All Entries in the "In the Arts" Category
It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird, and a shame to miss this ‘Mockingbird,’ now at the Weston Playhouse
By Karen Zuppinger There are few things more Southern than sweet tea, molasses on hot buttermilk biscuits or Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Arguably one of the most influential novels of the 20th century, and one of the best film adaptations of all time, what could a stage production offer that the book and […]
Chester’s Cheyenne Prescott places 2nd in 10th Keene Idol
By Karen Zuppinger KEENE, N.H. Seventeen year old Chester resident Cheyenne Prescott is this year’s 2nd place winner of the 10th annual Keene Idol singing competition. Bested only by industry vet and former “The Voice” contestant, Michelle Brooks-Thompson, Prescott’s vocals and stage presence stood out on a night when all seven finalists brought their A […]
Two Southern VT arts centers get Rural Development grants
USDA Rural Development has awarded Community Facility grants to two Brattleboro non-profits: New England Center for Circus Arts Inc. and Latchis Arts Inc. “USDA is pleased to support the Brattleboro arts community and creative economy that is serving as an economic engine to inspire innovation, create jobs and re-energize the community,” said David Robinson, acting […]
Tapping Into Local Talent: Southern VT youths light up Weston stage
By David Lampe-Wilson The theater is often referred to as “the fabulous invalid.” But it hangs on through an ongoing infusion of new audiences and new artists. What keeps theater alive and kicking – at least in Weston, VT – is its closeness to the community, says Steve Stettler, a producing director with Weston Playhouse. […]
Nine Junker Studio works dress up Sculpture Walk at Guilford Welcome Center
Nine metal sculptures from Junker Studio of Chester are on display at the Guilford Welcome Center, Vermont’s main visitor center that has played host to almost 5 million visitors since 2006. The nine pieces include Woodstock, Payne and Elise Junker’s life-sized and brightly painted moose, which usually stands on the front lawn of their Gallery […]
Come and meet those dancing feet at Weston’s ‘42nd Street’
By David Lampe-Wilson Freelance theater reviewer Weston Playhouse puts on its glad rags and kicks up its heels in a revival of the musical icon 42nd Street. Based on the 1933 Warner Bros. musical of the same name (which was inspired by Bradford Ropes’ novel), 42nd Street focuses on the efforts of famed dictatorial director Julian Marsh […]
LIFE IN WATERCOLORS: Winston painting sale evokes memories of the Chester Art Guild
By Cynthia Prairie Galen Pinkham is a large man with a ready smile, a welcoming laugh and a wealth of stories. He navigates this Grafton home with the ease of someone who grew up among the books, the record albums, the furniture and, especially, the many paintings that hang from just about every wall. Many […]
Bryan Ballinger is trying to raise a STINK!
By Shawn Cunningham With an Aug. 8 deadline approaching on his Kickstarter funding campaign, former Chester resident Bryan “Breadwig” Ballinger is optimistic that he will raise the $20,000 needed to publish his “scratch and sniff” children’s book, Animal Gas. At press time, his appeal to help produce the allegory on how we perceive our ourselves […]
‘Educating Rita’ doesn’t quite make the grade
By David Lampe-Wilson Freelance theater reviewer Weston Playhouse Theatre opened its 77th season with Willy Russell’s Educating Rita, the story of the relationship of a working-class woman attempting to better herself with the jaded tutor who becomes her mentor. This modern twist on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion should be cool refreshment for a hot summer’s […]
College student film captures childhood with help of local actors
Nine children and one adult from Chester are featured in a new, 23-minute film made by a crew of Keene State College seniors. The film, Childhood, I Love You, was screened Friday evening to a group of actors and their families at Green Mountain Union High. Click on any photo below to launch the gallery. […]
Jamie Townsend: A bold ‘farmer artist’ outside and in
ON THE COVER: The front of R.B. Erskine’s has become an outdoor art gallery with the addition of artist Jamie Townsend’s work. “My customers really like them a lot,” says shop owner Mike Erskine. All photos by Karen Zuppinger unless otherwise noted. A photo gallery is set within the article. By Karen Zuppinger It’s a […]
VTica exhibits The Mysterious Mind, offers art workshop
Mysterious Mind Exhibit at VTica Vermont Institute of Contemporary Arts presents the Mysterious Mind Exhibition, art inspired by Jungian depth psychology, featuring the artwork of five New Englanders. The exhibition begins with a wine and hors d’oeuvres Opening Reception from 5:30 to 8 p.m., on Friday, Feb. 1 at VTica, 15 Depot St. It will […]
Contemporary artists interpret Parables in new exhibit
As part of its grounded4LIFE program, the Chester Baptist Church, 162 Main St. in Chester, invites the entire community to visit Picturing the Parables, an exhibit of 29 original artworks on display for the entire month of January. Picturing the Parables is a visual representation of some of most familiar teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. […]
Opera Theatre seeks audience singers for Noye’s Fludde
Opera Theatre of Weston artistic directors Nan Nall and Lise Messier will present a new production of Noye’s Fludde by Benjamin Britten at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland and at the Weston Playhouse in January. Britten arranged three well-known hymns for this opera to be sung by the “congregation” to underscore the drama unfolding on […]
