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Cultural Arts Calendar, April 2023

It may be hard to imagine that there are so many cultural events in our small town in one month, but it is quite true. April brings with it over fifteen opportunities to attend concerts, operas (four of them!), poetry readings, and plays. Invite a friend and enjoy the lively arts together.   A shout out this month to the Sunderman Conservatory students at Gettysburg College, as they perform their end-of-the-semester concerts. Please see their listings below and come support these young musicians in their endeavors.   Do not miss the Gettysburg Children’s Choir and Chorale at the very end of the month, as they are a local treasure and a joy to hear. Find a complete list of events, dates, and times on the Gettysburg Connection Events Calendar: Calendar Saturday April 1 at 12:30 p.m. – Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi: Majestic Theater In collaboration with Met Live in HD, the Majestic Theater streams this favorite opera completewith an in-person preconcert lecture by nationally recognized opera expert, Kay Hoke, one hour prior to the performance.  Adults -$25   Seniors – $21    Students – $17 Sunday April 2 at 7:30 p.m. – Passion Sunday Vespers: United Lutheran Seminary Chapel Under the direction of Stephen Folkemer, the Schola Cantorum ushers in Holy Week with choral works by Thomas Tallis and Heinrich Schütz, among others.  This event is free and open to the public.  Offerings are received. Ample free parking. Friday April 7 at 7:00 p.m. – First Friday Poetry: Ragged Edge Coffeehouse Celebrate National Poetry Month at the Ragged Edge with featured poet David Bergman.  He is the author or editor of over 20 books, Professor Emeritus at Towson University, and was named poet-of-the-year by Passager, a journal for poets over 50.  Open mic begins at 7:00 p.m. so bring a poem or two to share.  Coffee and goodies available at the coffeeshop. Friday April 14 – 23 – Descendants, the Musical: Gettysburg Community Theatre Check the website for specific dates, times and tickets. Friday April 14 at 8:00 p.m. – Gettysburg College Symphony Orchestra: Majestic Theater Under the baton of Gettysburg College graduate Scott Kaliszak ’16, the Orchestra will present their final concert of the academic year.  Beethoven Symphony #5, Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens, an overture by Rossini, a medley from the Broadway show Chicago and film music from Star Wars round out the program.  Tickets are $5 and children are admitted free of charge. Saturday April 15 at 12:00 p.m. – Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss: Majestic Theater In collaboration with Met Live in HD, the Majestic Theater presents this beautiful, comedic opera. The presentation is preceded by an in-person lecture with opera expert Kay Hoke at 11:00 a.m. Adults – $25        Seniors – $21     Students – $17  Saturday April 15 at 8:00 p.m. – Gettysburg College Choir: Christ Chapel on G.C. Campus The talented and energetic College Choir presents their spring concert under the direction of Dr. Robert Natter.  Enjoy an evening of beautiful and diverse choral works. Tickets are $5 and children admitted free of charge. Sunday April 16 at 3:00 p.m. – Gettysburg College Symphony Band: Majestic Theater The Symphony Band is a college/community band that rehearses traditional band literature on Monday evenings under the direction of Dr. Steven Marx.  Come and enjoy “Winds of Spring” as you hear college students perform in collaboration with your musician friends and neighbors.  Tickets are $5 while students and children are admitted free of charge. Monday April 17 at 12:00 p.m. – Sunderman Wind Quintet : Gettysburg College Musselman Library As the final performance in Musselman Library’s Notes at Noon concert series, the faculty woodwind quintet will perform a delightful, free concert in the apse of the library.  You are welcome to pack a lunch or salad and enjoy a free beverage and dessert while listening. Monday April 17 at 12:00 and 7:00 p.m. – The Crucible by Arthur Miller: Majestic Theater In conjunction with National Theatre Live in London, the Majestic presents this 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller.  Based on the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692, this fictional play tells the story of a village that becomes embroiled in a witch hunt. Written during the McCarthy Era in the 1950’s, its themes of fear and blaming the “other” resonate today.  Tickets are $21. Tuesday April 18 at 7:30 p.m. – Telegraph Quartet: St. James Lutheran Church Gettysburg Community Concert Association presents this internationally award-winning San Francisco string quartet. The Telegraph Quartet performs at festivals and venues all over the world to great acclaim. Do not miss this opportunity to hear a world class quartet here in Gettysburg.  Free parking in the St. James parking lot. GCCA Season Membership – $50; Single ticket – $20; Children College Students – Free with ID Saturday April 22 at 8:00 p.m. – Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble: Majestic Theater Under the direction of Dr. Amanda Heim, the revitalized College Jazz Ensemble presents their final concert of the school year. Come and enjoy this lively group of students as they perform America’s indigenous art form – jazz.  Tickets are $5 while students and children are admitted free of charge. Thursday April 27 and Friday April 28 at 7:30 p.m. – The Magic Flute by W.A. Mozart: Majestic Theater The Sunderman Conservatory voice students present this comedic opera under the direction of Dr. Scott Crowne and Dr. Kyle Weary.  Spoken dialogue will be in English while the arias and choral pieces will be sung in German.  Come out and support these young singers for an entertaining evening. Tickets are $5 while students and children admitted free of charge. Saturday April 29 at 1:00 p.m. – Champion by Terence Blanchard: Majestic Theater The Majestic and Met Live in HD present the very first opera written by six-time Grammy winner Terence Blanchard, after the triumphant reception of his subsequent opera Fire Shut Up in My Bones. Champion tells the story of young boxer Emile Griffiths, sung by Ryan Speedo Green, who rises from obscurity to become a world champion. Bass-baritone Eric Owens portrays Griffith’s older self, haunted by the ghosts of his past.  Pre-concert lecture by Opera expert Kay Hoke begins at noon. Adults – $25        Seniors – $21      Students – $17 Sunday April 30 at 4:00 p.m.- Gettysburg Children’s Choir: United Lutheran Seminary Chapel Music Gettysburg hosts these delightful young singers under the direction of Matt Carlson, a Gettysburg College graduate and Bermudian Springs faculty member. This performance will also feature the high school-age Chorale, fresh from their invitational performance at the Pennsylvania State Music Association Conference.  Join these fine young musicians as they perform music from all over the world.  This event is free with ample free parking. Offerings are received. Featured image post: Champion from the New York Metropolitan Opera

Gettysburg hears call for more murals

Adams County Arts Center Executive Director Lisa Cadigan and Jeff Rioux, Director of the Gettysburg College Center for Public Service, called for more murals and other people-oriented art in the borough at Monday’s borough council work session. Cadigan said the Arts Council encouraged creating and maintaining public arts in our area, with the goal of emphasizing “story-telling for community placemaking.” Rioux said public murals would not only beautify the borough but also help create vibrant neighborhoods that give people pride in their community. Rioux noted that public murals frequently use a collaborative process with significant input from the community, which creates a sense of collective efficacy. Rioux said murals can help maintain and attract small businesses and are very popular with tourists, who frequently use them as a backdrop for selfies. “Selfies in front of them will give other people ideas about where to visit,” he said. Cadigan and Rioux proposed creating partnerships with local agencies and the creation of a committee including residents to promote murals. Rioux and Cadigan said although their focus is on murals, there could be many different types of public arts projects considered, including projection art and panels that are hung on surfaces. “I pass by a lot of walls that could be painted,” said Rioux. “There are many stories to tell,” said Cadigan. Council member Chad-Alan Carr pointed out that some historic buildings might have had murals that had been painted over. Council President Wes Heyser said that according to regulations in the historic district, murals could be painted only on historic buildings that have already been painted. Individuals interested in learning more about or becoming involved in the project should contact Cadigan or Rioux.

Executive Director Lisa Cadigan leads ACAC toward an “Arts Rich Community”

“It’s challenging, there are a lot of moving pieces,” said Lisa Cadigan, Adams County Arts Council’s (ACAC) Executive Officer, as she described her role as the organization’s Executive Officer. Cadigan is directing the ACAC as it achieves its mission of cultivating an arts-rich community. “I want people to value the arts. You can get people to appreciate the arts by trying it, she said. “A goal is to offer a transformative experience, putting people outside their comfort zone. When you create something and share it, it grows your appreciation for what artists do. It’s part of what we do as human beings,” she said. Cadigan said she had been part of ACAC since 2013 and had formerly served as Director of Arts Outreach and Community Resources, moving into her current position in May 2022. One of Cadigan’s favorite ACAC programs is the regular “People Projects,” in which a group of participants work together to choose a common theme. Then each tells a personal story relating to the theme. “You get different perspectives. The goal is to bring empathy from people of different perspectives,” she said. The next People Project will be held in 2024. Cadigan said the ACAC is funded by memberships and grants, including those from the Glatfelter and Hoffman Foundations. The ACAC recently received a $312,000 grant from the county’s ARRF funds “for essential programming in the community.” The funds are used to provide a wide variety of performance and learning experiences around the county. “We want to have programs in every area of the county. We have afterschool enrichment programs in Conewago Valley and Upper Adams School districts, as well as at the Pre-K Counts program at the YWCA,” said Cadigan. Another outreach program is the successful Arts Oasis stage, located on the parklet on Gettysburg’s Lincoln Square. “We’re going into our 3rd year,” said Cadigan. “Gettysburg Borough has designated us as the manager of the space, and we hold musical performances, art shows, and art demonstrations. The Arts Oasis provides a space for student groups who want to display their work,” she said. Cadigan said the ACAC also offers over 50 summer camps, at which about half the children are attending on free scholarships. The center also offers a “Music Together! Program” that provides basic music competency for 1-year to 5-year-olds. “Families play together to learn to connect. A focus is on rhythm, pitch, and social skills, including patience and listening,” said Cadigan. And the programs also reach out to adults. Cadigan said that ACAC partners with the Adams County Office for Aging, sharing culinary, painting, and other activities at senior centers around the county. “Those 62 and over can apply for scholarships,” she said. Cadigan’s background is in theater arts, and she has taught theater classes at HACC and Gettysburg College. A dream of hers is to hold master classes at ACAC with a costume designer, where the final project is to work on a production team. “Costumes are works of art themselves,” she said. Studios are available for artists on the 3rd floor, and there are three galleries that host shows and First Friday receptions. Coming up in June is the 19th  annual juried art exhibit to be held at Gettysburg College’s Schmucker Gallery. Featured image: Cadigan at this year’s annual ACAC meeting [Kylie Stone]

The One-of-a-Kind Trinity Irish Dance Company brings progressive Irish Dance to the Majestic tonight

The Trinity Irish Dance Company will be taking the stage at the Gettysburg Majestic Theater this evening at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets, which run from $36 to $46, are available at the theater’s website. Associate Director, choreographer, and dancer said the troop is in the middle of its seasonal tour which will end with a three-week run in Japan. “We kicked off in Portland, Oregon at the White Bird theater in February where we had 4 sold-out performances as part of the theater’s 25th anniversary,” said Hoy. The team has distinguished itself as the only Irish dance company in the performing arts arena and over the course of three decades has continued to host progressive performances. Hoy described Irish dance as a performance that’s really loved by both 8-year-olds and 80-year-olds. “There’s a little bit of something for everyone in this performance,” she said. Hoy said the show included a live band that plays for the dancers and also perform their own work. Hoy expressed pride in Trinity Irish Dances’ ability to maintain the integrity of Irish Dance while incorporating threads of female empowerment and inclusivity. The company has dancers representing three different countries and 12 different states and is looking to keep expanding. “We bring all of these unique personalities together and it’s really inside of our choreography. It’s the personalities that are put up front. So it’s important that we gather a unique group of people,” she said. “Dancing skills are obviously very important, but it’s not important to us what competitive titles they won or didn’t win. It’s important to us what kind of leader they’re going to be, how they connect with their communities” “Women bring the thunder,” said Hoy, saying the company is primarily female. “We always have been; but it’s not just in the numbers, but also in the casting and the choreography. That we really put the women up front and we celebrate the strength of women.” Experience a performance of “everything you expect, but nothing you’d imagine” tonight at the Majestic Theater.

Chad-Alan Carr directs Community Theatre toward lofty goals (with photo gallery)

“You get to know so many people!” was the repeated outcry around the fancifully-appointed Gettysburg Hotel Ballroom Saturday evening as the Gettysburg Community Theatre celebrated fifteen years of engaging folks from around the county at its 15th Annual Gala, “Once Upon A Time.” Founding Executive/Artistic Director Chad-Alan Carr’s excitement seemed to be the energy source for the swirling lights and happy music that filled the busy space. In a tuxedoed blur, Carr practically danced around the room, greeting guests and guiding the entertainment, stopping only to applaud the wide range of talented Broadway hopefuls on the stage and receive hugs and happy high-fives from the children who so obviously adore him. Grayson Grimmer, one of the young dancers in the big number, “Break This Down,” said he participates in the theatre because “It’s a fun time to get with the community. The theatre is an awesome place. You meet so many people!” ”There are a lot more of them,” Chase Bowman added, “this is only a few of us.” A wave of his arm indicated the twenty-five or so young people who had just danced and sung for the cheering crowd.   A fellow singer/dancer Chase said he auditioned for “The Lion King” because “my mom and dad were singing around the house and they asked me if I wanted to audition for a show so I did.” Chase’s ambitions were clear when he later belted out a number to a sustained round of applause from the fans who believe in him, too. Stephanie Roelker sang “Something Wonderful” from the musical “The King and I” in a beautiful, lyric soprano voice. In her elegant black dress and with a delicate tiara nestled in her gorgeous white hair, Stephanie’s ease with the high notes was evidence she has given a lifetime of musical joy to her audiences. Smitha Nair, a new member of the GCT board of directors said that she is “looking forward to seeing the organization grow.” She shyly revealed that she is excited to “re-ignite my inner artist.” The stage has an appeal that is hard to ignore. Carolyn Spangler was someone who made an elegant impression in her “Downton Abby” inspired gown. Stopping her to talk led to the discovery that the beautiful centerpieces were her creation. She excitedly reported that her home-based business, Carolyn’s Flowers, will supply fresh flowers to the theatre for every performance of the coming season. Carolyn’s middle son, Major, looking sharp in his bowtie and sweater vest, said, “I don’t really like dressing up. I did it for mom.” But his smile said he liked the compliment. And he was later seen dancing. The growth of the theatre is obvious to those who have watched or participated in the camps and classes and shows that have blossomed from Carr’s vision. After a rousing tribute by theatre alumnus Jared Herr, Carr got down to business. That the next goal for the theatre is an ambitious one was obvious by his breathless announcement that the Majestic stage is where they would like to start producing shows. “But it’s expensive!” he said, with his signature flashy flutter of papers and gestures of appeal to the supportive crowd. That fact only seemed to bring louder cheers and shouts of approval. That the next eight performances are sold out is a good indication that this goal is not unreasonable or unreachable. It makes one think that selling out the Majestic is a possibility.  The reaction throughout the ballroom was undeniably favorable and brings truth to the phrase, “The show must go on!” On a bigger stage, with the ability to reach a bigger audience, and with the financial support of the people in the room, local business sponsorships, and the wider Adams County community, it won’t be long until this goal is a reality. Information about donating to the theatre can be found at www.GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org The main fundraising activity of the celebratory evening was a raffle of a number of donated prize baskets, generously overflowing with practical and delightfully enticing items. Looking around the room at the dazzling gowns, the sparkling faces of delightful children, men in top hats and tails, and busy servers creating hors d’oeuvres, it was only natural to see Cinderella and Prince Charming arm in arm. Enchanted Teapots, a costumed actor supplier located in Manchester, PA, was engaged to bring pairs of Disney Princes and Princesses to the ball to mingle among the guests. Shay Anna, as Cinderella, and Kurt Novak as her Prince Charming said they enjoyed doing these appearances because they get to meet fun people and come to “beautiful, historic locations like this lovely room” at the former Gettysburg National Bank. The beaming faces of guests being complimented on their evening gowns, suits, and costumes elevated the evening to a memorable event for all whose presence was due to one charming, ambitious, determined person named Chad-Alan Carr. Congratulations on your success, Kind Sir!! Bravo!! Encore!! Photos by Jim Bargas. Click on any photo to start the slideshow.

Vinyl record sales keep spinning and spinning – with no end in sight

Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University Over the past decade, vinyl records have made a major comeback. People purchased US$1.2 billion of records in 2022, a 20% jump from the previous year. Not only did sales rise, but they also surpassed CD sales for the first time since 1988, according to a new report from the Recording Industry Association of America. Who saw that coming? I certainly didn’t. In the mid-1990s, I sold off my family’s very large collection of records over my wife’s protests. I convinced her we needed the space, even if the buyer was picking up the whole stash for a song. Back then, of course, there were far fewer options for listening to music – it was years before on-demand streaming and smartphones. I now teach at a business school and follow the economy’s latest trends. Sales of records have been increasing since 2007, and the data shows the vinyl record industry’s rebound still has not peaked. Last year, the music industry sold 41.3 million albums, more than in any year since 1988. This resurgence is just one chapter in a broader story about the growing popularity of older technologies. Not only are LP records coming back, but so are manual typewriters, board games and digital cameras from the late 1990s and early 2000s. There are many theories about why records are making a comeback. Most of them miss the point about their appeal. Why records and not CDs? One suggestion is that sales have been spurred by baby boomers, many of whom are now entering retirement and are eager to tap into the nostalgia of their youth. Data shows this theory is not true. First, the top-selling vinyl albums right now are current artists, not classic bands. As of this writing, Gorillaz, a band formed in the late 1990s, was at the top of the vinyl charts. Second, data from the recording industry shows the most likely person to buy a LP record is in Gen Z – people born from 1997 to 2012. Another theory is that records are cheap. While that might have been true in the past, today’s vinyl records command a premium. “Cracker Island,” the Gorillaz album that is currently topping the vinyl sales charts, lists for almost $22 – twice the cost of the CD. Plus, subscribing to an online service like Spotify for 15 bucks a month gives you access to millions of tracks. A third explanation for the resurgence is that people claim records have better sound quality than digital audio files. Records are analog recordings that capture the entire sound wave. Digital files are sampled at periodic intervals, which means only part of the sound wave is captured. In addition to sampling, many streaming services and most stored audio files compress the sound information of a recording. Compression allows people to put more songs on their phones and listen to streaming services without using up much bandwidth. However, compression eliminates some sounds. While LP records are not sampled or compressed, they do develop snap, crackle and popping sounds after being played multiple times. Records also skip, which is something that doesn’t happen with digital music. If you’re really going for quality, CDs are usually a superior digital format because the audio data is not compressed and has much better fidelity than records. Yet even though CDs are higher quality, CDs sales have been steadily falling since their peak in 2000. The ultimate status symbol In my view, the most likely reason for the resurgence of records was identified by an economist over a century ago. In the late 1890s, Thorstein Veblen looked at spending in society and wrote an influential book called “The Theory of the Leisure Class.” In it, he explained that people often buy items as a way to gain and convey status. One of Veblen’s key ideas is that not everything in life is purchased because it is easy, fun or high quality. Sometimes harder, more time-consuming or exotic items offer more status. A cake is a great example. Say you offer to bring a cake to a party. You can buy a bakery-made cake that will look perfect and take only a few minutes to purchase. Or you could bake one at home. Even if it’s delicious, it won’t look as nice and will take hours to make. But if your friends are like mine, they’ll gush over the homemade cake and not mention the perfect store-bought one. Buying and playing vinyl records is becoming a status symbol. Today, playing music is effortless. Just shout your request at a smart speaker, like Siri or Alexa, or touch an app on your smartphone. Playing a record on a turntable takes time and effort. Building your collection requires thoughtful deliberation and money. A record storage cube alongside an accompanying record player also makes for some nice living room decor. And now I – the uncool professor that I am – find myself bemoaning the loss of all of those albums I sold years ago. Jay L. Zagorsky, Clinical Associate Professor, Boston University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

ACAC gives Applause Awards at its annual meeting

The Adams County Arts Council (ACAC) hosted more than 70 people at their annual meeting on Tuesday evening. Attendees included all three County Commissioners, several leaders from area organizations, the Arts Council’s Board of Directors, as well as ACAC staff, members, artists, instructors, and art enthusiasts. Executive Officer Lisa Cadigan, hosting her first annual meeting, said the evening was a celebration of the ACAC’s work in 2022 on its mission “to cultivate an arts-rich community.” “Cultivating an arts-rich community means we want to inspire people to appreciate the arts, and to do that, we need to engage people in the creative process,” she said. Cadigan thanked the board of directors saying “I’m really proud of the team we are building.” Four Applause Awards were presented to Arts Council volunteers and supporters to recognize outstanding leadership, vision, and service to arts and culture in Adams County. Award recipients were: CAROLYN GEORGE George participated in the Arts Council’s inaugural Women’s Healing Arts program last year and also served as a volunteer for The People Project, First Friday receptions, and the Jingle Ball. Arts Council Executive Director Lisa Cadigan described her as a person who “embodies a creative spirit, (who) always has interesting ideas to share and then shows up to help make them a reality.” PATTI ROBINSON ACAC Board Member Lois Starkey presented the Applause Award to Patti Robinson, whom she lauded for her work to reinvigorate the New Year’s Eve celebration in downtown Gettysburg, her participation in and co-chairing of the ACAC’s Halloween Costume Party, and her stewardship of the online platform, Gettysburg Alive, which shares local news of interest with the community about local businesses, non-profits, and particularly arts and culture to an audience of more than 3,400 followers. “We are grateful for [Patti’s] voice in this community, as we are constantly learning more about the things going on around us, which opens up partnerships that serve our mission to cultivate an arts-rich community,” said Starkey. MIKE COGLIANO ACAC Board President Darlene Brown presented the third Applause Award to Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital President Michael Cogliano, who has taken time in a busy schedule to volunteer at a number of important community causes, including Arts Council outreach efforts, serving as emcee for the New Year’s Eve Celebration’s raising of Lincoln’s hat, and participation in Dancing with the Local Stars, which benefits both the Arts Council and the YWCA. Cogliano “works for an organization that understands good health is more than exceptional healthcare. It starts in the communities where we live, work, and play,“ said Brown. “Our Award Winner [Cogliano] puts his employer’s goals into action.” ENBRIDGE accepted by Max Bergeron, Manager of Stakeholder Relations The final Applause Award was presented by long-time Arts Council Treasurer and golf tournament chair, Stuart Kravits to Enbridge, which has supported and participated in the golf tournament annually since 2020 and last year also sponsored and participated in the Jingle Ball. Enbridge was lauded for being a large company that gets involved at a local level. In addition to being generous sponsors, “Employees from Enbridge have traveled across the state and from neighboring states to meet us here in Adams County as active participants in our community events,” said Kravits. Last month, Bergeron and colleague Kristen Henson, Senior Advisor of Stakeholder Involvement, visited the Arts Education Center. Bergeron plans to play in the golf tournament this year. Cadigan said offerings at the ACAC in 2022 included 146 classes with 878 participants; 3 galleries with 30 artist presentations; the Arts Oasis stage on Lincoln Square with 89 performances; 362 summer camps with 354 students, over half of which were funded through scholarships; and 544 senior scholarships. Cadigan unveiled a stain-glass collage “One Piece at a Time,” featuring the work of community members under the direction of Christian Parker. Attendees had the opportunity to help paint a canvas with a sketch drawn by painting instructor Elsie Shackelton. Featured image caption: Applause Award Winners: Left to Right, Bergeron, Cogliano, Robinson, George, and Cadigan [Kylie Stone].

Cultural Arts Calendar, March 2023

Abundant opportunities to enjoy the lively arts are available throughout the month of March, including three live shows at the Majestic Theater and those perennial favorites – the high school musicals!  Our small town of Gettysburg will host international performers from the Royal Concertgebow Orchestra of Amsterdam, dancers from Ireland, and a piano and violin duo from Eastern Europe.  Read on….. Friday March 3 at 7:00 pm – Poetry First Friday  Featured reader Steven Concert will share his poetry Upstairs at the Ragged Edge Coffeehouse following a brief open mic for those who wish to recite some of their own poetry.  Arrive in time to enjoy some coffee and a treat. Friday March 3 at 7:30 pm – Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom The Majestic Theater presents the hilarious and true story behind one of America’s most beloved television sitcoms written by playwright Gregg Oppenheimer, son of I Love Lucy creator Jess Oppenheimer.  This play ran to sold-out houses in LA during its world premiere run in 2018. If you love Lucy, you won’t want to miss it! High School Musicals Bermudian High School presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – March 3, 4 and 5 Fairfield High School presents Cinderella – March 3 and 4 Gettysburg High School presents Pippin – March 3 and 4 Littlestown High School presents Barnum – March 10 and 11 New Oxford High School presents Chicago – March 3 and 4 Upper Adams High School presents Freaky Friday – March 17, 18 and 19 Monday March 13 at 12:00 and 7:00 pm – The Seagull by Anton Chekhov The Majestic Theater presents this classic play in collaboration with National Theatre Live in HD from London.  Emilia Clarke (Games of Thrones) makes her West End debut in the 21st century retelling of this tale of love and loneliness. Saturday March 18 at 12 pm – Lohengrin by Richard Wagner The Majestic Theater, in conjunction with Met Live in HD presents Richard Wagner’s epic opera Lohengrin. An informative, free lecture by nationally recognized opera expert Kay Hoke will take place at 11 a.m. prior to the broadcast. Sunday March 19 at 4:00 pm – Elena Millar, Piano and Nikita Burakovskiy, Violin In the United Lutheran Seminary Chapel, Music Gettysburg presents a superb violin and piano duo from Eastern Europe. Their program will include gorgeous works by Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakoff, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff.  Ample free parking and freewill donations accepted. Thursday March 23 at 7:30 pm – Trinity Irish Dance The Majestic Theater presents Trinity Irish Dance, a fusion of Ireland’s vibrant and long-standing dance form with American innovation. This dance company dazzles audiences with its hard-driving percussive power, lightning-fast agility and aerial grace. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy top-notch, live Irish dance. Saturday March 25 at 3:00 pm – The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon The Majestic Theater presents this new theatrical production based on the seven delightful picture books by Crockett Johnson. Appropriate for children ages Pre-K through Grade 5 and their friends of all ages, the play follows the zany adventures of an inventive young boy with his purple crayon.  Treat your children, grandchildren and yourself to this joyful and entertaining theater piece. Thursday March 30 at 7:30 pm – Camerta RCO The Gettysburg Community Concert Association presents Camerta RCO in the Gettysburg Middle School Auditorium.  These world-class orchestral musicians are all members of the prestigious Royal Concertgebow Orchestra in Amsterdam. A smaller ensemble of musicians will be performing chamber music for this tour, allowing the audience to hear plenty of beautiful solo parts in a more intimate setting than with a large orchestra and concert hall. Do not miss this outstanding musical group, coming to us from the Netherlands.  Single tickets are $20; season tickets are $50; children and college students with ID are free. Friday March 31 at 8:00 pm – Gettysburg College Wind Symphony (aka The Concert Band) The Majestic Theater is the place to enjoy hearing a Masterworks Concert performed by the band students of Gettysburg College, conducted by Dr. Russell McCutcheon. Tickets are $5.

Bowers-Hontz Flute and Guitar Duo Delights and Improves us

“In this piece, you’ll be hearing sounds you may never have heard from a flute,” said Dr. Teresa Bowers as she introduced the second half of her recital with Professor James Hontz, classical guitarist. The Seminary Chapel at 4:00 on a Sunday afternoon was the setting that complimented the beautiful music created by the recently retired Gettysburg College professor. Dr. Bowers’ list of achievements is more extensive than can be given proper acclaim here. Be assured, she’s all about the music which she performs frequently in various settings across the country. Dr. Bowers enthralled the audience with an instrument that you wouldn’t think would draw a crowd, however the sanctuary, renowned for its highly pleasing acoustics, was impressively full. The first half of the concert was captivating. The guitar became something like a chorus behind the flautist’s pure-as-silk tones, filling the air with notes that bubbled around the room, bouncing among the pristine white columns with what felt at times like a bit of mischief as the flute expressed the composer’s intentions with grace and elegance. As Dr. Bowers transported us into a softer, more relaxed frame of mind, my eyes felt free to wander and see how the late afternoon sun played on the chapel’s extensive white surfaces. In a moment that couldn’t have been planned, as she came to the end of a piece that she very obviously loves to play, the sun hit the exact window that made the beautiful, flowered blouse that she wore shimmer and shine, visually underscoring the music, the Spanish composer Valerie Coleman’s piece “Danza de la Mariposa for flute alone,” about a butterfly. In the second half, Professor Hontz, who is on the faculty at numerous universities, revealed his connection with his instrument, which he used as a drum during the delightful delightful “Histoire du Tango by Astor Piazzolla. His versatility on the fretboard as all of his fingers seemed to move in different directions at the same time showed why he is in demand as both a solo artist and an accompanist. Dr. Bowers cheekily invited the audience members who knew the tango to dance should they feel so moved. The nervous laughter and shifting in seats said to me that it could happen! I have been familiar with Dr Bowers’ work for many years. Her penchant for intellectually challenging music was evident in the piece during which she made at least three different sounds that were outside of the box for a flautist. The generally demure, floating lilt of the instrument was interrupted by brief bursts of breathy, guttural kinds of sounds that, surprisingly enhanced the piece with a sense of curiosity about what else the flute can do. Seems she can be her own percussionist, too. Though the recently retired professor could rest on a velvet cushion constructed of a “job well done,” the diminutive woman doesn’t seem to want to do that. Her stamina and endurance never wavered through the performance during which she stood in, may I say stunning, coral-colored heels on the slick marble floor. At no time did she offer us a fond farewell. Dr. Teresa Bowers is a flautist to be reckoned with. Music Gettysburg, the diversity of whose programming is expanding with each season since 1980, is in its fifth decade delivering “the best music in the world to greater Gettysburg.” Their schedule can be found at musicgettysburg.org The 90 minute concert, as the sun teetered on the horizon, was a lovely way to fill my eyes and ears with uplifting images to replay as I turned my thoughts to dinner. And from my view in the balcony, it looks like a good place to meet someone who shares a desire to see live performances from superlative artists. The next Music Gettysburg! concert is March 19 at 4:00 in the Seminary chapel,  presenting Elena Millar, violin & Nikita Burakovskiy, piano. Concerts are free with a goodwill donation taken at intermission.

Gettysburg Majestic Theater Founding Director Jeffrey Gable will retire

Jeffrey Gabel, the Founding Executive Director of Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater, announced today that he will retire in early January 2024 after 20 years of dedicated service. “It has been a privilege and pleasure to build ‘the grandest small-town theater in America,’ which has been so generously supported by the college and the community,” said Gabel. “Twenty years is a long run in show business, and my time at the Majestic has been the most gratifying period of my career. “Having an opportunity to help shape this important college and community resource has been incredibly rewarding and a lot of fun! After nearly 40 years in the entertainment business, I’m looking forward to attending shows and movies at the Majestic as a carefree patron.” “Jeffrey represents the very best of our community,” said Gettysburg College President Bob Iuliano. “His collaboration, his charisma, and his deep commitment to the arts have helped to build the Majestic Theater into all that it is today. Indeed, Jeffrey’s impact over the last two decades reflected so vividly with a first-of-its-kind film festival this February will undoubtedly be felt by Gettysburgians for decades to come. We wish him a joyous and well-deserved retirement.” Gabel joined the Gettysburg College administration in 2003 to lead the theater’s $16.5 million renovation that meticulously restored the 1925 vaudeville and silent movie theater and added a cinema wing with two theaters, an art gallery, a café, and a backstage production wing. In addition to programming more than 300 concerts by professional artists; raising $21.7 million in community support and establishing a $5.9 million endowment for programming support, Gabel counts producing the recent Ken Burns Film Festival—which drew sold-out audiences from 28 states across the country—among his most important accomplishments. Gabel also serves as the vice chair of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and is board member emeritus and past board chair of the League of Historic American Theatres. Gettysburg College will launch a national search for a new executive director in the spring of 2023. The Majestic Theater at the LeVan Performing Arts Center in downtown Gettysburg is open year-round. It presents a diverse lineup of more than 50 live performances by national and international performing artists, as well as a nightly lineup of independent, foreign, and classic films. The Majestic also serves as the rehearsal and performance venue for the major instrumental ensembles of the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College.

“A Gettysburg Christmas” moves into post-production; will open on Dec. 1 in Gettysburg

The film footage shot in Gettysburg in January for the Hollywood movie “A Gettysburg Christmas” has been shipped to California for post-production, and Director and Screenwriter Bo Brinkman is there overseeing the work. Brinkman said there were over 30 people involved in the filming in Gettysburg and that the post-processing occurring in Los Angeles would include at least 10 or 15 more, in addition to many other people from other companies involved in the work. “I’m working together with the assistant editor to do the rough cut,” he said. “The cuts are arranged to create the narrative, and then refined into the final version over the next weeks.” Although the cast did take advantage of the snowfall that occurred while they were here to shoot a snowball fight scene, the final cut will be enhanced with computer-generated snow. The film will also be color-corrected. The cast used the “poor man’s process,“ in which the actors are shot inside a car and the surrounding scenes are spliced into the cut. “The computer puts the scenery around the car, but even I can’t tell the difference. It’s that good,” said Brinkman. Music and Sound Effects “The sound edit follows the fine cut,” said Brinkman. “It will be done at Juniper Sounds in Burbank.” “They’ll do the foley (sound effects) and add the underscore – the music that is composed just for the film and that goes underneath the dialog. “The underscore gives the film gravity and emotion,” said Brinkman. “It’s a delicate dance to enhance the performances and drive the story forward.” Brinkman said there was a “world of difference” between the sound recorded on the set and what would be heard in the theater. “The original sound might not be good, for instance because of the trucks that came through the square when we were shooting.” At first, it sounds like the actors are talking out of a 55-gallon drum,” he said.  The studio will use a procedure known as “looping” in which the original actors are brought in to overdub their lines. “The actor watches himself on a big screen, and they hear 3 beeps. Then they speak their lines which syncs the voice up with their own image. You can’t tell it when you see the finished version,” he said. The film will include a Christmas song by local composer and performer Greg Platzer. A Tight Budget Brinkman said the film’s budget was tight, coming in at about $500,000. Our Initial efforts to raise enough money were unsuccessful,” Brinkman said. “I got really nervous.” Brinkman said the film’s Executive Producer, Vance Howard, loved the idea and helped fund the film. Brinkman said he had originally set the budget at $300,000. “But I didn’t take into consideration the pandemic and inflation. “I was about $150,000 off my mark. Everything including the food went up.”  Brinkman said most the of cast and crew were his friends, who took either half or less than half for their salaries.  “But even with the favors, we were still way off the mark,” he said. Brinkman said the cooperation of people in Gettysburg made the movie possible. “All of the locations were free.  All of the extras were free.  That’s huge. We couldn’t have made it without that.”  Brinkman said the two vans the cast was able to borrow locally saved them $20 or $30,000.” “I’m not making any money off this.  We did this to promote the Christmas holidays in Gettysburg,” he said. “It wasn’t about the money; it was about making the movie. It was our Christmas card to the United States.” Distribution and Release Brinkman said he did not yet have a distributor for the film. “We’re going to field offers for it. There’s a lot of interest because of the actors who are in it. We’re not in a big hurry for distribution.” Brinkman said that although independent films are usually very difficult to get into theaters, he expected a “Gettysburg Christmas” to run in at least some. “Our goal is to get it into theaters,” he said. The film is a 3-year project that began in December 2020.  “A lot goes into making the finished project,” he said. Brinkman said his next project was directing a horror film in Atlanta starting in May or June. “A Gettysburg Christmas” will open on Dec. 1, 2023 in the Gettysburg Majestic Theater. The Executive Producer is Vance Howard and the film is produced by Jack McWilliams with Brinkman as Producer/Director/Screenwriter. Featured image: Brinkman with Kris Webb.

Gettysburg College Jazz honors Black musicians

Last night’s Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble concert at the Gettysburg Majestic Theater was a sign that there is a new era of jazz in Gettysburg, and that the students are all in. From the first notes, there was a charged electricity in the air. The black-suited musicians seemed to sit a little taller in their seats as their director took the stage to modest applause. But by the end of the evening the applause was sustained and genuinely welcoming of this new infusion of energy into an already well-loved ensemble. This concert celebrated Black History Month with works by Black composers of the 20th century including Benny Carter, Mary Lou Williams, and Charles Mingus. Jazz isn’t for everyone and it would be difficult to try and characterize “jazz people.” They are syncopated folk who live life a little outside of the nine-to-five. People who listen to jazz use the music to let go of the mundane and enter the place where the rhythm takes over and the cares of the world drift away in toe-tapping joy or mellow meditation on the one whose hand you’re holding. This ensemble of talented young people, all of whom auditioned for their place in the ensemble, leveled up their game this year. The music that filled the room was a mature, well-rehearsed sound that, from the start, told me that something was different. I’ve been to many of their concerts in the past few years and enjoyed them all, but there was a new excitement in the air. “The difference is our new band leader,” trombonist Michael Tropp told me after the concert. “Amanda Heim is the new coordinator of jazz studies at the college.” Michael continued, “She’s great! She was the saxophone instructor for ten years. We all like her a lot.” Heim said she purposefully included Mary Lou Williams as a composer because she was a woman who became a band leader in her own rite while she composed and arranged for other noteworthy bands in a time when women were few in number. Heim spoke about challenging the audience’ ear as she brought the Charles Mingus piece to life. She prepared us to hear sounds that might be more modern than we are used to. It enhances a listening experience to know what to pay attention to and so to my delight, the trombone solo became the thing I hadn’t heard before. The trombone soloist took some personal risks creating sounds that I never knew a trombone could make. His control of the instrument made his improvisation worthy of the explosive applause that followed. Applauding individual performances is part of what makes jazz a more intimate kind of music. The interplay between the musicians and the audience is important and supports the solo instrumentalists as they express their unique style within the ensemble. All of the soloists were outstanding throughout the concert. None of them attempted to be the star of the show. They balanced and enhanced each other’s performances, making the whole piece seamless. Each section became more than just individual artists and their instruments as the performance progressed. There was a cohesion to the ensemble that created a sound that is hard to describe. It’s as though the band is one single instrument that couldn’t sound the same without any of the individual parts. It’s why we can tell Duke Ellington from Count Basie from Lawrence Welk. The trumpet section, however, deserves a standing ovation for its performance. They had a precision and oneness of sound that completely eclipsed any past lineup.  This year’s Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble is setting the tone for the future. The bar is high… We’ll have to wait until April 22 to hear this group again, but on March 24 at 8:00 p.m. you can hear The Gettysburg College Jazz Combo (formerly Jazz Dispatch) on the college campus at Union Junction. Assistant Professor Eric Byrd is the new director, propelling jazz studies into the next generation. Sitting still is not an option…

Enchantment Theater Company brings ‘The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon’ to Majestic on March 25

Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater embarks on The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon Saturday, March 25, at 3 p.m. with Enchantment Theatre Company’s new live production that takes the whole family on an imaginative journey. Tickets are available now at the Majestic Theater Box Office, and discounts are available for children. “The Majestic is proud of its long association with Pennsylvania’s premiere theatre company for children.  Enchantment Theatre has performed on our historic stage at least a half dozen times, and they always delight children and adults alike,” said Majestic Theater Founding Executive Director Jeffrey Gabel.The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon is based on the first of seven classic picture books by Crockett Johnson. Generations of children have delighted in joining inventive young Harold on his zany adventures. Throughout his amazing adventures, resourceful Harold creates the world he wants to explore using nothing more than a big purple crayon and his sky’s-the-limit imagination.The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon is sure to delight children ages five and older, as well as their friends of all ages. The play includes life-size puppets, masked actors, magic, and large-scale videos animating Harold’s adventure. The show will last approximately one hour.Enchantment Theatre Company’s mission is to inspire to dream, explore, think, and connect through imaginative storytelling onstage. The company has been creating original theatre productions for children and their families for over 35 years and believes all children should have the chance to experience the joy and wonder of live theatre.Tickets for The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon start at $25 and are available now at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, by calling (717) 337-8200 or online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org. Children and students 18 and under enjoy a $5 discount on all tickets. Free parking and roundtrip shuttle service for the performance are available from Gettysburg College’s Constitution Parking Lot. Shuttle starts one hour before each performance and is ADA-accessible.  Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley as well as along Carlisle Street. Masks are optional and encouraged at Majestic Theater performances.The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a gathering place for its campus and community to celebrate the arts together.###IMAGE: Enchantment Theatre Company presents The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon at Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater on March 25 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available now at the Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, (717) 337-8200 or www.gettysburgmajestic.org

The calm after the filming

The Pub & Restaurant on Lincoln Square in Gettysburg was quieter than it has been for a while, as the cast and crew of “A Gettysburg Christmas” has packed up and left town. The movie, which stars Lee Majors, was filmed in and around Gettysburg over the past month. “The filming brought in such good energy that it actually felt like Christmas. People are still talking about it,” said Sonya Lopatic, a host at the Pub, which stayed open during the shoot so their customers could witness the process first hand. “It has the whole town talking,” Lopatic added, her enthusiasm brightening her smile. “The customers seemed to twinkle when they thought they might be in the film. The director, Bo Brinkman was very nice and wanted everything to appear as natural as possible,” she said. Jasmine Garcia, a clerk at the Gettysburg Chocolate Market on Baltimore St. said the crew used the beautiful open doorway between the confectionery and the adjoining Christmas Haus shop to hang the traditional Christmas mistletoe under which one of the scenes of the film takes place. “I was glad they didn’t want me to be an extra on camera,” Garcia said with a shy chuckle, saying that although none of the staff had parts in the film, they were all proud to be working in a place that will be part of a major motion picture. Christmas Haus employee Lyn Krauss bubbled with pride as she talked about the director, cast, and crew of the film, who moved things around in the shop to get the best angle on the mistletoe scene. “They were all such lovely people,” she said. “Our owner Roger Lund and manager Dylan Raybold were both so thrilled because Bo Brinkman wrote a special scene so he could use the shop.” Krauss said a bit of stage fright prevented her from an on-camera appearance.  “But one of the other clerks as well as two children of another staff member were happily included in the film,” she said. The Farnsworth House, a Civil War era restaurant and bed and breakfast on Baltimore Ave. was also used as a location. Though the phone kept ringing with people wanting to meet the actors or be used as extras, Eddie Martinez, who works in guest services, said “It was a good experience. The director was very nice, and they dined in the tavern after the filming was done for the day.” Martinez said she thought the movie would be good for the borough and people will see it and want to come here. Borough Manager Charles Gable hopes for the same result. “I think it’s important that we diversify how we present Gettysburg. We need to think more broadly than historic tourism. The brilliance of this movie is that it’s not battle-centric but shows a love story in a beautiful town that has so much to offer. It’s just the thing to bring people here,” he said. Gable expressed his appreciation to local resident Kris Webb for her work in creating this project to show off Gettysburg at its best. Webb brought Bo Brinkman to Gettysburg to write the screenplay and direct the film, which is based on a novel of the same name by Craig Rupp. From the smiles and happy memories shared around an out-of-the ordinary experience, it’s clear that “A Gettysburg Christmas” could make this year one of the borough’s best. “A Gettysburg Christmas” is set to premier at the Majestic Theater and across the nation this December.

Burt Bacharach mastered the art of the perfect pop song – and that ain’t easy

Gena R. Greher, UMass Lowell Easy on the ear, perhaps. But the label of “easy listening” often attached to the songs of Burt Bacharach belies the mastery of his talent in crafting perfect moments in music. Yes, Bacharach’s back catalog is filled with memorable, catchy melodies – whether they were written with longtime partner and lyricist Hal David, former wife Carole Bayer Sager or in collaboration with more contemporary artists such as Elvis Costello, Adele and Dr. Dre. But there is a harmonic and rhythmic complexity to his music that elevates it above the sweet, often saccharine arrangements that can typify easy listening. It is full of influences from jazz chord structures and progressions, as well as rhythms. It is why Bacharach, who died on Feb. 8, 2023, at the age of 94, appealed to generations of listeners, as well as the diverse pool of singers who chose to work with him. Cross-generational appeal Bacharach began his long songwriting career in the 1950s, but it was the following decade that saw him come to prominence with a series of hit songs. But with the 1960s as a backdrop – a time of immense innovation in popular music – Bacharach may not have been taken as seriously as many of his contemporaries. It was a time when rock ‘n’ roll and the British Invasion were at the forefront, with rhythm and blues, protest music and folk rock finding their way on the musical landscape. While Bacharach’s musical counterparts were writing and performing music that responded to and reflected the political, social and cultural upheavals that defined the era, Bacharach and David’s songs focused on different themes: Theirs was music that dealt with relationships and matters of the heart. They also stood apart from other notable songwriting partners of the age – Lennon and McCartney, Jagger and Richards, for example – in that the songs were written for others to perform. In that way, they were a throwback to an earlier age of popular music, when the likes of Rodgers and Hart provided hit after hit for a roster of singers. Indeed, they were a late product of Tin Pan Alley – the music industry centered around midtown Manhattan. Bacharach met David in 1957 in the storied Brill Building in New York City – a place where a young songwriter could perhaps catch a break. Spotify playlist Not long after they began working together, Bacharach came across a young backup singer at a recording session who seemed to have promise. The first single he produced with her, “Don’t Make Me Over,” was the first of 38 songs he and David produced with Dionne Warwick. Her warm tones and fluid phrasing made Warwick’s voice the perfect accompaniment to Bacharach’s music. But she was one of many collaborators. Some, like Warwick, were plucked from relative obscurity. Others, like Perry Como, were already established singers. The list of artists who found success with Bacharach songs in that era is astonishing: Aretha Franklin, The Carpenters, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, and The 5th Dimension, to name just a few. Through collaborators, Bacharach’s music was able to reach a fairly diverse audience. The songs were so well written that they could easily be reworked into different genres, and break the confines of “easy listening” – a genre often maligned as unhip. In the hands of Isaac Hayes, the sweet refrains of “Walk on By” becomes a psychedelic funk classic. Years later, The White Stripes transformed “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” into a stripped-down, guitar-heavy slice of rock. Froms Oscars to revivals The music of David and Bacharach also worked on a different level – as the background to movie soundtracks. The 1966 Michael Caine film “Alfie” is perhaps equally known today for the title track, with versions by Cher, Warwick and British singer Cilla Black all becoming hits on the back of the film. In 1969, Bacharach and David’s “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” sung by B.J. Thomas in the western “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” won the Academy Award for best original song. Bacharach also won the Oscar for best original score. Adding to success on the charts and on screen, Bacharach also won acclaim for his work on Broadway. The 1968 show “Promises, Promises” was groundbreaking in its use of amplification in the orchestra, which included a rock band. The show contained a number of songs that topped the charts, most notably Warwick’s version of the show-stopping “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.” In an NPR “Fresh Air” interview in 2010 – when the musical was being revived on Broadway – Bacharach discusses the number of rhythmic meter changes in the title song, “Promises, Promises,” and the difficulties these rhythmic changes presented for singers and musicians in the show. The interview is also notable in that it reunited him with David – the two had a much publicized split in 1973 after working on a failed movie. The breakdown of their successful musical partnership saw Bacharach lose interest in writing music for a spell, and affected his relationship with Warwick. This was eventually resolved with her recording of one of Bacharach’s most memorable songs, 1985’s “That’s What Friends are For,” written with his then-wife, Carole Bayer Sager. Though the song had been first recorded by Rod Stewart for the film “Night Shift,” the Warwick & Friends’ version – the friends being none other than Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder – is the one that became a hit and helped revive Bacharach’s career. Though best known for the songs he wrote in the 1960s through the 1980s, Bacharach continued to write music into his old age, collaborating with Elvis Costello, Adele and Dr. Dre. You may have noticed the sheer number – and range – of artists Bacharach worked with. It speaks to the quality and endurance of his output. Yes, he will be remembered by some as the writer of exemplary “easy listening” songs. But Burt Bacharach’s legacy will prove that he was so much more. Gena R. Greher, Professor of Music, UMass Lowell This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Featured image caption: A pop pioneer whose songs were performed by the great and good for decades. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Gettysburg Rocks! this weekend

Dozens of singer-songwriters, and bands of all sizes, shapes, and sounds will spread out across the region this weekend in support of cancer research. All events are free, but your donations are expected. Here’s a complete sked: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10TH, 2023 Appalachian Brewing Company Battlefield259 Steinwehr Ave – Gettysburg – All Ages6:00pm – Beelzebob And The Screamin Demons – Folk Punk7:00pm – Condition Oakland – Folk Punk8:00pm – Sweet Anne Marie – Singer Songwriter9:00pm – Willeby Hayes – Singer Songwriter Battlefield Brew Works248 Hunterstown Rd – Gettysburg – All Ages6:00pm – The Mimic – Rock7:00pm – The Barley Hopkins Band – Americana8:00pm – Jack Funk – Funk9:00pm – Brother Krow and the Murder – Rock Bourbon Mill4797 York Rd – New Oxford – All Ages6:00pm – Steel String Storytellers – Americana7:00pm – Jefrey Woodall – Acoustic8:00pm – Cagen Goldstein – Acoustic9:00pm – Acoustic Moose – Blues Core Theater at Mela Kitchen & Jack’s Hard Cider1865 Gettysburg Village Dr – Gettysburg – All Ages6:00pm – James Morley – Acoustic/Country7:00pm – Leaping Luci – Reggae8:00pm – The Mike Kell Band – Rock9:00pm – Wyatt Becker Band – Country/Rock The Gettysburger Company35 Chambersburg St – Gettysburg – All Ages6:00pm – Mike Kessler – Acoustic7:00pm – Zach King – Picker & Singer8:00pm – Ole Sunshine – Acoustic9:00pm – Jeff Trish – Singer Songwriter Hanover Moose Lodge19 Barnhart Dr – Hanover – 21+6:00pm – Daisy K. Meadows – Acoustic7:00pm – Best Regards Band – Classic Rock8:00pm – Natural Disguise – Rock9:00pm – From Dawn Till Death – Rock10:00pm – Disorderly Conduct – Rock Jen Jen’s Rhythm & Brews6726 Carlisle Pike – East Berlin – 21+6:00pm – COVER*SCENT – Rock7:00pm – Full Effect – Rock8:00pm – TGIR – Rock9:00pm – Age Against the Machine – Rock10:00pm – Silver Mountain Dio Tribute – Rock Public House at The Markets of Hanover1649 Broadway – Hanover – All ages5:00pm – Christian Harper – Acoustic Rock6:00pm – Joe Cooney and Friends – Acoustic7:00pm – Blue Moose Band – Blues8:00pm – Nailed It Band – Rock9:00pm – Fink’s Constant – SKA Racehorse Tavern738 North Biesecker Rd – Thomasville – 21+6:00pm – Johnny Reever – Acoustic7:00pm – The Spyders of HBG – Rock8:00pm – Liquid Lucky – Rock9:00pm – Nineties Entertainment System – Alt Rock/Grunge10:00pm – HEADSTRUCK – Rock11:00pm – Suicide Puppets – Rock Reid’s Winery Tasting Room and Cider House400 Baltimore St – Gettysburg – All Ages6:00pm – Kaptan Zaplan – Singer Songwriter7:00pm – Shanna Rae – Singer Songwriter8:00pm – Tom May – Acoustic9:00pm – David Sparrow – Singer Songwriter Something Wicked Brewing Company34 Broadway – Hanover – All Ages6:00pm – Dustin Muller – Acoustic7:00pm – Rich Lipski – Acoustic8:00pm – Latimore Sky – Rock9:00pm – West & Ward – Singer Songwriter Duo Zeichen des Pferdes Bierhaus6 Center Square – Hanover – All Ages6:00pm – Carmine Gontz – Acoustic7:00pm – Kyle Noble – Acoustic8:00pm – Faith Noel – Singer / Songwriter9:00pm – Jessi Adams – Singer / Songwriter SATURDAY FEBRUARY 11TH, 2023 Appalachian Brewing Company Battlefield259 Steinwehr Ave – Gettysburg – All Ages6:00pm – Thom Lewis – Acoustic7:00pm – Chris Strait – Singer Songwriter8:00pm – Philadelphia Avenue – Acoustic9:00pm – Evan Crider – Acoustic Big Hill Cider338 Georgetown Road – Gardners – All ages1:00pm – Sherbi Trio – Singer Songwriter2:00pm – Jeff McCaw – Acoustic3:00pm – The Gregorys Duo – Singer Songwriter4:00pm – Gena McKibbon – Singer Songwriter5:00pm – Jessie Lynn – Singer Songwriter6:00pm – Back Creek – Acoustic Four Diamonds Family7:00pm – Drew Cooke – Singer Songwriter8:00pm – South Mountain Social – Rock/Pop/Country Battlefield Brew Works248 Hunterstown Rd – Gettysburg – All Ages2:00pm – Rich Fehle – Singer Songwriter3:00pm – The Flying Matlock – Acoustic Duo4:00pm – Riders – Classic/Country Rock5:00pm – The Juice – Classic Rock6:00pm – Soup Kitchen – Classic Rock7:00pm – The Cruisers – Classic Rock8:00pm – Dezzie Renae and the Iron Petals – Country Rock9:00pm – Haymaker – Classic/Country Rock Bourbon Mill4797 York Rd – New Oxford – All Ages6:00pm – Brian Forberger – Acoustic7:00pm – Beyond Whiskey – Acoustic Rock8:00pm – Tom Senseney Jr – Acoustic9:00pm – Elly Cooke & Tylor Elder – Singer Songwriter Duo Core Theater at Mela Kitchen & Jack’s Hard Cider1865 Gettysburg Village Dr – Gettysburg – All Ages6:00pm – Jay Gobrecht – Acoustic/Country7:00pm – Rebekah Foster – Singer Songwriter8:00pm – Jalopy Deluxe – Rock9:00pm – East River Band – Rock The Gettysburger Company35 Chambersburg St – Gettysburg – All Ages6:00pm – Jayson Cyr – Acoustic7:00pm – Slick – Acoustic8:00pm – Tommy B – Acoustic9:00pm – Laura Laughman – Acoustic Country Gettysburg VFW POST 15369 East Middle St – Gettysburg – 21+6:00pm – The 3 Willys – Rock7:00pm – Kate & The Alchemists – Pop/Rock8:00pm – The Clark McLane Band – Electric Folk9:00pm – Holly and The Howlers – Rock/Blues Hanover Moose Lodge19 Barnhart Dr – Hanover – 21+6:00pm – Silver Junction Radio – Classic Rock7:00pm – Derailed – Classic/Modern Rock8:00pm – Infinite Sight – Rock9:00pm – Gravy – Classic/Country Rock10:00pm – Screamin’ Egrets – Classic Rock Jen Jen’s Rhythm & Brews6726 Carlisle Pike – East Berlin – 21+3:00pm – Marshall Stone & Shelly McCarthy – Acoustic Duo4:00pm – Grant Bryan – Singer Songwriter5:00pm – Rob Parks – Acoustic6:00pm – The Spyders of HBG – Rock7:00pm – Bullet Proof – Rock8:00pm – Ravens Edge – Rock9:00pm – Yigga Digga – Heavy Rock10:00pm – Rabid Assassin – Metal Ploughman Cider Taproom14 Lincoln Square – Gettysburg – All ages4:00pm – Aaron Samuals – Acoustic5:00pm – Chuches & Trains – Acoustic Country6:00pm – Mitch Morrill – Acoustic Rock7:00pm – Theo – Acoustic8:00pm – Tresa Day – Acoustic9:00pm – Todd Burd – Acoustic Public House at The Markets of Hanover1649 Broadway – Hanover – All ages2:00pm – Alex Warner – Instrumentalist3:00pm – Michael Friedman – Instrumentalist4:00pm – Jesse Drayer – Acoustic5:00pm – The Red Eye Kings – Original Rock6:00pm – &Gentlemen – Indie Rock7:00pm – Six Bar Break – Original Rock8:00pm – 2199 – Rock9:00pm – Heads or Tail Experience – Funk/Rock/Raggae Racehorse Tavern738 North Biesecker Rd – Thomasville – 21+6:00pm – Headshot – Hard Rock/Blues7:00pm – Burden of Guilt – Rock8:00pm – Powder Keg Culture – Power Pop/Punk9:00pm – Coal – Alt Rock10:00pm – Coffee with Lions – DIY Punk11:00pm – Age Against the Machine – Rock Reid’s Winery Tasting Room and Cider House400 Baltimore St – Gettysburg – All Ages2:00pm – Frank N Bob – Classic Rock3:00pm – Sherbi Trio – Singer Songwriter4:00pm – Gary & Jude – Acoustic5:00pm – Morning Sky – Acoustic7:00pm – Neil & Shannon – Acoustic Rock Something Wicked Brewing Company34 Broadway – Hanover – All Ages3:00pm – Alison Thoms – Singer Songwriter4:00pm – The Deconstructionists – Singer Songwriter5:00pm – Aaron Getchell – Singer Songwriter Zeichen des Pferdes Bierhaus6 Center Square – Hanover – All Ages6:00pm – Nick Wallin – Acoustic7:00pm – Marissa Porter – Acoustic8:00pm – Faded Denim – Acoustic9:00pm – Burden of Proof – Acoustic SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12TH, 2023 Core Theater at Mela Kitchen & Jack’s Hard Cider1865 Gettysburg Village Dr – Gettysburg – All Ages12:00pm – Dave Gates – Acoustic Rock1:00pm – Chuck Darwin & The Knuckledraggers – Non Gene-Pool Bluegrass2:00pm – Nick Andrew Staver Trio – Original Blues3:00pm – The Inside – Original Rock4:00pm – From The Grey – Classic Rock5:00pm – Peter Wile & Friends – Original Folk/Rock6:00pm – Drew Cooke Project – Original Rock

Calling all artists: Recyled art event

Artists and crafters, this is your chance to feature your art, business, organization, or group! Create your one of a kind recycled art piece, turning trash into an artistic treasure. Be creative and feature your talents at the Adams Rescue Mission’s upcoming Upcycled Art Show and Silent Auction. There is no entry fee, and all items will be auctioned off at the end of the show, with proceeds supporting the homeless shelter programs at ARM. Deadline to submit art is March 31, so download the application and guidelines today!  Click here for more information and to apply: www.adamsrescuemission.org/events.

“Loving” Comes to Gettysburg

Just in time for Valentine’s Day and Black History Month, the Gettysburg Community Theatre last night presented a sold-out reading of the play, “Loving,” by Peter Manos. The play is based upon the real-life stories of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial Virginia couple, whose January 6, 1959 marriage in Washington D.C. violated the anti-miscegenation law in Virginia, where they were living. Their decade-long battle to marry would end up being heard before the U.S. Supreme Court, in the landmark case, Loving v. Virginia. This case was decided in favor of the Lovings on June 12, 1967. In its decision, the Supreme Court ruled that all anti-miscegenation laws violated the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment. It was wonderful to see so many community members back for in-person, live performances at the Community Theatre. In his opening remarks, Executive and Artistic Director Chad-Alan Carr shared the message that live theater has returned to the Gettysburg Community Theatre. And he had much praise for the cast of Loving. The modest cast of five actors included Jeb Beard, who portrayed Richard Loving. Beard captured the quiet strength and fortitude of his character. Beard said he had purchased the video of the 2016 film to prepare for his role, but said he had never watched the film before then. Kierstan Belle, who played Mildred Loving, was convincing in depicting the playful, calming energy Mildred Loving embodied throughout her life. Belle said she has interracial family members and that many of those members, including a few in the audience, wouldn’t be alive today, if not for the courage of the Lovings. Belle said many of her family members bear the last name of the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice at the time of the rulings, Earl Warren. Warren wrote in his decision that, “The 14th Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to may not be restricted by invidious racial discrimination. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.” Tevis Bryant played the brother of Mildred Loving, He provided light moments of comical relief in a story that is part romance and part horror story. He also sang the musical numbers in the hour-long staged reading. Scott Hartwig played double duty during the production. He narrated, providing pivotal historical context of the time and the troubling relationship this country has had with race, and portrayed ACLU lawyer, Bernie Cohen, who was sent to represent them after Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy sent him the letter he had received from Mildred and Richard Loving. Rounding out the cast was guitarist David Conklin who provided a gentle accompaniment to the vocals of Tevis Bryant. Carr said the idea for the reading had been initiated in 2021 but due to Covid and casting setbacks was only now being shown. “It is such an important story to be told,” he said. Gettysburg Mayor Rita Frealing presented Carr and the Gettysburg Community Theatre with a Proclamation declaring February 3rd as “Gettysburg Community Theatre Day in Gettysburg,” a gesture that resulted in Carr being overcome by the emotional force of the evening. Frealing also shared the impact this case had in her own personal life. To close the discussion session, Chad-Alan Carr, still visibly moved by the evening, concluded with a message that he tells his “kids” in the theater, that “whatever you choose to be in life, choose to be kind.” This was a fitting way for the evening to close and a bold way to welcome Black History Month 2023 to Gettysburg.

Cultural Arts Calendar, February 2023

Dear Gettysburg Connection readers, It is our pleasure to introduce you to Gail Jones, who has volunteered to share with us a monthly roundup of some of the many musical, theatrical, and visual arts events that can be found in our community.  Gail’s goal is to remind us of the offerings in this culture-rich community and encourage us all to get out and support them. Welcome, Gail and thank you! The abbreviated month of February brings a remarkable variety of performing arts opportunities to our Gettysburg community including a world premier festival, “Who Are We?: A Festival Celebrating the Films of Ken Burns”, held at the Majestic Theater.  This month’s arts events include a poetry reading, a play, a comedy troupe, chamber music as well as concerts and films. Get out and enjoy some live art and entertainment! Friday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m.  Every First Friday, upstairs at the Ragged Edge, is the place to be for the First Friday Poetry Reading.  Join poets Barbara Cesare and Bill Jones for a Gary Blankenburg Tribute. Poet Blankenburg was a fixture on the Baltimore arts scene for more than four decades as a poet, writer, teacher, and editor.  The poetry reading begins with an open mic (one or two poems) and then moves to featured readers presenting some of Blankenburg’s poems. February 3-12, Gettysburg Community Theatre presents the play Loving by Peter Manos.  Based on a true story in 1950’s Virginia, it describes an interracial marriage at that time, the tenacity of the married couple to fight unjust racial laws, and the triumph of love and law over prejudice and hate.  Check the theatre’s website for specific performance dates and tickets. Sunday February 5 at 4:00 p.m.  World-renowned concert organist Felix Hell will perform a solo recital on the mighty Andover organ at the United Lutheran Seminary Chapel as part of the Music, Gettysburg! series.  Born in Germany, Mr. Hell was a child prodigy and first performed for us in the Seminary Chapel at age 13 – nearly 24 years ago.  He concertizes all over the world including Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America to great acclaim. This concert will include works by J.S. Bach, Buxtehude, Lemmens, Lubeck, Pachelbel, and Widor.  As with all Music, Gettysburg! concerts, it is free, open to the public, and free parking is available.  A goodwill offering will be received. February 10-12, Ken Burns has been making documentary films about America’s history and its people for over 40 years and he has chosen to present the very first retrospective of those films right here in Gettysburg in collaboration with Gettysburg native Jake Borritt.  Festival goers will engage with Burns, his collaborators, historians, and students in consequential conversations about the simple question Burns has explored in all his films: Who Are We?  All events require reservations. Stop in at the Majestic Theater Box Office or check the website for more details.  Many events are sold out. Saturday February 18 at 7:30 p.m.  And now, for something completely different, the nationally-renowned comedy troupe known as The Reduced Shakespeare Company performs at the Majestic Theater.  Their show, entitled “The Complete History of Comedy (abridged)”, covers comedy from Aristophanes and Shakespeare, to vaudeville and Charlie Chaplin, to the Daily Show.  They leave no joke unexplored as they deconstruct the entire history of comedy in ninety minutes.  Imagine Mel Brooks “History of the World” films being performed live, and you will have a great idea of their performance humor. Free parking and roundtrip shuttle service are available from Gettysburg College’s Constitution Parking Lot. Shuttle starts one hour before the show and is ADA accessible. Sunday February 26 at 4:00 p.m. Music, Gettysburg! presents a flute and guitar program In the United Lutheran Seminary Chapel featuring Teresa Bowers, flute, and James Hontz, guitar.   Their program invites you into the many dances of life, from love songs and passion to dances of nature.  Featured composers include Allen Krantz, Libby Larsen, Moreno-Torrobba, and Astor Piazzolla among others.  The concert is free, open to the public with free parking available.  Free will offerings are received. Monday February 27 at noon  “Notes at Noon” in the Musselman Library on the Gettysburg College campus continues with a performance of the Brahms Horn Trio and the Mozart Horn Trio. Hornist Ken Bell will be joined by Adjunct Professor of Violin Elly Toyoda, and pianist Scott Crowne in performing this magnificent chamber music.  This series is sponsored by the library and open to the public.

Lucy Loves Desi brings the hilarious but true story of a beloved sitcom to the Majestic Theater on March 3

Gettysburg, PA (January 26, 2023) – Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater welcomes L.A. Theatre Works bringing its signature radio-theater hybrid style the historic stage with Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom on Friday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. Written by Gregg Oppenheimer — son of I Love Lucy creator, producer, and head writer Jess Oppenheimer, and one of the world’s foremost experts on the show — Lucy Loves Desi is the hilarious true story behind the beloved TV comedy. “For we Baby Boomers who grew up on ‘I Love Lucy’ black and white TV reruns, this play is a trip down memory lane,” said Jeffrey Gabel, Founding Executive Director of the Majestic Theater. “It’s also a fascinating look at all the “bah-buh-looing” that went on behind the camera.” With its onscreen pairing of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, I Love Lucy remains one of the most popular TV shows in history. Who would have thought that to get on the air, they had to battle both a network and a sponsor who thought the show couldn’t possibly succeed? Much of the play is based on Jess Oppenheimer’s memoir, “Laughs, Luck… and Lucy,” which Gregg co-authored with his father. The audience might be surprised to learn that necessity drove many of the show’s famous groundbreaking innovations: the multi-episode story arc, the baby storyline, the flashback show, and the rerun were all devised to address Lucille Ball’s surprise pregnancy (and maternity leave) in the show’s second season. L.A. Theatre Works’ national touring program brings audiences at venues across the country the experience of a “live-in-performance” radio drama. Since 2005, L.A. Theatre Works has visited over 300 civic, performing arts and university venues with productions ranging from Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop to L.A. Theatre Works-commissioned docu-dramas The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial and Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers. L.A. Theatre Works toured China with Top Secret, playing to sold out houses of Chinese professionals and students; two years later, the production was invited back to perform at Beijng’s prestigious National Centre for the Performing Arts as well as the Tianjin Grand Theater and major venues in Hangzhou, Suzhou, Chongqing and Fuling. Tickets for Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom start at $40 and are available now at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, by calling (717) 337-8200 or online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org. Free parking and roundtrip shuttle service for the performance is available from Gettysburg College’s Constitution Parking Lot. Shuttle starts one hour before each performance and is ADA accessible.  Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley as well as along Carlisle Street. Masks are optional and encouraged at Majestic Theater performances. The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a gathering place for its campus and community to celebrate the arts together.

Music review: Pomona’s Trio at Ploughman Cider Taproom, Jan. 20, 2022

One thing you’re sure to notice when you are at a Pomona’s Trio performance is just how much they like each other. As they float their luscious jazz around the room, taking turns in the lead or improvising a little, they watch each other with obvious delight. Their blend is so well balanced that it takes a moment to separate each instrument from the total sound. Bret chooses the right saxophone to fit the mood of the song that Lisa offers in her rich, full, voice. Her pure tone is the definition of sultry as she paints warm scenes in our minds.  Her “Alice in Wonderland” is both childlike in its simplicity and sophisticated in its delivery. Lisa’s Alice is dressed in a gown of silk and pearls. Marc’s classical guitar, with its soft nylon strings under his talented baker’s hands, underscores the scenes. Marc plays with impressive runs and flourishes all up and down the neck that look effortless. If you’ve enjoyed the bread that he delivers weekly to EC3 Natural Foods, you’ll understand how jazz and bread-making enhance each other. Marc’s the one who brought good bread to Adams County when he started Gettysburg Baking Company many years ago. All that kneading must be what keeps those flying fingers in shape. When he solos, you see heads turning and conversations pausing to take in the relaxing vibe. Friday night in Ploughman Cider Taproom on Lincoln Square in Gettysburg (the “The Taproom” as it’s becoming known among the locals), feels like all is well in the world. The steamy windows and iron radiator heat create an ambiance that is unmatched in town. Attractive, friendly servers keep frosty glasses full of their popular cider. I enjoyed scanning the huge world map on the wall while sipping on one of their non-alcoholic selections, homemade birch beer. “I’ve been a friend of Marc Jalbert’s for twenty years,” Betsy Lower told me. Betsy is one of the owners of Boyer’s Nursery, in operation since 1900. She proudly hosts the trio in their new wine-tasting room regularly as part of their expansion into “agri-tainment.”  Betsy is a fan of Pomona’s Trio for the atmosphere they provide in the busy downtown cider house. She likes the small town corner pub feeling that helps her relax and enjoy the company of friends at the end of a busy week. As bone-chilling winds whip the leaves around the charming brick sidewalks outside, the music of Pomona’s Trio wraps the tin-ceilinged room in a blanket of reassurance that the center of Gettysburg is the place to be.

“A Gettysburg Christmas” finishes third day of shooting

The cast and crew of “A Gettysburg Christmas Festival” wrapped its third day of shooting with an interior at Lark Gift Shop this evening. Film spokesperson Kris Webb said filming would continue tomorrow around Lincoln Square, but no set time has been announced. “Things are going super well. No matter how many challenges there have been, it’s really going great,” said Webb. “Everybody is working their tail off.” The film, adapted from a novel of the same name by Chris Rupp, is the story of a family that is reunited in Gettysburg. The film is being shot at various locations around the county including the Dobbin House, the Farnsworth House, the Blue and Gray Pub, and the Christmas Haus in Gettysburg, as well as at Showers Tree Farm in Aspers. The film stars Lee Majors as the Christmas Spirit and Bruce Boxleightner as the father. Kate Vernon plays the mother. Kelley Jackle is the daughter, and Sean Faris plays Nick, Kelly’s love interest. Webb said actor Jake Busey had joined the cast for a few days to enact his role as a local, tenderhearted bartender. About half of the shoot is expected to be in a rented farmhouse set in the orchards of Upper Adams County. A shoot at Sachs Covered Bridge with (artificial) snow and a horse and sleigh which will serve as the opening scene was shot yesterday, and more shooting is expected there in the next weeks. “You can’t imagine how many people it takes,” said Webb. The cast is expected to have its first full day off on Sunday – “We don’t know what they’re going to do with it.” “The cast and crew are enjoying Gettysburg,” said Webb, “They think Gettysburg is a very special town.” “When we walk around we see such a big span of our town.  But a camera really hones in. When you look behind the camera, the highlights and the angles make Gettysburg look completely different. It’s the best eye candy you can get,” said Webb. The crew is expected to wrap the shoot in early February. Featured image: Scene from the Sachs Covered Bridge Shoot [Courtesy of Sonya Showers]

New classes announced at theater

GETTYSBURG, PA — Gettysburg Community Theatre, the non-profit 501c3 organization located within the first block of Lincoln Square at 49 York Street, is now in its 15th season of volunteer, educational, and performance opportunities year-round for all ages and abilities with 12 productions a year plus classes, improv, and musical cabarets. “They say never judge a book by its cover”, says GCT Founding Executive/Artistic Director Chad-Alan Carr. “I say never judge a theatre from the outside or from how few seats it has. Come on in and feel the magic and the love of theatre arts for all. There is always a lot going on here.” Though GCT’s front façade may look small as it was an old late 1880’s house, inside the roughly 17,000 square foot building, GCT operates three floors, including two offices, three studios, box office/lobby, green room, paint room, scenery shop, costume shop, props room, dressing rooms, four restrooms, and an 80 seat intimate blackbox theatre. GCT is currently in rehearsals for the plays Loving, directed by Chad-Alan Carr, Angels In America Parts One & Two, directed by Karen Land, and the musical Disney’s Descendants, directed by Mathew Barninger. GCT will offer various music, theatre arts, and dance classes this semester for Kindergarten through Adults taught by Carrie Conklin, Samuel Eisenhuth, Bruce Moore, and Kristy Petruzzelli. The GCT Winter/Spring 2023 Classes include:   Tap Classes By Broadway veteran Bruce Moore. Beginner Level Ages 16-Adults 6-7 pm Wednesdays starting February 1st and Intermediate Level Ages 16-Adults 6-7 pm Wednesdays starting February 1st. Once Upon A Fairytale K-3rd Grade 6-7 pm February 15, 22, & March 1 Once upon a time, there was a wonderful acting class for whimsical children who loved to perform. This class features your favorite fairy tale friends with a magical twist. Rewrite the storybook using theatre games, creative storytelling, and collaboration. Build your confidence as you expand your imagination and literacy skills. Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo! Sing Out Louise! 3rd-9th Grade 6-7 pm February 16, 23, & March 2, 2023 Kids are taking over Broadway in this singing-focused class. This is an all-singing venture into memorable musicals with pint-sized leading characters, such as Matilda, Annie, and more. Learn about vocal technique and how to prepare an audition song with a professional music director. Students will complete this workshop with an audition song and sheet music in hand to take their next audition. Frozen Winter Tales K-3rd Grade 6-7 pm March 8, 15, 22 Are you still singing your favorite Frozen songs, and you just can’t seem to “Let It Go?” Well, come and join the adventure! “For The First Time In Forever”, we’ll be celebrating our friends Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and other favorites of Arendelle as we learn vocal techniques, fun dance moves, and creative storytelling in this fantastical musical theatre class. No need for mittens. “The cold never bothered us anyway!” Shakespeare 101 6th-12th Grade 6-7 pm Thursdays, March 9, 16, & 23, 2023 Speak the speech! The instructor will lead the beginner class in the basics of Shakespeare’s text and history. Who was Shakespeare? How do you speak his text? The instructor will help you find and understand a short monologue from one of Shakespeare’s many plays and will help you with the pronunciation and understanding of its meaning. This is a great class for anyone new to Shakespeare or that may be interested in auditioning for a Shakespeare play. Just One Saturday Morning At The Theatre: Scales & Tales K-5th Grade 10am-Noon Saturday, April 1st Get inspired by the tales (with tails) of crazy critters from stories like Lyle Lyle Crocodile, Cat in The Hat, The Little Mermaid, and other friends. Students work together to act out new and familiar stories and enjoy games and projects to support their animal quest. Exploratory Creative Dramatics provide literature-based drama activities that promote literacy comprehension, confidence, collaboration, and creativity. Register online today before classes are filled. Summer Camps to be announced soon. Discounted tickets for upcoming performances can be purchased on the theatre’s website for $15 when purchased in advance, and tickets at the door can be purchased for $20 if any seats are left in the intimate 80-seat theatre. Audiences are encouraged to not only order tickets in advance but also arrive early to find downtown parking and enjoy refreshments and raffles that the theatre will be selling as grassroots fundraisers before each performance. The Racehorse Alley Parking Garage is one block from the theatre just off N. Stratton Street for paid parking available 24 hours, but there are many street meters close to GCT along York, Stratton, and Middle Streets, which stop at 8 pm. Most tickets are now on sale at www.GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org or by calling 717-334-2692. GCT Mission Statement: To inspire creativity and confidence, provide cultural enrichment, and instill a love of the theatre arts in people of ALL ages and abilities through quality education and performance.

Dancing with the Local Stars reaches for the moon

Click here for our photo gallery of this event. If you didn’t know it already, Ernie Kranias won this thing ten years ago. The owner/operator of Ernie’s Texas Lunch had the audience laughing in anticipation of his running punchline throughout the first round of the “Dancing with the Local Stars” competition Friday night at the Gettysburg Majestic Theater. The whimsical judge’s description of the dancer’s movements was hilarious as well. It’s easy to see why he is a Gettysburg treasure. “Dancing with the Local Stars” is becoming the hot ticket of the year, according to Jeffrey Gable, another of the night’s three judges. The power of the vote was in the hands of the audience, so the judges seemed to relax and offer great commentary and encouragement to the highly creative and artistically costumed competitors.   The third judge was the stunning Dawn Glass who offered the audience a professional dancer’s view of just how amazing these local competitors are. Glass was able to tell us that what Gettysburg Area High School principal Jeremy Lusk was doing so effortlessly was called a “coffee grinder.” If you weren’t there, try to picture what that might have looked like. The iconic Gable gushed with pride as he spoke of this night as the big night of the year for Gettysburg. The audience applause and the “Met Gala” atmosphere before the show confirmed the truth of his words. The excitement in the air was palpable. Family and friends clutched bouquets of congratulatory flowers while they waited for the lights to dim and the chance to see the results of months of practice that went into this moment. The emcee for the evening was the very personable and snappily dressed Mark Purdy. Purdy gets a bouquet of daisies for flipping pages while holding a microphone and ad-libbing sparkling conversation.  The five couples who competed gave Gettysburg a reason to be proud. Lusk and his partner Brienna Smith won the trophy, graciously given up by returning champion, Chris Lauer. Lauer wore his title proudly, flashily dressed in a flowing gold shirt and black leather pants. Who does your hair, Chris? The diversity of their professions, their different levels of experience, as well as their courage in performing in front of a live audience, showed evidence on the stage of determination, hard work, and what it takes to make a dancing dream come true. When I talked to Pete Miele just hours before the show, the northern New Jersey native had just finished his final practice with his partner Denice Staub. “Being on the stage is a much different energy than other practice places,” Miele said, adding he is amazed at how far he has come from when he started and had no idea what a box step was. Pete showed just how well he learned. Reading the biographies of the dancers, it’s easy to understand the smiles on all their faces as they gave it their best one last time for a supportive and cheering audience. Big bouquets of roses to them! Bruce Moore’s white tie and tails wowed while he whirled his partner, Lisa Wolkind around the stage to a tune from “The Greatest Showman.” A nice touch was the presence of the top-hatted percussionist, local favorite Rickard Malmquist Czar. There were emotionally touching moments and rollicking, fast-paced take-your-breath-away moments. And the audience was carried along with them all. The show was technically flawless, the lighting was elegant and unobtrusive, the stage crew quiet and quick when adding and removing set pieces, and the sound was excellent, knitting together the various dancers’ accompaniments flawlessly. Bouquets of lilies to the unnamed but indispensable backstage crew. The voting didn’t seem as chaotic as it could have been. The ushers of the Majestic deserve applause for the collecting of the ballots and secret counting. And looking so sharp, too! While the counting happened, the audience was treated to an exhibition by students from the newest dance school in town, The Edge Complex. Their precision, grace, and passionate expression showed that this school teaches more than just the moves. The faces of the dancers proved that some of us just gotta dance. Big bouquets of irises to you all!! The first exhibition of the evening brought titters of excitement as their name was announced. The Sequined Sirens wowed the audience with their talent at tap dancing! The eight women are directed by Vanessa Rice. When the first measures of the 60s hit “Wipe Out” started, I couldn’t imagine they’d be able to keep up, but these amazing women surpassed my expectations exponentially. How the audience held back from giving them a standing ovation, I don’t know, but I’m thinking that they’ll be back next year going for it! I’ll be throwing carnations on the stage for them! All of the sponsors of the evening are too numerous to mention, but I’m sure the YWCA and The Arts Council, beneficiaries of their generosity are grateful for their huge support. It was a memorable evening for this theatergoer. I may not get to go to the Met Gala, but Gettysburg’s Majestic Theater plays its part well in bringing Adams County entertainment that shows the community in all its creative splendor. By the way, if you didn’t catch it earlier, Ernie Kranias won this thing ten years ago. Featured Image: Jeremy Lusk on stage [Jim Bargas]

Choral Society sets two audition dates

Gettysburg, PA—The Gettysburg Choral Society, Inc. will hold auditions by appointment only on Monday, January 30th, and Monday, February 6th, from 6-8 P.M. at Trinity United Church of Christ, 60 East High Street, Gettysburg. Singers interested in joining the chorus must be at least 18 years of age and able to read music. Prior choral experience is highly desirable. Each singer will be required to sing a simple song and be tested for vocal range and clarity. There is no need to prepare anything for the relatively simple audition. The chorus rehearses weekly from 7-9 P.M. at Trinity UCC in Gettysburg, beginning in March. This rehearsal cycle culminates with concerts on May 20th, May 26th, and July 3rd. Persons interested in auditioning should contact our director, John McKay, at zoemckay@aol.com or text (717) 476-1054 to arrange a rehearsal time.

“A Gettysburg Christmas” film starring Lee Majors will shoot in Gettysburg

“A Gettysburg Christmas” will be filmed from Jan. 18 through Feb. 4 in Gettysburg. The feature-length film, based on a book of the same title by Craig Rupp, is a story of a young woman who moves to Gettysburg to get away from her family. But the family then comes to Gettysburg, seeking resolution, and through the magic that is created when a small, historic, and healing community full of great townspeople comes together, the family is…well you’ll just have to see the film! Director and screenwriter Bo Brinkman has acted in the films “Gettysburg” and “Gods and Generals.” Brinkman said those films had a major impact on the economy of Gettysburg and that he is working with his partner Kris Webb, Gettysburg resident and owner of Sixty East Hair Design, to give Gettysburg another cinematic boost. While the exact filming locations have not yet been disclosed, Webb said many local small business owners have been cooperative. “The “yesses” of this town have been breathtaking,” she said. “I knew it before, but through this project I really know that we have a great town full of great people doing great things.” “A Gettysburg Christmas” stars Lee Majors (formerly the Six-Million Dollar Man)  as the Christmas Spirit and Bruce Boxleightner as the father. Kate Vernon plays the mother. Jake Busey plays a local, tenderhearted bartender. Kelley Jackle is the daughter, and Sean Faris plays Nick, Kelly’s love interest. Webb said extras would be needed and that application information would be forthcoming, and that the Gettysburg Hotel is the place to be if you want to catch a glimpse or an get autograph from cast members. “A Gettysburg Christmas” will premiere at the Gettysburg Majestic Theater later this year to kick off the annual “A Gettysburg Christmas Festival.” Webb said the production team hopes the film, which will be shown in theaters nationally, will help capture the nation’s attention to Gettysburg and the annual festival. Webb sees Gettysburg as a healing ground and a place for restoration. “It’s a place where people can find forgiveness and love. “And hope,” she said. “Gettysburg is a place for hope.”

“Songs For A New World” opens new Gettysburg Community Theater season

Gettysburg Community Theatre, the non-profit 501c3 organization located within the first block of Lincoln Square at 49 York Street, will kick off its 15th Season when they present the contemporary musical Songs For A New World written by Jason Robert Brown with a live orchestra on stage performing this weekend only January 6-8, 2023. Performances will be on stage at 7 pm Friday and Saturday and 2 pm Sunday. The performance will also be streamed on demand any time Saturday, January 14, 2023, so families and friends can watch the performance from their own devices at home or anywhere around the world. “If you’ve never heard of this musical,” says GCT Founding Executive/Artistic Director Chad-Alan Carr, “that is a perfect reason to come see it. Even if you have heard of it or seen it before, some see our production. This is one of those concert-style shows with powerhouse singers and orchestra musicians that directors and singers always hope to be able to be part of. They all blow me away at each rehearsal, and while there’s no real plot of this show, every song is a different story and a gorgeous musical score, with a through line of connecting us all as part of a bigger story. Anyone that loves live music and great singing must come experience this production.” Songs For A New World is about one moment… for each of us. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice… or take a stand… or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of yesterday and today. Songs For A New World was the first musical from Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (The Last Five Years, Parade, Bridges of Madison County), and this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love, and the choices that we make. The writer, Jason Robert Brown transports his audience from the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to a ledge 57 stories above Fifth Avenue to meet a startling array of characters through songs. This contemporary musical contains some mature language that may not be suitable for children under the age of 13, but parental guidance is suggested. Directed by GCT’s Founding Executive/Artistic Director, Chad-Alan Carr, with Music Direction/Accompaniment provided by pianists Jamie Bowman and Carrie Conklin, the mostly sung-through production features performers from Gettysburg, New Oxford, and Hanover. The singers include Dave Bowman, Jamie Bowman, Carrie Conklin, April Diaz, Andrew Metcalf, Joshua Rikas, and Kate Sainer. The orchestra includes Chris Barnabei, Cole Boudreau, Jamie Bowman, Carrie Conklin, Dave Conklin, Spencer Kennedy, Krista Kriel, and Paige Kriel. Technical Direction/Sound Design is by Michael Connelly. Discounted tickets can be purchased on the theatre’s website for $15 when purchased in advance, and tickets at the door can be purchased for $20 if any seats are left in the intimate 80-seat theatre. Audiences are encouraged to not only order tickets in advance but also arrive early to find downtown parking and enjoy refreshments and raffles that the theatre will be selling as grassroots fundraisers before each performance. The Racehorse Alley Parking Garage is one block from the theatre just off N. Stratton Street for paid parking available 24 hours, but there are many street meters close to GCT along York, Stratton, and Middle Streets, which stop at 8 pm. GCT’s 15th Season includes 12 productions, three cabaret concerts, and three improv comedy shows. Most tickets are now on sale at www.GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org or by calling 717-334-2692.

Cultural Arts Calendar – January 2023

Dear Gettysburg Connection readers, It is our pleasure to introduce you to Gail Jones, who has volunteered to share with us a monthly roundup of some of the many musical, theatrical, and visual arts events that can be found in our community.  Gail’s goal is to remind us of the offerings in this culture-rich community and encourage us all to get out and support them. Welcome Gail and thank you! Happy New Year!  With the many cultural offerings in our community, why not attend something new this year?  There is nothing that compares with a live performance. Every month this column will highlight several local cultural events available to everybody, many of them at no cost. January 14 at 1:00 p.m. the Majestic Theater presents the opera Fedora by composer Umberto Giordano. This is a live broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, and we will have one of the best seats in the house!  In fact, the broadcast host will explain the opera plot, interview a few of the stars, and often shows the backstage crew changing the sets or the costumers working.  These are things one doesn’t get to see very often, and it offers quite an interesting view of all that goes on to bring an opera production to life. Adults $25 – Seniors $23 – Students $17 January 15 at 3:00 p.m. Music! Gettysburg presents the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra Baroque Ensemble at the United Lutheran Seminary Chapel.  In its fifth decade, this organization delivers the best music in the world to greater Gettysburg free!  Plenty of free parking is also available.  This professional orchestra, conducted by Dr. Norman Nunamaker, will present a program specifically selected from Baroque composers such as Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel. It is truly remarkable to attend professional orchestra concerts of this caliber several times a year in a town of our size. Free-will offering January 16 at 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The Gettysburg Majestic Theater presents the Shakespeare play Much Ado About Nothing broadcast from National Theatre on the banks of the Thames River in London.   British actors are known for their high-quality training, and you may see some actors you recognize from films or PBS dramas. These broadcasts are the next best thing to being there and at a fraction of the cost. Enjoy some popcorn while watching the play. Tickets $21 January 27 at 12 p.m.  Gettysburg College’s Musselman Library will present their first “Notes at Noon” presentation of 2023 in the apse of the library.  Professor of Music Jocelyn Swigger will perform a piano recital showcasing the library’s collection of piano music by women composers, such as Florence Price, and other underrepresented composers.   The library provides free beverages and dessert, so bring your lunch and enjoy some beautiful music on a cold winter’s day.   Free

ACAC displays artwork by Larry Brogan, Elsie Shackleton, and Al Oussoren

The Adams County Arts Council, 125 South Washington Street, will be celebrating the opening First Friday reception of exhibitions by Bermudian Springs High School, Littlestown High School, and Alloway Creek Elementary School student work, Larry Brogan, Al Oussoren, and Elsie Shackleton on Friday, January 6, 5-7:00 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Emerging, featuring student artists from Bermudian Springs High School, under the direction of Art Teacher, Kim Robinson is featured in the gallery. Their collective artist statement, “We are growing in our skills to become established as confident life-long makers and lovers of art. Our work is created in a variety of media and represents many of the techniques and subjects we find interesting.” A collection of Choice Based Art by Littlestown Area High School students and Alloway Creek Elementary students under the instruction of Trihn Sudak and Jill Rakowicz.is featured in the reception hall, The shows celebrate the art of choice in the art room, or TAB. Modern Compositions, a collection of photographs by Larry Brogan, is featured in the Studio. Larry uses digital mechanisms to control the direction of his finished piece inspired by real life imagery and his imagination. Brogan says, “I revel in the process of transforming images of my photography into something that is truly artful.” Al Oussoren will be displaying several vintage items he has created using collectible vintage car parts by the reception area. They include tavern tables along with wall designs. The tables are fabricated wheels that were used from a Chevrolet Corvette, mounted on table stands. His wall art incorporates parts from vintage Fords and collectible Chevrolet vehicles. Al and his wife Stacey display some of the work at the New Oxford Antique Center. For more information about the Art Exhibitions, and other upcoming Arts Council exhibitions, art classes at the Arts Council’s Arts Education Center, and other news and events from the Adams County Arts Council, visit www.adamsarts.org or call (717) 334-5006. The Adams County Arts Council’s mission is to cultivate an arts-rich community.

Christmas isn’t always holly jolly – even some of its best-loved songs are bittersweet

David W. Stowe, Michigan State University In American culture, Christmas is supposed to be synonymous with joy. The familiar carols proclaim this message, with “Joy to the World” resounding in thousands of churches, while its secular counterpart exhorts listeners to have “A Holly Jolly Christmas.” ‘Joy to the World’ may be one of the most famous hymns, but the Yuletide season isn’t always cheery. Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images The real emotions of the season are a bit more complex. For many people, late December produces a kind of toxic brew of nostalgia and melancholy. It’s difficult not to remember loved ones missing from the holidays. People move, grow apart, pass on – all these hit home with a special poignance at this time of year, and other kinds of changes, too. Parents might even remember with nostalgic sadness a more innocent time when their children still believed in Santa. Nearly everyone has too much to do, and gift-giving can be a minefield. I’ve been writing about the role that music plays in social life for most of my career as a religion scholar. And each November, when Christmas music starts its multi-week marathon, I’m especially sensitive to the songs that go off script – the songs that recognize how the “most wonderful time of the year” can actually feel far from it. Blue Christmas Elvis Presley captured some of this sentiment in his song “Blue Christmas,” which tells a tale of romantic separation: “I’ll have a blue Christmas without you/ I’ll be so blue just thinking about you.” Romantic holiday heartbreak is even more explicit in 1980s pop group Wham!‘s “Last Christmas”: “Last Christmas I gave you my heart/ But the very next day you gave it away.” The notion of Blue Christmas is increasingly recognized by churches, of all places, where one would expect the message of holiday joy to be the least conflicted. Some congregations now offer Blue Christmas services, where readings emphasize the reality of loss but also the message of hope represented by the birth of Christ. Sometimes called Longest Night services, this tradition is partly inspired by the winter solstice – the longest night of the year. It’s also a reminder that seasonal affective disorder might have something to do with people’s melancholy. It’s no wonder that Romans, pagans and others around the world celebrated the winter solstice with bonfires. Today, many people light small paper lanterns called luminaria, a custom that developed in the southern U.S. borderlands. Season of waiting In fact, the four weeks of Advent, the period of the church calendar leading up to Christmas, have a kind of somber quality that is at least as important to the season than the festive 12 days of Christmas. “The tyranny of relentless mandatory celebration leaves us exhausted and often, ironically, feeling emptier,” Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren wrote in a 2019 column for The New York Times. “To practice Advent is to lean into an almost cosmic ache: our deep, wordless desire for things to be made right and the incompleteness we find in the meantime.” Churches often emphasize the sense of mystery and confusion leading up to the birth of the child Christ. Probably the best known Advent song is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” whose mournful, chantlike melody goes back to 15th-century France. The opening verse refers to the inhabitants of ancient Jerusalem, conquered by Babylon and mourning in “lonely exile” there. Awaiting a messiah or “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us,” predicted by the prophet Isaiah, they yearn for him to “disperse the gloomy clouds of night/ And death’s dark shadows put to flight.” From war to the White House Beyond church doors, a very different song that captures the bittersweet quality of the holidays is Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time is Here,” with its moody jazz harmonies and waltz-feel behind an angelic-sounding children’s choir. It’s the opening song of the classic “Peanuts” animated TV special that begins, fittingly, with a depressed Charlie Brown going to Lucy for therapy. But “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” might convey the atmosphere of nostalgia and melancholy better than any other. Recorded in October 1943, almost exactly halfway through World War II, the song became a hit for iconic crooner Bing Crosby, just as his “White Christmas” had the year before. https://www.youtube.com/embed/UlCy_ZDK_k0?wmode=transparent&start=0 “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” “I’ll be home for Christmas,” he sings in his rich baritone, describing snow and mistletoe he’s hoping for – before listeners realize he may be home “only in my dreams.” Crosby’s version, with its unique little warble on the final syllable of “I’ll be home for Christ—ma-a-as,” is probably the best known – popularity due, in part, to how it captured the feelings of a world at war. Two decades later, astronauts Frank Borman and Frank Lovell requested the song be piped up to them as they returned to Earth aboard the Gemini 7 spacecraft. Ironically, the BBC banned the song during World War II because of fear it might lower morale, saying it had “adopted a policy of excluding sickly sentimentality which, particularly when sung by certain vocalists, can become nauseating and not at all in keeping with what we feel to be the need of the public in this country.” The most recent cover version is by the Cuban-American singer and songwriter Camila Cabello. In a performance last year at the White House, she brought in a mariachi band, giving her rendition a distinctly Mexican sound. She also makes a slight modification to account for today’s more abundant gift-giving, switching in “presents under the tree” instead of “presents on the tree.” My favorite is Frank Sinatra’s 1957 rendition, with his usual cooler-than-cool sense of nonchalance – you get an impression that he’s really not in much of a hurry to get home to celebrate, after all. Which may be how many of us feel, at least part of the time, at this season of the year. David W. Stowe, Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

And… Action! Gettysburg College Film Students Have Final Performances

By: Jarvis McGrath The students of the Fundamentals of Directing class at Gettysburg College had their final project on Wednesday. The performances took place at Kline Theater on the Gettysburg College campus. The performances included all students from the class directing a scene they had picked with a full cast. The scenes were almost all adaptions from other plays. All except for one scene from an original play written by one of the students. A Student Written Original Najee Blackman is the student who directed his own original scene. He is a junior at the College and a Cinema and Media Studies major. Blackman has been working on the screenplay for another class he was taking. He has written an entire 100 page script for it. The Gettysburg Connection interviewed the student, and he said he was very happy for the opportunity to showcase it to others. “It was an amazing opportunity,” said Blackman. “I was very privileged to be able to show my talents and my passion to those who wanted to see it. Blackman’s screenplay is named It Wasn’t Me? It is about a young afro-latino man who has been released from jail after being wrongfully convicted of murder and now has to adjust to his life after jail and his hopes to pursue an education. An Inspired Story According to Blackman, this was a story that was based on his home. “Well, I’m a black and hispanic kid who grew up in New York City,” Blackman said. “So, it’s partially telling that story but there have been so many people that I’ve come across in life with similar stories, and I wanted to make them feel heard in a way that would grab people’s attention.” The directing class had been working on these final performances for most of the semester. At least to Blackman, and others in the class, it was a great feeling finally seeing their work in action. “It’s a nice feeling to be able to see it in front of you,” Blackman said. “Of course I was very nervous leading up to it, but once I saw how much everyone enjoyed it, I was just happy they were entertained by the story.” Future Plans? As for the future, Blackman said that he made this screenplay for a reason, to make it into a full fledged movie. “Obviously this is just the start,” Blackman said. “I do want to make it my goal to turn this into something more. I am already proud of it, but there is much more to come for this screenplay.” The junior plans on using this screenplay to better his film career in his pursuit of going to film school. “I could very easily see this piece as something that I use for a capstone,” Blackman said. “I have been working on this idea for a long time so there’s no doubt that this piece will hold a special place in my heart.

Film Review: of “She Said,” directed by Maria Schrader

Authors note: President Biden today signed into law S.4524, the Speak Out Act, which makes non-disclosure and non-defamation agreements unenforceable by a judge in cases of sexual harassment where the action being silenced is unlawful. The New York Times reporting that is the subject of this film was instrumental in bringing attention to this legislation. If there is one compelling reason to see “She Said,” currently showing at the Gettysburg Majestic Theater, it would be to see the way a single encounter with one man — one very powerful man — can alter the course of a life, turn hope into despair, and a young woman’s dream into a nightmare. Multiply that young woman by 82 and the nightmare becomes a terrorizing force that must be brought to light before it can end. “She Said” reveals the diligence, courage, and compassion of two New York Times reporters – Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor – who worked through their own revulsion and fears to offer a path to justice for the victims of Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood producer who over 35 years compelled over 100 young women to submit to his sexual advances by wielding the kind of power that could make a career — or end it with a phone call. That there were only five other viewers in the audience on a rainy Tuesday evening wasn’t a surprise. The film is not a splashy, action-packed offering, but a steady drumbeat of determination as the tension builds to the moment the dam breaks and one woman’s courage breaks through, giving hope not only to the other survivors but to all women who have remained silent, living with the shame and embarrassment of sexual harassment. And this is where the tension lies — the victims feel the shame and have to live with it while the perpetrator moves on to victimize so many others. A moment that stood out for me was when the two reporters and their editor were reviewing their work in a local bar. A man with a beer in his hand approaches them and attempts to engage them in his idea of fun. When he doesn’t respond to requests to leave them alone to continue their conversation, one of the reporters reacts in a way that no one should have to in polite society, but was nevertheless cheer-worthy. The film is starkly lit, blending the work life and the home life of the two reporters, both wives and mothers. The musical track is an undercurrent of tension-building orchestration, almost unnoticeable, but creating the sensation of the power of secrecy and the fragile trust that was the key to bringing an end to Harvey Weinstein’s reign of abuse. “She Said” is about the power of truth spoken and made public and the work that it takes to bring about change. This film is a celebration of those who would immerse themselves in the darkness so that the light of truth can shine and justice can be served. “She Said” is in current release at the Gettysburg Majestic Theater.

Cast shines in Community Theatre’s “Xanadu”

“Xanadu” opened last week at the Gettysburg Community Theatre and continues this weekend. In 1980 Venice Beach, California, Sonny (played by Max Carlson) paints murals. But he dreams of opening a theater that promotes the arts and hosts a roller-skating disco rink. Kira (Emma Kiri), who appears as an Australian tourist pushing him towards his dream, turns out to be Clio, a muse and Zeus’s daughter. Put under a curse by Clio’s meddling sisters, Kira (Clio) and Sonny fall in love, in hopes of banishing Clio from power, and by extension ending Sonny’s dream. The light-hearted musical is highlighted by the chorus of 2nd through 5th grade muses, along with a supporting cast of dancers. Entertaining character dynamics, like those between the mischievous antagonists Melpomene (Audrey Trax) and Calliope (Savannah Schneider) create drama and enjoyment. My favorite lines where when Sonny suggests that “art isn’t [merely] for the rich and education … it was for us (the audience),” and when the muses argue “Is this not the dawn of the 80’s? – This is the 1980s – eww.” A slew of funny comments, among other gems, made this show light up. Kirk led every scene she was in and her performance helped the audience follow the action. The muses provided comedic extension, and supported every musical number they were in. Xanadu JR., inspired by the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical and the Universal Pictures’ cult classic movie that starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, continues with shows on Thursday Oct. 13 and Saturday Oct 15 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday Oct 16 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets at the theatre’s website.

Totally 80’s Musical Rolls On Stage!

Gettysburg Community Theatre, the non-profit 501c3 organization located within the first block of Lincoln Square at 49 York Street, will present their student production of the musical Xanadu October 6-17, 2022 with performances live on stage at 7:00 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, as well as 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. “The cast of 27 local youth in 1st -12th grades will sing and dance to memorable tunes from Electric Light Orchestra ELO”, says GCT Founding Executive/Artistic Director, Chad-Alan Carr, “such as Evil Woman, Strange Magic, All Over The World, and many more in this musical based on the 1980’s film that starred the late Olivia Newton-John.” Written by Douglas Carter Beane, Jeff Lynne, and John Farrar, Xanadu is inspired by the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical and the Universal Pictures’ cult classic film screenplay written by Richard Danus and Marc Rubel that starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. Xanadu. is a moving, electrifying tale of endless fun that will keep audiences in stitches while the original, legendary chart-topping tunes lift them out of their seats. Xanadu follows the journey of a magical and beautiful Greek muse, Kira, who descends from the heavens of Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach, California, on a quest to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the greatest artistic creation of all time – the first Roller Disco. (Hey, it’s 1980!) But, when Kira falls into forbidden love with the mortal Sonny, her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation, and chaos abounds with Greek Goddesses, Mythological Creatures, and more. This musical comedy is fun for the whole family. The cast includes Hunter Minck from East Berlin, Max Carlson, Kai Dittrich, Greyson Grimmer, Emma Kirk, Maria Kirk, Giada Langville, Emma Luque Valmisa, Ilana Miller, Caden Miller, Stella Patrono, Eleanor Patrono, Helena Patrono, Hadley Petruzzelli, Savannah Schneider, Audrey Trax, Tessa Trax, Avery Walker, Dexter Walker, Grayson Wallace, and Rebecca Williams from Gettysburg, Lanelle Porter from Hanover, Deanna Gibbs, Ava Hooper, and Thea Mathers from Littlestown. The production is under the direction of Chad-Alan Carr from Gettysburg, with vocal music direction by Carrie Conklin from New Oxford, and choreography by Kaitlin Ball from Gettysburg. Discounted rate tickets can be purchased on the theatre’s website for $15 and tickets at the door can be purchased for $20 if any seats are left in the intimate 80 seat theatre. Audiences are encouraged to order tickets in advance and arrive early to find downtown parking and enjoy refreshments and raffles that the theatre will be selling as grassroots fundraisers before each performance. The Race Horse Alley Parking Garage is one block from the theatre just off of N. Stratton Street for paid parking available 24 hours, but there are many street meters close to GCT along York, Stratton and Middle Streets which stop at 8pm. More information can be found online at www.GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org or by calling 717-334-2692. GCT Mission Statement: To inspire creativity and confidence, provide cultural enrichment, and instill a love of the theatre arts in people of all ages and abilities through quality education and performance. Featured image caption: The cast of Xanadu performs at Gettysburg Community Theatre October 6-17, 2022. [Cindie Leer].

Dancing with local stars 2023 participants announced

The YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County and the Adams County Arts Council have announced the cast of the 2023 Dancing with the Local Stars presented by WellSpan Health benefit event. The teams will be: Peter Miele and Denice Staub Lisa Wolkind and Bruce Moore Michael Cogliano Sr. and Rachel Smith Yeimi Gagliardi and Frank Hancock Jeremy Lusk and Brienna Smith Dancing with the Local Stars presented by WellSpan Health pairs a local celebrity with a professional choreographer. The pairs practice for months and show off their skills at an event to benefit the YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County and the Adams County Arts Council. The show is Friday, Jan. 13 at the Majestic Theater, 25 Carlisle Street, Gettysburg.

Will Lane to present original songs

Gettysburg resident Will Lane will present a one-hour program of original songs at St. James Lutheran Church on the corner of York and Stratton Streets in Gettysburg on On Sunday, September 25 at 4:00 p.m. The songs have their roots in many years of community organizing and work with students both inside and outside the classroom. They celebrate family and community but also explore the challenges raised by the crisis in our relationships with the natural world and, lately now in the United States and elsewhere, with one another. They are offered as part of St. James’s eight-week long “Season of Creation.” The concert is free and the public is invited to attend. A freewill offering will be collected to benefit the Gettysburg Green Gathering Scholarship Fund which provides support for environmental education.

Book Review: What Salamanders Teach: A Window into Braiding Sweetgrass

Editor’s Note: Robin Wall Kimmerer, Author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, a 2013 nonfiction book that explores reciprocal relationships between humans and the land, with a focus on the role of plants and botany in both Native American and Western traditions, will be speaking in Gettysburg on Monday, Sept. 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gettysburg College Ballroom.  The public is invited to attend. Admission is free. This article the second review of the book by local resident Will Lane. A gecko has been selling insurance to Americans on TV for quite some time.  Will a salamander be able to sell us on a new way of thinking about our relationship with the natural world?  Robin Wall Kimmerer seems to think that it may.  In “Collateral Damage,” an essay from her bestselling book Braiding Sweetgrass, she tells the story of migrating salamanders in a state park near her home in upstate New York and the risks they face as they cross the main road through the park and head back to the vernal pools where they were born. The salamanders’ migration story begins on a rainy night in early spring when the author and her two young daughters head out to help them safely cross the road.  As we follow along, we get to know quite a bit about these creatures and their mysterious ways. One might ask whether the yellow spotted salamander, also known as Ambystoma maculata, is a good choice as an emissary from nature and a viable candidate for our next “charismatic species.”  Picking them up, Kimmerer says, is kind of like “picking up an overripe banana.”  A little hard to cuddle, for sure. But their non-human vibe and the  strangeness of their ways may have important things to teach us, things harder to learn from our fellow mammals. The story begins with the first warm rains of spring. A “temperature of about forty-two degrees sets the floor to rustling” as the salamanders emerge from their hidden places in the ground. “Salamanders move when darkness protects them from predators and the rain keeps their skin moist,” Kimmerer says. “And they move by the thousands like a herd of sluggish buffalos.” Unfortunately, a road is in their way, a road toads and frogs can cross in seconds. But “not so the heavy-bodied salamanders, who belly their way across the road. Their journey takes about two minutes, and in two minutes almost anything can happen.”  A significant number of salamanders die on any given night.  Hence, the mission of Kimmerer and her daughters to lift as many as possible to safety. Where are they headed?  How do they find their way? Strangely enough, they are headed back to the vernal pools—the small, temporary spring pools—where they were born. “Without the benefit of satellite or microchip [they] navigate by a combination of magnetic and chemical signals that herpetologists are just beginning to understand.”  A reading of the earth’s magnetic field gets them part of the way through a “small organ in the brain” that “processes magnetic data.”  “Once they are close… they smell their way with a nasal gland on their snouts.” Given the risk to these migrating salamanders, what’s to be done? Kimmerer and her young daughters, equipped with rain gear and armed with flashlights, illustrate one approach.  A group of students and their herpetology professor, that the author and her girls run into in the dark, illustrate another. They are attempting to document the number of salamanders successfully crossing the road (and the number killed) in order to convince the state to fund the construction of a migration underpass.  The dead, it turns out, are relatively easy to count as splotches on the road.  The living who make it across the road are temporarily block by barriers of snow fence and forced to tumble into five-gallon buckets buried in the ground.  Then, they are counted and released on the safe side of the road. What’s to be learned from these unfurry friends who can, in fact, breathe through their skin? Salamanders, Kimmerer reminds us, are “beings as different from ourselves as we can imagine.” “Being with salamanders,” she continues, “gives honor to otherness, offers an antidote to the poison of xenophobia. Each time we rescue slippery, spotted beings we attest to their right to be, to live in the sovereign territory of their own lives…. Carrying [them] to safety helps us to remember the covenant of reciprocity, the mutual responsibility we have for each other.”  Not only between humans, she continues, but between humans and our kin in the natural world. In the next installment of this three part review of Braiding Sweetgrass, we’ll take a look at how language shapes our experience of nature.  Science, and its language, “sharpens the gift of seeing,” Kimmerer says, but also distances us from the natural world.   Indigenous languages—and cultures—may help us see a lot we might otherwise miss. See you then!

George Mason University 8th Green Machine Regiment Band will perform Sunday

George Mason University’s 8th Green Machine Regiment Band will perform an outdoor concert of music from the 19th century. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will take place Sunday, August 21 at 4:00 pm at the performance platform in Schmucker Grove, just north of Springs Avenue on the United Lutheran Seminary campus.  Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and a picnic dinner!  In the event of inclement weather, the concert will move next door to the ULS chapel. Check our website at www.musicgettysburg.org for last minute updates. The 8th Green Machine Regiment Band is a 19th-century brass band from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. The ensemble, made up primarily of students, performs music from the 1800s on period brass instruments. Don’t miss a wonderful afternoon of rousing music!

Gettysburg Community Theater Presents “James and the Giant Peach”

When I was asked to write a story on Director/Choreographer Linden Carbaugh’s rendition of Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach at the Gettysburg Community Theater, I knew I would be in for a treat. But I never imagined how much I would enjoy myself, or the emotions it would touch within my own heart. The story concerns James Henry Trotter (admirably played by Chase Bowman) as a seven year old orphan who is left lost and alone after the death of his loving parents. One night, in the realms of his imagination, he remembers and longs for his parents and the love he once knew.  But shortly after falling asleep, James is abruptly awakened by the orphanage’s Matron (Taryn He) bursting through the door and informing James he must go live with his two evil Aunts, Spiker (Tessa Trax, who excellently portrays the spoiled, lazy, and materialistic qualities of her character), and Sponge (Audrey Trax, the brains of the operation who plots to get rich quick in every move they make), effective immediately.  Neither James nor the two aunts seem to be very happy about the new arrangement, but Spiker and Sponge never let a good tragedy go to waste, devising a plan to put him to good use in their “no good” maniacal schemes. James is realizing that this is not going to be the “happily ever after” he was hoping for when a mysterious stranger (Kai Dittrich) appears out of nowhere, offering him a magic potion of slithering crocodile tongues — and potential freedom.  Just as it seems it has all gone wrong, something peculiar begins to happen, and a giant peach begins growing on a barren tree. Spiker and Sponge cook up new schemes to get rich quick, and punish James by making him sleep outside to guard the tree. In the middle of the night the peach (and the magic) grow and James suddenly finds himself inside the peach, nose to nose with a giant spider (Andi Athanasakis) who is actually quite gentle and compassionate, Grasshopper (Caden Miller), a wise-cracking centipede (Mikey Athanasakis), Ladybug (Sarah Rice), and a shy and timid earthworm (Theo Gageby) who later overcomes her fears.  Jame’s initial concerns of being eaten by the new characters are soon replaced with the realization that they all share a lot more in common than he ever could have imagined. As James and his new friends ponder the great meaning of life, love, and loss within the peach, they suddenly find themselves rolling downhill towards New York City, through a certain world-famous chocolate factory, out to sea, and off on a great new adventure.  Through this adventure they will face their fears, find friendship, compassion, and incredible courage, as well as something none of them had ever known – freedom. Technical Director Michael Connelly and the show designers showed their knack for bringing the stage to life, making the audience feel they are part of each and every scene, with the use of clever costumes, visual aids, light settings, sound effects, and an assortment of props.  Music Director Mary George brought the period songs, from the 1930s (and sometimes 1960s) to life. The cast uses a unique technique in which they sing to mimic the sound of the insects they played. Despite making it a bit difficult to make out some of the lyrics, the technique added a “Remarkouslyfantasmarific” quality to each character. Linden Carbaugh`s playful choreography had members of the audience grooving right along with the cast members. Favorites of mine were Grasshopper’s song reminding James of his parents’ love, Spiker and Sponges`s duet “I got you,” and Earthworm`s “Plump and Juicy.” The large screen backdrop made me feel as if I was right there in the peach with the cast members. The entire crew and cast did an exceptional job bringing this play to life and poured their hearts into everything they did, leaving me so glad I came. The show continues next weekend. If you’re looking for something entertaining and family friendly, I give James and the Giant Peach two thumbs up, and absolutely recommend you go see it. Featured image caption: Chase Bowman plays the title role in James And The Giant Peach this weekend at Gettysburg Community Theatre. Tickets may be ordered online in advance. Photo courtesy of Blayne Miller. 

Book Review: Words Matter: “Learning the Grammar of Animacy”

Editor’s Note: Robin Wall Kimmerer, Author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, a 2013 nonfiction book that explores reciprocal relationships between humans and the land, with a focus on the role of plants and botany in both Native American and Western traditions, will be speaking in Gettysburg on Monday, Sept. 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gettysburg College Ballroom.  The public is invited to attend. Admission is free. This article is a review of the book by local resident Will Lane. A mushroom can rise in the woods overnight, “pushing upward from pine needle duff… still glistening with the fluid of its passage.”  If we have a specific word for that sudden rising, and for the power that lifts the mushrooms so mysteriously out of the ground, do we see these things differently? Robin Wall Kimmerer says we do.  In her essay “Learning the Grammar of Animacy” from her bestselling book Braiding Sweetgrass, the distinguished botanist and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, argues that words matter, that the languages we speak and think with shape our understanding of ourselves and of the natural world. “Science polishes the gift of seeing,” she says, but there are costs. It reveals but also conceals.  It distances us, turning nature and creatures into something less than they might actually be. “It reduces a being to its working parts.”  But much lies beyond our scientific language and remains unnamed and therefore unseen. Indigenous cultures and their languages, Kimmerer argues, can help us see more of what’s there. That mysterious rising and emergence from the ground mentioned above is Puhpowee in Potawatomi, one of more than 350 indigenous languages in the Americas, many of which may soon be lost.  When Kimmerer sets out to learn Potawatomi, the language of her ancestors, she discovers at a tribal gathering that only nine native speakers of the language are left.  Without native speakers to keep the language alive, a whole way of seeing the world may be lost as well. English is noun-based.  Potawatomi has a greater percentage of verbs: 70% compared to 30% in English. Things that sit quietly as nouns in English, in Potawatomi are verbs and are in motion. “To be a hill, to be a sandy beach, to be a Saturday, all are possible verbs in a world where everything is alive,”  she says. Inanimate objects tend to be only those objects that are made by people. “In Potawatomi and other indigenous languages we use the same words to address the living world as we use for our family,” she says. And, that living world is much bigger and more diverse in Potawatomi than in English and other European languages: “…rocks are animate, as are mountains and water and fire and places.” “English doesn’t give us many tools for incorporating respect for animacy,” she continues. “In English you are either a human or a thing…. Where are our words for the simple existence of another living being? The arrogance of English is that the only way to be animate, to be worthy of respect and moral concern, is to be human.” Kimmerer’s own study of Potawatomi is frustrating at times for her.  She studies online with a class once a week, and covers the house with post-it notes attached to common items. “I have become,” she says, “a woman who speaks Potawatomi to household objects.”  But the new language is subtle in the distinctions it makes and extremely varied in its forms. “You hear a person with a word that is completely different from the one with which you hear an airplane,” she says. “Different verb forms, different plurals, different everything apply depending on whether what you are speaking of is alive…. No wonder there are only nine speakers left,” she exclaims at one point. Should we all study an Indigenous language in order to better understand the natural world?  Kimmerer seems to say, maybe not. She seems to be after something deeper, an understanding of the way all language structures our experience of the world and of one another. What we need to do, she suggests, is to learn to speak the “grammar of animacy,” which I suspect can be done in many different languages, all of which, she says, “are to be cherished.” If we can do that, we may at last become “native to this place” and be “at home” at last.

Secret Bandwagon to record live album in Gettysburg

Secret Bandwagon will record a live album on the Gettysburg Square Arts Oasis on Monday Aug. 15 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The duo will be releasing an album soon and is in Gettysburg to commemorate their songwriting origins by recording a live version at their original house band venue: Ploughman’s Taproom. The group is made up of former Gettysburg locals Jim Thomas and Sjrsten Sigfried, who now make their music and their home in New Orleans. The recording performance will wrap up a 6-venue Adams County summer “Cider Circuit” tour. Music lovers are invited to share the experience and become part of the event.

The Doo Wop Project Comes to Gettysburg on Friday

What do you get when you combine a Broadway-caliber performance with the vocal rhythm and blues of 1940’s Doo Wop? The answer is “The Doo Wop Project,” coming to Gettysburg’s Majestic Theater for one night only on Friday, Aug.  12. “The Doo Wop Project is a group of six guys who met doing Broadway shows and decided to form a group and cover some of the songs we were singing when we met from various musicals we were performing at the time,” said founding member and Broadway performer, Dominic Nolfi. Nofli said the group was formed ten years ago and has since become a well-established national touring group, performing about 70 times a year. The Doo Wop Project consists of five singers and four instrument-playing members. The group specializes in “Doo Wop-ified” versions of modern-day songs, which Nolfi described as  “a more contemporary song that we turn into a Doo Wop song.” Doo Wop music arose in the 1940’s as a genre focused mainly on the vocal ensemble with light instrumentation backing it up. The genre arose in African American Communities around the U.S. and was mainly versed in Rhythm and Blues. The Doo Wop Project brings the style into the modern world by taking songs that audiences know and love, such as Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours,” and giving them the 1940’s vibe that the members love. “We bring a ton of energy and breathe it into these songs,” said Nolfi. “We are a whole lot more grateful for our work than we were before the pandemic. It can be a little harder these days, but we’re starting to see our pre-pandemic numbers come back. Were super stoked, it’s a beautiful theater. We love coming to Pennsylvania; everyone in Gettysburg is awesome,” he said. Gettysburg residents that attend the show can expect a special performance that Nolfi says will be “Just fun. We bring party energy to our concerts. It’s a celebration of the Doo Wop music and era. Bridging the gap between now and then. It’s a multigenerational audience that comes together to enjoy this music. All members of the Doo Wop Project have been “performing on Broadway for 20 years,” he said. “We have performed at that level for such a long time we have gotten to a point where it’s just in us.” The group was boosted in popularity this year when PBS published a special on the Doo Wop Project. “Coming out of the pandemic with a PBS special was super important for us. To see a half a year’s work completely cancelled was tough. We weren’t sure if it was possible to even get on tour after the pandemic.” But after doing two livestreams, the group was recommended to PBS and the special began its creation which finally debuted in early 2022. The special is available for streaming on PBS’s website for free at any time. Tickets are available through the group’s website at https://www.thedoowopproject.com/ or at the Gettysburg Majestic Box Office.

Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra concert announced

The Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra will present a concert featuring local cellist Danielle Karppala performing the Schumann Cello Concerto on Sunday, September 11 at 4:00 p.m. in the Lutheran Seminary Chapel. Other works on the program by this professional orchestra are Mahler’s Adagietto (from his Symphony No. 5) in commemoration of 9/11 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, the Eroica. Admission is free to the public. For further information please call 717-334-5508

Gettysburg Rocks this weekend to support children with cancer

Gettysburg Rocks comes to town this weekend with over 100 bands playing at 20 local venues to support children with cancer. The full schedule is here. Gettysburg Rocks is a bi-annual music festival, held in February and August. The festival features multiple live bands across multiple venues in the Gettysburg area. The event benefits Four Diamonds, whose mission is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children treated at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital and their families through superior care, comprehensive support, and innovative research. Money raised in February is donated to Four Diamonds via Penn State Dance Marathon (Mont Alto). Money raised in August is donated directly to Four Diamonds. Please visit fourdiamonds.org for more information on the beneficiary. The original concept for the festival was just an idea until founder Rob Simon’s daughter Ashley approached him to help her with a fundraiser for Penn State Mont Alto’s THON group. During the course of an 11-week period the first Gettysburg Rocks event was planned, created and implemented and was an immediate success. The first event was held on the weekend of February 7th, 2014 and included 130 live bands across 12 venues in Gettysburg. The event raised over $14,000. After the success of the first event, Rob was approached by several of the participating venues to create a warm weather version of the popular festival and the August event was created. Gettysburg Rocks would not be possible without the help of our numerous volunteers and the committee members who run the day to day behind the scenes event planning: Susann Simon, Mike Calandrelle, Sharon Calandrelle and Rose Kelly.

Totem Pole Playhouse celebrates 70 years

Nestled in the bucolic hills of Caledonia State Park between Gettysburg and Chambersburg lies a local treasure that celebrates its 70th anniversary this summer. The Totem Pole Playhouse, known to its friends as “America’s Summer Theater,” began its life in a small, converted auto shop in the 1950s and has gone on to become one of the best known and highly-regarded summer theaters in the United States. The theater was created by television producer Karl Genus and his wife Muriel Benson. “Its long history is what makes the playhouse so unique,” said Marketing Director Sue McMurtray. McMurtray said the playhouse has a long list of actors who have gone on to become famous, including Academy Award winning actress Sandy Dennis and long-time television star John Ritter. Other famous names that have played in the playhouse include Jean Stapleton, Loretta Swit, Michael Learned, and Melissa Gilbert. One of only seven remaining playhouses in the country, Totem Pole is dedicated to producing quality entertainment and shows that the community enjoys.  The Playhouse, which the New York Times has called the “Cadillac of summer theaters,” is currently in the height of their summer 2022 season. The season has included the popular shows “Always… Patsy Cline”, “The Sound of Music,” and “Beehive.” Currently running through August 14 is the Ocsar-nominated 1998 show “Footloose: The Musical.” which follows the trials of a big-city family that moves to a small town. The music is by Tom Snow (among others), the lyrics by Dean Pitchford (with additional lyrics by Kenny Loggins), and the book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie. The season concludes with a run of “Love, Sex, and the IRS,” from Aug. 19 through Sep. 4. “Attendance, of course, makes the summer season successful,” said McMurtray, noting that choosing the proper shows was critical. “Artistic Director David Hemsley Caldwell selected the shows,” she said. “He bases the selection on titles and the number of people in the cast. The theater chooses productions based on how well known they are to the public.” “A lot of locals came to see the productions of ‘Footloose’ and ‘Sound of Music’,” said McMurtray. Coming to watch a show as a community member, seeing other community members in the audience, but also seeing them on stage, is special.” Contact the Totem Pole Playhouse, 9555 Golf Course Road, Fayetteville, PA 17222 at https://totempoleplayhouse.org/ or 1-888-805-7056. Featured image caption: Totem Pole Playhouse at Caledonia State Park [Wikimedia Commons]

Majestic Theater Announces 2022-2023 Celebrity Season

The Gettysburg Majestic theater has announced its 2022-2023 Celebrity Season, which will kick off in August. The season lineup includes legendary performances by world-renowned musicians, awe-inspiring dance shows, a magician, live theater, and the first-ever film festival dedicated to the films of Ken Burns. Tickets are now on sale to the general public. The centerpiece of the 2022-2023 season is Who Are We?: A Festival Celebrating the Films of Ken Burns, set for Feb. 10-12, 2023. The weekend, representing the first film festival ever dedicated to and sanctioned by the documentary filmmaker, will include 25 hours of film screenings from across Burns’s 40-year catalog, three presentations featuring Burns, and opportunities to hear from Burns’s colleagues about the music, scripts, and cinematography that have come to characterize his work. Tickets for the three events featuring Burns are $29 each. A festival pass including admission to all paid events and early seating at festival events will also be available. Many festival events are free to attend, but ticket reservations are required. Advanced ticket reservation is strongly recommended and only available by calling or visiting the Box Office. Opening the 2022-2023 Celebrity Season in early August are two popular concerts sure to get audiences singing along. Rock legend and founding member of both the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, Graham Nash returns to the Majestic on Sunday, Aug. 7, at 7:30 p.m. Later the same week, The Doo Wop Project, featuring stars from the Broadway hit Jersey Boys, brings the classic 1950s sound and close harmonies of five guys singing on a street corner into the 21st century with a performance on Friday, Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The show is sponsored by the J. William Warehime Fund of the Majestic Theater Centennial Endowment. On Oct. 15 at 8 p.m., best-selling author and NPR contributor David Sedaris makes his Gettysburg debut following the release of his latest books The Best of Me and A Carnival of Snackery. This intimate evening will feature a selection of new readings, an audience Q&A session, and a book signing, with books available for purchase thanks to the Gettysburg College Bookstore. Be mesmerized by spooky ghouls and goblins conjured by master illusionist David Caserta in Haunted Illusions, appearing onstage Friday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. This family show is made possible by the Sites Family Endowed Fund for Children’s Programming, part of the Majestic’s Centennial Endowment. The two-time Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir will Raise the Roof at the Majestic Theater Monday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. as part of their 2022 North American tour. The choir is comprised of 20 South African artists sharing the inspirational power of African Gospel music. The Gettysburg concert by the ensemble which has performed for world leaders, is part of WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital’s Healing HeARTs Healthy Family Series. Totem Pole Playhouse’s beloved A Christmas Carol will take the stage December 9-18 with a cast of local and professional actors, singers and dancers. Dancing with the Local Stars, benefiting the YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County and the Adams County Arts Council will pair local celebrities with professional choreographers on Friday. Jan. 13, 2023, and Mountainfilm on Tour will bring the best in documentary short films to the big screen on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 for the third year. On Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023 at 5 p.m. The Aluminum Show presents a magical, mystery-filled, multi-sensory experience set on a futuristic planet made entirely of aluminum. The show is suitable for patrons ages 5 and up and is sponsored by the Jean S. LeGros and Jeffrey Gabel Endowed Fund for Family Programming. Two theatrical performances rescheduled from last season due to the pandemic will grace the stage in early 2023. The Reduced Shakespeare Company presents The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged) on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at 7:30 p.m., mocking the subject it was born to reduce – from the high-brow to the low – comedy through the ages. On Friday, March 3, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. L.A. Theatre Works presents Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom, the hilarious and true story behind one of America’s most beloved TV comedies. The show, supported by the Majestic Theater Centennial Endowment, played to sold out houses during its premiere Los Angeles run in 2018. The Trinity Irish Dance Company, fusing Ireland’s vibrant and traditional dance form with American innovation, will dazzle Majestic audiences with its hard-driving, percussive, and agile performance on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. thanks to the Majestic Theater Centennial Endowment’s Lydia Zeigler Clare Fund. And George Hinchliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain invades Gettysburg on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. with its critically acclaimed, not-too-serious, but ever-so-silly interpretations of a catalog ranging from rock and pop to jazz and classical music. The show is supported by the Majestic Theater Centennial Endowment. Tickets for several shows are already on sale. Tickets for the remainder of the 2022-2023 season will go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 17. Majestic members may begin accessing the ticket pre-sale on Monday, June 13, based on membership level. Tickets are available online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org, by calling (717) 337-8200, or by stopping by the Box Office at 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 3-7:30 p.m., Saturday, 12-7:30 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5:30 p.m. Free parking and roundtrip shuttle service for most live shows is available from Gettysburg College’s Constitution Parking Lot. Shuttle starts one hour before each performance and is ADA accessible. Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley as well as along Carlisle Street. The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a gathering place for itscampus and community to celebrate the arts together.

Gettysburg Brass Band Festival celebrates silver anniversary

The 25th annual Gettysburg Brass Band Festival was held at sites around Gettysburg last weekend. The festival was held in collaboration with local nonprofit Music, Gettysburg! and many of the events were held in the recently-constructed pavilion on the Lutheran Seminary campus. The festival, under the direction of President Ben “Tuba” Jones, strives to provide an experience for adult and student brass musicians looking to continue performing after high school, while improving the quality of life within our town in a way that brings people together through their shared love of live musical performances. Jones said the festival relies heavily on the contributions of donors and volunteers. “Thanks to all whose donations make the festival possible and to a wonderful group of volunteers who work to prepare for and host during the festival; it’s a real team effort,” he said. The four-day program included over twenty brass bands from Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia coming together to provide joy and inspiration to all who attended. Brass bands were heard around the borough, from the Dobbin House to the Gettysburg Heritage Center, on Lincoln Square, and Baltimore St. On Saturday, the Benfield Brass Brand (MD), Imperial Brass Band (NJ), Spires Brass Band (MD), Swanee River Ragtime Band, Atlantic Brass Band (NJ), Brass Bands of Northern Virginia (VA), Rockville Brass Band (MD) and Hagerstown Municipal Band (MD) rocked the stage at the seminary with a day-long performance. The bands displayed showmanship and humor, as well as great music, and seemed to enjoy being there as much as the people of Gettysburg loved having them. On Saturday, vocalist Hydie Ackerman invoked the true spirit of patriotism in everyone attending as her voice soared as she sang a rendition of Lee Greenwood’s “Proud To Be An American.” There was even a live instrument petting zoo available to those of an inquisitive nature, in hopes of inspiring one’s curiosity. Those brave enough to pet the instruments were rewarded with free snow cones. For more information please visit https://wwwgettysburgbrassbandfestival.com.

Gettys Square Art Oasis supports local talent and provides free live entertainment

When the COVID-19 pandemic restricted indoor gatherings last year, Gettysburg residents and organizations came together to provide a space for outdoor entertainment for Adams County residents and tourists. The Gettys Square Art Oasis, sponsored by the Adams County Arts Council (ACAC), provides a variety of outdoor programs ranging from musical and theater groups to live cooking and painting demonstrations. The events, which occur throughout the year, are held on the parklet on the southwest corner of Gettysburg’s Lincoln Square. “Our community is brimming with talent, and there can never be too many spaces for people to share those talents,” said ACAC Events Coordinator Kylie Stone. “The square is such a high-traffic area that it really helps to bring these local artists to light and encourages people to stop, listen, and grow those followings.” Stone said her degree in music industry studies and past experience with entertainment venues helped her as she promotes artists in the Adams County area. “Supporting local musicians, artists, and businesses has always been important to me, but even more so because of the economic impacts that the pandemic has left behind. Now that we’re starting to creep back into the idea of ‘normal,’ the best thing we can do is keep that momentum up,” she said. Stone said interested artists may reach out to the ACAC for an opportunity to perform. “All of our events are free, so it makes a great stop for people while they’re out and about shopping or getting a bite to eat,” said Stone.  “I’ve noticed that we have an even bigger group in attendance during our summer tourist months, so it’s definitely working.” Stone says she tries to pick dates and times that will have high traffic in the square, and that the borough’s noise ordinances are always followed. Stone said a favorite event of hers was “Gettysburg in Color,” presented in collaboration with the Gettysburg Historical Society last October. Photos of pre-Civil War Gettysburg and Adams County were projected onto a screen while a narrator explained the location and significance of the events. “It was amazing to see some of the pictures of downtown Gettysburg directly in the same location and get a glimpse into what it would have actually looked like at the time.  It was a great way to combine the history and art of our area for the community,” said Stone. The Gettys Square Art Oasis is free and open to the public.  A monthly schedule can be found on the ACAC’s website with additional information and updates pertaining to the events.

ACAC awards prizes in 18th Annual Juried Art Exhibition

A crowd of art lovers packed Schmucker Art Gallery on the Gettysburg College campus on Friday night to congratulate the winners in the Adams County Arts Council’s 18th Annual Juried Art Exhibition. The awards were given by show juror, Heidi Leitzke, Assistant Professor of Art and Director of the Eckert Art Gallery at Millersville University. The Best of Show award went to Littlestown resident Robyn Jacobs for her colorful oil on campus “Ode to Fragonard.” Judy Pyle of Gettysburg took second place with her enamels on copper piece, “Still Life with Grapes.” Seven other awards were also made. The exhibition remains on display until June 24. Featured Image: From the show: “Better Days” by Sandra Desrosiers.

Gettysburg Monuments Play Debuts

“Pale Erections: The Monuments Play,” a play based loosely on the militia/white supremacist takeover of Gettysburg National Military Park on July 4, 2000, made its debut before an appreciative audience Friday, May 27 at the Howard County Arts Council in Ellicott City. The play is written by Gettysburg native Kramer Hardman and directed by Gettysburg native Karen Land. Set in a single stark scene designed by local designer John Rudy, the play opens with two militia members, Orson (played by Ian Kress) and Heins (played by Ike Schlossburg), guarding a Confederate monument “in a remote corner of a civil war battlefield.” They are several days into the militia occupation and are beginning to doubt the mission. Increasingly isolated, they argue, reminisce, express frustration, discuss their doubts about their mission, and argue some more.  Midway through the play, they are joined by a third party, Quentin (played by Jeff Leinbach), who claims also to be a fellow militia member, but who quickly turns events in a new direction. The show starts out in a humorous, almost lighthearted way, but soon takes a darker turn. In a post-production discussion, director Karen Land acknowledged that the play is intended to make audiences uncomfortable. “I got angrier,” said Kramer, in summarizing the play’s evolving themes. Kress noted that they discovered their characters over time. “Karen would say, “How about this, and we would have to take a few minutes to think how we can get to a new emotion.” Schlossberg, too, praised the directing. “She gave us space to discover our characters.” The actors had high praise for Kramer’s script and Land’s direction. The play had an unusually long gestation period (performances were originally scheduled for January in Gettysburg but then were delayed due to Covid and then moved from Gettysburg. Hardman said he has lived the tale of militias, confederate monuments, and Gettysburg’s unique place in the world for several years. “The battlefield absorbs trauma; you can feel it. Not just the trauma of the battle, but ever since.” He conceded a degree of disappointment in how Gettysburg responded to the original takeover. “The tourist industry in this town spends a lot of money developing things to make visitors from Confederate states feel welcome. I asked a lot of the town’s leadership what we should do about the militia takeover and I got no answers; people advised me I should talk to my pastor.” The script and the acting are both impressive. The play has an evening performance Saturday as well as Saturday and Sunday matinees. It’s worth the drive. Featured image caption: (L-R) Kress, Schlossberg, Leinbach [Leon Reed]

Lisa Cadigan is new ACAC Executive Director

Lisa Cadigan has been promoted to Executive Director of the The Adams County Arts Council (ACAC). Cadigan most recently held the position of Director of Outreach and Community Resources for the organization. Cadigan has been with the Arts Council in various capacities since 2013, serving as a board member and a marketing and event planning volunteer. Before joining the staff full time in November 2021, Cadigan had been teaching Let’s Make Music! camps and Music Together classes since 2017. In her most recent capacity as Director of Outreach and Community Resources, Cadigan was responsible for developing and coordinating programs throughout Adams County’s school districts and senior centers, as well as serving as the primary grant writer for the organization. Cadigan is the creator and instrumental driving force behind ACAC’s The People Project. Started in 2017, her goals for this project have been to get as many community members as possible involved as creators and storytellers. The People Project 2022: My Place at the Table, coming this fall, will be a collaborative arts project and performance event designed to connect and uplift the Adams County community. Born in Brooklyn, NY, and growing up in New Jersey, Cadigan is a James Madison University alumna. She received her M.A. in Theater from Indiana University, Bloomington. Prior to joining the ACAC staff full time, Cadigan spent almost 20 years as a free-lance graphic designer, writer and marketing professional, serving largely non-profit clients. Cadigan and her husband John and two children have called the Gettysburg area home since 2007. Cadigan replaces Leona Rega who served in the position since November 2020. Cadigan said she was heartbroken to see Rega leave, and was looking forward to carrying on the programs she started. “We definitely had a shared vision; she did a lot in the short time she was here,” she said.  Cadigan said she was looking forward to continuing and expanding ACACs mission of “discovering the arts as tangible parts of lives. There is power in connecting through the creative process with the people around you,” she said. Cadigan said engaging the community in the arts is not just about encouraging appreciation of our most gifted artists and their work (although this is a very important component) but also includes engaging all people in creation and active participation in the arts. “I want to encourage creative interactions that are inter-cultural and inter-generational. It doesn’t matter if you are ‘good’ at it or not,” she said. For more information about The People Project 2022 and all other Adams County Arts Council programs and events, visit www.adamsarts.org.

Gettysburg Majestic will present first-ever Ken Burns Film Festival

Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater announced yesterday it will host the first-ever film festival dedicated solely to the work of award-winning documentarian Ken Burns next February 10-12, 2023. More than a career retrospective, festival-goers will engage with Burns, his collaborators, historians, and Gettysburg College students in consequential conversations about the simple question Burns has explored in all his films about American history: “Who are we?” All festival events require reservations and many are free to attend, including breakout sessions with historians and filmmakers, screenings of various documentary episodes from Burns’s 40-year catalog, and a marathon presentation of all 11.5 hours of The Civil War. Special guests currently scheduled to attend include longtime Burns collaborators Geoffrey Ward, writer; Sarah Botstein, producer; and Buddy Squires, cinematographer, as well as musicians Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, and exonerated Central Park Five member Kevin Richardson. Tickets for a special Friday evening keynote program with Burns, and two thematic highlight reel presentations compiled and introduced by Burns on Saturday will be $29 per person, per event. Festival passes will be available for $75. Festival passes and single event tickets will go on sale to the general public on June 17 at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, by calling (717) 337-8200 or online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org. “Few individuals throughout our nation’s history have had a more profound impact in shaping American discourse than Ken Burns. His timeless works challenge us to see our country from new perspectives and encourage us to engage in the defining issues of our time,” said Gettysburg College President Bob Iuliano. “We are both excited and grateful for the opportunity to spotlight Ken’s artistry in this first-of-its-kind film festival.” “Gettysburg is both a place of remembering and imagining,” said Burns. “It is of course a burial ground for those who fought there – North and South – but it is also where President Lincoln imagined a new country, one where the values we associate with our country’s founding were given new meaning. Our work tries to present the past in all of its complexity, collecting individual stories into larger narratives. I’m honored and so appreciative for this opportunity to share our films as part of this festival and to join many of my colleagues in a conversation about our art form – and our country’s history.” Burns has a long connection to Gettysburg. His 1990 documentary “The Civil War” won the inaugural Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize, awarded in 1991 at Gettysburg College. In 1994, he received an honorary degree from Gettysburg College, and in 2008 he returned once more to Gettysburg to speak at Soldiers’ National Cemetery on the 145th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. In 2020, he helped launch Gettysburg: Beyond the Battle, the $10 million capital campaign to build a new home for the Adams County Historical Society. The festival was inspired by a conversation Gettysburg native and local filmmaker Jake Boritt had with his friend Burns during the summer of 2020. Boritt, who serves as the festival’s director, approached Gettysburg College President Bob Iuliano and Majestic Theater Executive Director Jeffrey Gabel with the idea. “Ken Burns’s epic film The Civil War transformed Americans’ understanding of the defining event of our history, made Ken a national icon telling our story, unleashed a surge of interest in Gettysburg, and inspired me to become a documentary filmmaker,” Boritt said. “As Americans, it will be a singular experience to gather together in Gettysburg’s Majestic Theater to watch Ken Burns’s documentaries.” “Hosting the first-ever festival dedicated solely to Ken Burns’s films is a tremendous honor, as well as a testament to how historic theaters continue to contribute to the vitality of small towns across America,” said Gable. Featured image: Ken Burns [Evan Barlow]

Arts Council invites community to Youth Recylable Art Contest Awards Ceremony

The Adams County Arts Council invites participants, their families, and the community to join us for the Youth Recyclable Art Contest/Exhibit awards ceremony taking place at 6pm on April 21, 2022. Over 70 entries from county-wide students, kindergarten through twelfth grade, will be awarded cash prizes for first, second, and third place winners in five categories, including the new Repurposed Art category and Best in Show. Also announced at the ceremony will be our People’s Choice Award winner. Voting for this award will end on April 21st at 6pm and can be done any time prior by visiting the beautiful exhibit on display at the Arts Education Center, 125 S. Washington St., Gettysburg. The center is open from 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday. Please call for available evening and weekend hours. All are encouraged to arrive early to the awards ceremony for refreshments and to enjoy the fantastic entries we received. A non-profit 501(c)(3), the mission of the Adams County Arts Council is to cultivate an arts-rich community. To see our full list of programs, make donations or learn more about this program, visit our website at www.adamsarts.org. Featured image: Entries from 2022 Youth Recyclable Art Contest/Exhibit

Majestic Theater hosts “An Evening With Graham Nash”

The Gettysburg Majestic Theater will present “An Evening With Graham Nash” on Sunday, August 7 – 7:30 pm Legendary artist Graham Nash, as a founding member of both the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who has seen rock history unfold at some of its seminal moments – from the launch of the British Invasion to the birth of the Laurel Canyon movement a year later. An extraordinary Grammy Award® winning renaissance artist – and self-described “simple man” – Nash was inducted twice into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, for his work with CSN and his work as a solo artist, beginning with two landmark albums, Songs For Beginners and Wild Tales. The original classic union of Crosby, Stills & Nash (& Young) lasted but twenty months. Yet their songs are lightning rods embedded in our DNA, starting with Nash’s “Marrakesh Express,” “Pre-Road Downs” and “Lady Of the Island,” from the first Crosby, Stills & Nash LP (1969). On CSNY’s Déjà Vu (1970), Nash’s iconic “Teach Your Children” and “Our House” (for Joni Mitchell) beseeched us to hold love tightly, to fend off the madness that was on its way. Towering above virtually everything that Graham Nash has accomplished in his long and multi-faceted career, stands the litany of songs that he has written and introduced to the soundtrack of our lives for nearly six decades. Tickets: $95 / $65 / $55 / VIP Packages available Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, April 15 at 10 am online, via phone at (717) 337-8200 or in person at 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg. Majestic member pre-sale is available immediately for Headliner and Benefactor Members. Pre-sale for all other Majestic Members begins Wednesday, April 13. Current members may log onto their account or call the Box Office at 717-337-8200 for pre-sale access.

History Meets the Arts this weekend

The 2022 edition of History Meets the Arts will be held Friday April 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday April 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Gettysburg Fire Company Community Room, Rear 35 N. Stratton St., Gettysburg PA 17325 . Admission is free. The event is presented by Lord Nelson’s Gallery & Gettysburg Custom Framing Since its inception back in 1998, the History Meets the Arts show in Gettysburg, PA has hosted up to 75 artists at any one time. You’ll have the opportunity to meet the following artists in person, and see/purchase their latest works. Original paintings, signed prints, powder horns, sculpture, folk art, hand forged knives, books and more. Artists appearing in 2022 so far include: Steve Auvenshine, John Barrett, John Buxton, Kyle Carroll, Bill & Wayne Fluke, Brad Fountain, Jennifer Frantz, Dale Gallon, Robert Griffing, Wayne Hyde, Todd Price, Keith Rocco, Tim Sanner, Bradley Schmehl, Larry Selman, Jeff Shaara, Bryant White, Pamela Patrick White & David Wright.

Gettysburg professor closes last semester with final concert

Retiring Gettysburg College professor Dr. Paul Austerlitz performed a showcase with jazz musicians Sunday.   Combining years of college involvement with decades of bass clarinet experience, Austerlitz brought his passion for jazz music to the Junction. Showcasing the power of the lesser-known bass clarinet, as well as the joy of musical improvisation, along with Austerlitz was the renowned The Marcus Quartet, composed of Todd Marcus on bass clarinet, Harry Appleman on piano, Blake Meister on bass, and Eric Kennedy on drums. The ensemble came from Baltimore and Washington D.C. Special student accompaniment also included Andrew Lee, Class of 2025, on clarinet and David Grant, Class of 2024, on tenor saxophone. The bass clarinet, which has more in common in shape with a saxophone than an average clarinet, is by far much more of a softer sounding instrument. Bass clarinets are rare to hear outside of classical music performances. The ensemble said it was not only a pleasure to be able to perform together, but see two bass clarinets on stage. “This is a special treat for me to make music from the heart with great musicians,” Austerlitz said. As improvisation is a key component in composition, the musicians held a “battle of the bands” and freestyled much of the performance. The musicians also played pieces by other jazz composers and presented their original works. Originally from Finland, Austerlitz has taught ethnomusicology, an anthropology for music, for 15 years in Gettysburg, he said. Austerlitz has been grateful for the opportunities provided by the college that allowed him to develop his creative projects. Following the end of the school year, Austerlitz now looks forward to pursuing music performance full time in New York City. More information about the Todd Marcus Quartet can be found at https://toddmarcusjazz.com/.

Local Artist Judy Pyle creates pieces honoring Ukraine

“When the invasion of Ukraine started I couldn’t stop watching those people; it was so sad,” said Gettysburg resident Judy Pyle. “In the case of the war, I cry. I can’t help it.” Pyle said she had turned her artistic work to making pieces that honored Ukraine and its citizens. “It’s cathartic for me,” she said. The Ukraine series includes works capturing moments during the occasion, including “Ukraine Ruins,” “Mariupol Theatre,” and “No fuel. No food. This is bullshit.” Pyle said she’s been metalsmithing since 1998, making jewelry, including broaches and other small pieces. The Ukraine series are enamels on copper created by applying heat, either using a torch or a small kiln in her well-ventilated basement. “They’re more like bas reliefs than sculpture. I use copper mesh and I put them all together. I put them in the kiln and they all stick together. Then I put I put a frame on them,” she said. Pyle said she modeled the Ukraine series on a 17th Century French artist, Bernard Pallisy, who is known for his so-called “rusticware,” which features three-dimensional works with animals and vegetation in bas relief. Pyle said she moved to Adams County when she was eight years old, attending school in the Bermudian School District and then at Saint Joseph Academy in McSherrystown. She taught art at the Gettysburg High School for over 30 years before retiring in 2006. Pyle hopes to get the pieces into a statewide art exhibit this summer.

Colin Mochrie brings “hypnotic improv” show to the Majestic on Friday

Improv comedy legend Colin Mochrie of Whose Line Is It Anyway? teams up with master hypnotist Asad Mecci to present “HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis” at Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater Friday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at the Majestic Box Office. “HYPROV is like nothing you’ve ever seen before,” remarked Majestic Theater Founding Executive Director Jeffrey Gabel. “I guarantee people will be talking about this show for years to come.” The show begins with Mecci welcoming twenty volunteers on stage to be hypnotized. He whittles them down to four or five of the most susceptible and then brings Mochrie out to improvise with them – while they are under hypnosis. In the hands of two experts, and solely crafted from the audience’s uninhibited unconscious mind, each show is an entirely original and completely unforgettable theatrical experience. “When we tried this for the first time onstage, I was absolutely petrified. Then I thought, ‘let’s just see where this takes us,’” said Mochrie. “Adding in the element of hypnosis to improv really allows people to let their guard down and have fun in a scene. They’re certainly the most interesting stage partners I’ve ever had!” Thirty volunteers are needed to fill 20 seats on stage. Those interested in participating as a volunteer must sign up in advance and must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to interact on stage. Information on how to sign up is available on the Majestic’s website. Vaccination is not required for attendees not on stage. Tickets for HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis start at $53 and are available at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, by calling (717) 337-8200 or online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org. Free parking and roundtrip shuttle service for the performance is available from Gettysburg College’s Constitution Parking Lot. Shuttle starts one hour before each performance and is ADA accessible.  Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley as well as along Carlisle Street. Masks must be worn at all times inside the Majestic Theater regardless of vaccination status.

Majestic Theater offers “Open Captions” on Tuesday film showings

Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater now offers open-captioned screenings of most first-run films shown on Tuesdays.  These films are presented with captioned dialogue shown on-screen to all viewers, much like a subtitled film in a foreign language. Presenting movies with open captions makes movies more accessible to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, for whom English is a second language, or who prefer watching movies with captions. Closed (individually-enabled) captioning and assistive listening remain available for all movies throughout the week. These services may be enabled by movie viewers by using a captioning device available at the Box Office. The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a gathering place for its campus and community to celebrate the arts together.

Majestic Theater drops required masking

Effective today, March 11, masks are no longer required to attend most live performances and films at Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater. This update was made in accordance with the latest guidance from the CDC and Gettysburg College, and the current low level of COVID-19 transmission in Adams County. Masking is welcomed as an option for all patrons regardless of vaccination status. However, masks remain required to attend Sunderman Conservatory performances at the Majestic theater through May 2022. The Majestic will also continue offering Vaccine-Only Sunday Cinema, during which all patrons attending movies on Sundays must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and booster to attend; masks will be optional. Ticketholders unable to attend events due to COVID-19 symptoms or diagnosis should contact the Box Office at (717) 337-8200 or boxofficeinfo@gettysburg.edu. The Majestic Theater continues to engage in other public health measures such as enhanced cleaning and disinfecting and constant air filtration. The Majestic’s full health & safety policy is available by clicking here.

LASD presents “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” this weekend

Is it a drama? Is it a mystery? Is it a tragedy? No! It is the Littlestown High School Spring comedy musical, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” The 1962 Broadway musical by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, with music and lyrics by the late Stephen Sondheim will be presented by the cast this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. As the curtain goes up, the audience observes a street in ancient Rome where all the action is focused on three houses. First, the house of Erroneous (Nick Albright) an old man who according to Albright just “…interrupts the show, awkwardly.”  The second house is owned by Lycus (Keira Lee), purveyor of courtesans for the Roman gentleman caller. The third house is where Sennex (Derek Reed) and Domina (Makayla Rock) live with their son, Hero (Christian Keller). The story turns the hero and sidekick pairing on its head, featuring the sidekick as the main character. Taylor Hollie plays main character, Pseudolus, whose frenetic mind directs the cast of characters to her purpose while attempting to win her freedom. The sidekick’s sidekick is Hysterium (Trent Boritz), who finds himself unwillingly woven into Pseudolus’ plans. “Pseudolus is a Roman slave who wants his freedom,” says Hollie. Her character was originally written as a male character. Hollie is following in the footsteps of Whoopie Goldberg who took on the role in 1997. Says Hollie, “He’s a funny little guy.” Play goers will meet the lovely Philia (Chloe Sentz), the bride purchased by the pompous and full of himself Captain Miles Gloriosus (Chase Wootton). Unbeknownst to Miles Gloriosus, Hero and Philia are in love. Hero promises Pseudolus his freedom if Pseudolus can get Philia for him. A host of supporting characters help with the confusion and mayhem. The courtesans include Tintinnabula (Brooke Kelly), Vibrata (Florence Vandersluys), Geminae (Acadia Farley and Rylee Griffith), Panaceea (Duda Marton), Gymnasia (Katelyn Snare), and Auxiliara (Riko Kambayashi). Proteans and soldiers make up the balance of the cast. They are Kaelonnah Darlich, Kenzie Hull, Kaylie Kurland, and Brooklyn Pyren as Proteans. Garrett Hutchinson, Christopher Johnson, Ella Scott, and Dylan Smith are the Soldiers. Three members of the courtesans, Marton (Brazil), Kambayashi (Japan), and Vandersluys (France) are foreign exchange students. The three young actresses spending their senior year in Adams County expressed enthusiasm about their roles, saying theater was not an extra-curricular activity in their home schools. Directing the musical is Michael Baker along with vocal director Michael Lobaugh. Choreography is by Nikki Bull with music direction from Adam Bish. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.lasd.k12.pa.us/page/online-box-office . Featured Image: Cast members Florence Vandersluys, Taylor Hollie, and Riko Kambayashi. [Christine Grim]

GASD gets spooky with The Addams Family: The Musical

Students from the Gettysburg Area High School will present “The Addams Family: The Musical” this weekend. The show chronicles the drama, travails, and romances of the charming but offbeat American family originally created by American cartoonist Charles Addams, which was later developed into a 1960s TV show as well as film, video games, comic books, a musical and merchandising. As they say about the Addams Family: “They’re creepy and they’re kookyMysterious and spookyThey’re all together ooky” The show has been “on deck” for a few years now at GASD, ever since orchestral director Krista Kriel said she wanted to do it.  The show is director Greg Trax’s 9th production with GAHS. Joining him and Kriel in producing this musical are Kate Sainer, Choreographer, Terry McCDannell, Tech Director, and – new this year – Megan Coolbaugh, Music Director. Shows are Friday and Saturday, March 4 & 5 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 General Admission, $5 Students – tickets are sold 30 min before the show in the High School Auditorium lobby. Come out to the haunted mansion and show these talented children and school district staff that you support their hard work and dedication.

Greetings from beautiful, historic East Berlin!

My name is Jessica Laganosky, and I am the branch director at the Jean Barnett Trone Memorial Library of East Berlin. The Trone Memorial Library has served the East Berlin community for over forty-five years. In 2016, the library building expanded in size to provide more community space for browsing of library materials; space for study; and more programming space. The warm and welcoming atmosphere is thanks to the wonderful team at the library – Anne, Carrie, Maddie, Molly, Sally, and Sherry.  If you have not had an opportunity to visit us in person, please do! There are so many positives when working in a small community such as East Berlin, but building relationships with the community and getting to know community members are two of the biggest positives. The Trone Memorial Library team cultivates these relationships, offering book recommendations based on a patron’s known interests; watching families grow and “graduate” from the children’s area to the young adult area; and working with experts in the community on a variety of topics to let their expertise shine in programming and displays. We’d love to see you at the library, joining us for a storytime, or a book discussion, or a craft night, or for one of our young adult event nights. Or, stop by just to say hi! It is a testament to the library team that community members from across the county keep coming back to the library. As of 2021, the Trone Memorial Library has a Friends group and a Friends-operated bookstore! Currently, the bookstore is open Mondays and Saturdays, 10am-2pm, and carries a variety of books, DVDs, music CDs, audiobooks, and more. Be sure to check it out soon and to learn more about the Friends of the Trone Memorial Library. A little bit about myself: Though I became the branch director at Trone Memorial Library in 2021, I have worked for the Adams County Library System for sixteen years. During that time, I held the position of branch manager at the Littlestown Library (in the original location on East King Street!); the branch manager at the Harbaugh~Thomas Library in Biglerville; and the Public Services Librarian at the Gettysburg Library. I am blessed during my time with the Adams County Library System to meet such amazing people at each location I called “home” for a period of time.  I oversee the daily operations of the Trone Memorial Library and work closely with the Friends of the Trone Memorial Library. I also work with the library team to purchase books and develop programming. My responsibilities also include managing the checkout system for the Adams County Library System – if something goes wrong, I connect with the company to troubleshoot and get things working again as quickly as possible. I also coordinate adult programming for the Adams County Library System, including serving as chair of the Adams County Reads One Book Committee. Each October, the library system hosts the Adams County Reads One Book program, which offers opportunities for all community members to read and to connect through one book title. This year’s book will be announced in June, so stay tuned! When not at the library, you’ll probably find me reading (I’ll read just about any type of book) or binge watching a crime drama (I’m currently watching Vera).  Submitted by Jessica Laganosky, Branch Director, Jean Barnett Trone Memorial Library of East Berlin

Haitian Jazz Master will perform in Gettysburg on Saturday

Gettysburg College will host a residency focusing on Haitian music and spirituality by Erol Josué on February 4 and 5, 2022, free and open to all members of the community.  The residency will be capped by a performance on Saturday evening, Feb. 5 at 8:00 p.m. in Schmucker recital hall on the campus. A singer, bandleader, writer, and ethnologist, Josué is a leading figure in contemporary Haitian racin – or roots –  music, which blends modern traditions with elements of ancestral spirituality and the struggle for social justice. Josué recently presented his newest production, Pèlerinaj (Pilgrimage) – a showcase for Josué’s eclectic and innovative blend of spirituality, sacred song, dance, jazz, and electronic music – at Lincoln Center. Ordained as a Houngan (Vodou priest) in his teens,  Josué currently holds the position of General Director of Haiti’s National Bureau of Ethnology, acting as both an academic and living emissary for his birthplace and the its cultural riches; he is one of the world’s best-known and most highly respected experts in the centuries old Haitian Vodou religion. Mr. Josué’s presentations spotlight elements of ritual and performance in a clear and engaging fashion, tapping into his many decades as a scholar, priest, and performer. Schedule:Fri., Feb. 4, 4 pm:  Vodou Music Workshop, Paul Recital Hall, Schmucker HallSat., Feb. 5, 1:30 pm:  Public Lecture: “What is Vodou?,” , Paul Recital Hall, Schmucker HallSat., Feb. 5, 8 pm:  Erol Josué in Concert LinksErol Josué at Lincoln Centerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX6v1fm1ft0 Interview with Erol Josuéhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qiZO7P8HmE&t=133s ‘Je vous aime Congo,’ Erol Josuéhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDLgb8VJQVM&list=PLFPIkeMEw-XcB3ytDlPky-T3tVDuyLKEt The residency is sponsored by the Sunderman Chamber Music Series and co-sponsored by Africana Studies.

America’s Got Talent Finalist Brings Silhoutte magic to the Majestic

Experience thrilling and mysterious shadow silhouettes rendered live in Catapult: Magic Shadows at Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater on Sunday, March 6 at 3:00 p.m. This show is made possible by WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital’s Healing HeARTS Healthy Family Series. “Catapult is one of the most magical stage shows I’ve ever seen,” enthused Majestic Theater Founding Executive Director Jeffrey Gabel. “The moving shadow silhouettes will delight children of all ages.” An America’s Got Talent finalist from Season 8, Catapult is a magical production that features incredible dancers who work behind a screen to create shadow silhouettes of shapes from the world around us. With the arc of an arm, the point of a toe or the twist of a torso, Catapult’s dancers stretch their bodies, and your imaginations, telling stories with humor and pathos by transforming magically from one shape to another. See Vivaldi’s Four Seasons spring to life, be amazed as you watch their bodies transform into a mountain, an elephant, a dragon even a helicopter, and travel the world from Paris to Beijing in under 10 minutes! Animated by the dancers’ shadows, every cinematic scene in Magic Shadows is a kaleidoscope of colorful storytelling that will awe and astound you. A great show for the whole family – full of laughs, emotions and miraculous transformations. You will leave this show dazed and happy, and you will never look at your own shadow the same way again! Tickets for Catapult: Magic Shadows start at $38 and are available at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, by calling (717) 337-8200 or online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org. Free parking and roundtrip shuttle service for the performance is available from Gettysburg College’s Constitution Parking Lot. Shuttle starts one hour before each performance and is ADA accessible. Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley as well as along Carlisle Street. Masks must be worn at all times inside the Majestic Theater regardless of vaccination status. The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a gathering place for its campus and community to celebrate the arts together.

Sunday showtimes will be vaccine-only at Gettysburg Majestic Theatre

Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater will offer vaccination-required movie showings every Sunday beginning February 6. All movie showings every Sunday will require full COVID-19 vaccination to attend. Vaccination will not be required to attend movies on Mondays through Saturdays. “Many of our most faithful movie goers are over the age of 60, and have told me they would feel safer if everyone in the audience was fully vaccinated as well as masked,” explained Majestic Theater Founding Executive Director Jeffrey Gabel. “We decided to test the market with Sunday movie matinees, which are particularly popular with this audience.” Patrons attending movie showings on Sundays will be required to present a COVID-19 vaccination card or photo of the card, as well as a photo ID. Patrons must be fully vaccinated, including booster doses if eligible. Patrons will also be required to wear a mask at all times unless eating or drinking. A negative COVID-19 test will not be accepted in absence of a vaccination card. This policy applies to all patrons, including children; children ages 4 and under will not be admitted. The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a gathering place for its campus and community to celebrate the arts together.

Adams County Arts Council seeks input on “People Project” grant

The Adams County Arts Council (ACAC) has received a $16,000 grant from PA Humanities as part of its $1.4 million recovery and growth program. Called PA SHARP (Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan), the initiative provides flexible funding to strengthen and grow the humanities across the state. Grantees join the new PA SHARP Learning Network, a special statewide learning group that fosters resource sharing, networking, professional development, and mutual support. ACAC will use PA SHARP funding to expand on a community performance and visual art installation project called The People Project. Adams County residents, government officials, business owners, and non-profit representatives are invited to attend one of two planning meetings for this community-wide performance and visual arts project on Feb. 2 and 3 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Adams County Arts Council. Registration is preferred but not required. To RSVP, visit www.adamsarts.org. The People Project addresses current needs to hear diverse voices and cultivate empathy in our community. Entering its fifth production year, The People Project started in 2017 as a simple staged reading at Gettysburg College’s Stevens Theatre, under the direction of then-guest artist Lisa Cadigan. The Project’s goal is to celebrate diversity and encourage empathy by giving voice to common experiences from a variety of perspectives. Themes from previous projects have included “Stories of Compassion, Inclusion and Diversity,” “Stories of Home,” and “Masks of Oppression.” Past participants have included people of all ages and backgrounds living in Adams County. In 2021, ACAC produced the “The People Project 2021: Stories of the Unexpected” with support from the Glatfelter Family Foundation as an after-school program for middle and high school students that culminated in a video rather than an in-person performance. The final 40-minute video project (viewable on YouTube) included musical performances, interviews, visual art presentations, and first-person narratives read aloud by their authors.  For 2022, the PA SHARP grant enables ACAC to expand The People Project into a county-wide event that combines the original staged reading format with the visual art, music, and video components added in 2021. It includes plans for a permanent, public art installation to reflect the shared stories and serve as a historical marker.  The People Project is just one part of ACAC’s larger outreach expansion initiative intended to build creative connections between diverse communities in Adams County. “Everyone has a story,” says ACAC Executive Director Leona Rega. “ACAC is proud to spearhead this important project, which encourages kind and productive conversations and creative place-making among diverse voices, to cultivate the empathy necessary for community healing and meaningful connections.”  The People Project is participant-driven; it empowers members of the community to choose themes relevant to Adams County residents, who then have the chance to explore those themes through research, discussion, creative writing, music, and fine arts. It deliberately integrates arts and culture into community revitalization work socially (by building empathy, expanding perspective, and changing perceptions); economically (by attracting residents and visitors to engage in a cultural experience, which encourages patronizing local businesses); educationally (by inviting area schools and educators to partner in recruiting participants and facilitate sections of the project); and historically (by creating an event that will mark a pivotal moment in our community’s history).  “The humanities are on the ground putting people first by making spaces for new voices, supporting meaningful learning experiences, and fostering healing and resiliency in communities of all sizes,” said Laurie Zierer, executive director of PA Humanities. “PA SHARP further strengthens this essential work through network building, financial support, and reimagining the possibilities of the humanities across the state.” The 92 recipients of the PA SHARP grant represent museums, historical societies, libraries, and other vital cultural institutions across Pennsylvania. They were carefully selected with an emphasis on equity and geographic diversity. Funds from PA SHARP aim to help address the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the cultural sector by supporting creative programming, capacity building, and general operations. In addition to funding, the PA SHARP Learning Network will build a statewide community of people passionate about creating inclusive, engaged communities that are ready to lead the statewide recovery alongside PA Humanities. Funding for PA SHARP comes from PA Humanities’ federal partner, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Recognizing the financial realities of the pandemic and the vital importance of the humanities to economic and civic life, this legislation allocated to the NEH funds to “prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the coronavirus.” Additional funding comes from Spring Point Partners to support 16 organizations that serve Philadelphia’s BIPOC and new immigrant communities. The full list of PA SHARP grantees is available at pahumanities.org/pasharp. To learn more or to become involved in The People Project 2022 in Adams County as a volunteer, sponsor, contributor, artist, or performer, please attend at least one of the two planning meetings scheduled at the Adams County Arts Council’s Arts Education Center, 125 S. Washington Street, Gettysburg. Meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, February 2 and Thursday, February 3 from 5-7 p.m. (Inclement weather delay date: Wednesday, Feb. 9). Pre-registration is preferred, but not required. Topics for discussion will include performance scheduling, venue(s), and selection of a theme that reflects Adams County. All are welcome. Pre-registration is preferred, but not required. Pre-register on ACAC’s website: www.adamsarts.org or call (717) 334-5006. Additional questions can be addressed to Lisa Cadigan, ACAC Director of Outreach and Community Resources: lcadigan@adamsarts.org.

Buzz Jones to speak on “Why Jazz Matters”

The Adams County Arts Council will host their first Third Thursday Brown Bag lunch session of 2022 on Thursday, January 20 at noon. Buzz Jones presents “Why Jazz Matters: The Legacy of Satchmo and Duke, arguably two of the most seminal figures in 20th century American music.  You will learn about the early years of Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) and Duke Ellington (1899-1974), their development as creative leaders in the field of jazz, and their immense societal influence by viewing vintage video clips and listening to recordings.  Buzz will also discuss the extraordinary jazz event in 1966 at Gettysburg College. The hour-long program is free to the public and will be held at the Adams County Arts Council Arts Education Center, 125 S. Washington Street.  Bring you lunch and friend! John (Buzz) Jones a professor of music emeritus at Gettysburg College.  He served as Director of Bands, Music Department Chair, Director of the Sunderman Conservatory of Music, and Director of the Jazz Ensemble.  He also taught courses in theory and jazz history and coordinated the 2012 Gettysburg College England Program as a Senior Teaching Fellow at Lancaster University.  Buzz led numerous summer tours abroad with the college jazz ensemble and the Buzz Jones Big Band performing at major festivals in Switzerland, Turkey, France, The Netherlands, and Italy. The mission of the Adams County Arts Council is to cultivate an arts-rich community. To register for the program or for information about Arts Council’s classes at the Arts Education Center, 125 S. Washington St., Gettysburg, contact aa@adamsarts.org, call (717) 334-5006, or visit www.adamsarts.org. Editor: If you have questions or need more info, please contact Becca Riley at 717-334-5006 or aa@adamsarts.org

Gettysburg Majestic Honors Aretha Franklin with a live show on February 16

Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater will rock with the sounds of soul legend Aretha Franklin on Wednesday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. with “A Tribute to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul.” The concert will be presented live by musician, vocalist and composer Damien Sneed, and singer-songwriter Valerie Simpson, of Ashford & Simpson. “A Tribute to Aretha Franklin” marks Sneed’s return to Gettysburg following his wildly energetic, and sold-out performance at the 2020 Gettysburg Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Sneed toured with Aretha in the later years of her career, developing a strong mentee relationship with the soul legend. The evening will pay homage to the monarch herself with fresh renditions of cherished hits like “Respect,” “Knew You Were Waiting,” “Precious Memories,” “Think,” “Until You Come Back to Me,” “Freeway” and many others. Joining Sneed and his accomplished back up ensemble of jazz, gospel, and soul musicians and vocalists on stage will be six-time Grammy nominee Valerie Simpson, half of the songwriting, performing and producing entity Ashford & Simpson. With her late husband Nick Ashford, Simpson penned hits like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “You’re All I Need to Get By” and “I’m Every Woman.” Tickets for “A Tribute to Aretha Franklin” start at $57 and are available at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, by calling (717) 337-8200 or online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org. Free parking and roundtrip shuttle service for the performance is available from Gettysburg College’s Constitution Parking Lot. Shuttle starts one hour before each performance and is ADA accessible.  Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley as well as along Carlisle Street. Masks must be worn at all times inside the Majestic Theater regardless of vaccination status. The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a cultural celebration for its campus and community.

Sweeney Todd Opens 14th Season At Gettysburg Community Theatre

Gettysburg Community Theatre, the non-profit 501c3 organization located at 49 York Street in historic downtown Gettysburg, PA, will opened its 14th season this evening with the musical thriller “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street.” Sweeney Todd will continue at 7:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:00 p.m. Sundays, through Jan. 30, barring cancellations due to Covid or inclement weather. Sweeney Todd has become a bloody, worldwide success since being awarded eight Tony Awards, (including Best Musical), for its Broadway premiere. Stephen Sondheim’s and Hugh Wheeler’s tasty, thrilling, theatrical treat has simultaneously shocked, awed and delighted audiences across the world for decades. An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which, he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up… and the carnage has only just begun! The cast includes April Howard, C. Andrew Adcock, Kaitlyn Ball, David Bowman, Grayson Wallace, Caitlyn Suerdieck, Emma Kirk, Audrey Trax, Greg Trax, Tessa Trax, from Gettysburg, Joshua Rikas, David Miller, Drew Derreth, Jocelyn Meyer from Hanover, Joshua Schriver from McSherrystown, Alissa Baker from Fairfield, Emma Holt from Boiling Springs, Sara Bollinger, Maggie Grace Gebo from New Oxford, Ken Griggs from Chambersburg, and Melissa Janicki from York Haven. The production is under the direction of GCT Founding Executive/Artistic Director, Chad-Alan Carr, and vocal music director, Carrie Conklin. This show may not be suitable for all audiences due to mature content and violence. There are no streaming rights available for this title so it will be in person performances only. Tickets can be ordered at www.GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org and since GCT is a small 80 seat theatre, it is highly recommended that tickets be ordered in advance online. Auditions and volunteer opportunities can also be found online. GCT Mission Statement: To inspire creativity and confidence, provide cultural enrichment, and instill a love of the theatre arts in people of ALL ages and abilities through quality education and performance. Even throughout the pandemic, GCT continues to offer educational, performance, and volunteer opportunities for all ages and abilities year-round as safely as possible. Featured Image Caption: April Howard and Joshua Rikas portray Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd making remarkably interesting “meat pies” in London in the musical thriller Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street performing on stage weekends January 14-30, 2022, at Gettysburg Community Theatre.

Sidney Poitier – Hollywood’s first Black leading man reflected the civil rights movement on screen

Aram Goudsouzian, University of Memphis In the summer of 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. introduced the keynote speaker for the 10th-anniversary convention banquet of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Their guest, he said, was his “soul brother.” “He has carved for himself an imperishable niche in the annals of our nation’s history,” King told the audience of 2,000 delegates. “I consider him a friend. I consider him a great friend of humanity.” That man was Sidney Poitier. Poitier, who died at 94 on Jan. 7, 2021, broke the mold of what a Black actor could be in Hollywood. Before the 1950s, Black movie characters generally reflected racist stereotypes such as lazy servants and beefy mammies. Then came Poitier, the only Black man to consistently win leading roles in major films from the late 1950s through the late 1960s. Like King, Poitier projected ideals of respectability and integrity. He attracted not only the loyalty of African Americans, but also the goodwill of white liberals. In my biography of him, titled “Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon,” I sought to capture his whole life, including his incredible rags-to-riches arc, his sizzling vitality on screen, his personal triumphs and foibles and his quest to live up to the values set forth by his Bahamian parents. But the most fascinating aspect of Poitier’s career, to me, was his political and racial symbolism. In many ways, his screen life intertwined with that of the civil rights movement – and King himself. An age of protests In three separate columns in 1957, 1961 and 1962, a New York Daily News columnist named Dorothy Masters marveled that Poitier had the warmth and charisma of a minister. Poitier lent his name and resources to King’s causes, and he participated in demonstrations such as the 1957 Prayer Pilgrimage and the 1963 March on Washington. In this era of sit-ins, Freedom Rides and mass marches, activists engaged in nonviolent sacrifice not only to highlight racist oppression, but also to win broader sympathy for the cause of civil rights. In that same vein, Poitier deliberately chose to portray characters who radiated goodness. They had decent values and helped white characters, and they often sacrificed themselves. He earned his first star billing in 1958, in “The Defiant Ones,” in which he played an escaped prisoner handcuffed to a racist played by Tony Curtis. At the end, with the chain unbound, Poitier jumps off a train to stick with his new white friend. Writer James Baldwin reported seeing the film on Broadway, where white audiences clapped with reassurance, their racial guilt alleviated. When he saw it again in Harlem, members of the predominantly Black audience yelled “Get back on the train, you fool!” King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. In that same year, Poitier won the Oscar for Best Actor for “Lilies of the Field,” in which he played Homer Smith, a traveling handyman who builds a chapel for German nuns out of the goodness of his heart. The sweet, low-budget movie was a surprise hit. In its own way, like the horrifying footage of water hoses and police dogs attacking civil rights activists, it fostered swelling support for racial integration. A better man By the time of the actor’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference speech, both King and Poitier seemed to have a slipping grip on the American public. Bloody and destructive riots plagued the nation’s cities, reflecting the enduring discontent of many poor African Americans. The swelling calls for “Black Power” challenged the ideals of nonviolence and racial brotherhood – ideals associated with both King and Poitier. When Poitier stepped to the lectern that evening, he lamented the “greed, selfishness, indifference to the suffering of others, corruption of our value system, and a moral deterioration that has already scarred our souls irrevocably.” “On my bad days,” he said, “I am guilty of suspecting that there is a national death wish.” By the late 1960s, both King and Poitier had reached a crossroads. Federal legislation was dismantling Jim Crow in the South, but African Americans still suffered from limited opportunity. King prescribed a “revolution of values,” denounced the Vietnam War, and launched a Poor People’s Campaign. Poitier, in his 1967 speech for the SCLC, said that King, by adhering to his convictions for social justice and human dignity, “has made a better man of me.” Exceptional characters Poitier tried to adhere to his own convictions. As long as he was the only Black leading man, he insisted on playing the same kind of hero. But in the era of Black Power, had Poitier’s saintly hero become another stereotype? His rage was repressed, his sexuality stifled. A Black critic, writing in The New York Times, asked “Why Does White America Love Sidney Poitier So?” That critic had a point: As Poitier himself knew, his films created too-perfect characters. Although the films allowed white audiences to appreciate a Black man, they also implied that racial equality depends on such exceptional characters, stripped of any racial baggage. From late 1967 into early 1968, three of Poitier’s movies owned the top spot at the box office, and a poll ranked him the most bankable star in Hollywood. Each film provided a hero who soothed the liberal center. His mannered schoolteacher in “To Sir, With Love” tames a class of teenage ruffians in London’s East End. His razor-sharp detective in “In the Heat of the Night” helps a crotchety white Southern sheriff solve a murder. His world-renowned doctor in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” marries a white woman, but only after winning the blessing of her parents. “I try to make movies about the dignity, nobility, the magnificence of human life,” he insisted. Audiences flocked to his films, in part, because he transcended racial division and social despair – even as more African Americans, baby boomers and film critics tired of the old-fashioned do-gooder spirit of these movies. Intertwined lives And then, the lives of Martin Luther King Jr. and Sidney Poitier intersected one final time. After King’s assassination on April 4, 1968, Poitier was a stand-in for the ideal that King embodied. When he presented at the Academy Awards, Poitier won a massive ovation. “In the Heat of the Night” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” captured most of the major awards. Hollywood again dealt with the nation’s racial upheaval through Poitier movies. But after King’s violent murder, the Poitier icon no longer captured the national mood. In the 1970s, a generation of “Blaxploitation” films featured violent, sexually charged heroes. They were a reaction against the image of a Black leading man associated with Poitier. Although his career evolved, Poitier was no longer a superstar, and he no longer bore the burden of representing the Black freedom movement. Yet for a generation, he had served as popular culture’s preeminent expression of the ideals of Martin Luther King. Featured image: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons [Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.] Aram Goudsouzian, Bizot Family Professor of History, University of Memphis This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Reduced Shakespeare Company presents “The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged) on Feb. 12

The original masters of abridgement, the Reduced Shakespeare Company, land on stage at Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater February 12 at 7:30 p.m. with their riotous take on humor, “The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged).” Tickets are available now at the Majestic Theater Box Office. “This frenetic performance is like speed reading A Prairie Home Companion’s Pretty Good Joke Book – 2,200 jokes in 90 minutes,” said Jeffrey Gabel, Founding Executive Director at the Majestic Theater. “Since ‘laughter is the best medicine,’ during a pandemic we can use all the laughter we can get.” The Reduced Shakespeare Company has skewered history, the Bible, and the world’s most celebrated playwright. In “The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged)” the troupe tackles the subject it was born to reduce, from the high-brow to the low, and spanning across the ages. Is Moliere funny? Why or why not? Why did the chicken cross the road? Why do critics describe everything in a way that makes it seem unfunny? Find out the answers to these sticky questions and more with the Reduced Tickets for “The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged)” start at $38 and are available at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, by calling (717) 337-8200 or online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org. Free parking and roundtrip shuttle service for the performance is available from Gettysburg College’s Constitution Parking Lot. Shuttle starts one hour before each performance and is ADA accessible.  Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley as well as along Carlisle Street. Masks must be worn at all times inside the Majestic Theater regardless of vaccination status. The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a cultural celebration for its campus and community.

Adams County Arts Council features K-12 students and member works through January

The Adams County Arts Council, 125 South Washington Street, will be celebrating the opening exhibitions of Bermudian Springs High School, Littlestown High School, and Alloway Creek Elementary School student work, along with works by Warren Tracy Davis and Elsie Shackleton on Friday, January 7, 5-7:00 p.m. for a First Friday opening reception.  The shows will remain up through the month of January.   The reception is free and open to the public.  Masks are required. In the Gallery, “Community” is an exhibition featuring thirty-nine student artists from Bermudian Springs High School, Art Teacher, Kim Robinson.  Their collective artist statement, “Individually we are different, but collectively in the art room we are one community.  We think, plan, and celebrate growth and encourage one another to persevere through struggles.  We make mistakes and figure out how to make them work.  We are art students.” In the Reception Hall, The Choice Based Art Exhibition features work by Littlestown Area SD students and Alloway Creek Elementary students, Art Teachers Jill Rakowicz, and is a show celebrating the art of choice in the art room, or TAB.  Choice based art is a method of teaching in which students learn to use art making processes.  The results produce well-planned works of art that demonstrate originality, and a unique perspective from each student. For more information about Littlestown and Bermudian Springs Art Exhibitions, Warren Tracy Davis and other upcoming Arts Council exhibitions, art classes at the Arts Council’s Arts Education Center, and other news and events from the Adams County Arts Council, visit www.adamsarts.org or call (717) 334-5006. The Adams County Arts Council’s mission is to cultivate an arts-rich community.

New play by Gettysburg native Kramer Hardman to premiere at Adams County Arts Council

PALE ERECTIONS HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND WILL LIKELY BE RESCHEDULED IN MAY, 2022 “Pale Erections: The Monuments Play,” a new play by Gettysburg native Kramer Hardman, will have its premiere production at Adam County Arts Council (125 S Washington St, Gettysburg, PA 17325) for four performances in January 2022. By up-and-coming playwright Hardman and directed by Karen Land, Pale Erections will play on January 21, 22 and January 28, 29 at 7:00 p.m. Inspired by the July 4, 2020 Militia Protests in Gettysburg, PA, “Pale Erections” follows two militia soldiers tasked with defending a confederate monument in an isolated corner of a Civil War battlefield. While standing guard, they argue and lament, trying desperately to overcome their growing sense of isolation. Later, they are met by a stranger who plummets them into a nightmare, shaking their confidence in one another and the militia’s cause. The three-person cast features Ian Kress as Orson, Ike Schlossberg as Heins, and Jeff Leinbach as Quentin. Pale Erections is free to the public, with a suggested donation of $10. The creative team for Pale Erections includes Hardman (book), Land (director), John Rudy (Technical Director and Designer), and Cyd Tokar (Design Consultant and Co-Conspirator). For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/themonumentsplay/

Arts Council elects 2022 officers

The board of directors of the Adams County Arts Council has elected its 2022 officers. They are President, Judie Butterfield, currently a Gettysburg borough council member, 1st Vice President Kim Bond, Executive Vice President of Open Minds, 2nd Vice President Pauline LeVan, managing partner of Battlefield Harley-Davidson, Treasurer Stu Kravits, retired from IBM and Lockheed Martin, and Secretary Darlene Brown, retired Gettysburg Borough Zoning Board member. Directors for the coming year include Nicole Bucher, owner Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium, Attorney Todd King of Salzmann Hughes, PC, Holly Purdy, realtor/co-owner of ReMax of Gettysburg, Jill Rakowicz, Alloway Creek Elementary School art teacher and artist, Montserrat Fonseca-Estrada, teacher at the VIDA Charter School, LIU Migrant program and Program Assist Next Generation, Cassondra Selby, realtor with Keller Williams and Lois Starkey, former gallery owner, realtor, and association executive, and Debra Westmoreland, design consultant, curator and artist. The board appointed a new member, Jennie Dillon, for 2022. She is president of GARMA and the owner of Artworks in Gettysburg since 2017. For the past seven years, Jennie has been the Office and Events Manager at Gettysburg Rental Center. She was a CVS/Pharmacy Store Manager for 19 years and winner of the 2006 CVS Regional Paragon award. She is the organizer of the Gettysburg Outdoor Antique show, Christmas tree lighting, and Santa’s Shanty since 2016. She has served as president of the Gettysburg Eagles Ladies Auxiliary since June 2019 as Secretary Commissioner on the Human Relations Commission board since May 2021. She volunteers with 2 animal shelters and as the social media manager for BDAL shelter. Incorporated in 1993, the Adams County Arts Council has evolved from a small group of optimistic organizers into a nonprofit arts organization, with a membership of 500 and a mission to cultivate an arts-rich community. Core values of the ACAC are creativity, community, connection, and a focus on the future. Appreciating, practicing, and participating in the arts are key means to understanding, supporting, and celebrating the human experience which improves the quality of life for all who engage. The Arts Education Center at 125 S. Washington St. in Gettysburg hosts 10,000 sq. ft. of inviting spaces for arts and culinary classes, artist studios, galleries, pottery and glass workshops, and reception hall with full kitchen for community/ private events. The facility breaks down barriers of cost with scholarships for low income youth and senior citizens. For more information about the Arts Council’s classes, programs, or membership, visit www.adamsarts.org, email: aa@adamsarts.org or call (717) 334-5006.

Community Theatre announces auditions; schedules Sweeney Todd in January

The Gettysburg Community Theatre has announced that the “dark, witty and Tony Award-winning tale of love, murder and revenge set against the backdrop of 19th century London” Sweeney Todd will come to the theater in January. An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which, he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up… and the carnage has only just begun! Directed by Chad-Alan Carr and Carrie Conklin, the show will run Jan. 14 through 30, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:00 p.m. Sundays. This show may not be suitable for young children. The theater has announced 1st-9th grade auditions for Winnie the Pooh at 6:00 p.m on Dec. 13 or 20. Choose one date to audition. Parents are asked to attend to complete a form. Bring calendars with you. Students are asked to sing one verse of a song of their choice to audition for this production class that will meet 6-7pm Wednesdays, January 19–March 25, with mandatory dress rehearsals 6-8pm every night March 28-31, with performances April 1-10, 2022 7pm Fridays and 2pm Saturdays & Sundays. This class is by audition only. Masks may be required. The theater has announced 4th-12th  grade auditions for Les Misérables at 6:00 p.m.December 14 or 20. Choose one date to audition. Parents are asked to attend to complete a form. Bring calendars with you. Students are asked to sing one verse of a song of their choice to audition for this production class that will meet 6-7pm Tuesdays, January 18–April 29, with mandatory dress rehearsals 6-8pm every night May 2-5, with performances May 6-22, 2022 7pm Fridays and Saturdays & 2pm Sundays. This class is by audition only. Masks may be required. For more information please contact the theatre: Phone: 717-334-2692 Email: chad@gettysburgcommunitytheatre.org

Holiday Members Show at ACAC (Dec 3, 2021 through Dec 17, 2021

The Adams County Arts Council will be showcasing ACAC member’s artwork at their Arts Education Center, 125 S. Washington Street, Gettysburg, on Friday, December 3, 11:00 a.m-7:00 p.m. The exhibit will feature a collection of hanging artwork by sixteen member artists. The show will remain up through December 17. A variety of mediums and styles will be available for purchase to include, photography, carved wood, pen and ink, etchings, monoprints, oils, acrylics, watercolor, mixed media, gouache, and stained glass. Participating artist, Anne Finucane says, “I always enjoy participating in shows at the AECenter because the work that I do really reflects the Adams County landscape. Whether it’s a linocut or etching, the theme is South Central PA. and it is beautiful countryside.” Other participating artists include: Erin Brown, Celeste and Jim Lauretson, Geoffrey Thulin, Sharon Birch, Arlyn Pettingell, Andrew Smith, Joh Ricci, Christian Parker, Kathryn Stott, Elsie Shackleton, Fabio Carella, Barbara Stafford, Paula Kravits and Janet Powers. For more information about the Holiday Members Show, and other upcoming Arts Council exhibitions, art classes at the Arts Council’s Arts Education Center, and other news and events from the Adams County Arts Council, visit www.adamsarts.org or call (717) 334-5006. The Adams County Arts Council’s mission is to cultivate an arts-rich community.

ULS Annual Vesper Service is Sunday

 nce more, Music, Gettysburg! marks the beginning of Advent with a service of Evening Prayer at 7:30 p.m. on November 28 at the Gettysburg Chapel of United Lutheran Seminary. The Schola Cantorum of Gettysburg will lead a service including music from the last thousand years, from Gregorian Chant to a prayer set by its founder and director, Stephen P. Folkemer. The Vespers service will also include some limited congregational singing. In keeping with the policy of United Lutheran Seminary and the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control, those attending must be masked. Music, Gettysburg! is a premier concert series featuring international, regional and local musical artists for the greater southern Pennsylvania region. Concerts are free and open to the public. Support for the series comes from the United Lutheran Seminary, and also directly from businesses and individuals. All concerts (unless specifically noted) take place in the chapel of the United Lutheran Seminary at 147 Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg, PA.

Local Artist John Kamerer’s flower photos at Monumental Gallery

John Kamerer, a local Gettysburg photographer, has been photographing flowers for over 20 years and displays his photographs at his gallery, Monumental Photography Gallery. “I worked in advertising at J. Walter Thompson for over 40 years,” said Kamerer. “There, I made television commercials for well-known brands and then moved to Gettysburg in 2003.” After retiring from advertising and moving to Gettysburg, Kamerer began taking photographs of flowers he grew in his garden. He began exhibiting his work in art festivals and participated in photography and art shows until September 2019. “In December 2019, I bought Monumental Photography Gallery,” said Kamerer. “Then, the pandemic hit in March 2020, and I had to shut down until July 4, 2021.” After being closed for over a year, Kamerer reopened the gallery Fridays through Sundays in the afternoons and began showing at art shows again. The first was at the Apple Harvest Festival in Biglerville. There, he had the opportunity to interact with people again and show his work. Kamerer is interested in photographing colorful flowers. “I am known for my photographs of sunflowers,” he said. He grows lots of them in his own garden and takes photographs of them. Kamerer said he wants to continue photographing sunflowers as that is what he is known for, and it separates him from other photographers. “I have built up a fan base by focusing on sunflowers,” Kamerer said. “And people keep coming back to see what is new.” In addition to photographing sunflowers and other flowers in his garden, he has started painting the frames his photographs are in. “Painting the frames of the photographs gets me noticed, as people haven’t seen it before,” he said. People who visit his gallery are excited to see new things and painting the frames has reinvented his photography by expanding the flowers outside of the frame. “The hardest part of being a photographer is having to motivate yourself when you are alone,” said Kamerer. “In order to get a good photograph, you have to take advantage of what is in nature and what appears even when you don’t want to.” Kamerer said that the photographic process is very nuanced and keeps you on your toes as you have to stop and take a photograph of what is out there when the light is good. “Because of the spontaneity of nature, I have to carry my camera with me and be ready to take a photograph,” Kamerer said.” This results in every photograph that he takes having a story. Kamerer intends to keep taking photographs of flowers and nature, but the building the gallery is located is being sold by the end of the year. Beginning in the new year, he will focus more online and sell his art out of his home at 317 Buford Avenue. This new location will be open by appointment. Monumental Photography Gallery is located at 18 North Washington Street. Stop by Friday-Sunday afternoons or call 717-253-5004 to visit the gallery by appointment.

Art works by Robert Patierno on display through November

On display at the Gettysburg Majestic Theater Art Gallery through November are a series of works by Gettysburg College Adjunct Assistant Professor Robert Patierno. Patierno is an internationally renowned printmaker, draftsman, and painter whose strongly graphic and powerful works have been exhibited throughout the United States and across Europe. Patierno’s prints, paintings and drawings reside in the permanent collections of the Frans Masereel Centrum Pour Grafiks, Kasterlee, in Belgium; the Erie Art Museum; the Lancaster Museum; the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Pennsylvania; the U.S. Department of State, Art Bank; and those of many universities. His exhibits and shows are numerous enough to make recounting impractical. Corporations, museums, and individual collectors alike continue to acquire his work. As a founder of the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, Patierno spent more than two decades developing its Fine Arts Department, as well as chairing it before leaving in 2003 to devote himself to making art. His production capacity is evidenced by his many and frequent exhibitions – including outdoor murals in his home state of Pennsylvania. “Art making is my attempt to make order of chaos, so in this sense my work is observational in nature. What I perceive must be simplified, readjusted, and then the personal image surfaces, disinterested to a large degree. I think any subject looked at with a careful mind’s eye, becomes significant. The Art object itself is not as important to me as the resulting conversations that occur with my audience.”

Actor Stephen Lang Book Signing at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, Nov. 18, 2021

On Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, acclaimed stage and screen actor, playwright and author Stephen Lang will hold an in-person book signing for his book The Wheatfield in the Museum Book Store at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. As part of the events surrounding the annual Dedication Day and Remembrance Day weekend, Lang will sign copies of his Gettysburg-inspired book The Wheatfield, as well as The Gettysburg Story: Battlefield Auto Tour in which he voiced the narrative. Lang’s book signing is scheduled from 2-3 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 18. A story of sacrifice, courage and selflessness, Lang’s first book for young readers, The Wheatfield, tells of Union Soldier and Medal of Honor recipient, James Jackson Purman, as he vividly recalls the Battle of Gettysburg and his fateful encounters in the Wheatfield in July 1863. Returning to Gettysburg 50 years after the battle, Purman and other battle-weary Civil War veterans gather in harmony, stripping away their former allegiances to north and south in hopes of peaceful fellowship. Featuring Lang’s poetic writing and powerful illustrations by the young artists The Bros. Smith (Alex and Adrian), the book is aimed to delight readers young and old. Patrons of the Gettysburg Museum Book Store on Nov. 18 have the opportunity to purchase in store Lang’s works for signing. The Wheatfield is available in the Museum Book Store, in the Museum & Visitor Center, located at 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, Pa. A portion of the proceeds benefit the education and preservation mission of the Gettysburg Foundation. On Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, Lang will appear at the Dedication Day ceremonies in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Lang will join the ceremonies on the rostrum to present the Gettysburg Address. Hosted by the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania since 1938, and co-sponsored again this year by Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg College and the Gettysburg Foundation, the Dedication Day ceremonies include a program in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their nation and to recall the words of President Abraham Lincoln. The details surrounding the Dedication Day ceremonies are available at LincolnFellowship.org. A longtime advocate of all things Gettysburg, Gettysburg National Military Park, the Gettysburg Foundation and the town of Gettysburg itself, in 2019, Lang received the inaugural Kinsley Award presented by the Gettysburg Foundation to an individual or organization exemplifying Abraham Lincoln’s vision of a humble, civil and inclusive society. Lang is known for his roles on Broadway as Colonel Jessup in A Few Good Men, Happy Loman in Death of a Salesman, and a Tony-nominated performance as Lou in The Speed of Darkness. An award-winning playwright, Lang is also known for his performance documentary Beyond Glory, which tracks the ten-year odyssey behind his acclaimed solo performance piece about eight Medal of Honor recipients, which he continues to tour around the country. Lang’s many films include Last Exit to Brooklyn, Tombstone, Gods and Generals, PublicEnemies, Don’t Breathe, Avatar, and an unforgettable performance as Major General George E. Pickett in the 1993 film Gettysburg. Lang recently reprised his role as The Blind Man in Don’t Breathe 2, which opened in movie theaters August 2021. He reprises his starring role as Colonel Quaritch in James Cameron’s upcoming Avatar sequels beginning in 2022. #### GETTYSBURG FOUNDATION Gettysburg Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit philanthropic, educational organization operating in partnership with the National Park Service to preserve Gettysburg National Military Park and the Eisenhower National Historic Site, and to educate the public about their significance. The Foundation operates the Museum & Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park, as well as the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital, the Children of Gettysburg 1863 and the Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad StationTM. For information about visiting Gettysburg, or how you can become a Friend of Gettysburg, visit GettysburgFoundation.org or call 877-874-2478.

14th Annual Foothills Artists Studio Tour in the Fairfield and Cashtown, PA Area November 20 and 21

The 14th annual Foothills Artists studio tour will be held November 20 and 21, the weekend before Thanksgiving, at five locations in and around the western Adams County (PA) communities of Fairfield and Cashtown. Eleven artists and artisans will open their homes and studios in a special pre-holiday show and sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. All of the tour sites are in or adjacent to historic homes. The ten Foothills Artists are excited to welcome guest artist Laurie McKelvie of Shippensburg, this year. The five studio locations will feature original paintings, pottery, sculpture, furniture, woodworking, photography, printmaking, pastels, fabric arts, enamels, and jewelry. See first-hand where the artists create their work and have the opportunity to buy directly from them. For those interested in making purchases, checks and cash are welcome. Credit cards are accepted by most, but not all, of the artists. The tour is self-guided and may be completed in any order. The website, www.foothillsartists.net, includes a map of each studio’s location and street address, as well as links to each artist’s individual website. It also includes biographies and artwork examples for each artist. In consideration of others and in accordance with current CDC guidelines, the Foothills Artists ask that visitors please wear face masks inside the studios and homes. The artists: Geoff Grant – Eden Farm, 378 Topper Road, Fairfield. Geoff is a fine art photographer whose subjects include color landscape, candid portraits, architectural, and street photography in the U.S. and overseas.  His favorite styles of photography include soft, painterly images and Black and White.  His work has appeared in several shows, including the Delaplaine and NOMA galleries in Frederick, MD and the ACAC in Gettysburg.  Jóh Ricci — showing with Geoff Grant, Fairfield. Jóh is a fiber artist, creating sculptural vessels, wearable fiber art & tapestries.  Exhibiting at invitational and juried art shows, she is nationally recognized for her fiber art and has received numerous awards.  Her work is in private collections and included in a variety of publications. Self-taught in hand beadweaving and recycled paper techniques, she creates unique jewelry, as well as paintings in oils and acrylics. Jóh sells her work through local venues and prestigious galleries throughout the country and teaches at various art education centers in PA and MD.   Jack Handshaw – 1575 Mount Hope Road, Fairfield. An active artist for over 35 years, Jack is a potter working in all forms of clay, particularly reduction fired glazed porcelains, and has returned recently to doing raku.  Additionally, he will be offering redware for this year’s tour. He is a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, and has been accepted into numerous juried shows and received many awards. He also shares his art through teaching and demonstrations. Michael A McCullough – 1720 Hilltown Road, Cashtown. Michael is a visual artist of abstract paintings, whose work has been featured in exhibitions in various galleries and museums. His work is held in national and international collections. Sharon Pierce McCullough – 1720 Hilltown Road, Cashtown. A painter and sculptor of abstract and minimalist work, Sharon is also an internationally recognized artist and children’s book author and illustrator. Her sculptures have recently been recipients of several major awards, and her work is held in private and public collections. Ann Ruppert – Windborne Farm Studio, 489 Crum Road, Fairfield. Ann designs and creates jewelry and works in two-dimensional media including pastels, oils, watercolors and colored pencil. She has been accepted into the Adams County, PA Arts Council juried show and has earned awards in the Franklin Co. Art Alliance annual show and the Chambersburg Council for the Arts miniature show. Anne Finucane — showing with Ann Ruppert, Fairfield. Anne works in a variety of printmaking and other fine art media, and will be showing her etchings and linocuts on the tour. A long-time organizer for arts organizations in the Chambersburg area, her work has been accepted into juried exhibitions in Gettysburg, Hagerstown, Baltimore, Washington DC and New York City. She has been honored with one-person shows throughout Franklin County and her work is held in permanent collections in Chambersburg, Gettysburg and Hagerstown, MD. Laurie McKelvie, guest artist — showing with Ann Ruppert, Fairfield. Laurie paints the light and color of the world around her in pastels. Her work has been shown in galleries and juried shows locally and nationally.  Judy Pyle — showing with Ann Ruppert, Fairfield. Judy makes jewelry in hand-fabricated silver, torch-fired enamels on copper and fine silver. Her new enamel pieces are wearable sculptures. She has been a life-long art educator, as well as a practicing artist. Her most recent small sculptures — enameled items and other found objects — have been juried into national exhibits. Rod Stabler – showing with Ann Ruppert, Fairfield. Rod , a fifth-generation woodworker and retired cabinet maker, creates useful and practical woodcraft “with a flair”. Each piece is one of a kind. He strives to make objects of utility which are also objects of beauty. Geoffrey Thulin – Blue Orchard Studio, 1013 Old Route 30, Cashtown. Geoffrey is a painter specializing in bold animal imagery, landscapes and abstracts. He works primarily in watercolor and gouache. His award-winning work explores color, pattern and rhythm, and their connection to the spiritual aspect of nature. This year he has been working on a series of zodiac paintings, all of which will be on display. Enter a complete description of your announcement including names, dates, and times.

Adams County Arts Council to Feature Warren Tracy Davis, Marti Yeager and Diana Llauget Artwork at AECenter

The Adams County Arts Council will celebrate the exhibitions of Warren Tracy Davis, Marti Yeager and Diana Llauget with an opening reception on Friday, November 5, 5-7:30 p.m., at the Arts Education Center, located at 125 S. Washington Street, Gettysburg. The reception is free and open to the public. Due to the increase of CO-VID 19 cases, and the effort to maintain safety, we are requesting masks to be worn. Peeps, As in People, is a collection of acrylic painting portraits by Warren Tracy Davis and is the featured show in the Gallery. Warren started painting portraits in 2016. Warren says, “In this world, people are starving for a serving of art culture to free themselves from the craziness of this current culture.” Warren describes himself as an emotional painter, with each stroke of paint, trying to press the buttons of others with love and respect. He continues, “When I pick up a brush, my soul sings.” Warren’s unique and memorable style of portrait painting is on display year-round at Roots Country Market Artisan Mill, where he is a resident artist. Dreaming in Color: Paintings by Marti Griffin Yeager featured in the Reception Hall, includes oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolor, drawing media and printmaking paintings both old and new, with a wide range in style. Yeager has been painting full time for over twenty years and enjoys sharing her passion for art with other through teaching. Mindful, a collection of mixed media artworks by Diana Llauget, will be featured in the Studio. Diana has been painting on canvas for four years. Her work incorporates acrylic paint and mixed media and her compositions come from her daydreams. She credits her dad for her artistic ability and is inspired to paint the ideas that pop up in her mind. She uses her intuitive skills to paint what the canvas shows her to paint and believes that everyone has artistic abilities. For more information about the artwork of Marti Yeager, Warren Tracy Davis, Diana Llauget and other upcoming Arts Council exhibitions, or art classes at the Arts Council’s Arts Education Center, visit www.adamsarts.org or call (717) 334-5006.

“Girl in Wool and Dreams:” Arlyn Pettingell and the Importance of Dreams

York Springs artist Arlyn Pettingell, whose current show, “Girl in Wool and Dreams” is on display at the Adams County Arts Council, has been painting professionally for over 25 years. “The first time I realized the importance of dreams in my art I was a child,” said Pettingell. “I was flying through the fields at the farm with colors coming out of my hands.” Pettingell grew up on a farm with her mother and grandparents where she began painting as a child. She attended nursing school but soon realized she was more interested in abstract ideas. Her time in nursing school led to a self-awareness of the importance of dreams and the appreciation of other cultures as she became a full-time painter. Pettingell transforms the symbolism of dreams into her art. “I am an expert in dreams and remember all of my dreams. Throughout my life, I have gone through over seven copies of the Dreamers Dictionary,” she said. Pettingell said her dreams told her she was doing the right thing as an artist and gave her the confidence to continue. Pettingell once lived in Frenchville, PA where she bought an old tavern and a 12-room hotel where she created a studio and painted daily. There, she focused solely on painting and learned technique, routine, and gained a belief in what she was doing. While living and working in Frenchville, Pettingell dreamed of ballet and reaching the point in which she received pointe shoes and was able to stand on her toes. From this dream, she realized that she had come to the level of painting that was equivalent to receiving pointe shoes. This dream served as a sense of encouragement that she was bettering her technique and achieving a skill in painting that she had been working towards throughout her career. With the encouragement of her dreams and the belief that her dreams had helped her build her confidence through painting, Pettingell made the decision to move to an old Holly Springs farmhouse in the mountains and among nature where she continues to paint today. “Girl in Wool and Dreams” consists of small, intimate works made over the past year. “I love working small as it is more intimate than larger works and I can say things that are just as important when they are small,” Pettingell said. The paintings represent Pettingell’s interest in Baroque classical music, travel, and dreams. “While painting the canvases for this exhibition, I listened to Baroque classical music in the background because quiet music is good for one’s mind, heart, and healing,” she said. Pettingell said the quiet calm of classical music has made her more aware of her surroundings and that she has come to think of herself as a visual composer who gives something to the people. “[The music] has led me to paint what is important to me,” Pettingell said. “The quietness, nature, and travel.” The paintings in the show represent Pettingell’s thought processes, self-awareness, and beliefs that no matter where one lives, it is important and beautiful. “From this exhibition, I would like visitors to take away something from the composition and add it to their own lives,” she said. “Whether its one’s own sense of aesthetics or the desire to achieve one’s own goals, I hope that visitors learn something.” The exhibition, in the main gallery, remains open until Thursday. Address: Adams County Arts Council, 125 South Washington Street Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Finding Balance With Social Media

View the documentary anytime beginning Friday, October 29th at 8 p.m. until Saturday, November 6th at 12 a.m. October 13th, 2021 – LIKE achieves the impossible: actually getting kids and teens to put down their phones for a few minutes. From Friday October 29th to November 6th Healthy Adams County will hold a special virtual screening of the documentary.  Please click on the following link to register for the movie https://watch.eventive.org/indieflix/play/6153a5ed12cdfa003e63491c This take-action, inspiring film is the 2nd installment in the award-winning iNDIEFLIX Mental Health Trilogy, created to entertain, engage, and enlighten about issues surrounding mental health. Before Covid, 2 billion smartphone owners were checking their phones, on average, 150 times a day, and the enforced isolation and mandated screen time of the past year has only increased this figure. Research continues to confirm that having your head down, staring at the screen, chasing “likes” and seeking “followers” is the perfect recipe for low self-esteem, isolation and depression, as well as loss of focus and patience.  The filmmakers of LIKE inspire kids and teens to consider a life of JOMO (joy of missing out) as opposed to FOMO. They use their proven 4 E formula: entertainment, empathy, enlightenment and a heavy dose of empowerment, arming their audiences with easy-to-execute strategies to change their habits that very same day. Research and data is plentiful: happiness surges when we have digital balance, not overload; when we give ourselves time to look at actual trees, animals and all things nature, as well as interact – however we can – with other humans.  LIKE was ahead of the Social Dilemma curve in shocking its audience with its exclusive interviews from Silicon Valley insiders – including the co-creator of Facebook’s “Like” button – who break down the addiction-causing algorithms behind the apps. The medical and science experts explain the behavioral changes that come from chemical effects on the brain. But the 49-minute-long LIKE does not leave you with a sense of fear and foreboding. The core of the documentary is built around the kids and teens interviewed, and the empathy that they buildwith their audience as they look honestly at their usage and dependence on these tiny devices, consider the good that can come from and be transmitted via social media, and rethink the relationship to one where they are much more aware and in balance. Finally, a funny and engaging dancing panda meme at the end of the film perfectly illustrates the very sad rabbit holes our phones are sending us down, preventing us from looking up and seeing the world.  ‘‘For this particular film, the prestigious awards and reviews we’ve received are NOT the measure of success. It’s the direct feedback the kids & teens…. they are experimenting with our tricks on how to use their smartphones INSTEAD of their smartphones using them… and winning.’ said Scilla Andreen, CEO and Co-Founder of IndieFlix and Director/Executive Producer of LIKE. ‘Through shocking kids and adults alike with the behind-the-scenes look at their favorite apps and making them laugh, we’ve been able to engage them enough to consider taking the road back to ‘real’ instead of ‘virtual’ life, by working towards self-regulation and a healthy relationship with their phones.”  As with all iNDIEFLIX films, screenings take place in (now virtual) community settings, usually followed by community discussion and Q&A. This peer-group conversation is a critical element to getting young and old to reflect on what they’ve just learned, and the changes that they’ll make as a result.  LIKE, and its Mental Health Trilogy Companions Angst and The Upstanders are staples in social & emotional learning programs in schools all over the world. Knowing that successful change depends on continuing the conversation beyond the screening date, each film comes with discussion guides, tip sheets a catalogue of additional resources, with a dedicated 8-week curricula for each film launching in 2021.  iNDIEFLIX Group Inc is a global education and streaming service that promotes and supports social impact films that create positive change in the world. iNDIEFLIX Education books online and offline community screenings in schools and corporations around the world, while iNDIEFLIX Stream offers a monthly subscription-based service to access thousands of high-quality shorts, features, documentaries, and series from around the world. https://www.indieflix.com/

Gettysburg in Color! 10/28 Light Show In the Square

Experience the history of Gettysburg like never before! The Adams County Arts Council and Adams County Historical Society are teaming up to present a special outdoor “projection” of historic photographs in front of the wall of the ACNB Bank Building in the square.  ACHS Executive Director Andrew Dalton will host the program, featuring rare images of the town taken throughout its long and storied history. Many of the views will be shown – for the first time ever – in color, utilizing cutting-edge technology from the genealogy company MyHeritage.The program is free and open to the public – chairs welcome on bricks, maintaining a walking path for pedestrians. Sign up and “share” on Facebook by clicking here. 

Majestic Theater, Gettysburg Times Present ‘Storm Lake’ Screening and Panel Discussion

Storm Lake, the new documentary film about an independent newspaper’s fight to serve their small Iowa community, will be shown at Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater on Sunday, November 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $9 each and are now on sale at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg.  Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Art Cullen and his family fight to unite and inform their rural Iowan farming community through their biweekly newspaper, The Storm Lake Times – even as the paper hangs on by a thread. Twice a week, they work as civic watchdogs to protect their hometown and the legacy of credible journalism, at large. Storm Lake gives an intimate look at their work keeping the paper alive as local journalism across the country dies out.  Following the film, Tim Lambert, Multimedia News Director and host of Morning Edition at WITF-FM, Harrisburg, will lead a panel discussion with Gettysburg Times editors and the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, discussing the role of professional journalists in providing crucial context and news coverage in rural communities in an era of shrinking newsrooms, diminishing resources, and growing misinformation. Lambert covered Gettysburg and Adams County for several years before joining WITF.  “Small town newspapers have been the backbone of local democracy and community life across America for more than 200 years, but they are disappearing at an alarming rate. Our community is so very fortunate that the Gettysburg Times is still publishing six days a week,” said Jeffrey Gabel, Majestic Theater Founding Executive Director. “This special documentary screening and live panel discussion will illuminate the newspaper’s value to the vitality of Adams County and the challenges it faces in today’s economy.”  In addition to the Majestic Theater screening and panel discussion, the film is set to air nationwide as part of the Independent Lens series on WITF-TV/PBS on Monday, November 15.  Tickets are $9 and are available online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org, by calling (717) 337-8200, or by stopping by the Box Office at 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg. The Box Office is open Monday through Saturday, 12-7:30 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley as well as along Carlisle Street. Masks are required at all times while visiting the Majestic Theater, regardless of vaccination status.  The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a cultural celebration for its campus and community.

Teas of the First Ladies Presentation at the Gettysburg Public Library

The Gettysburg chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution invites the public to attend their October 15, 2021 gathering in the Eisenhower Room at the Adams County Library at 1:00 PM.  A wonderful program is planned. Drink and listen to surprising, funny, and poignant stories about First Ladies serving tea at the “First Ladies’ Tea.” This “First Ladies’ Tea” features Ruthmary McIlhenny who is well-known for her delightful presentations at the Adam Country Arts Council, Eisenhower National Historical Site, and HACC’s Community Education Days.  In the spirit of the program, tea and light refreshments will be available. Please RSVP to Regent Edy Sarnoff at edyasarn@gmail.com if you plan to attend.  Please note that masks are encouraged inside the library as an attendee moves to/from the Eisenhower Room, though once inside the room, masks are optional.

Entertainment legend Rich Little to perform at Majestic Theater Oct. 15

Gettysburg, PA (September 9, 2021) – Master mimic and show business legend Rich Little will make his Gettysburg debut live at the Majestic Theater on October 15 at 7:30 p.m.  Nicknamed “The Man of a Thousand Voices,” Rich Little has entertained millions with his uncanny characterizations for nearly seven decades. With a repertoire of more than 200 voices, he has appeared on television variety shows such as Johnny Carson, Ed Sullivan, Laugh-In, and Hollywood Squares. A professed classic movie buff, Little is fond of doing Jimmy Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Alfred Hitchcock, John Wayne and Humphrey Bogart, but he also has characters such as Kermit the Frog, and Dr. Phil.  Little continues to delight audiences several times per week at the Laugh Factory at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. In May 2021, he reflected on his career, and his voices, and the friendships he’s made along the way on CBS Sunday Morning, and revealed he would appear in Trial on the Potomac Off-Broadway in New York this summer.  “The Majestic is honored to present one of the living legends of show business,” enthused Jeffrey Gabel, the Majestic’s founding executive director. “Anyone who saw his appearance on CBS Sunday Morning could easily see he’s still at the top of his game. And we all certainly need a good laugh these days.”  Little’s October 15 performance is funded by the Majestic Theater Centennial Endowment Fund. Tickets start at $42 and are available online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org, by calling (717) 337-8200, or by stopping by the Box Office at 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg. The Box Office is open Monday through Saturday, 12-7:30 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Free parking and roundtrip shuttle service for each show is available from Gettysburg College’s Constitution Parking Lot. Shuttle starts one hour before each performance and is ADA accessible. Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley as well as along Carlisle Street. Masks are required at all times while visiting the Majestic Theater, regardless of vaccination status.  The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a cultural celebration for its campus and community.

Two New Exhibitions at Schmucker Art Gallery

Two new exhibits open tomorrow at Gettysburg College’s Schmucker Art Gallery.  Across the West and Toward the North: Norwegian and American Landscape Photography September 8 – December 7, 2021 Across the West and Toward the North features stunning historical images of waterfalls, rocky mountains, glaciers, and geysers in Norway and the United States. This large traveling exhibition examines how major changes in infrastructure, tourism, mining, and expansion changed the landscapes and affected Indigenous peoples in the nineteenth century in the two countries.   A complementary exhibition will be on display concurrently at Eckert Art Gallery, Millersville University, and the exhibition then will travel to museums in Utah, Seattle, and Norway.    Opening Reception: September 10, 2021, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Virtual Gallery Talk with Co-Curators: October 6, 2021, 5:00–6:00 p.m., https://gettysburg.zoom.us/j/9991200186 Gallery Tour with Photo Collector Ron Perisho: October 22, 2021, 4:00 p.m. Reception to follow until 6:00 p.m. Martin Puryear: Forty Years since Sentinel September 8 – November 6, 2021 Opening Reception: September 10, 2021, 5:00-7:00 p.m. In 1981, Gettysburg College commissioned African American artist Martin Puryear to create a work of art to commemorate the sesquicentennial anniversary of the College’s founding, and in 1982, Puryear erected Sentinel. Since then, Puryear has come to be regarded as one of the most important contemporary American sculptors. Sentinel, one of Puryear’s first monumental outdoor sculptures,is an important part of Puryear’s legacy.   For the first time at Gettysburg College, a working mold Puryear constructed in preparation for Sentinel and photographs of the 1982 installation will be on display. The exhibition, curated by Kolbe Summer Research Fellow Merlyn Maldonado ’22, will also include prints by Puryear that were recently acquired by the College and loaned from a private collection. Shortly after graduating from Gettysburg College, Nicholas Micros ’82 assisted Puryear in installing Sentinel.  All are invited to log on to the virtual gallery talk, where Micros will discuss his time as a student at Gettysburg, the lessons learned from Puryear, and his own successful career as a sculptor.   This exhibition is supported by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Africana Studies, and EPACC, Gettysburg College. Gallery Talk with Merlyn Maldonado Lopez ’22: September 10, 2021, 4:00 p.m. Virtual Gallery Talk with Nicholas Micros ’82: October 1, 2021, 12:00-1:00 p.m. About Schmucker Art Gallery Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. All events are free and open to the public. Visitors must wear properly-fitting face masks. Please check here for information and updates about Gettysburg College’s Covid-19 protocols:https://www.gettysburg.edu/opening/ Schmucker Art Gallery offers meaningful and engaging experiences for the Gettysburg College community and surrounding region through diverse art exhibitions and related programming.  The Gallery is committed to fostering an enriching environment that welcomes diverse perspectives and inspires dialogue, creativity, and connection.   Schmucker Art Gallery is located on the main floor of Schmucker Hall (conveniently located at the intersection of N. Washington and Water streets) and is fully accessible. Free parking is available in one of the visitor parking lots on campus, or free two-hour parking can be found on the streets adjacent to Schmucker Hall. The main entrance is through the quadrangle side of the building.  All events are free and open to the public.  Gallery hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Building is accessible. For more information, please contact Shannon Egan, Director of Schmucker Art Gallery, at segan@gettysburg.edu or (717) 337-6125.  www.gettysburg.edu/gallerygallery@gettysburg.edu

Work by Central PA Artist Robert Patierno on Display at Majestic Theater Art Gallery

“A Moveable Feast,” a wide-ranging selection of wood block prints, charcoal drawings, and watercolor paintings by Central Pennsylvania artist Robert Patierno is on display daily at the Majestic Theater’s art gallery now through the end of November. The gallery is open daily during Majestic business hours.  “Art making is my attempt to make order of chaos, so in this sense my work is observational in nature,” explains Patierno. “What I perceive must be simplified, readjusted, and then the personal image surfaces, disinterested to a large degree. I think any subject looked at with a careful mind’s eye, becomes significant. The Art object itself is not as important to me as the resulting conversations that occur with my audience.”  Patierno is an internationally renowned printmaker, painter and draftsman with work in the permanent collections of museums across the world, including in Belgium, the Erie Art Museum, Lancaster Museum of Art, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, and the U.S. Department of State Art Bank. His multi-decade career has included numerous exhibitions in the United States and in Europe. A founder of the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, Patierno developed the Fine Arts Department for two decades until 2003. He continues to teach as an adjunct assistant professor in art and art history at Gettysburg College. Past shows in Gettysburg include a major exhibition at Gettysburg College’s Musselman Library.  “The Majestic is honored to share Mr. Patierno’s wonderful artwork with our patrons and the community at large,” said Jeffrey Gabel, Majestic Theater Founding Executive Director.  The exhibit is open to the public daily during regular box office hours, Monday through Saturday, 12 – 7 p.m. and Sunday, 1 – 5 p.m. Admission is free. The Majestic Theater is located at 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg. Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley as well as along Carlisle Street.  The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a cultural celebration for its campus and community.

Independent Filmmaking Comes to Adams County: David Noble and “Secret Within the Sphere”

By Shane Carley On August 14, the independent science fiction steampunk feature film “Secret Within the Sphere” premiered in Gettysburg, at the R/C Gateway Theater 8. The film was filmed and produced in Central Pennsylvania, and the main cast are from Lancaster (Sugey Cruz, Alex Rudegeair, and Jeremy Good), Reading (Josh Spudeno), and Gettysburg (Austin Greene). Writer and director David Noble describes the film as “a micro budget independent science fiction feature film… of an airship captain named Rudolph, who gets hired by local royalty from the planet of Wallacia to steal an artifact of historical importance. It hits a lot of the fundamental aspects of high adventure in a steampunk genre backdrop.”  “Secret Within the Sphere” is Noble’s fourth feature film with the production company he runs with his wife, Noble Park Films. Each film has been made in a different location, including a horror movie in the Louisiana backwoods (Zydeco, 2012), a martial arts film in Seoul, South Korea (The Knight Squad, 2014), and an adventure treasure hunt movie in El Paso, Texas (Lost Padre Mine, 2017). Regarding the locations of his projects, Noble said “When you’re at a location, and you’re looking to produce a movie, the location and the backdrop shapes the type of movie you would make. We ended up in Pennsylvania and, between the Victorian backdrop of the amount of mansions and the affinity of the railroad system and other factors, we ended up making a science fiction steampunk movie.” Noble said the majority of production took place over a nine day period, in which the cast and crew filmed around Central Pennsylvania, including a switch tower, the state national Railroad Museum, two different historical mansions, and the State Capitol building.  Noble was upfront about the way those involved with the project helped elevate it to the film it became. Pennsylvania based companies Broken Tile Productions and Winchell Media served as producers on the film, and helped Noble to secure the majority of the film equipment, the Director of Photography, and some of the other crew. “Sugey Cruz, in addition to being one of the leads, helped with casting auditions, as well as securing a lot of the cast itself. And recognizing Broken Tile and recognizing Winchell Media was just because of how much more so than most, those two groups came above and beyond.” The entire project took three years to complete. “When you’re working in an independent film community, especially with micro budgets, the preponderance of people that participate have day jobs. But they still have to make a living so that they can do this on their off time,” Noble said. The first year was spent writing the script, scouting locations, and casting. By the end of the first year, Noble was able to devise a nine day schedule from May to July where the cast could film on weekends over the three month period. “The second and third year, because we were navigating through COVID, that did pause stuff. The second and third year was really editing audio. And we reached out to post production creatives from, like, 15 different countries. So people around the world were doing different aspects of the visual effects. Whether it was audio recordings for voice overs in London, or music from musicians in Sri Lanka, or Australia, or India, or Israel, the post production effort really came together.” When asked how independent production companies like Noble Park films can carve their own place in the cinema landscape while competing with the Hollywood studio system, he said: “You cannot. They’re able to throw hundreds of millions of dollars into things, and so what we have to do is, instead of competing at their game, you need to change the game in your favor. For us, when we produce a movie, we’re telling the story we want to tell and it’s not being micromanaged by executives. And so the story that we’re telling was “Secret within the Sphere,” and it was the best story we could tell, given the parameters. But when you look at the intricate locations, the cast, the crew, music, sound, any number of factors, there was a lot of energy that was invested into this film. But for us, we’ve got the friends, the memories, a project that was completed in the end. And there’s a lot of value to that.” “Secret Within the Sphere” has received recognition at over a dozen festivals as official selections, semi finalists, and finalists. So far, it has won four awards, including “Best Sci-Fi.” Noble Park Film’s “Secret Within the Sphere” will be released in December on demand.

Metropolitan Opera Live in HD Season Kicks Off October 9 at the Gettysburg Majestic Theater

The Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD presentations return to Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater for the 2021-2022 season. The live presentations kick off Saturday, October 9 at 1 pm and include 10 operas from the Met’s 2021-2022 season. The 2021–22 Live in HD season opens on October 9, 2021, with a revival of Mussorgsky’s monumental Boris Godunov, starring René Pape reprising his acclaimed portrayal of Boris, under the baton of Sebastian Weigle. The season continues with Fire Shut Up in My Bones, October 23, 2021, marking the first time an opera by an African American composer will appear on the Met stage. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Grammy Award–winning jazz musician and composer Terence Blanchard’s acclaimed adaptation of the celebrated memoir by New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow. Kay Hoke, nationally recognized opera lecturer, will offer a free pre-show talk starting at 12 p.m. Another new work, Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice, is on screen December 4, 2021, conducted by Nézet-Séguin and starring Erin Morley in the title role. On January 8, 2022 is the Met’s holiday presentation of Cinderella, a shortened, English-language version of Laurent Pelly’s charming 2018 production of Massenet’s Cendrillon, Isabel Leonard sings the title role, joined by Emily D’Angelo as Prince Charming, Jessica Pratt as the Fairy Godmother, and Stephanie Blythe and Laurent Naouri as Cinderella’s feuding guardians. A new production of Verdi’s Rigoletto, starring Rosa Feola, Piotr Beczała, and Quinn Kelsey, is on screen January 29, 2022. The timeless opera is set in the 1920s, with Art Deco sets by Michael Yeargan and elegant costumes by Catherine Zuber. On March 12, 2022, Lise Davidsen brings her much-heralded interpretation of the title role of Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos to the Met for the first time. Isabel Leonard is the Composer, Brenda Rae is Zerbinetta, and Brandon Jovanovich is Bacchus. On March 26, 2022 the Met presents the original five-act French version of Don Carlos, Verdi’s epic opera of doomed love among royalty, set against the backdrop of the Spanish Inquisition. Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads tenor Matthew Polenzani in the title role, soprano Sonya Yoncheva as Élisabeth de Valois, and mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča as Eboli. Franco Zeffirelli’s beloved production of Puccini’s Turandot returns on May 7, 2022, with Anna Netrebko as the legendary icy princess. On May 21, 2022, soprano Nadine Sierra takes on one of the repertory’s most storied roles, the haunted heroine of Lucia di Lammermoor, in a new staging by Australian theater and film director Simon Stone. The season concludes June 4, 2022 with Australian composer Brett Dean’s Hamlet, which had its critically acclaimed world premiere at the Glyndebourne Festival in 2017. Tickets for The Met: Live in HD, go on sale September 6 to Majestic Members by visiting the Box Office at 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, or calling (717) 337-8200. The general public may purchase tickets starting September 8 in person, by phone or online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org. The Box Office is open Monday through Saturday, 12-7:30 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Free parking and roundtrip shuttle service for each show is available from Gettysburg College’s Constitution Parking Lot. Shuttle starts one hour before each performance and is ADA accessible. Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley as well as along Carlisle Street. The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a cultural celebration for its campus and community.

Music Together® Classes to Return to ACAC

The Adams County Arts Council (ACAC) is bringing Music Together® classes back to its Arts Education Center (AEC) beginning in September. Ten-week sessions for families with young children will be held on Friday and Saturday mornings beginning on September 17 at the AEC, located at 125 South Washington Street, Gettysburg, PA. To register, please visit www.adamsarts.org or call (717) 334-5006.  The program’s director, Lisa Cadigan, previously offered Music Together classes at the ACAC from 2017 to 2019 as an artist-in-residence. Since then, Cadigan has joined ACAC’s staff as Arts Outreach Coordinator, and transferred the Music Together license to the Adams County Arts Council. “The license transfer gives us the ability to offer scholarships to low-to-moderate income families, which was something I wanted to do, but was not able to do as an independent contractor,” says Cadigan. “I am thrilled to be part of ACAC’s staff, to be able to re-start this wonderful program post-pandemic, and to ensure availability of high-quality music instruction to all residents of Adams County.” Joining Cadigan to teach the classes is certified Music Together instructor Ronda Sprague, who also rents space at the ACAC to teach piano lessons. Sprague received a B.S. from the Butler University School of Fine Arts in 1983 and runs a successful private music studio (room2music.com), where she offers piano, flute, and early childhood music instruction privately and in groups. “I use a variety of contemporary teaching methods to help my students achieve their individual goals in the ways that are best suited to their learning styles,” says Sprague. “I was inspired by music as a child, and I have a passion to nurture the love of music in others. I look forward to joining the ACAC’s Music Together program and helping it grow.” ACAC Executive Director Leona Rega is also enthusiastic to add Music Together to the ACAC’s list of program offerings. “Music Together classes are exactly the type of high-quality educational arts experiences we want to offer at the Arts Council for young children and their families.  I’m very familiar with the curriculum of Music Together. I’ve seen firsthand how music and rhythm are key to the development of cognitive skills (memory, focus) in addition to taking turns and sharing. A personal favorite component of Music Together is the quality time a child has with their parent and or caregiver in the development of these skills while having fun. It truly is a program where parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings can participate together,” says Rega. Music Together is a leader in research-based, developmentally appropriate music education. The curriculum offers music of exceptional quality, exploring a variety of tonalities, rhythms and cultures. “All children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate in music with confidence, provided that their early environment supports such learning. Music Together brings families together by providing a rich musical environment in the classroom and encouraging family participation in spontaneous musical activity at home within the context of daily life. Families get so much from these classes,” Cadigan explains. An internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for children birth through age seven, the Music Together curriculum was coauthored in 1987 by Kenneth K. Guilmartin (Founder/Director) and Rowan University Professor of Music Education Dr. Lili M. Levinowitz (Director of Research). The curriculum offers programs for families; schools; at-risk populations; and children with special needs, in over 2000 communities in 40 countries. The company is passionately committed to bringing children and their caregivers closer through shared music-making and helping people discover the joy—and educational value—of early music experiences.  To learn more about the Music Together program at the ACAC, look for Cadigan at the Arts Oasis on Lincoln Square on August 28 at 10 a.m. for an interactive demonstration, call (717) 334-5006, or visit www.adamsarts.org. 

Adams County Arts Council to feature mixed media artist Lora Christine Vannoy

The Adams County Arts Council will celebrate the First Friday opening reception of Lora Christine Vannoy in the reception hall of the Arts Education Center, 125 South Washington Street, Gettysburg, on Friday, August 6, 5-7:00 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.  Vannoy’s exhibition will remain up until August 27. Lora “Christy” Vannoy grew up in Gettysburg and lived in Adams County most of her life. She currently resides in Costa Rica.  Her love of art started as a child, although she didn’t begin to paint until she was forty-three years old.  She says, “I needed a creative outlet to move the energy and the feelings that I was experiencing.  Painting was a deep experience for me.  Each piece took on a life of its own during its creation.  I love color and movement.  I love texture.  I love that when I begin, I have no idea what the result will be.  I like to be wild with the paint and allow it to guide me until I feel completely satisfied with the result.  Sometimes it’s easy and it just flows and other times it may take on many forms before I feel it is a finished piece…either way I love the process. I work on the ground or a table so the canvas is flat, and the acrylic paint can be applied in ways that do not involve a paint brush.  I use an array of techniques and tools to apply the paint.” For more information about Lora Christine Vannoy’s exhibition,  as well as other upcoming Arts Council exhibitions, or art classes at the Arts Council’s Arts Education Center, visit www.adamsarts.org or call (717) 334-5006.

WORKING opens this weekend at the Gettysburg Community Theatre!

WORKING In Person Performances (live) July 9, 10, 16 & 17 at 7pm July 11 & 18 at 2pm Streaming Performances July 16, 17, 24 at 7pm This examination of 26 people from all walks of life proves that it’s more than just a job for the average working American. Based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with American workers, “Working” paints a vivid portrait of the men and women that the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the phone operator, the waitress, the millworker, the mason and the housewife, just to name a few. Nominated for six Tony Awards, this classic has been updated for a modern age, featuring new songs by Tony Award-winning Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as favorites by Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia and Grammy Award-Winning songwriter James Taylor. Directed by Chad-Alan CarrMusic Directed by Jane Johnston Live band on stage.This show is not suitable for children due to mature language. Tickets can be ordered online in advance or in person. Doors open half hour before show. Please click HERE. CHILDREN’S PLAYS STREAMING TO YOUR HOME Two shows for the price of one! Virtual Streaming Only 2pm July 11th IN PERSON SUMMER THEATRE DAY CAMPS IN JULY Each week is a different in person camp show. AUDITIONS All Together Now!a broadway musical revue July 19 & 206pm K-12th Grade& 7pm Adults Everyone must sing. Please prepare one verse of a broadway song of your choice or “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” to audition. Minimal rehearsals will be scheduled based upon cast availability. Please click HERE for Audition Information. IN PERSON PRODUCTION with in person AND streamed performances scheduled November 12-15, 2021. Directed by Chad-Alan Carr All questions can be emailed to Chad@GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org AUDITIONS James And The Giant Peach jr. August 8 & 96pm K-5th Grade7pm 6th-12th Grade Everyone must audition. Please prepare one verse of a broadway song of your choice or “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” to audition. Rehearsals will be held during required musical theatre class 6pm Tuesdays starting after Labor Day. IN PERSON PRODUCTION with in person performances scheduled December 2021. Directed byCarrie Conklin All questions can be emailed to Chad@GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org

Buzz Jones Jazz Quintet entertains at rec park amphitheater

The Buzz Jones Jazz Quintet played a set in the Gettysburg rec park yesterday afternoon.  It was some cool jazz on a hot Sunday afternoon.  The concert was part of Music Gettysburg!s annual series. Music Gettysburg! is using the amphitheater while their usual concert locations on the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary campus are being prepared for reopening. The quintet played jazz classics to a crowd of over 100 enthusiasts that watched from folding chairs placed under the shade trees around areas in front of the stage. A hit was a solid rendition of Ferlin Husky’s 1958 “ Sittin’ On A Rainbow,” sung by the band’s vocalist, Cathy Chemi. There will be more concerts in the amphitheater over the summer, including a July 4th performance by local fusion band Schizophonic.

Live music returns to Gettysburg

After a year of eerie quiet in the borough’s streets and establishments, tourists and locals are again filling the town. And with them are coming healthy doses of live music. As the various venues around the county fill up their schedules, local musicians are pleased to be back performing and earning a living after a year of inactivity. “Certainly, the COVID-19 pandemic has been another catastrophic blow to music all over the world,” said Ploughman Cider Taproom owner Ben Wenk. Speaking of the pandemic year, Gettysburg Borough Council member Matt Moon said “all the things I would do to facilitate live music in my life have been on hold. I think the closest I have gotten to live music is sitting on my porch with a guitar or banjo and trying to not annoy the neighbors.” Moon said making music online can’t compare with the real deal. “Making your own music is an excellent alternative to fill the hole of live music. Still, many of us don’t have the musical skills to make this a reality.” With venues opening, there are a variety of live choices through the summer, inside and outside, in restaurants, bars, wineries, cideries, and more. Liquor Control Board Rules After the borough learned this year that Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board laws do not allow live music in public spaces in front of establishments selling alcohol, outdoor music that had been held in front of the Ploughman Cider Taproom on the square has been moved to a nearby parklet sponsored by the Adams County Arts Council. “We don’t enforce LCB laws; we also do not want to issue conflicting permits,” said Director of Planning, Zoning, and Code Enforcement Carly Marshall. “We would only get involved if it’s a violation of the noise ordinance.” Marshall said the arts council had been issued a special events permit that allows outdoor music during the week until 9:00 p.m. and on weekends until 10:00 p.m. The permit must be renewed monthly. Moon said he was optimistic that venues could remain open. “I have the same hopes everyone has. I think this summer we will see a lot of music outdoors. I hope by Spring 2022 things will feel normal again.” “This music scene is dependent on all those it impacts,” said Wenk. “The scene is always changing due to a variety of circumstances. It ebbs and flows with local economies and the culture of the area, so it’s hard to pin down.” Paying his respects to local musician Dan Gallagher who died unexpectedly in 2019, Wenk said “I’d hope that with Dan’s legacy in mind we’ll see more venues, more original acts, and a larger more diverse music scene in Gettysburg in the next 5-10 years. Other communities might have just as many venues, and bands hired any given weekend, but so often these bands don’t carry a diversity of sound and an authenticity that the musicians in the Gettysburg scene do.” Rock on Gettysburg!

Skerryvore, Scottish folk-rock band, kicks off the Majestic’s return to live concerts Sept. 10

Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater welcomes Scotland’s sensational folk-rock band Skerryvore to the stage Friday, September 10 at 7:30 p.m. The band’s performance marks the opening of the Majestic’s 2021-2022 live Celebrity Series and the return of live performance to the historic stage for the first time since March 2020. “Skerryvore’s band members are all master musicians and dynamic performers,” explained Majestic Founding Executive Director Jeffrey Gabel. “Their original music harmoniously blends elements of traditional Celtic folk music, country western and rock and roll. Their concerts are as refreshing as a highland breeze.” Twice winners of Scotland’s Traditional Music Live Act of the Year Award (2011 and 2016), Skerryvore create a unique fusion of folk, rock, and pop representing the backgrounds and influences of the band members, who hail from different regions of Scotland. Brothers Daniel (accordion) and Martin Gillespie (pipes, whistles, accordion) are steeped in the Scottish west coast ceilidh tradition of the Isle of Tiree. Joining them are friends Fraser West on drums, and Alec Dalglish on guitar and vocals, bringing backgrounds in brass and wind bands, and jazz. Add to the mix blues, folk and country and you have Skerryvore. Purchase Tickets Tickets for Skerryvore start at $35 and go on sale to the public Friday, June 18 at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, by calling (717) 337-8200 or online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org. Majestic members can access tickets early, starting Wednesday, June 16. Parking and Shuttle Free parking and roundtrip shuttle service for the performance is available from Gettysburg College’s Constitution Parking Lot. Shuttle starts one hour before each performance and is ADA accessible. Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley as well as along Carlisle Street. Majestic Live 2021-2022 Skerryvore is just the first of several live performances slated at the Majestic this fall, including Tommy Emmanuel, CGP (October 5), Rich Little (October 15) and Gordon Lightfoot (October 21). Tickets for those shows are already available at the Box Office, online or by phone. The remainder of the 2021-2022 season will be announced in late July. The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a cultural resource for its campus and community. Tickets are available starting Friday, June 18 at (717) 337-8200 or www.gettysburgmajestic.org.

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