Arts

Brattleboro Film Festival, Media Release
Contact: Lissa Weinmann (917) 239-8743

BRATTLEBORO, Vermont (January 20, 2014): On the heels of a very successful November 2013 event, the Brattleboro Film Festival (BFF) announced the 3rd Annual Brattleboro Film Festival will take place from Thursday October 31 to Sunday November 9, 2014 at the Latchis Theatre in downtown Brattleboro, Vermont.

BFF is a unique, all volunteer-led and -run festival. The 30 films and accompanying events of the 2013 festival were enthusiastically received by more than 2,200 festival-goers. Enough revenue was brought in by attendance to get a strong start to this year’s fundraising effort, which has already commenced.

ON EXHIBIT January/February Lita Judge Children’s Illustrators’ Book Cases, 2nd Floor Hallway Across Children’s Room. 

Lita Judge grew up immersed in all aspects of nature as she lived in remote areas of Oregon, Utah, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Since her grandparents were both wildlife biologists, the summers spent with them included banding hawks and rehabilitating falcons. Read more about Lita’s work HERE. 

ON EXHIBIT January Mia Scheffey’s work in oil paint. Main Room. .

Brattleboro Art Collective, The Future Collective, is announcing its acquisition of a community arts space at 17 Elliot Street in Brattleboro. The collective will use the two-room studio as a not-for-profit art gallery and performance space, as well as for community workshops and other community events and meetings. The Future Collective has been organizing events and fundraising without a space since January of 2012, and is excited by the additional opportunities that having a consistent space will provide. The space will be referred to as “The Future” from here forward.

I recently joined the Blanche Moyse Chorale, a longtime hope and ambition of mine, and discovered that the group is down a few singers. If you are an experienced choral singer, drop me an email and I will put you in touch with the Chorale’s officers for an audition. I just know there are a few fine singers out there who will jump at the chance to join one of the finest select choruses in the region!

COMPANY OF MUSES PRESENTS THE NUTCRACKER AT NEW ENGLAND YOUTH THEATER, DECEMBER 20-22.

Brattleboro, VT — (November 18, 2013) — Tickets are on sale now for the Company of Muses presentation of Brattleboro School of Dance’s The Nutcracker at New England Youth Theater. Show time is 7:00pm on Friday, December 20 and Saturday, December 21, with matinee performances at 1:00pm and 5:00pm on Sunday, December 22.

This marks the first time in seven years that Brattleboro School of Dance students, alumni and faculty will perform a full-scale production of the holiday classic. Since that time, BSD has only presented “Excerpts from the Nutcracker” for friends and family members of its students.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Campaign for The Heavens and The Earth has reached the $550,000 goal!

Recent support from Against the Grain Gourmet, Trust Company of Vermont, and the Cherry Street community – who got together to buy a chair (great idea!) – gave the final push that landed us over the top. Enormous thanks!

What a marvelous accomplishment for our small town, with most of the funding coming from right here at home. And of course, we had help from great friends around the corner in Boston (Thomas Thompson Trust), up the road in Montpelier (State of Vermont, Vermont Arts Council and Vermont Cultural Facilities Coalition), through the woods in Grafton (Windham Foundation)…and a little spur to the south, USDA out of Washington, DC.

Guilford, Vt. — The life and works of Jean Stewart McLean will be celebrated on Saturday, November 2, at Guilford Community Church. The date marks the publication of the author’s collected writing in book form, edited by her son, Don McLean, of Guilford. The 7:30 pm program combines a publication party with performances of her work, presented by Friends of Music at Guilford.

“Sparks” is the title of the new book, the evening’s program, and a musical setting of eleven of the author’s poems, set to music by Don McLean, to be premiered by mezzo-soprano Evelyn McLean.

This year, the Brattleboro Film Festival has chosen two examples of film-noir that explore greed and the psychology of dependency in abusive relationships for free daytime screenings and discussions presented in collaboration with and at Brooks Memorial Library: 
On Monday, November 4, beginning at 3 PM, “The Strange Love of Martha Ivers” (US, 1946, 116 minutes) directed by Lewis Milestone will be screened.

Hello All,

Latchis Arts is very excited to welcome the community back to the main theatre at our grand re-opening on October 19 at 7:30. We hope 750 of you will join us that night to enjoy the new seats and admire the surroundings. The restored zodiac ceiling is dreamy and the new lighting on the murals is stunning. I am truly grateful for the community-wide love and care for this theatre, built by my family 75 years ago.

Last night the Latchis Arts board of directors held a work bee, tapping in the inscribed brass plates on the arms of the chairs that donors had purchased. Reading the names and phrases of our friends and neighbors gave us a real appreciation for your level of participation. Fully $142,500 is represented by those brass plates scattered throughout the orchestra and balcony. Give yourselves a round of applause!

Here is a slide show that Meg Donahue created about the interactive public art show she produced here in Brattleboro during the month of September called “Watching Angels.”

With a very small crew, she installed and maintained two big chalkboards (one on Flat Street and one in Harmony Parking Lot) that asked “What Are You Grateful For?…” And there were over 100 artist created angels scattered around the downtown with uplifting messages on placards next to them.

The Apron Theater Company and the Next Stage Arts Project present Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize winning play Death of a Salesman directed by Carrie Kidd at Next Stage in Putney on October 10,11,12,13, and 17, 18, 19. Evening performances are at 8 pm. The Sunday, October 13th performance is a 2pm matinee.

An attack on the “American Dream” of materialism, Death of a Salesman is a three-act play (two acts and a “requiem”), centering on the main character, Willy Loman, (played by Arthur Pettee.) He dies as he has lived, a failure in the eyes of society. Arthur Miller wrote: “…to me the tragedy of Willy Loman is that he gave his life, or sold it, in order to justify the waste of it.”

A Lifetime of Vermont People
Wednesday, October 09, 2013, 7 pm – 9 pm

Frog Hollow, the nations first state craft center, presents a traveling exhibit A Lifetime of Vermont People – A bold glimpse of the rural people who gave Vermont its character as documented over 60 years by the photographer-writer Peter Miller. This tour coincides with the release of Peter Miller’s new book of the same title and focuses on Vermont Libraries as community hubs to tell the tale of the writing of the book which explores the changing culture of Vermont over the past half century.

Two local artists, Natalie Blake and Randi Solin, have combined forces to create Fulcrum Arts Center, an arts destination on Route 30 (the old Tom and Sally’s building). Work is well underway on the new Fulcrum Arts Center.

The Fulcrum Arts Center will house a gallery and studio facilities that will provide numerous ways for prospective buyers to view finished works and work in progress; as well as to learn about the tools, techniques, and artistry of fine glass and handmade ceramic pieces. Interested collectors and buyers will be able to purchase finished one-of-a-kind pieces and functional wares and commission new work. We will offer design consultation for in-home art placement as well. Solin and Blake, both highly exclaimed artists in their fields, will teach master classes and workshops.

A Lifetime of Vermont People  
Exhibit all October
Talk on Wednesday, October 09, 2013, 7 pm – 9 pm

Frog Hollow, the nations first state craft center, presents a traveling exhibit A Lifetime of Vermont People – A bold glimpse of the rural people who gave Vermont its character as documented over 60 years by the photographer-writer Peter Miller.

This tour coincides with the release of Peter Miller’s new book of the same title and focuses on Vermont Libraries as community hubs to tell the tale of the writing of the book which explores the changing culture of Vermont over the past half century.

The Latchis Theatre construction project is making great strides, with exciting developments everyday.

The Heavenly portion of the program is complete… and completely magnificent.

Before we leave The Heavens, here are some final images from above the staging.

The ceiling is smooth and whole.

HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT in Santiago Chile – Need your support

Memoria. Hablar. Dignidad. 40 – An arts performance project to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the COup d’etat in Chile.

The B4Peace Project, and Namaya under the support of Grace Cares  has been invited to Santiago, Chile to the Villa Grimaldi, Park of Peace, for an arts and performance project called “Memoria.  Hablar.  Dignidad.”

There are two big chalkboards in town asking “What are you grateful for?”

Both photos are from the one on Flat Street. The other one is in Harmony Lot. They are the launch of the Watching Angels Public Art Show.

So, what will you write?

Casting Actors & Extras for Local Film

Several small speaking roles and extras for a regional film. Auditions are August 26th in Brattleboro. Shooting begins September 8th. Award winning filmmaker Robert Fritz’s most ambitious project yet with an international cast. Crime, intrigue and JAZZ!

Numerous extras needed Sept 8th & 9th. Film extras & Jazz lovers will enjoy a free concert and included lunch

For more information, to set up an audition time or to sign up to be an extra even if you are unavailable on the 26th contact us at: CastingSoVT@gmail.com

School adds four to faculty; offers new Pre-Professional Training Program

Brattleboro, VT — (August xx, 2013) — Brattleboro School of Dance has published its schedule of classes for the Fall and Winter of 2013-14. The studio will host an open house from 5:00-8:00pm on Friday, September 6 for members of the public to get acquainted with the faculty and learn more about the programs.

Students can register online at www.brattleboroschoolofdance.com or by going to the studio at 22 High Street in Brattleboro from 3:00-8:00pm on Friday, September 6, 12:00noon-5:00pm on Saturday, September 7 or 12:00noon-2:00pm on Sunday, September 8. Classes begin on Monday, September 9.