ChappPac

‘SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD’ at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center

August 9, 2021 by Inside Press

Limelight Theatre Company will present four live performances of SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, featuring the talents of both Westchester and NYC-local professionals at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center at the end of this month on August 27, 28 and 29.

This highly anticipated production marks Westchester’s return to live professional theatre and will premiere on Friday, August 27th at 8pm. The opening night will be followed by performances on Saturday, August 28th at 3pm and 8pm, as well as on Sunday, August 29th at 3pm.

Written by Jason Robert Brown, the production of Songs of a New World is directed by Westchester’s own Richard F. Grasso, with music direction by Stephen Ferri. With lighting design by Adam Lobelson, sound design by Jon Weston and John Millerd, and a spectacular live band with all-new orchestrations, this production’s stellar team kicks off Westchester’s newest professional theatre company’s first mainstage production in a re-opened New World. Featuring incredible professional talent from both Westchester and New York City, Limelight Theatre Company announces its incredible cast: Grant Evan (Man 1), Stephanie Scuderi (Woman 1), James Harris (Man 2), and Raquelle Viteri (Woman 2).

The show itself is about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice, to take a stand, or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of today. Songs for a New World is the first musical from Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County) and this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love, and the choices that we make.

“With the last 17 months of COVID-19, the world has been very closed off and people have spent a very long time not socializing in person. We are in a “New World” now,” says Richard F. Grasso, Director of the production, “My hope is for audience members to feel connected to each character in a different way, and by the end of the piece, I hope everyone will have felt transported and lifted through the power of live theatre.”

About Limelight Theatre Company: The Limelight Theatre Company is a nonprofit professional theatre company that strives to provide inclusive, accessible and affordable performing arts to Westchester and Putnam County, NY. Support the return to live theatre as Limelight Theatre Company tells important stories and places incredible artists and creators in the limelight. The Limelight Theatre Company plans to provide an array of events in the future, including mainstage productions, staged readings, and concerts, as they raise the voices and inclusivity of all artists, cultures, and backgrounds in our performing arts community. Join the return to live theatre right in the heart of Westchester and purchase your tickets for SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD today at https://www.limelighttheatrecompany.com/performances. For more information, you can visit their website at www.limelighttheatrecompany.com or email info@limelighttheatrecompany.com.

Heart and Soul at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center (ChappPAC)

November 13, 2019 by The Inside Press

Founded in 2017, the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center (ChappPAC) was established to provide diverse arts and cultural programming for residents of New Castle and communities throughout the region. Located in the heart of Chappaqua at Chappaqua Crossing (the former Reader’s Digest campus), this amazing 425-seat venue was saved from demolition and brought back to life through a unique consortium of municipal and private support.

ChappPAC’s programming presents a diverse, imaginative and exceptionally entertaining mix of arts and cultural opportunities such as art exhibits, theater, comedy, author talks and perennial favorites such as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and an interactive “Elf” experience. Artists such as Tim Kubart and the Space Cadets have had children dancing in the aisles, while the sweet sounds of Vanessa Williams and the rocking music of the Allman Brothers have delighted adults. ChappPAC also is the home of the Chappaqua Orchestra, and has hosted master acting classes with current Broadway stars. ChappPAC offers a full slate of children’s and senior programming and also aims to provide programs and opportunities for under-served communities and people with special needs.

The Town’s Arts and Culture Committee oversees the facility and is the liaison between the Town and the needs of ChappPAC. The Friends of ChappPAC, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, is the entity sanctioned to work with the Town to provide financial support to ChappPAC for capital projects and programming at the theater. For information about ChappPAC and future programming, visit chappaquapac.org. For information about the Friends of ChappPAC, contact friendsofchapppac@gmail.com.

Courtesy of the Town of New Castle Arts and Culture Committee

Battle of the Bands at ChappPac

August 24, 2019 by The Inside Press

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

Pout Pout Delivered Family Entertainment with an Important Message

June 2, 2019 by Inside Press

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.

COMPLICIT: A May 9 Film and Discussion at ChappPAC

April 22, 2019 by Inside Press

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.