The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Gotta Have Arts

June 5 and June 6: “Spring Awakening” at Yorktown Stage

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The Armonk-based Lighthouse Youth Theater will perform the Tony Award-winning musical “Spring Awakening” on Friday, June 5th, and Saturday, June 6th, at the Yorktown Stage Theater.

Rehearsing for "Spring Awakenings"
Rehearsing for “Spring Awakenings”

The show is being performed by the very talented teens involved in LYT’s protege group. The show is directed by John Fanelli.

Elana Cantor, a freshman at Greeley and Michela Masotti, a senior at Greeley, each play the leading role of Wendla, the tragic heroine of the story (Elana on Friday, Michela on Saturday). The show also features Michaela Durr and Megan Warshofsky and Ellie Logan is involved behind the scenes.

The musical is based on a 1891 German play by Frank Windekind, having been updated by Duncan Sheik and Steven Slater in the late 1990s. Making its Broadway debut in 2006 with Glee’s Lea Michele in the leading female role, the musical took home eight Tonys in 2007.

While the story takes place in late-19th-century Germany, Sheik and Slater used alternative rock sounds to tell the story of teenagers struggling with their sexuality.

LYT director John Fanelli, who also directs “Awakening,” felt that open discussion during rehearsals about the musical’s subject matter would help performers.

“It’s a reflection of our society and brings value in that it can teach us not to make the same mistakes,” says Fanelli, who launched LYT in 2006 for children and teens in the Westchester area.
To that end, youth groups and high schools are invited to attend performances at discounted rates.
Both performances will begin at 7 each night.
Tickets for the performances are $20, $18 for students.
For tickets and information about LYT’s work, call 914-741-4205 or go online to lytshows.org.

What Music Means to Us: Music in Chappaqua

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Ava Anduze, Jeremy Goldstein, Brian Siegel, Ethan Quirke and Dhruv Franklin
Ava Anduze, Jeremy Goldstein, Brian Siegel, Ethan Quirke and Dhruv Franklin

By Kaila Allison

When you come into our studio, you’ll hear many sounds. In one room, a piano student will be blazing through scales; in another, a rock band will be plugging in and tuning up. Each day at Music in Chappaqua, students come to relax to an environment where they can express themselves freely.

I first arrived at Music in Chappaqua as an anxious ten-year-old and started piano lessons with Justin Jacobs, a faculty member since 2001. Shortly after, playing the piano became a necessary calming force for me. Justin summed up perfectly what music means to him, saying simply, “It’s life.”

That’s exactly what music is for the students here. However, the goal of the school is not to create perfect performers, but to foster musicianship and encourage students to use music in the way it will most benefit them.

Another long-time member of the faculty, Danny Golub, explained to me how music kept him out of a lot of trouble as a kid. “If it wasn’t for music, I wouldn’t be good at much else,” he said. Danny is adored by his students, who feel his unique attention pushes them to do better. His caring nature goes beyond just the students’ musical accomplishments, but extends to all aspects of their lives. Our faculty has also been responsible for motivating students to practice effectively and 
feel confident about their skills in development.

Live Pirrotti, Jake Gordon, Matty Templeton and Matthew Turk
Live Pirrotti, Jake Gordon, Matty Templeton
and Matthew Turk

Part of what solidifies the students’ musicianship is their participation in a variety of performance opportunities at different venues throughout the year. One such performance was our most recent concert on March 21st at MTK Tavern in Mt. Kisco (the pictures you see here!), featuring our rock workshop bands. Live Pirrotti, who performed, told us that music means more than just performing for fun, but also for a bandmate’s cause: “At our recent show we were able to bring awareness about the rare genetic disease, GSD, to people through music. Jake’s Dad wrote up information about GSD, and I made a speech before the last song (“My Hero” by the Foo Fighters) telling people about GSD and the need for donations to help fund the research for a cure. The Foo Fighters inspired Jake, and so our Band wanted to inspire others to help the cause… I’m very thankful to be able to be in 
an amazing band and to play shows. I’m truly my happiest when I’m singing on stage.”

The students here are impressive to say the least. They balance a full schedule of after school activities including plays, sports and academic clubs, while simultaneously maintaining their love and devotion to musical improvement.

Taylor Chiola, a high school senior and student at Music in Chappaqua, says, “All of the teachers have guided me in different ways and taught me valuable skills I need for my career as a musician.” Taylor says that her experience at the school has inspired her to want to become a music teacher herself. She is looking forward to interning at the school in May.

Tori Robinson, who plays piano, bass and sings in rock workshop bands at the school, says, “Music has given me a way to express myself in a way not a lot of people can.” Expression is a hard thing for many children, who are faced with difficulties going through school and adolescence in general. However, music can ease this journey.

As private lessons and rock workshops continue, Music in Chappaqua is getting ready for our popular summer day camp, The New York Rock Academy.

Zach Munowitz, 16, says,“Music allows me to express emotions in a way that isn’t possible through words.” He started rock workshops at Music in Chappaqua in 2009 and attended the New York Rock Academy for five summers, even working as an intern and teaching lessons of his own. His time at Music in Chappaqua has given him the skills required to form his own band and ignite his interest in music production and audio engineering. He was then able to design an electronic music course at his school. It’s this kind of success that drives Music in Chappaqua to continue its growth.

All of this and more is what music means to us. What does music mean to you?

For more information, visit 
www.musicinchappaqua.com

Meeting on 2/4 to Support the Bedford House Playhouse Renovation and Expansion Efforts

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Bedford Playhouse

WHO: Friends of Bedford Playhouse

WHAT: Town Hall Meeting featuring an update by John Farr on renovation and expansion plans for the Bedford Playhouse followed by a question and answer session.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 4, 2015, 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Katonah Village Library, Garden Room 26 Bedford Road, Katonah, NY

FUNDRAISING GOAL: $2,500,000 by March 1, 2015

PLEDGE: http://www.friendsofbedfordplayhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/pledge-form120714.pdf

VISION: Raise funds to renovate and transform the Bedford Playhouse into a state-of-the-art cinema, housing a large-screen theater; a smaller, more intimate second-screen theater; flexible space for small gatherings and screenings; and a lobby café serving high-end coffee, wine, beer, and snacks. Friends of Bedford Playhouse believe that consistently high-quality film and concession offerings will attract viewers and visitors, as well as contribute to the vitality of the village.

Grammy Award-winner and band to perform in Katonah Dec. 13

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The Harvey School announces that Grammy Award-winning Lew Soloff, former member of Blood, Sweat and Tears, will appear next month as a special guest in the community venture called Harvey Presents. Soloff, a virtuoso trumpeter who has played with immortals in the music world, has assembled an outstanding band of top jazz musicians. The show is set for Saturday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m.

Lew SoloffLew Soloff, a Brooklyn, N.Y. native and former Bedford resident, graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 1961 and immersed himself into the New York City jazz scene. Playing in bands led by jazz artists such as Maynard Ferguson, Tito Puente and the great Gil Evans, Lew Soloff later became known in the pop world during his time with the ground-breaking group Blood, Sweat and Tears from 1968 to 1973. It was his searing horn lines in “Spinning Wheel” (1969) that garnered a Grammy for Blood, Sweat and Tears, a group that produced nine gold records. This classically trained trumpeter has played with many top stars in the music world, including Gil Evans, George Benson, Lionel Hampton, Herbie Mann, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, as well as Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra.

Lew Soloff has gathered an outstanding group of musicians together to play with him. Singing and playing saxophone will be Grace Kelly who, as a bandleader, has played in more than 600 concerts worldwide and has performed or recorded with artists such as Huey Lewis, Harry Connick, Jr., Dave Brubeck, Gloria Estefan and Wynston Marsalis, to name a few. On piano will be David Budway who has recorded and performed with Branford Marsalis, Michael Brecker, Stanley Turrentine, Hubert Laws and Jeff “Tain” Watts. On bass will be Essiet Essiet, once a member of Messengers, who has also played with Famoudou Don Moye, Abdullah Ibrahim and in Bobby Watson‘s band Horizon. Ron Affif, who will play guitar, has recorded five albums under the Fantasy record label and formed the Ron Affif Trio with Essiet Essiet as his bassist. Rounding out the band will be drummer Victor Lewis who has performed with many top artists, including Woody Shaw, Carla Bley, David Sanborn, and Dexter Gordon and was a member of Stan Getz‘s quartet.

Tickets for Harvey Presents: Lew Soloff are $40 each. Seating is limited. To order tickets, visit www.harveyschool.org or call (914) 232-3161 ext. 161 for more information.

The Small Town Theatre Company Presents “Proof”

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Proof

“Proof” is a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award Best Play.

The play concerns Catherine, the daughter of Robert, a recently deceased mathematical genius in his fifties and professor at the University of Chicago, and her struggle with mathematical genius and mental illness. Catherine had cared for her father through a lengthy mental illness.

Upon Robert’s death, his ex-graduate student Hal discovers a paradigm-shifting proof about prime numbers in Robert’s office. The title refers both to that proof and to the play’s central question: Can Catherine prove the proof’s authorship along with demonstrating the proof’s authenticity.

Throughout, the play explores Catherine’s fear of following in her father’s footsteps, both mathematically and mentally and her desperate attempts to stay in control.

November 14 – 15, 8 PM
The Hergenhan Center – Armonk, NY

November 21 – 22, 8 PM
Katonah Village Library – Katonah, NY

General Admission $15
Reservations