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Live Arts in Nyack Elicits Audience Delight Over Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest

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Bucolic Setting Drew Dozens of Theatre Goers Outdoors to Enjoy the Debut Earnest Performance; three more planned!

Nyack Arts Festival Performances to follow: The Skin of Our Teeth, (Shakespeare’s) Love Labour’s Lost, Special Events, Readings, Tributes, and More!

Discover Nyack, along the way!

Phoenix Festival: Live Arts in Nyack premieres! Here from the talented ensemble: Josh Tyson, in the role of the mischievous Algernon Moncrieff charming Morgan Rosse playing the demur but delightful Cecily Cardew on the set at Marydell Faith and Life Center in Nyack, NY  Photo by Angie Gaul of Milestone Images

Just Between Us: End of summer is always bittersweet, but this year there have been sweet theatre offerings to look forward to in September and October peppered with oh so cool opportunities for some ‘get to really know Nyack’ fun. No, allow me to revise that to sweet, spicy, and spectacular offerings, by way of the acclaimed Phoenix Festival, which lest I forget to remind you, has a robust lineup of blessedly live arts/outdoor professionally executed productions in different Nyack venues, a one man show and compelling key events–each ticket an ez pass to outdoor theater heaven. And there’s still time not to miss out, so just between us again, don’t delay. With the festival’s beautiful posters in practically every shop window, it’s safe to say that this delightful group of civic minded, socially conscious people (they are the real deal–determined to make theater going possible for all), have taken Nyack by storm and added more fun to Rockland County’s jewel of a village than I can remember. I was delighted to discover, for example, as I’ve never visited either venue before, first the elegance of the historic Edward Hopper House for a pre-opening party, and this past Saturday, the long-awaited opening of The Importance of Being Earnest opening at Marydell, a spiritual retreat, as its gorgeous host location. Oscar Wilde’s classic tour de force (“a three-act farce about double lives, clandestine impropriety, and the foibles of the upper crust😊”) took place on the Center’s expansive lawn (situated opposite thick woods with hiking trails–note to self: return for hiking). The 2.5 hour show was lovingly and professionally performed under a bright blue sky and balmy temps with two brief intermissions which offered a chance to talk to other theatregoers, or simply to grab water and a snack. Lots of laughs along the way–good for the heart and soul in these trying times. For an overview and more news of the production plus highlights of ‘what’s next’ courtesy of Craig Smith, Festival Executive Director, Elise Stone, Artistic Director, and Leo Lion, Associate Artistic Director, please read on! And true to the recommendation that visitors combine theater going with village exploring, my friend and I ventured into town post performance for some excellent Thai fare at Thai House, off Main Street. After she had to get going, I continued my stroll solo down Broadway, and treated myself to a raspberry ice cream cone at Piermont Creamery. Sweet and spectacular deserved a sweet and spectacular ending! I’m looking forward to enjoying more Live Arts performances.  — Grace Bennett, Publisher & Editor, Inside Press

The first annual Phoenix Festival: Live Arts in Nyack opened on Saturday September 17 to a sold-out audience and critical acclaim.

The performance of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest was enthusiastically received by a packed audience and hailed by reviewers as a “very very fine production…so well done” (BroadwayRadio) and a “splendid outdoor production” (Theaterscene  https://theaterscene.org/)

The performance marked the beginning of five weekends of live theater and special events – continuing through October 16  ─ hosted by the Phoenix Theater Ensemble of New York City fame, now with roots in Nyack.

The playbill includes three more performances of Earnest, set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 23–25 ─ all outdoors at bucolic Marydell Faith and Life Center in Upper Nyack with 2 p.m. show times.

After Earnest, next up on the Marydell stage is Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth, opening on Saturday, October 1 for six performances spanning the remaining weekends to the Festival close on October 16.

On the Marydell stage for October 8 and 15, audiences of all ages can enjoy Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost presented by the Children’s Shakespeare Theatre company, performed by kids and for kids ─ and, of course, for adults.

Also along the way to mid-October, the Festival will offer a hilarious Chekov one-man play in the garden at the home (now museum) of Nyack artist Edward Hopper, as well as special events at locations around Nyack village, including a song cycle premiere inspired by Hopper’s paintings, poetry readings by local writers, and film and live performance tributes to Nyack resident and “first lady of the American theater” Helen Hayes.

Photo by Angie Gaul of Milestone Images

A detailed calendar of Festival events is here: events page

For visitors interested in combining art and entertainment with an exploration of Hudson Valley culture, the Festival team has created a special program for this event – Nyack Digital Dreaming-AR Adventures, an exciting multimedia, family- and phone-friendly introduction to the village, its history, lore and legends

Digital Dreaming incorporates walking tour narratives, documentary video and augmented reality. It’s free, available every day, all day, online at Digital Dreaming: AR Adventures.

In addition to Festival activities, Nyack village offers a wealth of attractions ─ one-of-a-kind shops, world class dining, pubs, live music and a vibrant nightlife. Local businesses are inviting Festival-goers to explore the village ─ and enter their raffle for prizes valued at over $3,500.

“A big bonus for Festival goers is Nyack village itself,” said Craig Smith, Phoenix Festival Executive Director. “Nyack is the perfect anchor for this unique festival that blends classic theater, music and local history with breathtaking natural beauty in a jazzy, upbeat river town setting.”

TICKETS: Call 833-681-4800. Go to NyackArtsFestival.com 

Or go to the “At a Glance” page on the Festival events page 

TOURS: Ticket discounts for tours and groups of 10 or more are available at Tours and Group Sales. Or email info@PhoenixTheatreEnsemble.org for information. 

GENERAL INFORMATION: Go to NyackArtsFestival.com , email at info@PhoenixTheatreEnsemble.org or leave a message at 212-465-3446.

Also see Visit Nyack at visitnyack.org for details, and on Facebook @VisitNyack and Instagram @visitnyack

The Tremendous Impact of Stefanie May’s Brainchild–‘THE CAP CARES’ Volunteer Rewards Program

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Editor’s Note: Behind the scenes of the iconic Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, impressive efforts to help the community in multiple arenas, are an ongoing pursuit, thanks to the efforts of Marketing Director Stefanie May and her small army of volunteers.  Here’s but a snapshot of #TheCapCares programming, and how you can make a difference too simply by supporting the amazing shows and artists performing throughout the year. Visit www.thecapitoltheatre.com 

When Stefanie May took on the role of Marketing Director at the legendary Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, she knew she wanted to make a difference. Beyond selling out shows with successful marketing campaigns from Tame Impala & Kacey Musgraves to Elvis Costello & Cheap Trick, Stef created “The Cap Cares” volunteer rewards program that has made a tremendous impact on the local community.

  • Stefanie hand-picked volunteer opportunities last September and October, from gardening to sorting medical supplies, that community members could pick from and receive free concert tickets for their hard work.
  • After seven weeks, Stefanie gathered 192 volunteers across 18 events from 11 non-profit organizations, with 475 hours of service (more stats below).
  • Stefanie is working to make the volunteer program part of a larger year-round program that will promote food drives, toy drives, and fundraising campaigns aimed at improving lives within the venue’s community.
  • She has worked with Westchester County companies like Afya Foundation, which “rescues unused medical supplies and equipment and humanitarian goods to help those in need around the world,” the non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization Our New Way Garden, which was created to educate the public about locally and naturally grown food, and the Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center, which is dedicated to the development and advancement of sustainable agriculture.
  • Due to the devastating effect that COVID-19 has had on the live music industry, Stefanie also volunteered her time on the Social Media team for the National Independent Venue Association to pass the Save Our Stages Act in December 2020
  • About The Capitol Theatre: Designed by celebrated architect Thomas Lamb in 1926 and listed in The National Register of Historic Places, The Capitol Theatre is located 30 miles from NYC. The 2,000-capacity theater, known as “the original rock palace,” showcased legends such as Traffic, The Grateful Dead, Black Sabbath, Chuck Berry, David Bowie, Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones. Jerry Garcia called it one of his two favorite venues in the USA. In 2012, the theatre underwent a major renovation under the guidance of music entrepreneur Peter Shapiro. Since then, it has hosted major performers including Bob Dylan, Phil Lesh, Ringo Starr, Joan Baez, Skrillex, Bonnie Raitt, Snoop Dogg, Kacey Musgraves, The Strokes, Tom Petty, Cyndi Lauper, and Willie Nelson, as well as comedians like Kevin Hart and Amy Schumer. The New York Times raves: “A rock theater that looks and sounds as good as the Capitol is something to celebrate.”

CityParks Summer Stage 2018

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Editor’s Note: If you were lucky enough to catch any one of the outstanding performances of City Parks Summer Stage 2018, hats off to you. But if you were not, there’s still time to enjoy continued programming right through September!

For more info and updates, visit CityParksFoundation.org

– Grace Bennett

SEPT 8

Mac Demarco produced by The Bowery presents Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist brings his psychedelic pop-punk tunes to life

Saturday 6-10pm

Central Park | $ BENEFIT MUSIC

SEPT 26

Blood Orange produced by The Bowery presents genre-spanning musical performance from The multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer Dev Hynes

Saturday 6-10pm

Central Park | $ BENEFIT MUSIC

SEPT 27

Angelique Kidjo’s Remain in Light/Resistance Revival Chorus Africa’s premier diva stuns with songs from her much-anticipated talking heads cover album, opened with a Women’s Choir Collective

Thursday 7-10pm

Central Park | MUSIC

Reflecting on Chappaqua’s 2018 Memorial Day Parade…

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It was such a beautiful day in our country and our community. Community members took a break from their picnics, left their barbeques, and joined together in town to celebrate Memorial Day at the annual parade and ceremony. As the Memorial Day parade began, hundreds of community members lined the streets of downtown Chappaqua to watch the procession move down the hill.

Grand Marshal James McCauley
Vets and residents alike enjoyed a pre-parade, open house breakfast (bagels and coffee for all!)  organized by Veronica Ribeiro (in the jean jacket) and Signy Schroeter Klein (left) outside Ribeiro’s house at the bottom of Ridgewood Terrace; here with the U.S. Army’s Chuck Schroedel and Joanne Clarke.

Among the participants in the parade were Federal, New York State, and Westchester County Dignitaries, World War II, Vietnam War, and Iraq-Afghanistan War Veterans, the Chappaqua Girl Scouts, Brownies, and Daisy Troops, the Chappaqua and Millwood Fire Companies, the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the school bands, and other community organizations. The community-wide event epitomized what Chappaqua stands for, as it captured the diversity, talent, and pure energy of our town.*  Bill and Hillary Clinton, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and more region and town board representatives marched in a row behind Grand Marshal Captain James McCauley who has been leading the parade for nearly 20 years.  

PHOTOS BY HANNAH ROSENBERG

As the parade ended, the crowd made its way towards the Chappaqua Train Station where the Memorial Plaza Ceremony was held. Here, the entire community came together to remember those who died bravely fighting for our country. Dogs barked at the sound of drums while they rolled in the grass, children waved their miniature American flags, and members of the crowd listened intently to the speakers of the afternoon. Some of the events included prayers being recited, the Horace Greeley High School Band beautifully playing the “Star Spangled Banner,” the reading of two New Castle World War II Veterans’ biographies by the Chappaqua Girl Scouts, the reading of the Honor Roll of the Town of New Castle War Dead, and a speech from Colonel John Graham. In Colonel John Graham’s speech, he reminded the town that Memorial Day is not Veterans Day, but rather a day to honor and remember the brave individuals who sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom. “1.3 million Americans have given their lives in the 245 years since Lexington and Concord so that the rest of us can live free,” he said. “More often than not, these heroes have been ordinary citizens who answered the nation’s call when we needed them the most.” A sense of reverence could be felt emanating from the crowd of people in response to these remarks.

   All across the country, the efforts of fallen soldiers will be remembered, their sacrifices will be appreciated, and their lives will be honored. As a nation, and as a community, we will celebrate the lives of those who fought for our country and perished protecting the sacred concept of freedom. In Chappaqua, community members from every walk of life—from the parents carrying their new-born infant in an American flag onesie, to Bill Clinton, a former President of the United States— made it a priority to come together and spend Memorial Day united as a town. Anyone who attended the parade and ceremony was able to gauge the values, passion, and love shared by our community members. Together, with our American flags and Chappaqua pride, we reflected on the important sacrifices that have been made by brave women and men whose names will forever be synonymous with “hero.”

*‘Behind the scenes there is a great deal of time and effort that goes into organizing the parade too, noted New Castle Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein. This year, a  Memorial Day Committee included Peter Gaudet, Barbara Jenkel, David Egerton, Dr. Michael Finkelstein, Lori Townsend and Eric Rosenfeld, as well as Town Administrator Jill Shapiro and Ciara Gannon all of whom were instrumental, per the town of New Castle.

 

Our author finding a moment for a photo with Bill Clinton

Inside Press intern Julia Bialek is a rising senior at Horace Greeley High School where she is also the Managing Editor of the Greeley Tribune.

Additional photos by Hannah Rosenberg (HGHS ’19) for the Inside Press below and on Facebook’s Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk page):https://www.facebook.com/pg/theinsidepress/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10156481813673669

Michael Finkelstein, M.D., (right) was on the Memorial Day Committee. Featured Speaker Col. John Graham is the former Chief Scientist of West Point and Managing Director of Campfire Capital.

Why I Walked Out

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Before the walkout, 17 desks had been placed around the parking lot in honor of those who were killed in the Parkland shooting.  

Story by Ari Silver  Photos by Hannah Rosenberg
 
Chappaqua, NY, March 14, 2018 — My decision to walk out today was a simple one. I chose to speak and stand up for those who unfortunately no longer have the ability to. Though the walkout drew criticism from a handful of students who claimed that the event was a call to push a “liberal agenda,” this had no effect on my decision, or the choice to participate for the majority of Greeley students.

This issue of gun violence is much larger than politics, and it is not an issue that belongs to Democrats or Republicans. We all need to find a solution to the epidemic of gun massacres that are taking place far too frequently in our nation’s schools.

The walkout began promptly at 10 a.m., as directed by the student organizers. Students calmly filled the visitors parking lot and very quickly began to quiet down.

Before the walkout, 17 desks had been placed around the parking lot in honor of those who were killed in the Parkland shooting.  

The event began with a few brief speeches from a class president and two siblings who had recently moved from Parkland.

Hannah Fenlon (right), the student-body president, along with Sasha and Brandon Litwin, freshmen who moved from Parkland, Florida in 2015, shared stories from a victim of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and discussed what this walkout signified. Photo by Hannah Rosenberg

‘The students spoke of positivity, the call to action and the remembrance of the lives that were lost on February 14th. The students then walked a planned route, with some students shouting, “What do we want, Action, When do we want it, Now!” Several students held hand-made signs that had different political and non-political messages.

Photo by Hannah Rosenberg

Administrators and teachers surrounded the school to witness the march and to ensure students were safe. Since the event had drawn some security concerns, the district had assigned increased security personnel and members of the New Castle Police Department to the site. The walkout concluded inside the cafeteria, where students wrote messages on pieces of paper, each assigned containing the name of a victim of the Parkland shooting.

Overall, this was a very meaningful experience for Horace Greeley students. For myself and many others, emotions ran high. For me, the walkout comes two weeks after I had the opportunity to meet with Representative Nita Lowey and law enforcement officials in White Plains to discuss school safety. I feel that this walkout shows that my generation is beginning to become more involved, and my peers are starting to understand the powers that they possess to create change.

Ari Silver is a junior at Horace Greeley High School and a new writing intern for the Inside Press. Ari’s article about a Temple Beth El/Antioch Baptist Church civil rights trip for students appears in the current edition.

Hannah Rosenberg, also a junior at Greeley, is a Photo Intern for The Inside Press. Hannah photographed the ‘A New Beginning’ cover story of the current edition.