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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

I’m very excited about this week’s pick.  “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” are coming to Ogdensburg.  No, the election is over, I don’t mean politicians I mean the Musical based on the Broadway hit.

Inspired by the hit movie comedy from 1988, the original Broadway musical opened in March 2005 and played over 600 performances and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards.

Two con men, gigolos for the mature set, haunt the French Rivera and Cruise liners in search of their next meal tickets, usually lonely rich and widows.

There are a lot of twists in the plot and hummable tunes in the jaunty score by David, Yazbek, famous for the score of “The Full Monty.”

Even though this musical is about crime, the criminals are suave and charming and it’s all done in fun.  The movie starred Michael Caine and Steve Martin and the original Broadway cast starred John Lithgow and Norbet Leo Butz.

Lithgow is presently on Broadway, starring in “All My Sons,” with Mrs. Cruise, Katie Holmes.  I saw Norbet Leo Butz in the 1990’s revival of Cabaret and he was great.  As a matter of fact he beat Lithgow for the Tony in the original production of this show as Best Actor in a Musical.

Fact check:  Check out this great website - Internet Broadway Database.

If you haven’t been to an Ogdnesburg Command Performance show this is a great time to start.  Even though it won’t have Lithgow and Norbet, it will have a talented Broadway caliber cast.  Trust me.

Showtime is 7:45, this Sunday, November 23.

November 14-16 Weekend

CELEBRATE HIGH SCHOOL THEATER

There are several Local High School Productions Worth Note this Weekend. All are worth a look.

For anyone who has been in a high school production, can you remember the excitement of it?  I remember the thrill of being onstage and can’t understand why I was always cast as the smug, condescending villain.  Go Figure.

Although I may be able to remember being in the play, I certainly don’t remember the cast party.  Here’s hoping all the kids involved in these productions have a safe and fun time at their cast parties.  They deserve to let loose after all their hard work.

Let’s go by community.

WATERTOWN

The big Kahuna of schools has a stellar reputation and rightfully so.  Their musical productions under the talented and dedicated Russ Faunce are spectacular and don’t feel like you are watching community theater at all.

AIDA is the challenge they have taken up this time.  The story of a kidnapped Nubian Princess that played on Broadway from 2000-2004 to packed houses has a Tony Award winning score by one of the biggest pop stars of all time, Elton John.  This time he teams up with famous lyricist, Time Rice, most famous for writing the lyrics to “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Evita.”

I haven’t seen this show as I write this, but hope to get to it this weekend.  Despite this, I will recommend the show based on Faunce’s reputation and the pool of young talent WHS is famous for.  Besides I saw their production of “A Chorus Line” a few years back and loved it.

Friday and Saturday 7:30pm $7 adults $5 Students

SOUTH JEFFERSON

The high minded South Jeff students are tackling Shakespeare with an ambitious production of “Othello” as the young actors who appeared on the air this morning promoting their show said, basically its about love, jealousy, revenge and murder.  Just your run of the mill day in Shakespeare Land.

The buzz on this show is good, and I commend any group that tackles the Bard, let alone a high school group.  There are always lessons to learn from Shakespeare once you get past the “thous” and “thuses.”

Othello features one of Shakespeare’s most notorious and colorful villains, Iago, played this weekend by Tyler Graves.  I have always wanted to have a cat named “Iago.”

Friday and Saturday at 7pm $4 adults

CANTON

Agatha Christie’s Famous Mystery Play “The Mousetrap” is on at Canton Central.  This thriller has the distinction of being the longest continuously running play in history.

It opened in London England in 1952 and is still running.  So far over 23,000 performances and still going.  It’s the Ever Ready Bunny of productions.

The production in Canton won’t be running nearly as long, after all these students want to graduate someday.

Friday and Saturday at 7pm Adults $8, Students and Senior Citizens $6.

LOWVILLE

“Get Smart” a comedy mystery is presented by Lowville Academy and Central School Drama Club. This comedy spoof is rumored to be  a riot.

One Night only tonight Friday, 7:30pm

$6 adults, $5 students and Senior Citizens.

COOL EVENT - FUNDRAISER

Holiday, Food and Wine Festival at the Jefferson County Fair Exhibition Hall.

35 Vendors, offering local wine, food and crafts.

A great way to kick off the holiday shopping season!

Best Buy will be on hand to display the hottest video games and electronics for the kids to play while Mom and Dad shop.

EDIBLE STUFF INCLUDES:
Chocolate, nuts, cheeses and breads.

Oh and did I say, WINE!

Starts at 10am

For more information call: 315-212-4096

A Watertown Wizards event.

MUSIC NOTE

At the Paddock Club Tonight 9pm-1am “Ivory’

Aida Opens Tonight

Watertown High School will present the Elton John/Tim Rice musical this weekend.  It starts tonight, Thursday and plays Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm.

The original Broadway production which ran from 2000-2004 won four Tony Awards including best score.

Watertown High School is noted for its classy professional musical productions.  I saw their production of “A Chorus Line” a few years back.  Great Show.  Loved it.  And I am tough critic.

Check out Aida.  You won’t be disappointed.

$7 Adults.  $5 Students.

Fiorello!

Fiorello! The musical inspired by the life of Fiorello H. LaGuardia is playing for three nights only in Watertown.  Presented by the Watertown Lyric Theater, this rousing musical by the genius composing team (Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick) behind “Fiddler on the Roof” tells the story of the “little flower,” beloved New York mayor.

The Cast includes Sean Devito, Lauren Angelo, Kevin Kitto, Becca Dyke and Sarah Zaffora-Reeder.  The Lyric theater has been a staple of entertaining musical theater in Watertown for decades with quality productions.

This crowd pleasing show will play at the Dulles State Office Building Thursday, November 6th, Friday November 7th, and Saturday November 8th at 7pm General admission is $12, $10 for students and Military.

OCP - Dancing Queen

Sick of the Election? Just in time for the Election Day Hangover, “Dancing Queen” a show inspired by ABBA music is playing in Ogdensburg.

This high energy, infectious show featuring the forever fun music of ABBA is an import from London. A frivolous musical extravaganza that celebrates music from the Deep Disco period, from “Saturday Night Fever” through ABBA with “Dirty Dancing” thrown in, this show is the perfect antidote to the madness this election period has caused.

Elaborate Vegas style costumes and breathtaking choreography highlight this grand scale production.   It is like having a big budget 70’s party in your living room.

Playing one night only in Ogdensbug tomorrow night, Wednesday, November 5th-curtain time is 7:45pm.  Call 315-393-2625 or check Ogdensburg Command Performances and Spirit of the Dance Productions, “Dancing Qeen.”

Weekend October 24-26

CALLING ALL BIBLIOPHILES!!  The Premiere event this weekend is the colossal Book Sale held at the Flower Memorial Library.

Okay, I have too many books.  Okay, I buy too many books.  Okay, I have dust allergies because of my old books. Okay, I go to the sale every year despite this.

It’s a blast to paw through the stacks and boxes of books, pushing your way through hoards of aggressive readers.  Aggressive reader, is that an oxymoron? Do not stand in the way of someone looking for that Tammy Faye Baker biography that is now out of print.  You will be sorry.

If you haven’t already seen it, this is a great time to visit the beautifully refurbished Library, one of my favorite places in all of Jefferson County.

THIS IS A BARGAIN EVENT.  THIS IS A LOCAL PHENOMENON! THE BEST PICK OF THE WEEKEND!

This great event starts at 9:00 am sharp at the Flower Memorial Library, 229 Washington Street, Watertown - 785-7705.  It Continues every day the library is open until all the books are gone.

Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library
229 Washington St.
Watertown, New York 13601
315.785.7705
**HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Syracuse University Brass Ensemble
“Silver Screen Spectacular”
Robert R. and Jean S. Sturtz Theater

The Syracuse University Brass Ensemble is returning to Jefferson Community College for a performance that promises to please! Again this year, the group will be joined by members of the Watertown High School Wind Ensemble and a new guest, the Fort Drum 12:30 Gospel Service Choir.

This year’s theme is “Silver Screen Spectacular!” and will feature familiar themes from movies including Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Mary Poppins and the Magnificent Seven in addition to tunes from the music of Henry Mancini and the Midway March.

Advance sale tickets are $15.00 per person and can be purchased by calling the JCC Foundation at 315-786-2458. Tickets are also available at Fast Lube of Watertown locations.

THEATER

PHILADELPHIA -

“You Can’t Take It With You” the Pulitzer Prize winning American classic is playing for two nights only.

Saturday October 24 and Sunday October 25th 7pm $6 for adults $4 for Students.  That is a fantastic bargain for this funny, heartwarming classic by the zany American Playwright duo Kaufman and Hart.

This play, one of my favorites, inspired me when I was writing “The Sweet Life.”  An inspirational story about an inspirational family.  See it to forget about the economy (for while) because in this play, money means nothing!

Indian River Theater of the Performing Arts, Indian River High School, 32935 US Route 11 #642-5521 ext. 2117

ACROSS THE BORDER -

“Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad” still playing at 1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananoque.  This is the last show of the season and will close next Saturday.

Wouldn’t a matinee on this Saturday, October 25 or Sunday October 26th be a great way to stay warm, while being entertained?

Check out their website.

1000 Islands Playhouse

SYRACUSE

Armory Square Playhouse, script in hand readings at Manlius-Pebble Hill Coville Theater

Sunday, October 26, 1pm

Admission: $7 regular, $5 for seniors and Students

Three Short plays by Central New York playwrights Kit Wainer and Mohammad Seraji

In the monologue, “Budget Cuts” Esther explains, to anyone who will listen, what the titular government policy meant to her and her friend. The author, Kit Wainer, will perform the solo piece.

In “Consequences of a Natural Disaster” the second short play written by Ms. Wainer, the question is posed: Suppose a natural disaster happened and no one was prepared?

“The Iranian Dream” by Mohammad Seraji, is a romance with touches of farce and Farsi. It follows the experience of Fouroud Eshgiani after his orthodox Muslim mother visits him from Iran, bringing with her a blast of her Eastern culture and morals. A mixing of two worlds almost too different to exist together ensues. SALT award winning actress, Binaifer Dabu, will be featured as the mother.

For directions to the Coville Theatre at Manlius Pebble Hill School please visit the MPH website: http://www.mph.net/about/directions.cfm

TALES FROM SALT CITY

Continuing at Syracuse Stage - Through November 2

HALLOWEEN PARTY

GREAT FOR KIDS!!!

AT Wesley Hall at the Asbury Methodist Church, Sterling Street, Watertown

5:00pm - 7:00pm Saturday October 25th

Go Trick or Treating in costume out of the back of trunks.

Kids can come in costume or change after dinner.

SUPPER/CRAFTS AND GAMES/HALLOWEEN STORIES/

Call Margie Van Wie 788-4593

HOLIDAY CRAFT AND ANTIQUE SHOW

Dulles State Office Building, Watertown

SATURDAY, October 25, 2008

10am-4pm $2.00 admission

ANTIQUE APPRAISALS BY BRETT SIZEMORE

CRAFTERS AND & ANTIQUE DEALERS WILL BE ON HAND SELLING THEIR WARES

Refreshments will be available.

24th YEAR, sponsored by Laureate Iota Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi -

Donations made to: Urban Mission Critical Needs Food Pantry and the Beta Sigma Phi Award Fund

CONTINUING

Scarecrow Contest in Theresa, now through October 30th.

Calling Artists, Entertainers, Patrons of the Arts, Organizers

I would love to promote your arts and entertainment events in the Tri-County Area.  My website is been up over a month and it has been great writing about events and doing the weekend to do list, but I often need information for events.  This will especially be true as the busy months of summer slip into fall and winter and there are less things happening.

I love using video on my Thursday night Fox 28 News segment, so if you have at least 30 seconds of quality video, this will help.   Also pictures are great for the website.

Information can be sent electronically to me at artsent@wwnytv.net.  You can side video content on DVD and other material snail mail (traditional usps) to me at:

Craig Thornton

WWNY/WNYF

120 Arcade Street

Watertown, NY 13601

Be Sure to include contact information in case I want more information.

See you at the Theater, Concert, Festival, Art Gallery…ETC.

Saw Chicago

I attended the Ogdensburg Command Performance of the hit musical “Chicago” last night.  It was such a good show.

The familiarity of the songs and musical numbers made the show even more enjoyable.

This production is based on the currently running Broadway revival directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Ann Reinking.

The Cast was great and you often forgot about the movie cast while watching it.  Not easy, since Renee Zellweger will always be Roxie Hart, and the Oscar winning Catherine Zeta-Jones, Velma Kelly, whose dancing skills in the film were amazing.

But two cast members, both male, I thought were as good as the stars in the movie.

Brent Heuser who played Billy Flynn can sing better than Richard Gere and the best performance of this show belongs to the actor playing Roxie Hart’s husband, Amos.  In the movie John C. Reilly played this part and did a fine job, but here it is played by Ben Elledge.

This is truly a great performance and his solo “Mr. Cellophane” is fantastic.  His facial expressions, his lyric phrasing, his pacing, and his beautifully trained voice really won me over.

The next show coming to Ogdensburg is “Dancing Queen” on November 5th.  Check out Ogdensburg Command Performances.

The Autumn Splendor Oct. 10-12

Okay, let’s face facts.  The Economy is Dismal.  The Presidential election is vicious. And Winter is around the corner.  But the most beautiful of all seasons is upon us.  And the weekend is going to be sunny and warm.  So let’s try to enjoy it.  After all, joy comes from the moment, certainly not fretting about the future.

Fall Outdoorsy Stuff

30th Annual Autumn Festival

Minna Anthony Nature Center at Wellesley Island State Park.

If you haven’t been to Wellesly Island State Park in a while, this is most glorious time of year to go.  I often hike the trails in autumn.  You get close up views of the Magnificent St. Lawrence River, as you take in the sights (bold leaf color), sounds (birds, leaf ruffling) and smells (the woods-better than your Renuzit in your bathroom).  All the while, getting exercise, necessary to beat the stress of the stock market crash.

Events include: Crafts, games, demonstrations, scarecrow making, live animals, tree walk and Birds of Prey Interpretive Show.  Music will be on hand and lunch is available.  This is good to know because, after all you are on “this island” and can’t pop over to a McDonalds.

SATURDAY 10am-3PM

THIS IS A GREAT BARGAIN EVENT FOR KIDS AND FAMILY.

For More Information: 482-2479

Eighth Annual Scenic Road Race

In Old Forge

Saturday on the Streets of Old Forge and Thendara

Okay, the Adirondacks on a Sunny Autumn Day?  A Fantastic Thought.

A lot going on here. Be a spectator or race yourself.  Oh by the way it is a foot race.  5 and 10K walk and runs.

Call the Old Forge Visitor Center for more Information - 369-6983

OPERA

Okay how can I have a separate category for Opera? Simple two events to talk about.

In my on- air element on Fox I spoke already about what is happening at the Clayton Opera House.

Here is Jeff Shannon’s original report:

The Clayton Opera House gets to live up to it’s name this week, as the Syracuse Opera brings its Resident Artists Program to the North Country.

On Saturday night at 7 PM, there will be a community performance at the Opera House of Barrio Boheme, featuring members of the Syracuse Opera and several local students.

Barrio Boheme is an urban retelling of the third act of Puccini’s La Boheme . This new 40-minute, fully staged and costumed presentation is set in multi-lingual 1960’s Spanish Harlem, as four star-crossed lovers work through issues of jealousy, betrayal and true love.

The performance is the culmination of a three day residence at the Opera House for the Syracuse Opera. On Thursday, the company will offer field trip performances to students from area high schools. On Friday, the program continues with a master class for area students. It is these students from Thousand Islands, General Brown, and Lowville High schools that will participate in Saturday night’s performance.

Syracuse Opera’s resident ensemble consists of four singers including soprano Laura Bohn, mezzo- soprano Shirin Eskandani, tenor Nathaniel Peake, and baritone Carlos Aguirre,as well as pianist Eric Andries.

This program is supported by The Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund as part of its year-round programming at the Clayton Opera House. The Syracuse Opera Program is the second such program selected to support and supplement the arts curriculum of area school districts. This program has been generously supported by the John Ben Snow Foundation, a foundation which supports educational and humanitarian organizations.

Don’t miss this chance to see an actual opera at the Clayton Opera House, Saturday Night at 7 PM!

Here is the Website for The Clayton Opera House

Here is More Information about the Syracuse Opera Residence Artist Program

THE MET LIVE IN POTSDAM

The Metropolitan Opera Performances continue at the Roxy Theater.  Presented by SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music.  Watch a live performance of Salome at 1pm from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.  Using state of the art HD cameras it is almost like being there.  Saves scores of dollars as you can see this event for $18 (discounts for seniors and students) compared to well over a hundred in Manhattan.  More information call 267-2277.

Saturday at 1pm.

THEATER

There will be Murderers at the Black River Vally Club Friday and Saturday night, Sunday afternoon. This is a revival of the hit that played earlier this summer at the Clayton Opera House. Dinner theater $27.50. Information at reservations.  788-8079. Presented by the Little Theater of Watertown.

AND

at the THOUSAND ISLANDS PLAYHOUSE

“Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad”

A romantic comedy set in a hockey rink.  Before Sarah Palin appeared on the scene there was this show.

Check out fantastic professional theater on the River.  A Great Fall outing.

Gananoque, Ontario.

Friday 8pm

Saturday 2:30 and 8pm

Sunday 2:30 pm

Call 866-382-7020 or 613-382-7020

CHICAGO

The big bang musical that inspired the Oscar winning Film.  Ogdensburg Command Performances 7:45pm Monday October 13th.  One night only.

For more information call 393-2625

MUSIC

Sit and relax at the Black River Valley Club, but get dinner first.

Dinner 5pm-7pm

Concert 8pm

Friday October 10th

The Syracuse Symphony

Delicious, classy, relaxing.

Call 788-2300

Syracuse Opera Resident Artists Coming to Clayton Opera House

by Jeff Shannon

On Saturday night at 7 PM, there will be a community performance at the Opera House of Barrio Boheme, featuring members of the Syracuse Opera and several local students.

Barrio Boheme is an urban retelling of the third act of Puccini’s La Boheme . This new 40-minute, fully staged and costumed presentation is set in multi-lingual 1960’s Spanish Harlem, as four star-crossed lovers work through issues of jealousy, betrayal and true love.

The performance is the culmination of a three day residence at the Opera House for the Syracuse Opera. On Thursday, the company will offer field trip performances to students from area high schools. On Friday, the program continues with a master class for area students. It is these students from Thousand Islands, General Brown, and Lowville High schools that will participate in Saturday night’s performance.

Syracuse Opera’s resident ensemble consists of four singers including soprano Laura Bohn, mezzo- soprano Shirin Eskandani, tenor Nathaniel Peake, and baritone Carlos Aguirre,as well as pianist Eric Andries.

This program is supported by The Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund as part of its year-round programming at the Clayton Opera House. The Syracuse Opera Program is the second such program selected to support and supplement the arts curriculum of area school districts. This program has been generously supported by the John Ben Snow Foundation, a foundation which supports educational and humanitarian organizations.

Don’t miss this chance to see an actual opera at the Clayton Opera House, Saturday Night at 7 PM!

Here is the Website for The Clayton Opera House

Here is More Information about the Syracuse Opera Residence Artist Program

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