity to work with an American Master on his masterpiece and in fact to have him rewrite parts of it to fit the Hall is a dream come true,” says Hubbard Hall Executive and Artistic Director David Snider. “We’re thrilled to have Rupert here and can’t wait to share how this work came together at our Pre-Show Conversation in Hubbard Hall on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 11am.”

Special events accompanying this production include a FREE Pre-Show Conversation at Hubbard Hall on Saturday, November 4 at 11am and Opening Night Dinner on Saturday, November 18 at 5:30pm in theRoundhouse Bakery Café. Come to Hubbard Hall to meet with the director and cast and join a discussion about playing multiple characters, what it’s like to create a theater within a theater, and how working with the playwright can enrich the artistic process. The Opening Night Dinner will be held at the Roundhouse Bakery Café, now located on the ground floor of Hubbard Hall, on Saturday, November 18 at 5:30pm. For $40, you can enjoy a beautiful spread of Tavern Cheddar, Pickles/Chutneys, Native Apples, Queen Victoria’s Chicken Pot Pie, Lemon/herb dressed Salad, and for dessert, Pumpkin Pudding with Spiced Fruit in Port.

Performances of The Mystery of Edwin Drood will run Saturday, November 18 through Sunday, December 3, Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 2:00pm and 7:30pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm.No performance on Sunday, November 18. Please call or visit our website to see special Preview and Weekday Matinee opportunities. Tickets are $30 General Admission/$15 Student. All tickets are available online at hubbardhall.org or by calling the box office at 518-677-2495 Tuesdays and Friday 10am to 3pm or Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am to 4pm; performance tickets are also available at-the-door if the show is not sold out. If you cannot attend but would like to continue to support the work of the Hall, please donate or sign up for the e-newsletter at hubbardhall.org, or like and follow us on Facebook.

Since 1878 Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education has developed, produced, and presented theater, music, dance and the visual arts. From 19th century vaudeville and traveling troupes performing Shakespeare to today’s newest developing artists, the Hall has long been a home for theater, opera, dance and music and in recent years has developed into a world-class development center for new work. Since 1977, Hubbard Hall’s current 501c3 has engaged hundreds of artists and students and thousands upon thousands of audience members in acclaimed productions ranging from world premiere musicals to the great works of Chekhov, Shaw, Miller, and Shakespeare, amongst many others. As a training ground for both young and seasoned artists, Hubbard Hall continues to develop a new generation of artists and audiences while providing opportunities for artists and audiences to take new risks and grow beyond their comfort zone. Recognized as an arts institution in the state of New York, Hubbard Hall is a national model for community-based arts organizations.

Hubbard Hall Produces New Chamber Edition of Rupert Holmes’ “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” (Cambridge, NY October 27, 2017) Hubbard Hall is thrilled to be producing a new chamber edition of Rupert Holmes’ Tony Award-winning 

[larryland]

(Cambridge, NY September 13, 2017) Hubbard Hall is thrilled to welcome conductor and pianist Daniel Shulman who has assembled an extraordinarily talented group of artists to perform Stravinsky’s The Story of a Soldier (L’Histoire du Soldat) and other complementary pieces on Saturday, September 23 at 7pm. This performance combines chamber music, dance, and spoken word to tell the tale of a soldier making a deal with the devil and becoming a victim of his own greed. Daniel Shulman will conduct musicians Kaori Washiyama, Susan Daves, Matthew Gold, Paul Green, Wesley Hopper, and Robert Zimmerman while Adam Shulman, Jack Boggan, and Siri Allison tell the story through text, movement, and dance.  This program will also feature Giuseppe Tartini’s The Devil’s Trill Sonata (performed by Kaori Washiyama), Franz Schubert’s Margaret at the Spinning Wheel (performed by Rebecca Iris Rogers), and The Legend of Battle Hill (told by Nancy Marie Payne). This group will perform only one night at Hubbard Hall on Saturday, September 23 at 7pm. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $15 for students and can be purchased online, through our Box Office at 518-677-2495, or at the door. An additional performance will occur Sunday, September 24 at the Salem Courthouse. Please visit their website at salemcourthouse.org for more information.

About Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education Since 1878 Hubbard Hall has developed, produced, and presented theater, music, dance and the visual arts. From 19thcentury vaudeville and traveling troupes performing Shakespeare to today’s newest developing artists, the Hall has long been a home for theater, opera, dance, and music and in recent years has developed into a world-class development center for new work. Through classes in dance, theater, music, movement, puppetry, fencing, and even gardening, Hubbard Hall gives students of all ages an opportunity to learn, collaborate and grow. By offering arts education programming in schools and throughout our region, we connect more deeply with our community and give students throughout the region the opportunity to learn and grow through the arts. Recognized as a leading arts institution in the state of New York, Hubbard Hall is a national model for community-based arts organizations. Hubbard Hall is located at 25 East Main Street in Cambridge, NY. For more information on this and all of our programs, or to purchase tickets, register for classes, make a donation, and/or become a Hubbard Hall Pass carrier please visit www.hubbardhall.org or call (518) 677-2495.

Enjoy a September Saturday Stravinsky Concert at Hubbard Hall (Cambridge, NY September 13, 2017) Hubbard Hall is thrilled to welcome conductor and pianist Daniel Shulman who has assembled an extraordinarily talented group of artists to perform Stravinsky’s 

[jonkatzatbedlamfarm]

Cambridge Sunday Morning, Cont.

Cambridge Sunday Morning, Cont.

Cambridge Sunday Morning We walked up and down Main Street this morning in our village of Cambridge, this block is at the heart of our town. In the center is Hubbard Hall, the restored old opera  house where there is opera, theater and art classes for adults and kids There is an artisan’s market (the art gallery mentioned above) that was open, showing work  from artists in the area. The Round…

[larryland]

(Cambridge, NY July 6, 2017) Hubbard Hall is pleased to host two fantastic musical events in the same week! For starters, the Hall is pleased to welcome the Men o’ War Balladeers who will performing a FREE CONCERT on Thursday, July 13 at 7pm.

The Men o’ War Balladeers is a new Traditional Music Band, based in Cambridge who perform Celtic and North American folk ballads. These five young men from Southern Washington County will take you on a journey from Frobisher Bay in the arctic to Old Maui, singing traditional music rife with rich harmony, both unaccompanied and with acoustic guitar. Let yourself be moved though song and enjoy the joyous, mournful, heart-wrenching, and uplifting shanties and labor songs from North America, Ireland, and beyond.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

We also invite you to join us for some Broadway hits with a bit of a twist at our second Miscast Cabaret on Saturday, July 15 at 7pm on Hubbard Hall’s Main Stage to help raise money for our Arts Education Scholarship Fund! This program helps to ensure that no student at Hubbard Hall is ever turned away from a class based on financial limitations.

What’s a Miscast, you ask? It’s a chance for performers to sing songs that weren’t written for them! Featuring solo, duet, and group performances, this cabaret allows singers to swap age, gender, race, or even song-style giving them the opportunity to perform something fun and heartfelt that they ordinarily would not get to perform.

The event takes place one night only on July 15th at 7pm. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and can be purchased online, through our Box Office at 518-677-2495, or at the door. Last year’s Miscast Cabaret was a smash success so make sure to reserve your tickets in advance!

About Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education Since 1878 Hubbard Hall has developed, produced, and presented theater, music, dance and the visual arts. From 19thcentury vaudeville and traveling troupes performing Shakespeare to today’s newest developing artists, the Hall has long been a home for theater, opera, dance, and music and in recent years has developed into a world-class development center for new work. Through classes in dance, theater, music, movement, puppetry, fencing, and even gardening, Hubbard Hall gives students of all ages an opportunity to learn, collaborate and grow. By offering arts education programming in schools and throughout our region, we connect more deeply with our community and give students throughout the region the opportunity to learn and grow through the arts. Recognized as a leading arts institution in the state of New York, Hubbard Hall is a national model for community-based arts organizations. Hubbard Hall is located at 25 East Main Street in Cambridge, NY. For more information on this and all of our programs, or to purchase tickets, register for classes, make a donation, and/or become a Hubbard Hall Pass carrier please visit www.hubbardhall.org or call (518) 677-2495.

Hubbard Hall Hosts Two Summer Concerts (Cambridge, NY July 6, 2017) Hubbard Hall is pleased to host two fantastic musical events in the same week!

[larryland]

(Cambridge, NY May 31, 2017)  Celebrate the end of the 2016-17 season by coming to see what our Hubbard Hall Dancers have been working on all year! Each dance class has finely honed routines that are aimed to impress and please. One ticket will get you in to both Part 1 and Part 2. Featuring performances by Hip Hop & Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Irish Step, Ballerina Princess, Lyrical Dance, Modern Jazz, and Bollywood. Choreography by Darcy May, Heidi Knecht-Seegers, Jennetta Lorman, Carman Bogle, Lindsay Shaner, Elizabeth Call, and Gina Deibel.

“The Dance Showcase is always a highlight of the year – where we at Hubbard Hall get to share with the local community the skills that dancers of all ages have learned over the past year,” says Program Director Kyra Fitzgerald. “The variety of music, skills, and types of dance show off each performer’s individual style and it is such a joy to watch.”

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Come to either or both shows on Saturday, June 10 at 4pm and 7pm at the Hoosick Falls Central School Auditorium (located at 21187 NY 22 in Hoosick Falls). Tickets are $10 General Admission, $5 Student (11 and up), $2 Youth (6-10 years), and ages 5 and under are free.

Additional information about the Dance Showcase can be found online at hubbardhall.org or by calling the Hubbard Hall Box Office at (518) 677-2495.

Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education, located in a renovated 1878 rural opera house and adjacent former freight yard complex, is a community arts center dedicated to bringing the best of the arts to the region with year-round theater, music and dance performances and classes and workshops for all ages and skill levels. Hubbard Hall is located at 25 East Main Street in Cambridge, NY.  For more information on this and all Hubbard Hall programs, or to purchase tickets, register for classes, make a donation and/or become a Hubbard Hall Pass carrier please visit www.hubbardhall.org or call (518) 677-2495.

Hubbard Hall Year-End Dance Showcase: “Can’t Stop the Feeling – Keep Dancing!” (Cambridge, NY May 31, 2017)  Celebrate the end of the 2016-17 season by coming to see what our…