Archive: Arts & Entertainment

The hit sound track of 'Mamma Mia' makes the romantic comedy an on-stage summer party, showcasing everyone's favorite ABBA songs. By the end of the Running to Places (R2P) production, the audience will likely be dancing in the aisles to the irresistible "Dancing Queen." The show runs Aug. 8-11 at Dewitt Middle School, 560 Warren Road, Ithaca.

The story, made famous in the 'Mamma Mia' movie, features Donna (Emma Ellis) running a taverna on a beautiful Greek island, where her daughter Sophie (Adeline Whitener) is about to marry Sky (Julian Speight). Sophie wants to walk down the aisle with her father, but she doesn't know who he is – though she suspects he is one of three men described in her mother's old diary. So without telling Donna, Sophie invites Sam (Logan Bobnick), Bill (Nick Mras ), and Harry (Max Rubenstein-Miller) to the wedding. When Tanya (Alyssa Salerno) and Rosie (Kayla Markwardt), Donna's best friends and members of her old band "Donna and the Dynamos," arrive for the wedding along with the potential fathers, confusion, romance, and great music ensue, with the happy ending a surprise twist.

The premiere of a new musical about Hurricane Katrina, written by two Ithacans, is opening at the Kitchen Theatre on August 2, with a preview on August 1. Katrina, A New Musical, by book writer Liz Bauman and composer David Frumkin, is being presented by Walking on Water Productions (WoW). Katrina tells the story of fictional characters living in New Orleans who struggle with the storm and subsequent flooding, made so much worse by the government's slow response and the racial and economic divides in that city.

"This is a big show with 13 talented cast members and a six-piece band performing 25 original musical numbers," says Priscilla Hummel, founder and producing artistic director of WoW and director/choreographer of Katrina. "The show is based on actual news reports and events, with the fictional characters making the story evocative and emotionally moving."

Steven Stull and Jeanne Goddard. Photo by Dede Hatch
Whoa, there! Can it be true? The Opera Cowpokes are back in town, with that special blend of music, dance, horseplay, cowboy poetry, and lost (and found) love. Triphammer Arts presents Opera Cowpokes Alive!, a multi-genre musical extravaganza, with performances Thursday through Sunday, August 1-4 at 7:00pm at the CRS Barn Studio, 2622 N. Triphammer Road, Ithaca.

Opera Cowpokes Alive! features opera stars performing western and country/western songs, traditional folk songs (many with new, topical lyrics), and favorite opera choruses, all tied together with a humorous original script. This unique production breaks down the barriers between "classical" and "popular" performance and bring together an impressive collection of musicians and dancers from both worlds in Opera Cowpokes Alive! You'll enjoy tunes from Grand Opera to Grand Ol' Opry, including perennial favorites like "Cool Water" and "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" accompanied by a dynamic Western swing band and cowgirl dancers.

From left: Steven Bennett (Ron), Francesca Panzara (Emma), and Jack Herrin (Roy). Photo Credit: Rachel Philipson
The Hangar Theatre Company continues its KIDDSTUFF season with the world premiere of Unicorn Girl by award-winning playwright and Ithaca College professor Saviana Stanescu. Directed by Sharifa Elkady, Unicorn Girl will be presented from Thursday, July 25, through Saturday, July 27, with two performances each day at 10 am and 12 noon.

When 8-year-old Emma gets bullied at school for having two dads, she sets out on a fantastical journey to end bullying and encourage listening. Emma's stuffed unicorn, Connie, joins her on this journey of discovery, during which she meets people-like animals, animal-like people, and the president of the United States! This play explores themes dealing with advocacy, bullying, self-expression, and allyship.

Brian Sears (Charlie Price) and Darius Harper (Lola). Photo by Rachel Philipson
The Hangar Theatre Company continues its 45th Mainstage Summer Season with the regional premiere of the fabulous, sparkly, feel-good musical, Kinky Boots, directed and choreographed by Gerry Mcintyre. With music and lyrics by pop icon Cyndi Lauper and book by Tony-winner Harvey Fierstein, this high-energy show runs from July 19 through August 3 with matinee and evening performances.

Based on the 2005 film of the same name and inspired by true events, Kinky Boots tells the story of aspiring young businessman Charlie Price, who is struggling to save his late father's shoe factory in Northern England. Stifled by the demands of running a factory, he finds inspiration in the form of Lola, a fabulous drag queen in need of some sturdy stilettos. As Charlie and Lola work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever thought possible, and discover that if you are able to keep your mind and heart open to new experiences, you can change the world.

Yoo Hoo Gertrude with challah
The Arts Committee of Temple Beth El is hosting its annual Jewish film festival with a series of entertaining films this summer. It will take place in the social hall of the temple, located at the corner of Court and Tioga Streets in Ithaca.

The line up continues with: Yoo Hoo Mrs. Goldberg on July 18th and The Last Suit on August 22nd. These are all Thursday evenings. Doors open at 6:30 PM for free refreshments and socializing. The films begin at 7 PM.

Civic Ensemble's Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. will perform Mike Daisey's edgy, funny, and provocative monologue The Trump Card at the Kitchen Theatre Company this Summer! Opening night is Thursday, July 18th at 8:00pm at the Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 West MLK Jr. Street, Ithaca NY. Performances are Thursday to Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 4:00 pm through July 28th. The Trump Card is an examination of our current political moment and a call for self reflection among Ithacans of every political persuasion. The production is directed by Ron Russell, Co-Founder and Executive Director, of Epic Theatre Ensemble of New York City.

The Trump Card is an exploration of Trump's life story, influences, and his ascent to political power. The monologue examines how performance intersects with politics, and how the quality of that performance can shape millions of lives. The TrumpCard is neither comedic impersonation (but it's funny!) nor political diatribe (well maybe a little bit...), and is critical of Democrats, Republicans, and Progressives.

The Cherry Artists' Collective, Ithaca's company for "radically local, radically global and formally innovative" theater, announced our 2019-20 season of productions.

September 26–October 6, we kick off our season with The Shoe by Québec playwright David Paquet. Paquet is a recipient of the Governor General's Award for Drama and the Prix Michel Tremblay, and The Shoe is his newest play. To be produced at the Cherry for the first time in English, The Shoe is an emotionally profound and very funny work about the world of an unusual young boy named Benoît and the adults who care for him. The production will feature Emma Bowers, Godfrey Simmons, and Sylvie Yntema.

Left to right: Jacob Entenman (Jack) and Diana Truman (Albert's Mother) Photo by Rachel Philipson
The Hangar Theatre Company continues their KIDDSTUFF season with Jack and The Beanstalk by Marjorie Sokoloff, with performances Thursday July 11 through Saturday July 13 at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Jack’s life is tough. He and his mother live in a run-down house with no money, no food, and an opera-singing cow that won’t give milk. Jack meets a mysterious stranger, who gives him three magic beans that send Jack up a beanstalk and into the clouds. There, he meets a Giant who would do anything to change places with him. With the help of a wise-cracking hen and a self-absorbed cow, can these two unlikely allies solve all their problems? Themes: Friendship, Empathy, Growing Up.

The 2ND ANNUAL ITHACA ONE-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL (#1MPF) returns to Ithaca for its second year, in partnership with the Kitchen Theatre Company. The 2nd Annual Ithaca One-Minute Play Festival runs for three performances only; July 13th at 8pm, and July 14th at 3pm & 7pm. All performances are at the Kitchen Theatre.

The 2nd ANNUAL ITHACA ONE-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL will feature brand new one-minute plays by: Arthur Bicknell, Ted Blanchard, Molly Burdick, April Carroll, Mike Chen, Leslie Daniels, Francis DiClemente, Thom Dunn, Yvonne Fisher, Lesley Greene, Marc Gomes, David Guaspari, Ross Haarstad, George Holets, Sam Hurley, Kavi Kardos, Rachel Kennedy, Audrey Lang, R.J. Lavine, Mary B. Lorson, Kenneth McLaurin, Sue Perlgut, Judith Pratt, Bob Proehl, Aaron Jamieson Roberts, Tom Seeley, Saviana Stanescu, A.J. Sage, Aoise Stratford, Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon, Anneke van Renesse, Chris Woodworth, and more, directed by: Tanner Efinger, Lesley Greene, Jayme Kilburn, Evie Hammer-Lester, Scott Hitz, Rachel Hockett, Sue Perlgut, A.J. Sage, Marie Sirakos, and Tyler Struble.

Photo copyright Rache Philipson
The Hangar Theatre Company's The Wedge series features FREE cutting edge performances at The Cherry ArtSpace, 102 Cherry Street in Ithaca.

The Wedge performances run Thursdays-Fridays at 6 & 8 p.m., and are free and open to the public. 2019 dates include: June 20-21, July 4-5, July 11-12, and July 25-26.

Left to right: Gretchen Vosburgh (Miss Beatrice), Sara Cuozzo-Gonzalez (Mama Wuluman), Natalie Myrick (Lily Wuluman), John Manolis (Papa Wuluman), Megan Tomei (Young Girl) Photo by Rachel Philipson
The Hangar Theatre Company continues their KIDDSTUFF season with Lily Plants a Garden by José Cruz González, with performances from July 4 through July 6.

On a distant planet, gardens once flourished with the bluzulu seeds of Zobeings in the wuludirt of Wulu-landers. But now these two civilizations have been waging war for centuries, and no one can remember why. Lily, a child of both cultures, bridges the divide, and plants a magical garden where broken toys grow into beautiful plants of memory, imagination, and optimism. The play deals with the themes of discrimination, refugees, and hope.