It is our pleasure to share this month’s roundup of some of the many musical, theatrical, and visual arts events that can be found in our community. Gail Jones’ goal is to remind us of the offerings in this culture-rich community.
Please check websites for exact times and ticket prices.
August 1 from 5 – 7 pm – Art Exhibition Opening @ Adams County Arts Council
Come and meet the artists at this monthly First Friday event. Melissa Ring will be exhibiting “The Goddess Project” in the Reception Hall, Courtney Billow in the Gallery, and Kirby Heltebridle in the Studio. Admission is free and so are the refreshments. www.adamsarts.org
August 3 at 6:00 pm – Generations Big Band @ United Lutheran Seminary Pavilion
Bring your lawn chairs and a picnic to enjoy this premier regional Big Band that features popular music from the Great American Songbook and beyond. Along with a traditional 16-piece instrumental jazz band, there are two outstanding vocalists. Admission is free. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be held in the Church of the Abiding Presence. www.musicgettysburg.org
August 6 at 7:30 pm – Summer Classic Movies @ Majestic Theater
Spaceballs (1987) features actors Mel Brooks, John Candy, and Rick Moranis in a spoof of the space genre films. A star-pilot for hire and his trusty sidekick must come to the rescue of a princess and save Planet Druidia from the clutches of the evil Spaceballs. Rated PG. Tickets are $9. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
August 8 – 24 – Beautiful: The Carole King Musical @ Totem Pole Playhouse
Before she was hit-maker Carole King – she was Carole Klein, a spunky, young songwriter from Brooklyn with a unique voice. Beautiful is the inspiring tale about a young woman who wrote chart-topping hits for the biggest acts in pop music and succeeded in changing her own life with the trailblazing album, Tapestry. This Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical phenomenon is filled with songs you remember and a story you’ll never forget. Tickets are $55, parking is free, and shows are at 2 and 7:30 pm on various days. Check the website for details. www.totempoleplayhouse.org
August 8 – 17 – Silent Sky (play) @ Gettysburg Community Theatre
The true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt explores a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when women’s ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them. Working in the Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s, she charts the stars for a renowned astronomer as she, in her free time, she must also take the measure of her life on Earth, trying to balance her dedication to science with family obligations and the possibility of love. Tickets are $20 and shows are at 2 pm on Sundays and 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. www.gettysburgcommunitytheatre.org
August 10 at 3:00 pm – Billy Jonas, Musician @ Majestic Theater
Billy Jonas believes that creating a bright future starts with singing along. Using voice, guitar, homemade and recyclable percussion instruments, and a generous dose of audience participation, his songs celebrate community, as well as personal and planetary ecology. This event is FREE thanks to a generous community donor. Suitable for all ages. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
August 10 at 6:00 pm – Dearest Home, Folk Music @ United Lutheran Seminary Pavilion
The Folkemer family and friends perform a concert of traditional music including Appalachian, old-time, and related Celtic and English folk music, as well as music from the American Civil War Era. Come and enjoy the beautiful and authentic music of this spirited ensemble. Admission and parking are free. Please bring a lawn chair. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be in the Church of the Abiding Presence on campus. www.musicgettysburg.org
August 13 at 7:30 pm – Summer Classic Movies @ Majestic Theater
The Magnificent Seven (1960) is a remake, in an Old West style, of Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 Japanese film Seven Samurai. It became both a critical and commercial success. Elmer Bernstein’s film score was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score and is listed among the top 25 American film scores. The cast includes Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, and James Coburn, among many others. Tickets are $9. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
August 14 – 17 – Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival @ Granite Hill Campground
The Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival is known not only for presenting top-notch Bluegrass music, but also as a premier place to bring the entire family for a wonderful music lover’s outing. This year’s lineup includes Dan Tyminski, Steep Canyon Rangers, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter, Songs from the Road Band, and Appalachian Road Show, to name just a few of the musicians who will perform. Various ticket packages are available, ranging from one-day passes to three-day passes, with and without camping. Check the website for details and prices. Do not miss this fabulous festival, right in your own backyard! www.gettysburgbluegrass.com
August 15, 16, and 17 – Bobby Horton, Live Performance @ Majestic Theater
For his three-day residency in the Majestic Theater’s Flex Theater, Bobby Horton, recognized as one of the country’s leading authorities on Civil War music, offers two distinct programs daily: Songs and Stories of the Civil War and The Long Steel Rail in America. Tickets are $25. Shows are at 5 and 8 pm on Friday and Saturday, 2 and 5 pm on Sunday. Elegant pre-show dinners are available on Friday and Saturday with an Afternoon Tea being offered on Sunday, all in the Majestic’s beautiful Patron’s Lounge. Check the website for exact show dates, times, and tickets. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
August 16 at 7 pm – Cinema Under the Stars@ Seminary Ridge, United Lutheran Seminary
Enjoy Cinema Under the Stars with the Gettysburg Film Commission on a 30-foot-wide screen. The featured film is “To Kill a Mockingbird” starring Gregory Peck. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and BYOB. Live music with Bern ‘n Bridge; food truck Euro Bites; drink truck Bantam Coffee; and Baltimore Hill Creamery Ice Cream. Introduction and the film begin at sundown. Admission is free. www.gettysburg-filmcommission.org
August 17 at 6:00 pm – Carlisle Brass Band @ United Lutheran Seminary Pavilion
If you enjoyed the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival in June, you will most assuredly enjoy this concert performed by the Carlisle Brass Band under the direction of David Knott. This 25- piece ensemble plays the best of traditional brass band music, as well as some contemporary selections. Bring your lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Admission is free and, in case of inclement weather, will be held in the Church of the Abiding Presence on campus. www.musicgettysburg.org
August 20 at 7:30 pm – Summer Classic Movies @ Majestic Theater (last one!)
The Classic Movie Series draws to a close with Ghost (1990). After a young man (Patrick Swayze) is murdered, his spirit stays behind to warn his lover (Demi Moore) of impending danger, with the help of a reluctant psychic (Whoopi Goldberg). Last chance for that popcorn and seeing the film on the big screen! Tickets are $9. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
August 27 – 31 – Diamond: the Neil Diamond Tribute @ Totem Pole Playhouse
From “Sweet Caroline” to “Forever in Blue Jeans”, this unforgettable musical event brings Neil Diamond’s iconic sound to life on the Totem Pole stage. Do not miss the show that’s built to sing along with, sway to, and remember forever. Featuring Scott Moreau as Neil Diamond with backup singers and a 7-piece band! Tickets are $55, and some shows have waiting lists already, so wait no longer to purchase tickets for Totem Pole’s final summer show. Shows are at 2:00 and 7:30 pm on various dates; check the website for details. www.totempoleplayhouse.org
Gail Jones has enjoyed a twenty-five-year career as a music educator in Pennsylvania and Maryland public schools as well as teaching music education methods at Gettysburg College for over a decade. She has also served as a guest conductor, French horn player, and private music instructor.
Gail has a deep appreciation for live music performances of all genres and encourages Adams County residents to attend the many concerts offered in our community.