The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

celebration

Lunar New Year in New Castle: Cultural Extravaganza Celebrating ‘The Season of Hope and Change’

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Chappaqua, NY–-The Lunar New Year, also known as The Spring Festival, marks the thawing embrace of Spring–the ice breaks up and the hardships ease. Ushering in a season of renewed fluidity and hope, the Chappaqua community gathered at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on Sunday, February 4th to celebrate the arrival of Spring and the beginning of a new year. The scene, hosted by The Chappaqua Public Library, overflowed with hundreds of families eager to commemorate The Year of the Dragon–a year of power, auspiciousness, and prosperity. This cultural extravaganza displayed traditions, unique to a wide range of communities. Despite the noticeable differences in cultural customs, unity truly shined through with generous volunteers across the state working to make this event as spectacular as it was. 

Luck and good fortune captivated the audience with the event kickoff–the Lion Dance. The traditional Chinese and Asian performance imitated the movements of a dragon, in a lively eye-catching costume. Accompanied by the backdrop of a vigorous drum beat, the performance consisted of fundamental movements that are famous in Chinese martial arts. The dragon’s vibrant neons and striking patterns excited the room. Children did not hesitate to express their joy, thrilled to witness a flamboyant dragon cascading through the venue. 

Although the audience was regretful to learn that the Lion Dance was over, this celebration of culture did not stop there. The Lion Dance marked the beginning of an afternoon spewing with enticement. 

As we transitioned into the season of hope and change, lead event coordinator Cristina Shih enlightened the audience with the rich history of the lunar calendar. After day 15, ancient Chinese civilizations began to clean up their homes to make space for the welcoming of spring.

The audience was quick to shift in their seats, prepared to welcome the Native tribe’s fashion show to the stage. Adorned in the embellished silk skirts of the Dai People, children displayed the pastel blues and blossom pinks whilst taking center stage. The audience was swept across Asia to the Tibetan People where children displayed the traditional Tibetan Robe–a big garment characterized by its long sleeve, loose waist, and silk rims. The performance was nothing short of exceptional.

A fan favorite of the evening was the sensational karate performance, organized by 8th-degree black belt and member of the Jundokan Dojo in Naha Okinawa, Sensei Mark Dwyer. Exhilarated faces filled the audience seats as students of the Okinawa Goju-Ryu School of Karate performed traditional Okinawa styles of Karate, a combination of hard and soft techniques. We witnessed a variety of astonishing linear attacks, as well as fearless kicks and punches. Between every punch, echoes of applause and the sounds of amazement bounced off the venue’s walls. Driven by strength and self-discipline, the students successfully brought a piece of Japanese culture to Chappaqua. 

A series of enchanting dances and written pieces such as the Treading Poem were performed, leaving community members in awe and enriched with culture. Hosts Jayden Cao and Phoebe Hawthorne exquisitely led the audience through the event, guiding us as we embarked on a rich path through Chinese history, culture, and tradition.

A sense of community was established on this Sunday afternoon with the noble support of the Chappaqua Public Library and the town who were committed to the success of the event. At the event’s start, New Castle Town Supervisor Victoria Bayard Tipp greeted the crowd with the touching Chinese four-character idiom ‘Gong Xi Fa Cai’ (wishing you happiness and prosperity). Following the program, craft activities and traditional snacks were enjoyed.

Over the centuries, The Lunar New Year has catalyzed the connection between past and present, serving as a tool for unification. 

Photos by Aidan Lane and Grace Bennett for the Inside Press

The Light at the End of the Tunnel…

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… is a Cause for Celebrating in Downtown Chappaqua this Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Event to feature a Ribbon Cutting and Memorial Bench Dedication Honoring John Magnotta of Chappaqua Cleaners & Tailors 

By Grace Bennett

Town Gazebo Photo by Marianne Campolongo

A few words. The Town of New Castle is gearing up for a big party on Saturday. It is promising “sidewalk sales, music, art, food, a scavenger hunt and more,” said Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein, who led New Castle together with the town board and department personnel through an ambitious ‘Streetscape’ project to meet infrastructure and aesthetics challenges in downtown Chappaqua.

For most of Chappaqua’s downtown merchants, and for the residents here, the seemingly near completion of the project is likely to be music to anyone’s ears–the town experienced stressful delays testing merchant and resident patience as it impacted livelihoods and ease of travel, commuting and shopping for residents, with many or most making peace with it for the promise of the changes and improvements anticipated for the town’s future. So a downtown celebration heralding its at least near completion will surely bring a massive sigh of relief from all, even while work continues toward completion in different locations of the town. Greenstein has been regularly reporting continuing updates in his E-newsletter to the town and sharing these into social media on Facebook pages such as Chappaqua Moms and New Castle Community Discussions.

The event, called “Discover Chappaqua—A Celebration of All Things Local!” promises a festive ribbon cutting to take place at one of the project’s finished pedestrian plazas, its most prominent one to date, complete with tables and chairs for enjoying your lunch or sipping your latte at the downtown intersection of Greeley Avenue and King Streets, outside of 1 South Greeley Avenue, a downtown corner commercial building. The safety improvements on that corner are a cause for celebration, too.

Everyone should come on down for this poignant reason too: The town plans to dedicate a bench to John Magnotta who passed away last year. “Magnotta was the prior owner of Chappaqua Cleaners & Tailors (also known as George’s Men’s Shop) and a merchant in Chappaqua for 47 years. His family has served Chappaqua for 85 years, spanning three generations, beginning with their grandfather in 1934,” said Greenstein.

The town is also coinciding this event with the launch of a new promotional, but advertising free site for the town  (noted per earlier conversations with the town) called ‘Discover Chappaqua’, * www.discoverchappaqua.com  “This new site, Greenstein noted, “will highlight all that Chappaqua has to offer—a great place to shop, eat & live.” Greenstein thanked Town Supervisor elect Ivy Pool, and a volunteer team for producing the upcoming site. They include Dana Berk, Linda Fears, Peg Kafka Sackler and Monique Ross Banks.

See you on Saturday!   Grace

Grace Bennett is founder, publisher and Editor in Chief of The Inside Press, now in its 16th year.

*For fair disclosure too, the Inside Press had received a modest commission from the Town of New Castle to help subsidize and produce a guide called Discover New Castle; all of its content which was completed last summer and mailed in a print edition in a back to school edition of Inside Chappaqua & Millwood Magazine has been shared with the DiscoverChappaqua.com team to help launch the new town site.

Saying YES & Imagining the Future at the Ossining Children’s Center

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Tarrytown, NY — When Susan Midgley Komosa, Ossining Children’s Center (OCC) board president, accepted the Center’s Visionary Leader Award, she said that there was one message she wished to leave with attendees of the lively and heartwarming ‘Our Children, Our Future’ spring benefit gala on May 19: “The importance of saying yes.”

“Whatever form your yes takes, it does make a difference,” she told those gathered inside the stately Tappan Hill Mansion to support OCC child care scholarships and future fundraising initiatives.

Susan, to her own credit, “stepped up to leading the board just when we needed her most,” said OCC executive director Howard Milbert, describing Susan’s consensus-building that over three years helped OCC move forward with funding and planning a new and larger facility “specifically designed for our childcare and education programs,” after a new site at 32 State Street was gifted to OCC by Art and Becky Samberg. Susan, he said, “kept every board member engaged and informed… she gives everyone a voice…” The ‘yes’ Susan spoke of was in ample supply at the gala, too. Angel donors matched money pledged by generous gala goers for childcare scholarships. A record $106,000 was pledged during an animated, pre-dinner ‘auction’ led by Vanessa Pairis, OCC board member.

Before the auction, OCC ‘parent’ Deepti Sharma relayed how OCC helped both she and her son thrive in his early childhood years beginning at age two, with vital, quality after school care where he learned English, formed friendships and gained valuable life skills. Eight years later, she described her son as “a good, kind person,” and said, “I would have peace of mind and could concentrate on my job.” Thanks to OCC too, she added, “I have become a better parent and provider for my family.”

Saying yes might well be second nature to the recipient of the Young Leader’s Award, Jasmine Bar, whose ‘truly remarkable efforts,’ said OCC’s Director of Development Shawn Cribari, became the ‘blueprint’ for what turned into five years of ‘Dancing for the Children,’ and its always “financial and artistic success.” Dancing for the Children has raised over $20,000 since Jasmine launched the first event with her then five-member team. “Can you imagine at age 16 creating what has become a philanthropic legacy?” Shawn said of Jasmine, who graciously accepted a gorgeous plaque, hand painted by her aunt, Aggie Shah, owner, A Maze in Pottery in Briarcliff.

Not hard to imagine at OCC, where, as Susan pointed out too, “my fellow board members excel at saying yes.” Prior to dinner, campaign co-chair Marilyn Wishnie, together with Natalie Gorlin, building co-chair, presented “Special Report: The Rumors are True,” which included detailed visual renditions of the plans for OCC’s future headquarters at 32 State Street.

A capital campaign, which has already raised $13 million toward a $17.8 million goal, aims to continue its work to fund the new facility. In the meantime, the staff and volunteers of OCC aim for ever more expressions of ‘yes.’

Shawn Cribari (left) and Jasmine Bar
Howard Gilbert with Susan Midgley Komosa

Axial Theatre’s April 6 Benefit: A Dual Celebration!

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Welcoming New Leaders and Ushering in 20th Anniversary

Event to be held in the Gallery of ArtsWestchester

 

 

Westchester, NY – Axial Theatre’s annual spring benefit will be a special dual celebration this year as it welcomes the company’s new co-artistic directors, Catherine (Cat) Banks and Linda Giuliano, and ushers in a milestone year –the 20th anniversary of the professional theatre company based in Pleasantville.

The event will take place on Friday, April 6, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Gallery of ArtsWestchester and will feature cabaret performances by Axial singers; gourmet bites and libations from Jean-Jacques Culinary Creations in Pleasantville; and a live auction featuring a luxury getaway to the Italian Riviera and a South African safari. ArtsWestchester is located at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains.

The Banks-Giuliano duo will officially take over on September 1, 2018, the beginning of Axial’s 20th production year, joining Betsy Klampert, managing director and general counsel, as Axial’s leadership team. Howard Meyer, Axial’s founder and current artistic director, will remain the head of Howard Meyer’s Acting Program, and a member of the board.

Catherine Banks

Catherine Banks, who has performed leading roles and co-directed several Axial productions since coming to Axial three years ago, says, “Creating a theater company the caliber of Axial, nurturing it and sustaining it for 20 years takes a leader of diverse skills and irrepressible passion. It is an honor to carry on the legacy Howard Meyer has created. The original mission statement, creating collaborative, relevant and provocative theatre, is one that deeply resonates with me, and I believe that Axial will find its future by upholding these core values and beliefs in the next phase of its journey. I truly look forward to working with Linda to best interpret that mission in today’s dynamic world.”

Linda Giuliano

Linda Giuliano, a playwright who is currently Axial’s literary manager and associate artistic director says, “Theatre is community. Great leaders serve. Howard has sustained 20 years of vision, theatre craft and leadership as artistic director. It is a responsibility and privilege for this role to be passed on to Catherine and me. We hope to serve the evolution of Axial’s present and future. We hope to bring stories to the stage that inspire, move and change artist, audience and our community.”

Banks began acting with her local award-winning children’s theater at the tender age of 11. Following college at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, she continued to study acting and founded her own production company, Bombshell Productions in New York City. She comes to Axial with over 20 years of high-level experience in business, having worked as senior vice president of operations for a financial services company prior to starting her own business in 2014. She is currently a member of Howard Meyer’s master class, a faculty member of the acting program where she teaches children and teens, and an Ensemble member of Axial Theatre. Banks will perform the role of Lenny in the upcoming Axial production of Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart this May. She appeared last fall as Audrey (one of the two leads) in Axial’s world premiere of Katie Baldwin Eng’s Nectar.

Giuliano, an Axial Ensemble member for 14 years, has had plays produced through Axial, such NYC groups as Playwrights Horizon and Midtown Festival and with companies in the U.S. and Canada.  A founding member of WritersGroup, a 25-plus-year-old group of six playwrights who write, direct, produce and teach in New York and Maine, Giuliano currently runs the Sunday Writers series at Axial, as well as Axial’s staged reading series wherein new works and classics are presented at various local sites. She has worked in mental health for 34 years as a licensed clinical social worker.

Meyer notes, “After 20 years of guiding the organization, it is time to pass the baton to the capable and gifted hands of Cat and Linda. As we enter this milestone season, it is time for fresh ideas and new leadership.”  

Managing Director Betsy Klampert echoes these sentiments, adding “I am thrilled to be part of this thriving theater community.  Howard’s leadership has taken Axial to its 20th year and Cat and Linda will raise the curtain on another 20 years of theater magic.  Stay tuned.”

The benefit’s cabaret singers will be accompanied by concert pianist Dan Forman; Axial Ensemble member Patrick McGuinness will serve as auctioneer. A silent auction also will be held.

General admission tickets for the benefit are $60, including all food, wine and other beverages.

For more information, visit https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3361706,  Axial’s Facebook page or its Website; or contact Axial at AxialTheatre@gmail.com; (914) 286-7680.

 

 

18 Years of Innovative Theater at Hudson Stage

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(L-R) Joe Delafield, Matt Ban & Denis Lambert in The Hound of the Baskervilles. PHOTO BY RANA FAURE

Now in its 18th season, The Hudson Stage Company of Armonk, founded and run by producers Denise Bessette, Olivia Sklar and Dan Foster, and operating as a professional non-profit since its inception, has been dedicated to presenting fresh, dynamic, original works since 1999.

With such a packed list of past heavy-hitters as Amy Herzog’s 4000 Miles, John Patrick Shanley’s Outside Mullingar, and Animals Out of Paper, by Rajiv Joseph, there’s no doubt they’ve got that goal well covered.

And they continued to play the field and open new doors with their latest smash, The Hound of the Baskervilles, which played Whippoorwill Hall Theater from April 28th to May 13th. “It was a complete departure from anything we’ve ever done,” says Bessette, with a laugh, citing the show’s specific aspects of quirky, physical comedy, as well as its aura of sheer and silly fun that differs greater from their previously darker work. “But in that way, it’s keeping with our mission, too. We’re all about trying new things, shaking things up, and presenting new works you’ll not see anywhere else.”

While it may have indeed been a new venture for the company, it hit all the right notes in keeping with the company’s mission. The show chronicled the renowned detective and his ragtag group of friends and colleagues as they collected clues to unveil the killer of Sir Charles Baskerville, and determine the true identity of the hound who lay beside him. But, as mentioned, with a dark plot, rooted mostly in that from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel of the same name, the brilliant presentation, helmed by Mark Shanahan, comes with an added (heaping) helping of sight gags, slapstick bits, and rapid-fire quick changes that make the stage show so thoroughly enjoyable and memorable.

To boot, it was all expertly executed by three actors of the highest Broadway caliber: Matt Ban, Joe Delafield, and Denis Lambert. Ban (who plays Watson, among others) effortlessly exhibits a mastery in physical comedy, down on the floor at the drop of a hat, exaggerating otherwise minuscule movement, and playing with props to humorous effect. Delafield, who portrays nearly all members of the Baskerville brood, revels in his cavalcade of facial expressions, while Lambert’s knack for accents (especially when portraying Latina bombshell, Cecile), is simply unmatched.

Again, a departure to say the least, but their decision to produce it–among all the other wildly exciting new works they’ve put out past and present–is what makes Hudson Stage Company such an enticing entity.

While their full slate of programming for the upcoming season is still in the works, Bessette advises those eager theatergoers to rest assured that “We’re narrowing down our selection [and] we’ve got a bunch of terrific new plays coming–all of which are new to Westchester County.”

It’s all in keeping with their aforementioned goal: to provide easy, local access to fantastic theatre productions (sans the expensive Broadway prices). Of note, their Armonk location is close enough to attract visitors from Fairfield, Putnam, and Rockland counties in addition to the devoted group of Westchester County regulars.

“We love our audiences, and we’re very proud of our fantastically diverse program,” Bessette concludes. “I mean, 18 years going strong in the county… we’ve got to be doing something right, right?!”

Hudson Stage Company holds its performances regularly at Whippoorwill Hall Theatre within North Castle Public Library at 19 Whippoorwill Road East in Armonk. For more information on upcoming performances, visit www.hudsonstage.com.