NewsInkNewsInkNewsInkNewsInkNewsInkNewsInkNewsInkNewsInkNewsInkNewsInkNewsInk She has appeared on Saturday Night Live, hosted her own TV show, and performed in major cities around the country, and on April 27, Emmy-winning comedienne Paula Poundstone is coming to the Northeast Kingdom. Surprised? Donʼt be: Poundstone is just one act among a bevy of nationally renowned bands and comedians, groundbreaking documentaries, and free art displays that can be found at Lyndon State College. Lyndon State College is establishing itself as a center for the arts through its Lecture and Arts Series, says Bob Whittaker, dean of institutional advancement at LSC. The series, which has been running for five to six years, features a range of events spanning concerts, comedic performances, films, plays, art exhibits, and lectures. While Whittaker says that the series tends to feature local talent, there has recently been more focus on bringing in national acts as well. In March, the school saw visits from the 40th Army Band and Prince Edward Island musical duo Richard Wood and Gordon Belsher. The wide range of acts is part of LSCʼs bid to become one of the main cultural hubs of the Northeast Kingdom. Whittaker focuses heavily on the “one of,” since he says LSC is not in competition with other local arts organizations but rather seeks to cooperate with them. This is evident in LSCʼs partnerships with the
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Catamount Arts organization of St. Johnsbury and Kingdom County Productions, an independent film studio in Barnet. LSC hosts many of its events in conjunction with these organizations. According to Catamount Arts artistic director Jerry Aldredge, Catamount Arts is the exclusive online ticket provider for LSC events and has an LSC page on its website. Catamount Arts also gives LSC students and staff free admission to its movies. LSCʼs connections with other arts organizations are crucial to its ability to bring in big-name talent, Whittaker says. He cites Jay Craven, filmmaker and cofounder of Kingdom County Productions, as an essential resource. “Jay Craven at Kingdom County Productions is the key ingredient in getting Paula Poundstone to the college and the region. Heʼs been producing high-level talent performances in this region for decades,” Whittaker says. LSC is currently hosting a series of documentaries by Bess OʼBrien, cofounder of Kingdom County Productions and wife of Jay Craven. The series, which began on Feb. 28 and runs through April 24, features four films on topics ranging from heroin addiction to foster care to domestic violence. LSC also has a partnership in the KCP Presents series of arts events, which are held at various locations around the Northeast Kingdom.
The cast of “Pippin” rehearses for its April 19 opening at Lyndon State College.
Photo by Danielle Drown