An Art Lover’s Paradise By Larry Biddison
Once again, our Ambassador of Fun, the cruise director
of the S.S. Tioga County, tells us where all the good times are
happening this month around town.
Anything Goes! I’m talking not just about Hamilton-Gibson’s
pull-out-all-the-stops production of Cole Porter’s popular
musical comedy. I’m talking about nearly all of Tioga County’s
August arts events. Maybe “Everything Goes” is more
to the point. There’s the Endless Mountain Music Festival
overlapping a bit with H-G’s play dates, followed by the
Arcadia production of three zany and possibly irreverent plays
about God, Heaven, and the Bible. If I were a prospective visitor
instead of a resident capable of taking it all in, I might have
a hard time deciding which week to book my B&B or hotel. Of
course, it might be a bit difficult to book anything at this date,
but it doesn’t hurt to try. So check the ads in this issue.
Since I report only those arts events that I happen to know
about, it’s possible that there are quite a few others going
on in the county this month. I’d appreciate being alerted
to events that you think Mountain Home readers would enjoy knowing
about. I can’t promise I’ll include them all, but
it doesn’t hurt to try. Now here are this month’s
recommendations:
The Endless Mountain Music Festival
What: The second season of bringing world-class
artists and special events to Tioga County. This
year’s theme is “Beethoven Meets the Blues,”
and the artists involved will blend classical selections from
Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert with contemporary works
from twentieth-century composers such as George Gershwin, Leonard
Bernstein, and Darius Milhaud.
Where: Several locations in Wellsboro and Mansfield
When: July 28 through August 12. The schedule
appears elsewhere in Mountain Home and online
Information: (570) 662-5030 and www.endlessmountain.net
Anything Goes
What: A splashy production of Cole Porter’s
tap-dancing score on board the S. S. America with singing sailors,
gangsters, and lovers. Thomas Putnam directs this lively big-stage
musical comedy. The large cast includes local favorites Kara Ley
and Tom Walrath, along with Jacob Grantier, Josh Sticklin, Gerard
Doran, Shereen LaPoint, Kim Dy, and more than two dozen others.
Choreography is by Michelle Hunyh of Michelle’s School of
Tap. Opening night party hosted by Comfort Inn. Sponsored by First
Citizens National Bank.
Where: Steadman Theatre, Mansfield University
When: August 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. and
August 5 and 12 at 2:30 p.m. The August 5 performance is designated
as “Pay-What-You-Can”
Tickets: adults $12; students $6. FlexPass accepted.
Information: (570) 724-2079, hamgib@epix.net,
or www.hamiltongibson.org.
“What a Wonderful World”
What: Grand Canyon Photography Club juried member
exhibit. Members are known for quality work. Entries fall into
one of four categories: Black & White, Landscapes & Scenics,
I Have Eyes, and Abstracts & Other Things.
Where: Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center, 134
Main Street, Wellsboro
When: August 5 through 30. Gallery is open daily
2 to 5 p.m. Opening reception Sunday, August 5, with prizes awarded
at 3 p.m.
Information: (570) 724-1917
Act of Divine Comedy
What: An Arcadia Theatre production of three
one-act plays about God, Heaven, and the Bible: “Almost
Heaven,” which takes an unusual look at Adam trying for
the 700th time to gain admission to the proverbial paradise; “The
Bible in 30 Minutes or Less,” in which the audience meets,
at breakneck speed, more than 100 Biblical characters, both famous
and obscure; and “The Whole Shebang,” which asks the
question: What if the entire universe was just some nerd’s
science project? The plays feature a local cast directed by Peter
Davis.
Where: Arcadia Theatre, 50 Main Street, Wellsboro
When: August 14 through 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $6.50. No advance sales.
Information: (570) 724-4957
Larry Biddison, professor emeritus of literature at Mansfield
University, sometimes acts in and directs Hamilton-Gibson Productions.
You can contact him at onstageoffthewall@mountainhomemag.com.
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