The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Gotta Have Arts

‘Kiss Today Goodbye” at the Westchester Broadway Theater

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A CHORUS LINE
Conceived and originally directed and choreographed by
Michael Bennett
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Edward Kleban
Book by James Kirkwood Jr. & Nicholas Dante

Directed and Choreographed by Mark Martino
Musical Direction by Bob Bray
January 11– April 1, 2018

 

The Chorus Line Cast
Photos by John Vecchiolla

Elmsford, NY– WBT opened it’s 2018 theatre season with the hit Broadway musical A Chorus Line.  This mega-hit captures the very soul of musical theater, and is one of the longest-running Broadway musicals ever. This beloved and iconic musical by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante with a brilliant and show-stopping score by Marvin Hamlisch & Lyrics by Edward Kleban, is a celebration of those unsung heroes of the Musical Theatre, the chorus dancers, valiant, over- dedicated, underpaid and highly trained troopers who back up the star and often make them look more talented.  The characters portrayed in A Chorus Line are based upon the real life experiences of Broadway dancers.

Everything is on the line for 17 dancers as they audition for a highly sought-after place in the chorus of a Broadway musical.  Through this exhausting process, their stories and vulnerabilities are laid on the line as they ultimately come together and become one singular sensation! In a brilliant fusion of song, dance, and compellingly authentic drama, the musical features one powerhouse number after another including “What I Did for Love,” “One,” and “I Can Do That.”

Considered groundbreaking when it opened on Broadway in 1975, the musical went on to win nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical and the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Today, it remains as touching and powerful as when it debuted and is one of the longest running musicals on Broadway.

 

Reservations:  Call (914) 592-2222. Please visit: www.BroadwayTheatre.com for more information about the cast and show too. 

This information was made possible via a release from the Westchester Broadway Theater.

Erica Mansfield (as Cassie) In A Chorus Line

‘The Liar’ A December Production by The Armonk Players

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Poster Design & Graphics: Janet and Rich Ferrante. Ferrante & Associates. Advertising/Design

 

Friday, December 1, 2017 at 8pm
Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 8pm
Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 4pm
Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 8pm
Friday, December 8, 2017 at 8pm
Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 8pm

The Armonk Players Presents
The Liar
By David Ives
Directed by Pia Haas
With Kevin Arthur, Daniel Basiletti, Philip Cook, Rachel Schulte, Steven Skwarek, Julie Thaxter-Gourlay, Alexandra Theodoropoulos and Justin Thomas
Adults: $20, Students (18 and under): $10

Alternative facts, mistaken identities, devious servants and passionate young love collide in The Liar, an adaptation of Pierre Corneille’s hilarious seventeenth-century farce, Le Menteur, by acclaimed American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist David Ives.

Hours after arriving in Paris, the charismatic Dorante is smitten by a pair of comely young ladies and confounded by a case of mistaken identity. Not to worry, this scoundrel is handsome, charming—and a pathological liar. He wins admirers wherever he goes…so long as he never has to tell the truth! Misunderstandings, secret agendas, and witty wordplay abound in this delightfully ingenious and irreverent update of a classic French romp.

“THE LIAR and its mischievous adapter, David Ives, want you to savor every meticulously groomed conceit, every stylishly turned-out couplet, every assiduously manicured joke…Ives is an inveterate jester.” —Washington Post.

Ticket Purchase Information

“Walk-ins” are always welcome (we have ample seating), but we recommend that you purchase your tickets in advance online—you choose the exact seats you want, there is less waiting in line and you may pay with a debit card or credit card. “Walk-ins” may only pay with cash or by check (made out to either Friends of the North Castle Public Library, Inc. or FNCPL, Inc.)—we don’t accept credit cards at the theatre.

Purchase Tickets

We perform at Whippoorwill Theatre (adjacent to the North Castle Public Library) at 19 Whippoorwill Road East, Armonk, NY 10504 (use the Kent Place entrance, please). You can get travel directions here.

For up-to-date information, visit our website. If you would like to make a tax-free donation to the Friends of the North Castle Public Library to support the Armonk Players, you can do so here.

 

Choral Music Concert To Celebrate 175th Anniversary of St. Stephens Church and Founding of Armonk

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Britain’s favorite composer Paul Mealor
PHOTO BY CHRIS O’DONOVAN

North Castle residents are in for a treat at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, October 29 at 4 p.m. A concert of choral and instrumental music featuring Vivaldi’s Gloria and additional works by Handel and Parry will be included in the concert to celebrate the founding of the church and the town of Armonk 175 years ago. The concert will also introduce a world premier commissioned by St. Stephen’s from acclaimed British composer Paul Mealor titled “How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place.”

Mealor rose to fame in the U.K. after composing and performing Ubi Caritas et Amor  at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011. His song “Wherever You Are” performed by the Military Wives Choir became a #1 single in the U.K. and he has worked with choirs and orchestras all over the world.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, located in the historic Mile Square center of Armonk, is celebrating 175th year, with a year-long series of special events and concerts. Rev. Nils Chittenden stated “In 1842, a small group of Episcopalian Christians founded a parish in the town of North Castle, built a beautiful sanctuary in the Greek Revival style and, in so doing, established a community that led to the founding of modern-day Armonk.” Armonk, which means “the fishing place between the hills” derived its name from the word Armonck, the name used by the Native Americans known as the Siwanoys who were based on the Byram River.

The piece by Mealor is an adaptation of the New International Version translation of Psalm 84. “A psalm was chosen so as to be as inclusive as possible to all of Armonk’s faith communities: both Christian and Jewish. We invite everyone to join us as we celebrate all of the good that St. Stephen’s has brought to Armonk,” noted Rev. Chittenden.

Tickets for Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ are $15/$10 online at www.ststephensarmonk.org or $20/$15 at the door. The concert will take place in the church from 4p-6p.

A reception follows the concert and is included in the ticket price.

Cyrille Aimée and ‘Love Art’ Exhibit Open Exciting Fall Season at Chappaqua Performing Arts Center

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Love Art pop up gallery at ChappPac featured works by (L-R) Geoff Stein, Frank Foster Post, Cindy Press, Cabell Molina, Julie Headland, Bruce Horan.
Cyrille Aimée

By Grace Bennett

To those just arriving, the ‘Love Art’ pop up gallery titled Revolution – Art for Positive Social Change” and reception inside the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center offered visual relief for troubled times. Leave it to accomplished and awake artists to capture many of the prominent issues of our day through striking and heartfelt paintings and collages. Visit loveartgalleryandstudio.com to view these impressive collections and theinsidepress.com which will feature additional works that day. Plus: While I had a conflict and couldn’t stay for Cyrille Aimée’s performance, for a glorious few minutes, I heard the incredible celebrity jazz songstress and her fellow musicians rehearsing during a sound check before the show; it took nanoseconds to feel the passion and power of Aimée’s voice, and knew everyone was in for a treat.

A town release later described the official ribbon cutting and “a magnificent evening and an auspicious way to mark a new milestone in Westchester County’s continuing cultural evolution.” Aimée, winner of the 2012 Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Competition, later treated the audience to a number of well-known standards, dazzling originals and a selection of songs that crossed a wide array of genres including a jazz arrangement of Lerner and Loewe’s “I Could Have Danced All Night,” a touching take on the Beatles’ “Blackbird” and a special rendition of Tito Puente’s “Oye Como Va” had the crowd enthralled and chanting for more.

Duvian Montoya’s “They are Watching.”

“We couldn’t be more delighted with this new beginning,” John Fanelli, ChappPac’s theater manager commented. “In the years to come, this arts center will bring this community exceptionally diverse and distinctive programming, one that’s rich in music, theater, comedy, film and family attractions. This was a grand beginning, but indeed, it is, after all, only the beginning.”

RESERVE SOON!

The remainder of the 2017 Inaugural Fall Season in October had also featured: TIM KUBART & THE SPACE CADETS and Sō PERCUSSION; a Lobby Art Exhibit METHOD & MELODY sponsored by Northern Westchester Artists Guild and SOULSHINE: AN ALLMAN BROTHERS EXPERIENCE, a rock tribute performing ABBA favorites; and still coming at press time: the ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, a film cult classic on October 27 (showtime 8 p.m.; tickets are $20) Film: A Cult Classic; and on October 28, ECHOS OF SINATRA, a musical celebration on the life of Frank Sinatra.

Renee Pfefer, On Tour P.R. &  John Fanelli, Theater Manager at ChappPac

PLANNED FOR NOVEMBER & DECEMBER:

Thursday, November 2, MATT SCHOFIELD
Acclaimed UK-based blues guitarist.
Showtime: 8 p.m. Tickets: $17.50, $25, $35

Saturday, November 11, THE GREATEST PIRATE STORY (N)EVER TOLD!
Musical adventure for all ages with audience participation.
Showtime: 2 p.m. Tickets: $17.50

Friday, December 1, WHAT FRESH HELL LIVE!
Comedians Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson, hosts of popular parenting podcast
Showtime: 8 p.m. Tickets: $20

Saturday December 9, RAGTAG THEATRE’S CINDERELLA
Winner of 2016 Off Broadway Alliance Award for ‘Best Family Show.’
Showtime: 2 p.m. Tickets: $17.50

Sunday, December 17, 2017 ELF
Film: Modern-day Christmas Classic starring Will Farrell.
Showtime: 2 p.m. Tickets: $20

For more information, visit www.ChappaquaPAC.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChappaquaPerformingArtsCenter/

Byram Students Shine in Music & Art

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The Byram Hills school district has many good reasons to tout the accomplishments of its music and art students.


BHHS senior John Skiera was recently invited to play the cello as a member of the All-National Symphony Orchestra.

“It is an honor to be selected for this group and I understand it is somewhat rare. I am looking forward to playing in the orchestra and with other students from around the country. It will be quite an experience,” he said recently.

This year’s students (L-R) are Shea Gordon (Mixed Chorus), Dominique Karanfilian (Treble Chorus), and Brent Perlman (Symphonic Band).

The All-National Honor Ensembles performers represent collaboration and creativity in its highest musical form. The All-National Honor Ensembles consist of a concert band, symphony orchestra, mixed choir and jazz ensem-ble. Students were chosen through an audition process.

Three BHHS students have also been selected to participate in New York State School Music Association All-State Ensembles. They will perform in concerts to be held at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester, New York and work with renowned conductors and educators during the annual Winter Conference of the NYSSMA to be held from December 1-4. Students were selected based on their All-State solo performances which were adjudicated by music professionals from throughout New York State.

Some of the selected art students are shown above

Finally, adjudicators from the Armonk Outdoor Art Show, a juried show of artists, selected 22 BHHS students to display their artwork at the popular annual event, which was held Sept. 23 & 24 in

All of the students selected by the AOASH are listed here: Abby Kaiser, Angelique Sarro, Kyra Aronne, Gillian Banaszek, Ben Matza, Cameron Bremner, Carley Hershaft, Chloe Perline, Sofia Corpina, Farran Horowitz, Taylor Kirkwood, Jason Knoop, Lily Moss, Michaela Milano, Olivia Johnson, Jason Roden, Rachel Ruscigno, Sarah Huang, Dina Sokol, Danielle Stein, Sydney Chilewich, Danielle Fliegel.