Sounds of A Summer Season
Summer comes alive with the sounds of music
Venues as new as a year old to as long-established
as 130 years ago. Performers that range from
the classical to country, symphonic to Broadway,
oldies to refreshing new talent finds. The
Hudson Valley is rocking this summer with
the following concerts and festivals.
Bardavon and Ulster Performing Arts
Center
Bardavon Box Office, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie;
473-2072; UPAC Box Office, 601 Broadway, Kingston;
339-6088 or visit www.bardavon.org.
No other New York venue can claim as rich
and star-studded a history as the Bardavon.
"It is the oldest continuously operating
theatre in New York State and among the oldest
in the nation," boasts Chris Silva, executive
director. "The Bardavon has long been
considered the cultural jewel of the region.
Artists who have performed on its stage comprise
a veritable Who's Who of the past century
and a half: Mark Twain, Sarah Bernhardt, the
Barrymores, John Philip Sousa, Burns and Allen,
Dizzy Gillespie, Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra,
Al Pacino and Bob Dylan." The jewel continues
to be polished. It's rich history continues
this summer with performances by Joan Armatrading,
Roy Hargrove Big Band, Jonny Lang and Kenny
Loggins with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic.
Bethel Woods
200 Hurd Road, Bethel. Information and box
office, 866-781-2922 or visit www.bethelwoodslive.org.
When thousands converged on a farm in Bethel
in 1969 to hear the music of Santana, Jimi
Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Arlo Guthrie, a
musical destiny was born, realized almost
four decades later.
The Woodstock site continued to draw thousands
of people into Bethel in the years after 1969
Woodstock.
"They were coming and someone needed
to harness that incredible energy for the
good of the local community", says Robyn
Gerry, vice president of marketing for the
Gerry Foundation.
And so, Bethel Woods was created – a
4,800-seat outdoor performance pavilion with
additional lawn seating for 12,000 patrons
and an outdoor 750-seat amphitheatre. It preserves
and commemorates the national heritage site
that gave its name to a generation.
Founders hope to provide artists with the
opportunity to play and perform on one of
music's most legendary grounds.
This summer's lineup at Bethel Woods includes
Chicago and America, Bob Dylan, CATS, New
York Philharmonic, Widespread Panic, Brad
Paisley, Doo Wopp Reunion, Hippie Festival,
Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens and the Boston
Pops.
Greenwood Lake Concert Series
Village of Greenwood Lake. Call 477-9215 or
visit www.villageofgreenwoodlake.org.
This concert series has come a long way from
performing a limited lineup on the back of
a hay-wagon at a little league field 11 years
ago. Since then, the Town of Warwick's purchase
of a marina at the end of Windermere Avenue
has brought recreational and cultural events
to the village. "Our concert series is
now held at this beautiful venue," says
Mayor Barbara Moore. "Our attendees bring
their blankets or chairs, and sit in a grass
amphitheatre, which looks out at the lake
and the rolling hills that grace the shoreline
of Greenwood Lake."
This summer's concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.
and include The George F. Baker High School
Choir, The Wooded Hobo Band, The Magic Touch,
NRG Band, Theatre at the Lake presenting The
Hypochondriac, Out of the Blue, Goletz/Smith/Magnuson
and The Big Mouth Brass.
Lycian Centre
The "On the Lawn" free summer concert
series runs 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays, July
12-Aug. 23 at the Lycian Centre for the Performing
Arts, Kings Highway, Sugar Loaf. Bring blanket.
Call 469-2287 or visit www.lyciancentre.com.
With a history of only two years, the "On
the Lawn" free summer concert series
has already featured local acts as The USMA
Jazz Knights, Free Range, Mary Ann Marino,
Mark Williams, Broadway Concerts Direct, Kyle
Hancharick, Kenn DeAngelis and Julie Ziavras,
Neil Alexander and Peter Spink.
"Kings
Theatre Company and the Lycian Centre began
the free summer concert series in 2005 as
a way of giving something back to the community
that has supported them for so many years,"
says Box Office Manager Ann Marie Vitoulis.
"Originally organized as a local
event for the Chester and Sugar Loaf areas,
the series has expanded over the last two
years and now draws audiences from Goshen,
Monroe, and Warwick as well."
Milford Music Festival
Ann Street Park, Milford, Pa. Call 570-296-1232
or visit www.milfordmusic.org.
Rain or shine.
What began as a small jazz festival held at
the Best Western four years ago has turned
into a weekend celebration drawing thousands.
"It has since been moved to Ann
Street Park, where the festival has grown
bigger and bigger each year," says festival
publicist Katrina Snyder. "Last year,
more than 5,000 people came through the park
and visited the town of Milford. The local
businesses had a great weekend, most boasting
record business.
This year, we anticipate a higher attendance
than last year, as we have a big artist each
day." The festival features a variety
of musical styles and talents. Indoor and
outdoor events include a talent contest, children's
performances. On board this June 8-10 are
the Gypsy Jazz Quintet, Mahavishnu Project,
Parker String Quartet, Roger Drawdy and the
Firestarters, In Flight Radio, Alfred James
Band, Dave Mason, Raquy and the Cavemen, Jim
Weider and Project Percolator and the Bobby
Kyle Band.
Shandelee Music
Festival
Sunset Concert Pavilion, J.Young Road, Livingston
Manor. Call 439-3277 or visit www.shandelee.org.
Due to limited seating, paid reservations
required.
Located on 75 acres of private property in
the Shandelee area of Livingston Manor, "The
Shandelee Music Festival was founded in 1993,"
says public relations director Barbara Konvalin,
"and is a manifestation of a love for
the arts and the recognition of the human
spirit." The property boasts views of
surrounding mountains and lakes and an air-conditioned
concert pavilion with stage. Students are
selected based on performance ability, recommendation
and musical background. There is no age limit,
however, the festival is designed for students
of college age and older.
The last two concerts of the Sunset Concert
Series each summer feature that year's students.
The SMF also presents internationally acclaimed
classical artists. This summer's schedule
includes a "Broadway at its Best"
opening night celebration, and evenings of
chamber music.
Sullivan County
Community College
Summer Cultural Programs
Seelig Theatre, 112 College Road, Loch Sheldrake.
Call Campus Events Office, 434-5750, Ext.
4303.
Named for the late Rose and Sam Seelig of
Monticello, supporters of and benefactors
to the college, the Seelig Theatre offers
perfect acoustics and 270 cushioned seats,
all with a complete view of the stage.
"Since 1974," reports James
Goldfarb, director of campus activities, "the
college has presented a Summer Theatre Festival
that includes Wednesday lectures, Thursday
theatre featuring professional performers
and Tuesday matinees for young people.
"Over the years, the college hosted
touring companies from around the country,
including ballet, modern dance, dramas, Broadway
musicals and opera."
This summer's schedule includes Saints of
Swing performing "Klezmer & More,"
The Delaware Opera Company presents "La
Perichole," Broadway Direct presents
Song and Dance from Broadway, The North American
Cultural Lab (NaCL) presents "Punch and
Judy," Catskill Puppet Theater, Foot
and Fiddle Dance Company, The Hudson Opera
Theatre presents "Carmen," Laughing
Pizza, a family singing group, Vanaver Caravan
and Broadway Direct presents Songs and Dance
from Broadway.
Weekend of
Chamber Music Series, July 8-22
Eddie Adams Farm, North Branch Road, Jeffersonville.
Call 932-8527 or visit www.WCMconcerts.org.
Advance ticket purchase suggested.
Weekend of Chamber Music Series is a showcase
for the great chamber music masterworks from
Beethoven to present-day America.
"Founded in 1994 by flutist Judith Pearce,"
says WCM Communications Director Terry Schommer,
"WCM presents live, professional music
to entice listeners with performance in a
real chamber setting. At WCM's core is a flexible
company of celebrated musicians, all of whom
have earned national and international recognition.
The annual festival, benefit concerts, and
school coaching activities earn the musicians
enthusiastic praise every year.
"A
free outdoor concert opens the summer, and
audiences return to the Eddie Adams Farm for
WCM's second season, thanks to Presenting
Sponsor Alyssa Adams. Summer highlights are
gala Saturday concerts and receptions; free
Friday open rehearsals; Tuesday dinner concerts,
and this year's special event, an outdoor
children's concert. Besides the classics,
the works of American composers on the bill
include Charles Ives' Celestial Railroad,
and Lee Hoiby's Last Letter Home." For
dates, times and more information on performances,
refer to the calendar of events for each county
in this guide.
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