The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Chappaqua Performing Arts Center

Battle of the Bands at ChappPac

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On September 21, the Friends of Chappaqua Performing Arts Center (ChappPAC) will be presenting The Battle of the Bands at ChappPAC, featuring three local bands. A meet and greet cocktail party with the bands will be held prior to the event at 6 p.m. for those who purchase tickets at that level and those who are part of the Founding Members Circle. General admission tickets are $50/ticket and priority seating including the pre-party, is $150/ticket.

The three bands taking part in this event are Red Grenadine with The Horn Dogs, Ripchord and The Station Agents. Each band will play for half an hour and there will be a 15 minute intermission between each set. Wine, beer and other beverages will be available for sale at the event.

“Having local bands who are comprised of Northern Westchester residents really speaks well for the talent we have in the Northern part of our county,” said Michele Gregson, Friends of ChappPAC Chair.

The idea for the Battle of the Bands was the brainchild of event Chair and Friends of ChappPAC Board member Sena Baron. “We were lucky that we were able to put together three great local bands to take part in this event.”

The Friends of ChappPAC is the non-profit organization sanctioned by the Town of New Castle, which owns the theater, to fundraise to enhance the facility, provide programming and help run the theater on an ongoing basis. The Friends are currently undergoing a major fundraising campaign for their Founding Members Circle, which includes various financial levels of donations. For more information about supporting Friends of ChappPAC, contact friendsofchapppac@gmail.com. To purchase tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com

ripchord
Red Grenadine
The Station Agents

Pout Pout Delivered Family Entertainment with an Important Message

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Families gathered at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center to enjoy a musical performance of The Pout Pout Fish, a popular children’s book brought to life.

Article and Photos By Leslie Regan

The lively musical Pout Pout spreads the important message that everyone should be valued for who they are on the inside, and not judged based on appearance.

Talented actors and actresses brought The Pout Pout Fish story alive with song. Audience members enjoyed the catchy tunes.In addition to the 11 a.m. show, there was a 2 p.m. performance that was geared towards community members with sensory sensitivities and other special needs. There was a warm sense of inclusivity at both performances where students from The EPIC (Every Person is Connected) Committee sold books and concessions. The EPIC committee helps students with special needs contribute to their community in a meaningful way for all involved.

The Pout Pout Fish was brought to the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on May 25 by Friends of ChappPAC, a local non profit organization. This newly formed nonprofit was created in order to provide Chappaqua with cultural and live arts and bring families together. Friends of ChappPAC teamed up with another non profit organization–TheaterWorks USA–to put on Saturday’s performances.

Tracy Stein, Vice Chair of the ChappPac Board of Directors, said TheaterWorks brings to life children’s books; their mission is to bring theater to all areas of the country-including underserved areas and schools. “They promote literacy and provide theater to places that might not get it otherwise,” she said. 

As part of Friends of ChappPAC’s mission to provide programming also to local underserved communities, it provided tickets to local organizations such as Neighbors Link and The Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester, which allowed many children and families to enjoy The Pout Pout fish and the ChappPAC.

Friends of ChappPAC is also working to raise money to kick off its inaugural 2019 Fall Season. “Models like the Jacob Burns Film Center and the Emelin Center for Performing Arts show that community investment is critical to programming,” said Stein. 

Friends of ChappPAC would like to continue to help spread the joy of theater, and is seeking additional funding. If anyone would like to join the Executive Committee, they are encouraged to contact Friends of ChappPAC at friendsofchapppac@gmail.com

Leslie Regan is a Lehigh University student with a passion for photography. She studies Psychology and Journalism and enjoys combining her interests by getting to know people and telling their unique stories through photography. She has covered several events for Inside Chappaqua Magazine and has been photographing parties, and families, and special events on her own for the past few years.

Actors and actresses were the voices and singing voices behind the sea creatures. Some characters consisted of a shark, clam, octopus, eel, and of course The Pout Pout Fish.
The Pout-Pout Fish book is illustrated by Dan Hanna. His beautiful drawings were  brought to life on stage with bright fish and other ocean creatures.
Tracy Stein is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of ChappPAC. The goal of this organization is to bring more productions to Chappaqua such as musical theater and concerts in order to unite and bond the community.

 

 

 

A First Father’s Day…

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I love being a publisher and editor and proudly covering a wide swath of Northern Westchester! But like most people, sometimes I do experience a bout of the blues, for any number of reasons. I also recognize that the reasons are circumstantial. In the last month or so, I lost my father, a 96-year-old Holocaust survivor, and grandfather of four. I simply miss him to pieces, especially as I approach a First Father’s Day with him gone. Nonetheless, I know the blues are not a medical diagnosis. They are a state of mind that can be helped whether by say, leaning on friends and family, keeping a journal or maybe taking long meditative walks. The more ‘serious’ depression and all its potential consequences continues to challenge scientists around the world. So I was glad to attend an event by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation who make it their mission to support advances in this area; my report: https://www.theinsidepress.com/tipper-gore-breaking-the-silence-about-mental-illness/

But back to my dad. As I consider that he’s gone, I also understand that his legacy will never leave me, and I intend for it not to leave this world either. The dangers of silence are all too clear. I attended a May screening of the movie Complicit at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. It was stunning in its revelations of what led to 937 terrified Jewish passengers aboard the SS St. Louis being sent back to Nazi controlled Europe–first by Cuba and then so sadly by orders of the state Dept. and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Over 250 of the passengers aboard were later killed–but it was the ramifications which were far worse: The horrific rejection gave Hitler exactly what he wanted: a perfect opportunity to “prove” to the world that Jews were expendable. #NeverAgain

Everyone knows a survivor’s best revenge is a long and fulfilling life. I’m thankful that my dad with a life well lived offering inspiration to many. Please be sure to read our entire edition and all its amazing stories! I’m grateful for our team and contributors who ‘share the heart of your community.’ Wishing you all peaceful and love-filled graduation ceremonies, if there are any in your household, and of course, a Happy Father’s Day.

COMPLICIT: A May 9 Film and Discussion at ChappPAC

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The documentary Complicit will be shown on May 9 at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. The filmmaker, Ruth Kalish, will provide a post screening talk. A representative from HIAS will also speak about current immigration and refugee policies and issues.

Complicit follows the story of the SS St. Louis, which left Germany in 1939 and was refused safe haven from Cuba, the U.S., and Canada and had to return to Germany (the film Voyage of the Damned follows this story). In this documentary, the film puts the Roosevelt Administration on trial for their complicity in not allowing refugees to seek safe haven in the U.S.

Reduced price student tickets are available “in the hope that you will bring your children,” stated  Michele Gregson, a founding member of the Friends of the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center.

See link for tickets below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For tickets, please use the following link “and share with your friends!”

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4208627

 

 

The Laramie Project Comes to Chappaqua April 5 & 6!

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Lighthouse Youth Theater Teens to Perform at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on 4/5 a and 4/6

Come see some of Westchester’s (Including many from New Castle) most talented teenagers tackle one of the best dramatic plays of the of the century! Lighthouse Youth Theatre’s Award Winning Teen Drama has done it again! They are using theatre to raise awareness on rights issues to inspire the next generation.

The Laramie Project is a documentary-styled play that analyzes the death of Matthew Shepard, an openly gay college student who was brutally murdered because of his sexual identity. The play was created by playwright/director Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project

“A thought-provoking, highly recommended production that packs a wallop as well as a message of tolerance and rejection of senseless hate.” -Cary Ginell

Come see some of Westchester’s (Including many from New Castle) most talented teenagers tackle one of the best dramatic plays of the of the century! Lighthouse Youth Theatre’s Award Winning Teen Drama has done it again! They are using theatre to raise awareness on rights issues to inspire the next generation.

The Laramie Project is a documentary-styled play that analyzes the death of Matthew Shepard, an openly gay college student who was brutally murdered because of his sexual identity. The play was created by playwright/director Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project.

“A thought-provoking, highly recommended production that packs a wallop as well as a message of tolerance and rejection of senseless hate.” -Cary Ginell
For info and tickets, visit www.LYTshows.org

News of this production provided via E-letter of Town of New Castle E-newsletter.