The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

ChappPac

Skyla Schreter Dance Performance Benefit Coming to Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on March 22

by

Friday March 22nd at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center

480 N Bedford Ave, Chappaqua NY 10514

8pm GA | 7pm VIP

Skyla Schreter Dance is a genre-defying dance company led by Choreographer and Artistic Director Skyla Schreter. Born and raised in Chappaqua, NY, Skyla was invited to the world-renowned School of American Ballet in New York City at the age of 9. Following years of performances with New York City Ballet before the age of 17, Skyla went on to join the Boston Ballet, and then to join the internationally acclaimed San Francisco Ballet. Skyla’s choreography has been commissioned and presented by prestigious New York festivals such as the Hudson Valley Dance Festival and the Fire Island Dance Festival, events produced by Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Skyla has also received national recognition for her dance films, which she has produced, directed and choreographed. She is a 2024 grant recipient of the New York State Council on the Arts Award for Choreography and has been selected for the New York State Danceforce Choreographer’s Initiative Award for 2024. Skyla is also a Professor of Dance at Vassar College.

On March 22, 2024 the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in Chappaqua, NY will be hosting a fundraising event to benefit Skyla Schreter Dance, raising funds to support the creation and presentation of the company’s upcoming new works – to be performed throughout the Hudson Valley and NYC. The Skyla Schreter Dance Performance Benefit is a rare opportunity to see world-class professional dance in Westchester, and to be a vital part of supporting an innovative, female choreographer-led dance company as they continue their ascent with their uniquely ground-breaking performances. 

The Benefit will include a World Premiere performance of Skyla Schreter’s newest dance piece, “The Flock” – never before presented publicly. Following the performance will be a moderated artist panel with the dancers and collaborating artists of Skyla Schreter Dance. There will be a cash bar and a Silent Auction featuring original paintings by Skyla Schreter Dance collaborating artists Michelle Silver and Aaron Sanders, exclusively available for bidding at the Performance Benefit.

Tickets available at: https://ssdbenefit.bpt.me

                   ~ VIP $100 | GA $60 ~

Press contact: skylaschreterdance@gmail.com

Learn More at skylaschreterdance.com/benefit, and on Instagram @skylaschreter.dance

 

News & Photos Courtesy of Skyla Schreter Dance

With the Fiddler Cast: A Celebration of Life at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center

by

Photo by Lisa Wohl

It was an incredible end of winter treat to watch a dozen cast members of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, including the Fiddler HERself, take the stage of the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center (ChappPac) to share their remarkable journey through and since Broadway’s blockbuster production.

Merete Muenter, associate director and associate choreographer of the show, moderated. Each of the 12 cast members in attendance had a chance to speak from the heart, answering a series of Muenter’s wide ranging, food-for-thought questions–including ‘Do we still need Fiddler today?”

One cast member somberly reminded about today’s antisemitism while another addressed the plight of refuges from Ukraine–and so, the collective answer to us very (in agreement) fortunate theater goers was, yes, of course we do! The consensus: We need lots more Fiddler.

In lighter moments of ‘the Conversation,” with a slide show illustrating memorable cast moments on and off set, many of us romantics were tickled to learn of cast member romances, and even a marriage, with the hand-holding actors in attendance.

Photo by Lisa Wohl

If I were taking notes, I’d relate more and ‘who’ said ‘what’. But I confess I was there to kick back and enjoy–to capture all the personal feelings the timeless music Fiddler evokes, and right near home!

The unforgettable melodies have become a way to revisit my Jewishness, and I’m sure this is true for millions: part of the experience of being Jewish mirrors Fiddler’s celebration of Jewish faith and culture while never forgetting the struggles of the Jewish people through the ages… their production on Broadway will stay with me forever!

And these big-hearted, long time cast members–who have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Broadway Cares–didn’t disappoint.

Immediately, we were treated to hearing ‘Tradition,’ which amply set the mood!

We heard Tevye’s ‘If I Were a Rich Man’, The Daughters’ and Yenta’s ‘Matchmaker’, ‘The Sabbath Prayer’, and ‘Anitekva’.

We even got a short lesson in ‘Yinglish’ as the audience received a quick tutorial to singing along with ‘Sunrise, Sunset.’ Fun! We weren’t half bad. And what, in these times, could have been a better finale to the evening than ‘To Life’? Gornisht! (i.e., nothin!)

This review is dedicated to the memory of Chaim Topol.  September 9, 1935 – March 8, 2023. Topol is best known as the Israeli-born actor who portrayed Tevye the longest in Broadway’s iconic Shalom Aleicheem musical Fiddler on the Roof, and in the Hollywood movie adaptation.

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

by

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)

by

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

by

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