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Arc Stages

‘From the Wings: Broadway Behind the Scenes’ Exhibit: Works by Photographer Chad David Kraus

January 14, 2022 by Rich Monetti

Opening January 23 Inside the Radius Gallery of Arc Stages in Pleasantville

From January 23 through April 30, the Radius Gallery at Arc Stages in Pleasantville is going to give you a front row seat to a behind the scenes look of the Broadway stage. From the Wings: Broadway Behind the Scenes comes courtesy of Chad David Kraus and the five years he has spent documenting the day to day of numerous shows.  So just imagine an actual camera stealthily perusing the landscape of a big time production and putting you in the photographer’s place. But that’s not quite how the Pleasantville resident has gone about conveying the heart and soul of the Great White Way.

“I get to know a lot of the actors really well throughout the process,” Kraus said. “I feel like In many ways I’m part of the team,” and as a result of the connection, people are put at ease. A real true display of emotion then emerges, he added.

The very nature of Broadway already gives him a pretty good lead in.  “They have all been incredibly kind and caring people. I’ve worked with Tony Award winners Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Platt, Kristen Chenowith, Lauren Patten, and Katrina Lenk, and they all show the utmost respect for everyone involved in bringing a piece of theater to life, Kraus said. “Whether that be their interactions with a make-up artist, costume designer, stage manage or photographer, the theater community that I’ve been around has embodied nothing but inclusiveness.”

He’s certain that the true spirit of collaboration and emotion will come across at the Gallery, and so will an insight into the nuts and bolts of any artistic endeavor.  “My hope is that the exhibit will give people who love the arts and love theater an insider view into the whole process,” he asserted.

That said, Kraus’ own passion puts him very good position to deliver.  Growing up on the Upper West Side, the city kid got to know the guys who owned a little one hour photo, and a strong interest developed. Self reliance then got him on his way.  “I saved up money from the lemonade stand I had and bought my first camera,” said Kraus.

However, the hobby aspect of photography remained into adulthood. He studied theatre in college, and afterwards, became a sales rep for a record company.  

The needle eventually skipped a beat when making a photography career serendipitously appeared in a flash. Kraus was at a Bat Mitzvah, and according to the hosts, his pictures were better than those of the photographer for hire. “That was my light bulb moment,” he revealed, and first posting on Craigslist about 12 years for events evolved into a full time business with five other photographers in tow.

The Broadway gig took flower via his brother. The VP of a major digital marketing firm, their search for a photographer to do social media marketing and campaigns for Broadway shows landed on Kraus. 

EXHIBIT PHOTO by Chad David Kraus

Grateful for the lucky break, a portion of the sales of the framed prints will go to Arc Stages, and either way, hoping for a good turnout on opening night is good for everyone, according to Kraus. “It will be a nice time to gather with friendly faces and support the arts,” he concluded.

EXHIBIT PHOTO by Chad David Kraus

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Arc Stages, broadway, Chad David Kraus, Radius Gallery

Catch an Arc Stages Production of Merrily We Roll Along

November 12, 2021 by Inside Press

Also, Explore Community Theatre Opportunities at ARC STAGES

DO see if you can still catch an Arc Stages November production of Merrily We Roll Along for their Community Stage. The Community Stage is the second wing of a company that also includes a thriving Educational Stage and a professional stage, the Next Stage.

Performances are being held at Arc Stages, from November 12 to Sunday, November 21.  The theatre is located at 147 Wheeler Avenue in Pleasantville. Tickets are $28 for adults, $22 for Students and Seniors. To purchase tickets, please visit www.arcstages.org or call 914-747-6206.

Merrily We Roll Along will be directed by Ann-Ngaire Martin, with Musical Direction by Marcus Baker. Featuring: Reid Aronson, William Benson, Nancy Jane Blake, Rena Gavigan, Oliver Ipri, Hannah Kluger, Luz Montez, Liz Nolan, Luís Quintero Jr., Joey Sanzaro, Leander Tanner, Arnie Toback, and Claude Tusk. The authors of the landmark Company reunite to turn the traditional showbiz musical on its head in this thrilling and compelling Broadway fable about friendship, compromise, and the high price of success. Stephen Sondheim and George Furth expertly blend the excitement and energy of a backstage musical with a poignant and emotional contemporary story about the importance of staying true to one’s ideals.

Arc Stages is a multifaceted arts organization in Pleasantville, New York, which is composed of three theatre companies under one roof. The Next Stage is a professional theatre company that produces innovative, contemporary theatre as well as new works, cabaret, workshops and staged readings.

The Community Stage is a community theatre company for actors, singers and technicians from all walks of life that offers the best in American musicals and dramas.

The Educational Stage is an educational theatre company where students of all ages (youth and adult) can explore the world of theatre through a professional rehearsal process, master classes, outreach and intensive ensemble work. These three theatres, all under one roof, strive to better serve the community and its artistic needs.

Filed Under: Gotta Have Arts Tagged With: Acting, Actors, Arc Stages, Community Stage, community theater, Merrily We Roll Along

Ten reasons to Love, Love, LOVE Pleasantville

August 24, 2019 by Jennifer Sabin Poux

Living in Pocantico Hills with a Pleasantville P.O., parking at the Hawthorne train station and sending your kids to Briarcliff High School is a bit of a geographic conundrum. You don’t really belong to any one town. Pocantico Hills is a school district rather than a town–even the school itself and Stone Barns are technically in Sleepy Hollow.

But living here has turned out to be a geographic bonanza: rather than one town, I claim three, situated as I am almost equidistant between Pleasantville, Briarcliff and Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow. My family and I frequent all three to shop and eat. But the one we visit more than any other for the mundane and the sublime is Pleasantville. Here are ten reasons to love this village.

1. The restaurants keep coming.

For a village of just 7,000, Pleasantville has a remarkably strong collection of dining options. A few of my newer favorites: Pub Street for seafood and salads, Mission Taqueria for tacos and margaritas, Southern Kitchen for, well, southern food, and Dai for its fresh sushi, soups and charming atmosphere. I get the sense Pleasantville residents don’t have a restaurant saturation point, which is good news for those of us who live here. If somebody builds a good one, they will come.

2. The Town Anchor.

I was practically in mourning when Yvonne and Roy decided to sell the Village Bookstore, but I’m thrilled they found an enthusiastic buyer in Jennifer Kohn to keep this gem open and thriving. If you love books, there’s nothing like browsing the aisles, reading the jacket cover and looking for employee recommendations over buying online. It’s also a chance to snub Amazon and more importantly, keep our local retailers in business.

3. The Bounty of the Farm.

I’ve checked out a few other farmers’ markets and maybe I’m biased, but Pleasantville’s Saturday market is something special. The sheer number of choices, the friendly sellers, the music, the quality of produce and the cheese all add up to a singular experience. On Saturdays, my family sits down to “market lunch,” which features three-four cheeses, fresh breads, pickles, salad and sometimes fresh seafood.

4. Mall Avoidance.

We all need to hit the Westchester or the Palisades Center on occasion. And I don’t want to see any of those stores go out of business. But when I have to buy a gift, I stay in town. I like pulling right up, throwing a quarter in the meter and walking into the Glass Onion for jewelry and accessories, Rhododendron for scarves and other women’s gifts, Aardvark for the dog, Kimberly House for baby clothes and scented gifts, Photo Works for a framed photo for the grandparents, and of course back to the Village Bookstore for anyone. Tip: The Pleasantville Pharmacy is a great stop at Christmas for something extra for kids, a pair of earrings, or a hostess gift.

5. You don’t have to go to NYC to see an art film.

What can I say about Jacob Burns except that it’s the jewel of Pleasantville. I hate to go anywhere else to see a movie anymore. And if your kids are interested in film, check out their fantastic after school courses and summer camp.

6. Skate the Old-Fashioned Way.

It’s as fickle as the winter weather, but when it’s open, Opperman’s Pond is an idyllic spot for family ice skating or a game of hockey. Pull up, put your skates on and go. There’s no line, no fee, and no rentals, so bring your own.

7. Architectural Digest.

I live in a mid-century modern home, and I’m not alone. A friend owns one near town where I’ve seen several, and then there’s Usonia, Frank Lloyd Wright’s utopian dream, right here off Bear Ridge Road. If the 1950’s are too new for you, Pleasantville has an impressive stock of Tudors, Victorians and Colonials, particularly the beauties lining Bedford Road that help Pleasantville live up to its name.

8. A True Community Theater.

My daughter did just two productions at Arc Stages during high school–I wish we had enrolled her as a young child. So many kids come back year after year until they go off to college. The people who run Arc Stages are as child-centered as you get. And their approach to musical theater and drama is to choose ensemble productions that give every kid an important role. Their community stage for adults and the variety of professional productions are excellent as well.

9. The Biggest Small Music Festival.

We’re a Clearwater Family, but I’ve got to say, Pleasantville is giving the Croton festival a run for its money when it comes to talent. This year, Everclear, Soul Asylum, Aimee Mann and Matthew Sweet were the featured artists. Every year in July, Parkway Field turns one Saturday into an all-day party. You can bring your kids or leave them home, but there’s something for everyone.

10. Charm.

Pleasantville is oozing in it, and at a time when people do so much ordering online and ordering to go, the village is often busy and alive. Let’s keep it that way. I worry about our small-town retailers dying off. Pleasantville, like so many of our Westchester villages, towns and cities, relies on its residents to be faithful customers. In return, it offers us a charming and bountiful place to call home.

Filed Under: Pleasantville Cover Stories Tagged With: Arc Stages, Charm, Jacob Burns Film Center, love, Opperman's Pond, Pleasantville, Pleasantville Farmers Market, pleasantville music festival, Reasons to Love, Restaurants

Arc Stages – A Magical Place

March 8, 2019 by Ella Ilan

Teens during last year’s SummerStage production of Woody Guthrie’s American Song photo by Liza Margulies

As a theatre lover, I could not have dreamed up a more perfect place for arts enrichment for the community. Arc Stages, whose tagline is “theatre for every stage,” hits the mark in providing theatre education and opportunities for every stage of life and all stages of development. Arc Stages, located in Pleasantville, runs three theatre companies that currently share the same stage; the educational stage, the community theatre, and the professional theatre. It is a place where you can learn about theatre, be in theatre, or see theatre.

The Educational Stage

The educational stage produces youth productions and conducts workshops for kids ages 3-18 all year round, in addition to adult classes like the adult improv comedy class. In the theatre workshop program, kids register for workshops by age group and are invited to audition. What differentiates Arc Stages from other children’s theatre groups is that the show is not chosen until after the students audition. No students are cut from the program. When students return for callbacks, the director tries different shows out on the students before selecting the most appropriate show for the group.

“It is about the students first. It’s not about vying for parts,” explains Adam Cohen, Artistic Director. “We usually have a list of shows and we try different songs and sides out on the kids and see what show fits this particular group of kids because our goal is to teach them something through theatre and challenge them.”

“We do theatre games and work different types of workshops into the rehearsal process so that it’s not only about the show but about building self-confidence through theatre,” says Galit Sperling, the Director of Education. “We focus on positivity and let our students know that this is a safe space and an artistically and educationally fulfilling sanctuary.”

As auditioning can be nerve-wracking for some younger first time students, no one is forced to audition. “They can sing happy birthday if they want. It’s about us getting to know them,” says Sperling.

All theatre workshops culminate in two or three productions with elaborate costumes and sets at the end of the session.

Arc Stages also runs an in-school playwriting educational outreach program, Visions and Voices, in which they work with local schools teaching kids how to write plays and then produce them. A festival of plays is presented at the conclusion of the program. Visions and Voices is in its fourth year and Arc Stages would love to add more schools to its program.

SummerStage Camp

If you are looking for something for your kids to do this summer, Arc Stages holds a full day summer camp in which different age groups work on different shows. Besides rehearsals for a show, classes during the camp day include Acting Technique, Choreography, Improv & Theater Games, Stage Combat, Music and Vocal Technique, master classes and more.

Campers can choose to enroll in a six-week session or a three-week session. There is also a one-week intensive course. Early registration discounts are available if you register before April 1st.

The Community Stage

The community stage is geared towards adults in the community, whether you are brand new to theatre, returning to theatre after many years, or are professional non-union actors who want to do something in the community. They put on three productions every year. Auditions are open to anyone who wants to participate.

“It’s a mix between people who are accountants, lawyers, dentists, and everyday people that want to get into acting. Some participants are incredibly talented but just happen to do other things for a living. We try to produce a professional looking show but we’re looking for all walks of life in it so it really is the community,” says Cohen.

There are also plenty of volunteer opportunities for community members to assist backstage, design sets, work on costumes or help with technical services.

Rehearsals are currently underway for their next show, Avenue Q, which promises to be a great performance. Avenue Q will run the first two weekends of April. The community stage will also perform You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown July 19th-21st. Tickets for all shows can be purchased at arcstages.org.

The Next Stage

The Next Stage is the professional theatre company, which operates under a Small Professional Theatre Contract with Actor’s Equity Association, an actors’ union. They produce two high quality productions a year. The actors in a Next Stage show are generally all union members. Auditions are held at an open call in the city.

The next show has yet to be announced for the professional theatre company. Traditionally, Arc Stages announces their upcoming shows for both the community and professional stage at their fundraising gala in April. The gala, scheduled for April 27th, is always a fun evening where a show written especially for that night is performed for the guests by a mix of community and professional actors. Students from the educational stage also perform a number in the show.

Working Towards a Dream

Arc Stages’ facility has plenty of rehearsal spaces and its own dedicated 74-seat theatre. While having its own theatre has been incredible, a capital campaign is underway to raise money to build a bigger 175-seat proscenium theatre. They are probably a few years away from fulfilling this goal but it will surely add to the magnificence of all that their students, actors and community members accomplish at this magical place.

Filed Under: Pleasantville Cover Stories Tagged With: Arc Stages, Artistic Director, Arts, arts enrichment, community, costumes, educational, performing arts, playwriting, Pleasantville, rehearsals, stage, theater, workshops

Arc Stages: An “Artistic Haven” and “Umbrella” for the Performing Arts!

December 1, 2015 by The Inside Press

Adam David Cohen (Artistic Director) and Ann Shankman (Artistic Direc- tor of the Community Stage) with Audrey II of October/November 2015's Little Shop of Horrors.
Adam David Cohen (Artistic Director) and Ann Shankman (Artistic Direc- tor of the Community Stage) with Audrey II of October/November 2015’s Little Shop of Horrors.

Story and Photo By Matt Smith

“Curtain up! Light the lights! We’ve got nothing to hit but the heights!” Diehard theatre buffs will, of course, recognize this lyric as the mantra of the indefatigable Mama Rose in the 1959 musical Gypsy. However, it’s safe to say that this clear-cut, “reach-for-the-stars” advice could also perfectly describe the mission of Arc Stages, a not-for-profit theatre company located in Pleasantville.

Since June 2010, this “marriage” between former community theatre organization, Chappaqua Drama Group, and Little Village Playhouse, a former 15-year-old educational theatre program based in Pleasantville, has provided the community with an ensemble-based, collaborative environment–an “artistic haven,” if you will–which allows all participants, young and old, the chance to freely express themselves through the artistic process.

The “small, but fierce” staff of seven is steadfast in their goal of education and growth, and they take pride in their wide selection of offerings, which includes everything from classes to special workshops to amateur and even professional, productions. One glimpse at their work and you’re sure to see why there’s simply “no business like show business.”

“I think there are very few places that have what we have here,” says Ann Shankman, Artistic Director of the Community Stage, who describes the program as “an all-encompassing umbrella over the performing arts.” She says the company offers a little something for everyone, whether it be “for kids, for the everyday person who has a regular job but wants to do theatre, like they did it in college and could never do it again…[or for] professional actors who do [this] for a living.”

As President of the Executive Board of the company, Shankman says she gets joy out of knowing their work helps to raise a positive spirit in the community. “On both sides of the spectrum,” she adds, with a smile. “We’re helping people that come to us to be in our shows [by giving them a show to be in] and we’re helping people who come to be entertained [by giving them a show to see]…on whatever level that may be.”

Shankman and the rest of the Arc Stages staff also pride themselves on the company’s budding success as a business. “We are the people who started it, and we all have a death grip on its success,” she states. “And we wear many hats to make sure that what we’re putting out there matches our vision.”

A little over five years in, it certainly seems like that vision has been realized. And the key to their success may lie in the many ways in which they distinguish themselves from other theatre groups–one of which, most prominent in the Educational Stage, is their unique approach to the casting process. “Instead of shoehorning kids into a show that we’ve chosen before we know [them] and what their levels are….we pick shows that fit them,” explains Arc Stages’ Artistic Director Adam David Cohen.

In other words, shows aren’t necessarily, in all cases, chosen ahead of time. Based on what they see from a certain person or group during their audition, the staff may handpick a show to fit the needs of that group–even if that means changing a previous selection. And yes, Cohen acknowledges that this approach does “present marketing problems,” but he strongly believes the pros outweigh the cons, arguing that this process better supports the company’s aforementioned goal of education and artistic growth.

“It’s really about the art of what we’re doing…and less about someone in a star role,” Cohen explains. “We don’t like to do a big show and then stick thirty people in the background. We try to put on shows that are ensemble in nature,” so that, in the end, “everyone’s more hands-on and it feels like it’s their [own].”

Another way to promote the values of ensemble and not “shoehorn” actors into roles like Velma Kelly or Harold Hill? “We like to focus on newer work,” Cohen continues. “[Especially] in the Next Stage (the professional program), new writing is very important to us. [We] don’t want to re-paint the same painting over and over.” Additionally, by performing newer pieces–such as Love/Sick, by John Cariani–in favor of the old standards, “[the actors] get to originate roles. They don’t have a recording [of a performance] to fall back on. The role gets to be theirs.”

In keeping with their goals and supporting inclusiveness and education, and in an effort to get everyone involved, Arc Stages will kick off a series of classes for adults in 2016–“scene study classes, improv, voice, that type of thing.” And that’s not all. Another exciting event the staff plans to roll out in the New Year is a playwriting festival for younger students.

“We’re working with [students at] Bedford Road School,” Cohen explains. “We’re going to teach them the principles of playwriting. They’re going to come here, we’re going to go there… it’ll be a lot of fun.”

The year-long project will culminate with each student completing a short play, which may be chosen to be performed in the Arc Stages space. “They’ll be invited back [to Arc Stages] and [the event] will be open to the public, as a Playwriting Festival from local students.” Cohen stresses that if this initial run goes well, he hopes to extend Playwriting Festival submissions to the community at large.

Finally, they’ll be launching a Theatre for Young Audiences program, in which the professional Equity actors will perform an educational show exclusively for kids. The staff will also begin registration for their summer program, titled Summer Stage, open to all community kids aged 4-18. And of course, each stage within the company–Community, Educational and Next–will put on another show.

Physical Expansion Underway!

And, amidst all the expansion in programming, the company will also undergo a physical expansion as well. The current 74-seat auditorium will be split in two, “becoming part dressing rooms, and part flex classroom [space],” Cohen explains. In addition, their current storage closet/set building room will become the new entrance space for audience members.

The larger, 175-200 seat auditorium will be a proscenium theatre in which all of their main productions will be held. The building/construction project, which began in 2013, is expected to be completed within the next five years. Want to join in on the fun?

If so, the Community Stage is open–naturally–to all members of the community, regardless of age. The next set of auditions will be held in January, and the production for that program will be chosen in advance. So, if you’re intrigued, come out and show them what you’ve got! “There are a lot of talented people out there,” Cohen says, on the subject. “We’re happy to see them all.”

For those who may not be as performance-inclined, Arc Stages also has volunteer programs in costuming, set design, lights and sound, box office, publicity, and more.

“The only thing we keep in-house is we clean the bathrooms,” Cohen says with a laugh. But, seriously, as you can see from the wide variety of opportunities, Arc Stages really is a place where you can truly do it all. As Cohen states, “You can learn about theatre, you can be a part of theatre, [and] you can see good theatre.”

Arc Stages is located at 147 Wheeler Avenue in Pleasantville. For more information on the organization and/or how to audition, please visit www.arcstages.org.

Matt Smith, a proud graduate of Skidmore College, is a regular contributor to The Inside Press, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Arc Stages, education, Inside Press, performing arts, theater, theinsidepress.com

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