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Gotta Have Arts

Origins of A Love Story in a New, Timely Novel on Ukraine

April 14, 2022 by Ben G. Frank

A novel by Ben Frank

By Ben G. Frank

Many love affairs begin with a first glance.

Before the jet age, many romances began on a train or in a railroad station. 

Who does not recall the great Russian novel, Anna Karenina, or the classic film, Waterloo Bridge.

Rail stations were always a part of my family’s story. 

One hundred years ago, my mother, Sonya, of blessed memory, left Odessa, Ukraine, by train to Romania with her mother and sisters.  They were refugees. They wanted no part of the Russian Bolshevik Red Army, just as today’s Ukrainian refugees don’t want to live under a conquering Russian army. 

As a child growing up, I often heard the story of their escape, especially when the grownups got together. In whispers, my mother and her sisters talked about their brother, Mischa, who had disappeared. They believe he ran away to the army. He was never heard of again.

I dug deeper into the family story and after years of talking to relatives, I began to tell their story in what became my Klara Trilogy.

Klara’s Journey was the first of three historical fiction books, each independent of each other. This first novel is a gripping saga of Russia’s civil war–much of which takes place in today’s Ukraine, and involves the journey of the oldest sister, Klara who, leaves the family, and traves across Siberia to get to the U.S. to find her father.

Klara’s War, the second of the trilogy, finds Klara’s niece fleeing Ukraine when the Nazis invade Russia.  Her story ends during the turbulent post-war era of Israel’s Independence  in 1948.

And then I wrote the just-released, Klara’s Brother & The Woman He Loved,  the last of the Klara Trilogy. But I never believed that my new work of historical fiction, including much material about Ukraine which has been invaded by Russia, would be so timely. 

Indeed as I write this article, I watch on television Ukrainians fleeing their homeland. The newscaster reports that Odessa, this beautiful Black Sea port.  

In order to write this family story, I had to go to Odessa. I walked the city streets and admiring its buildings, designed in neo-classical architectural style, including the attractive, yellow-and-white, local mansions, many of which display a Mediterranean theme.

I visited Proharovskaya street where my family lived. I wonder if the building will still stand if the Russians reach it in this 2022 invasion.

I move along Primorsky Blvd. to Nikolaevsky Blvd. to inhale the “spicy aroma of the acacias” hanging over the city’s busy harbor and the famous 240 Odessa Steps

At the top of the steps stands the statue of the Duc de Richelieu clad in a Roman toga; he is known as Armand Emmanuel du Plessis, 5th Duke of Richelieu, a French émigré, who served as governor of Odessa from 1803 to 1814. Now the “stone duke” points at all those arriving to his beloved city, Putin’s Russians, excluded.

And here’s where railway stations come in, especially in Klara’s Brother & the Woman He Loved.” I head to the Odessa-Holovna railway station. It was built in the second half of the 19th century, damaged in 1944, and rebuilt in 1952. I decide to begin the novel’s love story here. The year is 1919. The Czar has been dethroned. The democratic government which succeeded it, has been deposed by the Revolutionary Russian Bolsheviks, commonly known as Reds.  Opposing them are the Whites, former Czarist army officers and Cossacks, Mischa, a Bolshevik starts out as member of the Communist Red Guard, becomes a Chekist secret police and is promoted to Commissar.

In the rail station, Mischa , trying to board a train is pushed to the ground by an unruly crowd trying to escape the city. He can’t get up. So, he sits up and raises his hands, hoping someone will take hold of them and lift him up. In seconds, his arms are grabbed and his body pulled upward by the strong, but soft hands of a young beautiful woman facing him. Both are pleased at what they see in each other.

Thus begins this tumultuous story.  From the moment Commissar Mischa Rasputnis embraces Basya Abramskaya, a Soviet spy, the couples’ fate is pitted against the Kremlin’s secret police who warn the couple never to communicate with each other again. Wrenched from the arms of his loved one, Mischa often dreams he sees Basya in the sunflower fields of Ukraine. Will their love endure years of separation?  

Finishing this article, I turn on the news. “It’s calm in Odessa now. But we’re waiting for the worst,” a Ukrainian official tells the BBC. Sounds like Mischa who in Klara’s Brother & The Woman He Loved, asked: “What’s end game.”

Ben G. Frank, a former resident of Chappaqua, is a journalist, lecturer and author of books on Russia and Ukraine, including the just published historical novel, Klara’s Brother & The Woman He Loved. He now resides in Palm Beach County, FL. Ben Frank’s books are available wherever books are sold.

 

Filed Under: Gotta Have Arts Tagged With: author, Ben Frank, Klara Trilogy, Love Story

Random Farms Kids’ Theater Returns to In-Person Mainstage Performances with Production of Seussical™, Featuring Local Students

January 24, 2022 by InsidePress

The Random Farms Kids’ Theater will present Seussical™ at The Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, January 28 –30, 2022. 

The show features Armonk residents, Maddie Wohl, Mallory Yahr, and Ben Wohl in the role of Baby Kangaroo, Who #1, and Horton the Elephant 

Now one of the most performed shows in America, Seussical™ is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Tony winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once on This Island, Ragtime), have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination – Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.

Over 40 young actors ages 8-17 will perform in the show, which marks the first Mainstage production to return to in-person performances since 2020. “We are thrilled to be heading back to the stage with these incredibly talented casts!,” says director (and Random Farms Artistic Director), Sarah Boyle. “In preparation we have been enjoying Green Eggs and Ham and making sure we eat our bread Butter Side Up!

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Seussical™ features music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and was co-conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Eric Idle, based on the works of Dr. Seuss. The production is directed by Sarah Boyle with music direction by Joseph Brewer. 

The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton faces a double challenge: not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.

PERFORMANCE INFO:
Friday, January 28th @ 7:30 pm – Cast B

Saturday, January 29th @ 1:00 pm – Cast B

Saturday, January 29th @ 7:00 pm – Cast A

Sunday, January 30th @ 1:00 pm – Cast A

Performances run approximately 2 hours with one intermission.

TICKET INFO:
$20 (children/seniors), $30 (adults) and $40 for premium seats
(first five rows center orchestra). Tickets available only at www.RandomFarmsNY.org/tickets. 

ABOUT RANDOM FARMS KIDS’ THEATER: The Random Farms’ Kids Theater is a not-for-profit organization that puts young people center stage. It is dedicated to creating a safe environment where children of all backgrounds are encouraged to discover the joy of theater within themselves – on and off the stage. Through its programs, students develop an appreciation for arts and music, cultivate leadership and life skills, and build self-esteem. Random Farms further extends this impact beyond its own doors by providing community resources that increase access to the performing arts, and by motivating social change through live theater.

 

Filed Under: Gotta Have Arts

The Tremendous Impact of Stefanie May’s Brainchild–‘THE CAP CARES’ Volunteer Rewards Program

January 6, 2022 by Inside Press

Editor’s Note: Behind the scenes of the iconic Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, impressive efforts to help the community in multiple arenas, are an ongoing pursuit, thanks to the efforts of Marketing Director Stefanie May and her small army of volunteers.  Here’s but a snapshot of #TheCapCares programming, and how you can make a difference too simply by supporting the amazing shows and artists performing throughout the year. Visit www.thecapitoltheatre.com 

When Stefanie May took on the role of Marketing Director at the legendary Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, she knew she wanted to make a difference. Beyond selling out shows with successful marketing campaigns from Tame Impala & Kacey Musgraves to Elvis Costello & Cheap Trick, Stef created “The Cap Cares” volunteer rewards program that has made a tremendous impact on the local community.

  • Stefanie hand-picked volunteer opportunities last September and October, from gardening to sorting medical supplies, that community members could pick from and receive free concert tickets for their hard work.
  • After seven weeks, Stefanie gathered 192 volunteers across 18 events from 11 non-profit organizations, with 475 hours of service (more stats below).
  • Stefanie is working to make the volunteer program part of a larger year-round program that will promote food drives, toy drives, and fundraising campaigns aimed at improving lives within the venue’s community.
  • She has worked with Westchester County companies like Afya Foundation, which “rescues unused medical supplies and equipment and humanitarian goods to help those in need around the world,” the non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization Our New Way Garden, which was created to educate the public about locally and naturally grown food, and the Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center, which is dedicated to the development and advancement of sustainable agriculture.
  • Due to the devastating effect that COVID-19 has had on the live music industry, Stefanie also volunteered her time on the Social Media team for the National Independent Venue Association to pass the Save Our Stages Act in December 2020
  • About The Capitol Theatre: Designed by celebrated architect Thomas Lamb in 1926 and listed in The National Register of Historic Places, The Capitol Theatre is located 30 miles from NYC. The 2,000-capacity theater, known as “the original rock palace,” showcased legends such as Traffic, The Grateful Dead, Black Sabbath, Chuck Berry, David Bowie, Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones. Jerry Garcia called it one of his two favorite venues in the USA. In 2012, the theatre underwent a major renovation under the guidance of music entrepreneur Peter Shapiro. Since then, it has hosted major performers including Bob Dylan, Phil Lesh, Ringo Starr, Joan Baez, Skrillex, Bonnie Raitt, Snoop Dogg, Kacey Musgraves, The Strokes, Tom Petty, Cyndi Lauper, and Willie Nelson, as well as comedians like Kevin Hart and Amy Schumer. The New York Times raves: “A rock theater that looks and sounds as good as the Capitol is something to celebrate.”

Filed Under: Gotta Have Arts, Not for Profit News Tagged With: fundraising, musicians, NY, Philanthopy, Port Chester, Stefanie May, The Cap Cares, The Capitol Theatre, Volunteer Rewards, Volunteers

Tobias Dorfman of Chappaqua Receives 2022 YoungArts Award in Jazz, on Electric Bass

January 1, 2022 by InsidePress

Tobias Dorfman of Chappaqua, New York, has received a 2022 YoungArts award in Jazz, on Electric Bass. Tobias has been recognized at the Merit level–the organization’s third highest honor–and joins 720 of the most accomplished young visual, literary and preforming artists from throughout the county. Selected through the organization’s prestigious competition, YoungArts award winners, all 15–18 years old or in grades 10–12, are chosen for their caliber of artistic achievement by esteemed discipline-specific panels of artists through a rigorous blind adjudication process. YoungArts award winners gain access to one of the most comprehensive programs for artists in the United States, in which they will have opportunities for financial, creative and professional development support throughout their entire careers. A complete list of the 2022 winners is available online at youngarts.org/winners.

“We are thrilled to announce this year’s YoungArts award winners–an extraordinary group of promising, accomplished young artists–and congratulate each of them on this exciting milestone in their artistic careers,” said Executive Director Jewel Malone. “YoungArts empowers artists to pursue a life in the arts beginning at the critical time when many are faced with decisions about life after high school. We are proud to support these young artists at the beginning of their journeys and look forward to becoming a resource for them at all stages of their careers.”

YoungArts award winners become eligible for exclusive creative and professional development support including a wide range of fellowships, residencies and awards; microgrants and financial awards; virtual and in-person presentation opportunities in collaboration with major venues and cultural partners nationwide; and access to YoungArts Post, a free, private online platform for YoungArts artists to connect, collaborate and discover new opportunities.

As a YoungArts award winner, Tobias joins a distinguished group of accomplished artists such as Daniel Arsham, Terence Blanchard, Camille A. Brown, Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Amanda Gorman, Judith Hill, Jennifer Koh, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Andrew Rannells, Desmond Richardson and Hunter Schafer.

 

Toby Dorfman, YoungArts Award honoree, and Friends playing a jazz and funk pop-up concert on New Year’s Eve in downtown Chappaqua. Dorfman is here with (L-R): Noah Solomon (guitar), Daniel Bucci (on drums), and Jake Leis (baritone sax) and Alicia Sang (guitar). Noah and Daniel are both Berklee College of Music students, Jake is at Eastman School of Music and Alicia attends Bates College.

Filed Under: Gotta Have Arts Tagged With: Electric Bass, Tobias Dorman, YoungArts

Chappaqua’s Netra Easwaran Receives YoungArts Award for Accomplishments in Dance

December 16, 2021 by InsidePress

Netra Easwaran, a Junior from Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York, has received a 2022 YoungArts award in Dance. Netra has been recognized at the Merit level–the organization’s third-highest honor–and joins 720 of the most accomplished young visual, literary, and performing artists from throughout the county. Selected through the organization’s prestigious competition, YoungArts award winners, all 15–18 years old or in grades 10–12, are chosen for their caliber of artistic achievement by esteemed discipline-specific panels of artists through a rigorous blind adjudication process.

YoungArts award winners gain access to one of the most comprehensive programs for artists in the United States, in which they will have opportunities for financial, creative, and professional development support throughout their entire careers. A complete list of the 2022 winners is available online at youngarts.org/winners.

“We are thrilled to announce this year’s YoungArts award winners–an extraordinary group of promising, accomplished young artists–and congratulate each of them on this exciting milestone in their artistic careers,” said Executive Director Jewel Malone. “YoungArts empowers artists to pursue a life in the arts beginning at the critical time when many are faced with decisions about life after high school. We are proud to support these young artists at the beginning of their journeys and look forward to becoming a resource for them at all stages of their careers.”

As a YoungArts award winner, Netra joins a distinguished group of accomplished artists such as Daniel Arsham, Terence Blanchard, Camille A. Brown, Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Amanda Gorman, Judith Hill, Jennifer Koh, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Andrew Rannells, Desmond Richardson, and Hunter Schafer.

Filed Under: Gotta Have Arts Tagged With: Dance, Netra Easwaran, YoungArts Award

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