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“Family Matters: A Tour of Vermont Short Films” Will Screen at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Entertainment

Next Stage Arts screens “Family Matters: A Tour of Vermont Short Films” on Saturday, October 19 at 6:00 pm at Next Stage.

Presented by The Vermont Production Collective, a group of four award-winning filmmakers explore what it means to be a family in Vermont. The program features four short fiction films that offer a uniquely Vermont perspective on the pains and joys of being a family. The film screening will be followed by a filmmakers mixer in the Next Stage community room. All are welcome to join and build the Southern Vermont creative community.“Bloodroot” is a tender relationship portrait of two brothers, told over the course of their lives. In

“Bad Mother,” a mother copes with her husband’s confession of infidelity on the eve of a funeral. “I Guess It Might Be Selfish” is a poetic reflection on the clash between individual and family needs. “The Thaw” is a beautifully rendered 19th century Vermont horror story.

Lyndsey Alyn on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

Lyndsey’s lively positive energy radiates all around her. She talks about living from that and bringing it to others – as an entrepreneur, a parent, a queer person, a wellness coach and as part of the ever-welcoming team at Vegan A.F. restaurant.

The Bondville UFO

by cgrotke | Entertainment

It looks like a UFO has landed at the Bondville Fair. As the flying disc stops spinning and comes to a full stop, the doorway opens up as if the aliens were about to come out to make contact. Instead, it was some slightly dizzy kids.  Looks like fun.

We approach the Starship 3000 with eager anticipation. The rotating metal contraption was built, one might guess, when Close Encounter of the Third Kind was released in theaters or shortly thereafter. 

We are told, somewhat suspiciously, to take all of our belongings out of our pockets and leave them outside the spaceship. Wallets, keys, purses, phones, and more all go into a communal pile on a white folding table.

Eileen Christelow on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

“Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed”! A very fun show with Eileen Christelow, author & illustrator of that perennial fave and many more – Tune in for a look into her long career of delighting kids and adults alike with her stories of mischief and mayhem.

Soles of Duende on the Bandwagon Summer Stage

by hahrenholz | Entertainment

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents dance trio Soles of Duende, on Saturday, August 24 at 6:00 pm.

A Brooklyn-born Puerto-Rican from New Haven, a Mexican Puerto-Rican Jew from the Lower East Side, and a Bengali Indian from Jersey walked on to the wooden floor & the rest? History. Bonded by their deep love of music, their crafts, and true connection, Soles of Duende is on a lifelong mission to elevate the joy and music of true collaboration across disciplines and the celebration of the forms they practice. Based in the sounds of Tap (Amanda Castro), Flamenco (Arielle Rosales) and Kathak (Brinda Guha) , Soles of Duende’s fire is the spirit that lives within each of these women to celebrate their connection given their beautiful differences and to uplift the forms that made them.

“Live music meets dance from three different ethnic traditions sounds like a perfect way of exploring culture while seeing virtuosic talent,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “This group has been getting a lot of attention in New York, and while they’re on the rise, we wanted to bring them to southern Vermont. There is so much about Soles of Duende that deserves attention – talent, merging of dance and live music, and the fact that these women are exploring connections of culture through dance is worth noting.”

“Brattleboro Goes Fourth” Seek Independence Day Parade Entries

by BrattGoesFourth | Entertainment

“By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth” is seeking parade participants as it prepares to celebrate the town’s 51st Independence Day event on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

The all-volunteer citizens committee will begin the day at 10 a.m. with a parade from Flat Street to Main Street and the Common. The shorter route comes after requests from older marchers and challenges finding enough volunteers and public safety patrols to monitor a longer distance.

Peter Amidon on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

Brattleboro’s Traditional Music maestro, Peter’s been singing, dancing, teaching, producing and performing music that reverberates through our town and beyond for over 40 years.   Listen in for some great stories: early days with Mary Alice, Bread & Puppet Theater, Pete Seeger, Hallowell singers, and his mega-musical family.

Sara Juli’s “Naughty Bits” at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Entertainment

Next Stage Arts presents Sara Juli’s Naughty Bits, a dance-play set inside Juli’s memories that examines trauma while finding levity within the tragic. Through movement, text, song, projections and humor, Naughty Bits finds the forgotten bits, funny bits (and wobbly bits) of putting one’s mind and body back together. Performances are at Next Stage on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 pm.

“What fascinates me most of all about Sara Juli’s work is that she frames these immersive, theater-inspired one woman shows as choreographed pieces. She pulls from so many various places to produce these personal narratives that seem to hit directly into the audience’s personal experiences,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Her professional career in New York gave her the chops and vision to craft world-class theater, and now New England benefits from her relocation.This will be a presentation for community members seeking something new in their theater experiences.”

Soaring: An Evening of Circus and Song Takes Center Stage at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Entertainment

Next Stage Arts is thrilled to present “Soaring: An Evening of Circus and Song” featuring soprano-aerialist Elizabeth Wohl, pianist Ivan Tan, and special guest artists on Saturday, March 16th at 4:00 and 7:30 pm. The performances will be held at Next Stage Arts, located at 15 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT.

Prepare to be enchanted as Elizabeth Wohl, a professional classically-trained opera singer, combines her vocal prowess with breathtaking aerial acrobatics. Wohl, known for her innovative interpretations of classical music, will perform a repertoire that includes works by Mozart, Gounod, Bizet, and Vermont composer Gwyneth Walker, accompanied by the skilled pianist Ivan Tan.

Public Domain Fun

by cgrotke | Entertainment

Here’s a little project I did to celebrate Mickey Mouse, and a handful of songs, entering the public domain in 2024.  

I like to animate, and it was hard to resist playing with this early character.

Le Patin Libre Returns to Brattleboro with Threshold

by hahrenholz | Entertainment

Next Stage Arts presents Montreal-based contemporary ice skating company Le Patin Libre, performing their work Threshold at the Nelson Withington Skating Facility on Friday, February 16 at 6:00 and 8:00 pm. Le Patin Libre performed to a sold-out audience at the rink last winter. A second show has been added this year to accommodate what is sure to be an enthusiastic response to the company’s return.

A contemporary reinvention of the show on ice, Le Patin Libre company is once again sharpening its blades for a new frozen opus. Dazzlement assured.

Le Patin Libre, whose members are all highly trained skaters, caused a sensation in 2014 with Vertical Influences, a revolutionary display of contemporary dance on ice. “We take full advantage of what makes skating a unique and legitimate art form: the glide”, explains Alexandre Hamel. “The glide allows the disconnection of the body’s displacement in space from its physical movement.” A Le Patin Libre performance is an adrenalin-laced experience. “We use that rush to fuel our choreographic poetry.” The same artistic team—skaters Pascale Jodoin, Jasmin Boivin, Taylor Dilley, Samory Ba and Alexandre Hamel, joined by dramaturge Ruth Little—brings us another gravity-defying show. “Dancers and acrobats have to walk, run, flip, leap, and so on. We, on the other hand, can zoom around without moving a muscle!”

Kevin O’Keefe on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

You don’t have to run away to join the Circus, it can come to you! Kevin creates original productions with kids, does Circus Yoga with all ages, and makes everything fun. He shows how anyone can be part of Circus. Kevin is also a writer of essays, poems and memoir.  His Circus work has been featured twice in The New Yorker magazine.

Michael Fuller on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

From the early days of The Common Ground,  the Coop and communes, to the much lauded T.J. Buckley’s Uptown Dining, Michael Fuller’s Brattleboro stories are SO much fun! He’s still creating the best, most exquisite dinners ever – 40 years strong!

Pinball on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

In this show, Steve Faure, owner and host of our new pinball gallery, Gravitate, talks about “the drama of the ball”, the physics and allure of pinball, and fostering community here in Brattleboro. Also, free games during Gallery Walks ! Take a look.

Community Dance at Guilford Pavilion on Aug 20

by mmrowicki | Entertainment

A Family-friendly Community Dance featuring traditional New England dances (squares, contras, circles, waltzes, polkas) will be held at the new Guilford Community Park Pavilion, 24 Church Drive, Guilford VT 05301 (behind Country Store, next to Guilford Community Church) on Sunday afternoon, August 20 from 2:30-4:30 pm.  All dances will be taught; no partner needed. All are welcome and admission is by donation with a suggested donation of $10 per person and a family limit of $20 (but no one will be turned away)

Music for the dance will be provided by some of the best in the business: Laurie Indenbaum on fiddle, Carol Compton on keyboard, with Fred Breunig, teaching and calling.

Lisa McCormick on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

“Let music change your life!” LISA McCORMICK captures the power and beauty of music – with her voice, her playing, and her generosity in sharing with everyone. As she says, “Music is Art made of Sound”…..Listen in!

Bandwagon Summer Series Brings Vermont Institution Bread & Puppet to Putney

by hahrenholz | Entertainment

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents beloved Vermont institution Bread & Puppet, bringing their touring production to Putney on Thursday, August 24 at 6:00 pm at the Grammar School at 159 Grammar School Lane, in Putney, Vermont.

The Bread and Puppet Theater celebrates their 60th anniversary with The Mother Dirt Circus!
Audiences will delight as Bread and Puppet draws on its distinctive iconography to call attention to the urgent issues of the day. Young and old will thrill to see stilt dancers and paper maché beasts of all sizes accompanied by the riotous Bread and Puppet Circus Brass Band. A colorful spectacle of protest and celebration performed under the Vermont summer sky.

Sourdough rye with aioli will be offered after the performance and The Bread and Puppet Press and Cheap Art Emporium will be open for your perusal.